Brush Fire

[Emiste Arquette]

Emiste closed her eyes. The girl was an enchantment. She spoke in the ancient tongue elegantly, softly. Making each word sound like part of a symphony, or a lullabye. Sing me to sleep...Emiste sighed.

"This could certainly be the beginning of something beautiful" she murmured as Dylan touched her lips delicately.

Emiste reached out impulsively and grasped a strand of Dylan's hair, twirling it, running her fingers down and through it. Smoothing the hari back in place around that perfect face. Who could have created such a being? For surely there was none like her. But then, each Shephet was different in their own way. Emiste had a feeling she and Dylan came from the same mold - or at least similar ones.

But the question was, what would Dylan be to her? Or what would she be to Dylan.

As a sigh escaped Dylan's lips, Emiste did the same - intermingling their breaths to form moisture in the air between them.

[Dylan]

(So sorry I didn't even see that you replied. Grrr)


Dylan's head tilted toward Emiste's forearm as her fingers danced in her hair briefly. Eyes drifting carefully shut as a smile danced across those lips once more.

Opening them when her hand was removed, her hands had formed below her sides, rolling her head as if she were cracking her neck. No sound.

"Something beautiful?"

Dylan asked with a quizzical expression on her face. What could she have meant by that? Dylan was a free woman. She did what she wanted, how she wanted and when she wanted. As odd and creepy as she was, she was free.

Dylan leaned forward, her form moving close to Emiste's. Pushing forward where their bodies had pressed firmly together.

"What plans do you have?.........
In your mind......."

A different mellow tone bellowing out with the word mind, trying to see inside her head. Forcing it as her face showed no sign of force. But would Emiste feel it?

[Emiste Arquette]

Emiste felt Dylan gently press against her. She closed her eyes. Thinking, pushing her thoughts forward into Dylan's mind. It worked with mortals, but Dylan was only half mortal - she was also half Shephet, it may not work with her.

" 'Cem a 'ei. 'Cem a 'ei. 'et 'ei g'ara etret." (come to me, come to me, and I will give you eternity.(

The girl had only to ask for it. She would have given her anything in this moment. This moment that seemed like the sweetest of intimacy. What was passng between them was vague and unfamiliar to Emiste. Something foreign, but not altogether unwelcome. Something new and exciting and intriguing and possibly beautiful.

Something beautiful she had said. The moonlight was beautiful on her face. That was something beautiful indeed.

[Dylan]

" 'Cem a 'ei. 'Cem a 'ei. 'et 'ei g'ara etret."

Dylan had swwoned, her head tilting to the side, her left, as the words filled her mind. Didn't that sound like a wonderful thing. Eternity. Eternity had been forever, and forever had meant more tomorrows.

Sucking in her lower lip, a dark aura filling the area as the sky turned black above. Dylan moaned as she pressed her cheek against Emiste's. Leaves flailing and kicking up around them as if in a perfect circle. She was so close to her. So dangerously close.

The wind was calm around them, but where the leaves floated in a circular motion, that's where it had been. The wind. Flowing as darkness bloomed over them.

"Eternity."

Dylan whispered softly in her ear as everything went silent. Her lips full of light and peach tones had now turned black. As if someone had put lipstick on her without bein seen. Her lips sliding to the corner of her mouth as she let in a breath. Her breath.

Dylan's eyes rose to look at hers, those lips centimeters away from her own, pausing before touching them ever so lightly. A burning sensation flowing through her that would have created a cinnamon kiss. Thunder in the sky.

[Emiste Arquette]

The air changed - it turned black. The air seemed to crackle with electricity - supercharged. Emiste noted the change in both the weather and in DYlan at the same instant and knew she was creating the change. So she had some powers after all. What a treasure. A true jewel sparkling madly in the blindness of night. What did this little one have to offer the world? Her world? Emiste wanted desperately to find out.

Dylan's skin pressed against her own. Emiste turned her face to meet her gaze, her eyes darkened - intense. She could taste the salt of Dylan's skin, before Dylan's lips even met hers. And then the taste intensified as they met. And it was a wonderful thing. The skies might have split in two, the earth fall away - and she would not have cared. In that moment, there was no world outside of theirs.

Welcome to my world.

For Dylan was now irrevocably apart of her world. How could she walk away after knowing such a being? She couldn't. Of that she was sure. She pressed back into Dylan, forcing her body against the tree.

"The darkness becomes light and the wicked shall rejoice." she thought, pushing the thoughts again into Dylan's mind. She had no way of knowing whether she was getting through or not, but she was not meeting much resistance, so she assumed Dylan could hear the thoughts she was planting.

This was wicked. This was eternally wicked, and Emiste was rejoicing.

