Auresae's Return

An ephemeral touch curls beneath your chin, at once so achingly familiar and yet different somehow, in a nebulous manner more sensed than describable--nonetheless, the heart within your chest does rise as ever it did at your Goddess' touch. "But you will be desired soon, Cirtaleo. It has been too long since I have called upon you," Her voice croons in your ear, intimate and affectionate.

You have emoted: Arbre closes her eyes tightly and she raises her head a touch, as if that's what she thinks the hand is trying to do. "I would wait forever," she whispers.

"That you have proven. I, too have ached in your absence, as you have Mine," replies the Voice, low and sure. "We have suffered time enough." As if in demonstration of Her sincerity, warmth pours into your body, filling you as a vessel, both comfort and promise to come.

You have emoted: Arbre shudders slightly, her tattoos brightening. "I have grown, Ralehao," she says, opening her eyes again, "a little, at least. I am taking care of myself better. I am thinking before I act. I am getting my anger under control... kind of."

Steam curls off the surface of the pool nearest to you, wrapping over your skin as a caress as She chimes, "Not too much, I do hope." The vapour settles on your shoulders more heavily than you might think, and it takes a moment or two for you to realize its tangibility actually grows, until you can feel the fingers, the smooth warmth of Her palm, Her heat at your back. Your tattoos strain from their confines, lashing wildly, reaching so desperately for the Goddess.

You have emoted: Arbre gives off a noise something between a groan and a whimper, her shoulders rising as she breathes in. She doesn't turn around, her head remaining straight ahead, though her eyes strain downward, trying to see the fingers on her shoulders. "I certainly have not stopped decking the people that hurt me," she says with a strained laugh, "I think maybe You will be pleased, not disappointed in me."

The fingers upon your shoulders squeeze, gentle but with intent, and the tattoos rise in a veritable torrent when you actually feel Her breath upon your ear. Auresae's voice comes as close as to be expected, the sonorous words curling into the shell of your ear. "It has been so long since we have been close, a fault I shoulder. Is this what keeps your gaze from Me, Aquila?"

You have emoted: "Maybe You are not there, You are my imagination," Arbre says, her tail whipping behind her and occasionally whacking against Auresae's legs, "if I look, You will disappear."

A kiss comes then, at your temple, and in spite of its location and the careful manner in which those lips, so strangely cool and yet blistering hot, press soft to your skin, it is not coloured by chaste propriety--rather, it breathes of a greeting afforded to a loved one long parted and so recently found again. "Not this time, little wolf," Auresae assures, and you can feel Her mouth curve to a smile.

You have emoted: Arbre turns her head slowly, her expression hesitant until she catches full sight of the Goddess. She blinks roughly, determined not to cry in Auresae's presence, a beaming smile breaking through. She raises her left hand to place her fingers under her nose, a instinctual motion with little meaning. "I have.. so much to say.." she says, though none of those words seem to be coming to her at the moment.

Auresae quirks a brow, the smile remaining upon features even more resplendant than memory had provided you. Her hands slip from your shoulders, the tips of Her fingers trailing down your back, one settling almost possessively at your hip while the other touches to your chin in mirror to when She first reached for you. Golden eyes survey your face, the weight of the gaze comfortable in its familiarity where others might squirm. "Is Arbre Aquila truly rendered speechless," She wonders aloud, a teasing lilt to Her voice.

You have emoted: "I am many things with You that I cannot be without," Arbre says, though a blush rises to her cheeks. Her eyes keep on Auresae's, the tears having been pushed back under control for the moment. Lowering her hand, she swallows hard and asks the question she's been brooding on for a long time. Her voice is quiet and strained - she's terrified to ask, but she can't go longer without knowing. "What happened to her?" she says, raising her hand instinctively to her stomach.

The hand at your hip shifts to settle only briefly over your own at your stomach, and then Auresae pulls away, and though Her expression is inscrutable, no attempt is made to mask the love in Her voice. "The one forged of our Fire," the Goddess says, and even without pupils you can feel the weight of Her gaze slip down your face, straying to your lips, and back up again. "There is reward for patience, Cirtaleo, and as I have said, we have suffered time enough." The smile upon Her own visage is refreshed. "You would like to meet her."

