<strong>Eshalu - the morning after</strong><br/><br/>In darkness and by starlight Eshalu rested, naked, the droplets of moisture still drying from her tan, battle-scarred skin. Aeryn's sudden departure had not thrown her. She could feel her friend's presence tied close to the underlying web of life of the island. A sensation that a sister was near - even if she could neither see nor feel her - that was all. But it was enough. The paths of the Great Mother were many and rangers had to accustom themselves to solitude and treasure companionship when they found it.<br/><br/>The night was a slow ebb - the band of milky light laying like gossamer over a field of stars. In the cave, the embers of the fire crackled, throwing rich, dim light off the starmetal of Eshalu's blades. She rested, curled in the fetal position that came so naturally to her. It preserved warmth and heat and was familiar - comforting. She felt Reliyian close. A rustling on the dusty cave floor strewn with dry leaves and cool, dry earth. Soft skin and the caress of voluptuous, generous curves, and then the sorceress's cool breath against her ear.<br/><br/>Eshalu cocked her head to one side and met Reliyian's gaze. "<em>My pleasure, kin-sister, I too would hold you close.</em>" She spoke quietly, trying to ignore the thickening coil of tension in the back of her throat. Her need had been suspended - interrupted by the apparition. And now - Aeryn's disappearance. That had deepened her frustration. After the surging pride of her successful hunt, she had wanted Aeryn so badly - to strip her, taste her,<em>fuck</em>her, like the humans would say. But now that, too, was pleasure deferred.<br/><br/>She shook the thought. "<em>Here, kin-sister, I would share my warmth,</em>" she said and took Reliyian into her arms. Her strong, taut muscles melted into the luxuriant softness of Reliyian's frame, her lean body complemented by the sensuousness of her companion's curves. She sighed contentedly, nestling her head in Reliyian's ample, breasts, losing herself in the warmth, the scent, the comforting beating of the sorceress's heart.<br/><br/>Eshalu knew that Reliyian understood how to comfort her. How to make her forget her injuries and share a moment of tenderness in a way only another elf could. The sensation of Reliyian's long fingers in her hair, smoothing errant strands, trailing down the hard, athletic muscles of her back and thighs was hypnotic. It felt like undulating in a primal sea, close to the Great Mother. Her mind floated high, her waking dreams vivid, like they always were, but calmed and soothed by the rise and fall of Reliyian's breath.<br/><br/>Still, the fires of need burned deep in Eshalu. It was her nature - for it came from the same place of single-minded energy that made her the ranger that she was. A fragment of the Moon Huntress, with all Her successful hunts and lusty couplings with nymphs and dryads, lived inside her. Reliyian's touch inevitably awakened it - quickening the blood in the veins she skimmed over. Eshalu breathed deep and swallowed. She knew humans felt an ineffable emotion of<em>wrongness</em>in situations like these. Aeryn had described it as "embarrassment", though the word had meant nothing to Eshalu. She had no intention of burdening Reliyian with her desires, but the inescapable truth was that she was alive with desire. Her fat nipples peaked, hard and insistent, on Reliyian's skin, her breath quickened, warm and moist when she nuzzled the hollow of sorceress's throat.<br/><br/>Wet heat between her thighs -<em>does she know?</em>Almost certainly. They lay close. Skin on skin. Heartbeats flowing together, mingling. The elegant, floral scent of Reliyian's skin mingled with the earthiness of the cave floor and the wild musk of Eshalu's arousal.<br/><br/>"<em>Kin-sister,</em>" Eshalu murmured, a little hesitantly, "<em>I hope this is not...unbecoming among your People. If the river-spirit had not interrupted my pleasure, I would have spent my desire before lying with you. But when I returned to the cave, Aeryn had gone and I cannot tell you how much I needed to couple with her. Forgive me...this place is strange, but I am no human - I cannot hide my need. Now that I feel the day dawning - may I take my pleasure with my own hands?</em>" Eshalu knew she would never have had to ask the same question of a wood elf, but she was eager to respect Reliyian's ordered sense of decorum, just like her companion was striving to understand her.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">TUP - is there any other FATE status update for the new morning?<br/>Roll Result: Eshalu rolled: 4d3, adding -6to the total<br/>Comment: Eshalu - Empathy roll against Reliyians Drained status<br/>Result: 1, 3, 2, 2, <br/>Total: <strong>+2</strong><br/></div></div>