“Why were you so... giggly when we met the giant?” Vivienne asked, her many heads tilting in curiosity. “Honestly, it kinda felt like your personality just flipped when we got there.”

Rava snorted, her smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Ah, well, it’s not every day you come face-to-face with one of the seven titans. When it comes to beings like her, respect is the safest play. Show enough deference, and they’ll usually leave you in one piece.”

“But laughing?” Vivienne pressed. “I thought you’d gone mad.”

Rava shrugged, her expression somewhere between amused and exasperated. “By that point, I figured if I was going to die, it might as well be with a grin. And, honestly? The whole situation was ridiculous. A bunch of backwater villagers managed to summon what amounts to a minor deity. How is that not funny?”

Vivienne’s many maws curled into wicked grins. “I suppose if you look at it that way, it is a bit absurd. But you were also completely naked.”

“And?” Rava quipped, feigning offence. “If I’m going to face a giant warrior with a mace taller than most trees, why not do it unencumbered? Adds to the drama.”

Vivienne cackled, her laughter an eerie chorus. “Oh, the drama was definitely there. I’m sure she was intimidated by your lack of armour.”

Rava rolled her eyes but chuckled despite herself. “Look, I’ve seen giants before. You show them respect, maybe crack a joke to lighten the mood, and hope they don’t take offence. Besides, I had other things on my mind.”

“Like?”

“Like how you seemed utterly unbothered by the whole ordeal. I was half-convinced you were going to try and eat her.”

Vivienne hummed thoughtfully, one of her heads snapping playfully toward Rava. “She did look tasty.”

“See? That’s the exact kind of talk that’ll get you squashed like a bug,” Rava shot back, shaking her head. “Giants don’t take kindly to threats, implied or otherwise.”

“Noted.” Vivienne’s form rippled as if shrugging. “Though I’d prefer not to eat something so… metallic. I’ll stick to bandits, thanks.”

“Great. Leave the giant diplomacy to me,” Rava said, her smirk returning. “I’m too tired to explain the finer points of survival to you right now.”

“Finer points?” Vivienne echoed, her tone teasing. “Like how to graciously accept stolen clothes that smell like the rear end of a beast?”

Rava groaned. “Remind me to throw you into that swamp next time we pass one.”

“Oh I look forward to it. Always wanted to swim in a swamp.” Vivienne said, her many voices ringing with mock innocence.

Rava chuckled, then suddenly stopped mid-step, her ears swivelling. “Wait... I hear water.”

Vivienne’s smoky form rippled as one of her heads tilted inquisitively, the sunlight filtering through the trees casting fractured patterns across her shadowy body. “Finally. I was starting to think this forest had nothing but dirt and melodrama. Shall we investigate, or do you want to nap in a sunny patch instead?”

“Let’s investigate,” Rava replied, ignoring the jab as she adjusted the fit of her stolen clothes. “If there’s water, I can clean these rags. No way am I walking around smelling like a drunkard’s den if I can help it.”

Vivienne slithered forward, her movements unnaturally smooth and quiet, like smoke carried on a breeze. “Good. The stench is starting to overpower the pine scent, and it’s ruining the ambiance.”

“Funny,” Rava muttered, rolling her eyes.

The sound of running water grew louder as they pushed through the sun-dappled forest. Soon, they emerged into a small clearing where a wide brook sparkled in the morning light, its surface alive with the flicker of sunlight on rippling waves.

Rava sighed in relief, her ears flicking forward. Without hesitation, she stripped off the ill-fitting bandit clothes and waded knee-deep into the water. She dunked the garments, scrubbing them against the rocks with purposeful movements. “Finally,” she muttered, more to herself than Vivienne. “Something useful.”

Vivienne settled near the edge of the brook, her shadowy form glimmering faintly as sunlight passed through her. She leaned closer to the water, watching the way the stream distorted her reflection. “I’ll assume that was directed at the brook and not at my exceptional companionship.”

Rava smirked, her tail swishing lazily. “Don’t push your luck.”

