On Flowers

Hearing her own words fully articulated clearly surprised Sayane. Such forwardness was not something she was used to saying. Yet there she was, saying what she was desiring. And she desired Azag. Fear of the unknown future, coupled with a concern that they might all die in the coming weeks left little room for hesitation in Sayane’s heart. But most importantly, she had achieved true confidence in these recent months. No longer would she hold back on her words or speak softly.

Azag had told her he had reservations. She had no desire to disrespect those reservations or step on his autonomy, but she also felt he needed some form of encouragement. Secret urgency, fueled by fear, told Sayane she would need to be the one to encourage him.

Anahita drifted upwards from Sayane’s hand to reach Sayane’s face.

“Do you know what I love most about humes?” Anahita asked in a sultry voice.

“What?” Sayane asked.

“Your skin. You are all so very vulnerable. No scales. No fur. No hardened hides to protect you. Just your soft skin…” Anahita said as she fluttered along Sayane’s neck and up to her chin.

“W-what are you implying?” Sayane asked.

Anahita came to rest on Sayane’s shoulder and slowly pulled Sayane’s collar to the side, revealing her collarbone.

“Perhaps it’s time to be a little more ‘vulnerable’ with him,” Anahita purred as her minuscule feet danced along Sayane’s skin.

Her message was received, and Sayane blushed once more.

“I don’t know… would t-that not be indecent for a songstress?” Sayane stuttered in concern.

Anahita came to a stop and turned to face her.

“Is it indecent when flowers pollinate? Does every being in the world need to have society’s approval before they bond with another?”

Sayane shook her head.

“You are a songstress, Sayane. Not a temple maiden sworn from worldly existence. Your song brings life and color to the world, healing the hurt and guiding the lost. To bond with another can do the very same thing. Especially if your heart is fearful that your time is dwindling…”

Sayane glanced up in surprise.

“How did you know?” she asked.

“A woman’s words are layered in ways that most men would miss. But I heard you speak of the end of your journey. And the color of your eyes darkens when you are alone with your thoughts. You fear your time here is ending?”

Sayane bit the back of her bottom lip and nodded.

“Is it true that most ethereals disappeared as randomly as they appeared?” Sayane whispered.

Anahita’s hand touched Sayane’s shoulder in comfort.

“I am sorry to say, yes.”

Though it was not unexpected, the confirmation from an ancient being hit Sayane’s heart harder than her own abstract fear. Stinging tears bit at Sayane’s eyes and she blinked them away as she steadied her breathing and let the scent of the dampened moss greet her nose.

“I’ve only barely begun to know this realm and it has already filled my heart so fully…” she whimpered.

“There was still so much I wanted to learn about and see,” Sayane said as she held a limp, curled leaf that hung from an undernourished vine nearby.

“You may still have time yet,” Anahita replied as she slid onto the leaf and watched a tiny flower unfurl at the edge of its stem.

“What wonder,” Sayane sighed as she watched the tiny pink flower open with a faint glow of pink.

“It truly was wondrous. Once. Once the world was so full of color and spirit. Now, even the trees refuse to fruit and the flowers must be coaxed to bloom,” Anahita sighed.

“Because of The Silence?” Sayane asked.

“No, I believe it is more than that. Beyond song, my people thrive on the hope of others. Their innate desire to carry on. That is what bonding and blooming are at their most basic forms- the desire for life to carry on, even after you are gone. Unfortunately, as hope faded with every year, our people lost our connection to the people of the realms and the natural world as well. Now, most stay hidden in our grove and are barely able to convince a single flower to bloom.”

It was strange to imagine that beings made of such natural hormonal intensity were struggling with purpose as well. But Anahita’s words and reflections were true. For Sayane, she realized that her desire for Azag might be exactly what this moment needed. If the fae were in need of help in their efforts to help keep life continuing on, Sayane knew that her next song could be a tool to do so.

“What about your kind?” Sayane asked.

“Hmm?” Anahita asked.

“Your kind. Do you bond?” Sayane asked.

“Not to reproduce no. Just to strengthen one another. It is a communal affair, but it has been quite some time since such an event happened. The passion is gone, I fear.”

Sayane was more than a little flustered as she interpreted the wording of ‘communal affair,’ but she didn’t let it stop the vision session that was now dancing through her mind with sensual delight.

A rush of warmth moved across her chest and down towards her stomach. Anahita noticed and turned.

“Do you think I could help you all? If you all gathered. Aside from helping me free the Great Harmony Shard from the Dissonance, do you think my music could revive your people?” Sayane asked.

Anahita’s wings flitted with a hum of excitement.

“You would do that for us? We are already more than willing to assist you in freeing the Shard, regardless. But to do that for us…” Anahita asked.

“You said it yourself. I am here to help bring color and life back to the world. I want to help your kind bring flowers back to the world!” Sayane said with a set mind.

Anahita was close now. Her tiny finger reached out and ran along Sayane’s bottom lip.

“And by my dripping lips, when you perform, I will help you lose your flowers…”

Sayane did not blush this time.

“I need to go speak with Can-Mo about my next stage outfit. He’s going to need less fabric than we originally planned.”