The Temple of The Wolf
Title: The Temple of The Wolf Fandom: Once Upon A Time Pairing: Dorothy/Ruby Rating: R-ish Word Count: 3816 Note: Written (a bit late) for @redkansasweek day 3 - Mythology
Last night had seen the first snow, a light dusting. She had wrapped up warm when she had left at first light. The air was crisp and had pure freshness.
It was meant to be a great honor to be chosen. A six hour round trek through the forest on her own on a cold day was Dorothy’s last idea of an honor. Every year as winter approached the Offering was made. The one to make the Offering was chosen by lottery. Stones were drawn by the villagers under thirty cycles old from a sack. All but one of the stones were white. Dorothy had drawn then single black stone. She had figured it was just her rotten luck to have drawn the black stone. It was supposedly the will of the Goddess that guided the black stone to the chosen one’s hand.
Dorothy didn’t really believe in the Goddess. She thought it was a superstition that was old fashioned and empty. But her Aunt Em had unwavering faith so Dorothy kept her doubts to herself.
After just over three hours arrived at the entrance to the Temple of the Wolf. Part way up a steep slope was a smooth cave opening. Above it was a carving of a wolf’s head, the only external sign of anything special.
There were stories in the village about people who had taken the Offering and met the Goddess. They were often strange but all agreed the Goddess was a great beauty. Others had returned and reported no encounters. Dorothy was sure those that came back with fantastic tales were delusional or self-aggrandising
Dorothy saw nothing unusual as she entered the cave. The walls were unnaturally smooth. A gentle slope down became a stone stairway and just where the light from the entrance was no longer enough to see by there was a gold sconce that held a flaming torch. Dorothy took the torch, holding it to light the way in front of her as she descended. Couldn’t whoever had little the torch have brought the Offering and saved her the journey?
As she continued down she discovered the stories about how deep underground the temple was had not been exaggerated. Ahead was only more steps vanishing into the dark depths. What if she fell? Would she tumble on and on forever? Dorothy paid a lot more attention to her steps after that thought.
It wasn’t hot or cold in the tunnel, it seemed to be a pleasant middling temperature. The further down she went the stronger her sense of isolation got. It was lonely down here in the dark so far from home. She couldn’t help but remember some of the stories she’d heard about the place she was going to. The temple that was visited by only one person every year.
Dorothy forced herself to put those silly tales out of her thoughts. She was grown woman, stories of the Goddess were only for children and religious adults. She reminded herself she didn’t believe in any of that nonsense.
Down.
Down.
Down.
It was going to kill her legs walking back up all these steps.
Down.
Down.
Down.
How much further?
Down.
Down
Down
How could anything be this deep?
Down.
Down.
Down.
Finally Dorothy saw the end of the steps. She was almost at the bottom. The tunnel opened up into a wider passageway. She paused at the bottom. The surfaces were all bare stone and she could see that after about a hundred paces the passage ended at a set of wooden double doors. On either side of the doors were torches in sconces.
She approaches the doors. There were carvings of wolves all over the big, heavy duty doors. There were all kinds of wolves of different sizes and poses. In the flickering light they seems to be moving. As she got closer Dorothy realised it wasn’t the light. The wolves on the door were moving. Some stalking, some howling silently, some snarling and snapping.
“That’s impossible,” Dorothy said. She stood looking at the doors, trying to figure out the trick. She couldn’t imagine any way of doing something like this. The finest artists, woodworkers or alchemists would never be able to create these constantly shifting images in wood.
Mesmerised Dorothy felt all her convictions that the Goddess was just a story fade away. This was real. There was something real here, something beyond the world she knew.
Her hand was shaking as she reached out to a plain space of wood where the two doors were together. It felt like just a normal door. She pushed, the doors were heavy. She pushed harder and they parted. The doors opened faster than she was pushing, opening fully of their own accord which on any other day would have been weird.
The Temple of the Wolf was enormous. There were flaming touches and burning braziers spread out to fill the space with light. Given the amount of fire in the underground space Dorothy would have expected a lot of heat and smoke, but the flames seemed to be smokeless and the temperature was still a nice medium.
There were a lot wolf statues, all in silver, gleaming and elegant, that seemed to be randomly positioned.
Dorothy walked slowly forward. To the right was a large pool, the water seemed to have a glow to it, shimmering a brilliant blue-green colour. On the left was some kind of living space. There were beautifully carves chairs upholstered in red and gold fabric. In front of a huge fireplace was an arrangement of blankets and cushions. It looked like some kind of nest or sleeping space.
Directly ahead was the alter. There was a golden wolf statue. It was a wolf sitting proud, 12 feet tall with red jewelled eyes. In front of it was a stone alter, with a wolf's head symbol on the front of it.
