Open The Vanishing Cat

[Wyatti]

51st of Winter 512
Priskil's Spire: Early Morning

Wyatti had walked for a while now, her head clouded and filled with the notions of sleep, but also regret. She had left again in the dead of the night, just as she had left another previously. No words, no good byes, no begs or pleads, just a simple departure without a sound. She took what was hers, and did not even let the door shut properly as she left. And so the Kelvic walked on, her head low, her bag on her back with no clue on her next destination in the winding streets of Zeltiva. She wandered, listening to the sounds, her eyes not needing a torch to guide her forward, her eyes picked up most of the important details anyway. Every now and again she heard the sounds of others, but for the most part an eerie silence consumed the street, with the early sea fog covering it in a blanket.

It was never that Wyatti wanted to leave. She just felt she had to, a deep feeling in her heart that her time had ended with the Man that she looked upon as a parental figure. But even all good things eventually have to end, even when they were not wanted to. Besides, it was easier this way, less pain, less worry, just a simple disappearance. She just hoped that he would not take it the wrong way, to make things worse would only destroy what had been built after all.

Without her knowing, the Kelvic had wandered into the old district, past the buildings that stood long ago in a different time and a different age. But the building that drew her in was Priskil's spire, the white tower of hope with it's doves nesting within its rafters. She could hear them cooing quietly, her eyes drifting to the top. She sighed, her head sinking before she walked to the tower. She huddled up at its base for a moment, pulling her coat tightly around her. She knew she could not stay out in the streets for too long, the guards would deal with her, that and with this sickness about, she would become weak and feeble again before she knew it. She held her head in her hands, trying to think of an answer, on where to go that could be safe. But a place that would lead her closer to something. Yes, something important.

The feeling had been nagging at her for a few days now, the nagging to leave and explore, not just for the day light hours, but for days upon days. Something was calling for her, something only she alone could go out and find. Yet what was it, what was it she had to find, this deep longing that started to grow in her, this push to leave and search. When ever she came close to finding the answer though, she found it slipping through her fingers and the words escaping. It left her feeling hollow and empty, as if purpose itself was beginning to lack from her life. Wyatti stared at the floor, sitting around would never solve anything, and going back would simply be giving up. And she could not give up yet, not after she had gotten this far, not after she had managed to escape her hell, had pulled herself from the brink, had learned to trust and love, to understand and to accept. To love and to have lost. She could not, no, would not give up now. And so she looked to the breaking dawn in the sky for an answer.

[Synthira]

The old district was one of the few peaceful places Synthira had discovered in the drowded, bustling city of Zeltiva. It must have been early morning, but the konti took no notice of the doves' gentle cooing or the steadily rising sun. She had been here since nightfall, or perhaps earlier still. Praying was a nightly ritual for Synthira, but she had not felt safe or at peace at the city's outskirts lately. And so it was that she had found this place. The spire was beautiful and white. She was rather surprised that she had not been disturbed yet. Chaos was rampant nowadays, and sickness was spreading all over (or so she had heard). The air and ground were cold, and her muscles ached from staying so still for so long. Footsteps were heard from the other side of the spire. Quickly she finished her prayers, and sat up straight. She leaned over the side to see a little girl. She looked very lost, and a little afraid and sad. As soon as Synthira moved, the girl whipped around. Keen senses, eh? Must be a kelvic. The child began to move away, and Synthira smiled to let her know that she was not to be feared. She stood up very slowly, afraid of spooking her, and walked over to where she stood. Kneeling down so that her eyes were level with the child's, she spoke in a tone barely above a whisper. "Do not worry. I do not intend to hurt you." The child's eyes were wide, and the expression was one the konti recognized. She too had been a child alone in an unfamiliar place. The expression saddened her. Until she had left Mura she did not understand the great struggles many kelvics lived under. This one bore many scars, and showed none of the light and playful manner common among children. Her haunted eyes showed many shadows, yet they were rather bright. Synthira felt herself being evaluated, perhaps to see if she were a threat.The girl was undoubtedly intelligent. Wise beyond her years, likely. Nothing was said by either for several moments. Synthira wondered if the child was naturally quiet or if she had been taught to hold her tongue. The konti dipped her head. "My name is Synthira,"

