[Flashback] The Eyes Are The Windows INTO A Soul

[Nya Winters]

Location: Lormar Tower Timestamp: Summer 507 AV Purpose: Hypnotism Practice & Forest Cat Lore When a human child is born into a human family, it is not incredibly hard for them to know what it is to be human. The truth is not necessarily the same for a kelvic child born into a human family. While her mother had done her best to teach her exactly what a Kelvic was due to her endless study on the issue when she'd fallen in love with one, there was not a whole lot Zilvia could do to help Nya determine what exactly it meant to be a forest cat. Instead, it was left to Nya to discover on her own. This wasn't an easy task. Forest cats were more native to Taldera than the Cobalts of Syliras, and they were dangerous to boot. So, it fell to Nya in her daily and even weekly prowls to study the species on her own, and learn what she could of them. Now, not unlike people and their peculiar form of intelligence, Forest Cats were thinking creatures as well. And since Nya had learned the art of Hypnotism, she felt there must be a way to combine this form of magic with the inherent study of something singularly dangerous to her well being. Not only was studying the forest cat good for her sense of self preservation, it was good for her ego as well. At home, she was the most powerful thing around - to the point she made her own mother and father nervous. But out in the wilds, there were other dangers... creatures equally as big and powerful as herself. And they were creatures that wouldn't hesitate to kill her, given the chance. So it was with that in mind that Nya set out in the guise of her forest cat form, to seek others of her kind and to learn what she could from them... including how intelligent they actually were in comparison. She wasn't long in finding out. Two days north of Lormar Tower, Nya stumbled into the territory of an older male cat. She was fortunate, for if she' d wandered into a females territory, she would not have been so easily tolerated. But being young, and somewhat dispersive herself, Nya moving through a male's territory was greeted but not openly chased out. Their first encounter was tense, and somewhat startling for Nya since she had no idea that Forest Cats, even without the use of human learned hypnotism, had a penetrating stare. The male stepped out of the brush in front of her and lowered his head, opening his eyes wide. Nya was caught up immediately in the stare. It was disconcerting that he so quickly caught her in his gaze, held her there, and judged her. What was even more damaging was how quickly he dismissed her. Young. Ignorant. No threat. He broke the gaze first, unconcerned and obviously well fed. Nya blinked, twitched her tail, and closed her eyes instinctively... a sign of her submission. The male stalked forward, and greeted her in the way of the Forest Cats - jaw to jaw - though his whole demeanor was that of a superior being lowering himself to acknowledge an inferior one. Nya repeated the gesture, and in the way of the feline language, offered him her name. <Nya.> The male snorted, even as Nya began to purr, and returned his own name. <Twisted Toes.> It was then she looked lower, seeing finally what his gaze had kept her from examining. He was lame in one foot. It looked like a bad break at one point, where one .. no two toes had been broken badly and healed back even worse. <Battle?> She asked... the big cat huffed, exhaling, and spoke again, using his body. He was starting to get agitated then... perhaps at the memory of whatever injured him. <Yes. Humans.> There'd be a fight soon, or at least a disagreement if she didn't act quickly. Nya planned on using hypnotism, because it was indeed a tool of control. Humans had used it and abused it throughout the years - and she planned to do no less. Through her djed, she was going to try and get the big male to accept her. Hypnotism was dangerous, utilized by not only the greedy but those willing to get what they wanted even through artificial means. Now Nya wasn't exactly selfish, but she needed knowledge of what it meant to be a forest cat, and this was the one way she could safely get that knowledge without anyone being hurt. The truth was, Nya planned on using the hypnotism for more noble purposes... helping broken minds... but those purposes would have to wait until she was better educated and knew more about even herself. So she tried suggestion first. Catching Twisted Toes eyes, Nya slipped the thought into his mind through her own potent gaze. "Young, harmless, and potential good hunting partner." It was a simple sort of suggestion, one the big cat probably had already made on his own. But she did force the issue, pushing the young and harmless a bit more than someone would perhaps initially think. Then she turned her mind back to the conversation. Humans, hunters... weapons. Nya twitched, fear flickering across her face. <Hate Weapons. Metal.. Especially Bows.> The big male agreed, then glanced around. <None here. You stay?> Nya said nothing for a while, thoughtful, and then passed on her agreement. <Yes. For a while.> Twisted Toes ran his tongue across her ear, nipped it, and nodded. <Hunt Together. Stay a while... maybe spring?> Nya said nothing, uncertain.... <A while. Maybe Spring.> And the agreement was made.