It has been 3 weeks since they rescued her from her self imposed imprisonment of stone. The first few nights she would wake up shivering, almost always screaming out against an unknown fear. Goosebumps would riddle her arms, the hairs standing on end, sensitive to even the slightest movement of air. She would wake to the same dream, night after night. A dream where she saw herself falling into an empty, never ending blackness.
It wasn't what she expected, being turned to stone. She remembered that she felt all physical sensations drain away from her and for a short time, was still aware of her surroundings. Time passed however, and little by little, even that little bit of sense, that awareness dimmed and drained away into nothingness. How long she remained in that oblivion she didn't know. The revival, however, was a different matter. In an instant, there was light and the world came back into focus. She was told that she was a statue for no more than five days. Five days that felt like a lifetime. She remembered what it felt like when they brought her back. It was as if she was pulled out of an icy lake. Her entire body wracked by pins and needles, her legs as if never in their life, carried her weight. She fell over of course, only to be caught by the one person that has always been there for her.
The man had a knack for gathering the oddest assortment of followers she thought. From crazy dwarves, to creepy egotistical elves, to humans either mad with power or noble to a fault. And now, as if to add to that collection, he has a half celestial, a hagspawn and a multicolored manifestation of a bear spirit of all things, following him willy nilly, not to mention a demon girl whom most would rather kill on sight then talk to. The power-mad human factor however, if Safiya is anything to judge by, still present in this group. Neeshka might not be a sage, but she's not totally ignorant. She has heard of the Red Wizards even when she was still with Leldon. Still, since the events with the King of Shadows, nothing really surprises her anymore. Well except that one time when Silvarian called out whatever it was that was inside of him, to subdue the bear spirit. That thing, whatever it was, reminded her too much of the same emptiness that haunts her dreams. It reminded her of death.
A light rustle beside her broke Neeshka's line of thought. Neeshka could not help but smile. Snuggling closer, wrapping her arms around the man whom now shares her bedroll, she kissed the back of his shoulders. She felt the reflexive tensing, his body automatically tuned against danger and ready for battle but just as quickly, he relaxed.
"Did I wake you?" Whispered Neeshka.
Silvarian groaned, disentangling himself from her arms, he turned to face her, "It is still a few hours before sun up." Closing his eyes, he continued, "Don't you think its wise to get some rest?"
Neeshka just grinned impishly and wiggled closer, pressing herself against him. His skin felt hot against hers. Running her fingers down his flank, she kissed him lightly on the lips. Her fingers still playfully searching, each motion, each stroke meant to tease him further. Her smile broadened as she felt him responding.
"I have been called many things, wise isn't one of them." She retorted. "Besides, sleep is the last thing on my mind."
Silvarian rolled his eyes, " Mielikki give me strength." he muttered.
"I am sure she will." Breathed Neeshka. Pushing Silvarian back on his back, she swung herself on top of him. Neeshka did not care that there was still enough light from the dying embers of the campfire to paint her a dim orange. Straddling the ranger, she moved with a deliberate, slow circling of her hips. As far as she was concerned, for a precious few moments, the world and everyone else outside her little bubble didn't exist. All thought and worries, cast away, if only for a while.
Kaelyn shifted uneasily, trying her best not to stare and failing miserably. She had the last watch, along with Okku who didn't seem to need any sleep most of the time. The past weeks had been trying for her, she was weary of the new addition to the team. Neeshka was a tiefling, one born with lower planar blood. Divinations however, showed that she had no evil intent. She heard Okku sniffed the air, it growled what sounded like a barking cough or perhaps it was laughter, she couldn't tell. However, Kaelyn could have sworn the spirit had a laughing smile if such a thing is possible for a bear, when it looked towards the two lovers.
"Come little battle dove, let us take a walk around the perimeter." Rumbled the spirit.
Kaelyn silently followed, her eyes unreadable. They both walked away from camp till they reached one of the markers set by Silvarian earlier. Without a word, they both turned in opposite directions and walked towards the other markers only barely visible from the first marker. Kaelyn knelt and felt for the thin wire that was set to trip a noise trap should anything wander into the perimeter. Neeshka's doing.
