When Sirikit stopped to breathe, as the humans would say, her myopic focus broadened to include the rest of the hallway. The lens of her airy being shifted; she turned her head to the other woman. The earthy realness of the tiger guard's voice shook away some of the cold and malice that the shadow had left behind. Siri tried to smile. The expression faltered and fell. "Better that it's gone from the Tree, but not better if it's gone to hurt or hunt something else."
This woman was new to the Cirque, Sirikit remembered. Nala-Something, like the lioness princess from that Disney movie. On the several occasions when she'd come to visit the tree since her arrival, Siri had the distinct impression that she was good and proud and fairly trustworthy. At least, the tree seemed to like her energy. That was enough for Siri.
"What if it's the that's the thing hunting employees?" Letting it run off was hardly suitable, if that were true. "Help me look, just for a minute?" Sirikit reached for Nali's hand to give it a gentle tug in request, but she was so unfocused that her hand, semi-opaque, passed through the solid flesh. Siri fussed, irritated. "Sorry." She'd heard that was mildly uncomfortable.
Siri took off down the hall without further argument, gliding across the ancient tile soundlessly, in search of the dark thing that had rushed past.