Drums
Slow, methodical the vibrations of sound echo down into the channel of my ear.
Plumes of smoke twist and dance skyward as if they are making love to the other. The heavy scent of sage clings to the air, seeping into every crevice the surrounding holds.
Chimes are everywhere, soft tinkling of sound complementing the percussion of the drums.
The path Odin's carrying me on follows the edge of a rushing stream. A dense structure has been set up, furs stretched across the outer shell of it while large rocks make the base. A few female faces glance up briefly from their squatting position as we pass by before returning to their bowls of colorful paste. Smiles held on their faces, fingertips stained with color - all heads are bow low to Odin.
The flap of the structure is pulled to the side, there are no rays from the sun that penetrates the draped interior. Low light from the rock-rimmed coal fire is the only thing that can be seen inside this darkened space.
Choking hot steam infused with sage is inhaled in and coughed out.
I'm set down in a sitting position beside the embers that glow - my attention captured momentarily. Unable to pull my eyes away until a hiss of water hitting the hot rocks vapor itself into breathing steam that is so hot it hurts my lungs.
"Lift up your arms." Odin's words press into the base of my neck. It's hard to lift up weights that want to just hang limply at my side. The struggle is too great and, in the end, Odin helps each arm come out of the confines of fabric until my upper half is bare to him.
Watching Odin takes off his shirt now, leaving his exposed chest bare to me.
I hum to my self which causes that smile to pull up on those lips that I want to lean in and kiss.
The ink of him is strangely vivid, just a hint of color within the black. Blinking rapidly, his shifting skin has the eyes of animals watching me.
"Odin, they're alive." Trying to reach out to touch his chest he catches my hand, turning my wrist, so the soft inner flesh now presses against his mouth.
A tingle runs down the length of my spine, setting itself between thighs. His skin glistens as sweat starts to drip down the side of his temple.
I feel the motion when he pulls me up into a standing position, he has to bend his head, so it doesn't hit the roof of the structure. His pants come off first, stepping out of them he kicks them to the side. I can feel his hand undoing the button of my pant's, zipper sliding down, fingers hooked into the material before he pulls them down my legs.
A kiss placed on my sternum, before he slides himself lower. A kiss placed on the rise of my mound, his hands taking each pant leg off along with my underwear. Standing on wobbling legs holding onto his shoulder, so I don't fall - a low sound comes from his chest. When he stands ancient forest greens find my eyes, and hold. He walks us backward, furthest away from the flap that could be considered the only door in this domed structure.
My spine hits the softness of furs, another steaming hiss of water sounds out when a liquid turns to vapor much to fast. He places a few dried leaves on the coals, pungent sage encompasses the inside.
Everything melts away in the heat and sweat.
"Odin," drawling out the sound, stretching it to its full lenght of capacity.
"Yes, My Half."
"What is this?" Looking around but not too deep because the shadows start to encroach at the peripheral of my vision...smokey haze of sight plays tricks with the tendrils of vapor, confusing what's real and what's not.
