Hearts, Spells & Passion Ch. 02-04

2 -- Monsters, Makeouts, and Mixed Signals

The journey to the orchard farm was an uncomfortable event. Every few hundred meters, Lyanna would twitch uncomfortably and then proceed to have 'needs' she needed to tend to--such as needing to pee not once but twice in the bushes. Then pleading and begging Rennia to watch over her as she showered the ground with golden rain because she was afraid a snake might nick her peach.

She'd use the opportunity to flash her crotch at Rennia. A snake bite would probably do her some good.

Then she had a habit of trailing off-road from the path--she'd walk into a side path or stumble over a rock, magically clumsy. Rennia was starting to think that she might have been intoxicated. She wouldn't put it past her; their family were local liquor makers, and she had a bad habit of nabbing a bottle or two for favors for their peers.

As the shadows started shifting more unnaturally and the light of the moon dimmed out, they started sticking closer together. When the forest became quieter, it meant shit was about to go down, and every rustle of a leaf put her on edge.

Lyanna was close--way too close. Her presence was a constant, looming, tempting thing. She'd brush her shoulders deliberately or graze Rennia's wrist every chance she got, wrapping their hands together and whispering ungodly things.

"Hmmm. Why are you so tense?" Lyanna murmured. She carried a teasing angle. "Relax, Ren. Is it me? Am I winding you up?"

Rennia glared at her. She couldn't deny that she had thoughts and feelings, but she had a focus and a goal. She couldn't mindlessly give in to Lyanna's whims every time. Her life was on the line, and her future. And there was no future with a lesbian at the helm.

"Lya, just..." she sighed. "Just focus on the quest. We'll speak afterward... I have a lot on my mind."

Lyanna made a disappointed groan but said nothing as they kept dragging on. A fence became visible from a mile away. It was hard to make out under the forested night, but the worn paint and the hanging apple sign made it clear. They had reached the orchard.

"About goddamn time," Rennia announced. If she had to walk another mile, she'd burrow herself in the ground. "My legs are killing me."

"Well, I wish the walk was longer," Lyanna announced.

Rennia gave her a side-eye. Lyanna coughed. "Eh, I mean, I could really use some rest. I'm not in the mood to fight monsters."

"Look, we'll enter, rest for half an hour or so, then leave. I promised my mom I'd be back by midnight. She really doesn't want me to do the adventurer stuff."

Lyanna hit her with her elbow. "Is that why you're head over heels for that baboon Edric? You're being pushed to become a housewife or something just as horrible."

Rennia's hands hung at her sides. "Edric is not a baboon, and no, I don't want to be a housewife. Also, my mother is one, and we do just fine. What's wrong with being a housewife? It wouldn't be so bad. Are you saying my mother is a bad, mother?"

"Hmm, I--nevermind. Let's enter and do business. apologies."

She became saddened. Lyanna had a lot of repressed feelings, and she only ever shared them with Rennia--of course, in all the wrong ways.

This wouldn't do. She wasn't going to focus with relationship drama looming over. Best to get it over with.

"Lyanna, are you jealous that I'm courting Edric? Are you jealous you can't be with me?"

Lyanna scrunched her nose and gave her a stare of disgust. "Jealous of that ape? Please. Let's move on. You clearly didn't want to share my company tonight. Your quick to forget who kept you warm all those nights."

Lyanna started running ahead. Maybe that was a mistake. Rennia ran after her. "Lya, wait! Let's talk about this before we finish up."

The blonde didn't listen and gripped and pulled an extendable staff out of her backpack. "We'll talk if you can catch me." She giggled as she ran into the outer orchard.

Speeding away like the wind, her feet nimble and swift. Rennia adjusted her boots, ready to go after her friend.

"Lyanna! Stop! It could be dangerous." Rennia did her best to keep pace. The girl disappeared from her sight, a few hundred meters, and she couldn't find her. She called out to her in the dark repetitively, but she heard no answer. There to the east of her location, outside of the orchard, where the bushes grew tall, she heard a rustle. Rennia walked in that direction.

And then she heard a small cry--a moan--erupt in front of her, near a tree. She turned the corner.

Lyanna was on the ground, her staff had fallen out of her hand, and she appeared to have tripped. A beast stood in front of her. It looked half-rotten, like a deer--an empty husk made of vines, bones, and greenish flesh. Its eyes were hollow, but there was a glowing black orb at the center of the void.

"Hollow beast."

