Zion: Light of the New Moon, Ch 5.4 Myrh
Zion - Light of the New Moon Chapter 5.4 Myrh Eye of the Storm
Artemisia and Ephram will have some time to talk after she finishes her discussion with Brother Johann... this information will imparted during the Milestone post. For now, however, we will shift focus and move to the final post of the chapter: Yearl and Thera, returning the story to a first person narrative. The Myrhean Caravan has confirmed +1 Favor, +1 Luck, and a Treasure with the three votes they've made.
Thera rubbed her face against the laundered pillow case, letting a content sigh escape her as she first opened one eye then the other. The mouse reveled in the warm rays of golden sun filtering in through the small, circular window on the wall over her bed; she delighted in the feel of fresh linens drawn across her fur; she was elated by the comfort of the fine bed in which she lay; more than anything though, she was completely enraptured when warm, rhythmic breath flowed against the back of her neck.
She stretched slowly, letting out a noiseless yawn as she pressed herself back against the naked form of her lover; for all the time Thera had spent with him in bed, awakening with his arm draped around her was a novelty... and she didn't think she would ever grow tired of it. She felt the fur all over her body rise up in joy as Yearl nuzzled the back of her head, greeting her with a soft, "G'morning..."
"It is." she spoke quietly, smiling to herself. The mouse rotated in her lover's grasp until she faced him, pressing her body to his as their muzzles met, "I think any morning when I wake up in your arms would be."
Yearl chuckled, kissing her again, "You're too good at finding the right words."
"I've had practice." she admitted, softly stroking his chest fur as they lay together, "I've just never had reason until you to use them in earnest."
Yearl's smile came easily to his muzzle as he stared at her, and Thera found herself smiling back into the eyes of her lover, but she could sense the hurt in him as the smile slowly faded. She sat up, looking to the lion as he let out a sigh, laying back down against his pillow as he stared at the ceiling, "What is it?" she asked softly, laying down to rest her head against his chest.
"I think you should stay here." he spoke up after a long pause.
The mouse raised her head to look at him, "Are you staying here?" asked flatly.
"Well... no, Thera," the lion noted, "I have a duty to the caravan."
"And I have a duty to my man." she responded with finality, laying her head back onto his chest, "and, before you say anything, I will point out that it is just as immutable and unrelenting."
Yearl laughed at that, stroking the back of her head with one of his paws, "You are one in a million, Thera Vaan."
"Of course I am, Yearl Rakken..." the mouse smirked, "you aren't the kind of man who would settle for anything less."
The Captain's grin spread across his muzzle at that, "Well, Ms. Vann... I suppose I'm one lucky lion then."
"And don't forget it either." the mouse responded, grinning just as wide. She held herself against her naked lover, smiling as she realized that it was still early; they didn't get out of bed until breakfast was nearly over.
The two walked arm-in-arm to where the numerous wagons were being refitted and resupplied. Thera remained off to one side as Captain Rakken walked around inspecting the work. He occasionally stopped to provide guidance, but, more often than not, it was to supply an extra paw and some muscle with a particularly difficult piece of cargo. The mouse continued watching him, letting out a sigh as she leaned against a door frame.
"Dreamy?" a voice inquired.
"Mmm-hmm..." the mouse responded.
"Irresistible?" the voice asked.
"Definitely." Thera acknowledged.
"And a good kisser, from what I hear." the voice assessed.
"May I help you, Kell?" she inquired finally.
The leopard-wolf joined her on the outside of the doorway, leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the opening, "Artemisia doesn't hate you anymore." he noted casually.
"That's good." Thera acknowledged, "I never knew saving someone's life would make them despise me so much."
The assassin chuckled, "You don't get out much, apparently."
"If that's 'getting out' then I'm glad I lived a sheltered life, thank you very much." the mouse offered.
"Well, as I said, she has other things on her mind," he glanced her direction, "and apparently her attraction to the Captain has passed."
"Good." the mouse acknowledged, "I was afraid for awhile that I was going to have some competition." the both chuckled mutedly at that.
"I can see what Yearl likes about you." Kell noted, "You have a... certain way." he flicked his tail.
"It's the price tag, I'm sure." Thera offered, "He always did like expensive things."
"Artemisia has a favor to ask." the assassin noted when their mutual chuckles died down.
"If she doesn't hate me anymore why doesn't she ask me herself?" the mouse inquired.
"She wants you to stay away from Ephram Zoari." Kell noted, not answering her question.
"The monk we saved in the Wild Lands?" Thera asked, "Why?"
"She didn't say and I didn't ask." the cowled leopard-wolf noted with a shrug.
"If I don't get reasons, usually I get more curious." the mouse responded, "So warning me without sufficient information tends to be counter-productive." she smiled sweetly.
"Just remember the size of Artemisia's pole arm." Kell answered casually, "That tends to keep me from asking too many questions."
"I've never been intimidated by size..." Thera noted, pushing herself off of the wall, "Excuse me." and, with that, she headed straight for where Artemisia was seated. The dragoness was sharpening the blade on her weapon, red armor glinting in the morning light.
"What?" the dragoness asked of the mouse, looking up. Their eyes met, and both of them jumped as thoughts, images, and memories skipped the distance between them.
Artemisia shut her eyes, looking away quickly as the tip of her tail kinked, "Goddess..." she murmured, gritting her teeth... but only for a moment, her tongue curling in her maw as she panted, "stop doing that..." her voice warbled unevenly. Thera blushed fiercely when she realized that the dragoness received the experiences the mouse had that morning with her lover... but she overcame it quickly when she realized just what she had gained from Artemisia.
