Evan had admittedly braced for something to go sideways there--for a stupid squabble to start up about exactly what they owed to each other in the future--but instead, the goddess silently touched his leg, and Evan sighed and relaxed under the touch... and then let out a soft scoff of a chuckle as he realized he was naked. Just how long had that escaped his notice?
"We have time yet tonight," the goddess said, and yet more relief flowed through Evan. "You've proven you can summon the gates to the underworld and delve through nightmares, not mention abide the tree. That is surely enough preparation for now. Come back to my palace with me?"
Evan smiled happily, but couldn't help drawing his brow together, something sad in his eyes. Maybe sad wasn't the right word--touched, surely. She'd so plainly listed off his accomplishments, and was content with them. There was no more business that needed to be done tonight; for once, they could just be.
Breathlessly, he said, "I would love to."
Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Evan blessed her with a smile again, and something like awe and gratitude--for himself and what they had done together--clouded his eyes. Good, she needed him to believe in what he was capable of, and gods be damned if he hadn't earned it.
Bringing herself to standing, the goddess stretched her arms up into the air and jutted out a hip playfully, eager to get someplace where the two of them could tangle in each other once again and just... bask.
Returning to neutral, the goddess offered a hand to Evan with a subtle smile, a glint in her eye. She wanted to feel his hand in her own, girlish gesture though it was.
Walking to one wall of the inside of the tree, the one furthest from the pool, the goddess touched the slick inner skin of the tree, and a section of it shivered and rippled, giving way to a spiral staircase upward. With a toothy grin to Evan, the goddess began climbing the stairs, clasping Evan's hand tightly in what she was almost prepared to call glee.
Bringing herself to standing, the goddess stretched her arms up into the air and jutted out a hip playfully, eager to get someplace where the two of them could tangle in each other once again and just... bask.
Returning to neutral, the goddess offered a hand to Evan with a subtle smile, a glint in her eye. She wanted to feel his hand in her own, girlish gesture though it was.
Walking to one wall of the inside of the tree, the one furthest from the pool, the goddess touched the slick inner skin of the tree, and a section of it shivered and rippled, giving way to a spiral staircase upward. With a toothy grin to Evan, the goddess began climbing the stairs, clasping Evan's hand tightly in what she was almost prepared to call glee.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The goddess stood, and Evan followed suit, though he stumbled lightly in the process, a bit more light and wobbly than he'd anticipated. It wasn't altogether unpleasant, just his legs not looking forward to walking.
There was some hope the goddess hadn't caught it, as she stretched her arms out in the air as if to embrace their surroundings. Then he held a hand out to him, a glint in her eye that reminded him of the waterfall they had visited. He smiled with pure contentment as he took it, warmth cascading through him as they touched.
He followed after her and watched as the touched the wall of the tree--the slick inner skin of it. It responded to the touch, ripples shivering through it as it opened to her. Evan looked around to take in the sight of this place again before leaving. He wondered if he'd ever be back. Silently, he offered gratitude to the tree once more, although he wasn't sure if it could receive such a sentiment. But it had welcomed him, accepted him, and held him so tenderly. He was in some ways sad to leave, and gently caressed the fingertips of his free against its flesh as he followed the goddess through the opening, his other hand held tight in hers.
A spiral staircase awaited them, and Evan gathered together resolve to make the climb. The goddess smiled brightly to him, which certainly helped, washing him in a fresh wave of joyful warmth.
There was some hope the goddess hadn't caught it, as she stretched her arms out in the air as if to embrace their surroundings. Then he held a hand out to him, a glint in her eye that reminded him of the waterfall they had visited. He smiled with pure contentment as he took it, warmth cascading through him as they touched.
He followed after her and watched as the touched the wall of the tree--the slick inner skin of it. It responded to the touch, ripples shivering through it as it opened to her. Evan looked around to take in the sight of this place again before leaving. He wondered if he'd ever be back. Silently, he offered gratitude to the tree once more, although he wasn't sure if it could receive such a sentiment. But it had welcomed him, accepted him, and held him so tenderly. He was in some ways sad to leave, and gently caressed the fingertips of his free against its flesh as he followed the goddess through the opening, his other hand held tight in hers.
A spiral staircase awaited them, and Evan gathered together resolve to make the climb. The goddess smiled brightly to him, which certainly helped, washing him in a fresh wave of joyful warmth.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Evan accepted her hand, and warmth spread through her core. However long it had taken them to get to this peaceful, contented place, it had been worth it. With the thickly vibrant pleasure of the tree behind them, the goddess started up the spiraling stairs, and shivers suddenly cascaded down her spine.
Instinctively looking at Evan for the cause, she saw that the hand she was not holding stroked gently across the slick inner bark of the tree tenderly as though in thanks. Her smile barely faltered, though she felt a complicated mixture of sincere gratitude and jealousy. The tree was undeniably sacred to her--it was her in many senses--and yet, inviting another to be so wholly embraced, to be so utterly touched within it...
Dehaljadrun squeezed Evan's hand and turned toward the stairs again, stepping a little faster around the tight curves as the two of them wound up the tree. It was always further up than it felt like coming down, and the goddess didn't often bother to go the long way. But, human forms required human methods of ambulation, and it was easily worth the cost to have Evan so physically present.
Four nights now they had coupled and writhed together. Four nights they had yelled and torn at each other. Four nights of humbling each other until nothing but bone remained.
She didn't want to let him go.
Light soon appeared in the narrow staircase, and the goddess finally stepped out into the tree's glade, its thickly winding roots alone putting the other trees around to shame. Looking up into its boughs, she could see fresh leaves in their light, youthful purple black, growing along the tips of the lowest branches. Yes, Evan had done well to give the tree so much of himself and his pleasure. Thinking about it again out here, the goddess was well and truly pleased.
