Lessons Learned

The wind whistled through the trees, gracing Chloe's cheek as she traced her way through the forest. It was a gentle breeze, the kind that licked so nicely at her pale arms and managed to flutter her long blonde hair. It was the kind of wind that had a way of staving off the relentless heat of a hot summer day. The kind of wind that paired nicely with the shorts and loose-fitted blouse that she currently wore.

Though the wind was also a tool as Chloe was a woman on a mission.

She went for the satchel that hung from her belt, reaching inside and grabbing a pair of vials from within. The action was done seamlessly, managing to locate the two of them without even reading the label or studying the contents inside.

A faint melody came fluttering forth from her lips, a playful whistle that held magic of its own.

She sprinkled a little bit of each vial into her opened hand, keeping her melody going as she did so. And just as the shrillest note left her lips, the powder started to rise and merge into the wind. Two colours followed the breeze, seemingly immune to gravity as they danced upon the wind.

They drew a trail through the air and guided Chloe towards her objective, heading in the direction of her required harvest.

"Thank you, my mother," she whispered.

And her mother responded 'you're welcome' by kissing her upon the cheek with another burst of her relieving breeze.

Chloe smiled and touched a hand to this kiss before heading in the direction of the purple and yellow that danced upon the air. She followed it as it wove between trees, not once distrusting the path that she was being led down.

After all, her mother was a kindly being and would never play tricks upon her.

Honestly, that was just one of the dozen reasons she was thankful to get into herbology and not illusions or mimicry. When a caste of magic could be used for mischief then its deities were mischievous little imps to its practitioners.

Chloe came upon the end point of her short journey, spotting a sea of little grey and white caps lingering at the base of a tree, making their living out of the mossy husky of a once lively species. Some of these caps had blue dots, others orange, and a few bore a distinct purple hue. These purple bunch were her target and she started to pick them, ferrying them over to a basket at her side.

It was calming work, spotting and plucking them. This single husk alone bore much fruit, ensuring that she'd have enough to fuel a dozen weeks' worth of anti-poisons and soothing salves.

Though the work was also a distraction, narrowing her gaze upon a singular goal. It was easy to get lost in one's own labour. The way that someone could just zone out and completely forget about the world at large, completely ignoring the fact that they were in the midst of a very lively forest full of other creatures.

It wasn't until the low rumble of a growl pierced this calm that Chloe realized her mistake.

She quickly wheeled around, peddling back and pressing herself tightly against the desecrating stump at her rear.

Before her was a fierce wolf, growling and baring its fangs. It was thin, hungry, desperate for a meal. There was a wound upon its side, an angry scar that ensured that it approached with a limp as it took a lurching step towards her.

Chloe reached for her satchel, feeling her pulse quicken. Her movements were frenzied, panicked as she reached for one of the vials. She clutched it tightly, holding it in the palm of her hand and pressing into her skin so hard that the glass indented against her palm.

A last resort.

The wolf was so close now, its warm breath caressing her face.

"Please," Chloe tried.

Though the beast did not understand her.

What it did understand was a heavy bang from behind.

The beast immediately wheeled around and Chloe peered out from behind it, spotting her savior. They were outlined by the light, obscured from any detail by an almost heavenly glow. Though they were tall and rugged, powerful in stature with bulky arms and a strong build.

For a moment, both the beast and the figure stood at an impasse. Though at the very least the wolf was not looking towards Chloe any longer.

There was suddenly a loud crunch, something akin to a twig breaking. Though it soon happened again and again, growing increasingly gruesome with each successive noise as it became apparent that these were bones and not branches. Slowly, the silhouette altered in shape and size as its arms melted away and were replaced with glorious wings. The figure became a monster in its own right, growing taller and taller in lurching bursts until it lumbered over the scene, becoming even more intimidating than before.

"Master," Chloe whispered.

The wolf whimpered.

And that's when Chloe stuck out.

She slammed the glass vial into its side, causing it to shatter. Shards impeded themselves into her hand and she winced at the cuts. Though the pain was nothing compared to the awful and putrid smell that soon punctuated the very air.

The wolf whimpered and sniffed, going wild and bouncing around. It was attempting to nip at its hide and do away with the substance that now lingered in its fur. Though it was an utterly hopeless endeavour.

