Svasra strolled at a leisurely pace midst the maze of the Smoldering Embrace, soaking up the warmth of the fire and the gentle company of others. She couldn't help but admire the metalwork of the fire, gazing at it in an absent manner that sent her eyes flickering wild colors. The young woman smiled, settling herself on one of the benches. "Svasra!" a light voice called, drawing her gaze to a group of females around her age. Svasra politely smiled and waved to the other Snowsongs, who wished her a happy birthday in a singing quartet. Blushing, Svasra ducked her head, waving a thanks suitable for the girls who burst into giggles and danced away to the darkness of the maze beyond, most likely hunting for treasures. For a moment, the newly twenty-one year old woman was able to be content with the flickering fire and the streaks of Morwen's Lights that had begun to emerge. Lost in their silent beauty, it was no wonder she never noticed the shadow that crept up behind her.
After a few bells Svasra knew the perfect compliment to such a day that had began with her storytelling at the Diamond, then home with her parents to a delicious meal from Winterflame . . . The Vantha reached into her pocket with an eager glint in her eyes, feeling for the pastry she'd kept safely tucked in, not wanting to risk the treasure to fall out. Although it was fairly small, and not filling at all, Svasra knew she would buy another the moment her money and the chef allowed it. If he went off without leaving the recipe and some directions as to where the ingredients could be found ... well Svasra would be mighty depressed. Mouth watering in the waiting moments, Svasra's fingers came up with ... nothing.
Now excitement turning to alarm, Svasra took off her mitten to search for it more thoroughly, now even patting herself down and looking in the other pocket ... checking her boot!! The Snowsong was crushed to feel that it was no where, and almost burst into helpless tears. Well, perhaps not that much, but Svasra was quite sad. She reluctantly looked down to see the hole that it must have fallen out of . . . and found nothing. Again. Peering at it critically, Svasra checked both pockets for holes, though they were in good repair - which aligned with Svasra's memories of her coat. "I knew I didn't have any holes," she muttered dourly.
At a loss, Svasra looked around glumly, as though someone would race up saying they found this delectable pastry and wanted to at least share it with someone if not return it to her. A jerking movement out of the corner of her eye drew Svasra's gaze to a young girl, who appeared no older than sixteen at best. For a moment their eyes met, Svasra's sad, the girl wide-eyed. The girl seemed alarmed to find herself watched, and was swift to hide the package she held, turning away and practically running out of Svasra's sight.
Svasra was about to let it go, if it was her pastry then . . . it was. Almost. It was her birthday, though, and had gone great up until now! Svasra would not let some puny kid ruin it! Rising, Svasra politely called to the child as she scurried away, though the girl didn't even look back as she broke into a run. Suspicion now melting into irritation, Svasra took after the girl.
The maze was confusing, and winding, though the sound of the girl's boots pounding the ground was enough to keep Svasra on track. The black hair streaming out from around a corner turned her just in time. As she whirled one direction to another, Svasra tried to keep track of general direction, as she had a running idea of which paths at least led to the wilderness. The girl, though, was blind to such thoughts as she barreled on, racing with a surprising amount of speed.
Svasra was no runner, having spent most of her life in the comfort of home and a pen, and easily found herself out of breath and lagging behind the younger girl. She kept going though, the now peaking anger fueling her adrenaline and forced her feet to move. "HEY!" she finally huffed out, though it was mangled in her gasps of breath and flailing arms. She rounded the corner full tilt. And ran into her.
The girl had run into one of the many dead-ends in her headlong streak, and was currently facing Svasra in plans of worming her way around as the girl fell into confusion of back-pedeling. Instead though, Svasra just ran into her, and instinctively caught the girl to prevent her from falling over with Svasra's force. The girl struggled but was smaller than Svasra, and she kept hold of her for the few moments to recollect her thoughts. "Stop," Svasra said sharply - as sharp as a woman out of breath could be.
The girl grumbled and struggled some more until Svasra grabbed her shoulders and shook the child slightly. "Give it back," Svasra demanded.
"Give what back?" the girl shot back, eyes full of simmering discontent, though she fell still. Not lessening her hold, Svasra shook her head.
"I don't want to have to get the Icewatch involved, you're a kid and don't need that reputation hanging over your head -- I will not just sit around though and let you steal from me though," Svasra said firmly, now regaining her full breath (and dignity).
"You think I care?" was the retort, though it had a wary edge that Svasra easy caught.
"I know you do," Svasra said, narrowing her gaze at the girl. "What's your name?"
"What's it to you?"
"You seem to not want to talk about stealing from me, and I'm not going to let you go until I get my pastry back, so we might as well chat," Svasra said with a casual shrug. The girl rested her head against the cool wall of the maze, and turned her eyes to the sky.
"Ithnie, what my friends call me," she mumbled.
"Not your real name?"
"No."
"Fair enough."
"Yours?"
"Why do you want to know?" Svasra asked with an arch of her eyebrow, Ithnie settling her gaze on Svasra with an amused smirk.
"Might as well make conversation, because I'm not guilty."
