Swiftcurrent Creek Beasts of Burden

A quiet stillness encircled ice and fire as they both laid prone opposite one another, the last sounds of the Mambo's name lingering on Tuwawi's tongue as she watched the listless almost-mother with a cautious gaze. She half expected Jinx to snap or turn away, refusing her audience in favor of privacy, and so the young wife could not help but flinch when Jinx pulled herself close. The cold leather of the Kesuk's nose pressed firmly into her thin cheek as their gaze became magnetized, and the Sveijarn found herself deep in pools of old amber, devoid of spirit or life. A sensation washed over the smaller woman then, spurring her hair to prickle and heart to wrench as they stole a moment together.

Though the pallid seawolf was a pious woman, natural law maintained control of her mortal husk. Where she had been strong and devout, she was now atropied by deep seated despair; indefinably present in every way. She could not grasp the chemicals that warred in her mind, compelling her to feel these emotions. Her only concourse was to be wracked by them, like a reed in the ocean, until it all passed. Even her body scrambled and scraped to explain its phantom pregnancy, wanting so badly to nurture but having no means to do so; womb hollowed. The depression was perceptible to Jinx's guest, who wished she could bend the earth's order to take back what had been lost... but lacking all power necessary.

A low, warbling whine eeked from Tuwawi's throat at her comrade's touch, dotted brows pinched in understanding. Slowly her maw rubbed against the Mambo's taut jaw as her tongue began to wash over her face with long, repetitive laps. The eyes, the cheeks, the crown... no piece was left untouched by the Svejarn's careful grooming; cleansing... baptizing the other woman in her own way. Closer she drew, back twisting, wanting to coax Jinx nearer to cradle her, and cocoon her entirety. Anything to make known that she was cared for, and loved.