Rrrslck
Awilda’s intentions were honest
as ever, Rrrslck could taste and feel the current of it but she had yet to
fathom if her place lay with the Captain in this affair. Rrrslck appreciated
the warning deeply and the woman believed that she was right to involve them,
that these things she described would come to effect all of them. She herself
had had the sense something was out of place for many weeks but was yet to
discern anything of its nature, in itself was a worry as her senses rarely
failed her. These musings flickered quickly across her mind, as she showed her
respect for Awilda’s wisdom with a straight and steady stare. She offered in
thought: I will need proof. I will need
the signs. Rrrslck knew she could convince her kind to move not an inch
without the evidence of their own senses.
I will need proof. It took all of Awilda’s power not to reel back
at that strength of thought but she had known Rrrslck for a long time and knew
she was dealing with a creature of immeasurable wisdom and singularity of
thought. Rrrslck had quite likely already anticipated and calculated much of
the situation from the few things Awilda had already given her. So, Wilda kept
a steady respectful look and nodded softly, hoping that, somehow, her gesture
was understood. At that moment though, Rrrslck’s demeanour changed ever so
slightly and her stare shifted, Wilda sensed a question combined with a tingle
on the back of her neck and turned her head quickly with some concern.
****
Polly stepped softly along the
path to the hidden cove, leaving Alwun to his molluscs on the flatter, sandier
beach. This way took a low arch in the headland which would be quite invisible
with a high tide; it drew in quite close and tunnel-like for a few moments and she
could see neither end. Sand turned to shingle and shingle to rough rock, despite
walking barefoot, Polly hardly noticed the change; she had not known a pair of
shoes until she had met Awilda and never would be over fond them. She was close
to the mouth now and was beginning to have a sense that more than plain curiosity
had brought her to explore this way. As she turned the slight corner, ahead she
saw ‘wilda, stripped to her underclothes, waist deep in clear water, her hair a
wet slick of ashy blond, just at the precipice before a plunge into vivid blue
depths. She was with another creature, of great eye and a stare that made the
hairs on Polly’s neck prickle, though perhaps not in an unpleasant fashion. She
instinctively stepped out with respect and caution. The rocky ground fell away
in steep, uneven steps toward the water Awilda had her hands beneath, palms
upturned.
****
Rrrslck used much of her courage
in staying still and calm but she relaxed quickly as she almost immediately
felt Awilda soften once she had turned her head. Rrrslck felt the rush of
affection and was near overwhelmed by the strength of emotion. Encouraged by
this reaction, she looked more keenly at this other and studied her (Rrrslck
thought they were of the same sex) differences from Awilda: this one was
slighter and quicker, her head colouring orange-brown and she was smaller in both
length and width.
Awilda smiled carefully and spoke
softly:
‘Polly, come, put your hands
beneath the water this is Rrrslck who I have spoken of’, she said, trusting to
Polly’s good sense that she would not give away too much shock, ‘As you may
guess it is not entirely necessary to speak aloud’.
Polly was not actually as shocked
as she might be and she obeyed without much thought, carefully descending the
levels of rock. Journeying with ‘Wilda in particular but with life in general she had come to have few
expectations, she took things as they were and did not often feel the need to
question the sense of them unless she sensed an injustice. As such, her head
was quite level as she knelt and placed her hands palm up, Rrrslck’s touch was
gentle and Polly’s thoughts were sincere: I
am sorry to have disturbed your meeting with Awilda but I am pleased t’ meet
you, I’ve waited a long time and I have heard much of your wisdom and good
counsel. Often I have wondered why you were so particularly elusive, even that
you did not exist I will confess, I suppose my questions are answered.
