New chickens and fears
Once the three leave Ezra returns to Miles's side.
"You made sure to keep hidden after I gave you some work to do. Did you get them all fed?" Miles says as he rests a hand on the boy's head.
Ezra nods.
"Good, let's get tonight's meal ready then." Miles Guides the boy inside.
The two make some baked potatoes. They top them with a little bit of salt and enjoy the meal.
The two checked on the animals, especially the chickens. Miles takes time with each chicken, though he doesn't spend long with them. He makes sure all the animals are where they belong. Once finished they go into the house and settle into their beds.
Morning arrived with the new rooster crowing. Miles sits up as the loud call pierces his ears. He drags himself out of bed and to Ezra's room. He finds that the boy is already up.
"Ready for the day?" Miles asks after a yawn.
The boy nods.
Miles and the boy start their routine of getting the morning meal together. It's not long after that they both take a look at the chickens. As far as Miles can tell they are all where they belong and in good condition. The three original hens gather around Miles, their clucking soft. He takes a moment to pet each one. Then he moves on to the new chickens and rooster. The rooster keeps his distance from Miles and Ezra. His feathers seemed to puff up. Miles sits down. The hens seem to wander near the Rooster as if waiting for his approval. They cluck and peck at the ground. The rooster stares.
This lasts for the entire time Miles is in the pen. When he decides to leave it the chickens watch him for a moment and then do as they please.
"Not a friendly one is he?" Miles asks the child.
Ezra nods.
"Think we'll be able to get on good terms with him?" Miles smiles.
He nods again.
"Sounds good, though I imagine it will take a fair bit of work." Miles continues.
Ezra follows Miles nodding to the other's words.
The two work together on getting the animals fed and making sure there was enough water to go around for all.
Midway through their second time around feeding the animals, something caught Miles's attention.
A set of gold eyes caught him. Miles hisses under his breath.
"Stay here." He commands.
Ezra looks at Miles and then to the woods. He watches Miles walk away.
"Go away," Miles says to the deal maker.
"I came for a visit, can't I visit a friend?" He says.
"Casimir, Go away or so help me-"
"Or you'll what?" Casimir smiles a large stretched grin.
Miles couldn't help the shiver that ran down his spine, "Leave me alone, you already ruined me."
"How can you blame me? You were the one who chose to follow. I did not force you to come." Casimir counters.
Miles growls low a scar on his heart throbbing, "Leave!"
"I see you're as stubborn as always. Once you have settled down I'll come back." Casimir turns and walks away into the shadows.
"How about not coming back at all!" Howls at the now empty space.
His veins run hot under his skin. He takes several deep breaths and returns to Ezra. The boy looks up and pats Miles's arm once. Miles raises a brow at the boy.
Ezra walks away and looks over the plants in the garden. Water droplets fall from the wet leaves and sparkle under the sunlight.
"We already watered the garden, Do you see something?" Miles looks around in hopes he'll see what the boy is looking at.
The child shakes his head.
"Only looking?" Miles squats near the boy.
Ezra nods and then points at one. The plant looks like it has lanterns growing off the ends. Ezra pulls one off the plant and plays with it. He brakes off the leafy outer shell and inside sits a dark green fruit. Ezra tilts his head and holds it up for Miles to look at.
"I don't know much about this kind of thing but I likely wasn't ready yet," Miles comments as he looks over it.
Ezra places the small sphere down on the ground.
"I'll have to ask the farmer what he knows about these plants," Miles rubs the back of his neck.
The two then work on finishing what they started before Casimir had appeared. Once finished they went inside to get lunch put together. They ate on the stairs while looking out at the trees. Miles chatted a little to Ezra. They were at one point visited by Betty.
Betty mooed at them like a chatty girl with gossip to share. This left Miles with a chuckle while Ezra listened to her as if she was imparting great wisdom upon him. Warmth dances in Miles's chest as he watches the two interact.
Once the one-sided conversation fizzles out Miles and Ezra makes sure the animals are all fed. They check the water troughs as well.
The sun falls leaving the evening cooler than earlier in the day. Miles takes time again to try and get the new chickens used to him. But all he ends up doing is sitting in the pen with them huddling in the corner away from him. The rooster seemed to only glare at him.
Miles wondered if he should visit Martin and ask but he didn't want to go to someone so soon. He knew next to nothing about the animals and what he should be doing. All he knew was that he made a terrible decision and he had to spend the rest of his days here. Doing as you're told only got one so far. He had to figure things out.
A pain grew in his chest as he thought of the past events that led him here. He sighed to himself.
When darkness covered the sky Miles and Ezra put Betty away and went inside. The evening meal was easy enough to throw together.
After they ate Ezra followed Miles to his room. The boy sat next to Miles on the bed.
"Something you want?" Miles looks over the boy wondering what was wrong.
The boy looks at Miles for only a moment before looking away.
"Do you need something?" Miles asks.
The child takes quite a while but at some point, he takes Miles's hand.
Images of the people that frightened Ezra filled Miles's mind along with the feeling of fear.
"Do you think they will show up here?" Miles asks.
Ezra nods.
"I don't see how or why they would," Miles states while scratching at the back of his head.
The boy leans on Miles.
"Is there something you know that would make you believe they can find you here?" Miles wraps an arm around the boy's shoulders.
Ezra shakes his head.
"Then we should be fine out here. Only Seline, Emil, and Martin know about us." Miles thinks about his words after they are out of his mouth.
They could share their location with anyone. Everyone. Maybe they weren't as safe as he thought.
"We'll have to keep an eye out. You can come find me if you see anyone strange around okay?" Miles tries to give the boy a reassuring smile.
The boy wraps his skinny arms around Miles's waist.
"How about you sleep here tonight. Would that make you feel a little better?" Miles suggests.
The boy nods.
"Okay, why don't you get your pillow and blanket and get set up in here," Miles says as he stretches his arms.
The boy nods again and rushes off the bed. He hears the boy race to his room and runs back. He throws the items on the bed and crawls in next to him.
"Alright then, let's get some sleep," Miles lays down.
Ezra lays down as well and curls up close to the older male.
Miles takes a deep sigh and closes his eyes.
Sleep doesn't come to him, not at first. He is hyper-aware of the boy next to him. He can feel warmth radiate off the child and hear his soft breathing.
Miles wonders about the people in the boy's mind, the ones that frighten him. What did they do to the child? Miles didn't understand much about family but he felt that one shouldn't be afraid of them.
He continues to think about Ezra and the people until sleep decided to take him over.