CW:

Violence and a curses sting and chapter gucking 100!!!! AHHHH!!!!

I caught the… well not the scent. Maybe… the wafting of songcraft? Just as we reach a safe spot to Riftwalk. Everything in me bristles as I understand what it means.

“We’re being followed.” I murmur as I ease my pace to an even slower walk. One hand moves to touch my dagger’s hilt.

Yuna jerks to a full-on halt, while Usete keeps walking for a few steps with me.

“Do you know what it is?” They murmur back to me.

“It’s… I’d say Fae just because of where we are but…” I shake my head. “This… I feel like there’s a predator at my back.”

“Thendra found Lyra in the Cursed Wood.” Yuna growls, and seems to almost ripple with sudden boiling rage I’d never seen nor thought the formerly little woman possible of.

Usete looks between us. “How? She may not be Fae, but those Cursed woods should have torn her apart.”

“Not sure.” I shrug and look about, trying to see if I can spot the thing that follows. “But… This is a problem either way.”

Yuna cracks her neck. “A Fae can follow your Riftwalk, and a Soul Drinking Reaver in the Woods is concerning at any time. I’ll not leave such a beast here to endanger my children.”

I raise an eyebrow to her, but don’t comment just how much she’s changed since I saw her last.

“And if it is Fae?” Usete presses. “This Wood births oddities of our kind. People prone to playful ways that would seem concerning to us. They might just be curious.”

“Sure. We’ll sing out and offer them peace and words.” I agree.

“And if they are one of the Elders?” Yuna all but growls. “Or some fool they’ve asked to keep watch on me and mine?”

I lay a hand on her shoulder. “My Old Goat taught me how to skip and hop between some rough Rifts. Places no Fae would want to follow to track us. We’ll lose them before we go home.”

She turns back to me, fixes me with such a look as she nods. One that thrums with a mother’s fury, and a will to fight to keep her young safe.

So we weave a song of greetings and inquiry. One that is full of welcome but… insists the one following us reveal themselves.

It doesn’t take long and soon a really pretty tiger struts from the snow drowning forest. Black fur shimmering and riven with glimmering midnight jade stripes.

A… a Fae’s companion? Or… or slowly fostering child to one? Those green eyes seem intelligent and–

And then in a twisting of songcraft the huntress is no longer a great cat, but bearing a lithe female shape laden with fur.

That… that shouldn’t be possible! Sure plenty of Fae will perform alterations over time but… but to change so fast and easily between creature to that is… is…

“Heya!” I call out with a brittle smirk as fingers barely stop from tip-tapping on my dagger. “Can we help you?”

The Fae smiles, “Greetings, child of wind and spring. Very few can so quickly notice the sound of my footsteps when I wish to remain unheard.”

I very much let my fingers play at my daggers hilt and the old scales that hang from it now. “Had to learn right quick when I’m being tracked or hunted when freeing slaves. Now… we have things to do and places to go so…”

A long pause as a grin quirks at her lips and…

Is that blood? Is… has she been eating flesh!?!

“You bear her affections well, Awnya. But… tell me.” The Fae purrs, “How fares your lover’s mind under that godling’s mantled weight?”

I almost wince at how Yuna’s eyes jerk to regard me as she hisses. “What?”

“None of your business.” I sigh, partially to them both. “And I’ll tell you what I’ve told every Fae who seems to want to hurt Lyra. She is mine, and I’ll bleed every last drop of my Amwella before I let a spooky cunt like you come near her.”

She chuckles then, still-clawed fingers flexing. “I adore it when one of the young begins to understand the price of all this so early. So… I’ll offer this peace to you. Take me to her. Now, and no more Amwella but her’s will need to be spilled. Not even that, if she submits.”

“Yeah… Nope.” I draw my dagger. “That’s not an option. You’ve like… done nothing to make me think you’re going to treat her any better than the other Fae cunts.”

Her head tilts in confusion, and she pauses. “Oh? You’ve mentioned this twice, but I am unaware of another Fae huntress being called to search the Rifts for her?”

“She’s… different.” I glance at Yuna, who seems to be staring down at the snow in fury and… and considerations. “Has scared a lot of Fae since her start. This isn't the first time they've tried to capture her.”

And then Usete moves up between us, laying a hand on our shoulders. “Can they treat her any worse if they knew more about her? This might be a chance to calm a storm.”

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I let such a huff of a sigh leave me. “Probably not? I…” Looking back to this odd Fae, I take a chance. Now able to break that old Promise song with ease. “Lyra’s from outside the Dream. Can literally weave Blight like we drink water. And… the Fae heard it as something it wasn’t. Have tried to unravel her on more than one occasion.”

The huntress freezes. Eyes seem to suddenly glow with… something.

