Three cups glitter, two cups blood, mix well (Satu)

[Mao]

26th Winter 510 AV On the edge of Sea of Grass and Wildlands Tag Satu It was a whim. It was an abrupt idea that came to fruition, that willed her legs forward, that sent the energy coursing through her body for the long days spent traveling across the plains. She ran and ran and ran, sensing Sanctuary disappearing behind her along with the smells that have become so natural and even welcoming. But it was a sense of loneliness that kept her going. She needed to explore and be free, lest she forget herself. Sometimes she would pause to rest. Sometimes she would trail prey across the tall grass and leap from a tall boulder, frightening a hare or a small critter to give her energy, even if a light snack. But she kept going, until she could remember the scents of the forest beyond, where the Wildlands lay… Where all her torment began. But she never fully crossed the boundary, she was still within the Sea of Grass, still avoiding the packs of glass beaks, but her exhaustion finally caught up with her. Mao lay with her head on her paws, breathing heavily and comfortingly the scent of fresh flora, of the light breeze that teased her coarse coat, and the earth beneath her paws. Her eyes wandered the clear night sky, content with just herself, until the scent of a predator caught her nose. Ears perked, head raised, and she growled. The darkness that enveloped the land would not hinder her vision. She saw something approaching, something that appeared so painfully human but the scent was like Kavala’s. But Mao’s legs ached and her head throbbed, she wanted to rest, not fight! So she did what she did best in the wake of a conflict, she intimidated.

[Satu]

She ran through the darkness, carefully trying not to stumble in the white, flowing dress. Every so often, the Konti’s head would turn to look behind her. One man was almost upon her, and the other two slightly further behind. Her pale skin glowed in the moonlight, as if they chased a beam of light through the grass. There was no doubt what they chased, so white was her hair. She turned then, to look upon her attackers, a frightened look upon her face. The nearest man caught up to her, arrogant in attitude and stance. He expected no fight from this one, just one more capture of a helpless Konti. He would have his way first with her, and then the others would get a turn before they sold her off. Lust, thick upon the air caught up to her, and she turned as he reached confidently for her. “Please no!” her soft voice spoke, but her eyes holding violent challenge could not lie. Hands hidden from him in the dark, she pulled out the twin suvai silently. They glowed, as did her eyes which suddenly flashed. Stupid men! She thought, so easily caught off guard by her lies of innocence. Using her dual wield, Satu spun and first slashed at his arm roughly, to send poison flowing through his blood. He yelled in surprise and pulled back, as the Konti’s other suvai barely nicked his neck. A growl came upon the night air, but no one noticed, for all the chaos surrounding them. Satu didn’t sense the foreign presence that was far deadlier than the four of them in the dark. Recovering his purpose, the first man lunged angrily for the suvai fighter, thinking he could still subdue her without his weapon, but she quickly spun out of the way, white fabric billowing around her as she turned. It looked as if an apparition floated upon the land. The two other men came running, but once more Satu attacked the lead man, with a lunge and then retreat. He was unprepared, and the attack left him struck once on the other arm, by the small suvai. She moved, gracefully dodging the additional men as they tried to grab her. Her feet lifted, and stepped softly in placement. Then she attacked again, with her dual wield at the second man, though she had to pull back to avoid the third from colliding with her and so did not connect. Satu felt no fear as she danced through the forms. These men were Weak! But the HeartSeer knew Weak men could still bring down the Strong of will… The men, laughed heartily, “Looks like we have ourselves a little fighter! She sidestepped, but came too close to one of the men and he struck her left arm with the flat of his sword so as not to injure her too greatly and reduce her value. Stumbling, but recovering quickly, Satu fought differently now. She had a coolness in battle that had settled since seeing Sagallius’ vision of war. These men were like the ones beyond the years, and the world was better without them. The Konti’s eyes shone, filled with the god’s purpose. And she would slaughter them like diseased animals. The fight intensified and built, with the suvai fighter slashing and retreating. The men fought naturally, having worked together for many years, though Satu moved more quickly if she simply focused on dodging them. But their heavier weight gave them advantage, especially if she extended herself for a strike. “Your passing will be rejoiced,” she said between gritted teeth as she trapped the second man’s blade between her two suvai, and began to twist it to break his grip upon it. But then, another came near and with a Myrian curse she had to disengage too soon. They had only wanted to disable and subdue her, so valuable was she that maiming was out of the question. The leader whistled. It was a low and piercing sound, and the men began to move in as one at the signal. This was their specialty. Previously they had been carefree in this kidnapping scheme, but now the men sported serious looks upon their faces. The time to end it was now. Especially since the man that had been stuck with the poisoned suvai, was beginning to feel a numbness creeping along the length of his arms. Satu could have bested each man individually, but there was not enough strength in her lithe frame to take on three men. Rarely had she even fought more than one opponent in an actual fight. In a rush, they moved as one, and Satu, stood regal before them, waiting. Her white hair drifted about her shoulders and down her back, but she refused to be intimated. Taunts and catcalls sounded, as the men tried to distract her. She fought silently. Before they had gone easy on her, but now a seriousness had crept into their focus. One of the men smacked her side with the flat of his sword to try and knock her off balance. She leaned in to jab a poisonous blow to another, but the third man was near enough to get a glancing blow upon her head. The hit was hard, and her head rung, even though it was only a grazing blow. Satu’s suvai spun rapidly before her. Let the bastards step into them! The men hesitated, but each held a rope. It was only a matter of time before she was pulled forcefully down. The breeze slowly blew, ruffling her hair and settling the white dress around her ankles.