The thing turned its head to her as she uttered its name. She exchanged glances with Lyanna, who was in a state of shock. She stared at both her and the beast. She scrambled to her staff. The beast did not let that happen without its input. It brought its head down towards Lya, preparing to gnash her body with it's bony body.

Rennia would not allow it. She grabbed her longsword from its sheath and lashed out at the husk.

"Hey, leaf bones, over here!"

The thing turned its head. She brought her sword down to its face. The thing bit at the sword. Its mouth--if you could call it that--enveloped the center of the blade.

Rennia struggled to move the fucking thing. She needed to cast a spell, but goddammit she hated saying affirmations and dumb incantantions. She lifted her left hand and started shouting.

"Sparks that glow; burn my foe! [Firebolt!]"

A burning ball of fire left her hands, striking the thing in its side, making a crater and a dent in its leafy, bony body. It snarled at her, unamused, then brought its head forward, ready to pounce at her. With her sword free, she parried its bite, stepping back and gritting her teeth.

Why the fuck was a hollow beast here? This was supposed to be low-level monster territory. Whoever oversees this area hasn't been doing their job. Arrrgh, I hate this thing.

"Bone, brittle and frail, return to dust! [Ferrum!]" A voice shouted from afar. Lyanna.

A greenish orb of light shot at the beast. It stopped its attack. It started stumbling, its legs cracking. It lost its balance and then collapsed to the ground.

The beast screeched as it lay there. Rennia took the sword and plunged it into its center, breaking the core that resided inside of it. The whole beast seemed to come apart. Vines separated from the bones--the bones that were slowly turning into bone dust. The thing collapsed in on itself.

Lyanna stood behind the withering corpse, huffing horribly for air.

Man mages had such bullshit magic

Rennia looked around, scanning for more hostiles, then dropped her sword. She ran over to Lyanna.

"You idiot! You know how dangerous it is. Why would you do that?"

Lyanna clutched tightly to the staff. Tears welled up in her eyes. She started sniffling but remained quiet. Rennia scratched the back of her head before walking closer and giving her a hug.

Lyanna didn't reject it but remained still. "I'm sorry. I fucked--I'm sorry, I fucked--I fucked up."

Rennia shook her, perhaps she was too harsh with her tone. "Lya, it's okay. You're still alive. It caught you by suprise."

Lyanna pressed her head against her chest. Rennia felt the stream of wet tears rolling from her eyes.

"I just... can't deal with the fact that you want to enter a relationship with someone other than me. I've liked you for a long time, we're best friends, but you refuse to acknowledge my love for you."

Rennia shook her again, then dropped to her knees. This girl just couldn't get it in her head. "Lya, you know we can't do that in the village, not openly. And I've had a thing for Edric for some time now."

This was childish. There could be more monsters looming about. Lyanna wasn't the brightest, and she was very emotional, and she happened to be attached to Rennia.

"Look, it will probably take some time, and... Edric might not even like me. And if you ever need an ear or a titty to nibble, I'll be there for you. But we can't be formally a thing."

Lyanna watched and stared her down--really watched. The usual teasing was gone, and her eyes were replaced by hunger, something primal. She wiped her tears away, then loomed closer.

"Then give me what I want."

Rennia swallowed. She didn't understand at all.

Whatever

She leaned against the tree, her chest rose, and then fell. Her body was still easing from the adrenaline. Lyanna wanted to reignite it.

Lyanna moved, and she pressed her body down onto Rennia, kissing her on the lips. She leaned against her. She gripped her hips, firm and insistent. Rennia wanted to tell her that maybe this wasn't a good idea, that she should think about Edric, but... the way Lyanna moved, the places she knew where to touch and how to tease and suck at her. She enjoyed it, but it remained a debaucherous affair.

Lyanna's mouth pressed deeper inside hers, and her tongue moved around as she let out deep kisses. Lyanna pulled back, saliva dripped out of her mouth. She moved her head to her neck and started nibbling at her, just enough to arouse Rennia.

Rennia shifted. A cloud passed away from above, and the moonlight gave way. When she saw the golden apples in the distance, she moved--much to Lyanna's disappointment.

"Look, fine, you agreed to a make out session. If you want sex, I'll give you sex, but... let's finish this job already. Then you can do whatever you want, touch me whenever you want. Fuck me however you want."

Lya stirred. "W-what about Edric?"

"Sharing is caring, right? I can always be there for you, Lya. This is just distracting right now. I have a lot on my mind. Less problems, more naughty time, don't you think?"

Lyanna pondered for a while, then raised her staff. She hit Rennia on the knee before striding on.

