09-12-2025, 11:22 AM
Ricky had kept an eye on Marta. She had been completely forthcoming with what had happened when Nox had gotten healed, but Ricky couldn't deny that it was taking time for her to work through it. It was hard to not be worried, but truthfully, Ricky had seen Marta in significantly worse states. Talking with her psychologist helped and talking with Hayden helped too. Marta was becoming increasingly self-aware of her own limitations, triggers, and on figuring out what she needed to get better. Sometimes it required more help and sometimes it just required more time. Marta ensured Ricky it was the latter.
Ricky still noted, however, how Marta kept hold of Splashes vest handle. The wolf pup was always a significant help for her. At her request, Ricky waited until the crowd at Mass began to disperse before leaving the church. Ricky stopped abruptly as Marta did. He followed her gaze to a man, walking to a lone statue. Marta's eyes didn't move.
"Marta, you okay?" he asked her quietly, noting the slight flair of her nostrils that indicated she had caught the man's scent on the wind.
Marta didn't speak, answering by beginning to approach the man with her companion in tow. Ricky looked towards the man. He could have stopped Marta, and she probably would have listened. It wasn't because of mistrust. The man was standing quietly, head bowed, almost as if in prayer. Given the location, it could be a distinct possibility. But Ricky didn't. Marta was good at reading people, and it wasn't just her wolf senses that did it. Ricky was learning to not only allow the thirteen year old to grow, but to trust her instincts. Besides, she hardly ever approached strangers, and she certainly never approached male strangers. Marta saw something in this man - possibly something she didn't even yet understand.
So Ricky followed and listened as Marta spoke to the man, simply asking the man if he was okay and if he knew who the angel was. "I'm sorry, sir. I hope she's not disturbing your prayer." Ricky spoke quietly, but with curiosity. He had no idea what was going on in Marta's mind, but he sort of wanted to find out. He hoped the man would be amenable to humoring her.
Marta's face only glanced in his direction before moving back to the stranger's - a small acknowledgement that she knew Ricky was there. Still she looked up at the stranger with an expectant gaze, waiting for his reply. Ricky was able to keep both in sight, but his attention was more on Marta. This was curious behavior for her.
Ricky still noted, however, how Marta kept hold of Splashes vest handle. The wolf pup was always a significant help for her. At her request, Ricky waited until the crowd at Mass began to disperse before leaving the church. Ricky stopped abruptly as Marta did. He followed her gaze to a man, walking to a lone statue. Marta's eyes didn't move.
"Marta, you okay?" he asked her quietly, noting the slight flair of her nostrils that indicated she had caught the man's scent on the wind.
Marta didn't speak, answering by beginning to approach the man with her companion in tow. Ricky looked towards the man. He could have stopped Marta, and she probably would have listened. It wasn't because of mistrust. The man was standing quietly, head bowed, almost as if in prayer. Given the location, it could be a distinct possibility. But Ricky didn't. Marta was good at reading people, and it wasn't just her wolf senses that did it. Ricky was learning to not only allow the thirteen year old to grow, but to trust her instincts. Besides, she hardly ever approached strangers, and she certainly never approached male strangers. Marta saw something in this man - possibly something she didn't even yet understand.
So Ricky followed and listened as Marta spoke to the man, simply asking the man if he was okay and if he knew who the angel was. "I'm sorry, sir. I hope she's not disturbing your prayer." Ricky spoke quietly, but with curiosity. He had no idea what was going on in Marta's mind, but he sort of wanted to find out. He hoped the man would be amenable to humoring her.
Marta's face only glanced in his direction before moving back to the stranger's - a small acknowledgement that she knew Ricky was there. Still she looked up at the stranger with an expectant gaze, waiting for his reply. Ricky was able to keep both in sight, but his attention was more on Marta. This was curious behavior for her.