Thera had seen a discussion from Artemisia's point of view... she had been sitting with Ephram, demanding answers that the alligator seemed hesitant to reveal. In the end, he told her everything... about his time in the military... what he had done in the name of Myrh... about the armor they had given to him after the campaign that destroyed Ashlai... the bladed red armor, not unlike the one Artemisia wore... that he had a title by which he was known, "The Demon of Ashlai?" the mouse whispered.
"Stay out of my head." the dragoness growled, and she stood.
Thera reached out and rested a paw on Artemisia's arm, "There were three of you?" it was as much a question as a statement.
"One was enough." Artemisia growled, "...but the temple thought three was better."
"So... you and Ephram...?" the mouse inquired.
"I didn't know about him..." the dragoness scowled, "and he didn't learn about me until decades later."
"So..." Thera paused, looking for the best way to ease through the conversation, "he's older than he looks too."
"Stop looking at me like that." Artemisia quickly spat.
"Like what?" the mouse asked, quickly looking away.
"All of the parts of me I tried to leave behind..." the dragoness sneered, "Not only do I have to embrace them again, but now I see a copy of them materialized in front of me." she struck the wall angrily with her tail.
"But..." Thera asked, pausing as she searched the images and thoughts and emotions she received from the dragoness, "... you like him..."
Artemisia spun around, eyes glowing red as she growled, reaching for Thera, but she paused mid-grasp, retreating, "Goddess... I do..." she turned to the wall, banging her head against it, "Damn it all..."
"What's wrong with that?" the mouse asked softly.
"He's everything I hate about myself... I should hate him just as much." Artemisia struck her head against the stone again, "But... he's calm... he's collected." she scraped the stone with her claws as she raked the wall, "Damn him... it's like he's made the progress I wanted for myself."
"And you'd rather hate him instead of admiring him..." Thera ventured the guess.
"It's easier that way." the dragoness stated.
"But you're having trouble hating him..." the mouse pointed out.
"Hate is supposed to be simple... we're so much alike it shouldn't be hard." the dragoness huffed.
"Then make him hate you." Thera answered casually with a shrug.
"What?" Artemisia looked to her.
"I said, make him hate you... it's easier to not like someone if they don't like you." the mouse explained.
"I..." Artemisia's eyes searched all around the room; uncertainty was not an expression she seemed used to, "I... can do that... I think."
"You don't want him hating you... do you?" Thera asked, tentatively resting a paw on one of Artemisia's talons.
The dragoness pulled away, "It's easy to hate me... millions already do."
"They do not hate you, Artemisia... they fear the Demon of Ashlai... which means they fear you."
"And Ephram." the dragoness added.
"The two of you have that in common then." the mouse offered.
"I don't want anything in common with him..." Artemisia stated.
"Maybe you're looking at this the wrong way." Thera pointed out, "instead of keeping him away, maybe you SHOULD look for things in common..."
"What?" the dragoness objected with the question, "Why?"
"Sometimes it's easier to find the things we don't like about ourselves more readily in others... if you are both considered equal in the eyes of the temple, maybe you should explore the reasons why."
Artemisia glared at her with an appraising gaze, and when she spoke up, Thera was surprised at what the dragoness had to say, "You... might be right."
"Maybe." the mouse offered with a shrug, "You won't find out unless you try... right?"
"Did Kell tell you to stay away from him?" the dragoness asked, changing the subject.
"Yes." Thera smirked, "Thank you for caring."
"It's prudence..." the armored dragoness objected, "there's a difference between being cautionary and caring."
"Thank you for caring." the mouse repeated.
".... you're welcome."
* * * * * *
Welcome, Zion fans, to the last post of Chapter 5 for the Myrhean Caravan. This also happens to be the last post before the Milestone.
Considering that this lucky caravan received the easy-going event arc, it's nice to know that they have rested up... because they're bound to need it for the upcoming Milestone.
That being said, it is up to the Contributing Readers to decide just how they will enter the Milestone. Please keep in mind that the theme of Milestone 1 is "Loss", which is to say, this is a very VERY dangerous Milestone. Contributing Readers are encouraged to look at the following options and choose the one they find most fitting. Since the Myrhean Caravan had a relaxing last chapter, they have the harder time of choosing their poison and deciding just what they have to deal with for the Milestone.
Unlike prior voting opportunities, the Milestone vote also includes pros and cons of each option along with different ways to view it. As always, the highest number of votes win.
1) Ragemist Positive Viewpoint: The danger to the party comes from within, minimizing the outside forces that can damage the group. Negative Viewpoint: Have you SEEN the kind of party members you have? OUCH! Pro: Out of all of the options, this choice will result in the least maximum amount of dmg. Con: Out of all of the options, this choice guarantess that there will be party casualty/ies.
2) Betrayal From Within Positive Viewpoint: The party has the opportunity to put down a rival faction to reduce damage to the caravan. Negative Viewpoint: If the party fails then the caravan is doomed. Pro: This option has the capacity to save the greatest amount of heartache if the group is successful. Con: This option has the capacity to cause the most amount of damage if the group is unsuccessful.
3) The Demon of Ashlai Positive Viewpoint: We're talking some major character depth here! Negative Viewpoint: You really DON'T want to meet the third Demon of Ashlai. Pro: The group only has to deal with one foe and has the entire Caravan backing them up. Con: Great Goddess... you have to deal with the Demon of Ashlai...
4) Potpourri. Positive Viewpoint: You choose to let the author create something exceptional for the group. Negative Viewpoint: You choose to let the author create something exceptional for the group. Pro: The author is a nice guy, and your trust is well placed. Con: This is a dark fantasy story, and you'd be stupid to surrender control of fate.
Contributing Readers will have until midnight on Saturday, September 17th to place their vote. A unanimous vote will result in a minor benefit to the party. Any non-participation by a Contributing Reader will result in double the normal penalization.