The Dark Mist
Part 01
There's a lot of mystery around the dark mist. Nobody knows where it came from and some say it brings bad omens like flooding rain, bad crops and even death; others say it's just a simple, dark cloud with no meaning whatsoever. What everyone knows for sure is that the dark mist has always been a part of their lives, hovering over the skies, always in motion and never stopping anywhere for too long; and nothing good ever comes of it.
The truth is that the dark mist can't be blamed for what it is; it has no choice in its being. It just wanders from one place to another with no real destination, just trying not to be a bother while living its life with no meaning or purpose. It doesn't know why bad things happen where it passes or if the bad things just happen because they were meant to happen.
Even in its infinite, lonely life, the mist still finds a bit of joy when it hovers over a beautiful landscape. The mist's favorite is the southeast of the country at a particular time of the year. The mountaintops are still covered with a light sheen of snow while the grass and blossoming flowers of the fields below it bloom in the most colorful display the mist has ever seen. Appreciating the color and light is one small indulgence the mist can truly enjoy.
In a favorite field, tucked away between a small village and craggy, snowy mountain peaks the mist first sees it. Not really it, the mist realized, but a her. The most beautiful being the mist had seen in its entire existence. Running through the fields with such awe and happiness was a young human woman more beautiful than any snowy mountaintops, clear waterfalls or blossoming roses. The mist couldn't help but watch. The girl didn't seem to care that the mist was near nor did she seem to fear its presence like so many others had done. The young one just skipped through the long grass without a care; her long, blonde hair tangled in the wind and her clothes worn. As the mist watched, she would stop suddenly just to pick up flowers or crouch down to approach the smallest animals. The mist just watched, having never felt so drawn to another creature or being before. It didn't understand why, didn't want to question it, just continued to gaze at the young human's beautiful form from above.
As the day wore on the mist unconsciously drifted, distracted in its long observation of the girl until suddenly that girl looked up into the skies. The mist was surprised to see the most beautiful clear blue eyes looking up at it, looking up to see what had cast the shadow, blocking the sun from warming her. Most surprising to the mist was how the corners of the human's mouth twisted up and broke into a wide toothy grin. The mist had seen the expression many times on human faces but never directed towards it and especially not a with smile so bright and beautiful as this one.
Looking into the girl's eyes, the mist felt jolts of energy and tingles roll through all its form. The girl watched just like the mist had watched the girl and now the dark mist with all its tingling energy didn't want to ever leave. The mist could have stayed locked in the girl's gaze forever but the energy kept building until it was too much, manifesting itself with a loud thundering that made the girl jump, startled. She looked down to the ground then sprinted away from the field and away from the mist.
Away from the field and the human girl, all the energy and pleasant tingle dissipated, leaving a hollow kind of grief in its wake. The mist had never experienced such a sudden, deep sadness before. It had always been alone, but had never felt this lonely. The mist needed to see that young woman again. The urge to suddenly change its path and follow her was great but with much sorrow, the mist realized it couldn't. The mist could only bring bad omens to the girl by following her and the mist couldn't even bear the thought. With great sadness the mist continued its path through the skies, moving away from the girl and her field. Though it refused to look back, the mist made a promise to itself to return one more time. It would come back to see the girl, even if it was just once, just to be sure she was okay.
Part 02
As promised, the mist returned to the field. It longed to see the girl, assuring itself that it was just making sure she was safe and well. A glimpse of her blonde hair would be enough to put the mist at ease. And the mist did see that she was well. It would have left for good but then the girl turned her perfect blue eyes skyward. The promise to return just once was suddenly forgotten.
The mist came back to the field over and again. It would try to stay away, managing a week or two before rushing back (just to make sure). Months passed, the mist returning to hover over the girl, always careful to control the energy jolts that would build in its form. It also took great care not to hover for too long. It didn't want to bring any kind of misfortune to such a wonderful creature. Some days, if the mist was patient, the blonde would look up into the skies and the mist could fully appreciate the clearness and purity of those blue eyes. If the mist was really lucky, the girl would smile her way, filling it with energy and life again. If the blonde girl didn't appear in her field the dark mist would worry itself, leaving with a sinking sense of dread. When the girl returned the following day with no signs of harm the mist would be flooded with relief.