It would be a moment yet before the tree finished forming its fruit, but the goddess could see the red buds blooming. With a mischievous look back at Evan--one brow quirked--she leveraged the hand she held and used it to pull Evan around, slamming him against the external bark of the tree just to the right of the opening to the staircase, which had already began to massage itself closed.
The bark warmed against Evan's nudity, softening to create the impression of his body where he touched it. Then, the goddess closed her eyes, pressing both hands to Evan's chest, and remembered the ferocity of the storm she had created around herself after their encounter with the demon. She thought of the wracking sobs in her chest and the silver eye of Evan's dragon. I am constantly a danger to you, she remembered herself saying and, in turn, heard Evan's reply, please, trust me just a little bit more.
And so, the goddess summoned both the lightning of her sorrow and the fiery sparks of her love for him, for the land, and channeled it potently into the tree. The strike happened far above them, a twin, spidery strike of silver and rose gold that lit up the entire sky around them. Simultaneously, she sent a much smaller set of strikes through Evan into the tree. Though they did snap and bite at him like so many of the other shocks he had experienced at her hand, they were also hot and cold in the same breath, and the tree swallowed them just as quickly as they had come. Again and again, that twin pulse through Evan and into the tree, and once more above them another set of strikes into the tree directly while the goddess poured her heart and mind into being well and truly empty.
At last, the sensations subsided, and the sky lightened back into its lavender mist. The goddess then opened her eyes, wet as they now were, and stroked a loving hand down Evan's cheek, her smile sweet and subtle. And then, pressing her body fully against his, she kissed him--her cheeks a warm blush as their lips met. It didn't last long, and it was perhaps the closest thing to chaste the goddess ever was, but it was full and resplendent with her bliss.
Instinctively looking at Evan for the cause, she saw that the hand she was not holding stroked gently across the slick inner bark of the tree tenderly as though in thanks. Her smile barely faltered, though she felt a complicated mixture of sincere gratitude and jealousy. The tree was undeniably sacred to her--it was her in many senses--and yet, inviting another to be so wholly embraced, to be so utterly touched within it...
Dehaljadrun squeezed Evan's hand and turned toward the stairs again, stepping a little faster around the tight curves as the two of them wound up the tree. It was always further up than it felt like coming down, and the goddess didn't often bother to go the long way. But, human forms required human methods of ambulation, and it was easily worth the cost to have Evan so physically present.
Four nights now they had coupled and writhed together. Four nights they had yelled and torn at each other. Four nights of humbling each other until nothing but bone remained.
She didn't want to let him go.
Light soon appeared in the narrow staircase, and the goddess finally stepped out into the tree's glade, its thickly winding roots alone putting the other trees around to shame. Looking up into its boughs, she could see fresh leaves in their light, youthful purple black, growing along the tips of the lowest branches. Yes, Evan had done well to give the tree so much of himself and his pleasure. Thinking about it again out here, the goddess was well and truly pleased.
It would be a moment yet before the tree finished forming its fruit, but the goddess could see the red buds blooming. With a mischievous look back at Evan--one brow quirked--she leveraged the hand she held and used it to pull Evan around, slamming him against the external bark of the tree just to the right of the opening to the staircase, which had already began to massage itself closed.
The bark warmed against Evan's nudity, softening to create the impression of his body where he touched it. Then, the goddess closed her eyes, pressing both hands to Evan's chest, and remembered the ferocity of the storm she had created around herself after their encounter with the demon. She thought of the wracking sobs in her chest and the silver eye of Evan's dragon. I am constantly a danger to you, she remembered herself saying and, in turn, heard Evan's reply, please, trust me just a little bit more.
And so, the goddess summoned both the lightning of her sorrow and the fiery sparks of her love for him, for the land, and channeled it potently into the tree. The strike happened far above them, a twin, spidery strike of silver and rose gold that lit up the entire sky around them. Simultaneously, she sent a much smaller set of strikes through Evan into the tree. Though they did snap and bite at him like so many of the other shocks he had experienced at her hand, they were also hot and cold in the same breath, and the tree swallowed them just as quickly as they had come. Again and again, that twin pulse through Evan and into the tree, and once more above them another set of strikes into the tree directly while the goddess poured her heart and mind into being well and truly empty.
At last, the sensations subsided, and the sky lightened back into its lavender mist. The goddess then opened her eyes, wet as they now were, and stroked a loving hand down Evan's cheek, her smile sweet and subtle. And then, pressing her body fully against his, she kissed him--her cheeks a warm blush as their lips met. It didn't last long, and it was perhaps the closest thing to chaste the goddess ever was, but it was full and resplendent with her bliss.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The climb up the spiral staircase was long, and the goddess set a rather brisk pace for it. Still, Evan wasn't one to complain; it was a challenge he was happy and determined to meet. He was breathing heavily by the time they emerged back into the open air, legs burning and bruises pulsing in time with the thump of his heartbeat.
The goddess seemed to take stock of the tree's branches, and Evan cast his gaze over them while he caught his breath, though he wasn't entirely sure what about them she was studying. He took in the sight of the tree's strange dark leaves, moonlight glinting down through the canopy. Finally he spotted some red buds that he hadn't noticed before. He blushed a little as he wondered if they grew because of his visit.
After a moment he realized the goddess was looking back to him, and as he returned his gaze to her, the mischievous glint in her eye sent a thrill through his chest. Some kind of guard rushed up, too, though it didn't get far before the goddess swung him around by his hand and slammed his back against the tree, bark scraping against his bare skin and bruises throbbing.