"It'll give us warning and more time to prepare in case something decides it wants to eat us." the tiefling said.
Kaelyn could not fault the logic. They were deep in the Ashenwoods investigating why the forest elementals have been attacking the local garrison. From what Nadaj, the understudy witch, has said of the problems they have been facing, the garrison has lost almost all of their men to blighted elemental attacks. Kaelyn sighed, she had hoped for an easier time in looking for the Woodman as the locals call the spiritual manifestation of this forest. They needed some answers, any lore in regards to the curse that now afflicted their leader. Her wings drooped slightly, then curled closer, hugging her, reflecting her mood. She clenched her fist, the memory of when she first touched the ranger in healing still fresh on her mind. She felt it then, the hunger within him. Dark, foul, malign. And yet the fact that he chose to fight the hunger instead of allowing it to feed, Kaelyn cannot help but feel admiration towards the man. Having inspected the marker, she stood up, and walked towards the last marker before heading back to camp, a glint in her eyes as she looked towards where Neeshka and Silvarian lay.
The camp is awake with activity now. Both Safiya and Gann are up and about handling cores. Gann stroking the fire, Safiya silent as she prepared the cooking pan with bacon fat. Both Neeshka and Silvarian were not in camp however. Kaelyn frowned.
"Have you seen where our ..." Kaelyn started.
"He mentioned something about getting breakfast and left with Neeshka about ten minutes ago." Safiya cut in, sounding rather crossed.
"Perhaps he and Neeshka just wanted to stretch and work out knotted muscles after a night's sleep in a cold bedroll on this rather cold ground." Gann drawled. "Somewhere more private I would think?"
Safiya scowled, "Why bother? It is not as if they both didn't already woke everyone up."
"Is that a hint of jealousy I hear, pretty Safiya?" teased Gann.
"Shut up Gann. What was it that Neeshka said to you?" "I'd sooner sleep with a week old fermented fish then with you." Safiya imitated Neeshka's voice. "Perhaps you are the one that's jealous."
"I guess I am missing a huge part of this discussion...no?" Silvarian's voice came from behind them.
Everyone jumped. Except for Okku, who just laughed.
"Don't do that!" Gann muttered.
"Why not? I do have to practice my more roguish skills." Replied Silvarian, then in a matter of fact tone ,"You'll never know when you need to stab someone in the back." "Anyways, I have some eggs mushrooms, garlic..."
"And I got a couple more eggs here begging to be made into a rather nice omelet" Chipped in Neeshka.
Safiya looked up, "I was wondering where you were, we were just talking about you earlier."
"Why, what's up?" Neeshka asked.
"Can't you at least not wake everyone up in camp with your lewd antics?" Fired Safiya.
"Oh is that's all? Sure. No problem. Silva and I can go right now and find out just how far we need to be for us do what we do and NOT disturb you. How's that?" Neeshka grinned, placed the eggs into an increasingly angry Safiya's hands and started to drag Silvarian away.
"Uaayyeaaarrrggggghhh!" screamed Safiya.
Looking up to the sky, Silvarian muttered, "Why me?!"
Kaelyn, seeing this, raised her hand to cover her mouth and stifled a giggle.
"Come on guys, lets just cook these eggs, have our breakfast and then we'll need to head further into this forests. Time is not really on my side you know." Silvarian pointed out.
"I am just saying, we should really find out how far the noise of our antics carry so we don't wake them up." Neeshka said in a tone that implied she didn't really care whom she wakes up.
"Never mind Neesh, work with me on this okay?" Silvarian said calmly.
Neeshka pouted, then grinned. "Now?"
Silvarian glared at her.
"Okies! Okies! I'll go wash up a bit, and oh, Safiya?" Neeshka said sweetly.
Safiya looked up, "Yes?"
"Don't burn my eggs." and with that Neeshka spun and walked off, leaving Safiya fuming.
No one noticed that Kaelyn stood up and followed Neeshka towards the small stream. "Neeshka? Would you mind if I asked you something?" Kaelyn's sounded a little hesitant.
"Sure. What's going on?" Neeshka replied without turning around, dipping a little towel into the water to wash it.
