Ascending Legends

[BookWyrm]

Dayn swallowed the food and laughed. "Nope. Loving you works up quite the appetite."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn laughed and leaned against him, finishing off her pastry. "Still delicious, mo chroi."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn took Arryn's hands and brought them up to his lips before kissing them. He smiled, lowering their hands before laying in her lap. "You said you needed to look over the scars?"

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn chuckled. "Well I can't do that very well when you're laying on my like this. Let me get the balm." Arryn gently moved his head off of her and got up, finding the balm and returning, sitting cross-legged, waiting for him.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn gave a fake frown before sitting up and holding his hands out to her. "That curse really did affect more than I first thought. I'm just glad we caught it before it got worse..."

 

[Dragongal]

"Me too." Arryn took his right hand first, gently working the balm over the wound that was now mostly scarring, being careful not to hurt him. Once she finished both sides of that hand, she started on his other hand, following the same process. She stood and walked behind him before sitting down, starting on the difficult task of not hurting Dayn while working the balm into the wounds. She took her time, working carefully but efficiently. When she was done she wiped her hands on her pants and kissed the back of his neck before moving to his side. Looking at him with a bit of concern, she asked, "All good?"

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn gave a slight smile as he sighed. "Yeah, its nothing to worry about." Something was eating at him, but the last thing he wanted was to bother Arryn.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn's concern visibly deepened and she shifted her position, gently cupping his cheek while running her thumb slowly across his cheek. "PLease let me help you, my love." Slight smiles weren't Dayn, he was wide smiles and laughter and fake frowns. He had helped her yesterday, now it was her turn to help him.

 

[BookWyrm]

His smile broadened as he leaned his head against Arryn's hand. He placed his hand over Arryn's and held it lightly. "I'm just....well....feeling off. I think part of it is the whole issue with the curse and the hunter."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn cocked her head to the side, shaking it slightly. "'Off doesn't sound like something I can help with much. I don't know a potion to make or a wound to patch." Arryn paused, looking him over for a few seconds, trying to see if she could tell what was wrong. "Please tell me how I can help."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn scooted forward and wrapped his arms around Arryn before laying his head against the crook of her neck. "Just let me be close to you." Dayn wasn't completely sure why he was feeling off. The curse was broken and the hunter was dead. Sure, the skinchanger had escaped, but he had made it out with just a few scars to his name. Maybe it had been there the whole time, but a sudden strange feeling was welling up within him. It wasn't pain, but perhaps it was just anxious, nervous energy. Was it something to do with the lycanthropy? "I'm not really sure what it is that is bothering me."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn wrapped one arm around Dayn's shoulder and she put her other hand behind his head. "Well I'm sure that there's nothing to worry about, love." He had her worried, but she hid it under her usual concern.

 

[BookWyrm]

For several quiet minutes Dayn sat there, his head against Arryn's shoulder as he reflected on the feeling. It felt nervous, anxious maybe, but in some ways it didn't feel completely bad. "Arryn," Dayn sat up, looking Arryn in the eye before continuing, "Would you mind going out with me? I just need to move around a bit, clear my head some, but I want you there with me."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled supportively and nodded. Once she had gotten her jacket on, she held Dayn's hand resolutely.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn smiled and walked out with Arryn. He had taken his empty pack along, and once they were safely in the woods Dayn stripped down, folded his clothes, and handed his ring and pendants to Arryn for safe keeping before shifting. There was something nice about feeling the ground, even with the snow, underneath his paws. He stretched and trotted around some before turning to look at Arryn, his head tilting to the side. <I'm not really sure where I want to go. Just, somewhere quiet.>

 

[Dragongal]

"Do you want me to shift too?" Arryn asked quietly. She knew a nice quiet place she could take him.

 

[BookWyrm]

<Once we get there that's fine.> Dayn was feeling oddly cautious. <I'd just rather get away right now.>

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn nodded abs lief him through the forests to a small glade, a slight rise keeping the snow from getting too deep. The trees added extra cover from the surrounding area and the snow.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn looked around the glade and smiled appreciatively. <This is perfect.> Dayn walked over to Arryn and rubbed his head against her leg. <If you want to shift now you can.>

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn quickly got undressed and shifted. It always took her longer to shift into a wolf than from. She wagged her tail slightly, waiting to see what Dayn would do.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn's ears laid back as he walked over and nuzzled against Arryn, his tail wagging happily. As they stood together a fog slowly rolled into the glade, creeping along around them. Clouds passed over head, blocking out the light of the sun, and before Dayn could realize what was happening, the glade grew darker around them. He slowly looked around before turning, keeping to the front of Arryn protectively when he noticed a figure standing in the middle of the glade.


