#debukefarmhold

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So it is, that a fluttering moth peeks its' way into the grotto

The grotto is dim, but a few shafts of afternoon sunlight find there way in.

Fluttering in closer, the moth finds a deeper hole, dark, too dark.

And yet something odd happens. Effort to change? Someone in here sees her.

Zara frowns, nestled away in her hidey-hole.

a spin, a spark...and a bit of glamour, silver light, like moon beams cascades

and the moth flutters into the smaller hole now able to see

And a twist, and a ...suddenly the moth is a girl. A sister

"zara? If it's you, put down the machete. I do not wish to star as victim number three at crystal lake"

A soft hiss. "Go 'way."

An open mouth then, surprised, then she begins to ramble if she did not hear it, "There was this odd little creature, short, ungainly, clomping about screaming at the top of his lungs for his sister. I begin to see why she might evade him"

Muffled. "Jacob."

"Ah, Jacobite is he?" A sniff and a scowl "I see. He plots totake you from me. "

"No. He'll take her."

"then why does he clomp about dragging the river bed for sister?" A raised brow

The soft shifting of fabric and flesh as Zara burrows deeper in her hole. "Don't want him."

"I see. I shall remove him then... something sublte, it starts a sleight cough...then builds."

"Vashti..."

She spreads her hands and puts on her best innocent face "yes, sister dear?"

"Hurt him not."

"When thy blood spills into runes of pain caused by him? Fie. I hath done worse for so so very little less"

"Isn't his fault."

"Just... don't want him."

"but he's keeping you from Miriam as surely as a moat blocks a castle." She says. "Unless, though haste decided thou does not want Miriam anymore?" A surprisingly hopeful look

A soft sound, something muffled.

A nod then..."She would keep you put up great barricades to keep thee from my reach. Towering monuments of true connection"

"Don't... I don't understand..."

"Ah, new words to me" She sighs then says "The Rivergoddess resents the lively lake for drawing mother ocean's attention and fears she'll be spurned. Mother ocean must protect the lake, for the river is mighty enou to kill on her own. The lake? shallow still. But the windspirit fears that the ocean will gulp and devour the river... and she will never play with her friend again." A sigh "your world grows large, zara. mine shrinks."

"I'm sorry."

"Thee... I wish for thee, sister mine."

"Aye, and I you... but thou knowest that this boy is a fleck. it is his fragility that is his strong grip on her, though has strength, so thy hold is fragile. She suffers from duty, like all trolls. And mayhaps, she hopes to make amends for her failure with the river by tending to the lake...for she is a failure great. You worry that paler's blood drives a wedge tween thee and thy birther...aye? Yet she hopes to avenge the lashings Paler delievered to you with his whips. What then, when she gaze upon me? I am nothing of hers. Indeed, I belong heart and soul to her enemy, so she is wise to tear you from me."

"You are my sister. I love thee dearly."

"I... love her, too, but her I mayn't have."

A tilt of her head, "Between X and Z is the question"

Zara squirms part-way out... best not to think of just how the rest of her is jammed into the narrow crevice. "You fear i would abandon you?"

She almost says something, then nods and spreads her handss

She extends her hands towards the pooka. "You are my sister. It is my joy to have found thee. I will... I will find a way for you to fly free, I swear it."

"The farm is a horrible place," She sighs

"I know. But it's still a cage. You deserve the sky entire."

Then she takes Zara's hand, "I have chained you here. See how you are caught like amber with me?"

A guilty tone to it

She twines her fingers with her sister's. "No. Not thee. Draw out my tongue, you have the gift of it - thou art silver in the storm, the gift of all of this, my dearest sister."

"ha." a weak laugh, slight smile, "Tis true, we pooka have a gift for monopolizing the conversation while you sluagh must lie so. but... did thou truly not realize I am also beset by securities at the Inn?"

"I should have. But... may I reassure thee? I am greedy, I wish for all of those I love. By blood or half or none at all. Family is more than blood."

A soft squeeze, 'I feel just as miserable as before. but sister, I hath used my Gwydion boon upon thee. Though still want Miriam's head on a cassorle dish. And, as she wants thy head on a dish... then you should not let the foolish woman wander off too far entire. She might get lost-again."

"She... I don't know how to... I... I can't have her, I'm too old. I was stupid."

"Pff, thou wisht thou weren't proper in thy hagginess… barely wrinkled, hardly able to wither cream with a look..." She tisks. "When we both hit our advanced years, we shall have a contest of crones, and I shall win. Begone from my estate's field, hooligans" gently "Thou believest thou were stupid? Why?"

"Because... because I thought... I thought she'd... if we stopped him, maybe she'd stay? That I could have her for a little bit? I thought... when she left the first time, she'd still visit, maybe... but... it... that's not..."

"Seeing me hurts her. Being near me hurts her. Just... my presence, aye? I hurt her."