Page 62 of Trivium

She reached over and cupped her hands, coaxing it to jump into them. When it did, she smiled and held it up in front of her face.

Zeina knew the risks, being this close to a creature—an unknown creature at that. She had no idea what its magical ability was, but despite what logic told her, she felt certain it meant her no harm. She waited for it to speak into her mind like Aria, but all she heard was her own thoughts and the sounds of the forest.

“Hello,” she whispered out loud. “You’re not going to hurt me, are you?”

Another croak.

She giggled like a little girl and set the creature back down onto the forest floor.

“Should I give you a name before you go?”

A stare.

“How about…” She thought for a moment. “Watson.”

She waited.

“Watson the…”

Watson the Snug Frog. His voice sounded ancient. Zeina was used to Aria speaking into her mind, but this creature's voice in her head still made her jump. May I show you?

She nodded.

Suddenly, she felt as though she were being wrapped in a warm hug by someone who loved her dearly. She closed her eyes and soaked in the embrace. She couldn’t remember ever feeling this way. Normally, hugs made her squeamish, but this hug—this hug was euphoric. When she opened her eyes, Watson was in the same spot, staring.

“Thank you.” She reached out and petted the top of his moist, bumpy head with her index finger.

With one croak, Watson hopped over and settled himself into the crook of her elbow, like he belonged there. Smiling, she leaned her head back against the tree. She had to figure out how to get back to the Academy. As if on cue, a familiar buzzing sound floated above her and Aria dropped in from the sky, landing in her lap. “There you are,” Zeina whispered, giving the bird’s feathers a gentle pat.

“How do I get out of here?”

Aria ignored her question, instead launching back into the sky, swirling around Zeina with her wings vibrating before landing on her shoulder.

Your friend is coming.

Aria wasn’t a big talker, so when she spoke, Zeina paid attention.

“I don’t have any⁠—”

“Zeina.” Lennox appeared with his shirt tied around his left leg and her dagger in his hand. Zeina stood up, ready for a fight. “Topless isn’t your look,” she said dryly, and she meant it.

“Maybe if you hadn’t ambushed me, I’d still be fully clothed,” he said frowning. “Despite your aggression toward me—unfounded I might add—I’m here to take you back to the Academy. You won’t get in through the same tunnel; it will be locked now.”

“I’m not going with you.”

“I’m not going to turn you in.”

Zeina stared at him. Was he telling the truth? Or was this his way of capturing her and taking her to Adeyemi for punishment? She waited for Aria’s voice in her mind, but the bird stayed silent.

“Ah, I see you’ve found yourself a Purring Songbird.”

Watson had disappeared, but Aria stayed with her, buzzing around in between her and Lennox. Zeina braced to step in front of his weapon, but he simply turned the handle toward her. “Here’s your dagger. Don’t stab me again, yeah?”

“You’re not going to kill Aria?”

“The Songbird? Why would I kill her?”

“Because you’re a Slayer.”