Lady of the Lake

R

hiannon asked for her preference in magic, earning a faint smile from the storm cloud of a girl. "I was taught as a child to keep an open mind...move with the flow while still remaining receptive in learning it all as I discovered what resonated in me the most." She glanced out toward the reflective surface of the lake, a wistful look in her eyes as she replayed her fondest memories of her self discovery.

"My gift lies in shamanic practice...harmonizing and healing energies between spiritual and physical, using the elements in much of my work, although my proficiency lies with water. I do have rune stones and ogham staves for divination. Though, I have to say...some elements have been more difficult to grasp...fire mostly due to the lack there of...and air, I've had a hard time connecting to it aside from the importance of the breath..."

Nimue suddenly realized she was rambling, somehow this girl was drawing out her passionate self. She cleared her throat, accepting the compliment to her name with a curt nod. By the way she examined her name aloud, it was clear Rhiannon knew its origin. It seemed only appropriate to return the favor of kind words."Yours suits you just as well."

The damp wolfess had fully expected the other to distance herself, moving in for the warmth she could before it was pulled away. From beneath the other's chin, her eyes fluttered wide to find that Rhiannon had remained still as she'd pressed in on her. Her head came to rest upon Nimue's and she couldn't help but smile at the reference to Cailleach. "Aye...I hadn't anticipated the arrival of the wind..." She trailed off, nestling herself comfortably, allowing their earthen coats to mingle.



@Rhiannon

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

P

erhaps Nimue was mad. Any reasonable wolf might assume so by the look of her -- ice clinging to fur, and yet she returned to the waters that she loved. Rhiannon watched in curious admiration.


”When you are ready, I have an idea that will warm you, as I fear I am not sufficient for the task this night.” With the flash of a playful grin, Rhiannon moved away from the fae in one fluid motion. Her muzzle pointed toward the east. ”Follow me. I have something for you,” she said, with an offering seemingly out of nowhere. ”It is not far from here.”



At first, she started to walk, glancing over her shoulder to see if the girl would indeed follow. Then, her pace quickened, first into a quick trot before accelerating to a full run. Her movements were lithe as she followed a worn trail that led away from the lake and into a thicket of bare-limbed oaks. Here, she slowed again until she stopped before what had once been a tall giant that had been struck by lightning and made hollow.


In the hollowed out log, Rhiannon had left her own treasures -- objects she had found in shady canyons and wetlands, from the restless sea to the tallest summits. The tree was blackened still, though the storm responsible for the damage had occurred many years before Rhiannon’s birth. It was a hiding place forged by Tuireann, god of the storms, himself.


She scooped out the contents, taking the greatest care to place them on the ground before the scarred tree. Within it, each element was represented -- pieces of charred red bark, an ink-black rock, a crow’s feather. But there was one object in particular she was searching for, and she would gingerly move it to rest before Nimue: a blue shell. Even by the light of the moon, its rich sapphire-like hue was evident. Now, she would say nothing, only looking at the girl with curious violet sights.


@Nimue

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

W

hen Rhiannon moved away, she stumbled forward slightly, having lost herself in the sensation of the warmth she was absorbing. Even her trembling had ceased and she’d simply begun to revel in. Lavender was a scent she was most familiar with, yet it had the faint smell of smoke that made it all the more enticing.

Nimue blinked and attempted to recover from herself, returning the playfulness in a smirk. “Another night then…” Expecting the fae to fully depart, she was surprised to be beckoned along with the mystical Rhiannon, clearly under her spell. Deep sapphires met amethyst as she caught the girl’s eye when she glanced over her shoulder only to find that Nimue was certainly following behind.

When the pace quickened, she hesitated, the cold already seeping back into her skin. Nimue blocked it out, willing herself numb to it as she burst into a graceful canter after her lovely acquaintance. Though, I hope we shall not remain simply acquaintances… She thought, cheekily as she slowed her gait, trotting into a halt by a large tree that seemed to be split down its side. By the time they’d reached it, she realized she was far warmer, the running ultimately helping to warm her up further.

She tilted her head back to study it. Her eyes traced the gore along its bark until they returned to settle upon Rhiannon, who seemed to have become occupied with something stored away inside. “How curious…I would have loved to witness the moment it was carved into...” She mused, wondering how electric it might have felt to be standing nearest to the tree as it was struck.

