#dreaming

"Love?" A pause "Want to talk?"

"About what?"

"You dimmed, my lady, like your moon was clouded"

"Ah..." faintly.

He nods.

She walks in silence.

He walks with her, and they head towards the trod it appears. He wishes he knew how to lighten her load, but patience is required it seems. And she will feel how she feels, it is wrong to try to protect her even from that. But it is hard.

And so, time passes and silver too.

With some relief, they leave not just the freehold, and not just the NEar Dreaming, but eventually find themselves int the Far Dreaming... and as past lives tickle, some recent concerns seem..farther away... not gone, but it grants perspective.

It does help. She grows thin and feral, her watery origins revealing themselves.

Earl's antlers rise and add to his already immense shadow.

And the path is now the North Eastern one.. more or less... oh, cold waters alone pines...

Earl gestures in surprise and points upward startled, "Lady?"

There are, above them in a night sky, stars, true, but also Seven Crescent moons in a great circle!

"...ah." Quiet, subdued.

Well, she's a bit rude One moon says.

She's not rude, sister, just unimpressed Another says

A frown.

Well, I find her not being impressed very rude The voices are ambient

Earl says "My lady is quite polite, thank you."

Another moon says _Can you not see something troubles her? _

"Pray, forgive."

Well, you do have manners. Still, is not seven moons in the sky not impressive?_

"You are lovely, all of you."

Vain Another chides again

One hanging in the South says Darling, what's bothering you?

"It..." She trails off into another frown.

"I... it... forgive, aye?"

Forgiven if that helps Another moon says not unkindly, But your hair is so very lovely it's hard not to feel a kinship

Pink!

Earl nods "My lady has often honored the moon for events of costume and the like."

"Ah... you are all very kind." Flushing again.

Not always, but certainly kinder than that great daytime bully.

"Oh, too harsh that one... too bright.."

A soft chuff of near-laughter

Earl fights a smile

I think he's kind of handsome One admits.

Oh Serena more than a few sigh at her

"May I ask your names?"

Luna, Luciene, Serena, Selena, Diana, Chandra and Hillah introduce themselves in roughly that order