The girl would never leave the field until the mist had passed by, completely unbothered by its presence. She almost seemed to enjoy the mist's presence, always running around and picking up flowers or random plants, always cheerful and bright with a dancing grace in her step. Sometimes her smile at finding a particularly bright flower or a set of complimenting colors would turn to the mist. That smile, the mist imagined was just for it.
After many months the mist couldn't help but notice that, aside from the small animals that would sometimes pay a visit to the blonde, she was always alone; no other humans ever accompanied her to the field. Was it possible this beautiful girl was as lonely as the mist? Surely no one as wonderful and cheerful as this young woman could be friendless; maybe she just preferred to visit the field alone to think or clear her head. Of course she wouldn't be alone all of the time. Only unfortunate beings, like the dark mist itself, were given this kind of lonely fate.
The more the mist returned, the harder it became for it to leave and especially to fight the urge to follow the girl when she left at the end of day. The pain of watching her leave was almost unbearable and it took all of its will to just let the woman go.
The dark mist had heard many things in all its years of existence. The creatures and forces of this realm especially loved to speak of different powerful things and all of them knew that amongst mortals and other living beings on the earth there was a power greater than anything else; a feeling they called love. The mist had heard about this love and even seen it at work in many beings. Just like most emotions or feelings, the mist had never really felt it before.
The mist had seen how a man after a long time away from home might scoop his offspring up into his arms enveloping them in a tight embrace and stroking their hair tenderly. The mist saw how a man and woman would meet under an old oak tree away from other humans to exchange gentleness and affection. None of the words or displays of affection had been enough to prepare the mist for what it felt watching the blonde woman. Nothing could even begin to describe such feelings. Some had said that love was indescribable; maybe that was what they really meant.
The dark mist couldn't help but wonder what it might be like to share the fate of a human, to share the fate of this girl and experience all those pleasant things it had seen mortals do. It would surely be incredible. Just the thought of a real interaction with the young woman was enough to leave the dark mist in a blissful state of crackling energy. Those thoughts couldn't be nurtured though. Such a foolish hope could only be followed by crushing disappointment.
One day, after one of its longest absences from her favorite place (favorite person) on this earth, the dark mist saw that the girl wasn't strolling happily through the grass picking up flowers like she usually did. She was sitting atop a large rock on the edge of the field with her arms hugging her knees tightly, shoulders slumped and eyes cast down. Something was wrong with the girl and the mist felt a pang go through her form. Just as that thought passed through its mind, the blonde girl, seemed to sense the familiar shadow the mist caused and looked up to the sky. The blonde's face was covered with fresh tears, her lips pressed tightly, her brows furrowed and her beautiful blue eyes usually so bright and cheerful were swollen and scarlet from crying. If the mist felt a light pang at the curled up form the girl was in, it felt overwhelming pain at seeing all those fresh tears.
Something terrible must have happened to make her so distraught. The mist knew its understanding of humans was fairly limited but it just couldn't fathom what might have happened to this young woman. Why would anyone want to harm or upset such lovely person? The mist needed to comfort the blonde woman. It needed to be there for her, and somehow, make it all better even if it had no idea how this could actually happen.
None of that could ever be possible though. The mist was once again fooling itself, with its daft and misleading thoughts. The dark mist had never felt so useless before as the one creature the mist cared for sat sad and alone. Consumed by its unsettling thoughts and anger over its utter lack of utility, the dark mist began to condense, becoming a heavy, dark cloud. Jolts of energy violently coursed through its form, a heavy thundering sound resonating out and echoing through the valley.