The bark warmed quickly though, softening and molding against him. The groan that had started in his throat melted to hitched breath at the sensation of it, the way he felt held and accepted even now that he was back out in the open air. The goddess touched his chest and he moaned, hands reaching for her hips to pull her close.
Something was wrong, though. He couldn't put his finger on it, but a worry rose that the storm from before might be rekindling - something in her expression, maybe. He drew his brow together, but before he could form a question, lightning tore through the sky--and through him. He seethed as shocks stabbed his body from the goddess' hands, but they passed through quickly. The tree seemed to eagerly accept them, to hungrily welcome the sensation itself as well as the tension that pulsed through him in response. He didn't have much time to recover before another set of strikes lit up the sky and the nerves in his body in tandem. He groaned and flinched--growled, as it happened again and again, sapping his energy and dragging panic up his spine.
His nails bit into the goddess' skin and he mustered what focus he could to really look at her, insofar as his body's winces and flinches allowed for. Was she angry? Had he somehow messed up again? That didn't seem right--not in the lingering glow of their experience within the tree, and not even in the shocks themselves, as easily as they ultimately passed through him. It felt more like a river, wet and rushing, dragging him through rapids and rocks not out of malice but simply a need to flow. He could work with that. He relaxed and opened to the sensations, groaning and rolling his body just-so against the flesh of the tree to hold the shocks gently and move them through, almost like a dance. They still hurt, but like the burn of a good run. Bliss started to cascade through him as he found the pulse of it, and he felt himself almost coaxing the shocks from her the way the tree in turn seemed to coax them through him.
At last, the sensations subsided, and the goddess stroked her hand down Evan's cheek. A sob heaved itself from his lungs, more relieved than anything. He felt love through her touch, and that sensation only multiplied as she leaned her body against him, her lips pressing against his. He wrapped his arms around her, his body swaying first to meet hers at every available inch and then pushing back against the tree, coaxing her even closer. She pulled out of the kiss much sooner than he'd expected, and he opened his eyes, breathless and only briefly worried. The sight of her blushing cheeks and blissful expression was plenty to put any fears to rest, and Evan sighed deeply, nearly vibrating with his own tired bliss.
He felt an impulse then that his chest tightened against -- a desire to whisper something sweet, one which sent embarrassment and nervousness spiraling through him.
But that tension lasted only about as long as one of the goddess' shocks, before the old woman's words coaxed him to relax, to relinquish his tension to the tree and let whatever was present flow unhindered through him.
Don't hide anything from the goddess tonight.
Heat washed through him as he let go, his cheeks blushing furiously and his eyebrows raised, though a wide, joyous smile also bloomed on his expression.
"I love you."
He didn't know what that meant to a goddess, but he wanted to trust that it was worth something.
The goddess seemed to take stock of the tree's branches, and Evan cast his gaze over them while he caught his breath, though he wasn't entirely sure what about them she was studying. He took in the sight of the tree's strange dark leaves, moonlight glinting down through the canopy. Finally he spotted some red buds that he hadn't noticed before. He blushed a little as he wondered if they grew because of his visit.
After a moment he realized the goddess was looking back to him, and as he returned his gaze to her, the mischievous glint in her eye sent a thrill through his chest. Some kind of guard rushed up, too, though it didn't get far before the goddess swung him around by his hand and slammed his back against the tree, bark scraping against his bare skin and bruises throbbing.
The bark warmed quickly though, softening and molding against him. The groan that had started in his throat melted to hitched breath at the sensation of it, the way he felt held and accepted even now that he was back out in the open air. The goddess touched his chest and he moaned, hands reaching for her hips to pull her close.
Something was wrong, though. He couldn't put his finger on it, but a worry rose that the storm from before might be rekindling - something in her expression, maybe. He drew his brow together, but before he could form a question, lightning tore through the sky--and through him. He seethed as shocks stabbed his body from the goddess' hands, but they passed through quickly. The tree seemed to eagerly accept them, to hungrily welcome the sensation itself as well as the tension that pulsed through him in response. He didn't have much time to recover before another set of strikes lit up the sky and the nerves in his body in tandem. He groaned and flinched--growled, as it happened again and again, sapping his energy and dragging panic up his spine.
His nails bit into the goddess' skin and he mustered what focus he could to really look at her, insofar as his body's winces and flinches allowed for. Was she angry? Had he somehow messed up again? That didn't seem right--not in the lingering glow of their experience within the tree, and not even in the shocks themselves, as easily as they ultimately passed through him. It felt more like a river, wet and rushing, dragging him through rapids and rocks not out of malice but simply a need to flow. He could work with that. He relaxed and opened to the sensations, groaning and rolling his body just-so against the flesh of the tree to hold the shocks gently and move them through, almost like a dance. They still hurt, but like the burn of a good run. Bliss started to cascade through him as he found the pulse of it, and he felt himself almost coaxing the shocks from her the way the tree in turn seemed to coax them through him.
At last, the sensations subsided, and the goddess stroked her hand down Evan's cheek. A sob heaved itself from his lungs, more relieved than anything. He felt love through her touch, and that sensation only multiplied as she leaned her body against him, her lips pressing against his. He wrapped his arms around her, his body swaying first to meet hers at every available inch and then pushing back against the tree, coaxing her even closer. She pulled out of the kiss much sooner than he'd expected, and he opened his eyes, breathless and only briefly worried. The sight of her blushing cheeks and blissful expression was plenty to put any fears to rest, and Evan sighed deeply, nearly vibrating with his own tired bliss.
