![[Image: exotic_by_kms1002_da21gp9_by_arrakis93-dbevmnk.png]](https://img11.deviantart.net/8ea3/i/2017/183/1/b/exotic_by_kms1002_da21gp9_by_arrakis93-dbevmnk.png)
TIRZAH HAVIV
Around Tirzah the world is soft and quiet, all gauzy shadow, all barely-setting sun; she sinks into it like a rock into warm water, every ounce of tension that has followed her from Raanan suddenly released, muscles unwound, anxiety sloughing off of her body, nerves a slurry of happy warmth deep beneath her skin. The turn of the earth stutters and slows. A delicate smile twists at Tirzah’s lips, flushes her cheeks with heat. With light reflecting through those thick yellow lashes and a hum of satisfaction going gently through her ears, she hardly notices the hoof steps coming up behind her, too distracted to feel the warm presence of another body, not until the voice comes drifting through the air, and Tirzah turns with arial grace to face the body.
Florentine, she repeats gently, eyes wide in the dark of the building. Her gaze skates the girl with unabashed curiosity. Someone new but not so new, accustomed to the older parts of the wing, accustomed to the world they are standing in, and pretty, and smart-looking: Tirzah glows in interest for a moment in her presence, then calms back into her brightly-colored body, swishing that silver tail absently around her legs. I am Tirzah. Her glance slips down to the cobblestone at her feet, tracing gentle lines to match the designs etched in the building around them; a flood of deja vu goes washing through her body and brain, and unconsciously she steps toward Flora, head tilting, a vacant smile glazing her lips. Yes, I grew up here. And you? I have not seen you before… not a native?
Not a hint of suspicion colors her voice, just a simple, ambivalent curiosity that turns her eyes to silver in the low light.
