Chapter 222: Hobbies on the Mind

“It has been some time. Is she still not content?” Alruna asked.

They’d all posted up against the massive roots making up the forest floor. Bren and Lucia paired off while Alruna, Kat and Ann lounged. Rosalyn was somewhere. She’d gotten deep into the larger Warped deep enough that she’d disappeared from their sight.

“She’ll tell us when she is. Takes a bit tae cut through hide that tough without physical stats.”

“Yet she doesn’t ask for assistance. I could have that hide removed fairly quickly.”

“It’s her passion,” Ann giggled. Kat was playing with her ears, and her tail would not stay still. “Kat’s all about fighting, I’ve got my big quest, but I like drawing, Bren has his studies, and Lucia does her own thing. Just so happens that Rosalyn’s passion involves digging into bodies of horrible monstrosities.”

“She has no skills to support it?”

“Nope. She’s a Druid first and foremost. This is all brain and her own personality.”

“Strange. Even I have some skills to assist with my alchemy. It’s mostly things to help finding reagents and mixing the proper proportions, but even those are incredibly useful when I have to forage.”

“We know ye make healing potions, and some kind o’ strength potion ye gave Tarnu the other day. What else ye got?”

“Well, I can make Mind potions, of course. Stamina, should others grow tired, the normal stat potions, then there are poisons. They are not of much use to me, but I wager someone with sharper weapons would appreciate them. Warped can make all sorts of interesting effects depending on their species. Twinwolves have a duplication effect, Bristlebarks make the potion last longer, and Chittering Crawlers make for a fine wall walking potion. The variance is as broad as there are creatures and mutations. A fish type could make water breathing, salamanders can make heat resistance, and the fur from those mountain snakes can do the opposite. I’ve been experimenting for years, and it’s always a great moment finding something new.”

“Don’t let Rosalyn hear about the Cralwers. Speakin o’, ye doin’ okay in there, love?” Kat called over to the corpse.

“Yeah! Think I found a nerve cluster! It branches out to the legs and then into… burn marks. I think it’s the connection from human to the rest!” Rosalyn shouted back.

“Do ye need some ‘elp?”

“Nah. I’m almost done. Be about five minutes.”

“And then we help her get cleaned up and continue on our way,” Ann explained.

“It must take ages to get anywhere,” Alruna sighed.

“Sometimes, but only if she finds something she’s interested in. She’s dug through enough Twinwolves before we met her that she doesn’t care anymore,” Ann shrugged. “Stop it!”

Kat cackled and gave her ear another flick, making it bat her fingers away.

“What does she hope to find?”

“Not really sure on tha’. She wants tae learn more about ‘em. How they work, why their regeneration’s limited, why they don’t morph more than they do? Ow! Hey, no biting!”

“It didn’t even break skin,” Ann stuck her tongue out at her princess. “That’s not even foreplay rough.”

“Well, since we are playing, tell me about your childhoods,” Alruna said. Her face was placid as ever under her blindfold. “I’m eager to know about yours, Annita, but hearing a princess speak on her formative years would be interesting.”

They spent the more than five minutes it took Rosalyn to finish up catching Alruna up on their lives. Bren and Lucia joined in, since Bren’s story was so intertwined with Kat’s. Alruna listened attentively, asking questions here and there, but mostly sat on her heels in silence.

“That about wraps it up,” Ann sighed, finishing where she’d been put into a coma. “I woke up here, and it’s been an adventure since.

“A completely different world. I can scarcely imagine just humanity existing. It seems unnatural,” Alruna laughed her scratchy laugh.

“Alright,” Rosalyn said, climbing out of the corpse. “Think I got everything I can. Some good notes to add to the journal. If you’d let me do the rest, I’d appreciate it, but that took a while. We need to move on?”

“After they clean you,” Alruna nodded. “You’re a frightful mess.”

“At least my skin hides most of it! Yay snow bath!” Rosalyn cheered.

It didn’t take too long to get Rosalyn back to a presentable level. They’d probably missed some, but that could be handled in a river later.

As they walked through the ancient forest, conversation turned to Alruna.

“So tell us about your childhood. I mean, the stuff that happened before you started changing. What was your family like?” Ann asked.

“I haven’t thought about that in quite a while. It was a simple life. I was a little girl with auburn hair done up in twin braids. My parents were carpenters with a shop on the northern outskirts of Indelholm. It was a good life. I spent most of my days playing or going to lessons. The local temple of Qu’Sella handled teaching the children, and I had it in my head to join them once I grew up. How much my Path changed from those goals.”

“So your parents were alright?” Rosalyn asked.

“Yes. They had their arguments and fights. I did get into trouble and was yelled at, but don’t hold that against them. Mother, though, did seem timid around father. I didn’t think it strange before, but looking back, there was probably more to that.”

“Didn’t hit?” Lucia asked.

“No! No. Nothing of the sort. Just a lot of shouting,” Alruna clarified quickly. “Far from idyllic, but far from the worst.”

“That did not help with when you changed, I imagine,” Bren sighed.

“It did not. Father was furious and chased me out with her mallet. Mother was weeping.”