He felt an impulse then that his chest tightened against -- a desire to whisper something sweet, one which sent embarrassment and nervousness spiraling through him.
But that tension lasted only about as long as one of the goddess' shocks, before the old woman's words coaxed him to relax, to relinquish his tension to the tree and let whatever was present flow unhindered through him.
Don't hide anything from the goddess tonight.
Heat washed through him as he let go, his cheeks blushing furiously and his eyebrows raised, though a wide, joyous smile also bloomed on his expression.
"I love you."
He didn't know what that meant to a goddess, but he wanted to trust that it was worth something.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The goddess closed her eyes again for a moment, basking in the sensation of their skin and awash with the echoes of the sensations that had just passed between them. Had Dehaljadrun's magic ever felt so welcomed in its flow? Had she ever trusted anyone this much? If she had, she couldn't remember. If there had been someone, those memories had been long locked away since her exile from the upper realms.
By the time the second wave of shocks pulsed through Evan, the electricity fell easily off her fingertips as though Evan were inviting it directly into himself. It was a flow, and the river felt close between them, but she was not afraid. They were standing in those waters together, clutching at each other for the strength to keep standing.
Just before the goddess opened her eyes, she felt Evan's thoughts begin to coalesce around something, and suddenly the thought spilled out of his lips, so near to her own.
"I love you."
The goddess' blush deepened, and the corners of her mouth fell. Her stomach dropped out from beneath her, and her eyes searched first one of Evan's eyes and then the other as though looking for a tell. For a lie. But it felt true and open and bare-faced. She could feel his thoughts move through her awareness, all pointing to the truth of what he said. And, still, she found it difficult to believe him.
A thousand dismissive, sarcastic remarks flew into her mind. She stared down at the ground, at the undulating roots around them, and urged herself to believe Evan. Maybe it wasn't possible. What did it mean for a human to love her, a goddess, an immortal? And how was being in love with her so different from being a thrall? Did this make Evan just another thing she had take care of?
She turned halfway from Evan, pulling out of his embrace with a small, sad smile on her lips. "You'll have your opportunity to prove it soon."
Looking up at the branches again, she could see that the lightning strikes had, indeed, worked their magic. Where the buds had been, full-bodied spheres of swirling incandescent red hung heavy as ripe fruit.
The goddess walked to the nearest one and reached a hand toward it. The branch leaned down as though to meet her, and before the fruit touched her hand, the branch shrugged gently and dropped the orb directly into the goddess' palm. She rolled it around in her palms for a few moments, her back still to Evan. Closing her eyes, she focused on the sensation of the orb and gently willed it smaller. She then manifested a thick leather cord from which to hang the orb. Turning around with the newly made necklace held tenderly across and around the fingers of both hands, the goddess looked at Evan, her eyes wide and filled with a vast and inexplicable sorrow.
This portal is for you, she said within his mind, not trusting herself with spoken words. Looking down at the newly made pendant, she added, should you need it in the underworld or afterward. She paused for a moment. It will only work once. Touch it like you might touch me, and it will open to bring you here. The goddess held the necklace out for Evan to accept. Take it, and come back to me. It's yours. You had a hand in creating it.
((OOC: if Evan doesn't do much of anything here, she would probably turn back around to harvest the five or so other portals that grew. Feel free to include that in your next post if it makes sense.))
By the time the second wave of shocks pulsed through Evan, the electricity fell easily off her fingertips as though Evan were inviting it directly into himself. It was a flow, and the river felt close between them, but she was not afraid. They were standing in those waters together, clutching at each other for the strength to keep standing.
Just before the goddess opened her eyes, she felt Evan's thoughts begin to coalesce around something, and suddenly the thought spilled out of his lips, so near to her own.
"I love you."
The goddess' blush deepened, and the corners of her mouth fell. Her stomach dropped out from beneath her, and her eyes searched first one of Evan's eyes and then the other as though looking for a tell. For a lie. But it felt true and open and bare-faced. She could feel his thoughts move through her awareness, all pointing to the truth of what he said. And, still, she found it difficult to believe him.
A thousand dismissive, sarcastic remarks flew into her mind. She stared down at the ground, at the undulating roots around them, and urged herself to believe Evan. Maybe it wasn't possible. What did it mean for a human to love her, a goddess, an immortal? And how was being in love with her so different from being a thrall? Did this make Evan just another thing she had take care of?
She turned halfway from Evan, pulling out of his embrace with a small, sad smile on her lips. "You'll have your opportunity to prove it soon."
Looking up at the branches again, she could see that the lightning strikes had, indeed, worked their magic. Where the buds had been, full-bodied spheres of swirling incandescent red hung heavy as ripe fruit.
The goddess walked to the nearest one and reached a hand toward it. The branch leaned down as though to meet her, and before the fruit touched her hand, the branch shrugged gently and dropped the orb directly into the goddess' palm. She rolled it around in her palms for a few moments, her back still to Evan. Closing her eyes, she focused on the sensation of the orb and gently willed it smaller. She then manifested a thick leather cord from which to hang the orb. Turning around with the newly made necklace held tenderly across and around the fingers of both hands, the goddess looked at Evan, her eyes wide and filled with a vast and inexplicable sorrow.
This portal is for you, she said within his mind, not trusting herself with spoken words. Looking down at the newly made pendant, she added, should you need it in the underworld or afterward. She paused for a moment. It will only work once. Touch it like you might touch me, and it will open to bring you here. The goddess held the necklace out for Evan to accept. Take it, and come back to me. It's yours. You had a hand in creating it.
((OOC: if Evan doesn't do much of anything here, she would probably turn back around to harvest the five or so other portals that grew. Feel free to include that in your next post if it makes sense.))
