Lakota & Ktulu

The Poisoner & The Constrictor

A whirlwind of thoughts tear up the space in her mind as she walks, a ghost in the fogs of the passing storm, appearing only in wraithlike images. She shudders and tries to force down the fear that springs into her throat at the word. There was a reason Oxy's boggart had chosen to show her Ktulu's wraith-state. Lakota had always believed to never fear anything, not even death, because it would grab you in every spot you were weak and drag you down into the rocks like a siren singing a ship to wreck. But she feared it more than anything, that state that had taken her beloved away from her, that had made the sickest parts of the Constrictor surface. Had made the Poisoner doubt herself, far more than she already did. After all, how could she possibly compete with Archibald and Apollo? But her heart wouldn't waver, even as it hurt with the agony of her own inability to believe what Ktulu impatiently told her. She loved the cherry dame beyond realms she'd ever experienced, and it scared her. She was terrified to love again, to have something so precious, so rarely found ripped away from her. Feared that something worse than death would rip Ktulu from her, that she would have to see the ruby eyed warrior happy in the presence of another.

Aodaun rubbed comfortingly against her side, drawing her spiraling thoughts away from that topic. Encouraging her to focus instead on the actual love she held for the Constrictor. Memories slid, from foggy to focused, before her mind's eye as Aodaun presented to her every moment she'd ever had with Ktulu. Sparks slid along her skin and she shivered with the desire to feel that strong hold again, to hear the whispered affections, to feel the warm slide of her maw against her skin. Her heart swelled, and Ao was rather smug at her side as he saw the effect on his bonded. Or rather, the effect Ktulu had on the Poisoner. She was helplessly in love with her.

A roar broke their reverie, and at first Lakota startled, back twinging angrily despite Alleo's words ringing in her head. She'd been stretching it, at least, since their encounter. Aodaun was the one who recognized it first, fluffy ears perking as his canines flashes white in the fog, a thundering bark escaping his own lips as he ran in ecstatic circles around his bonded. She nearly tripped over him, successfully halted by his antics, and turned to stare into the fog, searching for the voice of the companion she'd heard. "Eytan! Tan! Tan! Tan!" Lakota heard from her bonded. Well, that confirmed who it was, at least. Moments after that tendril of thought had been transferred from the ice bear to its bonded, the grizzly came barreling onto the scent. And with him, came a voice.

"Eytan! Stop!"

Lakota's heart stopped and her eyes went wide, tongue fumbling over the name that was breathed from her lips. "K-Ktulu?" Her eyes lit up like a supernova, and she turned to run towards the shape of the mare she could see getting closer. "Ktulu!" She cried it like the joyous thanks for an answered prayer, whinnies escaping her unbidden as she kicked her heels up like a foal and ran towards her mistress with wild abandon. Aodaun similarly went bounding towards Eytan, fully intending to capture him midway for some fun romping. The Poisoner hardly slowed her pace, fully intending to launch herself at her loved one for the embrace she'd been hoping for since she'd escaped the pinning stare when the Sanctuary had been released.