And that's when the new beast lunged at it as well.

The two frontal assault terrified the wolf and it quickly scrambled away, whimpering like a struck dog as it fled the scene.

The new beast stepped closer, no longer hiding in the radiant light. They were tall and terrifying, a mix of animal and human. Their face was accented by feathers but was distinctly feminine with a crown of black downing. Her body was powerful, tense with muscles and easily three feet taller than Chloe's own. It was devoid of any clothing, bare and beautiful with a strong build that held its femininity in the fringes. It was covered with a mix of a luscious brown hide and equally gorgeous feathers that were a mosaic of purple, black, and grey.

The beast wiped at its brow with one of its wings, no longer having the hands necessary in order to do so.

"Are you hurt, Chloe?" the beast asked, its voice more like a growl than actual spoken words. Though even through the harsh huskiness, care could be heard, worry seeping out upon these feral syllables.

Chloe nodded quickly though looked to her hand, seeing that fresh blood which was bubbling forth from the little wounds peppered around her palm.

"I'd consider yourself lucky," the beast stated, scanning the forest as if expecting a fresh monster to break through the foliage at any moment. "That was a dire wolf and a starving one at that."

Chloe reached for her satchel and grabbed a pair of tweezers, hissing as she plucked the few lingering shards out of her skin. "Thank you for coming, Master Lilith."

Lilith smirked. "I don't intend to let my student die in the middle of the woods. I've invested far too much time into you to let something like that happen."

"Uh huh," Chloe teased, hissing as she sprinkled a splash of alcohol onto her hand. "I'm sure that's the only reason you saved me."

"Alright you caught me. I may also harbour slightly affectionate feelings towards you as well," Lilith responded, offering a toothy grin as she glanced down at Chloe before focusing on her basket. "At the very least, it seems that your harvest was fruitful this time around."

"Yes, Master Lilith," Chloe replied, grunting as she started to wind a pure white cotton around her hand, compressing it tightly.

"Did you use the locating spell that I taught you?" Lilith asked.

Though she promptly grunted as her body started to shift once more. There were more of those hideous cracks and crunches as her form began to shift before Chloe's eyes. It sounded so ugly, so painful, though the woman handled it with not so much as an ounce of discomfort painted upon her face.

Inch by inch, she shrunk and settled back into a human form. Though this one was at least clad in a simple brown shawl which covered much of her body.

"It is always amazing to see you do that," Chloe stated, looking at her in awe.

Lilith smirked. "Shapeshifting is always a fun little party trick." She took a knee in front of her student and offered her hand. "May I see?"

Chloe nodded and held out her wounded palm, feeling Lilith carefully grasp the wrist. Her mentor examined it closely, humming and hawing as she did so.

"Am I in trouble?" Chloe asked, hating how childish her worry sounded.

"I'd say considerably less trouble than you were in a few moments ago," Lilith joked, looking her in the eye and offering a thin smile. "I am proud of you for finding those mushroom caps, by the way, they are not an easy substance to locate."

"I feel like there's a 'but' coming," Chloe teased.

Lilith smirked at her. "But this forest can be dangerous and I've taught you spells and wards to keep predators at bay while you're foraging." She wagged a finger at Chloe, narrowing her gaze. "Wards which you clearly did not utilize."

"I..." Chloe sighed. "The forest seemed peaceful today."

"It is peaceful," Lilith stated, reaching out with her other hand and brushing it across Chloe's cheek. "The wolf is a member of the forest and is not an intruder. He is merely inhabiting a niche within a realm where he belongs. If anything, you and I are the intruders here."

Chloe nodded though couldn't help but blush at her mentor's tender touch.

Up close, she could appreciate the beauty of Lilith's human form. She was a powerful woman, strong and bulky, being a little taller than herself. Her skin was tanned from both the realm of her birth and also years spent living under the sun, being the colour of a rich mahogany. Her hair was short and cropped black with little specks of grey mixed into it. There was the start of wrinkles under her eyes, the first signs of an advancing age. Though these only drew attention towards a rugged scar which marked her cheek, telling many stories with its mere presence alone.

And while all of these traits were so beautiful in their own right, they came together so nicely within this singular form.