[Wyatti]

Wyatti looked upon the woman with awe, but quickly recoiled into herself. She was never good with new people, and despite the beauty and obvious worry of this woman before her, she still felt nervous and scared. Almost obediently she lowered her chin to her knees, her eyes staring up, blinking.

“Do not worry. I do not intend to hurt you,” she watched the woman pause “My name is Synthira.”

Wyatti gave a sniff. A new face, a new name, it was important to record those who she came across. It helped her keep track of things, it helped her remember and in her own sense define who she is. Lilies and the ocean? It was a strange, something she could not quiet describe, but it was pleasant enough to say the least. She watched the woman warily for a moment, not speaking as Wyatti pulled her scarf up around her neck, hiding the scar that once rested there. The woman Synthira seemed polite enough, more so because she gave her name without the Kelvic having to ask. And so Wyatti responded in like.

“Wyatti,” she let out a quiet whisper a brief pause, her brow frowning slightly a brief moment of a memory creeping in “You are as pretty as mother.”

Although it was indeed simple thing to say and mostly irrelevant, Wyatti could not help herself but say it. It was a truth to her after all, but as she begun to remember she felt the heavy pang of absent care ring out. Her head sunk, her lips pursed as she tried to push down what she had lost. How long had it been now? Forty days? Fifty days? More or less? It was still something she could not bring herself to look upon too deeply. Wyatti shook the memory to one side and returned her attention to the woman, a look in her eye wondering on what the woman wanted with her.

[Synthira]

Synthira watched the girl for a while as she sniffed and took in everything she could. She was silent for a while, adjusting her scarf, but gave the konti her name. Her next comment took Synthira by surprise. "You are as pretty as mother," She murmured. After speaking this, she had looked sadly at the ground, lost in thought for a while. Synthira wondered if this girl, too, had lost her mother. She understood that sort of pain herself - it was awful to be entirely alone at such a young age. Her heart went out to the poor thing. Zeltiva could be a hard city. Though it was generally more accepting than other places, kelvics were still treated more harshly than was fair. Synthira had always had a soft spot for children, but this one seemed particularly sad. Perhaps it was her maternal instincts, but she felt as though it was necessary to comfort her. How? “You look a little hungry. Do you want something to eat?” The girl was hesitant, obviously wondering what Synthira wanted from her. She smiled, trying to appear as friendly as possible. “See, I’m new to Zeltiva. I grew up in Mura, but I left at the end of autumn. I don’t have many friends here, at least not as many as I had back home. It gets a little lonely sometimes, so I thought perhaps we could talk for a little while.” Keeping eye contact with the child, she pulled a piece of dried meat out of her pack. She tore it in two the best she could. “Here. We can share.” She took a bite out of one half to show the child it was safe before offering her the other half. Take it. Trust me. I’ve been where you stand, little one, and I know it hurts.

[Wyatti]

Wyatti stared, her eyes watching the woman smile, her lips curling an element of concern and understanding. What was it the woman understood? Loneliness perhaps? She could not tell behind that reasuring smile of hers. Synthira spoke gently, no tone of anger in her voice, just calm almost maternal sounding tone. But she was not mother, nor would she ever be. Wyatti watched the woman rummage about in her pack, looking for something, still talking softly, with an offer of food. It was the curse of growth that made Wyatti nearly always hungry, so when the woman held the dried meat out before her the Kelvic's eyes narrowed.

"Here. We can share."

