Enemy Mine

[Ayda Elisantra]

Skye's hand was outstretched for Ayda to take, so why were she hesitant to reach up? This was Skye, not mask.

It were apparent Ayda's hesitation. But it were not one of fear, no.
No, she didn't fear Skye...not this Skye. Her spirit had no fear of her. In fact, her spirit didn't have any fear at all, just that her mortal self had somehow developed an instinctual caution like reflex. It were nothing short of a learned behavioral trait much like that of a child learning the pain of a burn from fire. It was something by which Ayda had to be coaxed in overcoming. And coaxed Skye did, urging her to take her hand.

In less than a quick hop and tug from Skye, Ayda was atop on the upper room of the chamber. Oddly enough, besides what appeared to be a cache of dry woods, there was what she had come to recall as a shipping box of some kind. The sort of containers she had come across many times before on vessels and transports. But why was it up there and how did it come to be there, she wondered.

And as she soon discovered, it had been Skye whom had come across it and brought it over, while she had been in her deep sleep days before. This took Ayda to wonder more about that..her sleep. It had come about on its own and with little to no dreams it seemed..or any that..... she........ could........... remember.
Wait-
She suddenly recalled a shard of a dream. A dream she had no dominion over. That all too familiar voice she had known so long ago and thought it expelled, she took to remembering. But it weren't clear. Not like the dreams she normally would be part of. Had those old dreams returned?
Ayda barely remembered those old dreams also, as she were much younger when she had expelled them. But the old dreams were of little importance as she were awake now, and those dreams along with the last one were distant enough not to linger around any further, like her willed ones were.

While she were still gathering her thoughts, Skye was there close to her side. And she were still in remorse about what her masked self had done. It were something Skye herself found difficult to get over and even forgive herself.
Ayda wanted so much to ask Skye to stop. It were not what she wanted, not now at least to have Skye be so sad. After all, it were not really Skye whom had hurt her so, but the mask. Still, it were comforting to her at the moment to have Skye without mask speaking to her without anger. As thus, she didn't stop Skye from getting her feelings out. It were good for the spirit...for both their spirits.

Ayda looked about the upper chamber, nodding her anxiousness in having Skye go and start that fire she so wanted to warm up to. And with ease, there was fire...and with it, came light.
Ayda were immediately drawn to it. And with Skye's invite to sit, she had no reservations in doing so, drawing herself closer to it and sitting by the warmth of the fire.
Skye did same, sitting next to her. Only now and for the few minutes following, they sat there in silence again. It weren't awkward by any means, just peaceful.

"I don't know where I went, actually..." Ayda broke silence.
"Really nowhere..." She had even less recollection of it now as that dream had for the most part dissipated almost in its entirety.
"I'm OK though... still here...just- " She shivered a second, as her temple shed the remnants of a few days of cold. her body temp had in fact dipped a bit, and only to rise just below norm before awakening. This in a way was like she had hibernated and were coming out of it slowly. perhaps it were her means of healing, perhaps nothing at all. The fact that she remembered little of the days gone by made her realize what Skye had said a few minutes before down below. Skye too had noticed the Summer heat had been absent. It were so unlike what Ayda had read up on Dagobah, back before she left Utapah.
Utapah...the Galactic Alliance...
THAT, she remembered vividly. Well why not, right? It had been less than two weeks ago.

"...just that-
We don't belong here." She said, almost as if she had a revelation. Almost.
Only it were a partial one...a connection to the universe that somehow was-...'off '

"Skye..." She turned to her, thinking maybe perhaps it were the concept of their initial alliances, or at least Skye's interpretation of it that were causing her to feel so..so, off the plane.
yet, she had felt their similarities a while back, even before their ordeal within the labyrinth. Ayda couldn't place it before, and it sure as hell still eluded her, but they were so alike in more ways than both could understand at this moment in time.

"...I am not an enemy.
Not your enemy, nor anyone else's. I know you've known that for most of our ordeal. Fear has a way of darkening things which are not immediately understood. It changes people, like the mask changes you. But fear were given to us for a reason. It is not so unnatural as the feeling of joy...love...hate. " She continued, more of trying to describe in her own words what she herself were able to understand.
"All these emotions will always be a part of us. It is how we make use of them that determins who we are and will be."

The flames danced their shadows around in what at first seemed like a feverish dance of two darkened spirits against the stone cold walls. She watched the flames flickering this way and that, making for their shadows to meld and dance like two untamed spirits.
Ayda turned from the frenzy of their dancing shadows to Skye, whom was aglow by the warm fire light when she invited her to sit.
Her orbs took a moment to absorb Skye's soft features. Yes, there was much remorse in not only Skye's tone, but her demeanor. All that which had transpired between them in so many wrong turns, could well be vanquished like the smoke upon which the fire expelled. But there were just as many rights...just as many good things by which had made them survive Dagobath too. There had been nothing but death all around them. Even Dagobah had wanted to devour them at every turn...yet, they prevailed...both of them.

"I know it weren't you, Skye. There's nothing for me to forgive you for."

Ayda drew closer to the fire, now that the flames had taken to a steady burn.
"And I don't think forgiving the mask would mean anything more.
It is not a living thing...but one made of darkness pitch. It cannot be forgiven, for it has no soul. It will never feel remorse, pain.... love.
It only feels the need to feed, to devour more of your spirit." She looked into Skye's eyes who seemed ablaze in reflection of the fire she had created to warm her.

"The mask has taken a part of you which it holds fast. You cannot destroy it and not loose that part of you in which it possesses not be lost forever. It is what some refer as their demon, Skye. The mask is your demon.
We all have one, in one form or aspect.
I have one too.
I know I do, for I felt it's presence a long time ago... and just before." Her head dipped low, finally coming to terms that what she thought had passed, had not at all ever left her. It followed her....always. At least while she were in mortal form.
it were the price she and Skye too paid for having souls. Their temple could be infiltrated by darkness..by hate. By the very fear given onto them upon creation. And with that, they had the capacity of love, compassion.... enlightenment.
All these and more were what made them mortal. And it were their ability to balance them all, which made them who they were and define their spirit, their soul.

"...and I fear mine.
Fear that it will one day take hold of me, change me...eat away a part of me, that I don't wish to part with." No, she didn't wish to change. Grow, yes.
Yes, she had much to learn and experience. And in doing it in the light as she were, it was what she felt deepheartedly she would want till her time here were spent. And then there would be her own journey to everlasting light.
This was what she wanted.

Then she shifted somewhat and leaned her back more against Skye, trying to shake that last bit of cold off.
Taking hold of Skye's hand to wrap it around her, certainly helped. Ayda wasn't as layered in dress as Skye was apparently, and it were something she unconsciously did; draw Skye closer to her for her back still held a chill.

 

[Skye Achlys]

Skye listened to Ayda speak her mind, and did not protest as the other girl made herself a bit more comfortable near the fire.

She knew that most of what Ayda said -if not all- was true, yet she could not help but blame herself for what had happened. In the end, it had still been her who put on the mask and her who thrusted the blade into Ayda. For that, she could probably never forgive herself, even if Ayda seemed to have healed miraculously well.

Skye silently cursed their situation in her head, but silently loved it just much, if not more. If it hadn't been for these strange things they had encountered, they would never have developed whatever bond they had now. Perhaps Skye had even killed Ayda eventually, without feeling bad about it in any way.

That was no longer possible, as Skye was disgusted by the mere thought of hurting Ayda by now. Funny how things could go, any other battle scenario, and Skye would have cut Ayda down herself, but not now. Now she had been tending the girl's wounds and keeping her safe.

As Ayda took a hold of Skye's hand and wrapped it around her, the dark haired woman didn't protest. Skye just smiled as she kept gazing into the fire and occasionally casting a glance towards the girl lying against her.

"But you needn't fear yours, Ayda", Skye eventually replied, softly. "We all have emotions, is what you're basically saying. Like you said yourself, fear or hatred is just as natural as joy and happiness and... love", she mumbled, the last part silently.

Skye had to admit, she knew little about most of this, but she did know a few things at least. And although Ayda's descriptions of this presence hadn't been very eye opening for Skye, she still offered her thoughts on the matter.

"You fear this... demon inside you, while we all have something like it. Give it a place, Ayda", Skye mumbled as she turned a bit, so she could look at the girl who was leaning against her. "You fear it will consume you, but it won't. I promise you that. As long as you give it a place inside your head, as long as you accept it is there, you won't have to worry about it."

With one of her hands still wrapped around the younger girl, she used her other hand to gently caress Ayda's arms. "By worrying about all of this the way you do right now, you will achieve that which you don't want to. If you keep thinking, worrying about it every so often, it might, yes, consume you. Because eventually through your paranoia it will become the only thing you can think about. Don't let that happen."

Skye sighed peacefully as she gazed towards the fire again with the lovely girl at her side.

