Ruse

Mimira had been out on her own, practicing magic. It had been a solitary trip, where she would be able to focus and learn in peace. She hadn’t thought it would be dangerous. The little Fae had found an outcropping of rock near Lightning territory that had been perfect for her use and she’d stayed there for days, her body under constant magical strain.

Was it any surprise that it gave out on her flight home?

She tumbled into the waves not even fifteen minutes after setting off, her tiny form tossed to and fro by the currents. It was the last remnants of her weak magic that kept her from drowning. Eventually, she was washed up on a rocky beach where the Sea and Shifting Expanse met.

Ruse loved solitary patrols. It was a way for him to get away from his hectic family life, and he could do everything at his own pace. He had frowned upon seeing the small splotch of pink against the dreary grey of the beach. A piece of cloth washed up, perhaps? But no, there was a little body enveloped by the cloth, and it didn’t seem to be alive.

It was a Fae, he could tell immediately, and one so small she fit snugly in the palm of his forepaw. She was breathing; it was faint, but it was there. He took her away from the water’s edge, creating a camp near the cliffs and nestling her into the soft red scarf attached to his breastplate while he worked.

She woke a couple of hours later, enticed by the scent of roasting insects Ruse had scavenged up. All she could see at first was a towering mountain of an Imperial, and she was understandably nervous at first. Ruse was quick to reassure her that he meant no harm, though, and Mimira was soon tucking in. They talked much that night, getting to know each other, and the next day Ruse took her back to his home. His clan’s healer could look her over better than he could, and she would be able to have proper food and rest to restore energy before braving the journey home once more. Though hesitant at first, Mimira agreed. Ruse was kind and easy to talk to, and she sensed they would become good friends.

The clan was surprised by her presence, but the leader agreed to grant her hospitality while she recuperated, and she was taken to Ruse’s corner of the lair. There she met his mate, Sigma, and some of his children. Mimira immediately took a liking to Sigma as well, and she wasn’t frightened off or weirded out by the antics of their children. Sure things were intense for the tiny Fae, but she didn’t show that she was intimidated by them.

As days passed, Mimira’s strength returned and she grew even closer to Ruse and Sigma. The conversation flowed easily between the three of them, and they each felt at ease with the other two. Inklings of attraction sparked within her, for both Ruse and Sigma, but she locked them away. The two were a happily mated couple with many children. She would be content to be their friend. Unbeknownst to her, the same attraction was developing in the two Imperials as well…

Before too long had passed, the day came that Mimira was strong enough to return home. Part of her didn’t want to leave this new clan, but she knew she belonged in the water. The pull of the Sea was too great to resist. She bid farewell to Sigma, Larventi, and the children with a promise to visit before long. Ruse took her as far as the beach where they’d met.

It after multiple visits had passed that Ruse and Sigma ended up having a lengthy discussion about their feelings and how Mimira played into the whole picture. There was uncertainty between them, a few heated words here and there, but at the end of the conversation the two were confident that they’d reached a good conclusion. The next time Mimira was with her, they took her out into the Expanse and had a similar talk with her.

Confessions were exchanged from both sides, as well as discussion about where to go from there. In the end, the trio became a polyamorous couple. All were overjoyed that their love was returned. Mimira and Ruse had children of their own, tiny Fae children that integrated seamlessly with the Imperials, and thus The Family continues to expand.