Dorothy slipped her rucksack off her shoulders and set it on the floor. From it she took the Offering. This year it was a prime slab of beef, neatly wrapped in brown paper. She took the meat to the temple, walking slowly. She felt eyes on her. She looked around. There was only the wolf statues. She placed the meat on the alter and knelt in front of it.
For the first time in her life she believed in the Goddess. She closed her eyes and whispered the words. "Goddess we make this Offering to you to show our devotion. We beseech thee to protect us and protect the forest. We live by your light."
Dorothy remained. She wanted to say more, to say some kind of apology for her years of doubts. She couldn't find the words to explain just how much her perception of the world had changed. There was a higher power, the Goddess was real, it was the only explanation for what she had seen. She reached out with her thoughts and her heart.
Dorothy had long felt like an outsider. It wasn't just her lack of belief in their Goddess. She had felt like she didn't fit in most of her life. It was her Aunt Em that had finally spoken to her, and had brought to light that one of the things she was uncomfortable about was boys. She had boys that were friends, but as she grew older, unlike her female friends, she didn't develop any interest in courting boys. It was only when Aunt Em asked her how she felt about girls that it clicked.
Now she knew the Goddess was real she could reach out to her, ask her why she was different, ask her for help. But how could she ask the Goddess for aid when she had doubted her all this time. How could she make up for that?
"You brought the Offering, that is enough," a voice said from behind her.
Dorothy got up and spun around. A figure was standing twenty feet away. The figure was wearing a red cloak with the hood up completely concealing their features and body.
"Who...?" Dorothy blinked and realised there was only one possibility. "Oh, are you...?"
The figure pulled back the hood.
The stories didn't do her justice. Dorothy immediately went back down on knees. The Goddess was gorgeous. Her hair was wavy and dark brown, her eyes were a striking green, her lips were full and painted blood red.
"Please, stand," the Goddess said.
Dorothy stood. She kept her eyes on the floor.
"You can look at me Dorothy."
Dorothy almost asked how she knew her name. She looked at the Goddess and was speechless.
The Goddess moved closer, she had a sweet smile on her face. While the cloak was tied closed the fabric parted as she stepped and Dorothy became pretty sure the Goddess wasn't wearing anything under the robe.
"My name is Ruby," the Goddess said. "I get lonely sometimes too. Would you like to sit with me for a while?"
"Uh, sure, yes," Dorothy nodded.
They sat in comfortable chairs near the fireplace. Dorothy was intimidated at first, but soon found that the wolf Goddess wasn't so scary. She found her eyes to talk to, and once they started the conversation flowed free. She talked about her life, and Ruby did too. She told her about the great responsibilities and challenges of being a Goddess. Ruby talked like a normal person, even if the stories she told were incredible. Dorothy learned that being chosen to take the Offering really was random chance. She learned that Ruby could only be in her human-like form within this temple, that the magic of the place allowed and in the forest outside she could only take on her wolf form.
It was hours later when Dorothy realised how long she had been down here in the temple. "I should start home."
Ruby nodded. "I will understand if you don't want to but if you'd like you could come back tomorrow."
Dorothy hesitated. As far she knew no one had ever been to the Temple more than once. She nodded. “Yes. I’ll come back tomorrow.”
On the walk back up the steps and back through the forest Dorothy tried to process what had happened. The Goddess was real. The Goddess, Ruby, did anyone else know her name was Ruby? Not only was she really but she was beautiful and wonderful and so easy to be with.
***
When she arrived back at the village she ignored the excited babble of the crowd that met her. They all wanted to know what she’d seen at the temple. Dorothy fobbed them off with vague promises that she’d tell everyone about it later. She went to home where Aunt Em was waiting.
“You saw her didn’t you?” Em said as she stood from her favorite chair.
“I saw her,” Dorothy nodded.
They sat and had tea and Dorothy told her Aunt the whole story. Em had never seen Dorothy speak with such passion about anything before.
Em was pouring Dorothy another cup when her niece said. "The Goddess asked if I would visit her again tomorrow."
Em froze and looked at Dorothy. "She did?"
Dorothy nodded. "That's unusual right?"
The look on Em's face was enough to tell Dorothy that her Aunt had never heard of anyone being asked to return to the temple either.
That night went Dorothy finally managed to sleep she dreamed of the Goddess.
***
In the morning she set off for the Temple of the Wolf again. There was no celebratory atmosphere this time. Some had accused her of lies and blasphemy. Others expressed jealously, questioning what was so special about Dorothy Gale. A lot of people were excited. What did this mean?
