The quiet can be disconcerting ((tag Clark))

[slayers_desire]

It has been a few hours since Clark took April home. In that time, she fed. She bathed. And she tried to lie down for a little bit.

But she can not close her eyes for long. She can not go into a deep slumber. The quiet in her mind is like a blank canvas. Plus, it just gives her more time to go over and over again everything that she experienced.

Slowly, she is remembering the others using her fears against her. The claustrophobia. The flames and the heat of the fire. The fear of losing her children.

"Clark?" He was checking on the children for her, when she got cleaned up.
But April knows that she doesn't have to call out loudly to get his attention.

Comments

[slayers_desire]

"They named him after your father." April pulls out her PINpoint to make a call.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Really?" Although it's an alternate Chloe and Oliver, Clark's still a bit touched by that.

[slayers_desire]

After making arrangements with Chloe for her to come over, April continues her conversation. "I met him. The Tess was babysitting him."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"I wonder when our Chloe and Oliver are going to have one of their own," Clark says, smiling a little. He thinks they'll both be good parents.

[slayers_desire]

They would be good parents, that is why April trusts them so with their children. "When they are ready... Mister Wants a Big Family, But I am Okay with That."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"If I remember right, someone else in this relationship wants a big family too."

[slayers_desire]

"Sure sure, that troublemaker seductive blonde." She winks at him, teasing slightly. "Of course, before we get to that step, we have to move first."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Chloe PINpoints in and smiles at them. "Hey, sorry to keep you waiting."

"It's all right," Clark assures her. "We don't expect you to be as quick as Bart."

[slayers_desire]

"We just need you to watch the children for a little bit. I don't think we will even be leaving the house. But perhaps you can take them out to the park?"

[smallvillians]

"Sure, I can keep them occupied. You two do your thing," Chloe says with a nod. She doesn't know what they're doing or why, but it sounds important and she's only interested in making sure they can do whatever it is.

[slayers_desire]

"Thanks."

Once Chloe has left with the children, April is able to turn her attention to the situation at the hand. She concentrates on the tree in her mental mindscape. "I'm ready, when you are."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark focuses on it too, joining her thoughts in the bond. "All right."

[slayers_desire]

Entering into the mindscape, April and Clark now stand near the oak tree in her mind. The illusion is so real, that April can reach out and touch the tree.

She is a little concerned about the welfare of the tree, since it had gone through a traumatic experience. She walks around the tree, just running her hand over the bark, until she comes to a point and stops. Her hand traces an engraved heart in the bark, with their initials.

"This is new."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark raises an eyebrow a little when he sees the new addition too. "I don't think I put that there."

[slayers_desire]

When they get closer to the oak tree, the engraved heart starts to beat, like a live heart. The bark breaks, forming into a female form, and slowly taking human form. Until finally, a young dryad emerges from the tree.

She looks like a teenage form of April. Instead of blue eyes, the young girl has deep, swirling purple eyes.

When she speaks, it is with wisdom beyond her apparent age. There is a whisper of leaves rustling in her voice.

"Thank you. For not destroying me."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Okay, definitely new. "Who are you?" He's very sure she isn't a threat, but he's not quite sure what she represents.

[slayers_desire]

The dryad tilts her head, with curiosity. "I don't have a name. Are you going to give me one?" She looks excited at her own suggestion.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"What do you think?" Clark asks April.

[slayers_desire]

"Um... how about Daphne?" The name of the Greek dryad who was chased by Apollo, until she took the form of a tree to escape his attentions.

"Daphne. I'm Daphne." The dryad smiles again, happy that she is able to answer Clark's previous question.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Daphne," Clark greets her with a nod. "I didn't want to have to destroy you. I'm glad it wasn't necessary."

[slayers_desire]

"Well I am glad you didn't. Those nice ladies said I might be able to help, once they were gone." Daphne balances on the tip of her toes while she speaks.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"You spoke to the Fates?" He's not really surprised. This is all in April's mindscape, and they're part of her, as is Daphne.

[slayers_desire]

"I did. Right before you came to bind them. And those icky bats were covering me..." Daphne hugs herself.

"They said it was no longer fair for the gift to be split into three different personas. That it was time to be one person. One voice."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"They did?" That seems like a big change. "I'm guessing they didn't mean that voice should be Maloker's."

[slayers_desire]

"We should be one." Daphne nods again. "But I can't do it alone."