Even now, Chloe couldn't help herself from getting lost in her mind, appreciating this body.

"Though I imagine that nearly losing your life is an adequate punishment already," Lilith stated, scoffing. "And it is likely a lesson that you will hold near and dear to your heart." She cocked a brow as she looked her pupil in the eye. "At least, I hope so."

"Yes, Master," Chloe said, grinning sheepishly as she looked down at her wounded hand.

"Still, I am glad that you're okay," Lilith offered, drawing back and instead getting to her feet. She then held out her hand to Chloe. "We should probably head back to the cabin and redress that wound."

"Don't trust my bandages?" Chloe teased, getting to her feet with her Master's assistance.

"I would trust them on anyone besides yourself," Lilith ribbed. "But you are too precious for me to risk anything less than the most adept care that I can offer. As such, it'd do my mind well to know that I'd taken care of you myself."

Chloe bit her lip. "Thank you, Master."

The two of them stood at an impasse, for just a moment, keeping a little distance between themselves. It seemed that there was something to say, something to do, though neither of them was willing to go through with it.

Until Chloe proved to be the braver of the two as she dipped forwards and pecked her mentor upon the lips. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Lilith replied, smiling at this affection.

She then took the lead, heading in the direction of their homestead. As she walked, she whistled a soft tune under her breath, causing the wind to ruffle and for a fresh breeze to blow through the clearing. This wind picked up leaves and moved them all in the same direction, forming an arrow which guided them ahead.

Chloe looked at her satchel, feeling a mix of awe and embarrassment at her own inability to mimic such a feat. "When will I be able to do that?"

"Considering I have close to twenty years on you?" Lilith quipped. "I'd say somewhere in the distant future. You are a powerful witch but still learning how to connect with our mother. As such, you will require your aids for a considerable amount of time yet."

Chloe nodded, letting out a sigh.

Though any thoughts of her flagging abilities were whisked away as fresh memories of Lilith's beast form came back to her. They were still raw and real within her mind as Chloe thought about how exotic her Master's body had looked. A part of her couldn't help but wonder how something like that would...

"Is something eating at you?" Lilith asked.

Chloe quickly shook her head. "Nothing, Master."

"Alright." Lilith smirked. "Now how about the honest answer instead?"

"When did you become so adept at reading me?" Chloe asked, narrowing her gaze.

Lilith snorted. "You are not my first student and I doubt that you'll be my last, dear. I learned long ago that little white lies are a nasty habit which must be confronted immediately and dealt with accordingly. Can't have any contention lingering between us. I'm sure that you can understand that."

"I'm still convinced that you're reading my mind," Chloe grumbled.

Lilith scoffed and shook her head. "There isn't really a need for something like that. You'll come around to confiding the truth in me eventually."

The leaves clattered against a thick wall of brush, battering against them again and again with no hope of breaking through.

Though this obstacle was nothing for Lilith who touched her hand to a nearby tree, speaking softly under her breath as she did so. In a heartbeat, the brush moved aside, leaving just enough room for herself and Chloe to slip through before it closed behind them

It was a wall, if a crude one, hiding an encampment within.

"Home sweet home," Lilith teased.

Home in question was a simple wooden structure that was about the size of a farmhouse in a more civilized domain. There was a small creek running by it, a vegetable garden affixed to the side, and a drying rack where hides and meats were currently being cured for later.

These were really all of the things necessary to feed and maintain life for a pair of forest witches.

"So, are you going to tell me the truth?" Lilith asked.

Chloe stirred, remembering the topic that she had tried to ignore. She could dig her heels in and continue with her lies but she knew that such things were utterly fruitless when done before someone like Lilith.

"I was thinking about your beastly form," she finally admitted, blushing just a little. "I had some rather unchurchly thoughts about it."

Lilith snorted. "It happens to the best of us."

She approached a pair of stumps that were jutted out of the ground, plopping down upon one of them before gesturing to the other.

Chloe took the hint and sat down as well, offering her hand to her Master. An offer which Lilith accepted as she lightly grasped her wrist and started to unwind the bandages. It hurt, a little, though it seemed like a fitting punishment for being so stupid in the first place.

