[Yunari] Spirit Walk (Part 2 of 3)
She strides on, lightened, unburdened. Fire has given her passage through this domain, and if his power is weaker here, dulled by the whispering water all around, he's still strong enough to keep her from harm for as long as she can keep his interest.
It's grey here, and tree shapes shift around her, fighting to keep in the foreground. She ignores them, pressing on, moving toward her goal. She can feel it, ahead of her, not too far now--but as ever, it moves as she approaches, growing distant again. It doesn't want to be found.
Fire flares beside her, appearing out of the dim dull forest like a clash of cymbals. She watches him out of the corner of her eye, saying nothing. He seems annoyed, so far as a spirit can be, black eyes narrowed, flames hissing and crackling in irritation.
"Come." With a growling rumble, he turns and stalks off through the almost-trees, beckoning for her to follow.
Yunari's spirit feet can barely keep up with him, but she finds that if she ignores the grey, translucent roots and vines reaching out to grab at her, if she closes her ears to the distant chirps and growls of this strange forest's creatures, she can move more freely. She glides after him, eyes focused on that one bright spot, looking nowhere else.
. . . . .
"Here."
It's hours later, or perhaps days. Maybe even minutes. They stand at the edge of the forest, at the edge of a ravine, looking down. Bright water burbles and flows, streaming up toward them in a waterfall (water rise?), misting over them, making Fire hiss unhappily and step back a bit. He gives her a curt bow, then vanishes, his meaning clear: she's on her own now.
Water steps up the cliff, tying her robe around herself. White-green hair falls about her shoulders, curling around her calm blank face, laughing to itself, and when she turns to stare with unseeing eyes at the intruder, it is her hair that speaks.
"Child? Not one of mine."
Yunari nods, dropping into a deep bow. Fire she can be familiar with, but water rules here, and she would be foolish to risk offending it.
Water's hair ripples with laughter at the sight, stepping forward to peer down at her. A cool hand lifts her chin, and soft green strands reach out to touch her face, running over Yunari's skin with a tickling sensation like tiny drops of rain. "You seek to learn, yes? To serve me?"
"I do."
An amused wave runs through Water's hair, splashing and crashing about her shoulders. The spirit straightens, stepping back. "And what do you offer me?"
. . . . .
By the river, the fire had died down. Only a few glowing embers remained, winking in the gathering green shadows, sparking a bit as if dancing to the insects' evening chorus. It would be night soon.
Next to the fire, a troll's body continued breathing, heart beating, stomach digesting her midday meal. The breaths came slowly, though, long pauses stretching between each one. This was a deep sleep, indeed.
. . . . .
"A favor."
"Oh?" Water's hair hisses around her face, tendrils darting forward toward the troll, then pulling back. "Tell me."
Yunari swallows, then continues. "A task, of your choosing, to be completed when you ask it." She watches the spirit, trying to judge the creature's reaction. She's only guessing what Water may want, but her guesses are usually right.
Water reaches out a hand, passing it through the troll's face, hair gurgling in amusement as Yunari shivers at the touch but holds her ground. "And what can you do for me, small one, that I cannot do for myself?" The mask-like face doesn't shift, but there is a smile in her voice. "Still, you have a bit of courage, and perhaps this will prove entertaining." She leans in close, hair wrapping around Yunari's ears with a whisper like rain on leaves: "We have a deal."
Yunari watches as Water leans back, stretching taller and taller, spreading her arms wide. A wave flows up from her feet to her neck and through her flowing hair, and the figure dissolves into a spray of mist, drops scattering into the river far below.
Two down, two to go.
A bow of color hangs in the mist, pointing the way for her to go.