As the lekine worked, Vivienne’s attention lingered on the water. Her reflection wavered and reformed, her many heads morphing in the distorted surface. She studied the interaction between her dark, smoke-like essence and the golden sunlight.

“Something on your mind?” Rava asked, glancing over as she wrung out her tunic and draped it over a low-hanging branch.

Vivienne didn’t turn, her focus unwavering. “Just thinking. About shapes. About... possibilities.”

Rava raised an eyebrow. “That sounds suspiciously ominous.”

Vivienne’s many heads turned toward her companion in unison, a wide grin spreading across them. “Not ominous. Just… inspired.”

Rava rolled her eyes, stepping out of the water and shaking her fur dry in one quick motion. “Well, keep your inspiration to yourself until I’m dressed. I’ve had enough surprises for one day.”

Vivienne chuckled, a soft, melodic sound that seemed to hum with the aether around her. “Don’t worry, Rava. I only experiment on volunteers.”

“Good,” Rava replied, stretching as she eyed the drying clothes. “Because if I lose a limb, I’m taking one of yours in trade.”

Vivienne’s grin widened. “Bold talk for someone who’s still half-soaked.”

“Bold talk for someone without a leg to stand on,” Rava shot back with a smirk, settling on a sunlit patch of grass while her clothes dried.

Vivienne laughed, her heads weaving lazily. “Actually in this form I have four legs to stand on!”

The two lapsed into a comfortable silence, the sound of the brook filling the air, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze.

“I feel like those clothes carry every bad decision their previous owner ever made,” she muttered, stepping into the brook. The cold water lapped at her legs, and she exhaled a satisfied sigh. “Finally. A proper rinse.”

Vivienne perched herself on a large rock nearby, her tendrils curling and uncurling idly. “You know, it’s refreshing to see someone commit so thoroughly to not smelling like old regrets.”

Rava shot her a withering glare but didn’t dignify the jab with a response. Instead, she dunked the garments into the water, scrubbing them vigorously against a smooth stone. The brook carried away the dirt and grime, and soon, the water around her turned cloudy.

“I’ll take that as a thank you,” Vivienne said with a grin, her heads tilting in a synchronised motion.

Rava rolled her eyes, wringing out the tunic and draping it over a branch to dry. “Thank you, oh benevolent nightmare, for your endless wisdom and impeccable commentary. Truly, I am unworthy.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“Finally, some recognition,” Vivienne purred, her many heads dipping in mock reverence.

Rava chuckled, shaking her head as she splashed water onto her fur. The cold was bracing, but it washed away not only the dirt but also the weight of the last few days.

Meanwhile, Vivienne shifted her focus back to the brook. The sunlight playing across the rippling water fascinated her, and her form shimmered faintly in response. A spark of curiosity ignited within her as she reached out with her essence, allowing the aether she had syphoned to flow into the attempt.

Slowly, her shadowy substance began to take shape. A single limb extended from her main form, twisting and solidifying into something almost human. The rough approximation of a hand formed at the end, its fingers clawed and jointed, but oddly elegant.

“Still at it, huh?” Rava asked, watching Vivienne out of the corner of her eye as she scrubbed her arms clean.

Vivienne didn’t reply immediately, her focus locked on the new limb. It twitched and flexed, the movements stiff and unnatural at first, then slowly becoming smoother.

“This is harder than I thought,” Vivienne murmured, her voice more thoughtful than frustrated.

“Well, shaping your whole existence into something new doesn’t exactly sound easy,” Rava said as she stepped out of the brook, her fur damp and glistening in the sunlight. She gave a vigorous shake, sending droplets scattering in every direction. The light caught the water in tiny rainbows, a fleeting burst of colour amid the wilderness. “Maybe take it slow? One limb at a time.”

Vivienne let out a low scoff, her shadowy form rippling faintly. “Way ahead of you. This—” she raised the jagged, half-formed arm with a deliberate flourish, its clawed fingers twitching—“is all I can manage for now. Maybe I just need to find more people to eat.”