"My friends call my Ria," Svasra said, though it was a lie. She had never really heard anything but her name . . . except perhaps Storyteller by some patrons.
"Ria, eh?"
"Yeah."
"Liar."
"Prove it."
"After you." Svasra chuckled, appreciating the wit of the child, though she offered no proof. What did it matter to the thief?
The two chatted for a few bells, on absent manners such as age, Hold. She was almost positive the child lied about most of them, which Svasra said nothing about. Honest about her own answers, Ithnie seemed surprised to learn it was Svasra's birthday today, dropping her gaze briefly with a furrow between her brows. One point for Svasra.
"Now, Ithnie, I don't want to keep you all night. If you could return my birthday present to myself, we can both be off."
"I didn't do it," Ithnie said firmly, though her shifting gaze gave off an uneasiness that Svasra was not about to walk away from.
"Really now?"
"Really, why do you think I did?"
"Because, if you didn't, then you would have proven it much longer ago."
"How?"
"By emptying your pockets."
"... I can do that."
Svasra laughed softly, and took her hands off the girl, which she'd kept lightly on her shoulders this entire time. Taking a step back, the woman shrugged and made an elaborate offer for Ithnie to try. Ithnie looked slightly uneasy and put her hands into her pockets, groped around, took out a few items - which she dropped onto the ground - and then raised her empty hands. Svasra kept a passive look, and watched the girl carefully, before she took the girl's hand into her own. "What are you doing?!" Ithnie growled, trying to jerk back. Svasra held tight.
A honey pastry exposed to heat, even the gentle heat of the body or a distant fire, is bound to melt slightly and come off. The parchment, though effective in keeping the honey contained, was prone to leaking as it wasn't tied - only wrapped around the pastry. One of the reasons Svasra wanted to eat the pastry quickly upon entering the warm atmosphere of the Smoldering Embrace, as she knew the honey would have begun to leak. Taking it out of her pocket could have gotten some of the honey on the thief's fingers.
Running her fingers along the younger Vantha's, Svasra felt the sticky quality on her fingertips, and appeared very accomplished. "I think you did it," she said, pressing the sticky patches, feeling the pull as she dropped the girl's hand. Ithnie hesitated and shifted her weight. She looked away, and frowned.
"No I didn't," she muttered helplessly, though Svasra walked forwards and just reached into her pocket. Ithnie didn't move, and Svasra found the sticky pastry inside, holding it up for the girl to see as she felt a flash of happiness in her chest. I got it!! Oh, sweet Morwen, all the money is not wasted! Glory be! I cannot wait- Svasra's elation fell though in the face of Ithnie's obvious despair.
"W-what's wrong?" Svasra asked hesitantly, looking at the girl.
"Nothing, I'll go now," Ithnie muttered, moving to push past Svasra. Holding firm, Svasra looked down at the pastry and back at the girl who stared at her boots. It's my birthday though ... her mind protested reluctantly.
The girl slunk away with her head down, licking the honey off her fingers as she moved off. Svasra watched her with a mild bout of concern. She was twenty-one, not much older than the Vantha who walked away sadly. She knew how much she spent of this, how much she cherished it ... how much a child would have wanted such treats. Svasra remembered what it was like to be a confused child, to just want a break in the menial task of living day-to-day trying to find your place in the world. She remembered what it was like to be Ithnie.
No, perhaps, she didn't steal. Some children got desperate ... after all, they were just kids. Svasra had no plans to tell the Icewatch about what transpired, but perhaps she could do one more thing to help this kid out.
"Hey ... kid, let's share," Svasra said suddenly. Ithnie's gaze jerked up, wheeling around, suspicion obvious as she peered at the older Vantha.
"What?"
"I said, let's share. I might as well. We both worked hard to taste this," she joked. Multiple times she tried to come up with the anger to penalize the young Vantha, but always fell short. She was young. Naive. Just wanting to try something outside of the ordinary. Svasra saw too much of herself in young Ithnie to just turn away and eat it herself. Was that wrong?
She didn't think so. "You don't have to," Ithnie said, a bout of shyness overtaking her previously forward personality.
"I want to," Svasra said firmly, turning away to walk back to the Smoldering Embrace. Ithnie fell into step beside her.
"Why?" Svasra looked to the girl, and smiled.
"Because, Ithnie, I think a little pastry this late at night, by the warmth of the fire and the light of Morwen, couldn't hurt."
" ... I stole from you," Ithnie said quietly, looking away from Svasra as they walked.
"Are you sorry for it?"
"No." Here, Svasra paused and tilted her head at the girl, mildly surprised at that answer. Ithnie looked up to Svasra, though there was no rebellious glint from what she could tell.
"I'm not sorry because somehow, I found someone that I admire, willing to share something they had worked hard for with a little Vantha too ignorant to realize the effort gone into a small pastry." Svasra smiled at Ithnie.
"That is why I'm choosing to share, Ithnie."
"Call me, Issia, that's my real name."
"I'm Svasra."
"I'm sorry."
"No you're not, and I'm okay with that."
