Porcupine Ridge [discovery: lotus spring] dirty laundry

He followed her. Through the night and the day; be it cold or warm, over terrace or mountain, he followed her. If she should fall behind him, it was still he that followed. Should she descent into the deepest, darkest fathoms, he would follow, and obediently he would trail her into the heavens above, for was it not she, the immortal, the untouchable, whom he truly worshiped? Was it not she that survived the blades of his fangs, the piercing of his nails? Did she wither under his gaze of flame and coal - no, she emerged the only one, deathless. It was she, the eternal, the only one who defied his judgment. And it was she to whom he had pledged his life.

Perhaps she did not know it, and Raheerah would hide it for as long as she shuddered in his presence, for he would not wish to cause her undue discomfort. To further harm her, that was not his intention, though he knew even if he tried he would fail: she was indestructible. He remained silent even as he trailed her footprints, even as he spied her among the rocks and the snow, encroaching on the cliff face. She must not have noticed him, and he would further disguise himself; or would have, had she not suddenly vanished from his sight.

A rumbling erupted in his chest. The beast charged, but could see only the crystal blue of a spring thawed from the snow surrounding. Water trickled and spoke in gentle song, then it showed him to the frail canine collapsed in its breast. He drew back his lips as he approached the edge of the spring, and within him fury, towards the foolhardy spring that dared crop up in her step. He appeared behind her, and instinctively he leaned to grab her, but some field of sanctity held him at bay. As though he encountered some tangible barrier, the beast reeled back with a wild snarl; for he could not touch her, she was holy. He paced, desperate to resurrect her from the clutches of the spring, before he froze and locked his gaze upon her. "Lham." The monster roiled impatiently, and concern fleshed the word, as though seeking permission to raise his Goddess from the trap.