Tags: Yuri, Zyra, Elise.

Beta Reader: Gmp1000

The angry waters of the glistering stream are roaring and frothing, a mixture of swirling droplets and misty moisture spraying around the sharp grey rocks that are slyly peeking out from the blurry wet coils like the heads of ancient submerged hunters positioning for a sudden and deadly ambush. The sight before Zyra's eyes could either be described as a beautiful mesmerizing scene taken straight out of those fairylands and hidden oasis that the foolish mortals apparently loved depicting in their various artworks or a malicious invitation that could lead to a painful death and an ever-shifting watery grave. The plantmage was unfortunately inclined to think of the liquid swirling snakes choking the rocks and drowning the soil as the latter.

"Do we really have to do this?"

Zyra finally questions as she raises her amber eyes to stare at the silent woman that's currently standing in the middle of the stream, but the Spider Queen's only response is a mirthful and patient smile.

The Rise of the Thorn's growls as she allows her perplexed doubtful gaze to slowly descend back on the frothing moving swirls before she hesitantly places one foot inside the nest of the coiling transparent snakes.

The water is cold. The plantmage shifts uncomfortably as she dares to take a quick peek at the silent Elise that's currently examining her with serious and yet amused crimson eyes. Zyra takes another uncertain step towards her beloved Spider Queen, and then another one, and another, the watery swirls gradually covering her lower feet and then obscuring her shapely thighs.

"This is stupid."

Zyra mutters as she takes another hesitant step and almost ends up submerged under the frothing icy waters when her foot suddenly slides against a particularly slippery flat rock that's lying at the bottom of the roaring river. The startled plantmage reflexively thrashes her arms about in an attempt to steady herself as her feet find new purchase in the depths of the roaring stream. Exotic amber orbs instantly dart to Elise and the flustered plantmage mentally curses the obnoxious Spider Queen when she inevitably spots her lover's clearly amused expression.

The peeved and blushing plantmage sighs. An unmistakably human habit that the Rise of the Thorns had quickly picked up after spending so much time in the company of the pale seductive cultist. The annoyed mage reluctantly starts moving once more.

Zyra doesn't understand the point of this whole endeavor. Sure she doesn't really dislike water per se, but the beautiful plantmage already misses the reassuring feeling of soft soil under her naked soles and the gentle humming of her growing children that are sprouting under the fertile brown earth, and the steady and not slippery ground that doesn't actively try to humiliate her. Zyra's beloved children, beautiful and adaptive as they are, still need the nutrients found in the dark brown soil and somewhere firm to plunge their expanding roots for them to be able to bloom and come to their mistress' aid.

Walking inside the violent stream is a cruel and unneeded test for both Zyra and Elise. The violent currents serve to limit the plantmage's offensive power much like the glistering swirling waters can wash away the adhesive properties of Elise's webbing.

Zyra stumbles once more almost half a pace away from the Spider Queen, but only this time pale caring arms suddenly wrap around her body steadying her. Exotic amber orbs suddenly meet loving crimson ones and the plantmage's tension and annoyance instantly melt away and disappear. Zyra grudgingly reciprocates Elise's hug and then buries her face in her lover's chest, focusing on the Spider Queen's soothing heartbeat. The sounds of the vast green forest and the angry river's yells slowly vanishing under the calming repetitive thumps that erase Zyra's previous feelings of discomfort before the lulled plantmage even notices it.

It looks like the Spider Queen doesn't need her deadly webs to draw the plantmage closer after all, much like how the Rise of the Thorns doesn't need dry soil beneath her feet to steady herself when Elise can just hold her close.

"Well done."

Murmurs the infamous Spider Queen as an assortment of scarlet flowers lazily start blooming around the stream's secluded riverbanks and tiny spiderlings land gracefully on their crimson petals.

"I hate you."

Utters the beautiful flower that is trapped in the arms of the cruel spidermage and yet not even a single plant blossoming across the riverbanks has razor-sharp thorns or shows a shred of hostility.

The pale woman smiles as she uses one flawless milky hand to lift the sentient plantwoman's chin, she then proceeds to press her lips against Zyra's.

"No you don't."

Whispers the humanoid spider to the pouting and blushing blossom that's contently resting in her arms and Zyra's answer is once again smothered against the breath of the cruel cultist.

Note: This story was based around the fact that plants slowly start suffocating if their roots are fully submerged in water because they can't absorb useful gasses. So I started wondering if Zyra as a former plant would dislike bathing in rivers even if she didn't possess roots anymore. Would she feel weird with no dry soil underneath her? A river could also limit Elise, summoned spiderlings would be carried away by the water, her webbings would lose their properties and her sharp spider limbs would have trouble stabilizing her against the currents if she transforms. Yep, you've guessed correctly Nami is the true Alpha predator of the Kumungu jungle.