[ AW ] Helter Skelter in a Summer Swelter

The sounds of distant suffering caused Rhiannon’s ears to flick backward, the moans and the wild utterings of wolves half out of their minds. This place was not familiar, and she looked upon any strangers she encountered there with suspicion. They had all come for the same reason. But Rhiannon could not understand it.


”Áine! Sweet goddess of the summertime.” Her violet sights, wide with desperation, searched the cloudless azure sky for relief, in vain. ”What has happened? Have you forsaken the earth?” Her tongue lolled from her mouth as the words departed into the ether. If the Feminine Divine listened, She gave no indication. There was no trace of wind. Simply silence and the searing summer sunshine.


It was the third summer of her life, but this one was markedly different from those previous. There was no moisture in the air, no humidity, only relentless heat. All about her, plants suffered, withering and turning brown before autumn’s touch. Even by night, the ground hardly seemed to cool, and the rising sun brought with it merciless misery. Where creeks and streams had once been steady and true, there were now only dusty grooves left snaking along the earth where water had all evaporated.


Thirst now threatened to overwhelm Rhiannon’s senses, as all familiar locations had failed to produce any semblance of relief. But the Mainlands… No, this was not where the enchantress cared to be, so close to the so-called nobility and their ilk. She put as much distance between herself and the other wolves as possible. She cried out, ”Caillech! Divine hag, is it you that punishes the living? What curse has befallen us?” Oh, but the possibilities were simply endless – there was certainly much to be punished there. A gentle, barely perceptible breeze caught Rhiannon’s attention. Her voice grew louder with intensity. ”What? What must be done to end this?”

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

A

s the scorching heat waves blistering the lands grew each day, so grew the urgent need for healers of the mind and body alike. Some could soothe the muscle pains that came with dehydration, while others could calm the hysteria accompanying the seemingly endless drought. Gwen thought herself more the former as she made her way to the Redwood, her pack of herbs tucked snugly around her. Though her intentions were to have some shaded respite from the sun’s incessant rays, the woman would not miss and opportunity to help anyone she could.

Thirst wracked her body, but she clung steadfast to the hope that the rains would come soon. She had to believe so; the Goddess would not forsake an entire people so easily. Moreover, she was following her path, staying dedicated in her nights of prayer and offerings. She walked carefully, tender on her paw that smarted after her offering of the night before. Gwen had given more than she had ever before this season in hopes that the Goddess would look upon her sacrifice and replenish their lands with its own lifeblood. When it had not immediately done so she had gotten frustrated, but later she chided herself for allowing the heat to turn her head from her deity’s path.

Reaching the shade of the crimson forest, Gwen breathed a sigh of relief that it instantly felt cooler. A sudden cry rang out and the woman flinched, her ears pinning back against her skull. The voice was slightly familiar, though, and so out of her own curiosity she chose to follow it. She picked her way carefully, watching for those that might need help until the origin of the cries came into view. Gwen took in the gray patterned coat as familiarity overtook her, reminding her of the brief encounter she’d had with the she-wolf before her.

The woman did not look as composed now as she had then, Gwen noted as she began her approach quietly. She searched for the name with slight frustration, but then it came to her. “Rhiannon?” she asked worriedly. “Rhiannon. You may not remember me, but my name is Gwen. I took care of little Juniper until you were out of…” She trailed off, not wanting to bring up the woman’s previous incarceration for fear of it being a touchy subject. “Anyways, are you alright? I heard you cry out. Is there any way I can be of assistance?”

@Rhiannon

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

Everything is torn in the river deep

The mystic healer had been called to action this season, following wherever her intuition led her across the region to help those in need in the name of Voxi and the College of Éolas. Heat and flame was certainly not her element. In fact, one might consider it to be an exact opposite of the water she affiliated with. So this drought affected her severely even though she had to set aside her own needs for the good of the people.

