Kira had hoped the children would follow in that tradition.So far though, none had shown any interest.
Kira tilted her head to look up at the girl.“Hello.”
She repeated the greeting in human standard and Tsavitee.
The girl stared, offering no response.
Kira didn’t let the lack of communication deter her.She smiled, careful to keep her lips closed.Among Tsavitee, showing your teeth was a sign that you wanted to eat the other person.
She’d learned that the hard way after her first rescue mission.
One black eye, a concussion and countless claw marks later and she’d made sure never to make that mistake again.
“Do you know that you’re safe?No one here will hurt you.You have my word on that.”
Once again, Kira used all three languages.
“Safety is an illusion,” the girl whispered, her voice far gentler sounding than her appearance would suggest.Almost hesitant, as if she wasn’t used to speaking.
At Maksym and Elodie’s sudden interest, the girl spooked.
Kira motioned them back before crossing her legs at the ankle and sitting down.“Do you have a name?”
She was hoping by making herself seem harmless the girl would calm enough to eventually come down off the ceiling.At this stage, trust was the most important thing.The best way to achieve that was to create a safe environment.
Though that left Kira at something of a disadvantage if the girl decided to launch herself at her throat.
“Mother gave me one.She gave all of us one.”
She knew who Elise was then.
“I’m a friend of your mother’s.”
Taking a chance, Kira accessed her palm unit to show the girl a hologram of Elise.The moment captured was a candid one.One of the very few photos Kira had of the other and only possible because Elise hadn’t known someone was taking her image.
Otherwise, she would have hidden her face.
It was the way the forty-three were trained.The easiest method to evade surveillance was to never let your image be captured in the first place.
In the photo, Elise was laughing at something.Her hair had been pulled back in a simple bun.Stray strands curled against her cheek and forehead and her cheeks were flushed with activity.
She was wearing a Hadron suit, so she must have just finished a mission or training.
“Not friends—sisters,” the girl corrected dreamily.
“Who told you that?”
The girl acted like Kira hadn’t spoken, her gaze fastened on the image of Elise and Kira.She loosened her grip on the ceiling.Her back half dropped.Her legs and tail hanging before she let go.A second later she landed lightly in a crouch in front of Kira.
Kira held still as the girl crowded close, still fascinated by the hologram.She let her have the palm unit.
“This is a safe space for you and your siblings,” Kira reiterated.
She’d reinforce that as many times as necessary.Until the girl believed it down to her soul.
The slow blink the girl gave could have been acceptance or rejection.It was impossible to know which.
Since this was the furthest anyone had gotten with the children, Kira decided to press her luck and nodded at the grooves the girl’s claws had left in the stone.“Can you tell me what set you off?”
