#kaestri

Kate lit up when she first saw them. She was good enough to explain it all to Aestri. These were the traditional trappings of Christmas, a holiday from Kate's home plane.

Aestri was surprised to find the basement similarly decorated. Lights and garlands lined the walls and ceiling, even the sacrificial hooks that groaned from the rack in the center of the room. Rotting pine trees sagged under the weight of shiny baubles. Crumpled presents dotted the floor, with colorful packaging that couldn't hide the smell of something rotting underneath.

Despite the gruesome twist on the decor, Kate still had a glimmer in her eye. A sad smile tugged at her lips.

Aestri gave her a sympathetic look, and squeezed her hand. "Over here."

She lead them over to a solitary corner, sitting them both down on the floor. She quickly wrapped an arm around Kate, rubbing her bare arms to try to warm her up.

Kate smiled, cuddling in closer to Aestri. She hummed contently, gaze drifting back to the decorations. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of something above them. "Oh my..."

"What is it, my dear?" She followed Kate's gaze upward. Hanging from the ceiling, wrapped in a red bow, was a bundle of severed toes. "Ah. Lovely."

"I think it's supposed to be mistletoe."

Aestri blinked up at the toes. "Ah, well. Of all the things one could say of the patron goddess of this plane, you can't say she doesn't have a sense of humor." She chuckled to herself.

Kate was quiet for a moment. "Do you... not have mistletoe where you're from?"

"It's not uncommon," she said. "I've known druids who use it to focus their magic."

"Oh, well, we don't quite use it for that." Kate looked down, partially hiding her face as she leaned against Aestri's shoulder. "Where I'm from, when two people are caught under the mistletoe, well, they have to kiss. It's Christmas tradition."

Aestri's eyes widened, a grin spreading across her face. "That sounds like a wonderful tradition!"

"I figured you'd like it," Kate giggled.

She looked up at Aestri with a gentle smile, the lights around her twinkling in her eyes. She brushed a gentle hand across her cheek. She leaned in.

The kiss was soft, gentle. Warm.

Kate sighed as they parted, leaning her forehead against Aestri's. The two laid there, content, rested.

---

A freezing wind blew across the remains of the old resort, snow drifts gathering high among abandoned ski racks and picnic tables.

Taurie shivered, wrapping her arms around herself as she trudged through the snow. She couldn't stand the turn in weather. If this trial didn't kill her, the cold just might.

Yun-Jin had been with her when the fog dropped them here. She came up beside her, simply watching her for a moment. "Are you going to be okay?"

"I'm fine," she scoffed. "It's not that bad. You should've seen the weather back in Glasgow."

Yun-Jin side-eyed her, noticing the cultist pull the open front of her vest closed around her midsection. She sighed, slipping off her own faux fur jacket and holding it out. "Here."

Taurie's eyes widened. She shook her head. "I'm fine," she repeated, trying to sound resolute through her chattering teeth.

Yun-Jin rolled her eyes. "Just take it. You're no use to us as an icicle."

Taurie stared at the plush coat. After a moment, she grumbled, snatching it from her hand and shrugging it on.

She was surprised at how soft it was. She already felt warmer as the faux fur glided across her bare arms. She felt herself melt into it, pulling the collar closer around her neck. She smiled warmly.

Yun-Jin smiled back.

Taurie caught herself, looking away and chuckling half-heartedly. "Can't believe you really wear this thing."

She rolled her eyes, seeing the obvious attempt to escape the tender moment. "Let's get moving."

The two took off across the snow, eventually finding themselves in a dilapidated wooden shack tucked away in a corner of the resort grounds.

To the survivors' relief, there was a generator inside. To the survivors' confusion, it was wrapped in fairy lights. The walls of the shack were similarly decorated with ornaments and garlands.

Taurie shrugged off her confusion. She was taught never to question the Black Talon's will.

No sooner had they started repairs on the generator did Taurie feel the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Heavy footsteps approached in the snow outside.

Both survivors leapt up from the generator in a panic. There weren't many places to hide in the small shack. Taurie acted first, grabbing Yun-Jin's wrist and pulling her into a corner behind a pile of debris.

Taurie pressed her back as far into the corner as she could, Yun-Jin pressing against her chest. She could feel her shivering - maybe from the cold, maybe from the fear. Without a second thought she wrapped her arms around Yun-Jin. It was only right to share the warmth.

