WHO: Eretria and Allanon WHAT: Returned to normal, thank goodness, talk of darkness WHEN: Recently WHY?: Because, plot WARNINGS: None STATUS: Closed and Completed Gdoc
Ere went to bed as Allanon.
She’d finally gotten used to some things and while she never wanted to deal with it again, she could at least function. It wasn’t pretty and she was really tired of being this tall and walking into things.
Midnight rolled around. February started.
And the delightfulness that was Madison Valley cleared up the crazy.
She didn’t notice until morning when she found herself awake in her own body and practically yelped with joy. Then she took stock of the aches from him not knowing how to walk in her body and sighed. She slipped out into the morning air and took a deep breath. Then popped back inside long enough to grab her hair stuff, and jumped into the pond.
It was cold but it felt divine right now, and she soaked, fingers untangling her hair and carefully beginning to braid it the way she liked it. This was heaven, being her again. She missed her body, and her frame and how she moved.
***
Allanon woke, stretching, and immediately knew. His sense of the Earthpower filled him to the brim, and he felt his own muscles and organs in place. With a whoop, he smiled and rose, stretching again. Feeling his body responding, he slipped into his pants and padded toward Eretria’s room. Seeing her gone, he chuckled and headed out to exercise. Once outside, having done some stretches and movements, he heard the sound of the pond splashing and chuckled, and headed that way.
“Glad to be back to normal?” He called it out from past the trees. Respecting her privacy was a good thing. Sure, he had spent a week in her body, but even so, it was important to give her back as much agency as he could.
Or so he thought.
***
“Stop hiding, I have under things on.and I'm soaking. It's fine.” She was halfway through braiding her hair, leaning against the bank. She was comfortable in the water, she didn't even care how cold it was.
“I am yes. It feels good to be in the right form. And I missed my hair..you have no idea how much I missed my hair.” She was so happy to have hair.
She dragged a hand over water, pulled a thread of power and launched a thin stream of icy water at him.
***
“I just wanted to give you some privacy, since it was stolen for a week by the dome.” He stepped out and smiled, shaking his head, and slipped into the water, his link to the earth bringing heat as he slipped in, closing his eyes for a moment.
As she launched a stream of icy water at him, he met it with something he had not shown her before, fire. Pulling on that rarest of elements, he poured it into a dot, then threw the dot, which met the icy water and exploded both into steam, a cloud of warmth that rolled over their pond.
“Keep trying. That was well done.”
***
“The Dome is a bitch.” She snorted softly then just relaxed, eyes going wide as the jet of water she'd sent exploded into steam. She smirked. “Damn.”
“I like the water. It's an interesting element.” She said after a moment finishing up the braids. She tied off the strings and stretched lazily.
“My blood feels unsettled. The Dome has irritated something it shouldn't have riled up. I think it's just a side effect of being thrown for a loop.” Dark eyes lifted to look at him, lips pursed.
***
“It really, really is.” he sank into the water more and groaned, smiling. “Maybe it will be your Foremost. That would be a good thing. The worlds need more elements represented. Fire was Bremen’s, Earth mine, Air was Cogline’s.” He nodded. He knew that much now.
“Mayhap. Trust your senses, let them go deep, and see what they are willing to tell you. You may find yourself on a quest.” He chuckled.
***
“Mmm. I suppose we shall see.” She ran her fingers over the top of the water as he settled in. “I'm just happy I'm finally making progress I can see!” She said excitedly, she liked seeing the product of her work.
She bristled. “No.” It came out sharper than she meant. “It is not a good feeling. The Dome stirred up that darkness. I refuse to even entertain the idea. If it is that it, then no way.”
***
“You are strong, and smart, and high of will. I know you will do well.” He nodded again. He smiled warmly and inhaled, then blinked and nodded as he moved to her side, one hand pressed to her shoulder.
“Alright. The darkness of your blood can be suppressed, or it can be… to use a term I heard the other day, surfed.” he waved a hand and water shimmered and showed an image of a man on a board of some kind, sliding along the water. “Imagine the water as the darkness within you. Rather than deny it, or try to push it away, some believe that one should acknowledge it, and learn how to ride it and yet not fall in.”
The image vanished as he grimaced. “It will be unpleasant. “
***
Eretria was unnerved by the very thought of what lay under the surface. She never wanted to be that cruel in her life. She'd done well ignoring it all until the Dome knocked her off balance.
She didn't push him away just focused on what he was showing her. “But what if I fall while trying to learn to do this? What if I make a mistake and get sucked in? “ she grimaced at him.
“But I also know if this place keeps fucking with us, I'll lose just because.”
***
“I believe even if you fall, you will rise again. I will go in after you and pull you out, if I need to.” he nodded again. “I will not let you drown, Eretria. I have known darkness, and I have fallen, and I know the way out.’ He chuckled softly, and nodded again.
“You will not be alone, no matter what.”
***
Eretria looked at him, her face twisted in fear. “I liked it, Allanon.” She said, then nodded, breathing out slowly. “If you promise me that you won't let me hurt anyone or drown in it. I don't want to give in but even with the Druid training, I still feel it.”
Then very quiet: “it scares me.” Knowing the dome should make her be that way again. “Alright. I trust you to keep me from losing it.”
***
“And that is why I will train you and train you and train you. And we wont go near it until you are ready. I promise. I will not let you hurt anyone, Eretria, even if I must slay you myself.” His voice was gentle, but his eyes promised the words.
“For now, we increase your strength, and your endurance, your ability to pull resources. The more depths you have of light, the more you can resist the darkness.” He gently slipped closer and squeezed her shoulder.
“I won’t let you fall.”
***
Ere looked at him. Then nodded. “I'll hold you to that. I will not fall that far.” She said softly. “Ok. I'm sorry. I do good not worrying then something gets me thinking about it.”
She sunk into the water, sat there unto her lungs burned, then climbed out.
***
He sank as well and let himself absorb what he had promised. As she rose, earthpower flowed and the pond boiled, obscuring him. He walked out of it, and nodded to her. “Food will bring this day forward. Then we train. I will show you more. And you will learn. And you will rise.”
***
“You're trying to kill me again aren't you?” She teased as she slipped into her room to change, laughing though this time. She was sure she'd be okay.
“But bribing me with food will make that okay in the end” she laughed as she shook her head. Her life was beyond crazy.
***
Allanon smirked. “Who, me? I'd never…”
He smiled at her as he slipped into his own room too dress. When he stepped out again, he led the way to one chest even as he concentrated.
He opened it to reveal steaming hot venison and potatoes. “Dig in.”
*!* “That's major fuel. You as going to try to kill me today!” She said as she dug in anyway. Food was food. And it smelled lovely.
She watched him warily though, just wondering what he was getting up to in that head of his.
******
Allanon snerked and made a face at her. “Today will be a taking it easy day, but to adjust to learning fire, and water.” He smirked a little. “And some acrobatics, to resettle into our bodies.”
He shrugged. “Then we dive in again, full steam, tomorrow.”
*** “I am so glad my brain appears to be a sponge.” She settled in and smiled. “Well, I think I'm stiff after a week of this so I need to limber back up.” She nodded.
“Sounds like a plan. It'll be good. I look forward to it and all the new things “ ***