Girl’s Night
GIRL’S NIGHT
Thea's stomach roiled with excited nerves as she made her way to the bonfire. Her head also slightly ached from the stress of Rolim's demise hanging over it.
Vaelen had mentioned it would not be smart to start a war over one person, when she'd been playing devil's advocate amongst discussions.
Aaryn had crossed her mind. Maybe they already had.
She winced, shaking her head and the mood off, scraping her fingers along her scalp and wiggling them to muss her hair up.
They could always start a war another day. Not tonight.
Tonight was for celebrating.
And Thea… had a date.
As she rounded the bend, Thea spied a flash of pink hair in the setting sun and—her heart tripped over its own beat.
Aaryn was in a long orange cotton dress with buttons down the front, a simple waist belt emphasizing her shape. The dragon pin was in place above her left breast, and it no longer glared at Thea.
Her rose-colored hair was free, long and flowing, and it was such a rare sight. She braided it out of her way most of the time when she was busy, only the stubborn tendrils escaping to brush against her face. And now Thea was struck with the desire to run her hands through it.
Carissa followed behind Aaryn, steps heavier than they ever should have been, though magic still clung to her. Thea hoped it was helping carry her during this difficult time.
Thea made her steps heard as she approached, and Aaryn was the first to see her. She was chuckling softly with Carissa when she paused, and Thea felt her attention from head to toe like a breeze against bare skin.
Their gazes were the last to meet, as she finally stopped before the pair. "Druid looks good on you," Thea said—bravely, in her opinion.
Aaryn flushed. "And it's more comfortable than anything I ever wore at Evergale." She bit her cheek. "Pretty."
Pretty. Had Thea ever been called pretty?
"Thank you," Thea said, managing not to stumble over the two simple words.
"Yeah, hi, I'm here too," Carissa bemoaned, and bumped into Aaryn as she passed.
Thea caught her, of course, and Carissa was a little too knowing. "I'm going to go find Runa. You two lovebirds…" Her expression softened suddenly. "Enjoy."
Stormstrike and Starspark greeted one another with little sniffs and long blinks, and Starspark stared longingly after the parting dragon. Humor bubbled behind Thea's teeth as Starspark looked so pleadingly sad. She scratched atop his snout until his tail shook happily.
"Go on," Aaryn urged with a laugh, and Starspark snuffled before prancing in their direction.
And then they were… alone.
Now Thea's heart was pounding.
"We're early. It won't get rowdy for a while yet," Thea told her.
"Rowdy?" Aaryn said, taking Thea's arm. "Why do you think it's going to be rowdy?"
Thea tried to focus past the thought that their arms were linked, their hips bumping with each step. Courting. "Tensions are high. Drinks and smoke will be flowing. They'll be trying to blow off steam and forget their worries."
"Which one are you?" Aaryn asked.
"Hm?"
The fire came into view, already lit and flames high. Dozens of people gathered around the space, but there would be hundreds by the end of the night.
"Will you be blowing off steam or forgetting your worries?" Aaryn clarified.
The wind cut through the air, tousling her long hair around her face, and a tendril brushed over her cheek. Instinctively Thea reached over and pushed it away before it could fall into her eyes.
"Not the latter," she answered. "I'd like to remember tonight very vividly."
Aaryn's cheeks flushed. A sweet scent curled through the air—for once, not Aaryn, though her eyes lit at the familiarity of it.
"It's the blooms," Thea murmured, eyes keen for the smokers. They were easy to find amongst the crowd of chatting people, cups or pipes or rolled leaves pinched between their fingers.
Aaryn was quiet, and Thea glanced over to find her attention rapt on a nearby couple who were sharing a pipe, the fresh, earthy scent permeating the air.
"Want to try it?" Thea asked.
A smile slid onto Aaryn’s lips. "Yes."
Thea grinned. "I forget that you've been a little sheltered."
"Let the corruption begin."
Maisy, an orc with two slits in her brow and a greenish band of runes on her wrist, wore a knowing little smile as she handed them a pipe packed with moon bloom. Aaryn oohed as she stroked the moon carving in the handle, very vocal with her admiration.
That won Maisy over, and the woman sent them off with a small pouch of blooms in case they wanted to indulge later in the evening as well.
"People are so talented. Look at the detail," Aaryn continued, stroking a finger over the raised design, a little crescent moon and clouds.
Thea snorted. Only she would be more interested in the pretty pipe than the blooms inside of it.
It was so very… Aaryn. And Thea liked that.
"Why a moon? Just because it's pretty?" Aaryn wondered aloud.