Yun-Jin took a steadying breath, leaning into the warmth of Taurie's chest. Her heart pounded, listening intently for the danger to pass. Her wide eyes landed on the dazzling decorations around them.

"Did you ever celebrate Christmas, Taurie?" she whispered.

Taurie raised an eyebrow. "I didn't exactly grow up in a Christian household."

She looked down, noticing the fear in her dark eyes. She sighed, obliging to give her the distraction she was so clearly looking for.

"Uh, but what about you?" She rubbed her shivering arms. "Bet ya threw some massive Christmas parties with your popstar friends."

"No," Yun-Jin sighed. "Not really. I usually spent the holidays alone."

Taurie sucked in a breath. "Ah, well. It's all overrated anyway. The ugly sweaters, annoyin' songs..."

She glanced around, grasping for another example. Her eyes caught a gruesome decoration hanging above her head from a red ribbon. A bundle of severed toes.

"... the mistle... toes? Ugh, that's disgustin'."

Yun-Jin let out a low chuckle.

Taurie beamed inside.

Outside the shack, the heavy footsteps disappeared. Both let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you," Yun-Jin said after a moment, looking at Taurie's arms around her.

Taurie felt her face flush, glancing away. "It's nothing."

Before she could react, Yun-Jin closed the gap between them, and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

She then pulled away, the ghost of a smile on her face. Without another word, she returned to repairing the generator.

Taurie stayed in the corner for much longer than she meant to. Her legs felt frozen, her mind still trying to catch up with what just happened. She suddenly became very conscious of herself. Of the soft faux fur clinging to her arms. Of the ghost of the kiss, leaving behind a thrilling chill on her cheek.

---

Meg laid her head against a log, basking in the warmth of the campfire. In the strange winter season that had passed over the Entity's realm, she was more grateful than ever for the roaring fire. And the company that surrounded it.

"People mix up mistletoe and holly all the time, but they couldn't be more different." Claudette was sitting straight against the same log as Meg, giving an impromptu lecture on botany. "Holly is an evergreen tree, and mistletoe is actually a parasitic plant."

The topic came up when the two had found a bundle of human toes dangling from a nearby tree by a red ribbon. They both quickly realized it was supposed to be mistletoe, yet another twisted Christmas decoration to join the growing collection that dotted the realms.

"It's pretty easy to identify them once you know what you're looking for. Holly has pointy leaves and red berries, whereas mistletoe has round leaves and white berries." She glanced down at Meg.

Meg slowly blinked, watching the fire.

"There are more differences, but they don't really matter. Next time you look at a Christmas card, you'll see the difference," she trailed off. She was quiet a moment, shoulders slumped. "Sorry for rambling."

Meg sat up to look her friend in the eye. "Nothing to be sorry about." She gave her a reassuring smile. "I like listening to you talk."

Claudette blushed, looking away. "You're just saying that to be nice."

"No, really. When you talk about botany, it's like..."

She struggled to think of how to put it. She wasn't as eloquent as someone like Kate or Aestri. She rubbed her fingers together until something came to mind.

"It's like you light up the room!" She held her hand up in a bright gesture.

The metaphor felt awkward, but it landed.

Claudette looked back at her with an anxious smile and a hand on her heart. "You're too nice to me, Meg. I wish..." she sighed. She fidgeted in place. She could feel herself starting to ramble again. "I wish I could've met you before all this. In the real world, not this awful place. I know it wouldn't have happened. Our lives before this, we couldn't be more different."

Meg smiled. "Like holly and mistletoe?"

Claudette shook her head and chuckled. "Yeah, I guess so."

Both went silent, only the crackling fire filling the air around them. Neither quite sure what to say, but it didn't seem to matter. Something palpable passed between them, feelings long bottled up finally poured out.

Meg was the first to lean in, Claudette quickly following suit. The kiss was slow, painfully so, and awkward. But it was worth the wait.

---

"Are we interruptin' somethin'?"

Claudette jumped. Meg snapped her attention the voice, finding four figures emerging from the snowy forest around them. She hadn't noticed the sound of crunching footsteps before. She scowled.

Taurie was staring at the two, eyebrow raised. Yun-Jin walked up beside her, passing her to find a place to sit across the campfire. Aestri and Kate followed soon after, hand and hand, settling next to each other against a log

Meg rolled her eyes. "Nice coat."