[Mao]

The kelvic’s senses seemed to explode with the sheer conglomeration of voices, scents and sounds that impacted her. Mao’s growl intensified, having seen that her eyes had deceived her from so far away. The form she had seen was indeed a Konti, but she was being trailed. By men. The scent was unmistakable, and it made the hair on her neck and back stand on end. Fangs were bared and the hiss escaped her throat. She could not linger as the vile creatures took advantage of yet another that was not their own pathetic race. Mao stood and crouched low, using her pelt as an advantage in the darkened landscapes that comprised their location. Her eyes shone brightly under the light of the moon and her steps were careful, barely a sound was made over the racket the men and the girl made in the heat of the chase. The konti scent lingered in the air like a thread to follow, and at one point completely merged with the overwhelming scent of human. Mao continued, and watched as the men caught up with the lithe female, and a battle ensued. The kelvic was amazed by her grace and ferocity, like a natural predator, but of a kind Mao didn’t know was possible. But she could also discern that the ensuing quarrel was taking a toll on the girl, and it would not be long before she succumbed to the humans who outnumbered her. So when one of the men stumbled from the deft force of the konti’s weapon, Mao took her chance and acted upon it. She launched herself into the air, claws splayed mouth agape and powerful fangs sunk into the man’s skull with a sickening crunch. A scream tore into the air, as Mao held fast and viciously shook the man’s head until the skull split from the spine, and his severed head was tossed onto a bloodied patch of grass. The massive cat didn’t come out of that unharmed, however, the man had sunk his blade into her shoulder before his untimely demise, and it stung with a throbbing heat that sent her blood curdling. She whipped her head at the next man, who seemed utterly at a loss as to the abrupt and vicious end of his friend but the other companion was busy with the konti, and the cat was all that was left between him and his gold. He charged with his crude weapon and slashed the open air. Mao hissed and backed up, raking the sword with her claws. She heard a string of curses leave his lips and his blade was sent down at her back, catching her rump just before she bounded off. She howled in rage and whipped her body around to rake at the man once more, this time forming a deep gash in his side. It was a dance of feral survivability, but a test on who could place their feet right.

[Satu]