"Ow!"

"Then hurry up, then. I want to tear you inside and out."

The small event left Rennia rattled. She didn't know what to do. Lyanna was going to be a problem.

3 -- The Heart of the Orchard

The pair ventured inwards into the corrupted orchard. It was unusually dense and filled with vines and uprooted tree parts. Small plants were stretched out and thin, like spaghettified foliage. There was a sense of something weird in the air, and it gave Rennia a feeling of corruption.

"This place is really creepy. Maybe we should turn back after what just happened..." Lyanna whispered to her, stalking behind her. "Maybe I chose the wrong job, and maybe I'm not cut out for adventuring."

"Well, we're here now. On that note, I'm guessing there's a reason you wanted to take a maiden like me out into the woods." Rennia winked at her partner in swashbuckling. That would probably backfire. She was supposed to ease Lyanna, not egg her on. She had abandonment issues for goddesses sake.

Lyanna started looking away, a blush forming on her face. "What... I would never. Bring you out here... to touch you in funny parts."

"mmmhhm, sure you are."

Something rustled in the distance. Rennia held her hand up. The air was thick and had the overly ripe smell of fruit--sickly and overly sweet, almost nauseating to an extent. The leaves shivered without the wind, and Rennia could feel something unseen lurking around them.

She turned off the thought but didn't lower her guard. "Stay close, and don't be touchy. And your eyes up here. Missy." She pointed with her fingers, and Lya bobbed her head.

"Yeah, don't worry. I won't be hasty again, sorry about that."

She was still fixated on it. Lya had a tendency to be self-deprecating whenever they were in public. She guessed having all those feelings pent-up did that to a person.

Lyanna tapped her on the shoulder. So much for don't me touchy.

"Tell me, Ren, are you mad about coming out here, or are you still mad about--"

"Lya, forget about it already. I'm not mad. I'm here for the payday. Money is tight with my elder sister gone, and my mother is sending all of our reserve funds to my sissy."

Lyanna breathed a sigh of relief. She stopped, pulled off her backpack, and pulled out a bottle of her alchemical concoction--Glimmerbrew.

"Lya, you can't drink on the job."

The girl waved her off. "I told you, it's low alcohol content. Besides, I need to take the stress off. That thing nearly mauled my tits apart."

Rennia crossed her arms. "Yeah, well, if you lose focus, whatever is in these woods will ravish us both."

"Atleast, we'd be fucked together."

"I guess. you have some wild fantasies, lya."

Lyanna smiled then took a swig, and chugged, and chugged. Her face turned slightly reddish, and she let out an ungirly burp. "Oops. Ahh, that's better." She wiped her mouth, gripped her stave, and resumed walking.

Rennia shrugged. "Eh, fuck it, give me some."

She grabbed the bottle. As the liquid entered her throat, she didn't know she was parched. A bubbling sensation started tickling her tongue, hundreds of little bubbles popping in her mouth. She could see why Lyanna was addicted.

"Shit, this is good stuff."

"Right?" Lya grinned. "Though my dad is keeping it on a tight leash. But don't worry, I can get you some if you want."

Rennia nodded. Her head turned as the woods rustled again.

Then chills flooded down her spine. She turned, readying her blade, and watched the dark woods. A feeling of being watched crept over her, coming from the direction of the long trees that loomed over them.

"We're not alone," Rennia announced.

Lyanna gripped her staff tighter and started waving it out. She began chanting a utility spell.

"Shadow, shadows, fade away. Light, lights, burn bright! Luminare."

Lyanna's staff was set ablaze--but not with fire. A little sparkling ball threw itself into existence and settled comfortably on top of her staff.

Hearing her friend enthusiastically chant the spell made Rennia realize how much she hated chanting. Spells should be one hit tricks not the litany of a chantry. She took point, her feet posed and poised in a defensive position, her sword held out instinctively to shield her abdomen from any hungry aggressor.

The light grew like a rising tide and flickered like waves on a beach, slowly illuminating their surroundings. The golden apples, in all their shining glory, paid ode to their name. However, one tree in the distance felt off. At the center of it was a pair of glowing eyes.

No.

A second pair as well.

[Entering danger zone: Retreat if ill-prepared.]

Rennia ignored the Living System's warning, focusing on what was in front of them. Even if they did retreat, the monsters wouldn't care if they were in a danger zone or not. They would hunt them down. Kill or be killed. Whether their reasons were survival, malice, or simply the thrill of the chase--it didn't matter.

