The Druids' Mire Crossing (Chapter 4: Calder Crosses the Mire)

[Black Clay Lord]

Chapter 4 of The Druids' Mire Crossing
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The indent that marked where Muiel had sunk under the mire bubbled slightly. Frozen in stasis until Marais saw fit to release her, there was to be no early release for the guardian druidess whatsoever. She belongs to Marais at this time. Now it was up to Calder & Charybdis to get across safely, and succeed where Muiel had recently failed. If even one of them joined Muiel under the mire, that was it. It would be game over for their wish to be granted. For now.

"If you wish to not continue," Marais says. "I will happily release your sister from her stasis, and send you on your way." Calder stood up to the mire's edge. "No way, Marecage!" She exclaimed. Marais glanced at Calder. "There is no way we're turning back just because one of us is under your mire!" Calder proclaimed. Marais smiled at this. "Still determined, eh?" Marais asks. "That's the spirit." She then says. Calder stood at the edge of the mire itself.

Tearing off her clothes, and throwing her staff to the ground, it's clear Calder meant business. Clad in nothing but what she had on underneath, Calder stepped forward, and slowly made her way into the waiting mud. Her feet slipped under immediately, threatening to hold her down fast, but Calder was quick to start trudging through the mud, making her way to Marais; who waited patiently on the other side. Calder's determination burned hotter than the sun.

Carefully, she trudged through the mud, watching her step, and making notes of where collapsible air pockets would rest. And sure enough, Calder watched her step, avoiding the potential spots where those pockets would be as she trudged through. The mud nevertheless sucked on her legs, trying to hold Calder down fast and drag her down into its depths, but she refused to let that happen. She could not deny it though. The mud felt really good on her skin.

Yet Calder would have to wait to actually have a decent sink in it. Calder trudged on, balancing herself to keep herself from descending too quickly; lest she become frozen beneath the mud herself. Calder nonetheless made it to the 1/4 point of the mire, but she did not stop. She kept going. Even as the mud slowly crept up her legs, Calder kept pushing forward. If she had to drag her legs through the mire, so be it. There was no way she was going to fail here.

Thanks to her determination, Calder makes it to the halfway point of the mire, just as it touches her thighs. Needless to say that Marais was impressed by the sight. "My, my~." She says. "Hardly anyone has made it to that point and not gotten past their thighs." "First time for everything." Calder says. "I shan't argue with that." Marais says, observing Calder still. Calder did however, take a moment to stop at where Muiel had slipped under on her crossing attempt.

The indent was no longer there, but Calder knew. Muiel was under the mud. Frozen in stasis until Marais would see fit to let her go. "Sister..." She softly says. But, Calder shook her head. "No, I can't dwell on that now." She then said, proceeding to keep moving forward across the mire. Calder continued to make progress through the mud, refusing to let it have its way with her that easily. Yet, her thighs were already halfway under the mud at this time now.

"I can do this..." Calder says. "By golly, I can do this...!" As she trudged, she finally sank to her hips, and she was so close to the end now. "Oh, are you stuck, deary?" Marais asks. "Don't count me out just yet..." Calder says. Gathering her magical power, her body changed within seconds. From being human/mermaid, Calder changed into a very strong Moonkin, much to Marais' surprise. Calder once more trudged through the mud.

The bulk of Calder's transformation saw her with renowned strength as she worked herself through the mud like she was a living knife through butter. Yet it came with the risk of weighing Calder down some, making her sink down in the mud some more. It was a gamble indeed. But, Calder's gamble paid off handsomely. As she sank to her chest, Calder made it to the edge of the other side of the mire. Grabbing hold, she changed back to her normal form.

Calder pulled herself forward, struggling to get a proper hold, before she proceeded to slowly haul herself up from the mud's depths. Slowly, Calder pulled on the ground, freeing herself from the mud's sucking grasp. Until at last, Calder was out and safely on the edge of the mud pit. "Well, you certainly showed me~." Marais giggled. Calder nodded. "I told you I was going to do it..." She said, catching her breath. "And you certainly have." Said Marais.

It was now down to Charybdis. Will Charybdis be the one that seals the deal for her & her sisters to have their wish? Or... Will she join Muiel under the mud, and have their efforts be for naught?

TO BE CONTINUED

Calder, Masika, Neried, Muiel, Charybdis: Me

Marais Marecage: FimbulwinterFrost