Pine-tara

Puck drew in a big breath and cast it over the four witches - going from one to the other he gently exhaled and each in turn closed their eyes and fell asleep.

“You haven’t killed them, have you?” asked Eve tentatively.

“They’re already deceased” laughed Puck as he piled their mud cased bodies under a pregnant tree. Its leaves had diminished but its tangle of boughs gave the impression of a fulsome foliage.

Moments later the witches had reduced to dust and all four had disappeared altogether.

“We exhumed but an impression of these souls” he said … “that mud covered a nothingness, an astral sheath”.

Eve seemed to accept this explanation without concern.

“Who is this?” she asked, fully forgetting the former dialogue and pointing to Needles, who had positioned himself at her feet and was staring lovingly straight up at her.

“That is Pine-tara” Puck said, “the keeper of Mediums, a guide to the departed.”

‘Pine-tara’ appeared to be lost in thought. Eve smiled down at him, and he, radiantly returned the grace.

* * *

“The wars have always showered down affecting the world of Men.” Jupiter said, by way of an excuse for the recent consequences. Jupiter threw a look at Puck. “Fair go” he said quizzically, “its everywhere”.

He felt Eve’s gaze upon him, an all familiar connection again. It was sweeter than sweet.

“He has a tendency to philosophise the obvious” said Puck blandly. His mood well matched the landscape.

Jupiter made a gesture with a mocking contempt - to which Puck shoved his shoulder and sent him forward into a grimy bush. All he had to do was think with force to push his brother from his balance.

Jupiter picked himself up. Goober could see a feint aura emanating from him momentarily flash red.

“Brother, I am beyond Philosophy” said Puck, its constant incongruities vex me to no end.”

He then turned to Goober who was called to referee an argument that erupted between Needles and Tweak. Puck could not make out what the disagreement was about but it was becoming ever clearer to him that the temperature of the heavens where they were was rising and the atmosphere was fast losing its usual tranquility.

Goober conferred - his fine frame bent with anxiety.

Remarkably Eve was peaceful throughout. She was fixed on Jupiter admiringly, and had nought thought for anything else. 

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series