The Witch Who Lost Her Name

Your boobs remain dry for the rest of the day, even after a rigorous inspection in the most remote bathroom you could find. So at the very least, the possibility that you're turning into a member of the herd can be put to rest. Maybe. Ugh. It seems clear that, whatever this is, it was brought about by your strong feelings of...you don't know. They weren't quite maternal, but they weren't not that, either. Blah, that makes no sense. You're trying to say that, in the moments with Jessie and Quinn, you didn't feel like some mama bird clucking and cooing over her chicks. You felt more like a mother bear, or nesting alligator; outwardly calm but fully prepared to rip anyone who threatens your little ones limb from limb. To be completely honest, it felt good. You felt powerful.

Isabelle, annoyingly, is focused entirely on the more prurient aspects of your experience. "Honestly, if you're into mommy play, I'd be willing to--"

"Oh God. Please stop. This is the worst."

Your girlfriend quirks her lips, doing a poor job of hiding her amusement as she turns the car down the long dirt road that leads to her house. "Aw, come on. It's not often I get to tease you like this."

"You tease me all the time!"

Her voice dips into a purr. "Not as much as I'd like."

"...well okay let's talk about this later. But seriously for a moment: what if this is a side effect of our magic? Or even just from drinking all of that magical milk?"

Isabelle considers that. "Well, it's tough to say. I doubt it's from the milk specifically; I probably drink more of it than you do, after all, and I haven't had symptoms like that. But we do know that the magic hasn't affected us all in the same way. It could be some power or role within the cult that's unique to you."

"So what, I'm the Official Spiritual Wet Nurse or something? Because my nips cannot take that."

"Poor little guys. I'd offer to kiss them and make them feel better, but that seems counterproductive." Isabelle pulls up beside the cars of tonight's delivery drivers, throwing hers into park. "But the elves called our predecessor the Great Mother, didn't they? Even if the title isn't meant literally, it paints a picture. Simulated breast feeding was a rite of fealty in more than a few old cultures, you know."

"Huh. I just wish we could ask the Great Mother herself about all this."

"Ash..."

"I know, I know. I'm still quite sure I could make the ritual work, though."

"I know you are. Which is why I looked into it." Isabelle reaches down, pulling back with her notebook. She flips it open, all business as she addresses her notes. "You're right that what you've proposed could work." She dashes your hopes before they even have time to bloom. "But you're wrong that you could make it work."

"Why? Because if it's just about power or whatever, we could wait until--"

Isabelle shakes her head. "No, no; it's not about strength. Based on everything I've read, you can't brute **** the Ardor. It'd be like trying to put out napalm by punching it. You need a connection." It's clear that you don't get it. "Okay, I'm sure someone who actually understands this stuff would think this explanation was awful, but it's the only way I can get my brain around it. If you're going to handle something dangerous, you need protection. Right? Well, for the Ardor, what you need is a deep, personal connection to the person you're trying to save. I think the idea is that if they live in your heart, that version of them still alive and un-Ardored inside you will act as a sort of neutralizing agent, letting you extinguish the whole thing. But that connection has to be there, and it has to be real. A lover, a close relative, a mentor...something. 'Work Predecessor You've Never Met' definitely doesn't fit the bill. "

"Well, I don't know about all that. None of that came up when I was researching the ritual."

"It was on the next page."

"Okay, well...yes, that sounds plausible." Goddammit Isabelle is good at researching. You don't bother holding in your sigh as you pop open the passenger door. "Well fine. I promise I won't bring it up again." Better get down to business, then. "So it's fine that you're missing the game?"

"Yeah. Even under normal circumstances, tonight would be a guaranteed loss. Eastwood is really good. Getting the Ritual started as smoothly as possible seems like the smart play. Jenny'll be fine; she's got Donna and Rhys with her."

"Oh right, about that." You slip your hand into Isabelle's as you both start towards the barn. "What do you think about Jenny and Rhys?"

"What, you mean like together?" When you nod, Isabelle considers it. "I did sort of think they were flirting the other day...is that even possible though?"

"No idea. Donna seems to think it is, though."

"Huh. Well I think that would be great? He's probably the nicest person I've ever met. Maybe the middle of a war isn't the best time to start courting, though."

"It worked for us."

"True."

With that you pop open the door to the barn, a chorus of greetings from the assembled Woo Girls already washing over you. Alright, good: it's all milk-stuffed girls and delivery guy pant-boners as far as the eye can see. It should be a good ritual. You pause for a moment when you spot Buzz headed towards the milking room. "What, no Guy tonight?"

She waves you off with a smile. "He's with his parents; he's gonna ask them to meet me!"

"Buzz! That's great! Just make sure you let one of us disguise your horns beforehand, okay?"

"Okay~!"

Isabelle watches the Woo Girl as she skips delightedly away. "I guess the middle of a war can be a pretty good time to start courting, after all."

"Right? Anyways!" You clap your hands together, turning towards the rest of the crowd. "Shall we begin?"

Woof, completing the Ritual with two people is definitely easier than it was with one? But when you ran solo on this last week, you got to pass out and sleep off the consequences as soon as you'd finished. With Isabelle helping you this time around, neither of you were pushed that far. But even still, you are fucking wiped.