It was another cold start to the day. Dorothy walked as quickly as she could. She wasn't reluctant this time. She wasn't full of doubt.
After entering the cave she found the torch, still burning, where she had left it. Descending the steps she slowed to take her time. On reaching the door with the magical moving wolf carvings she pushed them open without stopping to look at their wonder.
"Ruby?" Dorothy called as she entered. She looked left, where the furniture and the nest of blankets of cushions were. Ruby wasn't there.
"You came back."
Dorothy spun around and saw the Goddess emerging from the pool. "Oh, sorry," Dorothy looked away again.
Ruby was naked, her body wet, glistening in the flicking firelight. "I don't mind," Ruby said.
Dorothy hesitated. She wanted to look. She really really wanted to look. Ruby's naked body was definitely divine. It was how much she wanted to look that made her pause. She finally turned her gaze back to the Goddess just in time to get another glimpse of her magnificent form as Ruby pulled on and fastened her red cloak.
"I didn't mean to embarrass you, being alone down here I don't often wear clothes."
It took a second for Dorothy's brain to get it together enough to reply. “It’s okay,” she hoped the heat she felt in her cheeks wasn’t too visible to Ruby. If it was the Goddess didn’t say and instead they fell into easy conversation again.
***
When Dorothy got home after the third day with Ruby she found Aunt Em sitting at the dining table with Glenda, a medicine woman and priestess of the Wolf. Both had concerned expressions and it was pretty clear that they had been talking about her before she came in.
Dorothy took a seat beside her Aunt, across from Glinda. "What's happening here?"
Aunt Em put her hand on top of Dorothy's. "That's what the priestess is trying to help us understand."
"I wanted to find out a bit more about your visits with the Goddess," Ginda said. She had curly blonde hair and kind eyes and was wearing the traditional red robes of a priestess.
"What about it?"
"Has the Goddess given you any reason why she askes you to return to her temple?"
Dorothy shook her head. "No, she just asks if I would want to come back."
"And what do you do during your time together?" Glinda asked.
"We talk."
"What do you talk about?"
"Everything, anything, we just sit and talk."
"For all that time?"
Dorothy shrugged and nodded.
Glinda looked thoughtful for a moment. "Could you ask her why?"
"I guess I could."
"Some people are worried dear," Aunt Em said. "The Goddess doing something so unusual makes them wonder if there are other big changes on the way."
"People can be afraid of change," Glinda added. "Would you let me walk with you, to the temple? I wouldn't come inside of course."
"You want to know if I'm telling the truth about going inside," Dorothy said.
"I believe you, but I'm sure you understand it is hard for some to believe."
"We believe you," Em said and squeezed her niece's hand.
"Okay," Dorothy nodded.
***
"Why do you ask me to come back?" Dorothy asked. Dorothy and Ruby was sitting across from each other in comfortable chairs near the fireplace. She had left Glinda back at the cave entrance an hour ago.
"I enjoy your company," Ruby said. "I hope you enjoy mine."
"I do," Dorothy nodded. "Very much."
"I think we are alike in a lot of ways."
"You're a Goddess, I'm not sure we're that alike," Dorothy said.
"We're both isolated, we're both different."
"I'm not different, I'm ordinary, and you...you're amazing."
"Dorothy you are extraordinary," Ruby said and leaned forward. "I've never known anyone like you, who makes me feel..." She stopped herself and glace over at the fireplace.
"Feel...what?"
The crackling of the fire seemed to loud in the silence between them.
"Feel like I'm not alone anymore," Ruby said softly.
Dorothy realised that was exactly what she felt too. Spending time with Ruby made the sense of isolation she had felt most of her life fade away. "I feel that way too."
***
Glinda lasted a few minutes into their walk back to the village before asking "Did she tell you why she asks you to visit?"
"Because she likes my company," Dorothy replied.
"Nothing else?"
"Nothing else," Dorothy said.
***
Six days after taking the Offering was the first day that Dorothy didn't go and see Ruby. She and Em had discussed it. Visiting the Goddess had put a hold on everything else in their life. Even with winter approaching there was still plenty of work to be done on their farm and there were her friends that she hadn't seen for a week.
The look on Ruby's face when Dorothy had explained she wouldn't be return the next day had just about broken Dorothy's heart. But Ruby had said she understood. They agreed that the Dorothy would come back the day after next.
For the whole day Dorothy thought about nothing else but Ruby. How could she miss someone so much? She'd only known the Goddess really existed for less than a week, how could they have such a bond so fast?
That night while she was in bed Dorothy heard the howl of a wolf in the distance. She couldn't help but imagine it was the Goddess. But it was silly to imagine that Ruby would be feeling the same longing she did.
***
Dorothy was up at first light.