"I can't say I know what you feeling. I can't say I know what it is you feel. But I can say that if you keep calm, that if you don't worry too much about it, you will find the strength to keep any 'demons' at bay."

"You're strong, Ayda. Stronger than you might think", she sweetly added as she looked at the younger girl again.

"I have done so much wrong to you, and now here you are, leaning against me and... lying in... in my embrace. I doubt there's anything that can break you and how you want to be. I doubt there's anything or anyone in this galaxy that can change you, Ayda."

"You might be the strongest person I've ever met, in a way", she said, her tone sweeter than ever before.

 

[Ayda Elisantra]

The warmth of the fire had taken the chill out of the air, but it were Skye who seemed to comfort her most.

Ayda understood and could in her own way put together what Skye were meaning. But as it made sense, it also didn't, for that demon upon which Ayda had felt hanging over her since she could remember were not of her making..nor of her temple. It had always been a vagrant darkness that had always seemed to be lingering near, yet never able to reach her. Ayda had come to know of it's nature through the years. It wished to posses her temple, oust her gone. But it somehow did not posses the strength or will to do it on its own.

Ayda couldn't explain it. Could not elaborate on it more than she had already to Skye. It were still alien enough to her, to not completely understand as to why or even whom it were or how it even came to be. But all of her conscious life, she knew it were not wanted. And of those words echoing 'be a good girl' had never come to fade in her heart. It had been the doorway for her to not cower within her shell, but to eventually emerge, spread her wings and see creation through enlightened eyes in her spiritual form. This had come about in a way and means much like evolution. Only it had spanned her lifetime, and not millenniums.

It were that warm embrace, cuddled in Skye's arms listening to her gentle voice, like that of a calm sea caressing the shoreline that she drifted into sleep. The cold, her energy spent in healing had taken it's toll on her temple. It were a mortal body, made of flesh and bone. It had its needs and limits. And right now it were in a warm and secure place, held with kindness, caring and love... ideal environment for her to let go and drift off to sleep.

She could have guessed it transpired that very moment she let go, only in reality it were many hours before her spirit took to open her eyes. dagobah was in a much different hue, it was night and darkness inside were still lit by the flames. Only Ayda's spirit could not feel the flames, but the warmth of Skye's own soul.
She remained there in near the same statue as her mortal self, embraced by Skye's own sleeping spirit. Ayda could have risen, walked through not only her mortal body, but that of Skye. Only somehow she didn't desire it.

Ayda had fallen asleep and somehow for whatever reason, Skye had not laid her to rest, but fell asleep herself holding her.
Ayda's spirit remained as such for a while longer.. lingering there between her mortal sleeping temple and that of Skye. But time was irrelevant in spiritual form, as it were not in any sense like she were waiting, but that of one's conscious existing outside of time's restraints. Hours may have passed as Dagobah spun on its axis, but Ayda's spirit remained where she were. Remained till Skye's dream took to form out of the void.
And form it did.

She watched as Skye seemed to search in darkness dream... till light formed her a place, a setting by which were of Skye's own setting. It were Dagobah as it once or should one day in its time line come to exist. But it were not Dagobah by any means of what their conscious selves had just experienced. Ayda's spirit stirred for she were drawn to her name. It were Skye's desire to find her...call for her.
In the dream, Skye were in what Ayda could decipher to understand was ceremonial armor of the likeness she had never seen. And Skye were searching for her, calling out her name within the canopy of blossoming trees...pollen, petals seemed to float about as she searched through the forest for Ayda. And then Skye's perception of Ayda were found.

It were a curious thing to observe a likeness of one's own temple in a dream...another soul's dream. Had Skye made such a bond?... Ayda's spirit took to wonder. Something of this nature she had never experienced. It were certainly drawing her into Skye's dream, to observe, to feel the magnitude of Skye calling her name as she searched through the serene forest... the anxiousness of Skye having her temple be found.
And she then observed Skye rushing over to the dreamed Ayda whom were sitting among the wildflowers, picking them and placing them on her lap... only to then turn with a wide smile at the realization that Skye had found her.
And then the embrace...
And the kiss.
This were observed by Ayda's spirit of what Skye were dreaming of.
It were love.
This Ayda's spirit could only half understand. Yes, there existed love between the two souls....but of the kiss?

​Her spirit drawn to the dream, she entered. It were nothing more at first than a stray of sunlight filtering through the forest, only to then become concentrated, take shape into her natural form...barring any physical embellishment. Her nakedness were without shame, for she were of pure spirit, and such matters were not made corrupt.
Ayda in light shadow came about from the surrounding trees... at first unnoticed even by her dreamed self, for it were a creation of Skye. And her likeness did neither notice, nor could of noticed. Not until Skye noticed her. Then Skye's created version of her also turned to look, before vanishing among the flower patch, where only Ayda's spirit and Skye's dreaming self existed.
And then the sea.
The waters soon started to lap closer, enveloping the flower beds and the firmness of the forest. Then too the forest came to vanish, reforming the dream back to the same beach and shoreline by which Skye had dreamed many times before.

"You see me now..." Ayda asked, in what was more a statement. It were both, all.

The two in their own means were once again in the same setting as when Ayda first gazed into Skye's dream. When? It was irevelant, as time understood, did not exist here. Only this time Ayda's form were complete, as it were her spirit in true form. But Skye were still in her dream self, however at times Skye's spirit took to peer out...uncertain of it dominion.

Ayda outstretched her hand to the dreaming Skye, speaking through it, to Skye's spirit which peered at her not knowing if it could step out.
"The dream will continue...you need not hold it so fast." Ayda's spirit knew that Skye's spirit were reluctant to step out, for it assumed her mortal self would awaken and then the dream along with Ayda's spirit would vanish.

"You will know what truly exists within your temple. It is how I learned to understand of my creation. We are of the same creation...and could be of everlasting light. Even in mortal form, you known to exist ..." her hand extended further.

"We've shared our light before...in the darkness void of the labyrinth." She said, in such an angelic tone that it were no doubt spoken in truth. Yes, Ayda's spirit had shared the same existence in the labyrinth, on the floor of the chamber by which they found freedom. Ayda had collapsed in exhaustion and soon Skye had done also, falling on top of Ayda till the morning light awakened them. But during most of pre-dawn, Ayda's spirit had risen and had sat up, between her and Skye, melding for a while with Skye's own spirit which at the time had been dormant.

"Let our spirit light touch..." She were asking for them to touch hands.
It were a start in showing Skye's spirit how easy it were to step out of her bounds... and be free of inhibitions.

"...and you'll begin to know more."

 

[Skye Achlys]

As Skye spoke comforting words, she started to feel Ayda dose off. She continued speaking, a bit softer, while making sure to keep Ayda in a comfortable and warm embrace. After a while the girl did in fact fall asleep. The idea of laying her to sleep crossed Skye's mind for a moment, but as she looked at Ayda's peaceful face she preferred to hold her for a bit longer. Yet, not long after Ayda fell asleep, an odd wave of tiredness washed over her. It didn't take long before Skye then too fell asleep, with the younger redhead still in her arms.


She rushed through the forest.

Where had she gone? Where was she?
The only thought in her mind was a simple task. To find Ayda.

She honestly didn't know why, and neither did she think about it. She moved through the woods, calling out to find the girl. It was beautiful here, and occasionally Skye took half a second to look at the trees and at the petals floating in the air.

And then, finally, there she was, sitting amongst beautiful flowers, but, of course the flowers were nothing in beauty compared to what was sitting amongst them. Skye walked over to Ayda slowly but impatient. She sat down, next to the girl, stared at her for a few seconds before they embraced, before they... kissed.

And while the whole scenario of the two love birds continued in the distance, Skye conciousness were someplace else, confused. It were like she was aware of the fact it was a dream, but only half of the time. The awareness slipping away just as often as it returned.

Skye didn't feel anything when the forest around her slowly disappeared, and neither did had she felt grief or fear when Ayda disappeared. Her mind still dulled and slow, because this had in fact been a dream, she looked towards the strange light, still unable to see what had invaded her place.

It was only when the waves had fully taken a hold of its domain again and Skye was once again standing on the beach, only then did her mind become more aware.

Skye took a few thoughtful second before she responded.

"Yes," she said softly," I see you."

As Skye laid her eyes upon Ayda, she reluctantly averted her gaze, slightly confused.

"You are... Not dressed", she mumbled. There was a feeling of awkwardness inside of her thanks to Ayda's nakedness, but as Ayda spoke to her, the feeling quickly disappeared, causing Skye to look at the younger girl again.

All feelings of awkwardness were gone and she found herself looking at Ayda with peace and calm.

"The labyrinth", Skye repeated silently. She had felt something there. In fact, she had felt something multiple times. And now it slowly started to make sense to her.