The mist could feel the changes happening and was confused but accepting. The blonde girl had sparked love in the mist, why not these other changes as well. If only all this darkness and thunder could stop then the mist needn't worry about frightening the girl and driving her away from the field. The mist tried to disperse its form as much and as soon as possible but it was proving to be quite a difficult thing. The mist failed to notice that the young woman had not even moved an inch from her spot on the rock.
The mist focused, concentrating on that light, love feeling until it got back to its usual form, the sky clearing back to blue. The girl, who had yet to even move, finally lay down on top of the rock putting her hands behind her head and gazed up, watching the skies through the dark mist. Her eyes were finally dry, only the slight redness and dried tear marks on her cheeks revealing her previous distress. Even without her usual playful grin, she still looked the most beautiful being the mist had ever seen, and the familiar tingles were already returning.
After a while the blonde's eyes closed and with a serene expression she drifted off to sleep. The mist felt sure she deserved rest and it would do anything in its power to ensure this girl could have it without any disturbances.
Paying careful attention to any foreign or suspicious movement around the field, the mist stayed, not caring that it was staying for longer than it usually did. The girl never minded if the mist was there, so right now as the young woman rested on top of the rock, the mist doing the only thing it could do; watch and wait. If it couldn't bring comfort to the girl directly, the least it could do was make sure nobody disrupted her rest.
The sun had already set, when the woman finally woke up. Rubbing at her eyes, the girl shivered slightly before she sat up slowly. With a gasp she rose to her feet looking left and right in alarm. Whatever the woman must have been thinking or dreaming about while she drifted off must have scared her, the mist thought. And the mist did not like even the thought of that.
With a heavy sigh the blonde girl patted her worn dress to rid it of any dirt that had gathered on her clothes then headed off in the direction of her home. Before rounding the corner that always blocked her from the mist's view she looked back over her shoulder. The mist had never stayed so late before.
After the woman disappeared in the dark, the mist finally considered what had happened. It felt a strange sense of pride for its ability to watch over the girl while she rested and for not letting anything happen to her all the while but it worried over what might have happened? Would the mist have been able protect and help the girl? The mist had seen the violent things humans were capable of doing to each other. Just the thought of anything bad happening to the blonde made a pang of hurt run through it.
The mist couldn't comprehend why it suddenly doubted its own powers, of course if the mist desired to do so it could easily handle a few mortals. But what if by doing so it scared the girl away? Or even worse, physically hurt her in the process? That thought alone sent even more excruciating pain through the mist. The mist felt useless all over again. It couldn't comfort the young woman when she most needed it and probably could do little to help her at any other time of need.
Despair overcame the mist again. It was harder and harder to stay away from the field and the lovely girl who frequents it. The mist felt hollow and sad whenever it had to leave only growing with longing the longer it stayed away. The mist was appalled by its helpless situation. How could the mist go on like this? Was it even possible? The way the mist just existed didn't feel like enough any more. Watching the blonde woman from afar without interference wasn't enough. For once the dark mist truly and wholeheartedly wished to whoever was out there, that it could be with her as an equal even for just a short while.
The moon was so bright that night, but the mist didn't notice it. Wrapped in its own unsettling thoughts the mist didn't realize just how clear the sky was. It completely failed to notice how its own, usually dispersed form was gathering around it and becoming dense in one single place, so close to the ground. The last, fine, trailing tendrils actually brushed the ground before The Mist noticed anything much at all. Suddenly, jolts of energy coursed through it. This energy was new, unfamiliar and brought excruciating pain. Finally, the dark Mist felt her form shift. Shift into something it didn't know. Shift in form, shape and consistency until everything went black.
Part 3
Just as the sun was starting to rise for the day, so was Brittany. She rinsed her face in the basin in the corner of her room then traded in her sleepwear for her favorite blue dress—faded and worn as it was—and made her way to the kitchen. After a quick breakfast and some morning chores, Brittany went to the stables to retrieve Liam. The large, sorrel colored horse was Brittany's only companion on the farm. His kind, dark eyes set in a clean white face revealed his age as he stared down at the blonde girl he cares for. Brittany laughed as the white tail that matched the white of his feet flicked up at her face. She strapped him into the harness, rubbing at his belly as she carefully tightened all the buckles.