“Wait, her? Your father was a woman?”

“Yes. Is that so strange?”

Ann stopped in her tracks for a moment. “Guess I didn’t really think there were others like me.”

“You are like she was? I didn’t get to know much more than Father was different from other women, but that is interesting.”

“I… Kat, is it weird that I’m just now thinking about this?”

“A bit, aye.”

“Did you think you were the only one?” Bren asked, hiding a laugh.

“I mean, so far I haven’t met anyone else, so yeah?” Ann shrugged. “Thought that was part of Orenous and being her Chosen.”

“I… Oh feck, that never came up. Ilana’s like ye.”

“She is? Yeah, never would have known.”

“Women like you are a rarity, but not unheard of,” Bren explained. “Some men, as well, possess both or the opposite genitalia.”

“So gender means fuck all?” Ann asked.

“No, it just means you have a few things to consider when treating a patient for damage below the belt,” Bren shrugged.

“Both… genitalia?” Alruna asked. “How do you mean?”

Multiple eyes turned to the dark-robed woman.

“Uh, you wanna take this one, Rosalyn?”

“Sure! So you’ve got a cleft between your legs you pee from, right?”

“Yes.”

“Well, in there’s where children come from. I’m… wow, I’m giving the talk to a fully grown woman, how did you not know any of this?”

“It was never relevant to my situation,” Alruna shrugged. “Please continue, though. I’m interested in what I’ve missed.”

“So yeah, there’s another hole in there that’s where you make kids with a man. A man’s got a penis, and he’d put it inside you, shoot his semen in, and then you’d get pregnant.”

“And having a penis inside you is not painful?”

“I mean, if it’s too big, it can be, but usually it feels really good,” Rosalyn explained patiently. “Or up your butt, but that’s a person-to-person thing. Kat sure likes it. Still, yeah, there’re ladies like Ann who’ve got both the penis and the vagina. Oh, and she has balls now, too. That’s where the semen comes from that makes you pregnant. They’re kinda silly but a lot of fun to play with, and super sensitive, so Ann gets all zoned out when you do, cause usually one of us is…”

“That’s enough o’ that,” Kat said, grabbing Rosalyn by the horns and hauling her into a muffling hug.

Rosalyn didn’t seem to mind that she was being squeezed against armour one bit.

“Alruna, how old are you? I mean, normally I think I’d ask this later, but I’m confused.”

“Forty-two,” Alruna said simply.

“Whoa, really?” Kat blurted. “Fer a human that’s a long feckin’ time!”

“Well, I ceased to be human a long time ago. I am still unsure how that affects my ageing. I could live longer than expected.”

“And in the thirty-eight years, you’ve never gotten horny or wanted to fuck? Touch yourself? Anything?” Ann asked incredulously.

“Maybe a few times earlier, but I never quite understood?”

“I… I’m, ok, listen, that’s fine. You’re great the way you are. I’m just having a hard time thinking about how that’d feel. For me, it’s this constant itch I’ve gotta scratch eventually. I’ve even got a resource you saw that makes me have sex regularly. It’s not something I have to worry about with how much we do it, but yeah. I guess, I dunno, it’s so much a part of me, I didn’t think the opposite was true? You’re sure?”

“And no one else talked tae ye about this?”

“I’m sure. I just have not had much of that urge. No, no one has spoken to me about these things. Most have other worries more urgent than reproduction.”

Ann supposed that was fair. Still, the woman had a crazy low sex drive if she’d barely explored that in forty years. She was not going to ask, but…

“Wait, are you a virgin?”

Ann stared at Rosalyn, aghast. Still, the Druid was never the best at reading social cues.

“What does that mean?” Alruna asked, still baffled.

“You’ve never had sex with someone else?”

“No.”

“Wow. I’m… wow. Someone as pretty as you?”

“That isn’t something most people think when they look at me,” Alruna mumbled. “Usually the opposite.”

“It’s the worms, isn’t it?” Rosalyn apparently was just going ham with the awkward questions today.

“Them and the eyes, yes,” Alruna nodded. “They are off-putting to almost everyone.”

“Eh, they’re fine by me,” Rosalyn shrugged. “You’re still pretty.”

“I appreciate the compliment,” Alruna smiled, and Ann spied a black blush rising to her cheeks.

“And a pretty butt, too, even under those robes.”

Oh, that was a definite blush.

Rosalyn, you’re embarrassing her,” Ann giggled. “Ease off.”

“Sorry, sorry, just get so used to talking about this stuff with you and Kat, cause that’s a big part of how we work, but I guess Bren and Lucia didn’t like it either, but maaan, I have such a hard time controlling my mouth when it gets running, like right now. Cause I love all this stuff, and didn’t really have a chance to explore much of it before I met you two, and now I’ve got all the things I want to explore for the heck of it. There was so much more about my body I didn’t know, and probably even more! Like, man, how does a Vulhardrin even work, and does it relate to the Warping, or were we created by the Gods? Or was it because we came into being so early that the Gods had created some of us, and the Warping did the rest? Ann’s clearly Vulhardrin, but she’s got that Warped tag on it too, so is that something that all of us can get or is it just ‘cause she’s special? She is special, like, no doubt, but it’s a question, and I really want to dig into what and why.”