You have emoted: Arbre's mouth opens and closes repeatedly - this clearly wasn't the answer she had expected, and Auresae has once more stunned her speech less. "I.." she tries, raising her hand to clear her throat several times before attempting again. "I thought, maybe, she did not live," she says, her hands beginning to shake, "that I broke her somehow."

Your confession seems to surprise the Goddess--Her brows lift and Her head tilts a fraction to the side. Auresae "Why would you think this?"

You have emoted: "You took her and walked away," Arbre says, bringing her hands together to fumble with them awkwardly, "I never saw her. I never touched her. You said little to me after that, and then You were gone. I just thought...." Despite the desperation in her tone, the realization that the girl lived is beginning to show in Arbre's face as hope fills it, her eyes flicking back and forth between Auresae's.

Auresae's mouth closes over your own, half in response to your fears and half simply to quiet you. She lingers a moment and then shifts Her reassurances to words, replying calmly, "One of Mine would never bear true harm. I needed time with the child, a different span come to pass than here amongst mortals. She is safe." And then, almost in afterthought: "And to be returned to her mother soon to grow into her destiny."

You have emoted: The kiss does much to shut Arbre up. Though she responds to it, and her desire is always present, it's tempered somewhat; she's grown content with who she is with the Goddess and doesn't feel the need to press it further. "How old is she now?" she questions quietly, much more calmly, "ten? Twenty? I have not counted the years.."

Auresae's lips twitch and She gives you a rather queer look. "Time passes differently for mortals," She echoes, and apparently seems to think that should answer your question well enough. "All else will be clear when she is returned, Cirtaleo. This I may promise."

You have emoted: Arbre nods slowly once, as if she feels she just needs to agree with Auresae, and then a second time, more confidently. "I trust You," she replies.

"Of course you do," Auresae returns simply, and releases you fully from Her grasp, leaving you free to move as you please. Even as She does so, though, the Goddess appears...contented. Her eyes rake over you, and She tilts Her head again, almost expectantly, or perhaps patiently.

You have emoted: Arbre watches Auresae move, herself expectant until she realizes the Goddess's gaze is on her. She reaches up and shoves her fingers into the tangled mess of fake curls her hair has become, and it's easy to note that she's actually pretty clean, for once. "I was Benandanti," she says, speaking more swiftly as she goes on, "then Feral Will, pissed everyone off and so I quit as peacefully as I could manage. I chased the ghost of a wolf and ran into the cougar spirit of Dendara, who told me to join the Shamans, so now I am Hand of the Praadi."

As you speak Auresae's hand absently finds Her chest, two fingers slipping beneath the fabric of the stola. Her focus, however, does not appear to stray beyond a fleeting glazing of Her expression, and then She is once again attentive. "You have been busy in My absence, then. Good," Auresae says once you have finished, pleased. "It seems the tendency of mortals to forget that which is not held directly in front of them. But I had known better of you, Cirtaleo."

You have emoted: "I have been -happy-, Ralehao," Arbre says, giving a soft laugh in her exuberance, "for the first time I can remember, I have been -happy-. I have been bettering myself, and more content because of it; even when things seemed to fall apart with my lover, I knew I would be okay, in the end. And now You show. Things are perfect, now. Just perfect." She yanks at her hand in her hair, disentangling it with a short look of irritation at the terrible mass. Needing to keep moving, she takes both hands and brushes down the skirt of her dress unattentively, her eyes still on Auresae.

Auresae's entire demeanor softens, incongruous though not necessarily contrasting to the spark that lights in Her gaze. Reaching out, She cradles your face against Her palm, thumb smoothing over your cheek. "And do you belong to one now again?" She asks, an expectant, hungry sort of eagerness stealing over Her countenance and tensing in anticipation, even though no attempt is made to rein it in. Her question sends a fresh pull to the fire wreathing your body, so strong that you can feel a tug within you.

You have emoted: "I have never belonged to anyone by You," Arbre says, tilting her head against Auresae's hand, "but if You mean Aldric, I have no answer: we fight more than we converse, he never seems to want to see me, and pushed me away in the spring saying he was not my 'toy to play with.'" She gives a heavy sigh, though her expression doesn't seem terribly depressed with her eyes on Auresae. "I have begun to doubt if this will make it another year. He does not understand me."

