Swamptoberfest: Cristina & Marlowe

[Black Clay Lord]

This is the first of some standalone Swamptoberfest stories I had planned.

I started out with my Shaman Twins, because...

Why the hell not, am I right?
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In a jungle known as Farrona’s Wood, there lives the sorceress Marais Marécage. Owner of a succulent pool of mud that’s as thick as peanut butter, it has been proven that anyone who manages to cross her mire will have a wish granted. But those that fail are turned into prisoners of the mud Marais watches over Yet, this does not stop many from trying their luck anyway. In fact, word had reached the ½ Mermaid Clan about this mire some time ago, and sure enough…

Many of them cannot help but bring themselves to want to cross Marais’s mire and have a wish granted, whatever it is the wish may be. On this day however, the ½ Mermaid Shaman twins Cristina & Marlowe, have come into the depths of Farrona’s Wood, searching for Marais & her fabled mire. “Are you sure it’s around here somewhere?” Cristina asks Marlowe. “Of course, I’m sure.” Answered Marlowe. “This place has so many twists & turns though.” Said Cristina.

Despite this, the twins found they were on the right track. But suddenly, they heard a familiar voice from the depths of the jungle. “YOU’RE KIDDING ME!!!” The voice boomed. Cristina & Marlowe ran in the direction of the voice from whence it came, and, using the voice as a compass, it had easily led them to their destination at last. But they discovered that they weren’t the first ones here. By any means. From the distance, they saw who had crossed recently.

The sisters laid eyes upon the Supreme Princess Maleficent. One of the two mortal enemies of the ½ Mermaid Clan. “I crossed your damn mire, and you’re just denying me the wish I’m entitled to?!” Maleficent roared, right at Marais herself. Marais stood her ground, arms folded, not even a smirk on her face. “It is indeed true you crossed without fail,” Marais says. “But I could tell from your eyes alone. Your heart is one of evil.” She proceeded to say.

“Therefor, whatever it is you may have in mind, I see no reason to grant your wish.” Maleficent snarled. “You miserable little…!” She growled. Marais kept her cool. “That is quite enough.” She said, pointing out the jungle’s exit. “Get out of my swamp and never show your face here again.” Marais hissed. Maleficent stepped back. “You’re going to regret this…” Maleficent hisses back, before storming away without so much as a backwards glance.

Cristina & Marlowe watched as their enemy left the jungle in an absolute huff. Maleficent did not even notice Cristina & Marlowe on her way out. That’s how pissed she was. The twins made their move at this point. Marais spotted Cristina & Marlowe, and she returned to being the typical woman she is. “Well, who do we have here?” She asks, smiling. “Are you Marais Marécage?” Cristina asks. “That’s correct.” Marais answers, inviting the sisters closer.
The twins walk up to Marais’s mire without hesitation. “And who might you two be?” Marais asks. “I’m Cristina V. Socrates.” Cristina says before pointing to her sister. “And this is my twin sister Marlowe Socrates.” She then said. “Pleased to meet you.” Marlowe spoke. “A pleasure indeed.” Marais says, smiling. But she soon raised a brow. “Oh, uh… That woman who I just sent off,” Marais started up. “She… was not a friend of yours I hope…”

Cristina & Marlowe knew who Marais was talking about, and they both shook their heads. “Oh, hell no!” Marlowe exclaimed. “That was Supreme Princess Maleficent! She’s one of our worst enemies!” She then reveals. “Is that so?” Marais asks, putting a hand on her chin. “Hmm, then I suppose I was right to send her away, for something was incredibly dark within her…” Marais shrugged this off soon enough, however. “But I digress.” She then says.

“Let’s get to the real reason you’re here. I hope…” Marais goes onto say. “We want to cross your mire for a wish.” The twins say in unison. Marais smiled upon hearing this. “Ah, most delightful to hear.” She said. “Now, have you heard of how this game of mine works?” Marais asked. “We have actually.” Answered Marlowe. “If we succeed in getting across, we get a wish.” She then adds. “But failing means doom, right?” Cristina asks. Marais giggled in response.

“Well, not exactly doom you see.” She answered. “You just get locked away in stasis in my bottomless mud until I see fit to release you. Although, I have forgotten to release some before…” Marais admits. “That said, do you wish to cross my mire?” She then asks. “We do.” Cristina answers. “And we’re going to cross it together.” Marlowe reveals. “I do hope your teamwork entertains me.” Said Marais. Cristina & Marlowe ready themselves for their crossing.

But as they do, Marais spotted something on them. “What’ve you got there?” Asked the maiden. “These are totems we made.” Cristina answered. “We were kind o’ seeking your blessing for them.” Marlowe said. Marais smirked. “Mm hmm, so, I take it that is your planned wish?” She asks. The twins nodded. The totems were then transported from Cristina & Marlowe’s sides to Marais’s. “In that case,” said Marais. “Cross my mire, and I’ll grant it.”