But there was still the dreaming part of her mind, reluctant to to trust this woman and eager to go back to where she had been before... back to the beautiful forest and back to her beautiful Ayda.

But as Ayda spoke again, and outstretched her hand, all of the multiple encounters with this spirit form of Ayda flashed inside Skye's memory. She had to know. She had to do what it said.

The voice was so soothing, so calm and sweet... It was... angelic even. Where it had first been Skye who spoke comforting words, it was now Ayda who did so.
So she walked forward, and then she streched her arm, reaching for Ayda's hand with her own. After holding back for a few more doubtful seconds, she took a brave dive into the dark, or into the light actually, and let her own hand touch Ayda's.

When they touched, and unexplained feeling washed over her and for a brief moment all she could see was a bright light.

 

[Ayda Elisantra]

It were not a confusing statement by which Skye had observed to say, but nevertheless Ayda took to examine her form.
Yes, she were in pure spirit form and in the likeness of her physical temple...just not Then again, they were created in the likeness of the Creator and shared same form, both in body and spirit.

In pure spirit form, Ayda nor other spirits had any need or notions of projecting any articles, like clothing or anything but themselves really. The only real aspiration to swathe her spirit in, were to nestle it within her own given temple.... which for the most part was currently in a hibernating stasis. Her body seemed asleep, resting on that of Skye whom was in fact really asleep. But Ayda's body were not dreaming nor were it even conscious with her spirit apart from it. It were just functioning like as if it were in a coma, for her spirit were outside it's realm of existence.
In other words, her body was not at all occupied for Ayda were outside of it.

But this comatose state her body had to learn.
Learn to keep it's vitals going... it's heart pumping and it's diaphragm working it's lungs. The rest followed. If one were to put her on a medical bed, there would be no brain activity...she would be considered brain dead.
Basically, Ayda at a young age had to get her body to learn to remain functioning, while her spirit took to leaving it. In the beginning she could barely completely disconnect at all, having to hold a sort of tether, like a handhold...a connection to her body. For without spirit, a physical body dies, as it is with all life forms.

But through the years her body learned to keep itself alive, as Ayda's spirit left it for a split second, then worked it to a few...
As she conditioned her temple to hold it worked it's way up to a minute, then many more. Currently she could now step out for hours...days even, if she didn't have that gravitational urge to envelop herself within her temple. Her body and spirit were strongly connected, like everyone's. A spirit were born and became aware within it's temple. It were meant to stay a physical lifetime until the temple could no longer sustain it.

And as she gazed upon her own body next to Skye's, they were both clothed for warmth. Yes, in their physical form, their bodies wore clothing for many reasons besides covering their nakedness. They were God's first children...angels in many ways. But they were also a prerequisites of mankind. If mankind were to describe them, they would see them as hybrids...beings that bridged angels to mankind.

"You are still bound to your physical entity...you see me as I am, but you are still in a dream, Skye." Ayda drew closer to Skye's spirit which in fact were still within it's temple. It were a state between pure spirit and Skye dreaming, holding on to the physical brick and mortar of her existence.
Ayda were taking care of not to have Skye's spirit become disconnected with it's physical body, lest her temple would die. Skye would have to let her body learn. Learn to keep it alive while her spirit stepped out.

"As long as you remain connected to your temple, you bring along with you it's physical attributes...the limitations and inhibitions by which you have come to accept.
Your ability to remain between awake and asleep is a beginning nonetheless..."
Ayda then recreated the very same Ayda which she had observed in Skye's dream. It formed much like Skye had come to construct her. There, before Skye's still somewhat half dream/conscious state, formed the very same Ayda along with the wildflowers.
Now there were two Ayda's.... the pure spirit form in all of her nakedness, and the dreamed up Ayda whom Skye had previously created.
Ayda's spirit approached the dream version of herself and smiled.

"You have made her...me...beautiful..." She got closer to the dreamed version of herself to understand it better.
It were in the likeness of her, only-

"You kept all of the likeness which inspire you of my physical self. " Aday's spirit then said, as she turned to Skye.
It were apparent that Skye had recreated Ayda in her mind as her heart desired to see her. It weren't that Ayda physically were not beautiful, just that Skye's version were of what her heart and mind were fixated on. It made Ayda's dreamed version much like that of her spiritual self...perfect. Perfect, like all spirits were perfect in the eyes of God. Only that Skye made Ayda's dreamed physical version just as perfect in complexion, outlook, mannerism and all of what her heart saw of Ayda.
Ayda's spirit understood why Skye did that, and was pleased.

"Your heart are the eyes which sparked your mind to create what you feel of me."
Ayda's likeness then dissipated, like it had done just before Skye became aware of her spirit in the dream.

Her spirit understood now as to Skye's turmoil around her physical self. Yet Ayda had never much experienced it herself. That is, not till she had spent some time together with Skye here on Dagobah...both good and bad times... both the anger and the laughter...the scolding and the cuddling. All were begotten from the same emotional turmoil; love.

"It is nothing upon which to fear in the waking state. That which creates conflict within you, is both of light and darkness. It is no different than the strife between your feelings and reasoning. "
Love was both light and darkness in balance. It balanced the universe. It were a physical attribute to everything, including energy and matter.
Love itself could entice death in their infinite extremes.

"I felt it throughout the labyrinth. You were nearly there many times, as you are now here. Only the darkness which you have put in the keep of the ornate vessel (the mask) is what impeded you.
Yet it is part of you, for you have placed much of your fears within it's keep, and with it, part of yourself..." Ayda understood as to why Skye found it difficult to not discard the mask, for it held a part of Skye.

It would have to be something by which Skye herself would have to solve...how to co-exist with the mask, for the mask had seemed to become a part of her.

 

[Skye Achlys]

Skye listened to Ayda, or the angel looking like Ayda, whoever she was, without saying a word. She was entranced by her tone, her words, her looks, her... her everything.

"This... vessel you speak of. I know what you mean", she then hesitantly replied. "But it is necessary to complete certain goals, and without it, we might not have been alive anymore. I wouldn't have been alive, at least."

She then took a while to observe the girl before her. She wanted to hug the woman. She wanted to tell her how she truly felt about the girl, and she wanted to do so much more. But she feared she couldn't. Not here anyway. Not in this state. Then again, in their physical bodies, she would probably not dare to say anything on her own either, but that was a problem for later.

"What... who are you?", she then asked. She was confused, and, not only that. She was also wary, a bit afraid even. This state, it was too new, too strange and unknown to her. She didn't feel at ease, even though she felt a warm comforting feeling wash over her. She wanted to be with her Ayda. The physical Ayda. The angel before her claimed to be the same Ayda, and Skye believed her, but she would feel more at ease talking in their awakened state. There Skye knew the rules, knew the dangers, knew what to expect and what to do. But not here, wherever she was. Here she knew nothing, nothing at all, and it made her nervous. What could she expect, what was happening, would this happen again, was she still on Dagobah or had she been... moved? So many questions, and much more, swarmed through her head, but she didn't ask a single one.

She wanted to hug and approach the angelic Ayda, and yet she didn't. She was too shy, too nervous, like a child thrown into a big and unknown world, or universe even. She began to hyperventilate a bit, for as much as that was possible. Not knowing what to do, not knowing what was safe, not knowing where she was... all these things caused her to slowly feel the relaxing and soothing feeling to go away. She didn't want it to go, so, in a scared attempt, she streched out her hand, in the hopes Ayda would take a hold of it. If Ayda took her hand, she knew she would be safe. Ayda would guide her, and protect her. In this realm, she trusted Ayda with her life. So she looked at the beautiful woman with expectation, waiting and hoping for the woman to gently take a hold of her hand, and to set her mind at ease.

 

[Ayda Elisantra]

She herself had never experienced the spiritual connection through a soul's semi conscious state. It were like a bridge between the two unknowns. one factor was that Ayda had never felt the need or the draw to be close to any living soul. The other was that Skye had never experienced an out of body, but conscious existence. Both seemed to be on two different plateaus connected with a bridge which neither side could clearly see to the other.

And as was to be expected, fear made the cloudiness even more obscure...like a mist, a fog suddenly enveloped that very bridge where the other sides were now all but lost to one another.
But Skye were reaching...reaching out in her dream state for her. Oh it would of been so easy to take her hand and transgress the distance between their two planes of existence. but this was not yet the time.
besides, Ayda had never reached out like that to any soul, unless it were to guide it toward the everlasting light.
But there was no light..not one which called out to Skye at least. It were not her time, not in a dream at least.

Ayda looked over to Skye and dropped her hands to her sides. Skye's eyes were wide shut for she were in a dream state, while she were in her pure.In a way, it really made little difference between the two spirits. Only one was between wake and dream...the other in her pure spiritual existence.

"Skye...the fire is dying."

