Swallowed by shadows

[Tenzin]

One of the males was clearly spirit-touched, but she could not spare it focus beyond consideration that, by his manic laughter, it might be necessary to put him down too, should he prove uncontrolled.

Foe fell quickly to the urumi, and faster still with the tongues of rippling fire she witnessed from the corner of her eye. Kalari was nature’s dance, and Tenzin was barely winded by the time her blade stopped singing, for it seemed whatever made the creatures smell bad also made them frenzied. When stillness descended but for the sound of breathing, she wrapped the spring sword back around her waist, snug against the protective leather circling there. The urumi was an easy weapon to hide. It would need cleaning, but for now she thought it best to make herself less fearsome, especially given the wide eyes of one of the males. She did not particularly wish them to consider her but another foul creature of this place.

For a moment her dark gaze found the fallen oni amongst the bloodied remains of the chupes, remarking quietly on the manner of its death. She had seen spirit-touched in Leh, but they were not taught to fight like that.

“Stupid,” she said to the two, then. “Bad place for date.”

The one who fell to his hind end reeked of fear, despite thick muscle. The undercity was a witless place to wander, though the cover of its darkness enticed many to the promise of its shadowy arms. She could think of more fragrant places for mating rituals, and neither had the look or smell of those forced to call such a den home. They were lost or foolish, or both. Dark eyes absorbing them now, nostrils flaring with their scent, she decided it was both. 

She offered a hand to the fallen male, aware he might not take it given her blood-soaked facade. Though she had just saved their lives. In any case it was meant as a conciliatory gesture, assurance that she intended them no harm, but she would not be offended if he reared away. They had seen how sharp her teeth were, and though they were not bared now, sometimes humans entirely missed such subtle communication.

“Won’t hurt. Not unless monster. Are you?” Her teeth showed a smile, brow raised in humour. Of course, Tenzin did not hunt such people unless she was given due reason, and self-defence was not one of them. Black eyes found the other, accusation plain, but not threat. She was not singed by the wielding of his power, and if the peal of his laughter had sounded odd amidst the jets of blood and severed limbs, she could hardly judge all things given. Besides, she smelled no threat; in fact, the strongest thing he smelled of was plain lust.