~
~*~:~*#S#*~:~*~
Sarielle held Ellowyn's hand as they walked through the woods. Willow and Flora led the way, talking the whole time. The two were obviously close, which was lovely for Willow as she had more of a big sister relationship with the other nymphs. It would be nice for her to have someone more her equal.
"How old is she?" Sarielle whispered.
Ellowyn made a thinking face. "Hmm, I think she's got four winters on Rozenwild, so eleven more than me."
"Is Willow one of her lovers?"
The nymph nodded.
"Are you?"
She giggled. "No, I've slept with both of them, but not often."
Sarielle should have guessed that really. Ellowyn had mentioned the tribe's fondness of orgies and spontaneous unions.
The group drifted towards a dead nymph up ahead. Her girlfriend's grasp tensed and her step faltered. Sarielle couldn't bear to see her get upset again. Ellowyn had already cried so much for her sisters.
She pulled gently on her hand. "Let's keep going, get a head start on the search."
So far they'd concentrated their efforts in the south, maybe because there was more chance of finding someone alive out there. Flora wanted to search to the east of the town, along the gorge where she'd been, but there were areas to the west they'd yet to explore too. That's where Ellowyn suggested they go. None of them wanted to face the possibility the missing nymph had fled north and been cut down by the elhuvens' axe-happy relatives.
Ellowyn was in good spirits and chatted away, unable to contain her excitement over Flora's appearance.
"I do think her and Abelia are a bit of an odd pairing. Abelia's so anxious and uptight and Flora's placid and carefree. Too much so at times. She never gets anything done." She giggled. "Hey! Maybe they'll be good for each other that way."
"I think Flora might be good for everyone. Did you see Hevani? She was smiling when we left. That spiritual thing must have been really therapeutic for her."
Sarielle sometimes forgot that Ellowyn was a creature of the Stygian forest, the otherworldly forbidden lands. She hadn't realised until today just how powerful the dainty nymphs were. She imagined they would be quite an intimidating adversary.
When Ellowyn ran out of things to say she switched to humming. Sarielle had never been into this part of the forest. It was all unfamiliar, but no longer scary.
A note faded in Ellowyn's throat and she cocked her head. She nudged Sarielle, veering to the right. Her steps grew quicker and eventually she broke into a run. Sarielle raced alongside her.
Choked by tears, Ellowyn slowed to a halt. "She's alive." She crushed her in a hug. "Oh, Sae, she's alive."
Sarielle patted her back while she wept. "It's all right." She chuckled. "It's a big relief, isn't it?"
Ellowyn nodded and wiped her eyes.
"Come on then. Finish crying and we'll go meet her."
They walked while Ellowyn got herself together, but her excitement didn't let that happen for long. As soon as she could breathe, she took off.
"Slow down! "Sarielle yelled, trying to keep up. "Should I even be running?"
The nymph zoomed back and circled around her. "It's fine. She won't fall out. Come on!" She pulled Sarielle up a hill and dragged her down the other side into waist deep shrubs. "There she is!"
In a bed of ferns a pale grey tree arched back, bent branches aloft. A sparse dusting of leaves occupied her twigs, and where Sae imagined her ear might be, a single tiny blossom lay open in wait.
Ellowyn looked about to tackle the tree, but slowed and gently wrapped her in a warm hug.
Still panting, Sarielle waded through the ferns. "Who is she?"
"Her name is Laceleaf." She stood back. "This is Sarielle. She's an elhuven. There's a bunch of them." The smile disappeared and she glanced at Sarielle.
"We're one short," Sarielle said flatly.
Ellowyn was clearly disappointed, but trying hard not to show it. "Well, Laceleaf looks okay. She even has a flower out. And we can keep her sustained until one of the younger girls..."
Sarielle made a face. Laceleaf had waited so long already. And she saw how much it tormented Ellowyn to see Amaranth stuck as she was. She blew out a breath. "I have an idea."
***
Sarielle's bare feet made only whispers in the grass. Having watched her target from the tree line, she'd snuck into the village and stalked her from behind her family's shed. On tiptoe, she peered in the window. The woman was emptying potatoes from her basket and had her back to the door.
"Evadne," Sarielle hissed, coming in behind her.
The elhuven jumped and put a hand to her heart. She scowled when she saw who it was. "I'm not allowed speak to sinners."
"No need to speak. Just come with me."
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
"Please?" She grabbed her hand and tugged.
Evadne fought her hold. Sarielle tried to pull her, but ended up wrestling her to the ground, surprising herself with her strength. Or what little seedling had given her more likely.