Nimue had followed the trail of her colleague, Aryth, for some time and then broke off to ensure their resources spread far and wide. Redwood was a mysterious place and it was odd to find herself in this forest of eternal flame while she felt the need to peel her fur and skin from her body in this sweltering hell. She had to keep her wits about her...especially when hearing a voice break through the veil of suffocating heat about her.

She knew the cries immediately, her ears having experienced the same ones within the depths of the dungeon at Castle Stuart. At the moment, Nim would give anything to find herself back in the clutches of that cold, dark cell. A shudder rolled down her spine as the screams rung out and she could now make out the words of cursed upon the Divine. Her lips curled into an amused smile as her legs carried her gracefully as ever between the trees.

When she finally rounded a tree trunk that would give her line of sight of her dear, sweet Rhiannon, another voice joined hers. This one another familiar tune. Nimue's ears flicked at the soothing notes and when she lay her eyes upon both Rhiannon and Gwendolyn within the same vicinity, time stood still.

Her breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding in her ears while she beheld two women who had a unique power over her being that she could hardly explain, much less understand. Nimue watched this initial interaction between the two until she was able to gather herself as best she could and proceed forward to announce herself. "Blessed and cursed all in one day...I wonder what this could mean..." Nim spoke in an illustrious fashion as she strolled into view, circling the the women, her ocean eyes fully devouring them before she halted in front of them.

"We should elude this blistering heat, else we end up like Icarus...and I've no desire to burn to a crisp today nor any day. Come, my darlings, there's a camp not far from here." She met each of their gazes steadily, bidding them to follow sashaying hips as she peered over her shoulder before drifting away towards the closest site of relief efforts.

@Rhiannon @Gwendolyn

"Go to the water so very near,
the river will be your eyes and ears."

code by claerie ~ art by ashon

”R

hiannon?” For a second, it seemed her prayers had been answered, as a feminine voice called her name. While not the voice of a goddess, Rhiannon was pleased, and the smile on her expression demonstrated it. She was a beautiful wolfess, one whose face was not so easily forgotten – especially by one like Rhiannon, who had such a deep appreciation for a prepossessing woman such as her. "Gwendolyn."


But her expression soon faded. ”Juniper.” Her heart sank at the very mention of the girl, who had not been seen by some time. The child’s adventures had turned from hours to days, and then… Well, Rhiannon could not guess what had become of her, but she was certain Juniper was lost from them forever, whatever the cause, whatever the reason. Rhiannon’s facade was sullen. ”Yes. Yes, of course. That seems like so long ago…”


She hesitated, unsure if she should share the burdensome news with the other, who was little more than a stranger to her. ”I thank you again for looking after her. She has – she has gone her own way for the time being.” The crestfallen expression upon the smokey woman’s visage was enough to communicate that she expected this separation to be a permanent one. ”It is good fortune to find someone as kind as you in this place.” The enchantress could not conceal her disdain for the present situation from her low, gravelly voice. But she offered a soft smile. ”To see your face is an assistance to my weary heart., indeed”


Just then, another familiar voice rang like a bell. "Blessed and cursed all in one day...I wonder what this could mean..." If Rhiannon felt lucky to have found one kind soul in this unwanted refuge, she counted herself blessed, at least in that moment, with the arrival of Nimue. The Feminine Divine saw it fit to reward Rhiannon that day, and her head bowed in reverence, despite the lingering heat. But she had not seen much of Nimue lately, to her disappointment – something about a College, and learning, aspirations that Rhiannon could not relate to. She had worked hard, after all, to avoid such crowds.


Nevertheless, she was grateful in that moment, and approached Nimue with relative ease to touch her nose with her own affectionately. Despite their recent distance, she was still relieved to see the woman alive in the midst of tragedy.


”Come, my darlings, there's a camp not far from here." Here, Rhiannon’s expression became curious – overtly intrigued. She could not miss the lingering, sensual look offered to Gwen, as well, and was unaware of any existing history between the two females. An instinctive smile crossed her pale muzzle. ”If I must tolerate the crowds, at least it will be in the company of two fair maidens. Are you both safe?”




