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Ch. 13 Torpor

Silence.

Embrace.

Cocoon.

Convalescence.

There was a veil, or a webbing and when she even thought to focus the suspension and in-animation made her absolute all go slack. She knew only darkness and rest, a slow digestion and sloughing off, like casting off traveling clothes when the road has run out under foot.

In the quiet recesses of her mind, where whispers of ancient forests and the murmur of earth's secrets blended in a harmonious choir, Adrestia found solace. This mental sanctuary, a verdant haven crafted from Gaia's gentle embrace, stood as a bastion against the encroaching chaos of Hastur's influence. In this sacred space, she discovered the essence of her true self, a core untainted by the Yellow King's pride and hubris.

Surrounded by the ethereal beauty of this inner world, Adrestia felt a profound connection to the nurturing power of Gaia. The whispering winds carried words of wisdom, imbuing her with a sense of purpose and clarity. Here, she was not just a huntress but a guardian, a daughter of the earth vested with the responsibility of preserving the delicate balance of life.

She walked through this inner landscape, her feet caressing the soft moss that carpeted the forest floor. Ancient trees, towering and wise, formed a protective circle around her, their branches swaying in a dance of ageless grace. Each leaf, each petal, seemed to resonate with her heartbeat, an affirmation of the life force that pulsed through her veins.

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In moments of doubt, when Hastur's chaotic whispers threatened to overwhelm her, Adrestia would retreat to this sanctuary. She would sit by a clear, tranquil pool, its waters reflecting the serene skies above. Gazing into its depths, she drew strength from the reflection of her true self – a woman of unparalleled resilience, a being of both beauty and might.

As she meditated by the pool, the gentle yet forceful power of Gaia flowed through her. It was a reminder of the unyielding strength that resided within femininity, a strength not in opposition to, but in harmony with, the nurturing aspects of her nature. This power was not loud or overt, but it was omnipresent – a quiet assertion of superiority over the brash, arrogant forces that sought to dominate her.

There were truths in the still waters there, that death was an amalgamation of the fear mortality inherits. The truth was in the cycles; endlessness, Spring to Winter, hand in hand, perpetuation of resources and experiences onward and forward. These truths she heard to her sense of self, a new self that would be buried beneath the pools surface, locked and out of reach to all but her.

In these moments of communion with Gaia, Adrestia felt her resolve solidify. She understood that her fight against Hastur's influence was not just a battle for her own soul but a struggle to uphold the principles of life and growth that Gaia represented. She was more than a weapon or a pawn in a cosmic game; she was a protector of the continuum of life, a champion of the natural order.

A hunter that would purge all that would threaten this threshing floor that she was cradled in.

As she emerged from her mental sanctuary, setting wards as she went; the weaves and textures of a forgotten and delicate flora; Adrestia carried with her the gentle forcefulness of Gaia's power. It was a shield against Hastur's hubris, a reminder that true strength lay in the ability to nurture and protect. With each step she took in the physical world, a very languorous stride that empowered her as the terra found her footing, she carried the essence of her inner sanctuary with her, a beacon of hope and resilience in a universe fraught with darkness and chaos.