The Plan (2)
With a thought, Tia slotted out her wolf's power with another. Its red trimmings disappeared and black chains sprouting out of Skoll's sides replaced them. Behind her, Hati's trimmings also disappeared, but nothing replaced it.
The Man, whom Tia mentally labeled as Crook 1# didn't even get the chance to react before Skoll was upon him. The wolf reached the end of the alley in record time. Outpacing regular wolves with ease.
Without her input, Skoll's chains shot out from its sides at breakneck speeds. In an instant a chain wrapped around Crook 1#'s body entrapment him.
" What the fuck?!" Yelled out the goon.
Tia didn't give the man any more room to speak. Instincts engraved in her since she got her powers urged her on as she, with a wave of her hand, commanded the chains connected to her wolf.
With ease the chains hefted the man and slammed him on the ground, knocking him out.
" Heh, that's what you get for not asking for permission," snarked Tia.
Tia never understood why people can't just ask. Her mom always said that "touching" people with permission is always better than not. And If her mom says so, it must be right.
That's why Tia always asks before hugging someone! Or holding hands. Or healing them!
Snapping out of those thoughts Tia looked at the woman she had saved. The woman wasn't anything noteworthy, blond hair, average height, and brown eyes. Your basic citizen.
She did look shaken up from the entire encounter with the man though. Tia could notice the slight shaking of the woman's limbs. Even if she tried to hide it.
" Are you alright Mam?" Tia said with her best hero voice.
Tut always says that having a hero's voice is just as important as your costume. Something about presentation and dramatics. Her uncle Tut was weird sometimes, but he never lied to her.
The woman blinked a few times seemingly trying to comprehend Tia's question. But she answered after another second of silence.
" U-uh, yeah. Thanks." The woman said shakily.
Tia smiled. That's good! She didn't want her "first" save to be a bust!
She jumped down from her wolf, the beast shrinking back into its normal size as it did so. Facing the woman Tia scrutinized her for a second.
" Do you need any healing?"
Blinking, the woman looked down at the bruise forming around her wrists. Along with a bleeding cut in her hand. She did indeed need healing, but the woman was hesitant.
" N-no, I can just get checked out at th-"
The woman didn't get to say much more as the foxkin got closer and looked at her wounds, being careful not to touch them. The woman flinched at the action but didn't do much else, not willing to try her luck with a random cape.
" Are you sure?" The Kitsune asked with a tilt of her head and a small frown.
Tia wouldn't heal anybody without their permission, that's mean. But, her mom always said some people were more stubborn than others. So you had to convince them you were trying to be nice and not be bad.
Like Aunty Morgan. She hates being healed, and Grandpa has to be the one to convince her to let Tia do it. Something about "thinker" pride Grampa always says.
Though, sometimes when she smiles big enough or gives a pout, even Aunty Morgan Listens to her!
Her mom told her that she had a "special" talent when it came to convincing people of things. One that wasn't part of her powers! Though she never told Tia what that talent was.
Just that it's something only kids have. Tia was sad when she learned that it might disappear when she grew up. But her mom said she'd always have that effect on her family at least.
Unbeknownst to Tia, her mother was talking about how innocent and cute she was. That kind of trait gives off a natural aura of being trustworthy far better than any power. It wouldn't work on everybody, but it did to most.
The Woman currently in front of Tia was no different. The look of concern from the young Parahuman was just too much for the girl.
" Uh, I um." She stuttered, utterly out of it.
Tia only looked at her confused. Wondering why it was taking the woman so long to answer. Not fully understanding her effect on people.
Her confused look broke the camel's back and the woman caved in.
"Sure." The woman said with a sigh, sticking out her hand warily.
Tai smiled and grabbed the woman's hand. She knew the woman would say yes!
" I better not turn into some bio-tinkered abomination." Mumbled the woman, too quiet for any normal human to hear.
Tia heard it through. Her fox ears twitched in annoyance.
' Why is that first the thing everyone I heal for the first time says? I can't even do that! I think,' Thought Tia with a small frown.
Even if she could do that she wouldn't! Magnus taught her the importance of never modifying someone without their consent. It may look like you're helping, but you have to think about how they feel too.
She wouldn't be like that meani Bonesaw! Combining two people without asking is just weird. What if they don't like each other?
Ignoring her grumbling thoughts, Tia switched out her wolf's power again, the red and gold trimmings replacing the chains. Then with a mental push, Hati and Skoll switched places.
The actual action of them switching places was instant. No poof or anything. Much to Tia's secret disappointment.
Originally there were stars and colorful lights when they switched. Tia especially liked the crescent moon shape that appeared underneath the wolves when they appeared. However, her family didn't like it much.
"Too loud' they said. " It gives too much of an opening" they'd remark. Or " it just wastes energy".
Bleh, Tia didn't care, but her parents did. So they made her change it to no effect. However, they did say she'd get her chance too soon.
It was something that made Tia smile.
Tia patted Hoti, and felt her body connect with the power within her wolf. It was a nice sensation. Like feeling the morning sun on your skin. The woman she was holding obviously didn't feel the same. She looked more scared than anything else.
Luckily that changed a moment later as Tia's power started getting to work.
Golden energy erupted from Tia's hand and into the woman's. For a second the woman looked terrified, but that quickly changed after she felt her wounds started to repair themselves. In only a few seconds the woman was completely healed.
" T-thank you," the woman said in genuine gratitude.
Tia let go and smiled at the woman. She was happy she got to help another person besides her family's "Minions." She would never deny helping someone, but it gets repetitive healing the same injuries, and doing the same thing daily.
Still, there was more to do besides just healing this poor citizen!
Putting on her best hero voice, she put a hand on her hip and intimated the stance her aunt Morgan took when lecturing her or her cousins. Trying to do her best stern hero look.
" It's a bad neighborhood, remember to travel in pairs if you can," Tia said confidently.
Uncle Gremory always says that just saving someone isn't enough. You have to give them the knowledge to prevent future incidents themselves. Even if it is basic knowledge, sometimes it takes another person to tell you something to really get it.
After all, " You teach a man to eat lemons, he'll die in three days. But if you teach a man to farm lemons he'll live a full life." Or at least that's how Tia thinks the quote goes. She never fully listened to those philosophy classes grandpa teaches when he's bored.
Her words said she started Walking back to her dad, who was waiting patiently for her to finish. Hopefully, he was proud of her little skirmish! She did everything by the book!
She even gave advice! Something that the woman will remember, hopefully.
Though she feels like she is missing something.
" W-Wait. What's your name?" yelled out the woman. She wanted to know who her savior was.
Tia froze mid-step when she heard the woman she saved asking for her name. Of course! That's what she was forgetting!
She can't not tell the woman her name! That'd be weird, and against the plan! How else will she get people to notice her?
Turning around, Tia Smiled widely.
This was it, the moment people would learn of Tia! The moment when she becomes a hero! The moment they've been waiting for!
" I'm Artemis, princess of wolves! "
Saying her own name to another person outside of her family felt good. It was like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
' Still feels like I'm forgetting something else though' Tia, otherwise known as Artimis thought as she walked out the alley.
She was pretty sure she did everything. Nothing should b-
" Why the fuck am I chained up?!" Yelled out Crook 1#.
Ohhhhh that's what she forgot.