She ran parts of the journey to the Temple of the Wolf. She wanted to be there, she felt like something was pulling her there. Something that reached from the temple and into her heart and made her need to be with Ruby as soon as she could.
When she went through the doors Ruby was there. Dorothy's dash came to a halt. Ruby went right to her and hugged her tight. Dorothy hugged her back. They held each other until finally Ruby stepped back.
"Sorry," Ruby said. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." Dorothy felt there was something more she had to say. She hadn't just missed Ruby. She'd yearned for her. But it went unsaid. They just looked at each other. The quiet moment between them wasn't awkward but hesitant.
"Would you like to take a swim?" Ruby asked and gestured to the glimmering pool over to the right.
"Uh, sure," Dorothy looked over, the water did look inviting. She followed Ruby towards the pool and realised that swimming would entail Ruby being naked again. It would mean she'd need to take off her clothes too.
As she reached the pool Ruby shrugged off her cloak. Dorothy stopped in her tracks. From behind the Goddess was gorgeous. Ruby stepped down into the water. She turned.
"Are you okay?" Ruby asked.
"Fine," Dorothy said.
"Oh, I'll give you a moment," Ruby said again and turned. "I forgot mortals can be shy about their nakedness." She turned, treading water in the pool, facing away.
Dorothy walked closer to the edge of the pool and undressed. She told herself she had nothing to be shy about. Taking her clothes off to go swimming with Ruby was perfectly natural.
Once undressed Dorothy got into the water, it was warm like bathwater. Ruby turned to her. "Shall we?"
Dorothy nodded.
They swam a few laps around the pool. They were soon relaxed and happy in each other's company as usual.
But the tension came back.
In the middle of the pool the two of them face to face only a short distance apart everything they weren't saying resurfaced.
Again it was Ruby that broke the quiet asking "are you ready to get out?"
"Yeah," Dorothy said and started towards the edge of the pool.
"Wait," Ruby kicked her legs and rached out to put her hand on Dorothy's arm.
They floated in the water, close now, Ruby's fingers slid down Dorothy's arm to her hand, taking hold of it.
Her heart pounding in her ears. Her breathing seemed so loud too. Dorothy licked her lips. "What is it?"
"There's something I've wanted to do, since you came down here," Ruby said quietly. She seemed nervous, more vulnerable than Dorothy had every seen the Goddess.
There was something Dorothy wanted to do right then, and her heart swelled with the hope it might be the same thing that Ruby wanted. She swallowed. "What do you want?"
"To kiss you."
"Kiss me," said Dorothy.
Their lips touched, lightly, sweetly.
“Is this okay?” Ruby asked.
Dorothy's answer was to kiss Ruby. Their arms went around each other, holding each other tight.
"Let's go dry by the fire," Ruby said.
Dorothy looked over to the fireplace. It seemed so far, staying like this kissing Ruby sounded like a far better idea. Then again amongst the cushions and blankets kissing would be very comfortable.
They got out of the pool and went hand in hand to the fireplace. They left wet footprints on the floor. Dorothy did nothing to hide her admiration of Ruby's body, and she noticed Ruby looking at her too.
"You're so beautiful," Ruby said as they sat on the piled up cushions and blankets in front of the fire. Before Dorothy could make her move Ruby kissed her. They kept on kissing and kissing, losing themselves in enjoying each other's lips.
Before today Dorothy had had two kisses in her life. First had been with a kid call Johnny when she was thirteen. Pretty much out of the blue he'd declared he like liked her and kissed her. Dorothy had punched him in the nose.
The second kiss had been with a very good friend called Wilson when she was seventeen. It hadn't been unpleasant but it had very much confirmed to her that she had no interest in romance with boys.
Kissing Ruby was confirmation that it was definitely girls that she wanted. Her heart raced. There was a flutter in her stomach. Kissing Ruby made something hot rush through her veins that she'd only felt before in private time alone in her room.
Dorothy abruptly pulled back when Ruby cupped her breast.
"Sorry," Ruby scooted back a little on the cushions. "Sorry, I shouldn't have..."
"No," Dorothy reached out, took hold of Ruby's and hand closed the space between them again. "No, it's just, just that no one's every touched me like that before. I think that was my first real kiss back there."
"I'm sorry, I'm being so forward. We can just talk if you want," Ruby said.
"More kissing would be good and..." Dorothy trailed a fingertip up Ruby's leg, up to her thigh where she rested her hand. "...maybe some touching too."
"You can touch me anywhere you want," Ruby's words made the heat in Dorothy's veins flare hotter.
Kissing Ruby in the Temple of the Wolf Dorothy realised that she had found something she hadn't even known she was looking for.