Is that…?

“And now she’s killed a godling of flame and drank in their Amwella?”

I nod. “She did it to protect me.”

“Dreamer’s Tits.” She sighs and glances from us into the forest beyond. Stares for a long moment as any mirth she had bleeds away.

“She’s… look she’s dangerous. We get that.” I try and interject into whatever nonsense she’s chewing on. “But she really is full of such good songs. Came here to find happiness and just… just keeps getting swept into the clutches of really bad souls.”

“And… what is it you mean to do with her?” She murmurs, eyes rolling back to regard me.

“Love her till and beyond Dream’s End. Keep her safe and help her heal from all the nonsense this life has laid on her.” I let out such a huff of a chuckle. “And I’m not alone. She has a brilliant Watcher, and… and this is her mother and sibling. She just needs the love this community can bring her.”

The Fae sighs and looks down to regard her own claws. “And… besides the godling she consumed, how many souls has she robbed from this Dream?”

I wince. “I… it… it’s not that simple.”

She nods, as if my answer was expected. “If it was just the godthing, struck down in love, she could perhaps be saved. But… she’s been drinking up souls. And… to have a new blazing through this Dream provides the young with such an opportunity.”

“Opportunity?” Usete speaks up at that. “What do you–”

But the rest of their question is cut off by a loud slam of force as an arrow thicker than Yuna’s arm tears into the Fae huntress.

I… I think it would have killed her, if she’d not already been shifting. Whether she sensed the arrow or… or was preparing to pounce on us I’m not sure. But the thing rips through her hip and leg before cracking a large trunk of a tree behind her off.

But this tigress is already healed and pouncing toward us. My dagger is raised and ready while a melody of a blizzard dances through my muscles. But… then the snow next to her erupts, and a twisting mass of furious nonsense tackles the Fae.

Amidst the struggle I hear a single snarl split through the misted snow and furious struggle within. “GO!”

I don’t have the time to consider this. Hate the idea so much of being given aid by… by…

Reavers.

Bulderii’s arrow, and… well this Isn’t Thendra at least. I’d recognize her voice and soul past Dream’s End.

And so I sing a Rift open, and pull Yuna and Usete through the first of a dozen places to make sure not even my dad could follow. Take us to the edge of half-Blighted and abandoned lands that scream and weep as they are being twisted back into the Oceans between.

Usete has to shield us with Blight-wards while I skip us along. Yuna helps a little but… she never handled Rot or Ruin much and can mostly only offer soothing melodies as my soul droops at the cost of all this.

“Okay.” I huff. Amwella strained and weathered from the exertion of all these songs. “Last couple hops, then we’ll be there.”

Yuna is helping me stand. “Deep Breaths. We can take a rest if you need it.”

I shake my head. “Naw, this is easy. Got lots of practice. Just… takes a good amount out of me.”

“Awnya.” Usete steps up to kneel before me. “Let’s take a few minutes, at least. Even my Blight wards are starting to crack. Let’s not risk damage to ourselves.”

I consider arguing but… “Dreamer’s Tits.” I laugh without humor as I slump to sit amidst the strange forest we’ve stopped in. “What was that even all about?”

“I was going to ask you that.” Yuna sighs and sits close. “I’d never met that Fae Elder, and… I didn’t even catch what happened before you pulled us away.”

Usete settles into our little circle, such a strained look on their face. “She… Awnya. When did she come back? Where has she been these past years?”

I wince. “It… look, I agreed to let Lyra share what she wants. Nothing more. At least not until we’re safe where we’re going.”

“Has she been with who I think?”

I can’t help but glare at them but… it’s Yuna who speaks. “And if she has? What would that change?”

Usete sighs and looks down. Unable to answer well without causing that curse's sting.

“And that’s why we should also wait to have this talk later.” I reach out to touch their hand. “As much as I hope that you can come to understand your sister’s pains and the healing she needs… if you can’t or won’t you deserve to at least be able to speak them without fear of that curse’s sting.”

They sigh. “And if I still feel the same way? You’d said we won’t be able to leave this Rift we’re visiting.”

“There is plenty of life to live there, and lots of people. Just… We won’t let you go back honking to the Fae about it or her.” I shrug. “The worst we’ll let you do is break Lyra’s heart all over again.”

That makes them wince. “It was… I… I didn’t…”

Yuna sighs as Usete trails off. “One step at a time, please. Let’s get safe first.”

I nod. “Yeah. I… That Fae was doing things with songs that I’d never thought possible. I’d rather not see what other melodies she might sing. I’m thinking we should make our last jump from a Rift with a bit more Blight. That way the trail will get smothered right quick.”

“Is that safe?” Yuna asks.

