The Eternal Glade: Chapter 3
Once again you all should know the drill: Don't read further if you are under 18 or 21 depending on location. I would hope that if you are underage, that you do keep the door locked so that a college roommate doesn't walk in on you as you read from this site if he is opposed to such things....not that it's ever happened of course....Anyways onwards we go! P.S. I write long, intimate, passion filled stories with of course yiffing, but it's not just raw yiffing, so don't expect that from my stories. Aether is property of Aetherwolf and you must obtain permission to use his name. This story is based upon one of his short stories/poem which I obtained permission to use.
Chapter 3: Acceptance
Aether's slowly fluttered into consciousness. Aether's eyes peeled open and at first all he could see was the blurred vision of his surroundings which consisted of Cervidae leaning over him. He felt his beautiful mount's cold wet nose slowly nudge his forehead and then proceeded into inhale and exhale Aether's scent which Aether could feel was tussling his head fur. Aether slowly sat up and tried to remember the last thing that happened. He recalled that he and the beautiful Protector of the forest mated in the Hidden Glade. As he looked around he realized he was still in the Hidden glade. Aether felt rather warm despite still being naked. Aether was astonished and quickly shook his head and said to himself, "No, I couldn't have... I didn't mate with the Protector of the forest!" It was then that a soft beautiful voice echoed ethereally throughout the glade.
"Of course you did Aether. And that's not all that happened..." Said the soft beautiful voice calmly whom Aether realized was now fully dressed in her ornate clothing.
Aether looked down at his body and he couldn't believe what he saw before his eyes. He just knew he felt naked. He didn't take notice of his own body. Taking in his sight for the first time made him feel full of disbelief. Aether's fur was gently glowing in the light that danced through the canopy of the trees. Aether's body felt so much warmer to his own touch as he gently patted his fur not believing that it was really himself that he was seeing. Aether looked up into the trees and he breathed in deep. As he took a deep breath he began to feel the forest around him, and everything in it.
"I am like you now aren't I? How long was I unconscious for?" Said the wolf unsure of what he was seeing.
"Yes Aether, you are like me. You and I have the same abilities now, you must learn to use them all. The abilities we have flow gently through nature. You have been unconscious for 3 days, Cervidae nor I have left your side." Said the beautiful wolf assuring Aether. "The magic we have is of the purest form. It isn't much unlike the magic you learned from your school, but to truly learn the ways of our abilities you must gain a deep understanding of how our abilities work Aether, otherwise your abilities will remain the same as they did when you were a mortal student." Alinae softly padded over towards Aether. "First let's get you some clothes." Alinae waited for a moment, Aether hadn't even noticed Cervidae was gone until he appeared back at the glade with a leather bag hanging from his left side while a long wooden box was secured tightly on his right side. Cervidae walked right up to Alinae who gave the large elk a soft kiss on his forehead. Alinae walked over to his side and removed the leather bag and handed it to Aether. Aether opened the leather bag and gazed into the bag and pulled out the first item he saw which was a cloak exactly like Alinae wore made out of rabbit fur with a hood attached to it that was the same green hood from his old robe as he could recall. Except it had elegant stitching to make it look like the veins of a leaf were embedded into it. Aether quickly pulled it on and loved the feelings of pride and honor it brought to him as he wore it. Aether was quick to humble himself though. However he still stood there with his whole front naked so he was thankful that the next object he pulled out was a leather loincloth that had gold vines that traveled up and down the front and wove around his hips. Aether set down the empty satchel and rushed over to Alinae to give her a warm kiss on her smooth muzzle. Aether's tail was wagging rapidly like a little puppy eager for its food had. Alinae giggled through her kiss and let her tail wag rapidly too. She and Aether were now Deities but they behaved just like two young pups in love.
Alinae pried Aether off her muzzle and gave him one last peck on his nose. Alinae nodded back in the direction of Cervidae and Aether recalled there was one long box remaining. Alinae walked over to the side of the large elk and removed the large wooden box from the saddle that it was tied onto. Alinae ever so gracefully placed the wooden box on the soft grass and kneeled right in front of the long box and waved her paw at Aether for him to come over. Aether padded slowly over unsure of what was in that box. Alinae didn't let him wonder for too long. She carefully unclasped the metal hook that was holding it shut and opened the elegant wooden box which, now Aether could see up close, had beautiful etchings of a single tree that was ornately carved into the dark stained wood. The box opened to reveal Aether's very own sword that was longer than Alinae's sword by at least a foot and instead of a one handed stag antler grip it looked like he could comfortably place two hands there if needed. The guard was made out of a beautifully sturdy silver work that had fine etchings all along the guard that looked like each etching symbolized the elements of nature. Alinae lifted the sword up gently and with ease, held it out on her soft paws presenting it to Aether. Aether took in gingerly and took it carefully into his own paws eyeballing it up and down until he met Alinae's eyes.
"You must name your sword Aether. It represents you as a Protector like me." Said the beautiful wolf as she stood there with her soft golden eyes that stared intently into Aether's eyes. Aether felt hypnotized by her eyes until finally let his gaze return to the sword that he held carefully as if it was made out of glass in his paws.
Aether looked up and down the blade and said to Alinae, "I have the perfect name, Lamyna!" Aether's sword turned hot in his hands but to his now immortal paws it felt like moderate heat like a warm meal. The sword went from a red to a yellow heat and then he felt it suddenly cool in his paws. As it cooled he saw the name that he had said aloud now etched into the blade. The sword glowed gently like his fur now and Aether couldn't help but continue to stare at his new sword. Aether reached into the box and pulled out the scabbard that he now realized had silver designs on it made to look like vines. Aether sheathed the sword dulling the soft glow that came off of it. He attached the sword to his hip and thanked Alinae by leaning forward over the very stunning wooden box and placing a warm kiss on her soft smooth lips. He felt all of his passion be poured into this kiss. He smelled the strong smell of the beautiful fruits and flowers that seemed to come off her anytime he kissed her passionately. Aether let his mouth open as Alinae's tongue pushed its way past his lips and into Aether's maw causing him to wag his tail back and forth across the smooth cool grass.