Rava paused, her ears flicking toward Vivienne, then sighed with exaggerated patience. “You know, that would sound absolutely horrifying if I didn’t already know you’re talking about their fear aether.”

Vivienne tilted one of her heads, her many maws curling into wicked grins. “That’s part of the fun, Rava. It keeps you on your toes.”

“Uh-huh. And what happens when you scare someone so bad they faint?” Rava raised an eyebrow, her voice tinged with mock concern. “Do you lose out on the aether altogether? Or do you just feast on their unconscious nightmares?”

“An excellent question!” Vivienne replied, her tone taking on a mock scholarly air. “I’ll have to conduct further experiments. Volunteers welcome, of course.”

“Hard pass,” Rava said, shaking her head as she laid her drying clothes on a sunlit patch of grass. Her gaze drifted toward Vivienne’s latest attempt to conjure another limb. She winced as the shadowy tendrils twisted and writhed, half-formed and unsettling. “That is... kind of creepy.”

“Kind of?” Vivienne tilted one of her heads, her smoky form rippling with mock indignation. “I’ve worked hard to achieve full creep status. Kind of feels like an underwhelming review.”

Rava snorted, sitting cross-legged on the grass. “Don’t worry, you’re solidly creepy. Like a bad dream you sort of want to wake up from but also can’t look away from. Very impressive.”

“Now, that’s the validation I’ve been seeking,” Vivienne purred, her many maws curling into mischievous grins. She focused once more, her shadows tightening and condensing into the beginnings of a limb. This one came closer to resembling an arm, though the proportions were off—too long, the fingers too thin and claw-like.

Rava frowned, tilting her head as she observed. “You know, if you’re aiming for ‘humanoid,’ you might want to tone down the whole ‘spindly horror’ vibe. You’re veering more toward ‘gothic scarecrow.’”

Vivienne chuckled, the sound low and layered. “I’ll take that under advisement.”

The newly-formed limb twitched and flexed, responding to her thoughts with increasing precision. Encouraged, Vivienne tried to add more structure—a hint of muscle, a smoother contour. But as she pushed her focus further, the shadows quivered violently and unravelled, the limb dissolving back into her amorphous form.

Rava raised an eyebrow. “Too much too soon?”

Vivienne sighed, her form rippling with frustration. “Apparently, this is harder than it looks. It’s like... holding sand in a sieve while someone shakes the table.”

Rava raised an eyebrow, her tail flicking. “What’s a sieve?”

Vivienne paused, clearly trying to come up with a better analogy. “It’s a bowl with holes in it. You use it to strain things, like boiling vegetables or whatever, to keep the food but get rid of the water. It's... well, useful, if you know how to use it—ugh, bad analogy. Forget it. Not the point.”

Rava smirked, her tail flicking as she drew out the word. “Riiiight. Sure, Vivienne. Just... moving right along.”

Vivienne huffed, clearly a little frustrated but unwilling to admit it. “Segue! How far till we get to where we’re going, huh? I’m ready to actually make progress.”

Rava's ears flicked as she glanced up at the sky, taking a deep breath before answering. “I don’t know,” she said, her tone unapologetic. “Not exactly. These are unfamiliar lands to me. We’re heading in the right direction, I know that much. The general route to the clanlands is clear, but specifics? Not so much.”

Vivienne raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know?”

Rava grinned, showing a hint of sharp teeth. “Hey, it’s not like I’m a walking map. We’ll find it. It’s just—well, you know how it is. Even if you’ve lived somewhere a while, the world’s got a way of shifting things around. But once we’re near, I’ll know exactly how to get to my clanhome.”

Vivienne’s eyes narrowed in curiosity, her many heads tilting slightly. “Clanlands, huh?”

Rava nodded sagely, her expression softening for a moment. “Yes. I’m from the Serkoth clan. Fourth child of the current clan head.”

“Three siblings?”

Rava shrugged nonchalantly. “Six brothers actually. I’m the middle one.”

Vivienne raised an eyebrow. “Must’ve been a lot of competition growing up.”