@Gwendolyn @Nimue

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

O

nce Gwen was assured that Rhiannon was not in any immediate danger, beyond the obvious dehydration, the role of caretaker lifted the veil from a view that was purely medicinal. She could admire the dimensional shades of grey within the woman’s fur, appreciate the violet tones of her eyes much like her own. It still occasionally struck her dumb how she could not have understood her own physical preferences; she had gone so long pursuing dedicating herself to the Goddess that she had not stopped to consider it. Yet, as she stood there with Rhia, she knew she would always deeply admire the feminine form.

Her heart fell to learn of Juniper, her ears dropping back as she worried for the young one. She had been lovely company, and an even better student, in a time when Gwen had been struggling with her own loneliness. Silently she prayed for the girl’s good health and success in her travels, for she feared from Rhiannon’s expression that she may not set eyes on Juniper again. “That is upsetting, to say the least. I wish her well on her travels, and I am deeply sorry for the loss you must feel from her separation. You both seemed very close,” she said gently. Gwen replied to Rhia’s smile with one of her own, feeling her body slightly flush under the woman’s gaze.

The flush only burned hotter when a very familiar voice came from just out of her vision. Angling herself to see Nimue, she caught sight of her midnight hues and quickly looked to the ground. Gwen offered a soft “Hello, Nimue.” Not only had her crush for the woman grown with every encounter they had, but she had felt inspired by the she-wolf to do things she had only dreamed of; the first being joining the College to pursue her love of medicine. For that, she was thankful to her friend despite how entranced by her she may be.

While Gwen was bashful with Nimue’s approach, Rhiannon was decidedly not. She greeted the woman with great familiarity, and Gwen could only admire the closeness between the two. Half expecting to feel a pang of jealousy at their contact, she was surprised to find she could only admire them and wish the same for herself one day. Her surprise continued as Nimue asked them both to find camp with her, but she assumed it common courtesy among friends. Stepping forwards, she prepared to follow Nim, only to stumble slightly at Rhiannon’s smooth remark. Was she flirting with Gwen and Nim? “I believe I am safe?” She said, her voice tilting up like a question as she looked between the two she wolves, intrigued and yet wholly confused.

@Rhiannon @Nimue

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

Everything is torn in the river deep

She couldn't help but smirk, taking note that Rhiannon's manic screaming had all but ceased with the arrival of the ever lovely apothecary. "By the Divines...it seems you've miraculously cured her, Gwen." She winked and then moved to greet her oldest friend. Electricity buzzed between the two enchantresses when their noses met, though Nimue was quick to pull away and lead them elsewhere.

With the mention of crowds and the little resistance Rhiannon put up, Nim scoffed and looked back over her shoulder at the two. "Nonsense, the last thing anyone wants is to be in a crowd presently. I intend to keep us to the outskirts of the camp, though within in enough reach of the resources being offered."

Her deep blue orbs cut into the piercing purple hues of the one who seemed to be full of complaints, challenging her slightly. "You think I would seriously thrust you both into a crowd of strangers? You must not know me very well at all..." Nim pouted before turning back around and trotting only a tails length ahead of them until covered shelter could be seen in the distance. There were a few forms moving about that she could make out from the distance, none of them seeming to be near the area she had her eyes on.

"Here." She halted just outside the makeshift canopy of the large branches that were leaned up against a couple trees providing shade against the fierce element of the sun. "After you, ladies." Nimue wanted to ensure there was enough room for them before she even set foot into the cooler shade. She turned her gaze about the camp and then glanced back towards the two with a mixture of concern and admiration for them both. "Do either of you need me to fetch water?"

@Rhiannon @Gwendolyn

"Go to the water so very near,
the river will be your eyes and ears."

code by claerie ~ art by ashon