Caressing her best friend's face, Brittany attached the small wagon, filled with produce, eggs and milk to the harness. She grabbed the reins before climbing into the wagon herself and Liam moved off under her direction, easily finding the path to the main road to town. Every other day she filled the wagon with her small farm's products and headed to town to trade. She was realizing recently just how difficult it was to maintain a farm, even one as small as hers, all by herself. She needed help but had no notion of how to get it. The day before had been difficult. Crying in the field a small release of the sadness inside her. It had been a long time since she'd felt so sad. The loneliness had finally hit her in a way she just couldn't escape. She didn't want to think about the cause of her sadness anymore, it was in the past after all and she had to keep moving forward.
The field was a part of that. She always liked to go there and clear her head. It had been a peaceful sanctuary through the hardest times. It felt good to just enjoy the day with the grass under her feet, the sun and wind in her hair. There, she was able to pick up as many flowers as she would like and she could dance or run and just be herself without anyone judging her or calling her mean names.
One thing Brittany didn't quite understand about the field was the dark mist that hovered in the space so frequently. It was there the previous night again, though it had been a while since Brittany had last seen it. It never bothered her when it was there. She even preferred it. The constant presence was comforting in a strange way. Brittany felt safe under it, like it was protecting her and nothing could hurt her.
She knew what people in town said about that mysterious mist, but she didn't understand why, when the mist had only brought her comfort and joyful thoughts so far. The day before in particular Brittany had so needed comfort and the mist was there directly above her. Lying on that big rock she found solace in the mist's presence and as if it knew that, the mist didn't pass by like it usually did. It stayed hovering over the field through the whole day, and even when darkness had fallen Brittany could still tell that the mist remained with her.
Most people would find such thoughts very odd, but not Brittany. Her mother used to say she looked at things differently and most people just couldn't understand that. She never quite fit with anyone in her younger years and remained a lonely young woman. Her unique ways of perceiving things had made the people in town, and even in the neighboring farms say rather harsh things about her intelligence or lack of it.
Lately though she was only known as that poor girl who lived in the smallest farm far from town, that wasn't smart enough to keep the farm going. They hoped for her sake that a man might marry her and save the farm but didn't really expect it to happen. Brittany tried to ignore the comments and sneers but people in town usually made sure she heard them.
The young blonde was pulled from her thoughts when she passed the first little buildings that marked the edge of town. With a scattering of small buildings, a church, local market and tavern lining the main road, the small town looked like any other. The men were already working to open their shops and businesses, while the women stayed gossiping by the side of the road. Their children ran around them, occasional reprimands being called out to keep them in line.
All eyes went to Brittany when she pulled Liam and her wagon up in front of the market. Some looked at her with pity, others with annoyance, but most of them just turned away indifferent. Brittany gathered her products from the wagon after securing Liam in a safe spot with the other horses and carried her things into the market to her usual buyer.
"Good Morrow, Gaffer John!" Brittany said with a smile.
The old man, John with a mighty white beard on his face but barely any hair on his head limped back to his stall, heavily favoring his right leg.
"Oh Brittany my dear, how have you been?" he asked with a kind smile forming on his aged face. John was the only person in this town that had never mistreated Brittany. Even if he didn't understand some of the girl's behavior, he had always been a family friend and a regular buyer of the Pierce's products. Nowadays he was the only buyer.
"I am much better, thank you." Brittany said trying to be polite but continued, frowning a bit while saying "Though Grace was giving me a hard time today, I think she had an argument with Mary. But how about you?"
"I'll be doing quite well enough, my dear, could not be better." John answered, scrunching his wrinkled face in confusion at the mention of Grace, who he knew was actually a hen. Being used to Brittany's particular manner, he brushed it off, smiled and said in good nature "Though this old limp of mine does not so well in all this cold weather." He emphasized his point by patting his bad leg with a wince.