Nimue was about to seat herself when she noticed the items being plucked from this nook and placed in front of it. She glanced in between the girl and her treasures before she padded forward, lowering her head to get a closer look at each one. She lifted her head and began to turn to Rhiannon. “You are quite the collector…where did you f-”

Her question was cut short when an item was presented to her and she looked downward to take in the natural beauty of a seashell. Nimue’s eyes grew wide and a breath escaped her, awestruck at the intricate grooves, it’s shape, and it’s soft blend of blue hues. She felt emotion threatening to escape her and held it down as best she could, commenting softly, “It’s so lovely…” Straightening up, she averted her gaze from Rhiannon though she could feel curious amethysts resting on her.

“My mother promised to take me to the seaside one day…” She admitted, then quickly masked it with a grin, turning back to this charming fae. “I do believe I’ll still travel there. In fact, you’ve inspired me to do so.” Nimue dipped her head, gleaming pools trained on Rhiannon. “Thank you for sharing your treasures with me…and don’t worry, I won’t steal any of them now that I know where they are hidden.” She teased with a wink.


@Rhiannon

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

T

hough the tree before them had been savaged by the forces of nature long ago, still, the silver-hued femme could feel the electricity the emanated from it. Or, perhaps, it was not the storm she felt but rather, the tempestuous nature of the woman she had found immersed in the freezing lack. As she awaited Nimue’s reaction to the very random gift she was offering, Rhiannon was quiet, but her expression alluded to her pleasure in sharing. ”I believe you were meant to have this.” And the reaction that Rhiannon earned brought her greater pleasure still, which she acknowledged with an ever growing smile on her pale muzzle.


”I wish you luck seeking the sea. I believe it will be well worth your time.” For a second or two, Rhiannon considered whether she would offer Nimue an escort. Not that Nimue required one, but maybe a little company along the way. But something within the magical fae instructed her that this was not the time. No, her intuition hinted, the two would see each other again. One way or another. Sometimes, it was best to wait, and though Rhiannon had grown up near the sea, the longing Nimue had for it was endearing. The ocean and its shores were something the elemental fae should meet on her own.


Instead, the grey wolfess looked back to her own collection and carefully began to nudge each of her treasures back into their hiding place with her muzzle. She was silent as she worked and her expression was serious, mindful. Rhiannon knew she would see this woman again. Soon. But tonight was not meant to be a longer occasion, for the tempest had plans to attend to that involved no one but Rhiannon herself.


Still, before she left, she leaned closer to Nimue again to silently offer the girl the last of their shared body heat, resting her cheek against the other’s as she spoke in a voice that was not quite a purr, and not quite a whisper: ”The new moon is only a week away. Perhaps you would like to join my Sisters and I for a ritual?”


”We gather not far from here. It would be a pleasure to see you once more, Nimue.” The new moon was, after all, a time of new beginnings, of new discoveries and chances. As she spoke the mysterious moniker a final time, a delicate smile etched across her narrow muzzle as she pulled away, though it took some effort to step back, and even more self-control to turn the opposite direction of the fae.


Tonight would not be their only night. Without further comment, Rhiannon was certain the other would accept her invitation. A final nod was offered before the gray wolfess was gone again into the darkness of the night that embraced her.


/exit Rhiannon


@Nimue

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

N

imue's brows furrowed as a smile creeped along her lips. She was taken aback, not having expected the shell to be a gift. She lifted a paw to graze her pad over the perfectly etched grooves of the ocean's treasure, her eyes lifting to meet Rhiannon's as she wished her well. As the other fae nudged her collection of items back into their rightful hiding place, she found herself admiring her from afar while she continued to lightly touch the shell absentmindedly.

Rhiannon returned to her, allowing their closeness once more and Nimue pressed her cheek lightly against the others. Her ear flicked lightly as the warm breath of an alluring whisper tickled the tufts of fur there. She hummed softly to provide the ruse that she was having to mull over the invitation in her head. Truth be told, she would not pass up the opportunity to see those radiant amethyst jewels again. To her pleasure, Rhiannon voiced the same exact sentiment when she withdrew.

They parted slowly and Nimue did her best to hold herself in place rather than follow the heated pulse that she had felt at Rhiannon's neck. "I've no doubt we'll meet again...until then, I hope that thoughts of you will be enough." Her attempt at flirtation was nowhere near as expertise as her acquaintance, which made her wonder if this was a typical encounter for the other female. No matter...Nimue would ensure that she would not be forgotten so easily. Watching the night swallow the wolfess, she delicately picked up the shell and also relinquished herself to the shadows.

@Rhiannon

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck