Vignette: A Long Time Ago in Another CountryIndex | Time Under Chaos | Player Characters | Delluth | Vignette: A Long Time Ago in Another Country Firelight gleamed in the glazed windows of the low stone house, hinting at comfort and shelter from the autumn night on the moors. Within, a woman lounged in a rough wooden chair. A green and blue striped blanket covered her shoulders; her wide brown eyes reflected yellow flames from the fireplace. The rest of her face was pale, and rather narrow and pointed, more so than is usually considered human. At her feet sprawled an enormous red dog, nose toward the fire. Across him lay a girl-child, asleep, her golden curls tumbled across a face more human than her mother’s. The woman said, quietly, “It’s time to go back for a while.” The dog raised his head and looked over his shoulder at her. “It is my duty.” His short, floppy ears flattened against his skull. “You don’t need to be jealous of them, Delluth. They’re your family too. Maybe more than they are mine.” His heavy jaw held many ivory teeth, and now his lips pulled back from them. The barest whisper of a growl escaped him, too low to disturb the child. “My love,” she said calmly, “why do we always do this? I have never pretended to be different.” He turned his head a bit more to look at her with both his limpid dog’s eyes, the snarl already vanished. “Yes, I suppose you would keep hoping I’ll change. You’re stubborn.” She shook her head, smiling fondly. “I’ll go tomorrow. Let me just put our mite of trouble to bed …” The woman pried the child off Delluth and tucked her into her bed near the fireplace. She lingered a moment, stroking the sleeping head. When she turned back, a man stood naked on the hearth. “Jerine,” he murmured as she came close. “Don’t,” she said. “I’m going.” But she rested her hands on his shoulders, retracted claws gently pricking his skin. “One day you won’t come back.” “Of course I’ll come back. I love you. I love Jerusha. I even love this weird gloomy place of yours.” Some stronger protest moved in his face, but he said only, “It isn’t gloomy.” “No, not as long as I’m here,” she smiled. Taking his hands, she pulled him toward the larger, curtain-hung bed set against the far wall. “Come and love me, Delluth. I’ll be back almost before you’ve noticed I left, knowing you.” “Jerusha notices.” “And she has to learn to understand about duty. You coddle her too much.” They reached the bed. “I don’t know what else to do.” “Never mind. You know what to do right now.” She smiled, drawing back the curtains, and climbed onto the bed. He followed, closing the curtains again to keep out the cold. |
