#dreaming

"Well - I think they shall find new hosts and new lives."

"Yeah.. I wonder how it works.. .they said something joining the blood... I wonder if that means their connections to their old family lines are lost? Sad really"

"I don't know..."

"Yes well..let's see... " They travel on.. the land scape is shifting, less what Zara likes, going from marsh to drier country, and far too open, these are plains, and there's not much to hide from here. Silly as they must stay on the trod anyway, but still exposed

Zara lurks in Earl's shadow.

Earl says "It's like I have two shadows" he says

"Indeed. Mind you?"

"No.. since i know it's you... I do regret not being able to see you." He lowers his great hand arches it backwards

A cool touch. "Ah, but a'times I delight in it. To watch you, unawares."

"Mmm well, who am I to spoil your delights?" A smile

The plains do not so change in many ways, but they do go further into the Dreaming

And more shadow..as there are numerous low hanging clouds

The changes are subtle at first, of course - damp hair, webbing fingers...

Earl's hair grows wilder, still on his head, but more like fur than hair

Then he says "Did you hear that?"

This is new. When does he hear things FIRST?

She tilts her head and frowns. Listening for it!

She doesn't hear a darn thing.

She shakes her head, frown deepening.

"Who are you?" Earl asks aloud.

"I see." A frown "Trapped in a cloud are you?"

"Trapped in a cloud? Nay... but I hear naught..."

"You don't hear? Okay... how can you not hear and I do? that's so backwards it's scary"

Sulk.

"yes. I hear you. Why can't she?" He asks

A pause, then, earl laughs

GLOWER.

Then earl picks her up by the waist ,adn before she can squirm loose, he holds her up into the cloud

and she breaths it, as he is..since he is now much taller

and NOW SHe hears...

'my soul is all tied up...'

"Ah!"

"...ah?"

"in the cloud.. I don't know how to... '

Earl says "Sorry to laugh, but apparently we could only hear you while breathing the cloud in. My heart is not is not as tall as I." he helps her find a position she prefers, on one shoulder if she likes

She settles, holding on. "Most disconcerting up here..."

"So. Hello there."

'Yes, hello.. ' the cloud says "have you seen any trolls?"

"Quite a few."

"Well, good to see they're well. Any idea how to separate me out of a cloud?"

"Mmm..." Kenning, to see just what they are dealing with.

It's a fae soul all right, somehow digested by the cloud. Near as Zara can tell, it's somehow mixed up essences.

WIthout any mortal side at all, the cloud has captured it like an ameoba catching a weaker single cell creature

"Were you travelling with the trolls?" Idle chatter as she begins to weave an omen.

"I had come to their hold... when.. the dragon.. I had to be the hero...great retirement plan that"

"Aye..."

The omen reveals this is a good and brave soul whoever he or she was... and yes, images of a death by dragon...

"Aye, aye, but how to extricate..."

She tries again...

and a realization... she's breathing this in. Earl is... too uhm.. fae souls seek wombs and bloodlines