Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 4)

"Of course," Ky breathed, not wanting to draw unwanted attention to Lyra. She focused on her own plate instead.

"Yes, ma'am!" Aashi said with a smile. "I mean, I thought I might freeze to death before we got here but Tasia was so delighted by all the snow. I swear Aki and I were dodging a dozen snowballs per day."

"I hadn't thought how the snow might seem to someone who hasn't seen it before! That's lovely. And I'm glad you didn't freeze; that is an actual risk out here if you're not wearing the right layers." Gaius glanced up, about to make a comment about a man losing his toes, then thought better of it and focused back on eating, gripping his fork awkwardly in his maimed hand so he could hold the meat down.

"Oh." Aashi sobered, eyes going wide. "I didn't really mean it -- our escort brought us the loveliest of furs for us to borrow during our time here. They really are so soft, I must say I've been enjoying getting to layer up. All the fur makes me feel like a cat; and I quite like cats!"

"Ah, that's good to hear!"
"We've got cats!" Oscar piped up. "Ky's got a kitten. It's named Petrir."

"Does she really?" Aashi asked, smiling at him. "And where'd she get that name from?"

Ky flushed, staring at her plate. She supposed she should have anticipated this question when she was stupid enough to name a cat after her dead father; but somehow the prospects of admitting it in front of all these strangers was humiliating.

Oscar looked to Ky. "Her dad, right, Ky?"

Ky looked up and nodded. "Yeah."

"Her dad," he clarified to Aashi. "He's not alive anymore."
"Oscar!" Anneke said, shocked. "We don't say things like that." Oscar blushed red, and his eyes filled with tears immediately.
"I'm sorry," he sniffed.

"It's okay." Ky looked up hesitantly, also flushing red, but also feeling bad for Oscar. It's not like he knew he was doing anything wrong. She doubted he understood the concept of death. She shrugged, but her body was tense. "He's right."

Well, now Aashi felt like a jerk. She thought she was asking an innocent question, not dumping salt in one of Ky's wounds. She quietly fed Tasia a potato, trying to think of how to smooth over the situation. She should distract the attention, but how?

(Ooof)

Oscar was trying very hard not to cry, scrubbing furiously at his eyes. He was holding it together surprisingly well for a child his age but his face was almost purple with effort.

(aww buddy)

"You played with Petrir just an hour ago, didn't you?" Ky said, desperately trying to distract him. And, hopefully, distract everyone else too. They certainly didn't need to be dwelling on this. "Isn't he super cute?"

"Yeah," Oscar agreed, lip trembling. He blinked hard. "He's really cute. And he's metal, too."
"Iron-kittens have got sharp claws," Tomhas added. "Oscar plays very carefully with him, don't you, son?"
"Yeah."

"What does he look like?" Ky prompted, glad it was working. "Ms. Aashi has never seen him."

"He's got big eyes. And lots of fur, like this." He made puffy motions with his hands around his head. "And he's really small cuz he's still a baby. He makes little meow sounds when he wants to play."

Ky picked up her fork and went back to eating. But she couldn't resist a quick glance around the table as she chewed her venison.

Aashi would need to apologize to Ky later. She hadn't meant to do that to her. The poor dear was clearly distraught by that. But, for now, she focused her attention on Oscar. "Oh my goodness! That sounds super cute!"