The Konti watched the ropes swinging from the man’s hands as they circled her. Soon they would try to pull her down onto the dark ground, and the Konti and the men all understood what would happen after that. Satu sunk lower into a defensive position; this was her last stand against them. The first rope was thrown, but it slid off her shoulder harmlessly and the other men, with lecherous smiles upon their faces, readied their ropes. The next heavy attack was likely to be the last as Satu was beginning to tire. She had taken a numbers of blows already, and with three attackers, it was just too many against her. So when one of the men neared, the suvai fighter leapt at him, using the last of her remaining energy to attack one last time. Her suvai circled rapidly and spun angrily, and Satu forced the man back and away from her, with a flurry of vicious attacks. She did not see the animal that pounced on the man in dark night, but there was no denying that the snarl was that of a very large and angry cat. And the screams that sounded over the grass came to an abrupt end after a bone sickening crunch. The Konti and the two men stared into the dark, and then at each other silently. The feel of a predator was in the air, and instinctually they froze. After a moment, one of the men turned to investigate, leaving Satu with her original attacker. A slow smile crept onto the Konti’s innocent face, for this was the man that had been punctured by her precious suvai, and to her trained eye, she knew he was feeling the effects of poison running through his veins. It was fortunate the man was injured, and that his arms were becoming heavier as the poison worked its way through them, for the Konti’s attention was pulled towards the feline and the other man, and to their sounds of rage and pain. But she pulled her focus to the task at hand. The man! Satu’s breath was raggedy as she turned then to the man. But the tables were turned, and tired as she was, she was not being slowly poisoned. The advantage was hers! And with violence in her eyes, she attacked; any mercy that had ever been in her Heart long gone. She turned and with her duel wield, lunged first with the right hand, slashing an angry strip along his side as he tried to back pedal, and his shirt rode up. “You are nothing,” she declared as the second weapon swung around to slash at his face. His arms fell useless as he tried deflecting her, so he back pedaled instead, and tripped. Satu laughed, “…and the hunter becomes the hunted.” Dropping down next to him in the grass, he tried to edge away from her as she sat near him. All his bravado was now gone and a wet stain spread across his hips. A pathetic man! Satu wanted to toy with him, this slaver, but the sounds of the terrible fight between the second man and the feline distracted her. Dark shapes, intertwined and battled and the instinctual side of her mind, said, run! Run! But another part of her wanted to see; the Konti was drawn to the violence and anger that swirled around the pair. As if an afterthought, Satu turned back to the man and simply slit his throat. For the emotions called her, whispering and beckoning. And she stood. At Sagallius’ calm suggestions weeks before, Satu had let go of her own most powerful emotions to better interact with the world, but now that she had changed, she still desired to feel those same strong emotions through others that surrounded her.

[Mao]

As Satu twirled and danced her way to victory in a flurry of blades so uncommon in such strange lands, Mao was busy exerting her opponent to the brink of collapse. She used a hit and run tactic, swiping at him constantly, as he shadowed her every move, obviously finding himself clearly amazed that he was face to face with an enormous jaguar, and one that did not take lightly to bandits who trespassed her land. She roared as he approached, momentarily stunning him. But he did not back away. He charged, and she did as well, pushing her back legs roughly against the ground, spraying particles of dirt and grass in her wake as she collided with the body of the slaver. They tumbled and crushed the tall stalks, and Mao, using her enormous fangs found the exposed throat of her victim and bit down. Blood spurted from the exposed jugular, and the kelvic’s coat was drenched. She held and shook just as her last victim, wrenching skin from bone and muscle, and was content to hear the pathetic gurgling and last breaths of the vile human. A long pink tongue wiped the dripping blood from her maw, and she glanced up, with illuminated green eyes, to watch the Konti girl. They were perhaps fifteen feet apart, but Mao made no move to approach. She was crouched, for even these white women were known to hide weapons and decieve as easily as surrounding environment held horrors in the shadows. Kavala had shoved her into a cage, shot her with poisons that numbed her body, who was to say that this Konti did not also hold such malicious thoughts? But she had seen her fight; she had seen her strength and her agility. Her will was strong, and Mao could sense no fear on her. But she stood where she was, and she watched, for she only wished to know if this girl held as much fascination for her as Mao did for the girl. After what seemed like several chimes, the kelvic jaguar made her first move, and she circled Satu, keeping her distance, growling softly, but not threateningly, unsure whether or not to approach.

[Satu]

The large cat circled, paws silent in the grass. Satu turned with it slowly, watching in case it should suddenly leap to attack her. Why had it not attacked yet, what did it wait for? Its green eyes flickered in the night, and her sapphire eyes tried to take in the length of it. In the dark, she could barely make out the blood stains upon its chest. Two of the slavers were dead by its fangs and claws, and Satu was glad of it. But was she to be next? The Konti waited, ready to react. Its size reminded her of the large cats of Falyndar, the Myrian Tigers. But then Satu’s HeartSense flared and she felt the cat’s…Fascination? Satu’s eyes narrowed… Fascination. She felt the same. Hesitancy filled her, she wanted to observe this cat, but caution spoke loudly in her mind. Fascination… the cat circled and Satu turned again, not giving ground. The suvai were secure in her hands, though little good they would do against a cat that size. Her eyes rested on the nearest slaver, the last one the cat had mangled. And Satu turned then and drifted nearer him. She moved surly and softly, with the confidence of a trained fighter, secure in her limbs and in her steps. Kneeling down, still watching the feline, Satu placed her pale, scaled hand upon the man’s blood soaked chest. He was dead, and Satu nodded, satisfied. She stood then, blood dripping from her hand unnoticed; she smiled, a purely honest and true expression from within. Oddly, a strange sense of ease filled her, though there were no explanations as to why. The cat loomed only a short distance away. The Jaguar’s Heart was easy to read… Fascination. But underneath it, Anger. Rage. Boldness. These emotions filled Satu’s Heart wonderfully and her eyes flared. How she had missed them! The Konti breathed them in, welcoming the powerful feelings. Anger! Strength! She breathed deeply again! She wanted it closer…Fierceness! And Satu’s Heart beat loudly. Something made her boldly take one step closer. Lifting her delicate hand, she held it, fingers spread, and palm out to the beast. It was still coated crimson from the man’s blood and it dripped slowly onto the grass. Satu’s white dress picked up in the night’s breeze, and billowed around her violently, only to settle feather soft around her ankles as it diminished.

