"Hubris", he thought as his eyes locked with the spirit fox. "Dangerous hubris."

  "What is?" A pointed question, Caitlyn's gaze refusing to waver from Orion.

  "Ah-" Orion faltered, too te to take it back. His posture stiffened up as he paused. Caitlyn pushed forward, as if she's caught on to something, "Well?"

  "Well..." Orion racked his brains for a response, "Spirit foxes are a symbolic creature in Ionia, right?"

  Caitlyn frowned, her focus returning to the creature as the question sinks in. Orion tinues speedily. "Wouldn't Ionians be offended?" A growing crossed her face, her previously rexed posture stiffened.

  "It could damage retions with Piltover..." She aowledged, her tone measured. "If it's true, thehis is bad." Slowly, her gaze returns to Orion, "But how do you know this?"

  "Ah, fuck." Orion cursed inwardly, grasping for more straws. Another lingering pause before he speaks again, "Ionian ships e from the east through the al. The authorities check their papers, and sometimes... we hear stories."

  Orion gnced back at Caitlyn, who seemed lost in thought. "It sounded ving." he thought, though a tight feeling clutched at his chest. She abruptly turo him, her gaze pierg.

  "What's your name? If what you're telling me is the truth, I want you to e with me. We o tell my mother."

  "Ah- Orion. we see the garden first?" Orion twisted, his eyes sing the area, searg for the Red Blossom flowers. "Are you an idiot? Trouble could be brewing, and you want to stop and smell flowers?" Caitlyn's expression ged to that of disappoi as she shook her head.

  "What I say? My head's in the flowers." Orion joked weakly, f a smile. He couldn't leave yet, Orion hadn't located his objective. Desperate, he ged his approach. "Besides, I'm a Sump rat. I probably won't be able to see this pce again."

  Orion waited for a response, watg Caitlyn's expression soften to pity. He felt a twinge of guilt for pying that card, but he came here with a purpose. Caitlyn gnced down for a moment, her hands fidgeting in front as she hesitated.

  Finally, she looked back to the fox and murmured, "I fot again where you're from...Fet what I said for now." The fox cooed softly, stretg its front paws. It moved across the enclosure with floating grace before stopping in front of the gss. Its pierg, glowing green eyes tio reach out toward the duo with curiosity- and a plea.

  Orio a pang of pity, but didn't close the gap. He felt uled, and feared, being a magical creature, what might happen if he did. Unsatisfied but wary, Oriourned his attention to Caitlyn whose gaze showed sadness and a yearning desire to help.

  "Let's keep it quick." he said softly, hoping to ease her mind. His words felt hollow though as Caitlyn slowly turned, her gaze downcast, and her iurmoil evident.

  Together, they finished expl the menagerie with small talk before stepping into the botanical garden. Like many, its windows stretched from the floor to the ceiling, bathing the enviro in natural light. Beautiful dispys of flora lined every windoath, and a light blue pollen floated in the air, giving it ahereal quality.

  Caitlyn was captivated in the beauty, her eyes wide as she took in the view, bending over to ihe intricate details of pnts. "Beautiful," she murmured, lost in the moment.

  Orion, however, had little time for admiration. His eyes locked onto the objective at the ter of the garden.

  A rge bush adorned with crimson flowers, each petal seemed to shimmer along the edges, refleg the light with a golden sheen. It let out a sweet intoxig aroma, alluring to the senses as he approached. The pque, however, read like a curse with Caitlyn nearby. "Red Blossom Flowers - From Ionia, these-"

  --------------------------

  "Why is there a rat in my home?" Caitlyn's mother asked with disdain, her sharp toting through the room as she loomed over Orion. Her intimidating preseowered above him as he stood in the ter of a vishly decorated living room. The walls and furniture dispyed the family colors of royal blue, white, and gold. Opposite Caitlyn, her father sat on the couch, his gaze unreadable. The firepce crackled softly, ag as the only source of light, dang off some of the golden trim.

  "Orion's not a rat!" Caitlyn protested, surprising Orion with her fervor. "I met him at the menagerie!"

  "That still doesn't expin him rutting about my home," her mother states coldly, c her h a handkerchief. "Even gilded walls 't keep out the filth, it seems."

  Orion sighed, prompting her mother to ar eyebrow, aernally thought, "This is going to be a long night."

  "He has informatiarding t Mei's Menagerie. I thought you should hear it," Caitlyn reasoned from the couch, gesturing toward Orion with an open hand. Her mother's tone remained icy, "Really? My name is Cassandra Kiramman. Orion, was it?" She lowered her handkerchief, eying his garb dismissively before demanding, "Tell me what my daughter believes is so important."

  Some time flew by as Orioold what he told Caitlyn, choosing his words carefully. He cluded with what he felt held would hold the most impact, "They could stop trade with Piltover."

  A tense siletled over the room. The disdain in Cassandra's eyes shifted to something more calg as she studied Orion. Caitlyn shifted unfortably on the sofa, gng nervously between them.

  "You have quite a good mind," Cassandra said at st, her tone ced with relut approval. Caitlyn rexed slightly and straightened her pain with a faint smile crossing her face. Her mother tinued, "This information will take time to verify. You will stay here tonight as pensation. Tomorrow, after we've thhly iigated and addressed the matter, you will leave."

  Cassandra turned her back to Orion, ending the versation with a dismissive wave of her hand. " him up and escort him to a guest room on the first floor. Leave us." It was clear she wanted a private word with her daughter, who now wore a look of distent.

  "This is w out well," Orion thought, as he turo the servants, their heads bowed slightly.