It was not suspicion in which the Kelvic looked at the food. It was the wrestling in her mind on whether she should or should not reach her hand out, to accept the offering or to turn it down. Wyatti swallowed. To take or not to take, that was the question. Her fingers for a moment reached forward, outstretched as if to grab it, before nerves got the better of her. Her hand recoiled and returned close. Her gaze averted, and her fingers clenched up, her lips for a moment moving as if she was trying to think of words to say. It was not that she did not trust the woman, she just found it rude to take from someone she barely knew. Wyatti slowly shook her head,

"I... I am..." she paused her eyes meeting the woman's "I am not hungry... but thank you."

She gave a quick, small smile, before looking back down, her fingers quietly drawing shapes on the ground, with a small frown forming upon her face.

[Synthira]

Synthira replaced the food in her bag, taken aback slightly. She could sense that there was something other than suspicion keeping her from accepting it. The Konti didn’t insist that she took it – she seemed smart enough, and Synthira figured she could get something to eat if she really needed it. The child had shrunk, though not physically. She had retreated, so to speak, into a sort of mental shell. She sat quietly, drawing pictures on the cold ground with silent fingers. Synthira wondered if there was some adult meant to be responsible for her. She seemed rather young, and they’d be worried about her. But she sensed from the child that the topic was a sensitive one, and she didn’t want to scare her away. She took a sudden interest in her worn leather boots, unsure of what to say. Certainly her own history was out of the question. After all, as a child she would have thought it very odd to hear a stranger spew out their life one winter morning. Questions about the child’s life only seemed to make her afraid. What was safe, but not silly? Synthira never knew what to talk about, so often she just remained silent. She’d only had older sisters, and she couldn’t think of a situation she could apply knowledge from. Finally, answers came, or so she hoped. A question. Yes, that was it, and one that couldn’t be answered with a shake of the head. “Tell me,” she said, grinning slightly, “What does someone as young as you have business doing in the old district of Zeltiva? It’s full of dusty buildings and narrow-minded, ancient scholars. Now, that’s hardly fun at all, is it?”

[Wyatti]

Wyatti knew Synthira was watching with wonder, a questioning look forming on her face. She heard the woman put the food away, speaking no words, pondering on what to do next. But Wyatti did stop drawing her little pictures, or moreover she was unable to stop herself, if she did then other thoughts would come rushing in.

“Tell me,” she smiled “What does someone as young as you have business doing in the old district of Zeltiva? It’s full of dusty buildings and narrow-minded, ancient scholars. Now, that’s hardly fun at all, is it?”

Wyatti paused for a moment, her finger having stopped moving, the invisible image she had drawn having been lost. Her finger lifted, her eyes narrowed, she had to focus herself, to choose her words carefully. Why was she here? Because she walked here, because she felt the call to leave, because this empty feeling would not leave. But why here specifically, she did not know, but it was most likely the want to explore, to look for what ever it was that kept calling out to her.

"I am..." she glanced up, drawing her eyes away from the ground, something she had a lot of difficulty doing so lately "I am... I am... going on an adventure..?"

Even the Kelvic questioned her own answer, but at the moment it appeared to be the only answer she could give. Until she found out what this calling was, this lacking that needed to be filled, she could not give another response.

[Synthira]

The child stuttered out an answer, hesitating slightly. Her speech was halting, almost hesitant. The konti couldn't help but smile. The girl's answer had sounded more like a question. Even so, she had torn her eyes from the ground, which was at least a sort of victory for Synthira. Adventure. It was alluring, wasn't it? Home was too comfortable, too safe. Perhaps the child, like her, was searching for the answer to a question she did not yet know. She did not press her luck further – any answer at all was generous from the girl, and she didn’t wish to pry. She was often shy herself, though she had no reason to distrust others as the kelvic had likely learned to. “An adventure, eh? I envy you. That sounds terribly exciting.” Adventures could be terribly exciting. They could also, however, be terribly dangerous. Synthira had no doubt that the child could fend for herself. likely she knows how to survive better than I do. the konti mused with a chuckle. “Do you find yourself going on adventures very often?” She asked, as the kelvic had made no reply to her last prompt. Keeping up a conversation had never been her strong suit. In fact, she was rather awful at it. Still, the child didn’t seem to mind her awkwardness terribly, and so she paid it little mind. Synthira caught in the corner of her eye a pair of guards. In her mind, she pleaded that they turn away over and over again. She was no doubt capable of convincing them that the two had a right to be there, but she didn’t want the trouble. Were poor kelvics never to escape the prejudice they faced from birth? She shook her head. This was supposed to be a kind city, a city open to all. Was there no justice in the world?