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The goddess' expression fell as the words spilled from Evan’s lips, and it stung like a knife through his chest. Doubt tore at him, and anger at the priestess – what good was being open with the goddess if it just hurt them both?
But on some level, he did know better. The goddess searched his eyes, and he understood that there were a million reasons why his words would be hard to hear. After all, when had he himself ever felt comfortable hearing them? And hadn’t Tehlunae said that the goddess likely felt loneliness even more potently than mortals?
So, steeling himself, Evan tried to bear it when the goddess pulled away. It didn’t feel right to pass this pain to the tree, so he curled himself around it, though he tried to send a flash of gratitude and apology to the tree as he stepped away from it, arms hugging around himself as he stood alone, naked in the night air beneath the tree.
"You'll have your opportunity to prove it soon."
Irritation pulsed through Evan at the goddess' reply, too suddenly and powerfully for his attention to contain. His expression showed it, and though his back was no longer pressed against the warmth of the tree, his bare feet still stood upon roots in the ground that seemed to undulate beneath him – there was no escaping some connection with the tree while he stood beneath its branches. Anxious, Evan couldn’t help eyeing the edge of the clearing. He didn’t really want to leave, but it calmed him a little to confirm that he wasn’t trapped where he stood.
The goddess’ attention was in the branches of the tree, and Evan’s was pulled there as well when she reached toward one of the red buds – spheres, now, heavy and incandescent in the moonlight, same as the orb that had rolled from the priestess’ hand that first night. A branch seemed to shrug above the goddess, gently depositing the sphere she reached for into the palm of her hand. She rolled it around for a moment and then finally turned around.
Her eyes were so full of sorrow, Evan couldn’t help but melt a little, his expression softening and his body relaxing, some. His arms were still wrapped tightly around himself, and for once, he felt a little just plainly embarrassed of his nudity. It felt out of place just now, and he wasn’t sure what to do about it; using the goddess’ magic to dress also seemed a bit off.
This portal is for you, should you need it in the underworld or afterward. The goddess spoke in Evan’s mind, and a fresh warmth spread over him, easily sweeping his embarrassment aside. His body relaxed a little bit further, though he wondered how much of his own inner thoughts the goddess was gleaning. The goddess’ own words certainly came with a heavy melancholy, but Evan was having difficulty grasping exactly what it was about; did she even know?
The goddess looked at a necklace she now held—the orb shrunk down to a small stone, like the one the goddess had given him that second night, dangling from her fingers by a leather cord for safekeeping.
It will only work once. Touch it like you might touch me, and it will open to bring you here.
The goddess held the necklace out for Evan to accept, and his arms finally unfurled in response, one slowly moving down to rest at his side while the other hovered uncertainly while he regarded the necklace and all the gravity it seemed to contain.
Take it, and come back to me. It's yours. You had a hand in creating it.
Tears blurred Evan’s vision, and he nodded subtly, though there was a brief pause after that before he fully extended his arm and opened his palm beneath the necklace, inviting it into his care. Only then did he raise his eyes to the goddess, brow drawn together with both hope and his own heavy dose of unnamable sorrow.
I will come back to you, he offered to her mind as the goddess relinquished the necklace to his grasp. His fingers gently closed around it, and determination began to spark in his eyes. I swear it.
But on some level, he did know better. The goddess searched his eyes, and he understood that there were a million reasons why his words would be hard to hear. After all, when had he himself ever felt comfortable hearing them? And hadn’t Tehlunae said that the goddess likely felt loneliness even more potently than mortals?
So, steeling himself, Evan tried to bear it when the goddess pulled away. It didn’t feel right to pass this pain to the tree, so he curled himself around it, though he tried to send a flash of gratitude and apology to the tree as he stepped away from it, arms hugging around himself as he stood alone, naked in the night air beneath the tree.
"You'll have your opportunity to prove it soon."
Irritation pulsed through Evan at the goddess' reply, too suddenly and powerfully for his attention to contain. His expression showed it, and though his back was no longer pressed against the warmth of the tree, his bare feet still stood upon roots in the ground that seemed to undulate beneath him – there was no escaping some connection with the tree while he stood beneath its branches. Anxious, Evan couldn’t help eyeing the edge of the clearing. He didn’t really want to leave, but it calmed him a little to confirm that he wasn’t trapped where he stood.
The goddess’ attention was in the branches of the tree, and Evan’s was pulled there as well when she reached toward one of the red buds – spheres, now, heavy and incandescent in the moonlight, same as the orb that had rolled from the priestess’ hand that first night. A branch seemed to shrug above the goddess, gently depositing the sphere she reached for into the palm of her hand. She rolled it around for a moment and then finally turned around.
Her eyes were so full of sorrow, Evan couldn’t help but melt a little, his expression softening and his body relaxing, some. His arms were still wrapped tightly around himself, and for once, he felt a little just plainly embarrassed of his nudity. It felt out of place just now, and he wasn’t sure what to do about it; using the goddess’ magic to dress also seemed a bit off.
This portal is for you, should you need it in the underworld or afterward. The goddess spoke in Evan’s mind, and a fresh warmth spread over him, easily sweeping his embarrassment aside. His body relaxed a little bit further, though he wondered how much of his own inner thoughts the goddess was gleaning. The goddess’ own words certainly came with a heavy melancholy, but Evan was having difficulty grasping exactly what it was about; did she even know?
The goddess looked at a necklace she now held—the orb shrunk down to a small stone, like the one the goddess had given him that second night, dangling from her fingers by a leather cord for safekeeping.
It will only work once. Touch it like you might touch me, and it will open to bring you here.
