Ep. 4 of the Elementals: I Love You to the Moon and Back (Part 1)
Adam and I will take any opportunity to travel — especially if it involves a road trip! It’s the perfect opportunity to share music, count cows, and indulge in the whitest restaurant the Midwest has to offer: good ole Cracker Barrel.
Just this past year, we have traveled to Hocking Hills, Stockport, Chicago, IL, Muskingum, Yellow Springs, and most recently, Newport and Louisville, KY. Adam also accompanied Gabriel Guyer to Ferndale, MI for an art show; and I performed with Teatro Travieso in Mexico. All of which became opportunities for us to continue our art — from photography, to music, and my writing. (Did you know our collaboration on “Domino” started with me softly singing into my phone in the backyard of our playwright’s home in Mexico City? Listen & buy now at FOXandRAM.bandcamp.com)
Mid-November we visited Meghan Carpenter in Louisville, KY. In addition to hanging out, catching up, and gettin’ all the puppy love (with the sweetest Great-Dane-turkey-burger-mixed-pup Lenny!) we also ventured into the moonlight for an impromptu photoshoot. It was an incredible experience. Lighting, of course, can be a make-or-break element in photography. So, we took this opportunity with a model that we’ve had a solid relationship (and friendship) with in order to try something boldly new — nighttime photoshoot!
As you can see above, we have our handheld light cube and a camping light donated by none other than Vicki Fauth. And, naturally, the nearly full moon. It was a gorgeous night for venturing through crunchy leaves and spooky lookin’ trees. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect autumn night.
Adam finished editing the photos earlier this week, and we had our customary preview with Meghan to approve the shots. For those who don’t know, we believe it is important to include the model in every step of the photoshoot process — from conception to release — and wouldn’t want to put out an image they felt uncomfortable with. This has been a service that everyone we have ever worked with has gone through. Since day one. And it’s my personal job to ensure the comfortability of the client no matter what.
Any questions?
This photoshoot — very much like Nicholas Wilson’s “Odd World” photoshoot — inspired a character that I was eager to include in my “Elementals” series. To be honest, I’m still working out the fine details, but I couldn’t help but to establish a prologue! So here it is, the first part of Episode 4 of the Elementals: I Love You to the Moon and Back.
Somewhere, elsewhere, neither here nor there… Earth is walking barefoot along side a cobblestone path leading away from the Elemental Castle. She has a heavy step; her toes sink deep into the dirt and the arch of her foot cradles the soil as she walks. Her companion, Bastet — now an adolescent cat but with the same mischievous green eyes rimmed with gold — balances on a messy bundle of hair collected a’top of Earth’s head.
EARTH: Take me to your wounds… guide me to your pain…
BASTET: Mrrrow.
Solely dictated by the soil, Earth forks away from the cobblestone path and is brought to a clearing. The once lush and greeny area is now charred. White ash floats on the murky pond water as if the flames threw confetti to celebrate their presence. Abandoned volcanic structures are half crumbled in the water and on the brink. The patches of vegetation surrounding the scene crane their stems and trunks as far away from the destruction as possible. Earth does not seem sad, nor particularly affected by this scene. She merely lifts her chin to the brightly lit sky above and hums. Bastet follows suit with a deep purr.
EARTH: Mmmm. Heal.
BASTET: Prrr. Mrow.
Earth shifts her weight to the balls of her feet and closes her eyes. To hold her balance, a nearby root of a tree reaches out to her and delicately wraps around her ankles. Earth is held tightly, and breathes steadily. Then, as if time were suddenly quickened, the charred area begins to renew. The soil churns the ashes to refresh the foundation for new grass, flowers, and young saplings. They poke through the surface timidly and reach for sunrays. The untouched vegetation huddle towards the burned plants to share nutrients. Earth opens her eyes and falls back on her heels. The root holding her retreats back in the ground.
EARTH: That feels better. Nothing a little solar power and attention can’t fix, huh, little kit?
Bastet jumps down from Earth’s head and bounds towards the water. She pounces on the crumbling collections of cooled lava and paws playfully at the left-over floating white ashes. A moment passes, then her ears twitch and she looks over her shoulder, alert. A figure emerges from the shadow of the trees and approaches the clearing. The kitten bounds up to the figure, who is revealed as Fire as he steps into the sunlight.
FIRE: Thank you. I was… practicing. I think I’m getting better.
EARTH (nods): Moreso, I’m pleased that we’ve found good use of the fur-ball. Keeps her from snacking on the produce from my harvest.
Bastet rubs her flank against Fire’s legs. She uses the seam of his black pants to scratch her chin. Fire reaches down to pet her.
FIRE (to Bastet): What will be your purpose here, hmm?
Bastet sits politely on his foot and licks the little droplets of water off her fur from the pond. An ash flake is stuck between the pads of her paw. She stares at it.
EARTH: I’ve been wanting to meet with you regardless. It’s time you’ve taken your place as head of the Lovers’ and Passion Department.
FIRE: Oh? Oh. I didn’t know I would be next in line.
EARTH: Yes, the position has always been yours. We’ve only been waiting for you to mature before taking the responsibility.
FIRE: Really? Huh. I thought… This isn’t because of Romeo?
EARTH: Who?
FIRE: Romeo. That Verona boy, the one you ki lled—
Fire immediately stops himself, realizing he may offend.
EARTH: How did you —
FIRE: Oh I don’t — I didn’t really hear details of anything —
EARTH: Who told you?
FIRE: Uhm. Well. Y’know. Word gets ‘round.
Pause. Bastet begins tracking a bee which has landed on the petals of a nearby flower.
EARTH (stiffly): You taking the position has nothing to do with that. As I said, it had always been intended to be yours.
FIRE: Right. Okay. I’m… sorry.
EARTH: I don’t know what for.
Earth turns to leave without lingering a second longer. Bastet is preparing to pounce on the bee before she is scooped up by Fire’s scarred hands.
FIRE (warmly to Bastet): Some things are simply meant to be admired from afar, small one. Bee’s have stingers, you know…
Earth, hearing this last bit of wisdom from Fire, purses her lips. She continues on the cobblestone path, further away from the castle. She quickens her pace to leave Fire’s gaze — anyone’s gaze. When she feels that she is more alone, she releases a shaky breath and stops walking. The sun is setting now. Earth looks up at the sky turning to night… and finds herself lost in a memory…
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