[Mao]

There was something acutely different about this Konti. She was not like Kavala. Kavala was a healer, she had never seen her fight with these weapons this girl now held, she had never seen…the blood that coated the girl’s hands, like that of a murderer. A killer. Could it be? That there was something in the white seer that was somehow familiar? That she fought so viciously, as if she had become callous and hardened over the months; it was familiar. It reflected Mao’s life over the seasons. Fighting and killing and running, all one after the other, and the event that had transpired just now seemed to mimic her very history. Something prickled underneath the kelvic’s coarse fur, and she paused as the Konti moved toward the corpse of the maimed slaver, and touched it, as if she wasn’t sure whether or not he was truly deceased. Mao’s tail flicked back and forth, the telltale signs of a curious cat, but one that would definitely be unfit for someone’s lap. Her eyes had roamed Satu’s own, unblinking, static. She watched as the scaled girl approached, growled even, when her slender hand extended as if to pet her. Mao lifted her nose, inhaling the scent of the Konti and savoring what a distinct smell it was. Of musk and fragrance and blood. It mingled well, and Mao wanted more. So when the white hand was but a few mere inches away from her nose, Mao darted her pink tongue out and lapped up the blood from her palm, then she touched her, with the tip of her nose. Her green eyes, as pale and luminous as the moon on this night saw something in Satu that clicked. If Mao believed in the power of fate then fate had done her well, for she stood among someone that would potentially fill the void that carved a crater in her heart. The body of the jaguar disappeared in a flurry of lights, and a woman stood, naked and exposed, with the same green eyes that were so transfixed on the Konti’s own. She grabbed Satu’s hand and brought it straight to her heart. “Was it you I have been waiting for?”

[Satu]

Jaguar! Satu watched in the dark, as its tail flicked, and its growl sounded through the night. Somehow the cats warning did not frighten the Konti. Instead it pulled her ever closer, and called to her in some mysterious way, like the wild jungle had called to her in Falyndar. But this message was stronger, more real and spoke directly to her Heart. The Konti cocked her head to listen to the message so hauntingly out of reach. And when the jaguar licked clean the blood that coated her pale hand, and its wet nose touched her palm, Satu felt as if she had been touched by someone intimately familiar. Like a lover. The girl found herself staring into the cats green eyes, and she waited, though she was uncertain why. Lights suddenly erupted around the jaguar, beautiful lights, bright and twinkling. The unexpected brightness surprised her, and Satu blinked to see so many. And there, a girl stood before her where the cat had previously been, looking at her with those same searching eyes. “Ahhh,”Satu breathed in understanding, she had seen Kelvics before, but never one that had acted quite this way. The girl took her hand and Satu did not shy away from the touch as it was placed atop the Kelvic’s Heart. Satu’s eyes widened. Did the girl know that she was a HeartSeer? Her eyes lowered to their clasped hands, where a man’s blood slid slickly between their palms. It appeared they were making a pact of some kind. Blue eyes blinked into green as they studied each other and Satu breathed outward, her voice magical and musical, “You are perfect. In either form.”And a smile began to form, “You have been waiting? For me?” she wondered aloud, surprised at how much this pleased her. Satu pulled nearer. “Do you know what I am? Do you know what I must do?”Her eyes questioned, “The path is dark…” She needed allies. Is that what this one was? But she did not understand the feelings that had already surfaced for this Animal-girl. Satu searched her own Heart. The girl was already in it, it was as if magic and mystery suddenly surrounded her. Intrigued and curious, the Kelvic was close, barely a step away. The HeartSeer had no words, for she was touched on an entirely different level than ever before. Tendrils of something worked its way through her, but it was a comfortable feeling, and she allowed its touch and its comfort as it enfolded her sweetly. “You touch my Heart… but without touch?”she whispered, almost untrusting of the inner sensation. But those green eyes held her own, as if the girl knew what this was. The Konti did not, but she felt the girl’s emotions, Relief. Yearning. …Even Sorrow. Understanding was slow to come to the Konti, but her Heart softened more, each minute she stood connected to the girl, and she asked kindly, “What have you done?”

