Leila shrugs. "Who am I to stop the course of natural selection? I'd prefer it was simply 'to the blood' or something, but whatever floats your boat." She snickers. "I'll stop calling you 'kid' the second you look over 12."
"Why don't we all pack while we wait for Aster and the . . . bone . . dude . . . to get back," Leila suggests. "That'll make it easier for us to leave. Besides, I need a new spare shirt."
"I've got an extra, Charlie. Artimes, sit down and finish changing. I'll block," Leila sighed. She made a gesture, and a thin screen of branches rose from the ground to shield her.
She smiles. "Awesome! But I will warn you: it's gonna take a bit to heal. Even with your enhanced healing and some ambrosia, you won't be able to spar for a few days, and if it starts to hurt more, I'll need you to tell me so that I can reassess. Sound good?"