The twins nod to this as they get in some good stretches. The process did not take long to complete as Cristina stepped up to the mire right away, with Marlowe close behind. And without hesitation, the twins stepped into the mire, and neither one hesitated to start making their way across the deep mud itself. Although the temptation to just stop and simply sink was strong, Cristina & Marlowe knew better and simply slogged on through the soft, thick mud.

The twins felt that this would be an easy time for them. They’ve been in mud that was crazy thick before, but this mud on the other hand… It seemed like a whole other matter. For one thing, Marais was in complete control over it. Even so, Marais just observed as the twins made their way across her mire. She looked pleased that they were demonstrating a good sense of teamwork. Even so, the mud’s thickness did add a great level of difficulty for the twins.

But their feet led the way across the mire still. The temptation to stop and sink remained strong inside Cristina & Marlowe, but again, the twins ignored the notion of doing so and just kept slogging through. Although Marais could sense what the twins were fighting, she was nonetheless tickled by the fact that they were resisting the urges anyway, which made her smirk lightly. “Seems like you’re resisting something.” She noted. Marlowe nodded in response.

“Why does this have to feel so damn good…?” Marlowe then straight up asked. Marais giggled. “Oh, it just does~.” She answered soon after. Yet, Marais’s tone changed some. “But I cannot stand when folks come to my mire just to sink in it!” She suddenly exclaimed. “You don’t have that issue with us, do you?” Cristina asks. “No, you & your sisters are fine.” Marais answers, just as Cristina & Marlowe are at the ¼ mark of the mire and approaching knee deep.

“In fact, I distinctly remembered that one among you asked beforehand.” She went on. Marais soon stopped, however. “Yeah, sorry,” she says almost immediately. “It’s just a pet peeve of mine.” “We get it.” The twins respond in unison. And Marais was grateful for their understanding. Even so, she kept her eyes on the ½ Mermaid Shaman as they slogged on through the mud, managing to reach the halfway point with ease. And they were only at their thighs.

“You’re doing good so far.” Marais says, smiling. “We’ve been slogging through mud for a while now.” Cristina says. “The results speak for themselves it would appear.” Giggled Marais. Cristina & Marlowe cross on still, even as their legs fully disappeared into the mud as they got further away from the halfway point. “This isn’t good… Our legs are gone…” Said Cristina. “Don’t give up.” Marlowe says. “We’re going to get across no matter what.” She added.

Cristina nodded as she & Marlowe continued onward through the mire. And yet still the twins slowly sank into the mire itself. The twins crawled across the mire at this point, spreading their weight evenly so as to avoid sinking faster. Their plan worked out nicely as it got them closer to Marais’s side of the mud in no time, but they still had ¾ of the way to go. But suddenly, just as they passed this mark, Cristina suddenly yelped and plunged down to her breasts.

She had gotten stuck badly in the mud. “I can’t move!” She cried out. Marlowe looked to her sister. “Go on without me…” Said Cristina. “You’ve got to finish the crossing alone now…” Marais eyed Marlowe, wondering what she was going to do. Yet Marlowe was resolute. “Oh, hell no!” Marlowe proclaimed. “I said we’re getting across together, and we’re damn sure going to do it!” She then exclaimed. Grabbing her sinking sister’s hand, Marlowe pulled Cristina along.

Marais was touched by the sight. Marlowe pulled Cristina along, even as the latter had sunk past her breasts, and Marlowe was just now touching down at breast deep. But, the two combined their might all the same, and ultimately reach the end. Marlowe climbed out of the mud first, while Cristina stumbled some before she climbed out of the mud safely, too. Marais smiled. “Congrats to you two~.” She said. “That was quite the teamwork you displayed.”

“It’s our thing.” Cristina says. “Now then, are you still set on your current wish?” Asked Marais. “We are.” Marlowe answered. “It has not changed in the slightest.” Marais nodded. Raising her hands, she channeled her magic and promptly zapped the totems Cristina & Marlowe brought with them. The totems changed colors within minutes, becoming beautiful & vibrant instead of looking dull & basic. In fact, the colors matched Marais’s colors perfectly.

“There you go.” Said Marais. “Your totems are now blessed and capable of spreading my natural power when necessary.” The twins picked their totems up. “Thank you very much.” They tell her. “We’ll put them to good use for sure.” Cristina said. “I do not doubt it for a second.” Marais giggled. “Sad to say that this is where we part,” Marlowe says. “But if we find time, we’ll come back & see you.” She adds. “And I shall look forward to seeing you again.” Marais replies.

The twins turn and depart from the swamp, bidding Marais farewell. The twins had managed to accomplish the challenge of Marais without incident. But one thing was on their mind: What was it that Maleficent wanted? Why was she here in the first place? Perhaps, these are questions that are best left unanswered.

Cristina & Marlowe, Supreme Princess Maleficent: Me

Marais Marecage: FimbulwinterFrost