The Trouble with Satu [Gromhir + Satu]

[Satu]

82nd Day of Fall, 510 A.V. Night fell heavily, and in the dancing, hypnotic light of the fire Satu’s opalescent scales shimmered. The woodman had said, “Eat,” and so the Konti had eaten all but the meat from the wooden plate. When she was finished Satu looked upon the old man with childish wonder. He was ancient in her eyes… and his aging intrigued the forever youthful girl. No Konti carried such grey hairs, and the deep lines in his wrinkled face fascinated her. The man’s name was Tomalt. He had welcomed her into the campsite, urged her to join him upon the fallen log for a meal when the Konti had appeared out of the forest, lost in dirt stained clothes and restless eyes of blue. He had mistaken her unease for timidity and meekness. Satu cautiously questioned, “Why did you block my path with your campsite?” The query while not perhaps normal, failed to raise the old man’s guard, though perhaps it should have. For always, Drainira’s thread urged the Konti girl toward the yet unknown meeting with Sagallius. Tomalt felt sorry for her, as if Satu was nothing more than a wayward girl. He could not know the extent of the dark madness that resided in her soul. “To offer you food, shelter for a night,” he replied simply, setting the pan back into the fire. Satu gazed upon the trails of his wrinkles and contemplated his words, while her HeartSense studied his Heart’s emotions. Compassion, Honesty, Concern… were all easily seen within the woodsman. Yet the Konti’s rosy lips turned downwards in disappointment, “You are a good man, Tomalt. A very good man… I can see that.” But Mizahar was not a world that welcomed the good and kind of Heart. Had she not found this to be true time and again during her captivity? Could this old man hold onto his kindness when faced with terrible trials? No… Satu decided. No! It was an impossible task… His kindness could not prevail against the evils of the world! Tomalt would be changed! Tomalt would be corrupted! Tomalt would hurt others…as she had been hurt. The thoughts ran circles upon circles in her head. Squeezing her eyes shut, Satu felt a crushing pressure at her temples. But the delusions refused to slow. Tomalt the kind man would be lost! Gingerly, her scaled palms lifted to try and shield the old man from view. Unaware of the wheels he had inadvertently set into motion, Tomalt began to hum a soothing tune as he sat back down. He had hoped to relax the skittish girl, but the tune only mingled with the pulse of her madness, and urged it further. With serene grace, Satu stood and walked towards the pulsating fire. The song, the flames and the incessant thrum of her thoughts intermingled to form a composition only the delusional Konti could hear. Turning, she smiled upon the dear Tomalt, the expression so sweet and genuine. Her body swayed to the rhythm, and her feet danced to circle around the fire. The movements were youthful, innocent as she skipped, and turned in a small circuit upon the earth. It was a spontaneous dance, and her hands fluttered to the tune only she could feel. Nearing once more to the man, the pale Konti leaned in, her breath soft as clouds upon his face, “You shall not be corrupted...” she sang in a whisper, before she flitted away once more to return her impromptu stage near the fire. Tomalt thought he understood as he watched Satu dance, lit beautifully by the flames behind her. The light shone through her white dress, silhouetting her form. For the briefest moment, he felt pity for the strange, harmless Konti. Immediately, Satu felt his Pity and a coldness formed in her core, but the Konti hid it behind a wide smile as she leapt and spun. The old woodsman could not help but be intrigued by her innocent allure, and the glow that sparked her eyes. Satu’s limbs moved freely, lithe and lean in the abandon of the dance. And as she turned to face the dark, shadowy trees, her fingers touched lightly upon the suvai secured at her hips.

[Satu]

Whoops... double post!