Blood And Stone

Chapter 29: World in Blood

Soft steel eyes traveled over the waves, searching the surface for anything that would betray the prey beneath. The waters lay dark beneath the cloudy skies, moving and drifting along as if they had nowhere to be and no desire to explore the world around them, unbothered and unassuming, much like the woman perched delicately atop the karve on it's surface. Her knees were bent, her body settling into a delicate squatting position as her eyes traversed the calm waters. Despite being wholeheartedly unbound by purpose, the depts of the sea around them was thick and dark with mystery and ominous wonder. Staring into the shadows, Rissa tried to discern if the creatures below were indeed living, or simply disastrously riddled with death. Within the depths of this cold water lay a vast world of emptiness.

The winds blew in cold, biting at her exposed skin as if it were the most miniscule of vampiric creatures, determined to steal her warmth and blood from her body drop by slow drop. She shook her head slightly, shifting the braids that ran down her back to bring them over her shoulder to allow them to warm the exposed flesh of her neck. The irritation that lingered deep with in the grey pools of her eyes became ever more evident as she stared hopelessly into the water. They had been unsuccessful in catching even the smallest perch all day, so unsuccessful that she had insisted they gather the best fishermen and head to deeper waters on her little ship but even that had proven to be a fruitless endeavor. Her body stiffened, each muscle becoming rigid with fatigue and incomprehension. Where had all of the fish gone? Where had the simple waves of the peaceful lake taken themselves?

"Not a single shadow, no movement. It's as if the fish have all vanished." Rissa's voice came out softly, drifting only far enough for her companion, Noir, to hear her. The wolf tilted her head to the side, her eyes equally as troubled as they skimmed the surface of the lifeless waters below. Neither of them could find an answer as they stared at the water, nor could they find a hint of one along the shorelines. "What could have caused them all to shy away like this? Have you and your pups been eating too many?" Rissa's attempt at humor failed before the words had left her lips, her concern becoming far too strong to allow even the slightest hint of joking survive. The wolf gave an indignant huff, her eyes closing just enough to level her master with the most human of scowls. Rissa's eyes rolled in return as her hand stretched out to bury itself in her companion's fur.

Rissa settled back on her heels, staring out as the boat picked up speed and headed toward slightly deeper waters. Her eyes slid over the horizon and took in the gloomy day. The clouds were dark, grey and blue entwined in an intimate dance that had her longing for the warmth of her fur and the woman she often dreamt about. The images of last night's adventurous slumber echoed through her mind once again, the start blue eyes that seemed to pierce even her darkest dreams. Something about this woman was haunting, she left an impression that Rissa had never known could be left from one human being to another. It was as if her chest was set ablaze by the fires of hell, spreading through the fibers of her muscle to seep without restraint into her soul. It pushed her over the edge in ways she never imagined she could be pushed, leaving her a broken, weak, and desperately longing. It only became worse as she woke and spent her days alone. She had attempted to find companionship with some of the women of the village but nothing ever came close to what she felt in her dreams.

The soft silhouette of the woman flashed beneath the waves, her long hair floating along as though it were simply part of the water itself, smooth and lost to time. The woman seemed to change slightly with each dream, growing and becoming something altogether new. Her soft features had her appearing to be much younger than someone Rissa would have normally looked at, a tender eighteen possibly, not a single scar or wrinkle marring her pale skin. Her eyes were the only feature that remained the same, deep seas of blue with ethereal golden flecks glowing within them. They were otherworldly, impossible to actually possess but something that had Rissa looking into the eyes of ever woman she met. As often as Rissa saw this woman in her dreams, she seemed to surround her world with her presence, even though they had never met. She could not get the woman out of her mind, out of her eyes, out of her heart. She penetrated every waking moment of Rissa's life like an unstoppable illness, tainting her every action with a sense of peace and kindness.