Brittany gave him a soft smile and a worried look.
He pointed to the blonde's basket and large bag. "Enough about me, darling. What have you got for me today?"
She leaned forward for him to take a look at the eggs and milk in the basket then opened the bag for him to look at the vegetables inside.
He gave a satisfied nod and said "I shall take everything as usual, my dear." He handed her a small basket along with a purse of coins. "Here take this, the missus made some biscuits and wanted me to give it to you when you stopped by."
Brittany frowned at the purse that clearly contained more coins than it should.
John cut her off before she could object. "Now, go on. I bet you still have much to do, and I shan't take any of it back." He shooed her with flailing hands and a smile. She grinned and said a quiet thank you as she walked away waving goodbye.
After stopping in a few other shops to gather supplies and any food the farm didn't already supply her with, Brittany finally settled everything in her wagon. It had taken a lot less time than she thought it would and it wasn't even mid morning yet. Even with supplies for the next week purchased her pouch still had plenty of coins and Brittany suspected John had been a little too generous this time, but there was no arguing with the old man.
With the extra coins, Brittany skipped over to the local tavern to purchase a few bottles of her favorite apple drink with honey. She had no fondness for alcohol and the man who owned the tavern was always grump but he made the best apple drinks so she always went there when she had extra coin.
After a quiet ride home, Brittany unloaded the supplies from the wagon, setting everything in its place and feeding and tending to a tired Liam. It wasn't even midday yet but the sun was bright and the wind wasn't too cold, so she picked up a basket and started packing it with a bottle of her favorite drink, some of the freshly made biscuits and cheese. On her way out the door she grabbed her one woolen cloak in case the evening was cold as it had been the day before. With basket and cloak slung over her arm she walked back toward her field hoping the mist would be there again today. Brittany couldn't wait to sit on the grass and eat dinner with her favorite drink under the dark mist's shadow.
To her disappointed, when she reached the edge of her field, the mist was nowhere to be seen. Deciding it was still a nice day to eat outside, Brittany settled her basket on the grass in the sun and was about to sit down when something new caught her eye. She couldn't tell what it was from this far but on the other side of the field, in the tall grass was a dark shape. She thought it was probably just an animal lying down, but the form seemed too large to be the usual animals she's seen there. Curiosity drew her forward. The tall grass obscured it from view so it could be a hundred different things. Taking her basket with her, the blonde stood straight and crossed the field in the direction of this new thing in her field.
As she was getting nearer, Brittany could make out what seemed to actually be a human shape. She moved a little faster, a frown of worry appearing on her face as she realized that the very person shaped bump in the grass didn't seem to be moving.
With the grass being too high, Brittany was only able to fully see the slumbering woman when she was right beside her. Brittany gasped in surprise. She could never have expected to find a person there, especially not an unconscious and very naked young woman. Lying on her stomach, arms tucked under her sides, the girl was probably no older than Brittany. She had a complexion darker than Brittany's with long waves of dark hair flowing over her face.
Brittany stared for a few seconds recovering from her surprise, but soon realized she had to do something to aid this girl. Crouching next to the girl's head and setting the basket on the grass, the blonde noticed with a wave of relief that the brunette's torso was moving up and down with her breathing. Without knowing exactly how to proceed, Brittany leaned in and gently brushed the girl's hair aside, revealing her face. For a second time that day, Brittany gasped in surprise. Her breath felt caught as she looked down at the brunette's beautiful face. Everything about her was beautiful from her delicate cheekbones, to her plump lips; even her jaw line was beautiful.
Trying to ignore the feeling of her ears and face burning, Brittany softly tried to shake the girl awake. As soon as she touched the brunette's bare shoulder the cool skin seemed to send pleasant tingles into the tips of her fingers. Brittany stopped to gaze at her hands but remembered there were more important things to deal with in that moment.