“Literally, it would seem, from the previous demonstration. Seems akin to my alchemical studies. Warped pieces can be used as powerful reagents along with herbs. Perhaps we can look over notes later? I’d be interested to see what magical properties you have uncovered in your dissections.”

“Oh, lots. Not to mention Ann can make an aphrodisiac venom that I really wanna play around with, too. She’s being stingy with it, though, ‘cause she’s scared it’d get abused.”

“You can?” Alruna turned her blindfold to Ann as she crested a tall root. “Far more than just the fur is special, it would seem.”

“Yeah. I can do freaky things with my teeth, eyes, tongue, and other stuff. I got the fang idea off a spider Warped we met in the last Seed. Didn’t even know I could make venom like that until I bit Rosalyn.”

“Ye still need tae bite me wit’ tha’,” Kat reminded her.

“I’ll sink my teeth into you later, babe.”

“You regularly bite each other? This group keeps surprising me,” Alruna shook her head and dropped from the root. Her landing was effortless. Her knees didn’t even bend. Compared to Ann’s smooth landings, which spread the impact as much as possible, it was impressive. Both turned to catch Rosalyn and Bren while Kat and Lucia climbed down.

“People like some strange things during sex,” Ann shrugged. “I’m happy to oblige my girlfriends. Man, I wonder… Rosalyn, we’ve gotta talk about something later.”

“Sounds freaky, I’m listening!”

“Later,” Ann said, patting her white floofy hair.

“You may get used to their brashness if you spend enough time around them,” Bren sighed. “Kat used to be the worst, but Rosalyn has easily taken her place as the most open.”

“Oi, I’m holdin’ meself back ‘ere. Doin’ it fer yer bloody consideration, too,” Kat snorted.

“No. Just satisfied.”

“Ye have no idea how much more I want tae do wit’ Ann, Lucia.”

“With? To?”

“Both ye monosyllabic greenskin.”

“Kat!” Ann gasped.

“What?”

“Isn’t that racist?”

“No,” Lucia grunted. “Have green skin. Is truth.”

“Yeah, but she meant it as an insult.”

“Eh, like knife ear, or mutt, or ewe, or pinkskin. Weak insult.”

“Aye. If I called ‘er a bondbitch, that’d be a proper racist thing. Don’t call Thrundol that.”

“Gee, I can imagine why,” Ann said with deadpan sarcasm.

“Even if bonded, still bad.”

“Is that bad?” Alruna asked.

“Some think. I don’t. Bren, nice, good choice. Gods approve. Like it.”

“Against my advice, it is working fairly well. I am thinking less about how to phrase requests as orders. For the first few weeks, I was terrified I might make that mistake.”

The edge of the forest opened up before them like a portal into another world. The massive trunks just ended, and the hilly landscape with the frozen river opened up. Even the temperature seemed to drop as they crossed the threshold.

“Feckin’ freezin’ me ears off,” Kat grumbled. “Even wit’ the hood.”

“Agreed. Even these robes only do so much,” Alruna shivered.

“So, that’s the patrol. What’s going on for the rest of the day?” Rosalyn asked.

“Whatever you like. I need to replace a few healing potions and other medicines, so I will be in my workshop. If you would like, you may join me, Rosalyn.”

“Yeah! I picked up some interesting stuff from the octopus lady.”

“When did you start collecting pieces?” Ann asked.

“Uh, not sure. Just kinda felt like it,” Rosalyn shrugged.

“Well, I’m going to go talk to a few people. I want to talk with One of Wood a bit more and learn their story. After that, I’ll grab a bath and figure out dinner,” Ann said.

“Alruna, is there a person who records history or events within the conclave?” Bren asked.

“Yes. You’ll be seeking the One with Fur. She is a rough sort to strangers, but a firm friend when the shell is pulled away. Find Abigail by the farms before you go. It will aid you immensely.”

“Will go with Bren.”

“Surprisin’ no one,” Kat chuckled. “Guess I’m on me own. Gonna go find some trouble.”

“Not too much,” Ann warned.

“Nae. Trouble people agree to. That Tarnu guy looked like a good fight. Want tae see how good he really is. Might get me arse kicked fer once.”

“I will send Eyes over to supervise. She is usually on the way to my workshop,” Alruna nodded. She made the shrill whistle again, and the hillside opened up in eerie silence.

“We reconvene at your sleeping quarters. We will report today’s incident to Eldest of All then.”

“He doesn’t want that immediately?” Ann asked. She figured a fight on their borders would be more important.

“It happens fairly frequently, just not something of that size. It can wait. Now, Rosalyn, shall we?” Alruna offered the Druid a gloved hand.

Rosalyn took it and headed off towards the right side of the cavern.

The rest split off, leaving Ann alone at the entrance. She spent a minute just standing there and listening. Sounds carried far better here, and the huffing snorts of animals called to her. She’d start the search there.