The journey to the glade had been...
Excruciating
. While Elisa had dressed sensibly, even brought some supplies, there had not been a single path to her goal, and she had had to stumble through thick overgrowth, steadying herself against the rough bark of ancient growth. But she did it, grumbling and swearing the whole way, because her goal was
worth
this effort.
Although
, she reflected as she pushed her way through a thicket that was, thankfully, not thorny,
I wish I'd taken the advice to bring a machete
. She thought back, to the small village, and the old man who had nodded as she introduced herself, a historian.
He nodded, and then spread his arms, his gesture clearly stating that he was of no help. Elisa's shoulders sagged, and her head drooped, but rose sharply as he laid a hand on her shoulder. "While nobody here knows very much, there is someone who does. She's ancient, but friendly to those who are friendly to her. And if she still lives, she perhaps knows more about this nation of ours than anyone. Go west, young lady, until you reach those woods..." he pointed, and, following her finger, she could just about see the tops of trees in the distance. "It's rough going, and you might want to see the blacksmith before you leave, but travel in a straight line from the large dolmen, the way you had to get there, west, and it would be nigh impossible to miss it."
Elisa looked at her purse. It was... Empty. Clasping the old man's hand gently, she bowed. "While I can't afford your blacksmith's help, I wouldn't ask. I'll make it, and... Thank you." The old man smiled, and his hand slipped to her wrist, clasping it as she returned the gesture.
"Safe journey, historian. May you find what you seek."
The thicket opened onto a relatively easy stretch, and she could see, through the treeline, sunlight. The sun wasn't anywhere
near
setting, and it was fairly bright, so, encouraged, she pushed forward, and soon reached...
The clearing. Large flower pods, taller than Elisa, littered it, the sunlight streaming unimpeded. They were all closed, and Elisa briefly wondered at this. She briefly marvelled at the grass, somehow well groomed, like a garden, a sharp contrast to the deep thickets she'd been traversing. But this was all brief, because there was something else that claimed her attention,
demanded
it.
There was...
Her
.
She was, in a very real way, the centerpiece of the clearing, a gigantic woman, her skin green, her hair trails of willow leaf, and her breasts large and luscious. She was rooted to the ground, her calves disappearing into a circular arrangement of large, veiny leaves. And, as Elisa watched, she gracefully sat, turned to Elisa, and smiled, her eyes crinkling with pleasure. Elisa felt weak at the knees... She was
beautiful
, and she felt humbled. Stammering, she spoke. "A-are you some sort of Go...Go...Goddess?"
The clearing filled with giggling, as the giantess put one hand to her mouth. She recovered after a few moments, and, smiling beatifically, replied. "Oh, no, youngling. I've merely lived long enough to grow quite well. This clearing is rich, and I've been well fed over the centuries." She stroked her slightly plump stomach, and Elisa's eyes were drawn downward, blushing harder as the legs parted slightly to reveal an equally plump pussy. She was breathless, and, in the daylight, time stood still, Elisa stood, and the plantgirl... Reclined easily.
What could I even say?
Elisa tried to gather her thoughts, but she was wordless one more as the plantgirl beckoned. "Come closer. I haven't talked to a human..." She paused, and tapped her chin "Or, come to think of it,
any
of the two legs in quite some time. I mean, I have some friends, but... Well, it makes a nice change to hear about the wider world. Come..." She patted one hip, with a smile and a wink "I'll lift you onto my thigh, I can see you clearly from there, and we can talk. You can tell me about the world you live in, and I can tell you how it
used
to be, when last I heard."
Elisa pulled her spectacles from her face, and rubbed the bridge of her nose. This was... This was everything she'd hoped for. She would learn, and furthermore, her teacher... Was stunningly beautiful. Looking up, she stepped close, into her waiting hand. And, as she was lifted, she asked the question that had crossed her mind from the moment they'd met. "What... What's your name?"
The hand paused for a brief moment, gently. "So courteous! I, my dear, am Cariel. It comes from the ancient elven for 'Summer Willow' , which is very pleasing, isn't it?" Elisa nodded, dumbly, as she was set down, and sat as lightly as she could. "And your name is?"
"Oh! I'm... I'm Elisa, and it's a pleasure to meet you, Cariel. The fact is..." She blushed "While I was told you'd tell me about history, I wasn't expecting..." She looked into her hands, clenched between her legs "...Well, I wasn't expecting you to be so beautiful!" Again, the light giggle, and Elisa finally realised that, for someone so large, her voice was soft.
"Thank you, Elisa, that praise means a lot to me! Still, a historian? Well, that will make our conversation all the more interesting!" And, with that, they began, Elisa forgetting her embarassment as they began talking about a subject they both loved.
By the time the sun had started to set, Elisa was reclined on the edge of Cariel's stomach, and Cariel had gently been stroking her hair with one fingertip. Elisa had not only learned much about the history of the nations from Cariel, they'd shared stories with each other about their own lives, conversations, inner thoughts, and... Elisa had grown very fond of Cariel, over the hours. And, without really thinking about it, she sleepily gave her newest inner thought voice.
"Cariel... I... I'm not really sure I
want
to leave." She started a little at her own outburst, and Cariel's finger paused mid stroke. But she took a breath, and continued.
Might as well get it out
. "You're really pretty, and you've been so lovely to talk to, that..." Cariel's finger moved down, just the very tip reaching to touch her lip.
"You've been a wonderful companion, Elisa. And I would certainly love for you to stay. But this wood is dangerous, and it would sadden me greatly if you were to die in my care." Looking up, Elisa could see that Cariel was slowly stroking her chin, first with an expression of sadness, but then, a more contemplative look. "Still... I could offer you a way to stay with me." She frowned, and her large eyes bore into Elisa with an intense, warning stare "...But it would be permanent. There would be no going back... And I should tell you
everything
."
Elisa frowned. "Everything? I..." Again, the fingertip shushed her, as did Cariel's gaze. She was deadly serious now, so Elisa quieted, and listened.
"You are not the first to have fallen in love with me- Ah, please don't deny, I've lived a long life, and had many lovers, so I know the signs very well..." Elisa blushed, and Cariel continued "...And they are all, in a very real sense, still with me." Elisa gasped, and the finger withdrew.
"All..." She looked around. The pods? The trees? The
grass
? Looking back up at Cariel, there was an understanding smile.
"The pods are part of it. But it's what they do that matters. They're transformative, turning lovers into slimes, of a sort... Slimes who have, over the centuries, entered me, seeped into my body. It's part of the reason I am the size I am now, and why I'm so grateful the land around me is so rich. It allows me to feed
them
, as well as myself." Elisa's eyes widened.