Reunion Pt. 1

"Illia!" Crescent yelled, plummeting over the edge. Her hazel eyes gleamed in the glowing light of the chamber, with small droplets brimming the edges.

"Such a foolish girl."

She caught Crescent in her arms, her body groaning against the downward force. Her knees buckled slightly, though she instantly corrected her stance. She didn't want Crescent to know how weak she'd become.

"I did not believe it when they told me," Quelurillian said, embracing Crescent into the tightest squeeze she could muster. "I was sure… Why?"

"I should be asking you that! You left without even saying goodbye, and for what? For my own good? You didn't even try to talk to me!" Though she was berating Quelurillian, she had a smile that seemed to illuminate the whole chamber.

"The way you looked at me and your words… I assumed—"

Crescent's silky lips pressed against Quelurillian's, stealing her breath. Her cold innards flooded with the soothing warmth she had nearly forgotten over the last few weeks. Every inch of Crescent's body that pressed against hers electrified her, and she scooped the girl's legs up and cradled her.

"Are you sure I'm not the princess?" Crescent giggled grinning. She burrowed her forehead into the crook of Quelurillian's shoulder. Then her mirth faded and a remorseful shadow overtook her. "I'm sorry I just blamed you for leaving. I'm the one that should be apologizing for how I acted. I was scared and upset, but I need you to know I don't see you as a monster. I'm a terrible partner."

"Do not chastise yourself," Quelurillian whispered, ignoring the fixated stares of the humans above. "I too acted rashly. So let us forget the past and find succor in our reunion."

"I am… But you know you're naked, right?"

Quelurillian looked down at her exposed body and it shook with laughter. She had assumed her natural form since she left the surface and forgotten to create garments when she transformed. All she had on was her sacred hat.

"Give me a moment," she said. She moved to set Crescent down, but she stopped her.

"I don't want to get wet," Cress mumbled meekly into Quelurillian's hard chest. "And… I don't mind. It's cute that you're still wearing your Christmas present."

Quelurillian looked away, her face ablaze. She was thankful she couldn't sweat.

"Hey! I'm sorry to interrupt your touching reunion, but I want to see Illy, too!"

Crescent sighed and nudged Quelurillian with her head. They leapt up the fifteen foot wall to the others, with Cress clinging to Quelurillian's arm even after she set her down.

"Ooo. So this is what Illy looks like naked," Kirian purred, earning her slap on the head from Vianna. Ian's cheeks were red and his eyes were locked to the ground. "I'm so jelly! Though I didn't expect no nipples."

"She's not a mammal," Vianna said. Her sharp brown eyes never left Ian as if she was daring him to look. "If anything it's strange she has breasts at all."

Soft brown hair rubbed against Quelurillian's arm, drawing her attention back to the only person who mattered. She didn't mind entertaining the others, but she toyed with the idea of hanging from the ceiling for a spell.

"Boobies aside, how did you know it was her, Cress? I totally thought we were about to die!"

"I could just tell," Crescent replied. "I should have been as scared as you guys, but something in my heart told me it was fine."

"It's just like a movie where the pretty girl sees the furry guy for who he is before he transforms into a handsome prince!"

"Princess," Crescent corrected with a grin. Then she looked up and whispered. "Are you alright? Your face looks thin and your skin is soft. Have you been eating?"

"I am just a bit weary," Quelurillian said, kissing the top of Crescent's head. "Since my departure I have been pouring what little mana I have left into the gateway."

"Gateway? Does that mean you found a way home?"

"She has," an old yet young voice said. A dozen witches followed the woman, including the wench, Sivan. "This is The Heart of the City."

Crescent's nose wrinkled and her hazel eyes narrowed behind her spectacles. "How convenient for you to know after sending Illia on a goose chase."

The old hag shrugged as a younger blond witch helped her adjust her brown shawl. "Why is it my fault if you two are a bit dense? Or were you too busy going to festivals and parties?"

"I think I know," Sivan faded away, reappearing next to Crescent and putting her arm over her shoulder. Crescent instantly recoiled and Quelurillian swatted the woman away like she was a buzzing bee.

"Keep your distance, Witch. Your presence is difficult to tolerate as it is. If you touch my mate again, I promise I will devour you and your entire coven."

"As if you could," Sivan cackled, appearing next to Ian and poking his side. He jumped with a start and Vianna pushed her away.

"Since when did you start working with witches?"

"Since these foul hags revealed who they truly are; they are descendants of the ancients who forged the lily coin."

Crescent's eyes widened and she did a double take at the coven. "How is that possible?"

"Is it really so hard to believe our ancestors could travel between worlds? You two have already experienced it yourself."

"Then why didn't you help Illia sooner?!" Crescent stomped her way to Yara and grabbed the witch by her shawl. The rest of the witch's coven moved to intervene, but Yara raised a hand to stop them.

"How could we? The Princess can attest to what little mana we have inherited. Only young Sivan here has any real magic to speak of."

"That's right," Sivan said with a grin. "I've been helping your precious spider charge the gateway to take us all home."

"This is crazy," Ian muttered. He squeezed Vianna's hand and shook his head. "Giant spiders, witches, other worlds…"

"Welcome to my life over the past few months."

Clenching her jaw to fight down the swelling in her chest, Quelurillian wrapped Crescent with webbing from her fingers and yanked her back to her side, making sure the strands vanished before Crescent felt trapped. Working with the sorceresses had already drained her patience and it was getting increasingly difficult to tolerate them and other humans; she hadn't expected Crescent to return to her and she wanted time to themselves. There were innumerable things she wanted to discuss, a hundred apologies she wanted to give, and a thousand kisses she wanted to shower Crescent with. The portal was almost finished and their final time together was being tainted by refuse.