[Dylan]

"The darkness becomes light and the wicked shall rejoice."

The words protruding through her mind as she tried to keep her head clear. Focused. Her form pushing her against the tree as the heat shifted in her direction. Her lips still pressed to hers, opening slightly to let her tongue touch hers. Letting out a bit of air as dark whispers filled the air around them. Soft moans and gracious melodies dancing about. As if the earth was spinning around them.

Dylan let her hands rise up slightly, pressing palms against her hips before sliding them up her arms with the slightest touch. Her lips engulfing Emiste's bottom lip. Sucking on it before pulling away.

Dylans eyes shimmering as things became clearer. Though there were no thoughts of Emiste's past or future that had stormed through her mind, but perhaps it meant peace for now. If she had felt any more pleasure, she might have set the girl on fire.

Dylan's eyelids had lowered, half closed lids looking at those lips before returning to her eyes once more. Whispering softly and letting the moment rest as she reveille in her scent.

"Tem Bueniit."

[Emiste Arquette]

Emiste pulled away as Dylan did. Her fingers dancing gently over Dylan's arms.

"You are precious to me." she whispered.

'ai et' 'ist 'ey - tem bueniit. (And as are you - so beautiful...)


Emiste grinned then. "I can be whoever you want me to be." she laid her head on Dylan's shoulder and traced the outline of her ear as she whispered into it. She effortlessly shifted her human form, becoming not the pixie-like petite dark haired beauty that had been her earlier form, but rather a supermodel blonde with stunning green eyes, then just as easily shifting to become an althetic looking auburn haired female with hazel eyes, again shifting quickly to assume to form of a male human - black curls and blue eyes shining in the moonlight. Her form melted once again back into her pixie-like female that she favored, that resembled most the human female she had once been such a long time ago.

"What do you want?" she crooned against her skin, "I can give you whatever you desire."

And she could - she was powerful enough, influential enough among the Shephet circles. She could have her way. And pity those who tried to stand in the way of what she wanted.

[Dylan]

Dylan's skin tingled as Emiste let her fingers dance over her arms. Whispering as Dylan cought sight of her eyes. Tilting her head to her words. No one had spoken like that to Dylan. Not one person.

"You are precious to me. 'ai et' 'ist 'ey - tem bueniit."

But how? They had only met, and still Dylan felt so drawn to this one. Emiste had been oddly different and it was very much welcome. Her grin was just as stunning then the rest of her. Curious as to what would come out of her mouth.

"I can be whoever you want me to be."

Dylan's brows raised slightly to her statement. Who could Dylan desire? What had she desired? Never in her life had she had a decision like that one. Never had she been offered anything. Then Emiste laid her head on Dylan's shoulder, more chills as her finger traced Dylan's ear. Whispering into it as her lids began to drift low again. The weight of Emiste against her had changed. Her eyes opened low to see the difference, a form before her ever changing it's shape. Something Dylan had heard of, but not seen so close up before. Remarkable.

Dylan had moved back after taking in a breath, a man's form before her and her hand, as if in a trance, had moved up to the thickness of his hair and slid her slender little fingers through his hair. Dylan's eyes lowering to meet his glass like eyes. Beautiful blue and full of a widened range of humane acts. Her lips parted, beginning to speak, and then just as she was about to, Emiste had taken back her form. Dylan's hand still entwined in hair, only it was longer, hers. It was Emiste's.

"What do you want?"

Feeling her against her skin, seeking more answers to her questions.

"I can give you whatever you desire."

Dylan's fingers had slid lightly through her hair, hand coming down to her own side to press palm faced against the tree. Such a thought. To know something. Dylan hadn't known. She never had the option, never thought about it. Instead, she shifted her head to the side, unable to look at Emiste. Her soft whispers carelessly floating about Emiste's ear.

"I do not know."

So soft, and then her head turned, eyes shimmering as she viewed her fully. Sorrow filling her tone as she was clueless. Not a single thought came to her mind.

"Oh so much."

Was all that came to her mind, and it was partly correct. Everything else would come to mind slowly.

[Emiste Arquette]

There was wonderment in Dylan's eyes. It intrigued Emiste. Had she never seen a full Shephet before? Shifting was easy, like slipping through water, Emiste forgot sometimes that others - hybrids - may not be able to do this with as much finesse. She grinned in amusement as Dylan slid her fingers through her hair.

Her eyes betrayed her. She seemed slightly bewildered. As if she did not know how to answer, Emiste noted. She marveled over that too? How could one not know what one wanted? But then, it was a trait of the Shephet - to want. To always want. And right now, Emiste wanted her.

