[ P ] wooden angels

Satu stood very still in the dappled sunlight filtering through the conifers, listening to the burgeoning sounds of life fill the forest as the morning light settled in, and she took one, large, deep breath, and let it out slowly. With that breath, some of the agitation she had built up upon her recent trip into town began to dissipate. She felt her muscles loosen, her jaw unclench. It was always hard for her to be in throngs like that, in absolute messes of humanity that were so loud, so close. She always came away from them seized up, like one giant muscle cramp. Their problems were idiotic, their desires were false, their needs were uninteresting. She did it when she had to, but it was clear to everyone who knew her - and those were a rare few, indeed - that she was not meant for stone pathways and crowds. And they were probably happy to see the back of her.

Her ears tilted at a distant sound: a bird? She heard the rustle of distant needles snapping: a deer? She opened her eyes slowly, letting the sunlight warm her fur. She had been here many times before. In her profession - if one could call it that - it was her job to know every turn, every tree, every path. She had mental maps that were more complicated than any map found in a book. She'd memorized most of the animal migrations, and her clients in town outfitted her with food and medicines for her knowledge, which was all she needed - and wanted - and was available, really, in Da'Ira.

She let out another breath, deep and slow, and she picked a path and set down it.

Sunrise broke over bright evergreens, and Kismet's path took her beyond the borders of town. Trade was only as good as the goods you had to offer - though Da'Ira was built foolishly upon the back of bartered generosity, she would not be remiss to trade in more material goods. If nothing else, it would endear the merchants to her moreso than they already were, as she played the generous Head who donated towards the community pool. Kismet played the long game, and the pieces had been worn smooth by her practiced hand. Sometimes, though, she was still pleasantly surprised by an opponent's move. And so it was as she rounded a corner, and a flash of familiar fur brought her up short.

Creams and silvered browns cast over a form forged in adversity. Sadie? Senri? No. Satu. The ranger woman. She often came into town for supplies and information, speaking rarely and interacting as rarely as possible given her goals. Kismet had seen her around, as she was often in town herself, but she couldn't recall if they'd ever spoken more than a few words to one another.

No matter. Kismet latched onto the mental confirmation and cast her expression into one of warm surprise. Brows up, expression unguarded, body loose and momentarily stiff, but not unwelcoming. As if she'd been startled and then greeted by a welcome sight, her muscles loosened as soon as she knew she'd been spotted in turn. "'Oh, Satu!" Her ears dipped, a warm nod of acknowledgement. "'Hello."

Couldn't come on too strong here. The female had a reputation for silence, ruthless competence clothed in awkward avoidance of social niceties. Kismet's usual bubbly, hyperactive friendliness was only likely to spark disdain. Instead, the Head of the Cabinet sighed, as if relieved. Her tone thereafter was a calmer, gentler offering. "'Would you mind if I accompanied you? Just for a bit," she hastily reassured. "'I'm nowhere near as familiar with these woods as you probably are, and I just...wanted to get out of town for a bit, you know?"

She blinked at the other, her expression vaguely hopeful, even as she bit her tongue to avoid selling the point too dearly. Sometimes, silence was golden - and Kismet was well acquainted with coin.

table by ferus, image by cassdoodles, bg from unsplash

It seemed that Satu's time alone would be brought abruptly to an end. Moments had passed - minutes - maybe half an hour, not really long at all - and suddenly the scent of another clouded the pristine pine perfume and caused her to draw up short. It took a split second for her to recognize the figure that now stood in her path. Of course Satu would know their new Head - better than she knew their new Hand, whom she had met not long before. She liked Aphelion, and she did not dislike Kismet. She hardly knew her. But Kismet was impossible to ignore, seeing as she was nearly everywhere, all at once. Even Satu had been introduced to her before in town, though the exchanges had been brief at best, as was her preferred way.

"Oh, Satu! Hello." Satu took in a minute breath and steeled herself, but Kismet appeared to be on a more even energy caliber today than she sometimes appeared in the city. In fact, the words were downright normal. "Hello," she responded after a moment, somewhat warily returning the nod. She felt a little like a cornered animal, out here in the woods, wanting to be alone, and now finding it very hard not to be. Maybe she should have said more, but for often preferring to say nothing, one word was better than she thought she'd start out with. And, anyway, it did not take long for Kismet to sigh and proffer further verbiage. "Would you mind if I accompanied you? Just for a bit. I'm nowhere near as familiar with these woods as you probably are, and I just...wanted to get out of town for a bit, you know?"

Fuck. That was the first ineloquent thought that crossed her mind in response. Again, it was not that she disliked Kismet, but she disliked people, especially when she was trying to have her designated solitude. This was exceedingly inconvenient timing. But this was not just a random Da'Iran, this was their new Head, and there was something to be said for that. There was also the fact that Kismet appeared to be trying to find solace here the same way she was, except not as expertly going about it. Satu could not fault another for wanting the same things she wanted, in the end. She let the silence tick on for perhaps a moment too long, weighing her options, before she said, trying to keep the grumble out of her voice, "I understand wanting your alone time."

A few seconds passed as Satu took the measure of Kismet. Oh, how she did not want to be here, but how she had to be here. Fine. This was fine. She'd get over it, and soon enough Kismet would tire of the woods and go back to the town, and Satu would be alone again. She took a fortifying breath. "Come," she said with a small frown. She gestured for Kismet to follow her as she unceremoniously started walking again right past her, following a near-invisible path she knew well. She would be damned if this interruption meant she couldn't check the deer trails she had been planning on. If Kismet wanted the woods, she'd get the woods, but on Satu's terms.