the burning heart of god

Salvia Eternity · 01-27-2012, 11:47 PM

[html]

(1649)

“I will help you,” Salvia announced. Her tail flagged behind her briefly, suggesting this was a command—though it was not, truly. The lynx yawned widely and rose to his feet, massive shoe-shoe things that belonged better to the cold of Siberia than this mild winter. Still, he was of a breed that would survive well here. With a wolf as a hunting partner, they both feasted like kings. In time, he would grow into a massive thing; with his Eurasian blood the reddish cat had the potential to grow to incredible size. Once they both grew into their bones the pair would be a remarkable team.

Siv seemed surprise by the offer, and her purple eyes narrowed slightly. Salvia only smiled. “If I help you with this project, I would like to ask for a blanket, as you made Sirius. My horse is still a colt, but I admire your work greatly.” She watched realization creep across the silver-brushed woman’s face, and finally bloom into a smile. The woman was terribly pretty despite the wild glint in her eyes. “I still need a ram; help me capture one and I shall fashion you what you ask. We will need to sort out that leather suits you best, of course; there is reason behind all things I make, you see.”

The dark woman motioned for Salvia to lead, and the blonde girl turned. Her steps were fast, but Siv’s long legs allowed her to keep pace. Behind them the lynx followed, finding using their footprints easier than trudging over the thick snow. “Yes, you’re like my mother in that way. She finds magic in things I don’t understand,” the girl threw over her shoulder, though her speed did not falter. The mechanical pace of her walk was moved by the needs of speed and the desire not to leave tracks. Indeed, though they traveled in a line, it was only Siv who left heavy prints behind. This was further due to her weight than anything else—as large and heavy as she was, the wolf could not help but tear up the earth below her feet.

“Eris is wise,” the dark woman said, purple eyes gleaming in a peculiar fashion. She suspected at this point she had managed to conciliate the Auxiliary. They had reached an understanding but there was yet much to do in order to bring her own faith to this land. Odin and his children were present yet; she saw reflections of the stories in all these people. China had been a good step for her. The coyote girl had responded to her stories well enough, and proven she had not lost the power of the voice. Had she not had that night, she would not be so confident in her abilities. “I choose leather for others with magic in mind. All animals have power; why do you think our Lord Hunter wears the bear pelt?”

A light laugh trailed back from the girl, who wagged her tail lightly at the thought. “Well that makes sense. He did kill it, after all.”

“Yes, but the bear is the sign of strength. I made his horse’s blanket from bull elk; it is a masculine power, one he commands,” Siv explained, though she did not specify more than this. While this probing would see if Salvia did possess further magic, she understood that Eris had done so before and seen little. All things changed, of course.

“I kill elks all the time,” Salvia replied, slowing to sniff the air and changed her course. She nimbly leapt over a fallen log, landing lightly. “What would you make mine out of?” The girl asked, glancing over her shoulder briefly. While her mind was almost strictly based on the simple logic of the here and now, what she could see and touch and taste, the demon haunted world was one full of symbols and ideas that were entirely fascinating to a mind that did not sync with them.

Siv was quiet for a moment as if debating the answer. When she finally spoke, the answer surprised the girl. “A hunting cat,” she answered lowly, as if the animal trailing them might be offended. “A mountain lion, perhaps. You hold the strength of the cats, Salvia—even our Lord Hunter knows this.”

Surprisingly, the lynx only smiled in the vague way that cats do. As it was, cougars interfered with his hunting grounds. If this she-wolf would destroy them it would only prove profit for his plans. As it stood, most of the other male cats in the area did not overlap his “territory”. The females were easier to allow within, for he instinctively believed they would one day mate with him and thus provide children, as his right as a dominant male demanded.

Salvia found the idea curious; she recalled a puma taking up residence in their home in Anathema, but had seen the pelt of such a beast kept by Eris now. It was thinner then she would have thought, but this was due to the quality of the tan and not the animal itself. Leather was as foreign to her as magic. “That would be something,” she replied, almost indifferently. “I’ve never thought of hunting cats; they’re smart,” the girl added, glancing over her shoulder. “If you don’t know how they hunt you would be lucky to make it out alive.”

“As I’m sure you know well,” Siv commented, a dark smile crossing her face. “You should remind me when your horse is grown; I will measure him for you then. I will need to decide how to make it as well.”

“Sure,” the blonde girl replied, and slowed. The woods opened up ahead of them, revealing the landscape more common of Drifter Bay. She looked about and then pointed with her muzzle. “There; though I’m not sure how you’ll catch that many. They tend to take off once you startle them.”

The witch-woman shrugged off her pack and flipped open the top. Within it was a finely woven fishing net; Salvia recognized it as it was produced and frown, puzzled. When she spotted the stones wrapped about the ends she quickly understood and her eyes lit up. “That’s brilliant,” she exclaimed, tail wagging furiously. “Do you use it like you do with fish?”

“I’m hoping to,” Siv replied, and pulled the net through her hands. “I’ve done it before but not with so many. Perhaps together we’ll have more luck.”

Without a word Salvia nodded and slipped into the thicker brush. The noise suggested she was shifting, and respectfully, Siv looked outward and to the Bay. When the girl returned, she was two-legged. It was apparent she was growing into womanhood; her breasts and hips were not those of a child anymore, though she had not gone through heat yet—at least not to Siv’s estimation, given the way her hips remained thin yet. Salvia bent to run her hand along the lynx’s back, earning a low purr for her trouble.

“So, let’s try this then,” she said, hair tousled by her speedy shift. It was short and somewhat choppy, suggesting she rarely cared for it.

The two women made their way out to the open field. By moving slowly and taking advantage of their respective talents, they came upon the flock after long, drawn out moments. They wound up finding a high point of ground and from their launched the attack; between the two of them the net was wide enough to encircle most of the birds, who raised hell and fought against the heavy rope and heavier stones. Salvia and Siv snapped their necks with little concern, spilling no blood and gathering more than expected. The older woman counted them up and found that she was two over. Pleased by this, she smiled broadly.

“My thanks, Salvia.”

The girl shook her head, dismissing such a thing. “It was fun. I’d like to try with that net again; do you have any other tricks you’re keeping from me, Siv?”

Another smile broke from the dark woman’s face, and she went back into the bag. From this she drew a soft looking piece of leather, with a larger end on one side. Puzzled, Salvia held it when it was offered. “This is a sling. If you place stones in this end,” Siv explained, motioning to the larger side. “You can swing them and strike from a distance. It will take practice; but I think you would be good at it. I will show you more, later; I must return home with these birds.”

Intrigued by the promise, Salvia nodded and looped the sling over her head. It was large enough to fit loosely around her neck; this suggested, as she intended, that her hunt would not continue on two legs. “Well good luck to you. If you need help with the ram, let me know.”

“I will. Hunt well, Salvia.” Siv turned and hoisted the birds onto her back. Within the net they were easier to carry, and less damage would occur to the feathers she needed. Behind her, Salvia made the second transformation back down to four legs. The lynx joined her not long after, his eyes bright and ready for a true hunt. The girl smiled toothily. “Ready to really hunt?”

He purred loudly, stretching. “Deer still?”

The wolf laughed, shook out her pelt, and rolled one shoulder. “A doe, of course. We’ll take one of the small ones; same pattern we always use. When she breaks, turn her to me; they’re all so thin we won’t have any trouble with them.”

With a flick of his short tail, the lynx rose. He and the wolf trotted off, moving towards their intended destination and morning hunt—it was later then they would have liked, but the deer did not move greatly between dawn and early afternoon.

Login




Remember me Lost Password?