The goddess held the necklace out for Evan to accept, and his arms finally unfurled in response, one slowly moving down to rest at his side while the other hovered uncertainly while he regarded the necklace and all the gravity it seemed to contain.
Take it, and come back to me. It's yours. You had a hand in creating it.
Tears blurred Evan’s vision, and he nodded subtly, though there was a brief pause after that before he fully extended his arm and opened his palm beneath the necklace, inviting it into his care. Only then did he raise his eyes to the goddess, brow drawn together with both hope and his own heavy dose of unnamable sorrow.
I will come back to you, he offered to her mind as the goddess relinquished the necklace to his grasp. His fingers gently closed around it, and determination began to spark in his eyes. I swear it.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
As the goddess prepared to withdraw her awareness from Evan's mind, she heard him respond, I will come back to you. I swear it.
There were so many emotions swirling about Evan's mind and in his face, but the goddess tried not to pay attention to any in particular. Maybe he wanted a different response from her, but she did not want to know what it was.
She nodded at Evan slightly twice, swallowing another sarcastic remark. She knew that, on some level, even if he could not fulfill his promise to her, he would not stop trying as long as he was able. And, she supposed, begrudgingly, that was worth something.
Turning once more from Evan, the goddess went to several places around the front of the tree where the fruit hung and repeated the first set of her motions as they each fell into her hand. She then manifested a black satchel and placed them gingerly inside before pulling the bag over her shoulder.
She looked back at Evan then, her face stony and reserved. He had put the leather cord around his neck, and the captivating swirls of red inside the orb almost glowed where it hung between his collarbones. Standing there nude with nothing else on with the backdrop of the tree and the roots underfoot, he was beautiful. Magnificent. She could not imagine someone better suited for her purpose.
And so, her face softened as she looked at him, her brows lifting. She did want to more time with him. She did want to curl around him and think, for a few moments at least, of nothing else in all the worlds. She looked at the determination in his eyes and the set of his jaw, and a spark lit up and caught fire in her chest. She needed to believe in him and in his promise to her.
Was that love? This hollowing sensation, this compulsion toward Evan? Did her chest not always feel this way? What did it mean to love Evan when she could easily say she loved, or at least cared for, everything and anything she encountered? Was it simply a matter of degree? And how much more did she love Evan? Did that matter when they both knew full and well that they were not the only ones they each loved?
I merged with him. Multiple times. Surely that counts for something, the goddess thought.
She shook her head, trying to dispel and quiet all her thoughts. Finally, she approached Evan and put a hand over the orb around his neck, sighing with relief, though from what she could not say.
Taking a few steps back from him, the goddess closed her eyes and allowed herself to dissipate into mist. After a moment, another shape began to take form, this one large and dark on four legs. A glittering array of light passed over the goddess as she became an enormous panther, easily two or three times Evan's size. Her fur shone with a lavender sheen at the tips, sleek and fluid-like where it lay across her body. Concentrating, the goddess willed the fur around her shoulders to grow a little denser and longer so Evan might have something to hold onto. Perhaps her dragon would have made their journey to the palace faster, but she couldn't quite muster the strength or clarity to solidify such a shape. No, this huntress of a cat felt right.
Looking with her giant wine-colored eyes at Evan, she padded slowly over to him, inclining her head to him as though in a show of respect. Then, the panther pushed against Evan's leg and hip, nudging her cheek and neck against Evan. Stepping back again, the goddess shifted her weight away from her front paws, dug her nails into the soft ground, and pushed her tail up into the air, flicking it playfully as she stretched. Thus refreshed, the panther nudged Evan again and bent down, gesturing with a whip of her head for Evan to climb on.
There were so many emotions swirling about Evan's mind and in his face, but the goddess tried not to pay attention to any in particular. Maybe he wanted a different response from her, but she did not want to know what it was.
She nodded at Evan slightly twice, swallowing another sarcastic remark. She knew that, on some level, even if he could not fulfill his promise to her, he would not stop trying as long as he was able. And, she supposed, begrudgingly, that was worth something.
Turning once more from Evan, the goddess went to several places around the front of the tree where the fruit hung and repeated the first set of her motions as they each fell into her hand. She then manifested a black satchel and placed them gingerly inside before pulling the bag over her shoulder.
She looked back at Evan then, her face stony and reserved. He had put the leather cord around his neck, and the captivating swirls of red inside the orb almost glowed where it hung between his collarbones. Standing there nude with nothing else on with the backdrop of the tree and the roots underfoot, he was beautiful. Magnificent. She could not imagine someone better suited for her purpose.
And so, her face softened as she looked at him, her brows lifting. She did want to more time with him. She did want to curl around him and think, for a few moments at least, of nothing else in all the worlds. She looked at the determination in his eyes and the set of his jaw, and a spark lit up and caught fire in her chest. She needed to believe in him and in his promise to her.
Was that love? This hollowing sensation, this compulsion toward Evan? Did her chest not always feel this way? What did it mean to love Evan when she could easily say she loved, or at least cared for, everything and anything she encountered? Was it simply a matter of degree? And how much more did she love Evan? Did that matter when they both knew full and well that they were not the only ones they each loved?
I merged with him. Multiple times. Surely that counts for something, the goddess thought.
She shook her head, trying to dispel and quiet all her thoughts. Finally, she approached Evan and put a hand over the orb around his neck, sighing with relief, though from what she could not say.
