@Desvelarse pets
The bond that Thatcher and Nike held was arguably just as strong as the bond between two paired Reapers. They would sacrifice themselves for the other in an instant and be with each other until death. They were more than just hound and master. One had been there for the others hardest moments, creating a bond that was unbreakable. Nike was friendly towards others, but in the end, her loyalty only lied with Thatcher. She would turn on someone who she had gotten very comfortable with at simply a nod from him. He had raised her from birth after her mother abandoned her. They would be friends for life.
When Sol explained what he had done- freeing Dandin from the raiders- Thatcher had to suppress the urge to sneer. Right, raiders. Thatcher and Evangeline hadnโt been a part of it. They only had heard that it was happening and took it upon themselves to use the chaos to their advantage. He doubted that the raiders even knew of their presence. Reapers were a species not well known to most of the population- non human or not. There were very few texts outside of the Reaper library that held information on them. As far as most knew, they were nothing more than a myth.
Thatcher wondered if Sol was even aware that he had slaughtered Evangeline. She was young, barely out of training and still in her teenage years. To Thatcher, she was only a child, yet she had to fall to such a horrible fate. He felt his forearm thrum with energy, knowing it must be the presence of her weapon inside of him. He would have to release it once he was alone. If a Reaper, who was not bound to the other, took in anotherโs weapon, it would cause sickness similar to that of the flu. It would cause a fever and fatigue, among other ailments.
Sol extended a hand towards him, and Thatcher took it. He swung his leg, mounting the horse in a smooth motion. He had learned how to ride a horse as a teenager. It was required for all Reapers in training to do. Most Reapers traveled in their bird forms, but that couldnโt always happen. If they were injured and couldnโt summon enough energy to shift, they needed to know how to move quickly some other way. It had been quite some time since Thatcher had ridden, but he assumed it would be just as simple. He wondered if it would be taxing on the steed, though. He weighed much more than he looked given the density of the gold in his body. He hoped it would be a short ride, not wanting to harm the innocent animal.
โDonโt worry about her, sheโll keep up,โ Thatcher assured, looking at Nike and nodding at her. A look passed between them, like an unspoken agreement. She would move quick and refrain from her possible urge to nip at the horses legs.