[Wyatti]

Adventure was indeed alluring, but this child had yet to learn of the dangers of adventuring, she would no doubt return broken and torn before any real answers were met. But as the Konti continued to speak, Wyatti kept her attention on her, she did not tear her eyes away as quiet words were exchanged.

“Do you find yourself going on adventures very often?”
"This... this is my first big one..."

But then the Kelvic's attention was drawn away, her ears twitched, her nostrils flaring. Her eyes scanned the scene, and her eyes narrowed down onto a pair of guards. Judging by the face of the woman, she had seen them too, with a small pleading look filling her face. They were milling about in the background, on patrol, keeping the streets safe. Wyatti shrunk down into herself, almost as if she was trying to make herself as small as possible. She did not like guards. Guards were never helpful, if anything they petrified her. Wyatti swallowed, her focus no longer on Synthira but only on them, a deep instinct making her ready to run, and to escape.

Go away, go away!

Her nostrils flared as they came closer, her tiny hands shaking, her lips trembling. She had to run, she had to get away, but... Her eyes glanced only briefly to the woman's, before they withdrew to focus on the ground. They were close now, too close, there was no doubt that the guards could see them, and soon questions would be asked. Where are your parents? You should not be out, why are you out? Where is your home? Go home! But Wyatti could not answer questions like that, it was an impossibility for her child mind to even comprehend the answers. Home was nowhere now, and the parents were scattered to the wind. She swallowed, and curled up into herself, her mind beginning for the guards to leave.

[Synthira]

It was too late to run now- the guards were approaching rapidly. They seemed to see through the konti, eyes narrowing at the younger girl. There were two of them, and they looked to be human. Synthira stood up and moved a little closer to the girl. She straightened slightly, trying to appear friendlier than she felt. The two stopped in front of the spire. One leaned down to be eye level with the child, smiling at her condescendingly. The konti could see the girl stiffen, her eyes afraid. “Where are your parents, little girl? It’s awfully early for you to be outside.” He said, voice like honey. “Yes, wouldn’t it be better if you were at home?” The other joined in, his voice more like a bark. The girl backed away slightly, and the konti stepped between her and the guards. She smiled sweetly. “My… sister… and I were only out for an early morning walk. She wanted to see the sunrise this morning, see, so I promised I’d wake her early. Surely that’s not wrong, officers?” She watched their minds turn. The brighter one inspected them both. One had lavender eyes, the other feline yellow-green eyes. One had white hair, the other dusty brown. The two were obviously different races. The taller guard chuckled. “Sisters, you said? You don’t look like sisters.” “We had different mothers.” Well, it was true. “You take care. Wouldn’t want any trouble.” The man said pointedly. “Oh, I’m sure we’ll be very careful to avoid trouble, sir. Thank you for your concern.” She watched the receding figures until she could see them no longer. The konti knew the guards were meant to protect the city, and sometimes they did. But they were more often a nuisance – nosing around, suspicious of certain types and altogether too lenient with others. She looked back at Wyatti. She looked a little shaken, but otherwise all right. She seemed a little surprised at Synthira’s way of handling the guards. “I’m sorry that I had to lie to them. It was all I could think of. But I’ve seen how people treat kelvics, even in this city.” She noticed with a smile that the sun was, in fact rising, and that it was a sight to behold.