ATTN: [@The Irish Tree], [@Polaris North], & [@ReusableSword][hr]Scarlett drew a sharp hiss, as Shavis summoned her attention - that damnable whistale, forcing her brain to abandon Human defiance for Bestial obedience. She hated how used to her movements Shavis had gotten thanks to her inhuman senses; the Belua knew her breathing patterns, her gait, and scent to the point that, even fully naked, she couldn't creep through the homestead that functioned as her jail without alerting the lightning ligress to her movement. It was part of the love-hate relationship that she held with her caretaker/jailer, as Shavis was the only standing defense against her dying of starvation, the elements, or her own suicidal guilt.

However, that whistle... she hated to her core for how much control it exercised over her; reminding her of her weakness, of her sin...

Still, she pushed past it, and regarded Shavis with a disdain melting into apathy.

Before she could speak, Hector spoke up; welcoming him back, inviting her to share her findings. Surely, Shavis had the same, rational desire for her to speak of her investigation - after all, she'd announced her intentions, naught but a few hours ago, so it had likely gone unforgotten.

Even though, she wished it to have done so.

"[color=00ccff]I do not recall agreeing to do your legwork, rifleman,[/color]" she says, regarding Hector with only an eye turned sideways. She didn't share much in the way of approval or disapproval for the rifleman, but his disdain of her was evident. Humans, even Belua, couldn't hide their microexpressions - small facial tics, and subtle eye movements. Hector's underlying animosity was clear in the clipped direction of his speech and his active facial reposturing.

He was trying to tolerate her.

"[color=00ccff]Regardless, yes, my preparations are done,[/color]" Scarlett says, "[color=00ccff]And, the information I have come to obtain is beneficial to only myself, so sharing would be wasteful. If you wanted me to obtain something worth report, you should asked
[/color]"

Then, Tilnak arrived, and seemed to awkwardly mingle into the group. There was a relatableness to his actions, and she found him mostly harmless, until he cast his abjuration, and shielded them with his defense.

For anyone else, his display would be immediately understood and well-received, but Scarlett was a special cast.

"[color=00ccff]NNNRRGGH!!![/color]"

A pulse of darkness exploded off Scarlett, as streaks of coal criss-crossed her face like tree branches - her blood vessels became more pronounced, and swelled with more iron than blood. Fully dilated, her eyes took in Tilnak, as she growled and snarled at him like a feral beast; blood splattered on the ground, as her right arm erupted with spikes and spines, while the vermillion serpentine summoned itself, wreathed in flames, around her body.

However, she didn't attack him - she was attacking herself, trying to dispel the shield that had caged her, even though it lasted for a moment.

Shavis would remember this self-destructive behavior from Scarlett when she was first hosted.

You couldn't just suddenly cage a feral beast without invoking its ire.