by CallieO on Fri Jun 09, 2017 5:45 pm
Throughout the first week of Traael's curse, Erin Tarcata has been with her mistress much of the time, helping her get out of bed, dress, and bathe. As someone who's used to taking care of elderly people, because she did so with her human family, Erin recognizes that Traael's been steadily improving.
Leaving Traael in the capable hands of her husband Maroux and most of the family, Erin headed to the villa of her ex-boyfriend Nairun Moon, to apologize for the abrupt way she'd left him four months previously to get willingly collared to Traael. She'd made a meal for him, and they'd slept together. Erin returns home on one of Traael's borrowed horses, and makes it back before noon the next day.
That night, she again lights a candle and speaks to Tra`Von. "Holy Tra`Von, for the sake of my Mistress Traael, I again dedicate a dream tonight for you. May you be pleased by my offering." She blows out the candle, and because she'd tired herself out this day, she falls asleep relatively fast this time.
~~~~~~
The Dream
1854
"Miss Erin, why do vulpines look like foxes?" This precocious question was asked by a six-year-old brunette girl, Jenny Thompson, third-born offspring of Erin's current master, Anthony Thompson. Erin, sitting cross-legged in front of her, has been put in charge of the children for the day while Master Anthony and his wife are at work.
Erin has long since given up the fight on being addressed by the children as "Miss". They all three adore and revere her, far beyond what Erin's used to as a slave, even though she's 385 years old, many centuries older than any human could ever hope to reach.
"Why, the spirit of The Lady was without form before the world came to be," Erin explains. "Then the other gods began to create the world, the animals, and some of the earliest sapient life forms to come into existence." Erin uses ten-mehrial words like 'sapient' because she knows Jenny is very intelligent, and she never talks down to the child. Erin likes seeing the look in the children's eyes when they learn something new.
Young Jenny Thompson is getting that look right now.
"When The Lady decided to take a form for Herself, She first took a look at some of the animals that had been created. She found a kindred spirit in that of the fox, cunning and clever. So She finally chose Her form, based off of the fox's design-- only standing on two legs, like a human. She gave Herself thumbs like a human, too, to help Her grip things, because She's very wise," Erin says.
"She *sounds* very smart, like you," Jenny opines.
Erin laughs brightly. "Oh, she's been around for a very long time even by *my* standards," the vixen replies. "Millions, perhaps billions, of years. There's no way to know. So I'd say She's much, much smarter than I am."
Jenny scratches her chin thoughtfully. "I know how... you like to make things out of wood. Can you make me... a fox?" she asks.
Erin is speechless for a moment. Whenever she's sculpted up to this point, she's done it in her own free time, simply because she enjoyed it. She wouldn't consider herself an expert sculptor by any means. But seeing the plantive look in Jenny's eyes quickly breaks down any lack of confidence on Erin's part. She'll love it simply because Erin put the work in. Which, on the other hand, is not an excuse for half-assing it.
Erin leans in and kisses the girl on the forehead. "Yes, I will," she replies.
"If there's nothing wrong with me, maybe there's something wrong with the universe."
--Dr. Beverly Crusher
Player of Callie Volopa, Viaa, Auric Lightwing, Brian Perano, Erin Tarcata and Aimee Sarasiné