"Help," Evadne wailed pitifully. Sarielle's weight on her back meant it was weak, but she was never going to get her out of here without someone hearing.
"Shh. I'm not going to hurt you."
"I'm going to tell my father about this."
"Your father no longer scares me." Sarielle undid the girl's apron and ripped the ties off. She used one to gag her and once she'd rolled her over, tied the other around her wrists. "Quickly now, before someone sees."
Evadne obediently got up and walked with her. She went with little protest, though she did give the occasional resistant tug on Sarielle's arm. Every second it took to walk back to the forest was nerve-racking, but they appeared to go unnoticed.
"I want you to meet Ellowyn, the nymph I rescued."
"Buh beenna whorrh," Evadne mumbled through her gag.
"Yep, by being a whore." She led her towards the nymph. "This is Evadne, the girl who hates me because we got caught fucking."
Ellowyn ran over to meet them, all smiles, but it soon turned into a look of horror. "Why is she gagged?"
"She wouldn't shut up." Sarielle untied the fabric and it fell away.
Evadne turned on her. "You're going to burn in hell with all the other immoral whores."
Sarielle rolled her eyes. "See what I mean?" She looked back at her ex-friend. "Hey, Evadne, remember when I stuck my fingers inside you? Remember how good it felt?"
She sneered. "You disgust me."
Sarielle smirked. "Remember how you put yours in me?"
She bunched her mouth up, but didn't say anything else. Sarielle took her arm and led her further into the forest.
Ellowyn pranced alongside them. "You can't bring her here if she doesn't want it!"
"I'm trying to help her. I'll take her back if she wants. I just want to show her what it's like. I respected the other women's choice to stay. But Evadne hasn't made a decision for herself in years. Force is the only language she understands."
She shook her head. "I don't think Willow will like this."
~
~*~:~*#L#*~:~*~
It had been a long time since Laceleaf had felt a sister, so it was a delightful surprise when a perky little blonde bounded over to her with vivacious energy. Laceleaf braced for her exuberant attack, but Ellowyn reined herself in at the last moment and gave her a more respectful embrace. There was something else with her, a mate it must be for the nymph to be in this form. Ellowyn told her it was an elhuven, a hardy sort of creature not usually found around these parts. The two of them debated her predicament without letting Laceleaf know enough for her to make sense of it all.
"I'm going to the town to get someone," Sarielle said.
Ellowyn went to stop her. "But..."
She put her hand on her belly. "Don't worry. If they lock me up you can get the others and break me out."
"Be careful," she sang out as the girl hurried off.
Laceleaf noticed how big her breasts were and realised what they were worried about.
'Oh, Ellowyn! That girl has your seed, doesn't she?'
The news was so marvellous, she didn't hear the first part of what Ellowyn was saying. The nymph sat down and filled her in on the happenings she'd missed. When she'd finished the rushed story, Ellowyn ran off after Sarielle.
Sometime later, they came back bringing a third woman. She was short, with a round face and big brown eyes. Straight, golden blonde hair hung to just past her shoulders and a pink and yellow bauble hung from her right ear. Laceleaf frowned at the bindings on her wrists. She looked to Ellowyn for explanation, but the nymph was very uncertain.
"Evadne, this is Laceleaf. She's one of the nymphs I told you about, the ones who need saving. I thought we could keep her company for a while," Sarielle explained.
The elhuven wasn't impressed. "That's a tree."
Sarielle groaned. "We've been over this."
Ellowyn took a breath and slowly turned into a tree. After a few seconds she changed back, grinning with pride.
"Forbidden creature." Evadne stared at her in wonder, maintaining a starry look about her.
"You are in their woods, so it's not such a surprise, is it?" Sarielle said.
All Evadne had for them was a bitter glare.
Sarielle gave her shoulder a gentle push. "Sit for a minute. I need to talk to Ellowyn."
Evadne plopped onto the ground and Sarielle wrapped cloth around Laceleaf's trunk.
'Why are you tying her to me?'
What in all gardens was going on? Had they just kidnapped this woman?!
"I know you hate me, but please let me help you. I'll take you to meet Amaranth in a minute, and the other girls. Be nice to Laceleaf while we're gone, okay?"
She left with Ellowyn while the new elhuven spluttered all manner of grotesque things.
"You will burn, you slave to temptation. You who suckle from the serpent and lie with a thousand men. You giver of sins, your inner flesh splayed for the taking to demon and man alike."
Laceleaf retracted her flower.
'Good heather! Will someone wash this girl's mouth out with salt?'
The hateful murmurings continued. It was any wonder she could still find things to say. Where had she learned all that?
