Oh sweet internet how I’ve missed you. So sorry for the m.i.a. status. I had leak which ruined my router and had to pay $$$ for new one. Ok slight exaggeration it was more like $. Nonetheless my face was like :(
Anywho I’m back in action and just in time for one of my fav prompts. I always loved mythology in school when I was a kid. I think it’s where my love of the wondrous adventures of fantasy began. I may use mythology as inspiration for a new story.
This weeks prompt: Borrow a Myth - Put your own spin on an idea, creature, or item found in established mythology.
As always fellow FFF writers Night Tempest, Elaina M. Roberts, and Tempest Wolf will be putting their own spin on this prompt.
Love’s Garden 3
“Hey KamKam.” Ve greeted Kami warmly, strutting awkwardly through the dirt as if the blood and fleshy remnants that covered her didn’t exist.
“Ve” He smiled invitingly. “Where’s Rycah?”
“Tying things up. There was some flesh eating, soul sucking, something or other.” waving her hands down her body at her disheveled appearance. “I figured I’d get this out of the way before cleaning up.”
“Oh” Kami’s face fell slightly. “Well I like seeing you too.” he shrugged.
Letting out a laugh, she certainly couldn’t relate to his zen nature but she liked him all the same. He was genuine. Ve didn’t have tolerance for bullshit. Even in his cute naive way, Kami was a straight shooter. That was her favorite thing about him.
“Glad to hear it.” draping an arm around him, Ve motioning out towards the rows of blossoming foliage. “If you don’t mind me asking how do you manage to take care of all these?”
“Hm.” he thought for a moment scrunching his nose at the messy arm slung around him. “I already have the essentials here sunlight, rich soil, water...”
“I get that but just keeping one alive is a lot of work. I don’t know how you have patience for all this.”
“That’s my gift. These hearts belong to someone out there. They’re people with feelings. They deserve respect and love just like anyone of us would want. Once these hearts know what love should feel like their owners will know what to look for. What happens in their everyday lives will determine the outcome but strong healthy hearts are much more likely to find their other half than withered ones.”
“Wait? I’m so stupid!” palming her forehead she couldn’t believe she’d missed it.
“What’s wrong?”
“Can any of us make one of these things grow? Healthy that is?” gripping him by the shoulders, Ve hovered in his face waiting for an answer.
“You guys aren’t very suited to it but in theory if you were to devote time to love and tend I don’t see why it couldn’t.”
“Thanks!” giving him a quick peck before taking off.
“Sure. There’s nothing today anyway.” Kami yelled waving at the woman moving faster than light.
Rycah was already dressed when Ve appeared wearing a shit eating grin. Her ponytail was weighed down in a stiff tangled mess. Her floral pants were missing patches and she had two shoes but one heel. Rycah shook his head. Considering this was how they spent the majority of their time he couldn’t understand her choices in attire. He assumed it was her annoyance at being immortalized as a male that cause Ve to over compensate. Despite her ferocity even in her human life, Rycah recognized a virtue in the young woman. He secretly watched over her for years following the nomad from country to country until finally ending in Norway. While the origins of Ve had been distorted over the centuries, the uncanny ability that perpetuated her legacy as a Norse God stayed true even after her death. She could manipulate the senses or at least make the mind believe so. A trick especially useful now when rendering a demon blind and deaf. Taking her under his wing, Rycah taught her to harness her abilities for something other than chaos. Fighting for a cause bigger than herself, she had not only become his right hand but his closest friend.
“Do I even want to know what you’re grinning about?”
“Probably not.” Ve hobbled away from him towards the plant now taller than either of them. “I just hope Kami won’t be too upset about his heart.” peeking over her shoulder.
Rycah was in her face in a blink. “What did you say to him?”
“Me?” she clutched her chest for dramatic effect. “Nothing of course but Kami’s a smart guy it’s only a matter of time before...”
Rycah stepped in so close his nose touched hers breathing like a raging bull.
“For crying out loud get out of my face.” Ve batted him away. “I didn’t say anything about you or your precious. I went to see if there was anything that needed to be harvested and we got to talking about him and his plants. From there I put two and two together.”
“He didn’t say anything?” Rycah’s voice almost cracking.
“Nothing about you or the plant but from the looks of this thing you’re doing something right.” she slapped him on the back applauding his effort.
Rycah caressed one of the leaves losing himself as he traced the creases and natural dips along the leave’s surface. “It’s been growing steadily.”
“That’s what you were hoping for.” Ve was no longer in sight but her voice echoed through the room.
“I’m happy but it’s too big to keep now.” he continued absently stroking the plant.
Reappearing across the room, Ve crossing her feet on the arm of his chair relaxing into the plush cushions. Her high waisted shorts hugged her thighs. Decorative bangles on her arms clinked together as she fluffed the collared bow on her polka dot blouse.
“So it’s time to go back to Anain Fortress Rycah.”