The ground below shifted suddenly. Rennia peered down, then jumped back. Roots slithered underfoot, and the one tree swooshed and swayed unnaturally, moving slowly with ill intent. This specific tree in front of her was the root of the orchard's problem.

"Lya, can you burn that tree without burning the orchard?"

The blonde shook her head. "No, my fire spells are too powerful. If I had known we would be facing bark and wood fae, I'd have brought my cantrip book, maybe my grimoire."

"Sweet goddess let me suck on your supple tits and give me strength!"

"Rennia, that's blasphempy!"

"I'm a atheist, so fuck her. And if's she pissed she can come down here and punish me. "

"Enough, blasphemy," Lyanna moaned. "Ready yourself, I'll cast a protective spell!"

"By will and ward, by force unseen, Arcane armor, be her shield."

Rennia stared at her in disbelief. "Mage's Armor? A little dramatic, don't you think?"

That wasn't the end of it. The girl continued her chant.

"Let neither bark nor blade breach the skin of the one I hold dear! Mage's Armor!"

A blue arcane aura surrounded Rennia's body. It was ethereal but bore weight.

"Lyanna, enough! You're overdoing it!"

"I can handle the pressure!" She started chanting another spell. "Eyes grow unclouded, hands become unshrouded, guiding spirits pave the way, let friend strike true and anew!!"

Several figures emerged from the tree. The gnarled treant things walked forward slowly--several of them--moving in warped patterns and whispering in tree tongue. They were like thick-armored wild goblins. Rennia was caught between paying attention to them and her friend, who was overchanting spells.

"Guiding Sight!"

Rennia's vision shifted. She saw glowing red marks on the little treant things. Each one was different--weak spots, each in a different place from where their bark had grown.

She eyed her friend, who was huffing with exhaustion. She'd berate her recklessness afterward. Those were way too many spells for a level 6 mage to cast!

Rennia's blade met the first. It brought its wooden claws forward, thrashing at her. She stood wide open, baring the hit. It didn't penetrate her. The beast stood in confusion. She brought her blade around, piercing it in its center, where a little core resided.

The treant thing crumbled. Wood combusted and withered away. Its companions took a step back, then circled.

One lunged at Lyanna, but she reacted sharply. She conjured a massive fireball, bending and twisting as it grew with the oxygen. No chant this time--just magic. It blasted the flying treant in the face, sending bark and branches flying.

Rennia, in awe, lost her focus. A pair got close to her, slashing at her in simultaneous duality. She slashed at the things. One crumpled in one hit, the other had her blade stuck in its bark.

She gritted her teeth, shouting, "Die!" then kicked it backward. Bringing her left hand to its head, she shouted, "Firebolt." flaming sparks left her hands, and slowly, it turned to embers.

Their last foe stood, waiting for them--the corrupted treant itself. Rennia readied herself, waiting for it to attack first. The treant, angered for whatever reason, shed its outer skin, and a frail, spindly, corrupted but smaller tree stepped forward.

It swung its tendrils around, a hit meant for Lyanna. Rennia, seeing where the tendril--or rather root--was going, jumped in front of its trajectory. The hit landed on her, sending her flying away. The shield broke, and Rennia lost the clarity of the guidance spell.

"Ren!"

Lyanna retaliated. She started spamming decay spells in succession, aiming at the monster.

"Decay, decay, decay, decay!"

Rennia, standing on one leg, forced herself up, watching her friend fend off the treant. The tree beast stumbled but brought forth another arm. Rennia took the initiative, running up towards it and jumping on its branches. Swinging herself up, she stabbed the beast in its face.

The treant roared, wobbled, and then fell over. With a massive thud, the collision of the beast meeting the ground sent a shockwave through the area. It started to decay, very fast.

Rennia stared at her body. There was blood leaking from her stomach. But she was still alive, she stared at her companion who looked concerned. That was close. Way too close. At least the worst of it was over.

???????? 4 -- Forbidden Fruit

Rennia stared at the bloody wound at her center. Its sharp tendril had pierced her, but not too deep. Lyanna, exhausted, ran over and pressed her hands on it.

"I'm not a healer, but... hold still."

"Wounds close, pain fade, life grow. Heal!" she chanted. Glowing green light escaped her fingers. Rennia felt the wound close. Nothing hurt on the inside--she should be fine.

"You did good, Lya. Thank you."

"Idiot," Lyanna muttered under her breath, her voice softer than it should've been. "That hit was meant for me. Why would you intervene?"

Rennia was taken aback.