Assuaged, Auresae emits a low, appreciative utterance and She smiles again, unbothered by the rest of what you have said. "None do as I, Cirtaleo," She croons, some of the tension leeching from Her, lids falling just a touch. "You have been missed."

You have emoted: Arbre reaches out instinctively, placing her hand against Auresae's cheek. "Things will be fine now," she says, though whether to herself or the Goddess is unknown, "things will be perfect."

So you both stand a moment or two more, and then Auresae regains Her sense of self. "There is no other choice," She agrees, gingerly pulling your hand away. "You will see a new future. A better one. They will know our greatness."

You have emoted: "Raleha?" Arbre says, her voice a bit stronger and almost breaking the moment, "is she still our secret?"

Tilting Her head in brief consideration of the question, Auresae, Goddess of Fire says, "How is she to remain a secret once she is by your side, Cirtaleo?"

You have emoted: "Everyone knew I was pregnant," Arbre says, "but no one knew who the father, as they said, was." She gives Auresae a lopsided grin, "most people assumed it was avelae." She reaches up, pushing her hair out of her face only for it to fall right back in. "I told him, when You took her," she says more solemnly, "and sisters figured it out. But no one else knows. I was mysteriously pregnant, and then mysteriously not - I would not tell."

Comprehension flits over Her features and Auresae's lips purse lightly in lending it further thought. "You wish to know if you may tell others you bore My child."

You have emoted: "I do not know what she looks like," Arbre says, giving a solemn nod, "perhaps she is a ball of flame and undeniably Yours and they will think me crazy for speaking to her. But she may look like any other child, and so they will ask. If You wish for my silence still, You will have it."

Auresae breathes a soft sound through Her nose, bemused, and sobers again. Her gaze weighs critically upon you and the Goddess is silent at length until, finally, "Is it something you wish to tell freely?"

You have emoted: "I do," Arbre replies honestly, "I wish to tell everyone 'look, see how wondrous qineo Raleha is, see what beauty and perfection She can make'."

Her face a careful mask, Auresae, Goddess of Fire says, "The request will be considered, then, Cirtaleo."

You have emoted: "I will understand and will not complain if You do not wish it," Arbre says, and then more eagerly, "when can I see her?"

"Soon," Auresae answers, and then, "When next I come to you, you will have her. She will be ready."

You have emoted: Arbre beams brightly at Auresae, the static between her tattoos firing off eagerly. Again, she brings her hand to her face as if she's going to hide the tears coming to her eyes, but can't break contact with Auresae.

Stepping forward suddenly, as if she's afraid Auresae's going to disappear, you say, "I am in love with you, Ralehao."
As you speak, you exhale a cloud of sweet, clove-scented smoke.

Your response elicits one from Auresae as well, who reaches out to wipe your tears. They evaporate before Her touch is even felt, but still the pad of a single ebon finger presses to your cheek. "I know," She states simply as golden eyes study your features. "The ache of it within you--" the finger lowers and taps to your chest--"I feel it there." A smile curls at the corner of Her mouth, small but steady, a sly, almost smug shade colouring it as She adds, "Unmuddied, clearer than those you bed."

You have emoted: Arbre parts her lips for a sarcastic retort, but decides to give it up, simply smiling, glowing, basking in Auresae's presence.

Auresae appears immeasurably pleased, Her chin lifting a touch in nigh child-like impudence. Much like you, though, She refrains from pushing it. "I should tend to other matters, then, those that have arisen in My absence. Unless you have anything else on your mind, Cirtaleo?"

You have emoted: "Only You," Arbre replies.

"Me?" Auresae echoes, a slender brow arching even as Her eyes narrow a touch, searching your gaze.

You have emoted: "Always You," Arbre says, then clarifies, "on my mind."

Auresae's chin lifts in acknowledgement and then She pauses, seeming to think over saying something in response but only for a few moments. Still, Her lips twitch, and then She is unreadable. "Walk well, child, knowing I am returned once more," the Goddess says instead.

Flames wreathe themselves over Auresae's blackened skin, quickly engulfing Her form in a roaring inferno. As it dies down and clears, a glowing ember is all that is left of the Goddess before that, too, is extinguished.