Taking a few steps back from him, the goddess closed her eyes and allowed herself to dissipate into mist. After a moment, another shape began to take form, this one large and dark on four legs. A glittering array of light passed over the goddess as she became an enormous panther, easily two or three times Evan's size. Her fur shone with a lavender sheen at the tips, sleek and fluid-like where it lay across her body. Concentrating, the goddess willed the fur around her shoulders to grow a little denser and longer so Evan might have something to hold onto. Perhaps her dragon would have made their journey to the palace faster, but she couldn't quite muster the strength or clarity to solidify such a shape. No, this huntress of a cat felt right.
Looking with her giant wine-colored eyes at Evan, she padded slowly over to him, inclining her head to him as though in a show of respect. Then, the panther pushed against Evan's leg and hip, nudging her cheek and neck against Evan. Stepping back again, the goddess shifted her weight away from her front paws, dug her nails into the soft ground, and pushed her tail up into the air, flicking it playfully as she stretched. Thus refreshed, the panther nudged Evan again and bent down, gesturing with a whip of her head for Evan to climb on.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The goddess nodded to Evan, but her expression was inscrutable, and he could swear she was holding something back. He tried to reach for what it might be, but she was withdrawing, and begrudgingly, he let her go. She turned back to the tree's branches and set about gathering the other orbs as she had the first. Evan watched her gather one, but lost interest in the second, and instead turned his attention down to the necklace in his palm.
It prompted him to reflect on the portal she had given him the second night. Truth told, he hadn't thought much of it. He was certainly grateful for it - no fucking telling what would have happened if he hadn't made it back to her the following night - but at the time, it had just been this small, foreign tool, briefly carried around in his pocket. To be fair, his scale had traveled with it, and certainly held more potency to him, especially on that night. Briefly, Evan missed the scale - it had been a game they hadn't really gotten to play, in some ways - but, that sensation eased as he returned his attention to the necklace she had given him now. Instead of an apology, this was a gift - something they had created together, which gave him access to her. A tangible invitation to return.
With a soft sigh, Evan finally fastened the portal around his neck. He looked down as best he could at how it fell against his skin, his fingers rolling it slightly to catch small glimmers of moonlight, and his chest swelled with a melancholic ache.
When he looked back up to the goddess, she was looking at him, and he blushed a little under her gaze. Her expression was softer now, at least, though she still seemed distant. He still desperately wanted to know what she was thinking--how his declaration had landed, whether it had been the right call--but for now, he relaxed his arms to his sides and simply gazed back at her, well aware of his bare and open body on full display.
Finally, the goddess approached. His heartbeat quickened as she came near him, at first with anxiety but then with elation as she gently pressed her hand over the orb on his chest. They both exhaled a sigh of relief in tandem, before she stepped away again and then dissipated into mist.
Alarm penetrated Evan's expression again, his body tense and nervous as he tried to assess if there was anything to do besides wait. A new shape began forming in the mist--sleek, dark, shimmering fur coalescing into a large panther, spiking an instinct in Evan's gut to run or prepare for a fight. Very briefly, Evan's scar ached at his side. The panther looked at Evan with the goddess' eyes and approached him calmly, head bowed with respect, and Evan relaxed as he realized that, of course, this was the goddess. She nuzzled against his leg, and Evan couldn't help a soft chuckle, surprise and fluster coloring his tone.
Stepping back, the panther took on a deep stretch--almost like a city cat, complete with playful flicks of her tail. Once she seemed content, the panther nudged at Evan again before bending down, whipping her head to motion him toward her shoulder where he'd be able to climb on. He obliged, glad to touch her again, and shivered as his fingers brushed through her fur, his naked skin caressed by the texture as he pulled himself up. He thought back to the summoning--how she'd swayed before him like a panther preparing to strike. He felt light as he considered how much had changed between them in just a few nights--how certain he was that he wanted whatever carnal desires fueled that particular sort of predatory look in her eyes; how held and welcome he felt with her, thinking especially of the river they could approach together, and also the simple pleasure of her hand on his cheek.
It prompted him to reflect on the portal she had given him the second night. Truth told, he hadn't thought much of it. He was certainly grateful for it - no fucking telling what would have happened if he hadn't made it back to her the following night - but at the time, it had just been this small, foreign tool, briefly carried around in his pocket. To be fair, his scale had traveled with it, and certainly held more potency to him, especially on that night. Briefly, Evan missed the scale - it had been a game they hadn't really gotten to play, in some ways - but, that sensation eased as he returned his attention to the necklace she had given him now. Instead of an apology, this was a gift - something they had created together, which gave him access to her. A tangible invitation to return.
With a soft sigh, Evan finally fastened the portal around his neck. He looked down as best he could at how it fell against his skin, his fingers rolling it slightly to catch small glimmers of moonlight, and his chest swelled with a melancholic ache.
When he looked back up to the goddess, she was looking at him, and he blushed a little under her gaze. Her expression was softer now, at least, though she still seemed distant. He still desperately wanted to know what she was thinking--how his declaration had landed, whether it had been the right call--but for now, he relaxed his arms to his sides and simply gazed back at her, well aware of his bare and open body on full display.
Finally, the goddess approached. His heartbeat quickened as she came near him, at first with anxiety but then with elation as she gently pressed her hand over the orb on his chest. They both exhaled a sigh of relief in tandem, before she stepped away again and then dissipated into mist.
Alarm penetrated Evan's expression again, his body tense and nervous as he tried to assess if there was anything to do besides wait. A new shape began forming in the mist--sleek, dark, shimmering fur coalescing into a large panther, spiking an instinct in Evan's gut to run or prepare for a fight. Very briefly, Evan's scar ached at his side. The panther looked at Evan with the goddess' eyes and approached him calmly, head bowed with respect, and Evan relaxed as he realized that, of course, this was the goddess. She nuzzled against his leg, and Evan couldn't help a soft chuckle, surprise and fluster coloring his tone.
