Kindred Spirit Lodge Presents
Settling In
By Jan, GypsyLaFae
October 8th, 2002
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Jan was settling into the routines of this strange
and wonderful place. She easily finished her duties in the stables and was
strolling around to familiarize herself with her surroundings. Still a little
apprehensive of meeting up with Lord Nessa again, but managing to tap down
that fear she would continue to learn the ways of her new friends with a brave
face.
Small, barely pointed, faery ears picking up even far away or quiet sounds around her. The Gentle Warrior and Lady Aria, were busy, still, and she heard Their sounds of ecstasy even as she noticed the exotic, half dragon chatting with the handsome Courtly Butch. Mistress Ikarias handing over a slab of raw meat and teasing Lord Klancy about how she got her eye injury...jan nearly approached. Till a comment from the fierce scaled one, about her "proper" welcome being out of the way, and remembering she may very well have insulted the large, frightening looking Mistress, caused her to bolt in a panic.
She thought she might ask Killian for an excuse to make herself scarce, or that sassy, sexy sailor Shasa might assist with a massage... But alas, neither was available.
So she headed back to the sanctuary of the stables. Although the memory of her very recent, harsh taking was fresh in her mind, the horses welcoming nickering calmed her easily. She looked in the corner where her small friend was just 'rousing.
Phantom had returned before daylight to find her Faery/girl companion sleeping soundly in the arms of a handsome, dark, and dangerous looking Warrior. Which was very unusual for the little gypsy, not knowing if it was a concern, she decided not to disturb her elfish friend, or the large one that seemed to be protecting her.
She would wait for the Warrior to leave before she spoke with her friend. She shifted back into the silly little dog jan loved so, and settled into some hay nearby to sleep. She'd slept through the morning and was just blinking awake when jan returned to the barn to brush and curry the horses.
Phantom informed her that she'd killed the bounty hunter she'd clocked with that limb...It didn't make her feel better that her griffin buddy had "disposed" of the body for her , "Phantom, you ate it? GROSS!"
And that the others that fled never even seemed concerned for their fallen comrade. There wasn't a sign that they'd ever returned to that site. So she wasn’t concerned about being hunted down, tried for murder, and she didn't have to worry about those other goons anymore. She didn’t want to bring any trouble to the special people who just took her in.
Even after knowing jan for only one phase of the moon, Phantom knew her friend well. They shared a bond that was almost psychic as well as empathic...she didn't mention the Warrior, she'd wait for jan to bring it up.
Now simply enjoying the company of her again tiny sidekick, and brushing the magnificent horseflesh she'd been assigned to care for. She began to sort out the conflicting thoughts and emotions of her "proper welcome".
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"Hey Phannie, you didn't SEE Lord Nessa clearly when you looked at the all the lodge members did you?"
Phantom shaking her head and snorting, "You mean I didn't tell you SHE was One who knew your Faery side and could read your own dark desires as well?"
Feigning ignorance jan was a little miffed at her best friend. "I don't know what you're talking about, but yes, why didn't you warn me? You know i hate surprises like that!"
Phantom was amused at her lonesome companion's accusation that she'd kept vital information a secret and her obvious aggravation over the entire matter. "She, the Druid told you...or showed you herself, so what's the problem?"
Sighing loudly, and crouching to scoop up the micro mutt. She cuddled her friend to her and wept silent tears. "I don't know Phannie." Suddenly feeling restless, she asked Phantom if they should just thank the friendly members of this unusual Lodge for one amazing, painfully arousing, frightening, intoxicating, exhilarating night of reprieve from the cold unfeeling world and move on.
Blinking up at jan's sorrowful face, Phantom could not believe what she was hearing. "You fit in here more than elsewhere!" Phantom argued, "You've searched, for years you said, to find others that would accept you, all aspects of you, without unfair judgment and preconceived notions about what you should be or how you should behave! “Now, because One has touched you in a way you aren't comfortable with, through the veil you hide yourself behind, you want to run away?!"
Phantom's agitation caused her to shape shift, now she was towering over her silent friend scolding, "I will follow you my crazy, impulsive, impish friend if you cannot find the strength to stay, but I tell you now, I do not agree nor will I ever, that you should live without human companions!”
The griffin growled, “You cannot hide forever from your human half or your dark needs! You should stop denying your heart's very existence too!"
Seeing her emotionally battered companion shedding even more tears and beginning to sob. Phantom's voice became softer...sounding like a soft hiss instead of the frightening bellow the griffin normally spoke in.
"They ARE different than the other's you've dealt with. I told you as we approached, I told you as we watched from the mist you hid us in...it IS safe here, you are safe here. If you leave it up to me to decide...then we are staying!"
The horses reacted to the shapeshifter's form changing. For a moment they whinnied loudly and stomped in their discomfort at the beast's presence, but settled quickly when jan's thoughts soothed them and they heard her whisper, "It will not harm, it is my friend."
Phantom had to leave again till she was calm enough to shift into the tiny deformed dog that humans and their animal companions were comfortable with. She reached out her huge paw and touched the tearful girl standing before her gently on the head. "Stay, until you at least heal your shredded aura, and broken heart Little Fae, it seems that is why you were drawn here to begin with." Then she bounded out the stable doors and took flight.
Leaving jan to cope with the emotional turmoil within, and the familiar lustful longings she'd fought so long against feeling. She didn't hate the brutishly handsome, gray eyed Lord, she didn't even really fear Her...but she wasn't sure how to address or be near that One now. She was more afraid when she'd awakened in gentle arms than when Her primal passions drove Her to brutally rape her virgin bottom.
Jan sighed, wiped her face, and continued to brush the horses. She decided not to think about her fear of tender intimacy, or the Dark Druid Lord that had re-awakened desires she'd tried so hard deny existed at all. She would go about the daily business of maintaining the stables, and let whatever was going to happen, happen.
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The End - by Jan, GypsyLaFae