The kitten’s cries distressed Satu’s inner calm, not from the sad little mewing, but because of the force of feeling behind them. Pain. Fear. Rage. Helplessness. That all creatures harbored these emotions was both a beauty and a curse to the HeartSeer. How easily and without conscious thought Satu took it all in. How easily it built inside her into a tension that preyed upon her nerves.
Satu was wary, Gromhir was agitated and her companions on edge this night and their emotions flew about the alleyway, mixing with the kitten’s cries to sit deep into her awareness No one seemed to know the direct cause of the uneasiness, but Karona was surely the main focus.
Karona did not help matters by holding one of the vocal pair against its will, while its companion tried feebly to free it from her clutches. Did she not care that the tigers were afraid, and wearied from some unknown battle? Did she not care that she was now covered in blood also, along the pretty gown? Satu did not trust her, something was not right… with her and with this alley.
Instinct bade her reach for the suvai. Only used in Mura for artistic endeavors, Satu was not wont to idly draw them. But in light of the kitten’s injuries and the stress building on her HeartCenter, her hands wanted to feel the weight of the suvai in them…, not that she planned on fighting anyone. That was not her way.
But she could not deny their smooth surfaces would help sooth the conflicting emotions surrounding her from the group and the tiger cubs, while they afforded protections against the unknown. To have them in her hands, touching her skin would also offer a semblance of clarity and focus that she needed in this odd situation. How easily, how effortlessly the weapons would slide into her palms. All she need do was to open her willing fingers…
But then Aselia asked Karona about ownership of the kittens and Satu found her focus shifting, curiosity pulling her away from her weapons. Her hands unclenched as she too waited for an answer. But the kitten bit down on the pale hand that held it, causing it to bleed freely from the new bites and scratches. Pleasure and Fury radiated rapidly outwards from Karona and then stopped. Satu had felt the odd mixture of feelings and she was deeply concerned.
The woman let the kitten go, and now hovered closer to them, unnaturally bloodied and ghostly in appearance. The Ivaski blocked the way, unmoving and defiant. Satu’s hands once again caressed the suvai, ready should the woman threaten them. What that might entail she couldn’t say, but the inky colored desires swirling through her HeartCenter held her attention. A sticky and foul malice was there behind the pleasant smile and fine manners.
Satu watched her every move, the alertness in her body saying, “I see beyond your surface. You will not hurt my friends.”
Kamalia introduced the group and the kitten jumped into the mural and became a full grown and very aware tiger. Roaring, it jumped back. Again, it was a kitten… The more Satu was around the Timandre sisters the more magic she had become witness too, but this Magic was beyond her experience. Kamalia, always drawn to magic, went to examine the mural and Satu kept her footing on the cobblestones, ready with her suvai if she had need of them.