Stepping back, the panther took on a deep stretch--almost like a city cat, complete with playful flicks of her tail. Once she seemed content, the panther nudged at Evan again before bending down, whipping her head to motion him toward her shoulder where he'd be able to climb on. He obliged, glad to touch her again, and shivered as his fingers brushed through her fur, his naked skin caressed by the texture as he pulled himself up. He thought back to the summoning--how she'd swayed before him like a panther preparing to strike. He felt light as he considered how much had changed between them in just a few nights--how certain he was that he wanted whatever carnal desires fueled that particular sort of predatory look in her eyes; how held and welcome he felt with her, thinking especially of the river they could approach together, and also the simple pleasure of her hand on his cheek.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The goddess was pleased that Evan did not hesitate to climb onto her back, her body shivering as his naked legs slid across her soft fur. She waited for him to get settled, undulating from side to side a little to increase what she could feel of him. His weight was pleasant as it spread across her spine, and her muscles tensed with power and anticipation. She wanted to run, bolt, race through the trees with Evan on her back, clinging to her.
Padding lightly over to the satchel that had fallen during the transformation, the panther gripped the shoulder strap in her mouth and turned to hand it back to Evan. The portals and the scale from Evan's dragon thus secured, the goddess blinked once at Evan before looking forward again. After a glance and a slight bow in the direction of the great tree, the goddess touched Evan's mind only enough to give a command.
Hold on tightly, lover. Her voice was airy and playful in his mind, a slightly higher pitch than was typical for her. Giving him barely any time to react, the panther tensed and bounded off in the direction of the palace. She swayed around the trees, which passed in a blur around them. She stirred the wind only minutely as she moved, gliding through it as though swimming through water. She moved with such speed and grace such as no earthly creature possessed, and the motions leapt into the goddess' great chest as a playful glee erupted within her. Reaching a crest of rock where the ground rose up slightly, the panther leapt off the short bluff without pause, angling her spine to catch Evan's body as he landed back onto her. Allowing only enough time for him to retighten his grip, she bounded off again, the sounds of her playful, tinkling laughter echoing through Evan's mind.
Every stroke of her sleek, powerful legs, elicited tingles throughout her body, electrifying her fur slightly and sending pleasure in a steady pulse through every part of Evan that was in contact with her. Gods, she so rarely had a good excuse to change into this, to be this. It was a certain type of freedom even here.
They passed many sections of forest, the leaves and branches growing more sparse as they went, and they shot past the empty vineyard. Soon, they were back in the meadow in front of the goddess' palace, where the panther stopped abruptly and turned to the side, intending to force Evan off her back sideways. When he hit the ground, she wasted no time coming over to him, her rough tongue sliding affectionately across one of his hipbones. Then, she nuzzled her cheek into the crook of Evan's arm before ultimately standing over him and lying her head on his stomach, her giant paws on either side of Evan's body.
After a few moments, the goddess returned to mist, the weight of the great panther suddenly removed from Evan. The weight returned to a much smaller degree as the goddess transformed back into her more human shape, her head still laid pleasantly on Evan's torso as her leg curled around one of his. Impulsively, still affected by the form of her panther, she nuzzled her face into his warm flesh, breathing heavy against him from the exertion.
"Evan..." she whispered. "Evan..." she said again and kissed his ribs twice with a sleepy smile.
Padding lightly over to the satchel that had fallen during the transformation, the panther gripped the shoulder strap in her mouth and turned to hand it back to Evan. The portals and the scale from Evan's dragon thus secured, the goddess blinked once at Evan before looking forward again. After a glance and a slight bow in the direction of the great tree, the goddess touched Evan's mind only enough to give a command.
Hold on tightly, lover. Her voice was airy and playful in his mind, a slightly higher pitch than was typical for her. Giving him barely any time to react, the panther tensed and bounded off in the direction of the palace. She swayed around the trees, which passed in a blur around them. She stirred the wind only minutely as she moved, gliding through it as though swimming through water. She moved with such speed and grace such as no earthly creature possessed, and the motions leapt into the goddess' great chest as a playful glee erupted within her. Reaching a crest of rock where the ground rose up slightly, the panther leapt off the short bluff without pause, angling her spine to catch Evan's body as he landed back onto her. Allowing only enough time for him to retighten his grip, she bounded off again, the sounds of her playful, tinkling laughter echoing through Evan's mind.
Every stroke of her sleek, powerful legs, elicited tingles throughout her body, electrifying her fur slightly and sending pleasure in a steady pulse through every part of Evan that was in contact with her. Gods, she so rarely had a good excuse to change into this, to be this. It was a certain type of freedom even here.
They passed many sections of forest, the leaves and branches growing more sparse as they went, and they shot past the empty vineyard. Soon, they were back in the meadow in front of the goddess' palace, where the panther stopped abruptly and turned to the side, intending to force Evan off her back sideways. When he hit the ground, she wasted no time coming over to him, her rough tongue sliding affectionately across one of his hipbones. Then, she nuzzled her cheek into the crook of Evan's arm before ultimately standing over him and lying her head on his stomach, her giant paws on either side of Evan's body.
After a few moments, the goddess returned to mist, the weight of the great panther suddenly removed from Evan. The weight returned to a much smaller degree as the goddess transformed back into her more human shape, her head still laid pleasantly on Evan's torso as her leg curled around one of his. Impulsively, still affected by the form of her panther, she nuzzled her face into his warm flesh, breathing heavy against him from the exertion.
"Evan..." she whispered. "Evan..." she said again and kissed his ribs twice with a sleepy smile.