Isabelle makes a noise of exhaustion, both of you more or less sprawled out on the couch. The tell-tale sounds of girls mooing and noisy fucking can only mean that the Ritual was a success, so it's time for a damn break. She wriggles herself against you and glances back, a light sparkling through her tired eyes. "Are you sure you aren't into mommy play? Because I could really go for being spoiled right now."

You have to chuckle at that, reaching up to lightly stroke her hair. "I'm up for being persuaded. Lemme call Rhys first though, let them know everything's set over here." Isabelle snuggles further into you as you fish out your phone, dialing up the elf prince. "Rhys?"

"Ash, hello!"

You throw the call to speaker. "We've taken care of the Ritual up here. How's the game going?"

""Oh, super bad. We're getting creamed. Quinn isn't even in anymore; they put in the backup. He's so little! And not very good!"

What! "Seriously? What happened?"

"I'm not sure? Things were actually going well through the second quarter. Quinn ran in a touchdown! Everyone was pumped; I got to give out so many high fives. But he didn't come back after halftime."

Isabelle shifts up at that, brow furrowed and eyes concerned. Goddamn it, something's up. "Okay, could you ask Donna to go find him, or ask around at least? I should have been able to tell if he was targeted by hostile magic, but who knows what might have happened."

"Donna?"

"Yeah, unless you'd rather--"

"Donna isn't with you?"

That prompts Isabelle to bolt upright, leaning in to directly address Rhys. "Wait, what? Donna is supposed to be at the game with you."

There is the briefest of pauses at the other end, and when the prince's voice returns it is very flat. "She said you asked her to meet you at the barn. That was an hour ago. I have to find her."

You tighten your grip on the phone. "Rhys, do not leave Jenny there alone; if they're trying to split us up, this is exactly the way to do it. Get Jenny, tell her to make any excuse to get out of there, and we'll start..."

The sound of a familiar ring cuts you off mid plan. There is no way this could be a coincidence. You direct Isabelle towards your bag with a jerk of your hand, the girl plucking out the still-buzzing phone you took off of the Others. She questioningly meets your eyes, and when you nod she answers the call.

The other end doesn't wait for a greeting. "She's dead if you don't come outside. Right now."

And then the call closes. You whisper to Rhys. "Did you hear that?"

"Stall her; we'll be there immediately."

All thoughts of fatigue blasted from your minds, you clutch Isabelle's hand tightly as the two of you race past the writhing barn orgy and out into the cold evening air. There's no question about where you need to go; the stink of cats' piss is unmistakable. The two of you all but tumble down the hill, doggedly following the trail until a voice rings out. "That's far enough."

Gal. You may have stripped away her greatest power, but the knife she's holding to the **** Donna's throat goes a long way towards bridging that gap. Even with the elf queen at her mercy, the feral witch only has eyes for you, her gaze black and hard. "Fix it, Ashley. Make me go away again."

You make to move forward, freezing when Gal presses her blade more tightly against Donna's neck. "It doesn't work like that. Maybe in time, it'll--"

"I don't HAVE TIME!" Snot and spittle freely fly from Gal as she screeches at you, her eyes practically popping out of her skull. "I can't LIVE like this! I can be seen, Ashley, and I'm so fucking empty! I thought it was bad when I couldn't cum?! I can't use my pussy magic anymore, and it feels like my cunt is devouring itself!"

Jesus. She's like a junkie **** to go cold turkey. You knew she fucked herself up, but you had no idea it was this bad. "Please, let us help you."

Isabelle quickly nods, eyebrows knitted. "You don't have to do this, and you don't have to go back to being the same. There must be other options. Let us help you find them."

Tears are running freely down the witch's cheeks, though she barely seems to notice them. "No. I want one thing, and that's for Ashley to make me go away again. Do it. Fucking do it!"

"Gal--"

"That's not my fucking name!"

"What is your name?"

"I don't fucking remember!" The girl's voice cracks, rising manically in pitch. "I can't remember my name, or how old I am, or even what I used to fucking look like! But I don't care anymore! All I want to do is go away again, and if you won't do that for me,"-She pulls a familiar looking device out from behind her back--"Then I'll just have to make it happen a different way."

You're already working up the power you'll need to shield Donna as you lay eyes on the bomb in Gal's hand. "You know that won't work. This place is too strongly shielded."

"'Oh really, your shields are too strong?!' Fuck you." Gal sneers, true contempt smeared across her face. "All of you fucking kids think I'm so stupid. I've got a fucking PhD, bitch. Can't remember what in, but fuck you all the same. I know exactly where to use this. I just needed to get you,"--She jerks her head your way--"And her,"--She indicates Donna--"Here, now. It won't open up unless you're all here."

What? "It won't open..."

Isabelle reaches the only conclusion before you can, gasping out as the energy from the Ritual begins reaching its zenith behind you. "No!"

By then the circle of mushrooms has already emerged from the ground, and Gal has thrown herself and Donna headlong into it. The witch and her captive vanish from sight, and a moment later you and Isabelle do as well, tumbling after them down the rabbit hole and between worlds.