ORIGIN

Stealth wasn't a term likely to be attributed to giants. Limbs large, bodies unwieldy, wide movements could not often be disguised by shadow nor could the sound of their plodding go unnoticed. However, this was the Carnival, a place whose raucous noises of entertainment lent ample cover to such blundering. And as for the serpentine figure winding her way up the risers housed in the big top, there were none of the sort to hide. Scales rasped, near silent, over seats while she searched for the ideal view of the performance in progress. The size of the tent titanic, the upper levels might be where most of the show's lighting was rigged, but it allowed her to peer down on more than just the acts.

The Fairyflies set loose had no nets or barriers of any kind to prevent their escape into the audience. Such safety measures ruined the fun, of course; why else would they be here if not to spread their glimmering dust and catapult observers into a new plane of existence born out of imagination gone wild. One fluttered as high as it could, dancing underneath the lights which rapidly alternated color. Its daring drove it closer to where Hades sat, a whirling thing of rainbow beauty carrying a payload of confusion.

"Delightful, isn't it?"

From a few rows behind was where the whisper came. A paw clad in keeled golden scales darted out for the dazzling insect, and if the cub looked behind him, he would see a second draw back to clamp over the muzzle of a face distinctly feline. Though the fairyfly dipped sideways in its flight, this did not prevent the snag of a claw on a shining wing. It collapsed onto a seat in front of them, injured and twitching pathetically.

Miriam's paw, though it muffled them, did not suppress her giggles. Blatant mirth shone in eyes, the risk she courted by being here a game more than a concern.

At first, she did little more than continue to gaze upon Hades, his obvious alarm a source of amusement almost equal to the various acts below. Paw still situated over her mouth, fangs were well-concealed. Lips stretching back to her ears, however, parted and allowed the slightest glimpse of teeth most sharp. Deception did not occur to her as instantly as it would in other environments; suffice to say, the danger lying here beneath a thin veneer of lively show felt native enough to her that she often didn't bother with it. No point in hiding her true nature when the surroundings resonated so well. Unless, she supposed, the fine opportunity arose to expend energy toying around with a soul unfortunate enough to cross her path.

"Why," the Tatzelwurm began before remembering, a titter slipping out, the obstruction held in front of her. The paw lowered but remained suspended in air, wrist limp and claw tips facing toward her. "Whatever do you mean?"

Her head tilted in exaggerated confusion but did not give time for a response. A gasp followed on its heels, just as over the top as the previous body language.

"Oh, why! You mean that little morsel." She bopped the bottom of a scaly palm against her forehead. "Of course. Stupid, silly of me. How terrible this must look without knowing: hitting a precious noble thing like that. Shameful, I can assure you. But necessary at our distance from it."

"Prettiness can poison, you know," came an explanation in a hushed conspiratorial tone. "Or in this case, just knock you flat. One whiff of the glitter gusting from those wings, and you wouldn't be able to tell up from down. Wouldn't be nice to take a topple not knowing proper direction."

She directed a pointed glance to the circus arena and the bustling activity within. Fire had been set to the hoops by now, and the rats hadn't ceased their jumping yet. One particularly hefty specimen proved too large to avoid the flames brushing against its coat. Panicked squeals rang into the audience.

"So tiny from here. But I suppose everyone's small for me," Miriam remarked, laughing once more.

"My, you are a polite one." Unaware of the exact effect her presence continued to have but simultaneously reveling in any form of attention received, Miriam's observation emerged as a delighted, throaty purr. "Best keep that way with words; a little charm goes a long way in getting answers to questions. A lot and you might be able to gain more... useful responses."

All interest was invested in Hades once she pulled attention away from the spectacle of suffering below. Eyes aglow with some unknown quality combed his form from head to toes. They searched for a detail present in most cave residents: a glint of stone rooted somewhere in fur or jutting out elsewhere. For a time she lingered upon saber teeth, good mood edged by contemplation. Finding nothing there to satisfy her greed, any intensity she might have possessed was redirected to her dangling paw. Whatever other thoughts present would never be known by anyone outside of herself, face carefully bent so that only scales could absorb them.

Nevertheless her facade remained chipper despite no longer looking directly at the cub. "Of course, I was just doing what any other would naturally," she declared airily. "No need to learn unpleasant things through experience when you don't necessarily have to."

"As for your why, it's simple." Miriam paused and giggled before imparting the reason like some grand truth of the universe. "Protection. Little things aren't the strongest, but they can at least keep from being hit if their attacker doesn't know where to hit. Problem is, they're scared of everything larger than them, so it won't matter if you actually want to hurt them or not. They'll confuse you anyway."

"There's those impeccable manners again," the Tatzelwurm teased, laughter remaining in her tone. Hades's second expression of thanks, however much it might truly be deserved, had reattracted her wide alien gaze. The paw she kept aloft at last settled onto the seat most of her upper body was draped across. Meanwhile, unblinkingly, the tip of a pink tongue swiped over dark lips. "Miriam," she introduced herself in kind, "and you are very welcome."

"Here? As in here—performing rats and fire and insects here—or the Carnival here?" The question was the perfect point for her to once more launch into the persona of well-meaning babbler. She seized the chance with gusto, gesticulating at the ground level first and then sweeping arms around her to indicate the entire area, tent included.

"If you mean here here, oh, I haven't really kept track of all that. Though I've been here plenty of times more than where the food is. Or the rides. Being big does have its limitations," she admitted, smile small and deliberately toothless while lifting shoulders in a bashful shrug. "None for watching though. But, hmmm. Maybe I've spent more time at the games. You do get to be a more active participant there. Far more exciting than seeing others have all the fun."

The aforementioned fun had turned a seemingly less deadly direction than the last time it was observed. Hoops, ablaze or not, had been abandoned in favor of the rats making formations every time a drum roll sounded over the arena. Currently they were arranged in a pyramid, the Lessers balancing upright on top of each other. The execution appeared rather effortless on their part, clearly accustomed to this part of the show.

At least until a gargantuan snake was released into the pit.

Miriam, caught up in her own performance, was oblivious to the shenanigans. "But it'd be silly if you meant here. You must've meant here as in the Carnival here. In that case, I suppose I absolutely am a frequent visitor. At the very least I try to when I get the chance. And, well, that's often since I pass through the nearby tunnel all the time. It's always a bit difficult to find and leave, but I like a good challenge. Keeps me on my toes."

"Yes," Miriam said. Much like the rest of her chatter, this word sounded light and unbothered by any imposition Hades's presence might have on her fun. The rest of the conversation, however, took an abrupt turn into disaster. "You certainly have been wasting my time, impudent child."

Any sparkle dwelling in eyes died. Gentle smiles developed by practice were discarded in favor of a thin disapproving line cutting through her muzzle. What had been a face full of animation morphed into a harsh mask, not quite glaring at the younger Gembound but certainly lacking any sort of welcome. A kind but unusual acquaintance had been cast into the void, and residing in her place stared a cold, judgmental stranger.

She froze in time, allowing the weight of her sentence to sink in. Soaked in the beginning of whatever reactions might come.

And just as if the moment had never happened, never reintroduced any potential doubts in her character, burst into a giggling fit that tinkled like a million ringing crystal bells.

"Oh, dear," she sighed, wiping away nonexistent tears, "you should know there's such a thing as too much politeness as well. Do relax; I've seen these shows plenty. It's you who should be getting an apology, me interrupting your experience."

A proposition then—"How about I help with seeing those games. Once you've had your fill of here, I'll take you around to some. Figure out which meets your fancy the best."

Miriam threw her best attempt at a winsome wink in the direction of her conversation partner.