"Miss" she tried calling the girl "Miss, can you hear me?" and she continued. "Are you all right?" Nothing seemed to work, the woman didn't respond and was still unconscious. Brittany didn't know what to do and she sat back worrying a lip between her teeth. Suddenly a scowl formed between the brunette's closed eyes and Brittany saw the woman's body shivering, though she still seemed to be unconscious. The blonde suddenly remembered just how cold the brunette's skin felt under her touch and she scolded herself for being so forgetful. With a rush of heat creeping up her face the blonde also remember the woman's current nakedness.
While concentrating her eyes on the woman's face, Brittany took her woolen cloak and covered the brunette's exposed body. She didn't know what had happened to this girl or why she was unconscious in this field but she could be hurt; something or somebody could have hurt her. Brittany felt an unexpected rush of sadness and anger at the thought that someone could have hurt this beautiful stranger.
Making her final decision, Brittany was very careful to cover the woman properly with the cloak before turning her over. The girl murmured in her sleep but didn't wake, even as Brittany hooked one arm under the brunette's knees and wrapped the other around her shoulders. She picked her up into her arms and the girl's head fell gently against Brittany's shoulder, warm breath sweeping over her collarbone. Brittany was amazed by how light the girl was and how tiny and fragile she seemed in her arms. And with a soft smile on her face, Brittany started walking back to her farm leaving the basket and meal behind, completely forgotten.
Halfway there, the brunette stirred in the blonde's arms and Brittany softly breathed out, "Worry not. I'm taking you home."
Part 04
Darkness. Darkness everywhere. Nothing could be heard or seen. It was like blackness had surrounded her whole body. The pain had finally stopped; only a dull ache could be felt now—an ache and other…things, she could feel vast parts of her self brushed or bumped. She wanted to flee from sensation surrounding her on all sides. But her form was unmoving. It couldn't float away. Even falling in and out of consciousness, she felt stuck to a hard surface beneath her. Her form was so different, solid. Reality merged with dreams and hallucinations.
She floated in this unknown limbo, with flashes of blue breaking through the dark. Eventually, voices could be heard. No, not voices, but one, soft, angelic voice calling out. Calling from some unknown distance.
Suddenly a warm something was spilled over a body, her body, which she realized, had been cold. The body, her body was then covered and enveloped in something even warmer. For a moment, familiar tingles could be felt spreading through her form. Then there was darkness again. But still wrapped in the warm embrace one last word could be heard. Home.
The Mist felt light stir her from unconsciousness. Her body was resting on top of something very soft and comfortable. Her once expansive form now contained somehow still felt so different even if the pain was gone. No more pain. Just warmth. With an increase in the brightness of the light, she felt the urge to see and instinctively opened her eyes. She blinked against the brightness trying to adjust as she looked around. She was inside a small square shaped wooden structure, with an opening cut into one of its walls where the sunlight seemed to be coming through. With shock, she realized that this must be what it was like inside a human dwelling. But that couldn't be possible, could it?
Looking down in disbelief, she saw two human arms resting over white fabric. Her expression went from disbelieving to confused and bewildered as she lifted and examined her new limbs. Human limbs. Human hands and delicate human fingers with short human nails.
No wonder she felt so different, the entirety of her form was now a solid body, completely human, with two legs and two arms and every other body part just like every other human. Running her hands over the body The Mist felt lean muscle except for a soft belly and two mounds on her chest. Female, she thought as she sat up, just like the girl in the field. Looking down as the blankets pooled around her middle she did notice her complexion seemed quite different from the humans she usually gazed at and that the hair spilling from the crown of her head seemed just as dark as the entirety of her old form used to be.
Looking up from the new body, The Mist continued to gaze curiously around her. Beside the soft, lumpy surface she woke up on she saw a wooden furnishing with a vessel on top containing beautiful, red flowers she recognized from her favorite field. Just as she was reaching for the flowers, eager to touch them for the first time, she heard a loud noise coming from outside and froze. Other sounds, all getting closer to her new and little space followed the strange noise. The door to the room made a loud banging and then cracked open. The mist startled violently, tugging the blanketing fabric up between her new body and whatever was coming. She could feel a strange beating in her chest and let out a strange noise like a human laugh as she realized that it must be her heart. As the mist continued to wonder over the new things happening to her, the door opened further revealing a head of blonde hair and curious blue eyes looking straight at her.