[Mao]

Satu’s fingers were warm against her cold skin. But no matter the cold breeze Mao felt no chill run down her bones. Adrenaline kept her warm, as was the heat of the scaled girl’s own body so close to hers. She was beautiful. An apparition in the dead of night, illuminated by Leth’s grace and immaculacy marred by the blood that coated her hands. And Mao wanted her. She wanted her so badly it tug at her core. She knew this sensation! The same one that coursed through her the moment she felt the connection to Navis. It was the threads of the bond that were called forth in her revelation, and Satu was to become the destination. The kelvic’s inner want reached out, like phantom limbs and clutched onto the Konti. She was hers, hers if she allowed it, hers until the day Mao died. And in response, the kelvic’s lips curled into a smile. A sharp hand reached up, stroking Satu’s cheek, tenderly, lovingly. She would not harm this skin. She was hers, this girl who had not yet spoken her name. The fighter. Mao's head cocked at Satu’s words, “I have found you… My life-bond. I will follow you into the darkness, no matter where you go.” She remarked, her eyes bright with renewed happiness. She had done it, when she questioned her own fragility in the wake of being bondless. When she found herself alone and craving love and trust. When all hope was lost, the Konti stumbled forth, the cards played, the path laid out so effortlessly that Mao felt, amazingly, as if she was in a dream. “The Bond extended, and you received it.” Mao explained, squeezing Satu’s graceful hand. “You and I, we are connected now, in here.” She touched the delicate skin above the Konti’s own heart. “You are my bondmate… I will protect you with my life. I will take you anywhere you wish to go… I only ask that you not leave me alone… I don’t think I can survive being alone.” There was a sorrow in her voice that strained her throat, and her eyes, once lingering on Satu’s vibrant blue turned to the ground. Then almost abruptly, she glanced up, “My name is Mao. Tell me what to do…and I will do it.”

[Satu]

“No sadness Mao,” Satu purred and the Konti held the sound of the name in the back of her throat. Mao… Almost it sounded like a pleased cat. “No more sorrows, for either of us, ever again.” With a voice light like the sun, she said, “I am Satu, and we are connected. Already… so strongly! You will stay by my side, to be led.” Satu announced with a soft nod, and closed her eyes, still immersed within the depth of feeling, the bond solidifying in spirals within her consciousness and beyond it. Finally the Konti looked at Mao again, and a knowing gaze shown in the blue of her eyes. “You have saved me from filthy men,” she nodded toward the dead slavers. “I would in turn save you. And take you in, to lead and guide you. In payment for that...” The logic might have appeared flawed to others, but to Satu it made perfect sense. Satu would save Mao from whatever other fate she was bound for before their intimate meeting. And now with the bond formed, it was unlikely she would allow the Kelvic to leave her regardless. Mao’s touch furthered the connection, deepening with each fall of her fingers upon the Konti’s skin. The slight pressure warmed Satu as Mao caressed her cheek and held her webbed, white hand. Satu did not worry, nor was she frightened. The Kelvic before her was indeed a deadly beast, but she was also a simple girl. Satu understood that duality of “deadly innocence,” better than most. For in her subconscious, the Konti knew she was the same, it was her inner nature as well. “Mao. I see you. In a way you have never been seen before. I understand you as no one else can. We are light and darkness, and we shall dance!” And Satu in turn stroked the girl’ hair, to feel and pet it, and to link more closely with her. The Konti’s eyes were intent, “We have work to do Mao, much work ahead of us. I will need your help. You are strong, ready. I could not have chosen better.” She leaned in then to smell the dark hair, a mixture of night grass and animal scent. To her tresses she whispered, feeling the silkiness upon her cheek, “You are not alone. You are mine. Forever…” and she pulled her closer into a tight embrace, forgetting in the swirl of emotions that the girl was injured. = = = = = = They were not alone on the grassland. A white haired golem stood in the dark, only a short distance away silent and unmoving. It appeared frozen, as if it waited for some word or signal.