"Do not fear me child, for I bring you no harm." The voice was clearly feminine, and as Dayn watched the fog swept away from around the figure to reveal a woman dressed in a white gown. Her hair was silver and her skin as radiant as her smile, but the most striking feature was her eyes. Violet in color, and deep as the vastness of space twinkling with the light of stars just below the surface. Dayn's disposition eased off, though he remained standing between the woman and Arryn.


The woman smiled and laughed softly. "You have nothing to fear from me Dayn, fy mab, fy blaidd."


Dayn's head perked up. She knew the Southern dialect?


<Who are you?>


The woman's smile broadened before she bowed and said, "I am Lleuna, Lady of the Moon, and Mother of Wolves." She crouched down and held out her hands to beckon them. "Please, come, let me see the two of you. I don't get many chances to interact with my children."


Dayn turned to Arryn, his features calm and relaxed, and nuzzled her slightly before walking over to where Lleuna was crouched. His approach was weary at first, but he finally eased forward and licked her hand gently. Lleuna smiled and slowly began to rub Dayn's head. In an instant Dayn had relaxed and laid down, rolling over to let Lleuna rub over his chest and stomach. Her laugh was kind and sweet, loving in the way of a mother's. She looked up to Arryn, smiling as she held out her hand. "Don't be afraid Arryngale, I mean no harm to you or your husband."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn had her ears laid back as the woman approached, ready to attack if necessary. However, in hindsight, they had never had problems with people coming out of the mists before. Lady of the Moon, fancy title - the question was if it was true. Dayn's reaction to her was interesting, though. Had Dayn not been there, Arryn probably wouldn't have been so cautious, but Dayn's reaction to the woman did calm her a bit. Arryn slowly walked up to Leuna, sniffing her hand before nudging it with her nose. <Dayn always spoke of how he felt a connection with the moon and all of that. I never really felt it... I assume it's something with my bloodline.>

 

[BookWyrm]

Lleuna smiled when Arryn nudged her hand. "I do not hold your reservations against you Arryngale. To answer your question, yes, your bloodline affects your lycanthropy in the same way lycanthropy affects your bloodline's gifts. That is why you cannot feel my presence like Dayn, and also why you have such strong reservations. Those blessed with my gift know my presence and my voice."


Lleuna turned her attention back to Dayn as she rubbed his chest and along his muzzle. As she sat down beside him she reached out and laid a hand on either side of his face before touching her brow to his. Dayn's eyes slowly slid shut, his body relaxing as a deep sleep took him. Lleuna smiled down at Dayn, gently running the back of her hand along his cheek in a motherly fashion, before she looked back to Arryn. "Please, come join us. Your husband could use your presence beside him while he goes through this." Lleuna could see the concern before it came across Arryn's face. "Do not worry, Dayn is perfectly fine. He is simply going through a rites of passage. Come, lay down beside him, let him feel your warmth, and I'll explain everything."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn didn't need prompting to lay down next to Dayn and sniff over him with concern. If this lady was lying there was nothing stopping Arryn from killing her - Dayn wasn't awake to make her hesitate. Arryn gently licked Dayn's cheek before laying her head down on her paws and waiting for whatever would come.

 

[BookWyrm]

As if sensing her next to him Dayn curled around Arryn. Lleuna smiled, though she took note of Arryn's disposition and kept her hands to herself. "Even on the hunting ground Dayn can feel your presence. You two must share a strong bond." Lleuna looked to Arryn, her smile bearing the slightest tinge of sorrow. "I once had a bond such as your's. He was strong and brave and caring, his heart pure and clean. But, we were never meant to be. He was a mortal, fallible, and destined for death and separation. But he fell not from the withering of age or sickness, but from a blade meant to sever our bond. He lay bleeding before me, and in those last moments a single tear fell onto his wound. His flesh was rent, but his soul endured and was born again in the form of my children, white with piercing blue eyes. The first of the Moon-Born, the White Wolf, who now leads Dayn along his path."


Lleuna was not lying. Dayn had found himself on the Hunting Ground within seconds of closing his eyes. The White Wolf had found him and led him away into the woods. Dayn would endure the rites of passage that only few before him had endured. If you succeed tonight Dayn, you will receive an honor few have ever held. You are one of the last Moon-Born on Trulane. Our people faded out during the struggle with the skinchangers. Normally this rites of passage would be held at the dawn of every new year. Our people would gather and our young males would prove their worth, but with so few of us left, I want you to undertake this. <What about my body? I'm still recovering from the hunter's attack.> I know, and that will make it all the more difficult. But if you succeed the reward will be worth the struggle.


They stood now at the mouth of a great gorge leading down into dark woods, and at the end was a towering mountain. Dayn knew what he must do, but he couldn't help the longing for Arryn's presence beside him. Dayn whined quietly as he curled even closer around Arryn. Lleuna's brows came together as her lips pursed, though she kept quiet. No doubt Arryn could feel Dayn's longing for her. Lleuna couldn't hold back the tear that now slid down her cheek. It was moving to see these two and the love they shared.