I shrug. “Safer than having to deal with her later, and we’ll have access to some great healing once we arrive.”

Usete moves to stand. “Just let me take a bit to get a really strong melody going. That way we won’t need to worry about it.”

They even almost finish the song before there is a terrible rending sound, and something slams into my back and head.

The world tumbles a bit, and when I’m able to right it a very large form looms over and pins me to the dirt.

The Fae’s changed even more now. Has 6 legs, three tails with nasty looking spines running up them, and an extra eye that seems to glow a vibrant red. Maw’s also dripping spiced blood as she moves to hover just a whisper from my face.

“You continue to surprise me, Awnya. I’d not expect a Fae to welcome such creatures into the Wood, much less to lay a trap that could catch me so unawares.” She purrs.

“We didn’t!” I hiss, slipping my hand down to grip my dagger’s hilt. Considering if I can get it into her soul before she decides to bite. “I was just as surprised as you to find them in the Fae Wood!”

“And yet they fought to aid your attempt at escape.” She glowers while three tails sway menacingly to and fro. “What do you know of them?”

I shrug, and use the chance to look about. Spot Yuna and Usete close but… kept away by those tails.

“More than I would like. They’re one of the other groups I’m trying to keep away from Lyra.”

“Hmmm…” She purrs thoughtfully while slowing her motions. “You’re going to–”

And then a form like a bolt of lightning Reaves forth through a Riftwalk and slams a fist into this Fae’s face. Sending her tumbling like she’s some kitten and not a great horror of the jungle.

Leaving a much more terrifying monster to loom over me.

“Dreamer’s Rotting Tits and Cunt!” I hiss and scurry over into Yuna’s legs.

“Thendra.” Usete hisses, and then nearly falls over in pain as the curse bites.

The big cunt doesn’t even spare us a glance, but furious lips do seem to quirk a bit. “I will deal with this Fae. Return to my Lyra.”

I’m about to hiss a song to tear into this cunt’s face, but the Fae tiger is back on her feet, eyes darting in anger between us and the huge Reaver moving to bar her path. Little songs of wind and protection already flitting about her form.

Eyes dance over me as I stand, then She growls. “You’d lie to–”

But then another one of Bulderii’s huge arrows is slamming into her side and very nearly carrying that giant form forth as the thing pins her to a tree. Shattering those really really strong protections songs like so much thin ice.

As the tiger snarls in pain and such howling anger I turn to regard Thendra. “I’m not letting you follow us.”

She cracks her neck and stalks toward the pinned Fae. “I will not enter that place until the Matron herself calls me back.”

That makes me balk, squeeze my dagger tighter. Wanting to call her a liar but…

“You’re Thendra.” Yuna growls, and when I glance back her eyes are locked on the Reaver.

The big cunt doesn’t reply.

“Yuna!” I shout as I begin to weave a Riftwalk. “We have to go!”

But she takes a furious step in the big cunt’s direction as such a growl I’d never thought possible from such a quiet Fae rolls from the base of her throat. With my free hand I try to hold her back but… but she’s so much stronger now and–

“Mother!” Usete hisses.

That does stop her, just barely letting my fingertips find a grip on her arm.

She only turns back a little.

“She needs you.” Usete whispers through the ending bites of the curse. “Now more than ever before.”

Yuna growls again, but… nods. Steps back just as the Fae weaves herself free of the arrow and tree. Lands to jerkingly look around for the source of the shot while keeping an eye on the big cunt. Then that horrid maw seems to open beyond reasonable limits.

Twisting out a symphony that smothers my Riftwalking song and tears at my throat and–

Another arrow screams toward her, and while she dodges that one, Thendra moves faster than I’d ever thought possible. Landing a blow infused with some kind of wretched Amwella lightning up into the tiger’s throat.

By the time I’m able to gasp wind back into my lungs and tune back into a song Thendra has struck this Fae maybe… six more times. Each erupting forth and echoing through the trees like a storm’s roar. Breaking flesh and bone and even cracking Amwella.

Usete only just starts up their Blight Warding song as I’m on the final notes of the Rift’s melody. Forcing us all to just… watch as this big cunt bludgeons and beats this Fae into a gasping silence.

Thendra doesn’t turn back to us but… I do get little glimpses of her face.

No joy. No anger. No… nothing. Blank as a starless sky.

And I can’t stop the little chill that rolls down my spine from bleeding into my song a bit. Fear at how little this Fae seems to worry the big cunt as she just… tears her apart.

“Awnya!” Usete weaves into their song. “Now!”

And then I tear a Rift to a Blighted land, step through with Lyra’s family, and get one final look back at Thendra looming over the Fae’s form before sealing this Rift and turning to opening the path home.