The fog slowly had crept up from the sea, enveloping the beach front and then them both. It were cold now as the last remnant of blue sky disappeared. There was no wind, just the cold of darkness which now crept up around them till all of what was light became darkness.

"Skye...
Skye, wake up. It's cold..." Ayda nudged her companion who was just now stirring from her deep sleep.
They were both somehow huddled together...maybe the night which had once more brought the cold rain outside had made Skye huddle closer to Ayda as she slept for warmth.

"We're out of wood to burn..."
The sound of rain could be heard outside in the night. it was a cold rain. Too unnaturally cold for what again should be Dagobah's summer cycle. had this world succumbed to the sorrows of the galaxy at war? It certainly seemed so.

"I don't think we could go look for any dry wood outside either...." Ayda sadly said as Skye became more aware of where they were again. Her sleepish eyes looked over to Ayda. They were sad, like she had lost something dear to her.

Ayda's orbs were as wide as they could be, mirroring back at her in the fading light of embers dying. What little heat remained of their spent fire were deep in the gray ash before them... with the storm outside was sounding stronger. There was no doubt it were going to be a long and cold night.
Ayda then looked away from the sadness she saw in her eyes, pulling Skye's arms more tightly around her as she nestled closer for body warmth.

"It's still me you know...." Ayda then said in a soft tone as one would speak fading to sleep.

"...we'll figure it all out..." And she then fell asleep with Skye as her blanket.

 

[Skye Achlys]

As her sight slowly faded away thanks to the fog, so did the dream. She heard a voice. It was Ayda's voice, she knew that. She recognized it by now, in all of her variations.

Skye slowly opened her eyes, merely seeing shapes and not really processing any of it in the beginning. She could hear Ayda though, her voice almost as angelic as it had been in her dream. It spoke of fire, and cold. Yes, Skye could see it. The fire was dying.

It was dark in the room, now that their fire was dying, and Skye could barely see. But luckily, luckily she could still see Ayda's face as she spoke to her. There was just enough light left for this little moment. Just enough.

Skye looked at Ayda with a certain sadness in her eyes. She felt vulnerable, weak and little. She had felt alone in a way the entire time, until now. Until she and Ayda became a bit more... friendly to one another. And then there was that dream. And the Ayda in it. She couldn't recall much, but she remembered feeling the happiest she had felt in forever. A feeling that she had lost now. Possibly forever.

Skye felt a little bit better though, her eyes becoming a little bit more lively as Ayda wrapped Skye's arms around her. Her touch was welcome, her embrace exactly what Skye needed.

It was cold outside. The temperature mixed with the sound of the rain would have made Skye shiver all night long. But not now. Not with Ayda next to her.

The comfort of Ayda's embrace and the warmth of her voice shielded Skye from any cold. Ayda's voice rested her heart- it warmed her heart even. As Skye watched Ayda fall asleep she could do nothing but smile. She felt she too was extremely tired.

They needed wood. They needed a lot of things. But all of that would come tomorrow. Now, now they would rest peacefully in each others's embrace.
Skye looked at Ayda's peaceful face before she leaned towards her a bit, and finally planted a small and brief little kiss on the girl's cheek. After she had done so, Skye too fell asleep, with a wide smile on her face, and her arms wrapped around her Ayda.

 

[Ayda Elisantra]

Sleep is said to be good for the soul.

And when a pure soul sleeps without a wandering spirit in it's heart, it's an angelic like sleep. Ayda's spirit was no different than any spirit of mortal flesh really. It too at times would sleep without stirring or dreaming...much like that of the Creator whom had slept after She had complete all of the Heavens, then seeded them living souls. This creation, mortal beings came to call the Universe.

Out of Dagobah's early dawn, a thin ray of light broke through the morning mist, passing through the dense cold forest to make it's way to the small stone structure...seemingly feeling for life within.
And it soon did find a crevice to enter through, finding two sleeping souls in a cuddled embrace. The ray of sunlight hovered there above them awhile against the stone wall before it made it's way down to them. The flickering light rays were like long thin fingers of the star upon which gave life to Dagobah. It flickering slowly and steadily toward them, soon reaching to touch Ayda's cheek, dancing about her closed eyes... stirring the sleeping soul within.

Ayda's eyes opened to the spark of sunlight bidding her to awaken. She slowly did allowing the present to once more set in her mind's place. Dagobah, her conscious mind reminded her. Yet, there was no other place at the moment that she's of preferred, she was so at peace. And that peace became apparent as to why. She was cuddled in Skye's embrace. Ayda remained there for a while feeling Skye's gentle breath on the nape of her neck. it were warm and had staved the cold of the night away. Skye had keep her temple warm and safe through the night.

Oh how wonderful it were just laying there awakening with a kindred spirit in a mortal body, holding her as such. And this time she found herself not needing to emerge in spirit form, as she had done down in the cavern's of the labyrinth to realize that Skye was sleeping next to her. It were not at all necessary to do so, as she could now easily imagine..feel Skye wrapped around her.
It felt like an uplifting new dawn, after the passing of a storm...even if they were still on Dagobah.

"Sigh...." Dagobah, came to mind again, but in it's true form that she had experienced. One beautiful awakening moment of dawn could not diminish the fact that Dagobah wanted to claim them. Yes, they were still within the influence of Dagobah's dominion. It were something she still had no idea as how for them to overcome.

Still, as her eyes looked about the chamber they were in, Ayda knew this place had been somewhat made safe by Skye when she were recovering. Memories flooded back to her as she lay there. Skye had constructed a makeshift barrier..a door to keep out what they did not wish inside. Yes, she...they were safe still.
The presence made itself known, but it weren't as cold as the day, nor night past. Yet, why were it so unnaturally cold for the past few days, since they emerged out of the labyrinth?

Ayda slightly stirred, gently nudging Skye whom still had her arms wrapped warmly around her. She turned her head a bit around to see her still fast asleep. Her eyes traced the contour of her nose to her checks and then to her closed eyes... the rhythm of her breathing... her warm and gentle exhale on her own cheek. Ayda watched her a moment... maybe three...for a while at least.

"Skye..." She called her name in a gentle whisper.

Sleep continued it's hold on her.

"Skye..." She lightly nudged her shoulder.

Skye's eyelids flickered....

"Skye... you awake?.."

 

[Skye Achlys]

The sound of a loved voice calling her name stirred Skye's sleep.

Skye slowly opened her eyes slightly, seeing but not noticing. It might've looked like she had woken up, but she was still very much in a sleeping state. The only thought that vaguely floated through Skye's mind was that whatever she was holding, she was going to hug tighter. Her embrace tightened a bit, but not so much that it would become uncomfortable, and she gently buried her face in Ayda's shoulder.

She lay there for a good moment before Ayda's sweet words and the increasingly light environment finally started to awaken her. Skye slowly opened her eyes again, this time seeing and slowly regaining her senses as she started to register what she saw as well. The first thing that overwhelmed her was the lovely feeling of safety and comfort, two things she had never expected to have here...

Here... where was that again? Here... Right, Dagobah. The swamps... the caves... the war. She hadn't been alone, no, there had been a girl alongside her all the way. Ayda, yes, Ayda had been with her. And their relation had changed drastically in so little time. From enemies to... well...

Skye suddenly realised what it was she was cuddling so passionately and tightly, and when she did, she immediately moved her head backwards a bit, and because of that she ended up looking directly at Ayda. Skye's face was immediately lit on fire as her cheeks started to burn so badly she was almost hurt by it.

She tried to talk, but couldn't find the words at first. The only things escaping her mouth where confused 'uh''s and 'ah''s.

Gosh, she was so beautiful. Especially like this, with the morning sun shining on her perfect face. Skye stared for quite a bit at the girl, completely stunned and unable to speak. She was pretty sure her mouth was hanging open, but she couldn't help it.

After a little bit she finally managed to speak. "Oh... uh... hi... I'm sorry", she struggled to speak, both stunned by Ayda's beauty and stunned by her shyness.

Her cheeks were still red like fire, and her heart was still melting as she kept on looking at the most beautiful person in the galaxy... which just happened to be lying beside her! Gosh. However, she didn't let go Ayda, and kept her in a comfortable embrace. She didn't let go for a few reasons, with one of them being the fact she was literally stunned, too afraid to speak or move. The second, and probably more important, reason was the simple fact she didn't want to let Ayda go. If it were up to Skye, the two of them would keep lying like this for hours and hours.

She really wished they could lie together for longer, but she also knew that they needed to survive, and things had to be done today. But... then again, there was no harm in staying comfortable with her... friend like this. After all, Dagobah wasn't going anywhere.

 

[Ayda Elisantra]

It were to become an unspoken relationship between the two as the forthcoming cold nights turned to become a week, then two.... inevitably more.

Their daily excursions outside their adobe were not just for practical means, but one of survival… often finding them returning to the warmth of their little fortress well before nightfall, before the cold nights frosted over the dense forest swamps of Dagobah. And it had become apparent that the days had indeed shortened, and the nights lengthened, giving them reason to be under cover and with a warm fire blazing through the long night.