Ve played look out while Rycah hugged the oversized pot to his chest scanning the fields for the best spot. The cover of night hid nothing from their eyes. Their vision was as clear as if they sun were shining down on them. Kami would only have to glance from his window to catch the pair stumbling their way through.
“Hurry up.” Ve complained in a strained whisper. “Just pick a spot.” Even with no threat, her body fell into it’s natural stance holding the shovels behind her back like twin blades.
“We can’t just pick a spot. You don’t think he’ll notice a random tree.”
“He’s going to notice it anyway no matter where you put it.” Ve waved her shovel wielding arm out to the vast forest around them. Rycah’s eyes followed. What looked like randomness to the untrained eye was order to Kami. His methods weren’t as carefree as they appeared. He methodically planted each and knew exactly where every one lay. Ve was right. A random no name was going to stick out like a sore thumb no matter where he put it.
“Maybe we should take it back?”
“Take it back!” Ve’s whisper elevated. “Do you see the leaves and sprouts coming off that thing! It’s already dusting your ceiling. Soon it will need it’s own wing of the house.”
“I know but-”
“I’ve already ruined these shoes we’re staying!” trying to kick the thick muck off her suede ankle boots to no avail. “You knew eventually you’d have to fess up and now your trying to worm your way out of it because for the first time you have to deal with something you can’t attack. Forced to use your heart you poor thing.” Ve mocked with a pout of her lips.
“Keep your damn voice down!” Rycah stomped quietly through the dirt to the small clearing he’d become familiar with. “You’ve got a lot of nerve Ve. As if you’re miss love and sunshine. You’d just as soon trade any of us for a new outfit and you’re giving me shit. I can’t wait until you fall for someone. Let’s see how well you handle it.”
“Undoubtedly poor I’m sure.” Ve responded matter-of-factly. “And I hope you care enough to kick me in the pants if I need it.
He opened his mouth to protest but instead let his shoulders fall relaxing the tension in his body. As annoying as her pushing and prodding could be he knew it came from a good place.
“Here is good.” Rycah announced.
Looking at the clearing in confusion. “You wanted to be discrete so you choose a spot with no other plants around?”
“Like you said, he’ll notice no matter where I put it. At least this way he’ll know who left it.” seemingly pleased with his choice.
“Whatever you say.” Ve handed him a shovel.
The two moved in flashes like well oiled gears rotating in time with one another. Taking only moments to dig the hole, Rycah knelt down carefully lifting the plant from it’s ceramic prison. Cradling the base and roots, he placed it in it’s new home. It was if he could feel the happiness radiating from the tiny tree. Rycah smiled with contentment patting the dirt around it as Ve filled the hole back up again. Suddenly he couldn’t remember why he’d been so nervous in the first place.
Ve placed her hands on her hips admiring how far Kami’s heart had come. How far Rycah had come. “I’ll take those.” she grabbed the shovels heading back over to the nearby shed.
Rycah couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride starring at the heart he was now responsible for.
“What are you doing?”
He froze at the sound of the soft voice feet away him. Kami walked closer keeping his eyes on the newest addition before running his palm along the thin base. He rubbed the plant greeting the stranger.
Walking out of the shed Ve stopped abruptly behind Kami catching the wide eyed look from Rycah. She smiled in silent reassurance. Mouthing “Good luck” as parting words before she took off into the night.
“Where did this come from?”
“It’s the sprout I took from you.”
Kami studied it harder in both wonder and shock “How?”
“I kept it and took care of it and it grew.” his voice unsure like a child searching for approval. Still on his knees watching Kami study the plant he hadn’t realized he was holding his breath.
“How did you manage to do in weeks what I could not do in...” Kami let his arm fall “forever.”
If not for their heightened abilities he may never have heard the words leave Rycah’s lips. “I think it’s yours.”
Kami’s eyes found him. “Mine? I don’t have one.”
“You always tell me every heart deserves love.” Rycah started.
Kami only nodded turning back to the vibrant baby tree.
“And your job was to make sure every heart got that chance.”
He stood silently taking in the words coming from the man kneeling beside him.
“What makes you think you wouldn’t have the chance as well.” Rycah rose to his feet taking Kami’s hand in his. The tears spilled over running down Kami’s face at the revelation.
“I know it’s out of place here but I thought it would be nice to plant it here in our spot.” Rycah smiled.
“Our?” Kami turned his tear stained face to Rycah. His heart thudding in his ears.
“Of course.” suddenly realizing how presumptuous he’d been, Rycah snowballed his fantasy without knowing for sure his feelings were reciprocated. “Only if this is what you want too. I should have talked-”
Rycah’s words were cut off by the warm lips pressed against his. He closed his eyes savoring the moment as his hands roamed the smaller body. Kami squeezed tighter clinging to him. Rycah nuzzled into the crook of his neck inhaling deeply.
“It’s me and you now.” he whispered into Kami’s ear with a kiss. Rycah smiled at the petal blossom that hadn’t been there before. He loved seeing Kami happy. He silently thanked their creator for giving him all he’d ever need right here in his arms.