Alinae pulled away from the kiss and stood up first followed by Aether as she took his paws into hers. She stood there for a minute before she said anything. "Do you wish to know how our magic works now Aether?" She let a small smile come across her lips clearly showing that she was ready to teach him the first steps to achieving his full potential.
"Yes, please teach me how to be like you." Aether said very eagerly.
"Aether, all of the power that flows through all of us comes from nature, the energy of life. We are all part of it. When we use our magic, we are borrowing energy from nature. We all have had energy borrow in some form Aether. Me above all because I am... we are nature. We are the source of the power. We are tied into it; we are the only ones though who can truly take the smallest amount of energy and convert it into something powerful. It is only through feeling the forest, feeling the life, feeling what the forest feels can we understand our power and where it comes from. The energy, the magic we use is returned right back to nature when we use it. You must learn to reach out and feel, understand where your power comes from, not just use it." Alinae let Aether's paws go and pointed towards a single cherry tree sapling that seemed to be struggling as it grew right by the large granite obelisk. Aether knew what she wanted him to do. Aether started to mutter some words to start the spell but instantly Alinae wrapped her paw around his muzzle. Alinae let go and Aether gazed at the tree and closed his eyes. He took in a deep breath and then let his mind go blank. As soon as he did he could sense all the creatures nearby, he could feel the heartbeat of Alinae and Cervidae who stood watch. He could sense the breeze that was making its way three miles north of where he stood. He felt calm as all of these feelings and senses rushed. While his eyes were still closed he let his now very open mind think about the small cherry sapling that stood weakly before him. Aether felt the roots of the tree as his eyes remained closed. He thought in his mind just one thought, and that was for the tree to grow tall. Aether opened his mind as he felt all of the energy of the forest flow through him and into the small sapling. Aether peaked his eyes open in time to watch the once small sapling begin to grow gracefully with all of its branches spreading out. Aether's heart was pounding deep in his chest as he saw the cherry tree burst into full bloom with its beautiful flowers blossoming. Aether couldn't believe his eyes. The cherry tree grew perfectly around the base of the tree with its branches wrapping around the tree as if it were hugging it. The blossoms were a bright white that was tinted softly with pink. The tree's trunk looked old as it twisted and turned and yet the tree looked fresh and young as well with all of the striking blossoms.
"You understand how the power of life flows now Aether. You can do anything now Aether. Remember, we are Protectors of the forest, use your powers for good and to combat evil." Alinae finished her sentence and softly let out a whistle that echoed beautifully through the Hidden Glade. Aether closed his eyes to listen to the soft whistle that soothed his soul as he heard it. He stood there in silence unaware of why she was whistling but didn't care. Alinae's whistle finished as it echoed across the forest. Aether began to hear a rustling in the distance of something. He couldn't figure it out. Aether's closed eyes tried to let his body cue in to determine the source of the sound. Before Aether could figure out what it was, he opened his eyes as heard the roar of a bear before he even saw the large creature standing beside him. Aether looked over and gripped his sword prepared for combat. Alinae walked up behind him removed Aether's paw from his sword as she whispered, "You do not need to fear anything in nature anymore, least of all Nayril." Alinae said this as she wrapped her paws around the maw of the bear who was trying to look intimidating. Alinae looked deeply into the large black bear's deep brown eyes and the bears feral instincts subsided and began to nuzzle Aether instead of being intimidating. Aether decided to trust Alinae and calmly put his paw to the side of the bear and felt his heartbeat. Aether felt an instant connection to the large beautiful female bear and he could feel the emotions of the bear. He decided to try and talk to the bear.
"I am Aether, the newest Protector of the forest." Aether stood there with his paw on the bear's side until the bear leapt up and wrapped his large bear arms around Aether. Aether let out a laugh and realized that when he laughed, the forest seemed like it laughed with him. The reality of what had happened to Aether seemed to become a reality that came crashing down on him. He smiled as he began to accept what was happening to him.
"It will take time Aether to fully accept it. You must be patient." Said the wolf as she gracefully walked over to the large bear that had a very large elegantly inlaid leather saddle that Aether had no doubt that she had made herself. It was laced with hardened leather that flowed along the frame of the saddle like water. Alinae leapt up onto the back on the large black bear. Aether followed suit and walked over to his large elk and leapt up onto his back.
"Where are we going? I still have so much more to learn!" Said the wolf eagerly.
Alinae softly giggled and smiled and replied "You are such a young pup! You can't expect to learn everything in one day. I have been the teacher enough for today. It is now our turn to be mates for the rest of the night." Said Alinae as her mount carried her over next to Aether. The two mounts sniffed each other and if Aether didn't know any better, he could have sworn they were conversing. Aether looked up into the sky and realized the truth in Alinae's words as he saw the sun was setting. Alinae moved forward on her mount and started racing off into the forest and Aether didn't have to say a word as his elk followed closely behind the glowing wolf on her large black bear and for the first time ever, he noticed that with each step the mount took, it left no footprints, only a temporary soft glowing ground where the feet of the bear landed. Aether looked behind him and saw his own trail that faded as the soft green glow faded. Aether smiled as he looked back up and felt free as he was racing through the forest, where to he had not the slightest clue...
I hope that you liked this story! Please leave comments! Don't worry, there is so much more to come!