In short, both had reasoned that they were still heading toward what one could call Dagobah’s Winter. Although the system according to what both girls recalled of the archives; wasn’t known to ever reach sub-zero temperatures for any substantial length of time, at least not below its polar regions.
But as rare as it was, there had been recorded dusting of snowfall in its Upper Northern Hemisphere...

17 days past since their emergence from the labyrinth…

Ayda's orbs awakened like they did each morning upon Dawn's early light. only there was a certain stillness to this day unlike the others. The light of their fire which had been burning for more than 14 or so hours obscured the strange aura of morning light by which she were seeing from one of their chambers port windows. It were one of Skye's ideas for them to chisel out openings in the walls of their upper chamber. The duraglass portholes they salvaged from one of the wrecks they had come upon two weeks ago, were mortared in with mud, giving them a nest view of their surrounding. They had come to make themselves a home deep in the swamp forest of Dagobah. It had come to be reasoned out of necessity, for it had become apparent for them to do so in light of not finding the means off this foresaken world in the first few days following their discovery of the old structure. It was either bunker down and make good a home base during what seemed to have become an unnatural cold spell, or risk the elements and wander aimlessly in search for rescue. The later certainly guaranteed them dying of exposure...especially during the cold long nights. No amount of shared body heat could ward off the inevitable cold for too long, lest they had shelter. And shelter they had decided to make of their found structure.

Strange were this morning's light. And the stillness that she sensed outside and through the night, were still present. It were as if Dagobah itself were asleep.
Ayda silently slipped from under Skye's warm embrace like she did so every morning to prepare their hot water and breakfast. Reaching for her clothes, which were right next to her side of the bedding, Ayda slowly parted the cured animal skin blanket and got up to dress. But before dressing, she carefully and without waking Skye, tucked the blanket around her sleeping companion.
The fire had burned well overnight, making their upper chamber into quite a comfortable and cozy bedroom if one were to describe their adobe. The fire set had been one of Skye's early innovations. It was such a simple concept, yet one that essentially provided them with long lasting overnight heat, despite whatever was taking place outside. Still, as warm and serene Skye seemed to continue sleeping, Ayda nevertheless drew the skin comforter over her friend's bare skin, parting Skye's stray raven black hair away from her feature... tucking it gently behind her ear.

If it weren't for that strange eerie light from outside which had drawn her attention, she would have laid there in her arm for a bit while before getting up to dress, and make her way down to the lower chamber, by way of lowering their woodland ladder...a ladder she had helped Skye make.
The structure they had happened upon had been for the most part adequate and would have served them well enough as is if they were only in need of it for a night or two. But as it may, those nights turned to many foreseeable nights, due to the unexplained change in weather. It were Skye who had taken lead in improving on their temporary shelter. A home it had now become for the most part, for them to weather out this strange change of climate since exiting that forsaken labyrinth.

In the few short weeks, aside from coming up with the self feeding fire, Skye took for them in using mud/clay to not only seal the many cracks and fissures in the structure, but also to mortar in duraglass windows for them to peer out of. They were not at all large windows by any means, but were of found and reclaimed shipwreck port windows that they scavenged from old wreaks which they had come across in their daily trek to not only finding a means off this world, but also to look for and gather eatables.
Of course preparing a shelter was not the only means of surviving Dagobah. Skye was able to fashion some primitive weapons. Weapons not only for defense but would also serve as building and hunting implements such as spears, crude knives and ax fashioned from durasteel (begotten from shipwrecks), and then of course bows.

Strange as it seemed, Ayda took to learn the bow and arrow quite well. Then again, she quite enjoyed it from the start of it's creation. Ayda's bow had been Skye's first attempt at making one, and quite frankly Skye herself had been disappointed with it, for it fell short of the power she had aimed for it to be.
But it were perfect in balance for Ayda. As thus, the little red head took to it, and became quite proficient with it...and she took in some fine small game with it. This kind of put Skye in charge of nabbing the bigger game, once she got finished the next day on her more powerful version. Since the inception of the bows two weeks earlier, Skye had to only supplement Ayda's hunt with only two large game kills to date. Kills that not only provided them with much reserve protein (by way of smoking and making jerky to preserve the meat), but also providing them with pelts...hence their warm comforter and underpayment by which they had made their bed.

As it may, the ports serving as lookout windows this morning seemed to be obstructed with what was some sort of ice crystal formation. This wasn't particularly unusual as the duraglass often frosted up before the day took to clearing it.
No, Ayda couldn't see or make out of the obscure glass as to what was going on outside their adobe. Not that there was anything strange other than serene silence and the soft glow of morning light. Still, her curiousity got the best of her and she just had to get down to the lower chamber and see first hand as to what was so different this day.

She finished dressing and then took to lowering their ladder down to the ground chamber.
It was relatively cooler down below, as they had not left the ground floor fire burning, just the one upstairs where they slept. Incidentally, Ayda had taken upon herself..a kind of first up, first to make fire kind of thing. After all, she rose with the dawn.
Only this morning she were focused on seeing what strange phenomenon lay outside than doing her morning routine chores like building a fire, heating up their distilled water (another innovation derived from scavenged shipwrecks) and readying breakfast...eggs.
12 days prior, they had come upon the nesting site of local wild fouls in one of their planned exploration hikes. And it didn't take long for them to figure out their egg laying routine. First, not knowing how mature the eggs were, they picked a few nests and discarded all of the eggs except one which they marked for reference. The birds upon taking count of their near empty nests, laid more eggs to fill them by the next day. The girls then returned to that marked nest and claimed some of it's fresh laid eggs. They repeated this routine with another nest, and the following day with another. They successfully did this using the few selected nests, moving from one nest to a different one the next. In this manner, they had fresh laid eggs every day for their breakfast...

Only this day, Ayda didn't start a fire below, nor any water got heated. And certainly no eggs were being prepared for breakfast. She were simply and plainly standing there upon Dawn’s early light in the open doorway in awe.

Ayda stood there in wonderment overlooking what had overnight become a Winter Wonderland before her eyes. The forest was ghostly white, along with the ground. And in place of morning mist…it were snow falling.

To Ayda it were like the mortal world before her were mimicking the spiritual world... it were of pure whiteness. And it were still falling...
Her orbs looked up to the whiteout..the endless cascade of snow falling from the Heavens. Yes, she knew of snow, but she had never before experienced it.
Large flakes took to gently land on her skins, the skin of soft hide by which Skye had fashioned into a shirt for her to ward off the cold. The snowflakes then found her hair...then tickled her nose.
She giggled as it were not stinging cold, but teasing. Ayda looked down before her, not knowing if she should disturb the soft blanket of snow which lay not only in front of her but all around as far as her eyes could see, which wasn't far at all due to the whiteout.

It were Skye's footsteps coming down the ladder from the upper chamber which made Ayda turn away from the wonderland. Sure the snow was wonderful, but Sky were more.

"Gasp..." She inadvertently let out, as she quickly reached for the bow and quiver that was by the door.
Skye had made the weapons for both defense and hunting. And one rule of the household Skye found nessesary to drill into Ayda was that the door was not to be opened unless one had an implement in hand. This morning, Ayda had opened the door drawn by her curiosity... weapons free.
The spears, clubs and canine teeth embedded mace, all of which Skye had made to keep Ayda safe were out of Ayda's reach, as thus, Ayda made a quick grab of the bow instead.
Yes, would have been a little after the fact, should some creature from the cold swamp was waiting to make a meal out of Ayda. Besides, the bow as Skye had numerously pointed out was a weapon of distance, not of close quarters.

"Yes, I know.... I got distracted." Ayda said, leaving the bow by the open doorway and drawing closer to Skye, whom had come down.

"The stillness of the forest drew me to it.
It...
It's the most beautiful I've seen Dagobah!..." Clearly, her voice gave way to her never seeing snow in person.

 

[Skye Achlys]

Skye slowly walked down the ladder, making sure Ayda would hear her approach. She had woken up just after Ayda had gone downstairs, and was greeted by the sound of the door opening, and by the wonderful sight through one of the little windows. It had been near impossible to properly see through the window, but Skye needed just a vague glimpse to know. She had expected snow to come someday, and she had both awaited it eagerly and dreaded it. She had seen it a few times before in her life, and it was truly a magical sight. But it also often meant cold times were ahead.

Skye was only half dressed and her hair was messy, as she had wanted to see whether her suspicions were true. And they were. Through the door, Skye could see the wondrous sight of a snowy Dagobah. It was absolutely beautiful. Almost as unbelievably beautiful as the girl walking towards her.