Taurie scoffed. She quickly shrugged off the white faux fur coat, stalking past Meg to plop down next to Yun-Jin. She dropped the coat in the producer's lap and muttered a curt "Thanks."

Claudette cleared her throat. "How did the trial go?"

Aestri was eager as always. She pumped a triumphant fist in the air. "It was our greatest yet! Why, it would make an epic song. It had everything. Acts of bravery, daring escapes, romance..." She shot a wink to Kate.

Kate blushed. "Oh, stop," she said lovingly.

"God," Taurie scoffed, screwing up her face.

"Don't invoke your patron here, girl," Aestri said sternly. She pointed an accusing finger. "Since my retelling is so distasteful, why don't you regale us with your story of the trial?"

Kate put a gentle hand on Aestri's shoulder. She looked between her and Taurie, her calm demeanor calling for peace. "We did lose track of you and Yun for a while there. Did anything happen?"

Taurie felt her face turn red, shooting a look at Yun-Jin. She quickly huffed, crossing her arms and slumping over. "No," was all she said. "Nothing happened."

Yun-Jin looked at her, the slightest smirk on her face. She'd never admit it, but she thought Taurie was so cute when she was flustered. "Mhm," she hummed. "Nothing at all."

Kate gave her a soft smile. "I'm glad we all got back safe."

A murmur of agreement rippled throughout the camp. The conversation turned from the trial, to the snow, to the Christmas decorations, to at last the mistle-toes hanging above them.

"It's disgustin'," Taurie said.

Kate nodded. "Yes, but... oh, I don't know. It's kind of sweet, in a way. It's nice to have a little Christmas magic." She leaned against Aestri, who smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"We have to enjoy the little things," Meg agreed. She shuffled closer to Claudette. "Right?"

She opened her eyes, pulled back to reality. Dark trees towered over her, casting long shadows even in the endless night. She lifted the flashlight in her hand, illuminating her companion.

Claudette was crouched among the thick plant life of the forest floor. She looked up, eyes wide behind her glasses. "Kate," she repeated a third time. "Are you alright?"

"Yes." She gave a thin smile. "Sorry, hon. Got distracted."

Claudette nodded. "It's okay." She finished her work, harvesting the leaves from a thorny plant and adding it to a bundle in the open medkit beside her. She closed the kit and stood up. "This way."

The two hiked through the heavy underbrush. Kate let Claudette lead the way. Even with all her time spent in the woods back home, before entering this nightmare, she didn't know much about botany. But she knew their supplies were scarce, so she was happy to help where she could. Even if it was just holding the flashlight.

Claudette stooped down in the underbrush and began her work again. Kate looked around. Just beyond the trees was the flickering of a campfire. Light in the endless dark.

She heard that sound on the wind again. It was clearer now, unmistakable. The gentle strumming of a guitar.

She took a shaking breath. "Do you hear that?"

Claudette froze, her eyes wide. "What? What is it?"

Kate realized how she must sound. It wasn't good to be cryptic in a place like this. "No, nothing like that. The music."

She sighed with relief. "Oh, that. It must be Aestri. She's new around here. She's nice."

Kate was entranced by the sound. She felt a deep longing in her heart. "I think... I think I'll introduce myself. If you don't mind."

"It's okay. I'm almost done here." Claudette resumed her work, picking leaves from the underbrush. "I'll join you in a bit."

Kate gave her the flashlight. She slowly made her way through the trees towards the music.

In the light of the campfire, she saw Aestri sitting with her back to a log, strumming her guitar. The scene reminded her of her time before this place, in her favorite clearing, playing to the trees.

Though, looking closer now, maybe the similarities ended there. Aestri was dressed in bright colors, with embellishments of gold and leather. Beneath her short-cropped brown hair she wore what looked like a gold crown... and pointed ears? Kate certainly never wore anything as elaborate during her solo hikes. But she had to admit, she made the gaudy get-up work.

Snap

Kate stepped on a twig. Aestri jumped, her song ending in an abrupt, discordant note.

Aestri's face sunk with fear. It was the same look Claudette had when she thought Kate heard something lurking in the dark.

"Please, don't stop." Kate held her hands up, moving into the firelight. "I didn't mean to frighten you... Aestri, right?"

