"Show me how your bird did it."
Varelya looked at Theo for a few seconds before her gaze went toward the empty space beside him.
"You want another fight?"
"No, not a fight. I just want to see the attack that dropped the mantis."
They were near the training grounds when Theo found her. Elias was still checking when they could leave for the colony without missing the team's preparations, and Theo had left the beetle drawing with Clara.
He had wanted to go back and change the attachment again. But the mantis had already spent enough time waiting while he worked on everything else.
Varelya lowered the sword she had been practicing with.
"You were there, Theo," she said with annoyance as if not wanting to do it.
"Mind you, I was fighting your cat. By the time I looked properly, the mantis was on the ground and your bird was going for it again."
Even remembering that part made him feel anxiety at a low level. The mantis had clearly been in a sore mood ever since that happened.