The blonde girl cautiously entered the space and time seemed to slow down for The Mist. Motes of dust twinkled in the light through the gap in the wall as the girl's graceful movements brought her closer. If she thought the girl was beautiful from afar, she was simply breathtaking up close—and the blonde was suddenly very close. With her blonde hair pulled back in a careless bun, her beautiful face was on full display. The long, straight nose and cheeks had the lightest dusting of freckles probably caused by the sun and her thin, pink lips were curled up in a coy smile.
"Hi" the woman said when she reached her side, effectively breaking the brunette out of her trance.
From her position the girl couldn't help but notice how tall the beautiful blonde seemed to be when she had always been so small before.
"You're finally awake," Brittany continued with a bright smile and a soft voice. "I was starting to worry, it's been two suns since I found you." She frowned a little at remembering the state she had found the other girl in. As the brunette kept her silence with a confused look on her face and her hands fidgeting on top her covers, the blonde addressed her again "Can you understand me?"
The brunette's big, brown eyes got wider at the question but then she merely nodded shyly before returning her gaze to the hands in her lap.
With a broadening smile on her face, the blonde girl said, "I am Brittany." She took a pause to chew on her bottom lip then added, "What's your name?"
The Mist understood what the beautiful girl with the beautiful name was asking, but she honestly didn't know how to answer. Everything was so new to her. She'd never even been inside a human house before, and now it seems she'd been asleep in one for two days. She'd never had a conversation with a human; surely she had never even been this close to one before, certainly not with a human body of her own. Is that even right? Is this new form she finds herself in human? She's not completely sure since she'd never had a body before. At least not that she can recall. She had always been a mist. A lonely, dark mist and nothing else.
So even in replaying Brittany's question in her mind, she had no answer. Did she have a name? No, why would anyone name a mist? It didn't make sense. Yet something in the back of her mind kept telling her otherwise. Maybe she did have one, once.
Brittany sighed heavily, taking in the girl's continued silence and troubled looked. God only knew what had happened to this poor girl. She might not remember anything, not even her name, and here Brittany was asking questions just to make the girl even more troubled. "I'm sorry," the blonde blurted out "I really am, you don't have to answer that. I'll just let you rest some more now," She said as she turned to leave the room. Just as she was reaching the door, she heard a raspy, dry voice whisper something. She turned back to see her guest visibly swallowing and clearing her throat, voice lost, probably from lack of use.
"Santana," she said, her voice warm and beautiful.
"Uh?" the blonde stepped back, dumbfounded to stare at the small girl in her bed "What?"
"Santana," the brunette repeated, with her voice still only just above a whisper but more confident. "I think that is my name," she said finally looking the blonde right in the eyes.
"Oh," Brittany exclaimed still surprised at hearing the girl's beautiful voice and unusual name "Santana," she tried the name on her tongue once. "Santana" she said it again, now with a grin on her face "That's actually a beautiful name, Santana, it fits you." She stumbled over the last words as heat rushed to her face.
"Thank you, Brittany" the brunette said with a coy smile, her hands still clasped tightly together, but her eyes still on the blonde.
Somehow, the blonde felt Santana meant much, much more by those words.
Author's Note:
Disclamer: This is a work of fiction, set in a fictional world. And Brittana does not belong to me, unfortunately.
Gaffer - (Gaffer is short for grandfather). This would be more of an affectionate greeting than a respectful one.
A shout out to the most amazing beta ever dance-tilyou'redead, who managed to make my ramblings into something actually readable. And thanks to everyone who supported and encouraged me to publish this story, you guys are the best.
I hope you guys enjoy the story. This is supposed to be 3 or 4 shot. Please let me know what you think and if I should continue :)
Ducks.