The day was coming to an end, those setting binary suns painting the beautiful desert sky a bright crimson. A lone inquisitor walked down a busy street being overlooked by that giant cranium in the distance. Those necromantic thralls shuffling behind her. The work of a member within the inquisitorial branch was never over-- Not truly. The hours spent uprooting insurgents, being sent on missions, and interrogating suspects left Niazmina with little time for anything else.
The burseti’khlani spent any afforded free time looking for her family or at least any news of them. The previous collapse of the Sands had misplaced her mother and brother and had resulted in the death of her father who now served as her thrall. That harsh period of time within this desert, no matter how short it was; had been no place for a lone woman and her young child. Within this vast city, she had set up a route, asking the many establishments for any sighting of the two. So far, it had yielded no fruit; and this jackal had reached her last stop for the evening.
Sandy ears flicked as it heard the indistinguishable chatter of people within the tavern, her boots sounding against the stone floors as Niazmina walked to the person manning the bar. The inquisitor brought forth a piece of papyrus with a sketch of the two people she was looking for that she had commissioned a while ago.
“Have you seen these people recently?" She inquired, inwardly desperate for any information about them despite the cool exterior that had been put up.
"Haven't seen them, sorry." He spoke with a shake of his head before turning to address a customer.
Niazmina's heart plummeted, but still muttered a word of thanks before stepping outside the building. Sinking down on the raised sandstone foundation, the canine buried her face into her palms. She had been to hundreds of locations, within and outside of Nirvana. It had been too long without a word about them and the likelihood of them being dead, as well as her hopelessness; grew with each passing day. She missed her mother's warm embrace and the silly antics of her little brother, Hassan. There had been more news on her bastard half-sister, and that mer was the least of her concerns at the moment. Seating her thralls, she would sit with them for a while, refraining from holding her deceased father's hand lest the non-bader'kerkhan pedestrians judge her. The necromancer blinked back her tears, not yet ready to accept her loved ones' passing.
Cricket broth didn’t sound too appetizing but she didn’t have any other options. She did as told, taking a seat at the small table and waiting for the bowl. She was happy to hear that the food was for her, and was grateful that this kind woman took her in, at least for now. She had a few questions for her, but she saved it until after her meal. Once she was given a bowl and a spoon, she took it and immediately shoveled a few spoonfuls of the broth into her mouth.
The woman spoke up and grabbed Perna’s attention momentarily, just long enough for her to come up with an answer. “No. I’m alone.” The girl paused, thinking back to what happened. “Who were those people next to you? They look weird.” She returned to her meal as she would listen to the woman’s response. She had her eyes on her, noticing that she was quite pretty. So it was strange when she realized that she too appeared to be alone.
When Perna finished, she found herself to still be hungry but not quite as much. So she’d wait to ask for more, should there be any left, choosing instead to listen to this woman and think of more questions to ask, as she was quite curious about her. Especially why she decided to bring her into her home, rather than leave her out there as so many other people have done. It may be possible to get more food from here later, if the woman would let her.
The fear of accepting the loss of her family suffocated the jackal. She couldn't give up on the search. Her mother and Hassan needed her. This warrior would muster her courage and try again tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that. However long it took. It was then that her fluffy ears would pick up on the shuffling of feet approaching her. Looking up, Niazmina saw an unkempt scrawny child approach her. The once sorrowful silver eyes now stared quizzically at this blonde, unsure of what was happening. The kid looked grubby and starved. Where were her guardians?
"Hey kid, where are your paren-" That sentence was cut short as the young kitsune's knees buckled. Niazmina instinctively sprang into action, catching the canine and cushioning that cranium before it could hit the ground. "Kid!" The inquisitor called out in alarm. Onlookers gawked as they passed, whispering to one another and acting as though they cared about this pitiful juvenile, but not once did anyone stop and offer help.