Rava’s grin sharpened, a flicker of amusement in her eyes. “Oh, always. But I learned early to make my own path.” Rava’s eyes took on a prideful gleam. “I’m the strongest of them though. My affinity for the tempest is stronger than any of them.”

“So does that mean you’re next in line for clanhead?” Vivienne asked, a touch of curiosity in her voice.

Rava let out a soft chuckle. “Nah, it doesn’t work like that. Clanheads are chosen by the families within the clan. It’s more about who’s fit to lead than who’s strongest. And while I’m definitely stronger than my brothers, I’m not exactly the whole package for leadership.”

Vivienne's multiple heads cocked with amusement, and she let out a discordant set of giggles. “So, you’re an idiot after all? I could’ve told you that.”

Rava shot her a look, rolling her eyes with a grin. “No, not an idiot. But I’m definitely not the smartest—that’d be my oldest brother. He’s got all the books and the strategies down. And the fifth one, well, he’s the compassionate one. He often volunteers for those in need around the clanhome.”

Vivienne snickered. “Good to know. So, who’s the best one for the job?”

Rava’s expression softened for a brief moment, the flicker of a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “That’d be my youngest brother. He’s still young, but he’s got the balance—strength, intelligence, and compassion. The way he sees things... I think he’ll make a great clanhead one day. He’s still going through the training for it, but it’s clear he’s got what it takes.”

Vivienne tilted her heads, her many maws curving into thoughtful grins. “A perfect candidate. You must be proud of him.”

“I am,” Rava replied, her voice quieter now, more reflective, a small smile lingering on her lips. “He’s got so much potential. All the things I’ve worked for… he’s got it naturally. But it’s strange, being this far away, missing out on watching him grow into that role.” Her smile faded slightly, replaced by a more wistful look. “It’s hard to be here, doing this, when I know my family’s back there... and I’m not there to see it happen. I’m on a failed mission instead.”

Vivienne’s forms rippled, one of her heads drawing closer, as if sensing the subtle shift in Rava’s mood. "It’s never easy being away from home, especially when you care about someone’s future. But you’re still doing something important. This mission of yours, it’s a path you have to walk—even if it feels like you’re not there when they need you."

Rava looked away, her brow furrowing slightly as she chewed on her lip, processing the words. "Maybe... I just wish I could be in two places at once? Not for me, but for him."

Vivienne’s multiple heads shifted, their expressions becoming more thoughtful as they hovered in close. “Sometimes, absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

Rava’s gaze softened, and she offered a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I like that. Is that a saying from your world?”

Vivienne gave a small, melancholic nod. "Yes, it’s an old saying. I’ve learned that sometimes it takes absence to make you appreciate what you had… or what you still want to protect." Her eyes grew distant, the shadows within them flickering, betraying an emotion she quickly tried to mask. "But it’s not just about distance. It’s also about the things we leave behind—and the ones who’ll carry on without us."

Rava watched her for a long moment, the weight of the unspoken words hanging in the air between them. There was an odd comfort in Vivienne's presence, even in moments of quiet contemplation. She wasn’t sure why she felt that way, but it helped ease the tightness in her chest.

“I don’t know if I’m the best person to be giving advice,” Vivienne said, her voice dropping to something more vulnerable. “But sometimes, we have to leave in order to become who we’re meant to be. Even if that means missing out on the things we hold dear. It’s... a sacrifice. For a future that might be worth it."

Rava blinked, the weight of those words settling over her. “Maybe... maybe I just need to focus on what I can do now. Instead of wondering about what I’ve missed. There’s always something in the future worth fighting for.”

Vivienne smiled, her heads tilting in a way that almost looked affectionate. “Exactly. You can’t change the past, but you can shape the future. And I think your future is going to be... something worth watching.”

Rava let out a quiet, rueful laugh. "I'm not sure I want anyone watching me trip over myself."

Vivienne’s many heads grinned in unison, their sharp teeth gleaming. “It wouldn’t be nearly as fun if you didn’t.”