"’Cause this comes from those little orange flowers you think are so pretty. They only bloom at night. Moon blooms."
Her little blinks were so cute, and she gasped. "Those are—Thea. How did I not know this?"
“I mean, that’s why we picked that corner of the Nest to put him in, hoping the blooms would calm him down. He didn’t really seem interested.”
Biting down on her chuckles, Thea pushed away her absolute infatuation and motioned to a tree, the soft green beneath it awaiting them.
"How's this?" It was just far enough away to feel the heat of the fire.
Thea was already flushed from her jacket and counted on the temperature dropping as the night went on.
The sun was still setting, but Thea was only getting warmer.
"Cozy," Aaryn said, and plopped down into the clover. Her dress pooled around her, hair spilling over her shoulders, and Thea blinked softly, half afraid she was a dream.
The murmurs of the party began to die down, and Thea lifted her head just as she took her seat beside Aaryn.
"What's going on?" Aaryn whispered as everyone quieted. Only the crackle of the fire could be heard despite the growing crowd.
"Vaelen's here," Thea said.
And sure enough, Vaelen stepped up onto a tall log and the crowd gave her their attention. From where they were seated she was mostly in shadow, and Thea got chills as she spoke.
"Some of you might be wondering what we have to celebrate after such a tragedy has struck, after so much life was lost."
Short whispers quickly refocused simply because Vaelen's presence demanded it.
"Here, we gather together to remember that we are alone in neither triumph nor loss, sorrow nor relief. Take comfort in those around you. We are in this as one."
Thea startled as a hand slid into hers. Aaryn leaned forward, as captivated by Vaelen as everyone else. She had that effect.
Thea threaded their fingers together and tried to ignore her pulse.
"These nights are special, here..." Somehow, Vaelen found Thea in the crowd, the flames marbling her face as she met Thea's gaze, smile soft and nostalgic.
"It was a night like this that I lost a bet over a toke of moon bloom, and a tradition was born," she said, lifting her banded arm.
"To proudly display our circles we earned for building a life for ourselves, for looking out for one another.
To memorialize not our losses or our struggles, but our home, in which we are so very honored to offer you refuge.
Nature gives as much as she takes. And tonight she offers warmth. "
Under a wave of Vaelen’s hand, the fire hissed, pretty pink sparks floating up from the blaze like stars.
Some of the crowd gasped—as did Aaryn—and some hooted in support.
"She offers healing." Green sparks fluttered up from the flames, followed by more cheers.
Aaryn squeezed Thea's hand as she glanced over, eyes wide with thrill.
"She offers community." This time blue sparks flew, and the crowd burst into excited delight.
"Let this night bring us closer,” Vaelen said. “There are those who would tear us apart because they know we are stronger together. We must not let them win."
The crowd was louder than ever, and Vaelen lifted her hands. The fire exploded in a rainbow of sparks as she shouted, "Let's celebrate!"
Aaryn released Thea’s hand and clapped, yelling loudly with those around them, her energy and volume a sacrifice to the young night.
Thea knew Vaelen was powerful and demanded respect, but Thea had eyes only for Aaryn, cast in soft yellow light from the fire, hair ablaze though they were dozens of feet away from the flames.
Vaelen disappeared from her post, melting into the crowd, and Aaryn slumped against the tree.
"Want to tell me the lore there?" Aaryn asked.
Thea played dumb. "What lore?"
"Something about traditions? Over moon bloom?" she teased, waving her fingers over the pipe.
Thea groaned, leaning her head back. Vaelen really did have it out for her!
"It's… silly."
"Tell me anyway," Aaryn said, and well, when she was looking at Thea like that…
"It was years ago. When the circle was still new and growing," Thea began.
"We were celebrating, like Vaelen said." She waved a hand around.
"Just on a smaller scale. Nothing like all of this.
Skies, there were only a few dozen of us.
I was young, and excited, and I wanted Vaelen to be recognized for her leadership.
So…." Thea sighed. "I suggested we come up with a way to honor those who lend their magic to the creation of the circle. A piercing, a tattoo, a—"
"Shaved line in your brow?" Aaryn asked.
Thea flushed. "Yes. Some people don't like tattoos, you know? Or their body rejects the metal."
Aaryn nodded.
“At first it was a game. If I won, I got to pierce Vaelen's brow. If she won, she got to pierce mine."
"And…?" Aaryn prompted, leaning forward. "I take it you won?"
"Of course."
"Aww," Aaryn said, completely delighted and all the more adorable for it. "It was really sweet of her to let you win."
Thea sputtered. Vaelen didn't let her win!