Although this necromancer excelled at the attachment of limbs and other extremities on her thralls-- she was no doctor. The little medical knowledge she did have would probably not help here, but the vulpine was still breathing. That was a good sign. Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself before proceeding to examine the lilliputian. Pressing her ears against the fox's chest, the jackal could hear a strong, steady pulse. She sighed in relief. The poor thing was probably just fatigued and in need of rest and nourishment. Keeping a firm grasp on the youngster, she stood up, beckoning for her thralls to rise as well. This little girl in her arms was as light as a feather, making Niazmina's eyebrows furrow in concern. This macabre group would retire to their place of residence for now with their little guest in tow.
---
The kid had been laid on the single mattress inhabiting this small space. There were spare blankets, but this inquisitor refused to lay her guest on the floor. The kid was filthy, and both the girl and the sheets would need a thorough cleaning whenever she decided to wake up. The smell of food permeated the air as the jackal prepared a simple cricket broth which would be easy on the stomach for the child. The feeling of nostalgia took over as this was what Niazmina's mother used to make for her when she had gotten sick as a young girl. She sighed, the hearth was now reduced to glowing embers, the liquid within the pot simmering from the now weakened but continuous heat.
Now all she could do is wait. Pulling a chair to the bedside, the inquisitor sat and crossed one leg over the other, watching the spirit sleep. What was such a young child doing so far from Obsidian Canyon alone? Not many vulpine called this city of skulls their home, so it was a rare sight. She stared curiously at the blonde. The kitsune looked to be around her brother’s age. The fox’s parents must be so worried. Though, there was also the chance that she was an orphan considering the condition she was in. What a coincidence, to have approached her at such a time. Was this a sign? Niazmina brushed aside the thought before frowning. Maybe the kid should’ve been taken to a medical professional instead? Though, there was the concern of which ones would still have their doors open at this time.
The lonesome kitsune had been wandering the vast streets of Nirvana, having finished her “earnings” from her scrap with the Bovinite. But it wasn’t neary enough to satiate her hunger. Fatigue clouded her mind, her movements sluggish. Perna on e again left her supplies behind, not to hide them, but to be able to carry herself about. She was desperate to obtain anything edible to her, but it appeared that there weren’t many like the other child, who had previously so easily given food to her. Her rugged appearance was no longer effective, as it had been played out with the inhabitants of the area. She fought to stay awake, fearing the setting suns, as not many people would be out for much longer. She wouldn’t go intruding in anyone’s home, as she didn’t have the strength to defend herself should she get caught. She eventually came across Niazmina and her thralls, but before she could muster the strength to pull herself along to her, she collapsed onto her knees, and to the ground. She found herself falling into the dark pits of unconsciousness, the thought of never waking back up crossing her mind, that fear managing to keep her awake for the time being.
“Ummm yes! Samara! The big red lady gave me and Jerky boy the rock sticks. She has the mark on her head. She important, but I want to be the only one with her stuff. Because I am better than him. He got lucky.” Perna crossed her arms and huffed, letting Nia leave to start her bath. She was alone with just her thoughts, and they only made her furious, as they were always of her defeat.
She was calmed by Nia’s voice calling to her. She walked by her as she entered the bathroom, and looked up at her expectantly. She then realized that she’d have to do it herself. She’d have to learn eventually anyway. So strips herself of her raggedy clothes and settles into the bath, sinking down until the water reached her lips.
After a while of cleansing, and grumbling to herself about failure, she came out of the bathroom, her hair soaking wet, though she seemed to do well drying her body, since the shirt given to her wasn’t that wet. It just soaked up whatever dripped off her hair. ”Um… Can you fix my hair please? Maybe cut it? I don’t know how to do that.”
She fiddled with her fingers, a little embarrassed to ask, since she wanted to be able to do it herself. If she ever learned to, she forgot, since she didn’t have anything to use to upkeep her hair. She took a clump of it in her hand and her brows furrowed, knowing how bad it looked.
As Perna embraced the jackal, her hands hovered for a moment, but would soon move to wrap around the child, one hand migrating up to pat that blonde mane as she comforted the juvenile. She would stay silent until the kitsune had calmed down completely.
