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Quantel nodded imperceptably as Silva spoke, more as if listening than as if agreeing with what he said. There were certainly deep similarities in the way they both thought, most likely to be attributed to their element, similarities that Quantel had not yet given herself a good chance to consider. If she did, she knew she could only come to one of two conclusions.

She wasn't ready for a mortal enemy yet.

Having continued to watch him as he spoke, Ori decided she'd attempt the move that Aleric had just demonstrated, though it had been a little too quick to entirely see what he'd done. A swift stop, a twist to strike out with the staff... At least, that was the intention, but the momentum of the staff, combined with Ori's inexperience and, to be perfectly blunt, her knack for somehow always getting the worst of things, caused one end of the solid wood to swing up and catch her under the chin, causing her jaw to snap shut audibly. The staff was dropped, clattering to the ground, as she quickly brought one hand up to cover her mouth, hoping to keep the sudden rush of blood from her bitten lip from slushing forward.

It hurt, dreadfully so, but the mental pain of the mistake scorched worse. Stupid, stupid, STUPID. Her eyes clenched shut against the welling tears, and Ori fought to control the whirl of emotions as the swam through her mind. Outwardly she showed no sign of declining Aleric's offer, and she may have even nodded a bit, since she could obviously not speak for fear of spilling blood, but inwardly... She forced herself to swallow a mouthful of the metallic fluid, forced herself to remain still, forced herself not to show how horribly, horribly miserable she felt at doing such a stupid, stupid thing.

Quantel tensed as the scene near the fort unfolded, sensing the gathering of magical energy that Aleric would need for his spell. Not having a shared bond with Ori, she didn't know how badly the child was hurt, and therefore wasn't entirely comfortable with whatever was about to happen. Instictively she grasped one of the staffs with her own magic, but did not lift it, merely preparing if it were to be necessary to protect the child.

Quantel's reaction was probably the most unexpected: She smiled. Granted it was a thin, ghost of a smile, her eyes once more losing their glitter and returning to the shadowed swirls of blue that was their typical appearance, but it was a smile nonetheless. After all, the very first thing she had taught Ori was that...

...Such physical contact between two Feien was impolite and immoral. Her misery soon gave way to confusion, at the strange sensations this embrace was causing inside her, the warmth that began somewhere in her chest. Then came the unease, tinged by anger, that Aleric, who had seemed so nice, would do such a thing. With the taste and scent of blood still heavy in her mouth, she quietly, but forcefully said, "Please stop touching me."

"I have never found that to be true." A simple statement of fact as well, though she was tempted to emphasize a word or two, in order to give said statement other implications. And enough glimpses of Maquinar and one of his numerous female friends had killed any curiousity she may have had to experience the baser "pleasures" physical contact might bring.

If she thought that often enough, she might actually start to believe it.

Reaching up a hand once more to wipe at traces of blood on her mouth, Ori watched him warily, as if expecting him to pounce once more. After a long moment, she shook her head, declining the offered staff. It wasn't in her nature to stay angry, so that emotion subsided, but the confusion remained lurking in the dark corners of her mind. Had she actually started to enjoy the hug? The thought that she might have now caused her shame, and worry, even fear that she might be like those female Feien who debased themselves with Maquinar. That Quantel despised so much.

"Thank you for asking me here, but I think I should go."

Quantel laughed softly at Silva's comment, amused at the thought that he might be the sole reason she did what she did. "As intriguing as the offer is," she commented, though her voice indicated that she found it anything but, "I think I shall pass."

As it was the proper thing to do, Ori reached her hand out as well, touching her palm briefly and lightly to his. "Maybe. We're very busy at the House." As she tamped down her feelings, since she didn't want to head back to Quantel looking upset, Ori thought briefly, then added, "You can still write to me, if you want."

Though tempted to prove Silva wrong by touching him, she had a feeling the touch she had in mind wasn't the same as what he was considering, and thus kept her magic hand to herself. A simple smile was the reply she gave, accompanied by a tilt of her head as a farewell. Quantel decided to remain on the monkeybars and let Ori come to her.

"All right." Though she didn't return the smile, Ori did relax slightly and bobbed her head. Extending her wings and flapping them a bit, to help her lift up from the ground, she added, "Until then!" With that, she began to fly towards Quantel at what might be considered a sedate pace to most, but was actually a rather brisk clip for her.

Ori bristled slightly as Silva spoke to her, an almost defiant gleam in her three eyes. If there was one thing that Quantel hadn't stamped down upon, it was Ori's confidence in her physical abilities. In all truth, it might have even been the only thing that Quantel encouraged in the girl. She didn't respond to the large Feien, however, wanting to simply get to Quantel before anything else tonight could go wrong.

Not needing to ask what Silva had said, as Quantel could clearly see that it most likely wasn't something supportive, she merely lifted one of her wings so that Ori could land beside her on the bars. The child settled down obligingly, just close enough to Quantel for her spines to brush the other Feien's skin.

As the males began to spar, Quantel and Ori watched quietly. Curving her wing in closer to the child, Quantel asked, "Are you able to make out what they are saying?"

Trying, her ears perking and turning towards the fight, Ori finally had to shake her head. "I'm sorry... The staffs make too much noise, and they are too far off." Her ears drooped, and she hoped that Quantel wouldn't be too disappointed. There was still the path home, after all, for the older woman to show her displeasure in Ori's actions tonight.

"Very well." She nodded, then narrowed her eyes as Silva looked back at them, aiding his Bondbrother to his feet. A message, then? Or a warning? Quantel had a feeling that this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.