"Nicholas," she said, nearly dropping her bag. "I didn't expect to see you around here again."
"I could say the same thing about you," he said, dismounting. "It's been a long time."
Athene had always liked Nicholas. He was caring and kind, they had gotten along well until Rydia had disbanded the coven, and they had gone their seperate ways.
"It's getting dark," he said. "Where are you going?"
"I'm heading home, I had to get ingredients," she answered, holding up her bag. "Where were you?"
"Wandering," he said, leading his horse.
"As always," she said with a smile.
"As always," he agreed.
"You can come back and stay in my cottage for the night if you'd like," she said. "We could catch up."
She had promised myself that she would keep my territory safe from the others, but, shooting a sideways glance at Nicholas, she thought that maybe, if he left as soon as possible, one night's reminiscing couldn't hurt.
"Do you want to come?" she asked. "Or maybe you have business in the forest."
"Stella. You were in my dream the other night. And everyone called you Princess." -Lauren2010
RoryLegend - No, I think we'll meet up with them the next day so they can have some time to interact together. I'll have our characters head towards the nearest village where they can seek shelter in a tavern or inn.
Rydia
Rydia stared at the crystal as it turned a rosy pink and hesitated. That meant she was heading towards more than one member of the coven. What can it mean? she wondered. Could they know my purpose, be conspiring against my decision to re-unite the coven? Would they attack me?
Rydia turned and headed over to the tree where she had fastened Araen'all, untying the knot that bound him there. She mounted thoughtfully and then rode West a short distance to meet with Persephone and Caelin.
"Where to?" Persephone asked. Rydia hesitated, taking out the map and holding it where all three of them could see.
"They are approaching a village," Rydia said. "We will spend the night there."
"With them?" Caelin asked. "Do you know who they are?"
"There is a spell that would tell us that but I think it wiser that we spend the night in an inn. Seven years can change a person and who knows how long they have been in each other's company. Perhaps they have remained together or perhaps they met today by mere chance." Rydia packed the map away again and they set off.
"You're not as certain as you used to me," Persephone mumbled.
"And you're not as obediant," Rydia responded with a brief smile.
I cast a quick glance around the darkening forest, leading Donax by his reins. There was definitely nothing to do out there for the time being, and I couldn't remember the last time I had actually slept indoors for a full night.
"Thank you," I said, smiling. "You have no idea how long it's been since I've met anyone civil. It'd be good to catch up."
I followed her through the woods in silence, the dry leaves of winter crunching loudly underfoot. Donax plodded along behind, kicking rocks and twigs with his hooves. I doubted an army of humans could be louder.
"Have you seen anyone else?" I asked, curiosity spurring me forward until I walked next to her instead of behind. "Anyone from before?"
"No. Everyone just disappeared after the Coven split up. What about you?"
"The same, but I never actually looked for them."
Be the cartoon heart. Light a fire, light a spark. Light a fire, flame in my heart. We'll run wild, we'll be glowing in the dark.
Keleria ran hard for a long time, wanting to get rid of the look in Moira's eyes, but no matter what she did it wouldn't leave her mind. Finally she stopped and rested on a tree root. She felt her eyes start to burn, but she wouldn't let the tears come, and she hated herself for it.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of horse's hooves, and she moved quickly out of the path. A rider came racing past her, and she recognised their features. Nicholas
Following softly behind she saw him stop suddenly and greet a woman standing under the trees. She couldn't see the woman's face but realised that it was a chance meeting, unplanned.
they started to walk towards the village, his horse making enough noise to cover, Keleria's own walking. the woman turned to Nicholas, and Keleria gasped as she recognised her. Athene
They turned towards the sound.
It is an established fact that, despite everything society can do, girls of seven are magnetically attracted to the colour pink.
- Terry Pratchett, "Monstrous Regiment"
"I didn't look as such, but-" I heard a crackling of leaves. Nicholas and I turned.
"It couldn't be-"
"It's Keleria," I said with a frown. "I'm sure of it."
"Shall we call her?"
I bit my lip. "Nicholas, I don't want to get caught up in the Coven again. Let her come to us if she wants." I took the reins of his horse round to the stables.
"Stella. You were in my dream the other night. And everyone called you Princess." -Lauren2010
Keleria let out the breath she'd been holding. They hadn't recognised her. They would have called her if they had. Surely.
She wasn't sure if she was relieved or not, in one sense she would have liked to be recognised and talked to. Just seeing them, made her long to join them, but what would they have to say to her, she knew that Athene was one of the witches who had stayed with the pitiful humans, helping them and caring for them, Keleria didn't think that she would welcome someone so adamantly against them as Keleria was.
she watched them move away, then followed through the vilage.
It is an established fact that, despite everything society can do, girls of seven are magnetically attracted to the colour pink.
- Terry Pratchett, "Monstrous Regiment"
I put my bag on the table and looked up at Nicholas.
"Are you alright?" I asked. "You didn't want to talk to Keleria did you?"
He shrugged. "I just wanted to talk to someone," he said simply.
I put my cauldron over the stove and poured the last dregs of water from the kettle into it. I splashed some more of it in with my hands.
"Still using your powers?" Nicholas asked.
I shrugged. "A little. I mean, there's no point going out to the well during the night, especially..." I looked out the window and shook my head. "Sorry," I said. "I had this weird feeling that tonight..." I shook my head. "I was being stupid I guess."
"Stella. You were in my dream the other night. And everyone called you Princess." -Lauren2010
Persephone woke before either of the others, she was no longer sad or upset for not being with Merick. Somehow she knew she would be okay and she was meant to love soemone else. But she was still frustrated. She walked outside of the inn they were staying at barefoot to watch the sunrise. She wasn't sure if she was good or bad now. She was afraid of the coven reuniting yet leonged for it. She wanted to see the others desperatly. She heart a twig snap behind her and turned quickly.
*who will it be...*
All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage, and I promise you something great will come of it.
I frowned and stepped closer. "What? You had this weird feeling that tonight... what?"
She shook her head. "It's nothing."
I let the subject drop, knowing that if she didn't want to say anything, she wouldn't. Moving to the nearest chair, I sat down, breathing a small sigh of relief and letting my eyes roam over the inside of the small cottage. It wasn't large, but it gave off a cozy feel to it, as though it had been lived in for many years.
A thought passed across my mind, implanting it just behind my eyes and refusing to move unless asked. Curiosity gnawed at me until I finally opened my mouth.
"What have you been doing the past seven years, Athene?"
Be the cartoon heart. Light a fire, light a spark. Light a fire, flame in my heart. We'll run wild, we'll be glowing in the dark.