The vulpine’s mood was infectious, and Niazmina would shoot Perna a grin as she rose to prepare a warm bath. There, the blonde had mentioned the big red lady again. “Who is the red lady you speak of? Surely, not Queen Samara?” She asked, with an eyebrow raised. The big group with the one-armed lady the fox spoke of was obviously the Beastkin Union. Perna dreamt large, her malachite eyes full of light. The disparity that came with fending for oneself on the streets had not degraded her spirit. Though the inquisitor felt that the kitsune should aim to be part of the Eternal house, Niazmina was not here to keep her aspirations in a box. With enough training, the inquisitor felt that Perna could do anything she set her mind to. And maybe her goals would change within that time frame?
“Jerky boy? Well, whoever he is, I’m sure that soon enough, he won’t stand a chance against you.” A rival? How interesting. Competition was almost always a good motivator for those wishing to improve themselves. The fact that their scuffle was overseen by the “big red lady” meant that this “jerky boy” must’ve been at least somewhat of note.
Small bits of steam could be seen wafting out the beaded curtains dividing the bathroom from the rest of this small abode. Niazmina had made sure that everything the child needed was supplied. Soaps, a towel for once she was done and needed drying, and a change of clothes that were too large for the child’s small frame. Once the bath had been sufficiently filled with warm water, the inquisitor called to Perna, notifying her of the awaiting wash.
“I’ve prepared everything you need. I’ll be waiting just outside if you need anything.” The jackal assumed that Perna was old enough to bathe herself. And it would be quite strange to watch a child bathe herself, so Niazmina thought it to be appropriate to step out of the room while the kitsune attended to herself.
As soon as Perna’s hands were grasped by the woman, Perna stepped forward and and nestled her head into the woman’s torso, dropping the bracers and embracing her guardian. She was indeed comforted by her words, and the relief that she wasn’t doing anything wrong by possessing this gear. She couldn’t hold back a few hiccups leftover from her crying, but she was calmed soon enough, even smiling at Nia’s last remark.
”I beat you. After bath, I beat you and be good for the big red lady. She watched me lose, and now I look bad. But I beat you, a big person, and I look really really good. Then I can get into the big group and fight with the one arm lady. Become very good fighter!“ She holds Nia tight, letting out a soft giggle as she looks to the future, seeing herself as a fully grown warrior. With a big sword, like some of the ones she’s seen others hold.
“But I beat jerky boy first. He beat me so I’m gonna get him back. He make me look bad in front of big red lady. Its his fault. I break his rock stick so only I get one from her. I will be better than him.”
So Perna hadn’t stolen these items. Good. This mini-interrogation had resulted in the fox revealing some of her past. She wondered about the identity of the man the child spoke of. Her previous guardian? If so, what had happened to him? Also, who gave a child a helmet many sizes too large to a small kid? There was also the curious question of who the big red lady was. The only person that Niazmina could see being red was a bovinite, and if she was someone important enough for a young child to recognize… No. There was no way, was there? However, the earthen bo staff only furthered her theory. Then again, what would compel the queen to interact with this small homeless child? There were many bovines within Nirvana, it really could have been anyone.
She would break away from her thoughts to focus back on Perna. The inquisitor felt sorry for the child she had frightened, but she had gotten the results that she had wanted. No matter what, Niazmina could not let anything jeopardize her job or reputation. Releasing the breath she had been holding in, the jackal looked to the vulpine apologetically. Reaching forward, she would brush the tears away from the child’s face before reaching down to grasp those tiny hands that held the bracers.
“I’m sorry if I frightened you, Perna.” Niazmina gave a reassuring smile. “But no, you aren’t in any trouble, and I’m not taking away your things. If I do, how will you hunt yummy things like you wanted to? And how will you beat me?” The jackal’s attempt at encouraging the child. She had heard the vulpine’s wish to defeat Niazmina in a spar despite the stressful situation the jackal had created for herself. It would be a while before Perna stood a chance against this inquisitor, but she applauded the child’s spirit.