Tiberinus

[Thalia]

Nimeda was sure-footed in the way of the reckless, splashing in the shallows or clambering over rocks for the sheer joy of sensation. When they came within view of their destination, she twisted with delighted anticipation to gauge Noctua’s reaction, only to find him fallen to the earth. She blinked first at the space he had occupied, and then at the space he did now, and then out into the trees. If a furrow briefly lined her brow, she did not speak to its cause. She did however fold down onto her knees, like she might offer her palms out to help him up, else had decided to otherwise join him down in the dirt.

But then he caught sight of the view behind her.

She’d seen him reject his own desires before, perhaps unaware his appearance even betrayed such impulses bare in this place. The last time his clothes had flickered the urge to swim, she had embraced the waters while he lingered stately on the bank. This time he shifted straight to submergence. That a smile also broke through his melancholy, no matter how brief it might prove to be, elicited a brilliant beam of her own. Warmth blossomed for such simple pleasure as a single moment. Nim perched atop one of the wide rocks, feet swirling, fingers grasped over the edge.

“It’s somewhere that helped shape me,” she said. Then added, “A long time ago, though. It’s not exactly what it was, I do not think, but through the ebbs and flows of time some things stay the same. Like the truth to be found between soul and flesh, perhaps. It is indelible.” She laughed a little for the twisting ribbon of her thoughts, somewhat aware that her answer sounded more like a riddle than the plain honesty she intended. She had no name to tell him, and she did not know what it might be called in the Waking world now anyway. The memories were warm as the water she presently dipped her toes in, though.

She laughed and let herself fall. The water scooped her up until she bobbed back to the surface.