Though thankfully, it seemed that Lilith had accidently provided a distraction from the pain. Her shawl had shifted just a little as she settled down, revealing the body which lingered underneath. There was not so much as an additional whiff of fabric protecting it, meaning that Chloe got an unadulterated view of well... plenty. And she loved what she saw, biting her lip at the sight of rugged muscles and attractive chub.

"Would you like me to take my beastly form again?" Lilith asked.

Chloe shook her head frantically. "No, no, no, it was just a stray thought. I can assure you that..."

Lilith merely lifted a brow, letting that simple gesture do the speaking for her.

"I mean I wouldn't be opposed to it," Chloe finally admitted, looking off to the side. She couldn't help but grin. "It was kind of hot."

"I am an extremely attractive woman," Lilith stated. "And I'm glad that a young whippersnapper, like you, can appreciate that fact."

"Whippersnapper," Chloe whispered, promptly devolving into a snickering fit. "The Divine, Master, you are... you are old but not that old." Though she flinched as she realized what she'd just said. "I mean uh..."

"I am old," Lilith agreed, nodding along. "But I've learned to wear my age well."

The bandage finally fell away, revealing the wounded hand that lingered underneath. Already, Chloe could see the faults in her work. It wasn't a bad dressing per say but it also wasn't perfect either.

"I'd say this is a passable mending," Lilith said, looking up at her and smiling. "Good enough for a job done in the middle of the forest at least." She then held out her other hand, motioning towards Chloe's hip. "Satchel, if you would."

Chloe nodded and handed it over.

Lilith started by snapping it open and grabbing a canteen of water from inside, unscrewing the lid and using this to clean the wound. The stream did away with any lingering filth or blood that had been missed. The coolness of it stung, though not too badly, merely making Chloe flinch in response.

Chloe then watched as her Master used the alcoholic rub to once more sterilize the wound. This stung a little more but was still barrable, merely making Chloe clench her teeth. Finally, Lilith added a special ointment from one of the many vials, something which actually helped soothe the ache. Once finished, she began to affix the bandages once more, wrapping the wound with a fresh spool of white cotton.

Throughout the process Lilith hummed under her breath, offering an enchanting little tune.

There wasn't much difference between this mending and the last one but somehow Chloe knew that it had been done better. As such, it put her a little more at ease.

"There we go, now I have peace of mind," Lilith said, smiling at her student. "Thank you for indulging me, dear."

Chloe snorted. "You make me feel like a hapless child sometimes."

"Well, you are not a hapless child. I can assure you of that. After all, I wouldn't trust a child to rove these forests alone," Lilith said as she promptly narrowed her gaze. "Still, I hope you learned your lesson."

Chloe sighed. "The forest can be dangerous and I must never skimp on my precautions."

"Or..." Lilith added, lifting a brow.

Chloe blinked. "Or?"

"Or you'll end up the meal of a dire wolf," Lilith finished, leaning forwards and kissing the fresh dressings. "And I would be most upset if my precious student ended up like that."

Chloe nodded and tried her best to remain stoic in the face of this serious advice. Though she couldn't help but smile at the affection that followed.

"Thank you, Master," she whispered.

"Anyways, are you hungry?" Lilith asked as she drew away. "Or... could we hold off on our meal for a little while."

Chloe offered a nervous smile. "I think it might be a little bit before my appetite returns to me, if I may be completely honest."

"Very well," Lilith said. "Maybe there's another way that I could help take your mind off things?"

Chloe looked to the side, working her jaw. There was no denying that her mind was preoccupied with certain sinful thoughts. These little perversions being the only thing capable of chipping away at the grim reality of her near demise.

Honestly, it felt a little strange to feel something like this though she knew that fear had an interesting effect upon a person and their inhibitions. Maybe terror and lust coordinated upon some deep seeded wavelength, conspiring to leave her in such a state.

"That would be nice," she finally admitted.

Lilith got to her feet and took a step away from the stump. As she did so, she hummed a gentle tune under her breath, a lovely melody like all the others that she had sung this afternoon.

Though as the notes began to play, there was a shift in her posture, a quiver that coursed through her body. Now that Chloe had a clear view, she could see the process, appreciating its gruesome nature more fully.