She had told Ayda about a thousand times by now. Opening the door without easy access to a weapon was dangerous. But she wasn't mad or disappointed. Instead she just smiled at the girl as she stepped towards her. Ayda was really such an innocent girl, Skye really couldn't imagine how she ended up here. Who would let such an innocent little angel get into a war on Dagobah? No matter how many times Skye explained the dangers of this place to Ayda, all of her warnings seemed to disappear from the redhead's mind when she saw something special. Today, it was the snow proving that Ayda could be so easily distracted. But that... that was one of the things Skye loved about this girl.

She shook her head with a playful smile as Ayda drew closer. "You're making me afraid, Ayda, opening the door unarmed...", she said playfully as she took a hold of Ayda's hands. "What if some big animal suddenly came out of nowhere and... jumped on top of you?!", she said with a big smile, as she suddenly released Ayda's hands, only to mercifully tickle her instead, while making sure the girl wouldn't fall on the ground.

"Oh no," Skye cheerfully laughed as Ayda squirmed in her hands," if only you had brought a weapon with you, huh? Surely all of this wouldn't have happened if you did."

After continuing to tickle the girl for a little longer, she gave in to her pleas and stopped. She didn't release the girl though, as she pulled her into a tight hug. Skye smiled as she felt Ayda's warm body against her own. It was comforting. Everything this girl did was comforting to her.

As Skye's laughter faded, she looked outside through the door.
"Yes," she said," it is absolutely beautiful. It's such a wondrous sight, you can hardly imagine that it's filled with dangers."

Skye stared at the beautiful sight for a moment with Ayda in her arms, and then she sighed. Snow would make things harder here. Obviously, cold was one of the biggest factors. But, that was something to worry about later, as Skye wasn't feeling cold yet with Ayda in her embrace, even though the raven haired woman was only half dressed. Ayda kept her warm with her smile, her voice and her body.

She leaned backwards a bit without letting go of Ayda, so that she could look at the redhead's face. Skye smiled as she saw some kind of joy in Ayda's eyes. It warmed her heart that the girl was still doing okay, even in such difficult times. Ayda really had an iron will, seemingly not influenced by anything, as she always had a wonderful smile ready.

Skye stared at the girl for a bit, losing herself in Ayda's kind orbs. If there was anyone she had to be stranded on some horrible planet with, she was glad it was Ayda. Her eyes then trailed down from Ayda's eyes towards her lips, and in a rush of emotions, she leaned forwards and gently pushed her lips against Ayda's.

Her cheeks started to burn as the two girl locked lips and kissed. Skye remained like that for a short while before she pulled back again, now looking at Ayda with red cheeks. She was curious to see how the woman would react, and what she would do.

[member="Ayda Elisantra"]

 

[Ayda Elisantra]

It watched.
Much like the inanimate objects that were either hanging or leaning against the stone walls, it still lay there on its side, since its master had discarded it. And it had remained there lifeless and near forgotten in the dark corner of the floor. But this were no inanimate wall decoration. It had eyes...polarized lenses, which took all in to its permanent memory its surroundings and its master's doings.
And it bid its time... jealously awaiting to embrace it's master whole.



The playfulness were something else entirely when her lips touched that of Sky's...

Ayda had never experienced such a strong connection of love before. Not the kind of feelings which seemed predominately focused on one individual. And she weren't fully aware of the ramifications which could follow, should she loose herself wholly to Skye. Such a sacrifice was beyond her scope of vision. She only knew that there would be no turning back.
For the past two weeks, Ayda had not the need or felt the call to step out of her temple. At least not spiritually. Seemed all that were of present necessity was right there with Skye.

"Wild animals, huh?"..she chuckled, still feeling the remnant tingle of Skye's lips on hers. It left her kind of empty... wanting more.
"I don't believe they can see the beauty of nature, only feel its sting.
I think they will continue to sleep where they berth a while longer..." her eyes momentarily looked up to their own nest before consciously averting Skye's orbs while trying to still her beating heart.

"I've never felt snow..." her hand slightly trembled as it reluctantly disconnection with Skye. It were not what her heart and body wished. On the contrary, deep within a fiery furnace, she ached for more.
Ayda were well aware of it's need, her current attachment to Skye. It were like a hunger pang for something which her temple needed to sustain itself.
But to surrender to it, would forever change the dynamics of what currently existed between them. Yes, it were love that she had somehow developed for Skye, as she knew it to be. And unknowingly to Skye, it bound Ayda to her.

She had turned, looking out again through the open door. The cold air readily readily rushed into what had been bated breath, cooling the flickering flames that had flared up from inside her mortal temple.
The falling snow seemed to have tapered off due to the pending dawn. Such a phenomenon was rare on this world...maybe it were a gift from Berkana to one of her earthly angels...or it were a so called one hundred year snow fall. But whatever it was, it were beautiful enough for Ayda to step on to it.
Bow in hand of course.

She were in awe the further she walked away from their adobe. Her feet felt the underlying foliage that had been carpeted by the snow. It were apparent that such a magical wonderland would not survive for long as the morning was taking its course to rise. The white out which had previously been of snowfall was now mist encroaching from the light of day. This were not going to last-

Poof!

"Ahhh!..." She felt the first pound of a soft snowball to her head.



[member="Skye Achlys"]

 

[Skye Achlys]

Skye couldn't help but smile at Ayda's confused face and actions as the redhead probably tried to understand what had just happened. And she couldn't blame her, as Skye was still trying to figure that out herself. As she still felt the excitement from the kiss, Skye followed Ayda's gaze up to their own nest, in which she wouldn't mind lying with Ayda right now.

"You haven't?", Skye asked, more focused on Ayda's hand leaving than on her own words. Her eyes followed Ayda's body as she moved away from her, and a burning feeling grew stronger in her chest, banishing all sense of cold. She wanted to grab Ayda and pull her into a warm and tight hug, but refrained from doing so. It wasn't right. They were supposed to be enemies. Capturer and captured. Although she knew that that was all far behind the two girls by now.

For a moment, as Ayda started walking outside, Skye's attention returned to her clothes, and because of that she turned around to go back upstairs and finish dressing. However, before she had made it to the ladder, the sound of Ayda stepping on the snow caught her attention. She turned around, and as she saw the young woman from behind, admiring the snow and just walking around in the wonderland, Skye immediately fell in love again. The same fire burned in her chest again, making her decide against going upstairs. Instead, Skye walked out the door behind Ayda, after grabbing a spear and strapping it on her half bare back.

As she walked behind Ayda, Skye couldn't help but have her attention be drawn towards Ayda instead of the winter wonderland around her. The girl was just so beautiful, and especially like this. So innocent and curious and lovely and just... everything about this girl was to be cherished.

And then she realised that if Ayda didn't know about snow all that much, she wouldn't know something else. With a small grin she bent over and grabbed a handful of snow, forming it into a soft snowball.

She rose again, aiming for the younger girls head, and then gently threw the snowball towards her, making sure the ball and the throw were soft.

"You should've ducked", Skye chuckled in a sweet tone. She gave the woman a bit to get an idea of what was going on before she continued.

"It's called a snowball fight, hun", she shyly said before walking over to Ayda with her hands in the air. Smiling, she walked over to Ayda before she gently took her hands.

Ayda's hands were still warm, but Skye's were cold by now. She knew Ayda could easily do this herself, but she liked being... near the girl.

"It's really easy", she whispered as she kneeled down beside Ayda. "You just take your hands, grab some snow, don't push too hard, and then... fling it at the other", she grinned. The only thing that could go wrong was the fact that Skye's skin was rather... exposed, and she could only imagine how cold a ball of snow would feel.

Once she rose again, she looked over at Ayda, and in another impulse, fueled by the warm fire within, she gave the girl a quick peck on the top of her nose before Skye walked away, a snowball in her hand.

"Threeeeee. Twoooooo..... Oneeeee"

 

[Ayda Elisantra]

How she had not come to expect the hurled snowball would splat on her head was due to the fact that it were not at all done will any malice. It's clear trajectory had been on the mark, but it had been an endearing throw which did nothing more than disturb the wake of the force surrounding the two as the snow flakes it consisted of. Perhaps it were a gift, this rare snowfall on Dagobah, for by all accounts it were a 100 year snow fall.

No, it took no time at all for Ayda to take to the play. She were indeed like a child discovering the living world around her, despite she had been ward of Lianna for nearly most of her existence. But she discovered what her purpose was among the living. As thus, she readily had taken to the arts of healing. And she had dove in it with all of her mortal being.
Spiritually, she were more.
More, as in when all of the healing powers of the living could do nothing more than to ease the passing of life, her kind bridged the spirit to everlasting light.

There were definitely many like Ayda. many who connected in many other ways. And many who never became conscious of whom they were...not until it came time for them to pass.
But knowing, not knowing..accepting or not accepting, all spirits given a mortal life experience not only the complexity of living, but of its wonder. Ayda was no exception.