"You overchanted and put your life at risk to make sure I was safe. I had to do the same. By the way, Ms. Level 6 Mage, that was beyond dangerous, what you did."

"It's level 7 now," Lyanna said without a smile.

Rennia's face lit up. A level up could be a once-in-a-lifetime thing, or if you were important enough to be blessed, a weekly thing. Though everyone's path was different.

"You leveled up." Rennia held out her hands to high-five her friend. "Way to go!"

Lyanna met it but kept her scowl.

"Look, I suggest we take a look at your wound a little closer. You need to remove your shirt. You don't want me to miss a spot; it's hard to heal with all these clothes."

"For healing, right?"

"For healing purposes."

Rennia shook her head. Lyanna just wanted to see her titties. She wouldn't give in so easily.

"Wait, let's gather up the apples first, then make a little camp. We have a few hours left."

Lya sighed but nodded.

The pair got to work, making sure their surroundings were safe. Rennia started throwing rocks and pebbles at every tree in the surrounding area. There was no response. Next up came the picking and plucking. So far, they had been able to stuff about 15 in their backpacks.

The apples up close were absurdly large, at least as large as a big mango, maybe a melon. Calling them apples felt like a disgrace. They were way more beautiful. The rest of the fruits should be carried in baskets. Rennia was sure she could construct some, if given enough time. She didn't know a damn thing about crafting, but her skill made sure she knew how to construct weird things on demand.

They went deeper into the orchard, and the closer they got to the center, the more the trees pulsed and whispered. Rennia made sure not to listen to any of it, as it sounded like haunted wind. Lyanna, however, seemed to listen intently. Possibly the veins of magic were communicating with her. The spirits and all that.

They stopped their little march. In the center of the orchard hung two black apples, and they seemed to be absorbing the light of the surroundings instead of glowing.

Rennia stared at them. Her mind raced. The apples were familiar, but she couldn't recall why.

"Eve's apples!" Lyanna shouted. She grabbed her girlfriend's arms and started dancing. "Ren, we hit the jackpot."

Rennia stood confused. "Eve's apples?" They were said to level a person's abilities beyond comprehension.

Lyanna tightened her grip. "Do you know what these mean?"

"That we'll auction them off and sell them?"

"No, you cute fool. It could propel our skills to levels we'd take months or even years to grasp. Do you know what they sell for?"

Rennia scratched her head. "A hundred?"

"Ten grand in the city of Illos, and not just anyone can buy them."

Rennia knew where she was going with this. "You're saying let's eat the darn things? I don't know, looks kinda gnarly?"

Lya nodded slowly, with a smug smirk. "The rewards outweigh the benefits, my love."

Rennia, reluctant, but the allure of being pushed a little further, was an amazing prospect. If she could get rid of this goddamn class, it would do wonders for her.

Hayseed Jack. More like Jackass class. She had no proficient abilities except being an annoying survivalist. She wondered whether the system had trolled with it. At any rate, she turned her attention to the fruit.

The pair walked over to the tree, reaching for the pluckible fruit. Rennia stared at the fruit, and the fruit stared back at her, unease building in her body.

Rennia plucked both off and handed the other to Lya. She stared at her in anticipation, waiting for her to take the first bite, making eye contact and staring awkwardly. "So I just bite into it?"

"Pretty much, skin and all. The more you eat, the more you're supposed to get out of it." Rennia blinked, and Lyanna already had a hole bitten away.

With a final resigned grunt, Rennia bit into the apple. Her teeth instantly recoiled back as she stared in surprise. It was sweet, prickly, and sickly sweet. It could put a sugar bomb to shame with its sweetness.

"So sweet!"

"Better than chocolate pudding."

"No." Rennia did not agree to that statement.

The Hayseed Jack brute-forced her way through it. It wasn't half bad; she avoided the center of the thick apple and threw down on the ground what remained. Strangely, it had been much smaller than the golden ones.

"It's good, kinda too good to be true," Rennia complained.

"Why are you so cynical?"

"I don't know. Why are you so horny?"

Lyanna choked, saying nothing further, but then gave her friend her typical set of alluring eyes. Rennia bit her lip. Lyanna was getting her in that mood again. Now that there was no pressing matter and no oppressing foe, they had time to be alone again.

But for how long? Could Rennia keep up this illusion? It was unhealthy. A relationship almost halfway rooted in sexual desires. When her heart had lead towards another. It wasn't about sexual attraction. But what she wanted.