She sighed, and smiled. "Yes, I am Aestri Yazar of Greyhawk." She put a hand to her heart and bowed her head. She then held her hand out with a flourish. "What is your name, friend?"

"Kate Denson... of... Pennsylvania." She shuffled in place a moment, before giving a hesitant curtsy. She rounded the fire, gesturing to the guitar in her hands. "I heard you playing. You sound lovely."

Aestri smiled. She gestured to the ground beside her. "Come, sit. Listen."

Kate joined her against the log as Aestri readjusted her hold on her instrument. Looking at it closely, it wasn't like any guitar Kate had ever seen. But Aestri wasn't like any singer she'd ever seen, either.

Aestri began playing again. She sung in a low, soothing voice. Through her song she wove a story of gods and heroes, magic and monsters.

Kate sat and listened. Watching her fingers dance across the strings, she was entranced.  The firelight reflected in the silver embellishments of the instrument, and Kate swore she saw visions of dragons and sorcerers swirling about the flames.

"That was lovely," she said dreamily as the song ended. "Like something out of a fairy tale."

"Songs of heroes have always been my specialty." She smiled. Her eyes grew distant after a moment. "Many thanks, for lending me your ear. I've so missed the thrill of performing."

She felt that deep longing again. "I understand. I was a singer too, before all this."

Aestri lit up. "A fellow troubadour!" She sat up, leaning closer to Kate. "Tell me, of what did you sing?"

She hummed in thought. "Oh, a bit of everything. Home, family." She curled up, wrapping her arms around her legs. "Love."

Aestri grinned. "The noblest of things."

"I always tried to speak from the heart," she sighed.

"I have spent my life trading in songs and stories. I know no greater joy than hearing the work of a fellow artist." She held up her instrument. "Please, do me the honor of singing for me?"

Kate looks at the instrument in her hands. She held it like it was the most precious thing in the world to her. She understood that it was.

She still felt the loss of her own guitar. She remembered it slipping from her grasp as that hideous monster dragged her from everything she held dear. She wondered if anyone ever found it, or if it was still abandoned in that clearing. Maybe it was taken too, by another hiker, or even nature itself.

She longs more than anything to have it back. But still, she hesitates.

"Oh, I don't know." She shook her head with a polite smile. "I'm a bit rusty. I haven't played since... well... since I got here." 

Aestri thinks for a moment, then shrugs. "I care not."

Kate chuckled. She took a deep breath, taking the instrument with the greatest of care.

She simply held it for a moment. She considered, what would she even sing? She mentally sorted through her catalog, so much of it felt too lively for a place like this. She hummed in thought, a tiny warm-up.

She let her muscle memory guide her, beginning with a simple chord.

She settled on a love song. A ballad, slow and filled with emotion. It wasn't the most exciting song. It never made people to jump out of their seats and dance; no, it would bring a hush over the crowd, who would watch in simple admiration.

That's what happened to Aestri. She laid back on the log, leaning her head in her hand. She smiled and simply listened.

Kate closed her eyes as she sang. She felt a sense of relief flow through her, the pent up longing spilling out with each note. It was almost overwhelming.

She stumbled into the final chord, singing the last line in a voice more shakey than she would've liked. She then just held the instrument, pulling it closer to her chest.

Kate opened her eyes and met Aestri's gaze, her smile even wider now. She sat up and clapped.

"Beautiful," she cried. "Beautiful!"

Kate blushed, setting the instrument down beside her. "Oh, it was nothing."

"Nothing? Indeed!" She said it so incredulously. She shuffled closer to Kate, taking her hand. "Thank you, for this gift of your song. You are truly a shining light in this dark realm."

Aestri drew her hand to her lips, placing a gentle kiss to her knuckles.

Kate felt her face grow even warmer. That was like something out of a fairy tale.

She withdrew her hand, though she wasn't sure what to do with it from there. She ended up turning away, wrapping her arms around her legs again. 

A bright light from the treeline blissfully gave her something else to look at. "That'll be Claudette." She was quiet a moment. "Thank you, Aestri. For giving me the chance to sing again." She hesitated, then leaned over, giving her a peck on the cheek.

"It is my honor." Aestri held her hand to her heart. "If you ever wish to play again, I would be more than happy to lend my lute."