Dylan's words were full of sorrow. Her thoughts unknown to Emiste who suddenly wished she possessed that power. To see into another's thoughts. She lifted her head, tilting it to the side, studying Dylan's features. To walk away was impossible. But to continue on? Where would they go? Emiste wanted her like no other. A little prizeling. Her Shephetling. It didn't matter she was half mortal. Shepeht blood was strong - if Dylan didn't know their ways, Emiste could teach her. Could show her so much. Of desire and of want. Of how mortals existed only to serve them - to be their playthings. To amuse and please them and be disposed of when deemed useless. Dylan could learn so much. But would she want to? Emiste wanted her to want to.

She could begin by showing Dylan her world. "Come with me." she said again. Urging her. Her hand slipped down Dylan's arm to entwine their fingers together. A gentle pull. A soft smile. A world full of promise.

[Dylan]

Dylan could feel power loom off of Emiste's body. As if her aura had been shifting around her and Dylan could see it. Her own wanting to shift the balance and let hers frolick along with hers. Dylan had studied Emiste's features as her eyes looked her over. Dylan felt as though Emiste was drilling a pleasureful hole through her stomach. Pulling her after the grappling hook clawed her back. Drawing her closer and closer.

There it was.....her desires.....Dylan could feel them floating to the surface as she closed her eyes away from Emiste's. Distracting. Alluring. What she wanted. What she yearned for in others, herself, and yes; even Dylan.

Dylan let out a breath or air, softly expelling air from those lungs, chest rising and falling. She couldn't help but feel the pull of Emiste earlier. Calling to her, wanting her to feel her desire.

"Come with me."

Emiste said, urging Dylan. Her soft hand slipping down Dylan's arm, fingers embracing before Emiste gently pulled Dylan toward her. Dylan had followed her simply because she was alone already. She had no one for years and years, and as horrible as she may have appeared, or how odd she was, Emiste had taken to her. Through all of her seemingly ugliness.

She nodded her head simply. Dylan. Letting Emiste take her away with her. Not knowing where they were going. Dylan was drawn to her, she had felt something from Emiste that she hadn't felt before. Wanted.

[Emiste Arquette]

Emiste felt Dylan respond to her, giving in almost - conceeding. She smiled genuinely at her and continuing to hold Dylan by the hand, turned to walk away from the spot where they had shared so much in such a short amount of time. She looked up at the sky....the night was well underway, but not yet approaching dawn. Again, pure energy washed over her as she reveled in the glow of the moon.

There was a gathering. Like all nights the Shephet elite gathered in secret places - Emiste should have been there by now, but she had been distracted...no - enamored and enchanted - by Dylan. Somewhere in Emiste's mind she knew she had just experienced a turning point in her life.

She glanced sidways at Dylan. "i am taking you to a secret place. You must never mention it to anyone, no mortal or half-mortal has ever seen anything like what I am about to show you."

she paused, "'Ai 'ei vi 'ey tem buenii 'et est" (and I can show you such beauty as this) she whispered. The meaning of her words cryptic and poetic - flowing like water from a stream out of her mouth and fading into a whisper carried away by the gentle breeze. Dylan would see, and maybe she would be as enchanted as Emiste had been - as enchanted as Emiste was, right now in Dylan's presence.

[Dylan]

Dylan followed Emiste with ease, her hand soft in hers, bare feet trailing delicately along the path as they moved about in unison. dress trailing dragging dirt behind herself. A non-concern of hers. Material things hadn't been much of a strong suit. She had very little, and to have nothing would be like feeling at home.

Dylan had no idea where they were going. She hadn't known much about this part of South Meredia, a nice little travel to the Shephet Forest and this was what happened. Finding Emiste. Beautiful sweet, and enchanting Emiste.

"i am taking you to a secret place. You must never mention it to anyone, no mortal or half-mortal has ever seen anything like what I am about to show you."

Emiste paused and Dylan looked and listened on. Now to the side of her, hand still in hand. Watching her lips as they moved as though she were deaf. Waiting for the next syllable to escape those lips.

"'Ai 'ei vi 'ey tem buenii 'et est"
(and I can show you such beauty as this)

Emiste whispered the words, a curious smile had been dancing on her face the entire walk. Not too far, but far enough.

"I won't tell."

She said simply in response. She could keep a secret to her grave. She had for years now. How much longer would it be until her death? Father time only knew the answer to that. Fate would take it's course.

Dylan had been pleased to take to Emiste. She was electrifying, chaotic, that she had to be nothing less than. Had they been so dangerously alike because of their ways? Or was it something else? Something more that remained a curiosity that would reveal it's self overtime. Those were the thoughts flowing through her mind as she moved about the forest.