They sat down after eating the fruit. No change had happened over the course of 15 minutes, but they sat waiting, using the time doubly as a rest moment. Rennia had taken what was left of the corrupted treant's wood and set it aflame with a makeshift campfire she made. Though there were no silky cushions and cozy couches, there was the dancing and dangling flame.

Lyanna scooted over to her. Rennia sat cross-legged as she approached. The blonde prodded her shirt. "Hey, let me see that wound now."

"As soon as I magically level up."

"C'mon, don't be stingy. I promise, I want to see more than your breasts."

Rennia didn't believe her but obliged. She lifted her cheap armor, taking care not to hit her head with the metal plating. She took off her shirt, and then the breast padding she kept underneath.

Stripped bare of her undergarments, the wounds festered on her abdomen. Lyanna made her move, gripping her waist. She started healing her, chanting silently, as the remains of the wound closed, and Rennia felt the wound disappear. Lyanna pulled her hands away.

"Even with that apple, my mana feels weak. I need to relax for a while."

A bare-chested Rennia gripped her hands. "You did too much, you need to relax."

Rennia collapsed backward onto the grass. She pulled Lyanna closer, their bodies warm together, and their hearts racing. She moved her hands to her breasts, making Lyanna squeeze.

"I keep my promises, and our moments together will be brief, but... I can be yours for the night."

Lyanna swallowed, then crept closer, her mage robe slowly being tucked off. Lyanna's hands settled on Rennia's chest, she felt her heartbeat. Moved her hands over towards her neck, gripping it and letting go. Moving her hands towards her crotch, teasing her lightly.

"You're still trembling. Do you even want this?"

"I can ask you the same."

Lyanna moved in, their faces pressed together. Her tongue lulled inside of Rennia's mouth, working against hers, soft and teasing. As they kissed under the moonlight, her fingers traced all over. The blonde moved lower, her face abandoning Rennia's lips. Then she started tasting her body from the neck down.

She held a submissive hunger inside of her that she could never sate. No matter how many times, Rennia gave in to her toxic, whimsical desires. Lyanna always wanted more to eat her and consume her.

Lyanna's hands cupped Rennia's breasts, squeezing and tracing the darkened circles around her nipples, pinching them lightly. Her mouth enveloped her breasts, and Lyanna started suckling on her, peering upwards. Rennia took the back of her head, keeping her close and warm. She nibbled a little, only slightly. Rennia moaned. The sudden pain, shook her.

Lyanna pulled back.

"Let me make you feel good."

Rennia shivered. She knew what was coming. She bared it, listening to the crackling fire next to her, basking in wet warmth. The kisses trailed down her body, settling to the side of her abs. Rennia let out a soft but stifled laugh, and Lyanna kept grazing the spot, pruning her skin.

Lyanna giggled. "Sensitive here?"

Then she went a little lower, and Rennia's pants started loosening on their own. Lyanna's face found her pussy, and her hands went to work, rubbing her in small rhythms then parting her lower lips. She started flicking her tongue to gauge a reaction.

Rennia moaned.

Lyanna took it as a sign, and her tongue went in deeper, sliding against her crotch.

She started lapping at her vagina slowly, making Rennia arch, sliding her finger in her mouth, biting. Lyanna kept her pace slow but deliberate, savoring every part of her. She lifted Rennia's legs slightly, going even deeper, making her cry out her name.

"Lya~"

"Ah!"

She savored it, it was blissful, heaven even until--

A sharp twinge shot through her body, starting from her spine, and rolling all the way to her genital area. Rennia gasped loudly, her body shuddering, and it didn't come from Lyanna's tongue.

Pain blossomed in her core, and she cried out.

"AAAHHH!!!"

A strange heat filled her body, unnatural, all things considered, building in her belly, like she was giving birth to something. Tears filled her eyes. Then panic gripped her. She pushed Lyanna away.

"Stop! Stop--something's wrong!"

Lyanna pulled back, her lips wet, her eyes confused and waning like a sad creature.

"What? You usually like this."

Rennia clutched her stomach, breath ragged.

"I don't know. It--it hurts."

"Is it that time of the month?"

"... No. That was in awhile. I--"

The apple, it had to be. The apple. It cursed her.

The pain intensified, and Rennia doubled over, curling in on herself.

"Ren?"

"Ren?"

"Ren!"

Rennia could only howl in pain, the fire spread, something was forming inside of her.

She gripped Lyanna's fingers and held them tight. She whispered, "Don't leave. Stay with me. Please."

Lyanna looked horrified, but promised her, "I won't."