Kaelyn thought for a moment, then asked "What is it...I mean why do you take such pleasure in...tormenting Safiya?" Kaelyn seemed ill at ease with her question.
Neeshka was pretty sure that wasn't the question she had meant to ask but decided to play along. "Well, you know, remember when you guys saved me from being a permanent floor ornament and I needed tending to?"
Kaelyn nodded.
"Safiya got all upset that Silva was, and is still now paying more attention to me then her. I think I know by now when someone else wants to move in on my mark. You know what I mean?"
Kaelyn looked a little lost but said "I think so."
"Its like this." Neeshka explained, "Silvarian and I, we are a team, you know. We have known each other for a long time now. I know that something happened between Safiya and Silva before you guys came and got me, but I do not take things well when I feel like someone is stepping into my space."
"I see. You think Safiya is trying to replace you and take Silvarian for herself?"
"Ya!" Neeshka chirped. Still wiping herself down, she muttered, "What I'd give for a pool to swim in."
"You must feel...sticky, after last night." Kaelyn said.
Neeshka did a double take and turned to look at the cleric, seeing her innocent expression, Neeshka realized that Kaelyn was referring to perspiration and smiled. "Yes, that's part of the reason." She paused, "Kaelyn, I can smell a come on a mile away, what is it that you really wanted to ask?"
Kaelyn looked uncomfortable, "Its about last night."
"Oh, that. I thought you were already awake, we weren't that loud were we?" Neeshka asked.
"Oh, no its not about the noise. I was just wondering, Silvarian didn't say that he was married, or that he wanted children." Kaelyn started to say.
"Uhhh, we aren't married and no, we aren't thinking of making babies just yet." Neeshka quickly injected.
"You are not?" Kaelyn sounded confused.
"No, what made you think we are?" Neeshka asked.
Kaelyn frowned, "Well, isn't what you were doing last night, what one does when you want children?"
Neeshka could not believe what she was hearing. "You have to be kidding me. Haven't you done it before?"
"No. I don't have children of my own."
Neeshka stared at her dumbfounded.
"I had never had any need of romantic love, or felt the need for such. Last night was the first that I have seen of such...passion." Kaelyn was oblivious to Neeshka's incredulous look.
"Don't tell me you have never met men or haven't had men ask you out and things like that?"
"Kaelyn shook her head. "No, I know of men of course, but we of the Menagerie, my brothers and sisters had no reason to seek out the company of others to find emotional support, and I had no urge to bear children just yet."
Neeshka laughed, "No no silly, I mean, haven't you ever been with a man, doing what Silvarian and I did last night? You do know we do that all the time because we just enjoy it, right?" From the look on Kaelyn's face, it was obvious that the half celestial didn't understand. Neeshka continued, "We do it for pleasure. You can avoid getting kids as long as you remember to have pregnancy preventive potions on hand and take them before you do anything." Neeshka thought for a bit then continued, "Remember that time when you first gave Silvarian your blessing and Gann asked if you had to take your clothes off for such a blessing?"
Kaelyn nodded.
"He was flirting with you then. That's like testing the waters. He wanted to see if you would respond in kind."
Kaelyn starting to understand said "So if I flirted with him..."
Neeshka continued "It means that you might be interested in what he has to offer. Sometimes we flirt for fun too. It doesn't need to lead to anything but if it does, ..."
"Last night?" Kaelyn asked.
"Last night." Grinned Neeshka.
Kaelyn's brow furrowed as she tried to grasp the concept. "So you were just doing it for fun? I don't understand how something like that can be fun." She said the word fun as if it was a joke.
Neeshka flabbergasted, took the cleric by the hand and lead her off towards a more secluded area and sat her down. "I don't know what they have been teaching you up there on the higher planes, but you haven't got all your coins in the purse. I think its time you learned a few things. Now, try to relax and I'll explain a few things. First we'll start with why the men want your clothes off. So lets start with that." With quick deft movements, Neeshka unfastened Kaelyn's armor and took it off the stunned and surprised cleric, glancing at her, she grinned "And I can see why." Licking her lips, the tiefling's eyes twinkled, "Now lets start with the basics." Raising her right hand, holding up her first two fingers, "Let me introduce you to Mr Pointdexter and Mr Reach..."