Eve: Emotional Exit

A/N: [E]=Elvish

"Are you sure this is close enough?" I look at the polymorphed elf shown in the hand mirror.

"You did a great job, Dusk. I'm surprised you got so close with just a single look at my old body." Eve sets down the mirror and begins putting on the clothes Camilla had apparently offered the day before. The shirt is quite a bit tight around Eve's massive chest - I'm pretty sure these are bigger than what they were back in the day... - giving the impression of a crop top instead of an actual shirt. "And even if it wasn't, I don't want Kristhyra's last memory of me be a goblin."

"You make it sound like you're about to die...again..." I cock her head to the side.

"We lost a few goblins when we assaulted the hive. If you plan on doing more of that, then...it's possible." The somber note is contradicted by both Eve pulling up a long skirt and what she says next. "Come on, I have a surprise for you when we're done."

We end up running to the eastern edge of town, the temporary elf eager to say goodbye to her cousin. It's quick, since Camilla's house isn't that far from it, and we arrive in time to see Kris helping some people up into an old covered wagon, two horses hooked up in the front. I recognize most of the people getting into the wagon as the ones I rescued from goblins, and a couple others I think are from Camilla's troupe. There's another wagon ahead of them, overflowing with what I assume is butchered hornet meat. Gods know we have too much to eat before it spoils. I'm surprised it hasn't already...

"Kristhyra!" Eve waves as we approach.

The elf looks over, her brows furrowed before going wide with surprise. "...rina? Rinavahl!" Her face elates as Kris crashes into her for a hug. "[E] What are you...how..."

Eve giggles as she pushes away, making eye contact with her cousin. "[E] Dusk did it. I didn't even have to ask; he just offered."

Kris' eyes can't help but glance down at Eve's currently massive chest. "[E] I'm...uh, sure he did."

"[E] Get your mind out of the swamp, that was my idea." The temporary elf sticks her tongue out. Called it.

"[E] Oh...ah... I... [H] Thank you, Dusk." She hugs 'me' again. "[E] I really appreciate it. It's...good to hug my cousin again. Like this, I mean."

Eve pulls back, and I can feel tears begin to well up in her eyes. "[E] It's great for me, too..."

. . .

It's not long before we're waving them off, and a few minutes later, we retreat back to Camilla's house, vacant as it is. As we travel back, I begin to feel...warm.

"Well," Eve starts, "I know there's not a lot we can do with the time we have left today, but..." She pushes her thumbs into the hem of her skirt before her eyes lock with the imprint of the Mark of Submission on her lower gut, the magical marking not quite fading through her transformation, but taking a slightly darker coloring than her bronze-like skin. "Before anything else happens..." Her hand runs across the tattoo. "Do you trust me, Dusk?"

I purse my borrowed lips. "At first, no. You were an unknown for me, back then, but you've more than proven yourself trustworthy. I'll remove it when I get back, I promise."

I can feel Eve's lips curl into a soft smile. "Don't. I know it sounds...wrong - it definitely feels wrong - but...it feels good to know you made some kind of claim on me... Why don't you change me back and leave? I've got some...personal stuff..."

I wrap 'my' arms in a self-hug. "If you say so. See you tomorrow, Eve."