Bonds are made when two spirits, even those of an unlikely pair discover the bond of companionship. It were by no other vice but the attraction of caring about the other's welfare and needs that a bond develops into one of the many forms of love. When it begins spiritually it then has no other recourse if it continues to turn to a physical attraction.

Ayda stood there watching Skye turn her exposed open back, as she rounded her snow cluster into a ball. And it were with playfulness that her intent were to freeze Skye and make her yelp with high and precise snow ball arced to strike the nape of her neck and have most of it's cold content run down her back.
And hit Skye just below her neck and between her shoulder blades...served her right in not getting fully dressed!

Well, as there are calls to war, this one was no different. Play or not, it was about the most fun the two had at duking it out as their wrangling about play under the comforters. It were a simple enjoyment of two kindred spirits blotting out the world around them where their only existence was what moved the universe.

And it were a surprising twist of fate for Skye to find herself on her back in the icy snow with Ayda on top of her. It had perhaps first gone unnoticed the agility and strength by which Ayda had in getting Skye's exposed backside on the snow.
And that had been Ayda's intent in hearing Skye yelp at the cold snow icing down her backbone. She then immediately let go of her hold and was able to be pushed off, just as easily as Skye had expected her to be...weaker.

...and through the open doorway, back still propped up on the floor next to the wall, it's lifeless eyes watched. If it had never known to feel it's master's jealousy... it certainly knew now its own.


As much fun and of their distraction of a world that had wanted to devour them, they came to a point that the bitterness of melted snow between their skin and clothing took it's toll. Perhaps it could be construed that the gods had called their two daughters in as both were feeling the bite of being soaked to the bone. Yes, it had seemed each of them loved the sound of the other when cold snow ran down the other's back...

"Brrrrr.... Oh it's more than cold now....it's freezzzzzing..." Ayda was taking to the fire by which Skye had rekindled downstairs.
The two had chased one another in a tag type of game, bombarded one another with rounds of snowballs, wrestled about and littered the grounds with snow angel reliefs to the point of both running out of breath and body heat. They were drenched from head to toe and only when their fingers could no longer function did they wrestle and tackle one another to see who'd get inside faster. Skye had won, leaving Ayda to pick round up their bow and whatnot that had gotten stripped off their person during their ruff and tumble.

Ayda blocked the door and started to remove her icy cold soaked attire.
The fire felt so wonderful and she huddled next to it, not noticing Skye had gone upstairs.
Not realizing it till the fur comforter hit her on the head.
The two wrapped the comforter around themselves, sitting close to the fire. Their wet clothes would take some time to dry by the fire, but they didn't mind, as they found themselves laying down cuddling by the fire.
Seemed they were spent, both falling into another comfortable and warm sleep, as the light of Dagobahs winter morning continued to rise.

...and the firelight danced about the room, giving almost a demonic look about the lifeless face in the corner.
It seemed to be enraged as the fire flickered about the two sleeping souls. The lifeless face could do little but continue to watch and wait...

 

[Skye Achlys]

"Freezing...", Skye chuckled whilst shivering," is an understatement." She returned from upstairs, dropping the comforter on Ayda.

"This should help", she said with a grin as she saw Ayda struggle to get her head out from under the fur comforter. When she saw Ayda's cute face emerge from under it, Skye stuck her tongue out playfully before she took off her wet clothes so that she could soon join Ayda under the comforter. Skye eagerly returned Ayda's cuddling as they lied there where they would eventually fall asleep near the warm and comforting fire.


Skye was greeted by the soft sounds of the fire still burning when she woke up. She slowly looked around for a moment to see whether everything was okay with sleepy eyes before returning her attention to the girl still sleeping in her arms. With a smile on her face, Skye leaned forward a bit and pressed a soft kiss against Ayda's forehead. She was still a bit tired, although she could see that it was still light outside, so she figured she was probably just a bit lazy from all the laying and doing nothing. Still, the thought of lying in Ayda's arms under the warm comforter next to the fire convinced Skye to stay. That was until her stomach finally spoke up to remind Skye that they hadn't eaten yet. After sighing softly, Skye slowly rose whilst making sure Ayda she wouldn't wake the angel lying beside her. Skye had figured she could make breakfast for once, seeing how Ayda would somehow awake before Skye would literally just about every morning. Although... it probably wasn't morning anymore by now.

Skye slowly wandered over to their clothes and felt whether they had dried yet. Blegh, they hadn't. They weren't soaked anymore, but you could definitely still notice they had been wet. She decided to just put on a few cloths as the bare minimum, covering her private parts so she wasn't walking around naked. She couldn't care less about the fact Ayda would see her bare back when she'd wake up. Well, at least as long as Ayda didn't have access to snow.

As she slowly put on a few clothes to cover herself, she then moved on to go prepare some breakfast. Yet, a sudden noise from outside almost made her jump. Skye immediately crouched down, even though she was inside and could be seen. She crawled over to the nearest weapon, a spear, and then moved towards one of the few windows she had installed into the structure, but she couldn't see anything.

Another sound, but this time it sounded like something was scraping against one of their walls. Many thoughts immediately clouded her mind, thoughts about monsters, the creature that had chased them back in the swamps. Oh no, what if it was that thing again? Had it followed their tracks... somehow?

No. Skye shook her head. That was literally impossible. They'd gone through so many places that the creature couldn't have possibly followed them through. She was just freaking out now, thinking irrationally. Although it was very possible that there was something here that had heard the girls giggles from before. Oh how stupid had she been to allow that!

Then suddenly, out of nowhere, the creature stuck it's face right in front of the porthole, causing Skye to jump and let out a small yell. She just stared with disbelief at the creature as she suddenly recognised its harmless eyes whilst it curiously peered inside. She stood face to face with one of the harmless creatures they had hunted over the past few days to stay alive.

Now that she had calmed down and recovered from the shock she had received, she started chuckled, which then turned into laughing. She couldn't believe that she, a strong and hardened soldier, had been scared by a peaceful animal.

To Ayda, who probably had been awoken by Skye's surprised scream, it would probably be looking rather odd. She would awake to the sight of Skye wearing some primitive form of underwear, holding a spear and laughing as she looked at one of the portholes. Oh, it was strange indeed.

 

[Ayda Elisantra]

"Gasp!..." Ayda was as startled as Skye, but for other reasons...

She were still fast asleep in a normal dream cycle...one which had come about in her current state of living and experiencing life with a kindred spirit. Kindred as there were no words to describe the unity of the bond between them now. It was something by which Ayda had no knowledge of before, or had ever thought could exist between two temples.

Her dreams of late the past few weeks were of one experiencing the wonders of life shared. As such, she were in a good dream state when Skye's sudden shriek, jolted her from her serene state of bliss. Ayda's eyes sprung open at the moment Skye jumped back. Her sudden surprise at finding Skye jumping back made her gasp. She had not ever seen Skye surprised as such and for a moment, Ayda thought that something wild, something awful had breached their adobe...like that dreaded silent howler that devoured souls.
It gave Ayda fright enough to cower under the furs a moment and fear for not only her mortal soul, but for her found and discovered heart, Skye.
"Oh, noooo..." She despaired. Ayda held tight the comforter and her eyes just as tightly shut, for she could not bear knowing all that were gained were now coming to be lost. Lost as in no longer experiencing more of this mortal life with Skye.

Despite the knowledge that the spiritual life thereafter held more, it wouldn't have the same touch, the feel, the smell of Skye's hair, her skin, her lips, the soft whisper of sweet nothings that resounded through her very center. All this would be of life once experienced. Oh how for that split second she held fast those life moments discovered.
NO!
No she wouldn't cower under those furs and wait for her mortal life to cease. She could fight for life. Fight like she had seen mortal men and women fight despite the inevitable odds. Life was meant to be fought for. They had weapons here. Weapons Skye had made for them. And she were going to fight alongside Skye for their life. Rage unleashed.

Ayda swung the comforter off her and jumped up on her feet as Skye took to laughing.
Only that which sprung up were no sweet angel...but a dark one...an angel of death.
Ayda's appearance didn't change, just her demeanor, her eyes and hair had the darkest of pitch which rivaled that of black suns...and of course, she had somehow suddenly sprouted black raven wings. Yea..WFT!!!

The rush of a gale wind knocked most of what wasn't weighed down. It all were dispersed around her form, when her wings unfolded with a snap..the comforter landing by Skye's feet.
The fire blew out.
The only ambient light were from the small windows they had fashioned from downed craft.

.

.

.

.

.

No howler.

No intruder.

Just Skye.

Ayda's dark orbs blinked.

....Skye

.

.

Dark orbs blinked again.

...just Skye.

Skye looking at her like she were a demon that had sprouted up from Hell itself.
...and what had once been left propped up and abandoned at the dark corner of their adobe, suddenly broke the deafening silence. The Mask were heard toppling flat on the floor.

