Hideaway Strath gypsy girl, where have you been

Aerin nodded along, her features intense and focused as she committed what Nyra had said to memory. It could mean her life or death after all. Despite her general disposition -- sweet-natured, timid, submissive -- killing was not new to her. Rajhan had required her to get her hands dirty occasionally, when she was the girl they called Hui. That was worse than what the Saints would ever ask of her, those people innocents -- Rajhan's enemies, not the slave-girl's who simply wanted to survive. These wolves would be trying to kill her in return, trying to kill her friends and family. 

The sylph of snow nodded, curling porcelain haunches beneath her. Silver coins watched with a detached curiosity -- neither caring nor hoping that the darkling would fall -- as Whrist braced herself and Nyra rushed her. As the Battle Phoenix slid past the raven, hardly ruffling the shadowed plumage of her pelt, the fae found herself nodding in subconscious approval -- admiring the shadow's quick reflexes. 

She rose then as Nyra likely circled back around before launching herself in the healer's direction. It was the halfling's engrained instinct to hunker low to the ground, pin her ears, anything that would portray her unyielding submission as the larger woman charged at her like a wild stallion protecting his harem. But those were the teachings of oppression and such would get her killed. The Saluki forced her mind beyond her momentary panic, calling to mind the Overseer's recent tutoring instead. 

As if of their own accord, her hindlegs lowered into the defensive stance she had been shown just minutes ago -- the elven nymph darting aside in a blip of speed that could belong only to any of her close relatives -- Greyhounds, Azawakhs, and other sighthounds. Her paws ground into the dirt as she wrenched aside of the pallid shieldmaiden, sliding slightly as she stopped herself -- bottlebrush tail sweeping side to side in a slow wag as a smile of similar leisure spread over her proud, stunned features.