[Emiste Arquette]

Emiste led them through the forest, her feet making no noise - she was an expect at stealth and moved through the low lying branches and denseness of the forest with ease, keeping Dylan close to her.

The Shephet meeting grounds were never in exactly the same location - and the location was never easy to find unless you knew where to look. Emiste knew where she was going - but she also knew she was running late.

She pulled up suddenly, in a spot where the moonlight broke through the dense canopy.

"They are here." she whispered to Dylan. To the untrained eye, to one who had not experienced a Gathering, it simply would seem as if it were only the two of them, Dylan and Emiste, standing hand in hand in the forest. But there were so many more there. They had all quieted as the two had drawn near. But now an owl in a nearby tree sounded.

Emiste leaned in to Dylan, "Do not leave my side. Do not speak unless I nod an okay. They want to know who you are. Why you have come with me. See the owl? That is Aadonii. There are many powerful Shephet here. He among them is leader."

Emiste kept her hold on Dylan's hand. And stared back at Aadonii in the form of an great snowy owl.

She is with me Emiste pushed the thought into Aadonii's mind.

[Dylan]

"They are here."

Emiste whispered to Dylan as they snuck under the darkness. Her hand still in Emiste's, eyes looking about to take in her surroundings. For some odd reason, Dylan had conformed herself to less then what she was. Emiste had a grip on her that no one else had, making her want to follow her through as much as she could stand. How odd indeed.

"Where is here?"

She asked softly to match Emiste's whisper, taking on side step lightly to where she was against her. Emiste had did the same before speaking. Still, in Dylan's eyes, there had been no one around. Only the hoot of an owls call had cast it's voice about the trees. Dylan jumped slightly to the interruption, but lightened when she saw what it was. Beautiful white, snowy. But owls had those eyes. As if they were evil trying to entrance your soul.

"Do not leave my side. Do not speak unless I nod an okay. They want to know who you are. Why you have come with me. See the owl? That is Aadonii. There are many powerful Shephet here. He among them is leader."

Dylan had already bunched her hand within hers, not speaking was easy, Dylan rarely spoke. It was always a movement of her body, some awkward position she would lax herself in.

Dylan nodded simply, not taking Emiste's words lightly. Dylan's head turned to look at her as she stared onward at the owl, her eyes fixed as though she didn't want to see anything else, however her eyes remained open.

[Emiste Arquette]

"here is the Gatra dem Shephet. - the Shephet Gathering." Emiste whispered to Dylan. She wondered briefly what kind of upbringing Dylan had had as a hybrid - that she did not seem to know much about the Shephet ways. And yet, somehow - she still fit.

Emiste kept her eyes on Aadonii. His eyes bore into hers, blue eyes. Not a typical color for an owl - something most mortals would not notice. Most Shephet when they shifted, retained some aberrant marking that identified them to other Shephet. Aadonii had those intense blue eyes. Emiste would know them anywhere.

" Imii ist wiit 'ei. 'ei kiite imii. Wei neviit kiiston 'ei?" she challenged the Gathering - still hidden in various forms.

(She is with me. I claim her. Will anyone question me?" )

There was none that would question her - only Aadonii held rank above her. She looked to him alone. He after all was her creator - her Kriistei. She waited for his response.

Aadonii studied her - she knew he was examining her mind as well as Dylan's. His eyes narrowed as he studied Dylan. But he nodded once and flew off the limb he was perched on. By the time he landed, he had shifted to his human form.

The sight of Aadonii in human form never ceased to amaze Emiste. She breifly forgot Dylan's body pressed into hers as she gazed upon Aadonii. His chest bare, his skin bronzed and taut. Dark wavy hair of medium length, those blue eyes. He was a god among the fallen, blessed with the gift of remarkable beauty in addition to his other capabilities.

Aadonii stood before the two - and though the area had been silent the entire time, except for Emiste's whispering, it somehow fell even quieter. Not even the trees dared to move. The wind seemed to hold its breath. The world waiting for the moment to come.

He took a step forward, eyes still trained on Dylan. Something unreadable in his face. A long moment passed as he came to stand inches from Dylan and Emiste. Finally, his head turned, slowly, unnaturally slow, his eyes on Emiste now. Softening as he looked at her.

Emiste lowered her eyes briefly in respect, and when she looked up again, she pulled Dylan even closer to her. Aadonii never could deny her, she knew this. She knew he would not deny her now. No words were spoken, but the message was sent in the lines of his face as they changed ever so slightly, as Emiste shifted her body towards Dylan. Dylan could stay - for now.

Aadonii turned then and raised both arms to the night sky, tilting his face forward to meet the small shaft of moonlight, absorbing its energy. The Gathering had just begun.