Kiara couldn't keep her anger down this time when Artemis spoke.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">“You’re so damned self-righteous and arrogant!”</span>she snapped.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">“You <i>talk</i> about hard work and dedication as if you had any idea what ‘<i>hard</i>’ is. All that food you wasted last night tells me that your life has been <i>way too easy</i>. Everyone in Nightfire has to work harder than you know at risk of life and limb just to get <i>a pinch</i> of what you so callously threw away without a passing thought. And we all know you only beat me ‘cause Dendra joined the fight, and I <i>will</i> thank her for helpin’ you win ‘cause I’m glad I lost. Sorry if I ain’t good enough for you, but you’re stuck with me ‘cause I ain’t goin’ back to Nightfire. Even if this don’t work out for me, I ain’t goin’ back to that life ever again.”</span><br/><br/>She could have gone on and on, but something about Thomas disarmed her. The sound of his voice comforted her as his words reassured her that belonged, that she mattered. It would take her some time to get used to that. When she was with Nightfire, she had never been made to feel like she was important to anyone, not even when she returned to base after a successful raid. Tears welled up in her eyes as she returned his hug, letting his calm and cool embrace relax her, gently easing her anger and frustration.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">“Nobody’s ever wanted me like this before,”</span>she softly whispered,<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">“I promise I won’t let you down, and I’ll do my best to evolve for you.”</span>She still wasn’t sure she could do it, and the way Artemis talked down to her didn’t help, but she would give it her best. When he let go of her, she wiped her eyes and sat down to finish her breakfast.<br/><br/>Kiara promised to do her best as a guardian. She didn’t mind Dendra’s banter so much, and she didn’t think Dendra had a problem with hers. She saw no reason they couldn't enjoy teasing each other, and she couldn't see any problem with continuing to do so just because Artemis had no sense of humor. Drama to the side, she found herself looking forward to shopping for new clothes, although she was apprehensive about it considering she had never shopped for anything before. The only things she had that were purchased were her coat and boots, and those were from a thrift store. The rest of her clothes had been scavenged from dumpsters. She felt slightly guilty, but she was eager to get new clothes for the first time in her life.