"Nooo!..." Deep version of her former voice resounded through the small room. Their warm fire which had been extinguished upon her presence, now had its embers go cold as ice..
Ayda suddenly realized what she had done...what she had feared in unleashing...her dark soul.

But as dark as it were...it could not deny the power of the love that she had for her mortal beloved. Even dark angels of death could fall in love. Then again, it were Ayda....one whom were created to experience mortal life and learn to balance good and evil. For she were one to not only guide good souls to eternal light, but to haul evil souls to Hell's damnation.

There she were now in her darkest form, before the mortal whom her heart had come to love.
And shame...
Shame then came over her dark form, to take the place of rage. Shame too, were a dark emotion and she felt it in her heart like that of a cold dagger. And that dagger had been placed next to her love for Skye.

It were still Ayda mind you, but in her dark state. Ayda possessed two forms, and the rage she had surfaced to fight for what she did not wish to loose (as in Skye and their love), had been strong enough to have her dark soul emerge.
But now that the rage were gone and only shame remained...it kept Ayda in her dark form.

Down to the floor she went, pulling up her alabaster legs and hid her features with her hands.

She couldn't bare for Skye to see her in this form....

...and so the dark angel wept.

 

[Skye Achlys]

Skye let out a few more chuckles as her heart calmed down a bit. She'd never been one to get scared, especially not from harmless animals like that one. It seemed all of this had put her a bit on edge, for logical reasons. They had crash landed here, had been stuck for who knew how long with no hope of rescue... it hadn't been looking great. And yet these days had still been survivable and acceptable, but that wasn't because of the house they had built or because of the food they caught. The reason all of this was manageable lied behind her on the ground.

Perhaps that had been why Skye was scared more easily. She actually feared for someone's life. She had someone to keep safe at all costs. The woman lying behind her right n-.

The startled Skye immediately turned around with her spear raised as she heard someone cry out loud. Deep down she knew who had made that sound before she looked, yet it was different than what she was used to by now.

As Skye laid her eyes upon Ayda, or what she assumed to still be Ayda, she kept her spear raised with the tip towards her friend.

Everything about this had Skye on edge right now. The darkness in which they stood was nothing compared to the darkness that seemed to have made itself master of Ayda. Skye stood still for a moment, staring down the girl in front of her. It was painful, but for all she knew Ayda wasn't who she had said she was. Perhaps she was dangerous. She looked dangerous.

Skye had severely started to doubt whether or not the creature in front of her could be trusted, when it suddenly started to... weep?

She took a few deep breaths before she started to test the waters a bit, although she dared not lower her spear yet. It just didn't make sense. Why did it start to weep? That wasn't a very predatory move.

"Ayda?", she spoke, making sure to sound as gently as possible. "It's me, Skye. Are you okay?"

When she didn't receive an immediate reaction, and the only thing she could hear was emotional sobbing, she became a bit more self-assured.

"It's okay Ayda, just talk to me."

It was likely this... version of Ayda wasn't hostile- if it was, it would have attacked her already instead of lying on the ground crying. Besides, Skye had been trained well. She wasn't scared that easily. And she definitely wasn't counting that event that happened a few minutes before.

 

[Ayda Elisantra]

Were she Ok?

Skye's voice changed from a hint of apprehension to one of concern. Ayda could feel the change in tone like the change in heartbeat... first fear... then uncertainty... before recognition...familiarity....concern...
It were all progressive in line with fear at first, before it regressed. The air tingled with electricity upon which fear manifested. But seemingly, Skye had been there before...seemed to have some mastery over the power of her fear, consciously reducing it to the common static which the creature Ayda recognized, as Skye's empathy.
Still, Ayda were in form both alien to Skye and to herself even.

She had morphed to this form before...as a child and then much older...a few years prior to this. The circumstances were different, but similar. They all had been triggered from a kind of fear she had difficulty in grasping. It were not fear of her own mortality in human form... nor anger even of mankind's lust to destroy others... and as devastating as despair could be to anyone, it were not even triggered by that. It were all of those combined in a way, but more and directed elsewhere, to another. Such a transformation needed a darkness pitch of a magnitude she could not control or contain, for it were fear for another individual that she had somehow bonded with. In this scenario, Skye.

The fear of loosing Skye had suddenly washed over her like a flash flood. Ayda had not given it any thought of rationality, but simply gave in to it, for she could not phantom loosing what her mortal heart recognized as a beloved. Thus what she had learned to suppress her entire existence, she lost her grip on fear unbound and transformed into an avenging angel. In this form, she were the reaper of souls, foul and evil.
Whereas her light seeked good souls and aided them to everlasting light...this version captured, devoured the wandering souls of the condemned. And this angel had not been fed awhile...

"Tis still I, lest my heart not rest till my task's complete." She then found the means to reply through the sadness of her tears.
It were no doubt the same Ayda..only in a form akin to her now appointed task. It were not something of which she could simply shake, wave away. The hunger were real, and it had to be satisfied to a point where it no longer pressed against her spirit like the tormented souls calling out whom she were to seek. And they were not far either.

Ayda still cowering behind her hands so as not for Skye to look upon her, she could hear..smell..even taste the tormented soul wandering nearby. Daghoba had it's good share these days. Many were as fresh as a few months...weeks even. Others, decades...centuries...millenniums old.
Their voices had been like faint whispers in a dense forest, all around but not seen. Ayda had disciplined herself to barely notice them while in mortal form. As an angel of light deliverance, they were but shadows washed over by the light.
But in this form, they were agonizing cries of sad and tormented souls lost to salvation. Souls that were to wander the world upon which they left behind, until they were atoned or devoured by the reapers... the dark angels.
Ayda in this form were such a creature.

The call of the lost souls were like a lure she could not resist. There had been no real threat to Skye and no adulterated life for her to take. There were only Skye and a part of her she were ashamed for her to see. It did little to hide her form, her hands covering over just her features. But she hid them from Skye nevertheless.
Yet.
Yet she found herself to stay. Stay, despite the call of souls.
"I....I must go. I have to answer-..." She then said, once she stopped weeping enough to speak.
Then her eye caught the mask which had toppled over face first to the floor. She stared at it a moment, studying it...listening to it...smelling it from where she had not moved.
And Ayda suddenly understood more. Understood that Skye herself existed in the same manner as she, in a duality. Were Skye one of the lost descendants too, in some manner?
It were unclear even for Ayda in this form, for they had fallen long before even ancient memories could recall.

"I have to go. " She suddenly stood up.
Ayda stood up so fast that it appeared she just- ...she suddenly appeared standing where before she were cowering.
Still her features were turned away from Skye. There were a true part of Ayda whom had never wanted for Skye to know her as such. But it were a part of her being and creation. There was choice...but not all of it were of free will. Not like that of mankind. man had choices and free will. But upon death those choices made were then weighed. With Ayda, the choices made waited not for mortal life to extinguish. The choices reflected her present state of existence. in all her forms, there was atonement. In her present form, she had to atone...answer to the call of the tormented souls.

"Don't dismiss who I were. Tis whom I strive to return to."
And with that, just as fast as an eye could blink, she were seen silhouetted against the hut's open doorway.

Then....then she were gone.

 

[Skye Achlys]

"You.... you speak differently", Skye mumbled, more to herself than to Ayda. Of all things, this was something she gave her attention. The woman in front of her had completely changed appearance and voice, but the language was what she commented on. Stupid.

She was pulled back out of her thoughts as Ayda, or at least Skye assumed it to still be Ayda, told her she needed to go.

"No, wait. It's okay", Skye called out as she stepped forward. But it was already to late. In the blink of an eye, Ayda had disappeared. One moment she had been there, sitting, weeping, and the next she was just gone. Gone.

Skye let out deep sighs as she tried to understand what had just happened. She thought she had learned who Ayda was, she thought she knew her, but this clearly proved otherwise.

"Don't go... You're the only one I have", she mumbled, her voice controlled by sadness as she walked over to the door, to find no-one there. There was no trace of Ayda either. No footsteps to track, nothing. Skye lost her. She was alone now.

Defeated she let herself sink to her knees as she stared at the ground. She stayed in that position for the next hour as thousands of thoughts passed through her mind. What had happened? What had she done wrong? Would she ever see Ayda again? Had there ever been... something between them?

A distant roar startled Skye for a second, but also woke her up from her trance. Still sad and defeated, she saw no other option than to go back inside and prepare for the days to come. The following days were going to be hard. Life was difficult here, but with Ayda, Skye had never really noticed it. But now... now she would.

With a deep sigh she started to do her daily chores, but as she did so, her mind was frantically thinking of ways to track Ayda down. Skye couldn't survive without her. She hadn't completely realised it before, but Ayda had been her source of hope and strength this entire time.

And that source had just left her behind on this cruel and harsh world. Possibly forever.