Talisa had made a quick little path through the Summit; marked it with several large branches from the trees down in the Brook to mark the safest travel way. That way if more snow fell than normal she could potentially still see the tops of the sticks and know the way.

The way to what? A shrine of sorts, of course!

Nothing too fancy but she had managed to make what she had had in the Brook. A small accompaniment of stones that were piled as high as they could with a few leaves and brightly colored flowers that she replenished every few days. A place that she often filled with silence where she could talk to Maua, or whoever up there could hear her. Sometimes she felt as though her words fell on deaf ears and sometimes she swore she could feel just the smallest bit of a wind that made her believe that someone was listening.

@Diomedeidae

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Hmmm...

Dio did not understand why these sticks were, well, sticking out of the ground like that. It looked like a bunch of the young saplings and new growth she'd seen around the Brook before but these weren't growing from the soil. And they lead down along in a line. When Dio approached one to investigate there was another. And then another. Softly and thoughtfully she let loose a hum of concentration and contemplation.

When she didn't figure out what was going on she simply continued to follow them of course.

And this curiosity was justly rewarded as at the end of the trail sat a familiar and beloved shape. Auntie! Dio called out with a laugh, breaking the stillness and serenity with a youthful pure sound. She bounded forwards to give @Talisa a big hug._{CODE | BACKGROUND | ART BY MUULAND}

Dio! she cried, embarking on a journey of words and cutting her silent prayers short, sweet Dio! Talisa lifted herself to stand so that she could greet the kind girl appropriately. Embracing the youthful exuberance of the child and giving a large, familial and friendly hug. After all, at some point hugs might no longer be free of charge. I see you followed the path I laid out. She thought to ask a bunch of questions that revolved around how confusing was it? but figured it was probably best to let @Diomedeidae ask the questions or give the answers on her own time.

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She squeaked happily as @Talisa wrapped her up in a warm hug. The embrace was familiar and comforting, the sort of world you could just float away into. She lifted her skull upwards, aiming to brush her cheek and forehead along her Aunt's cheek. Joyful purrs rolling freely from her lips. You did that? Dio says while looking sharply back over her shoulder over the path she had just entered from. Her words were full of pride, and astonishment. There was so many! That was so much work. But, based on the sounds of it, Dio did approve of the path. It was neat to know her Aunt had made it too, of all lions._{CODE | BACKGROUND | ART BY MUULAND}

There was nothing in this world that really resonated with Talisa more than being able to love whatever children crossed her path. @Diomedeidae certainly held a soft spot in the cleric's heart and even if the child wasn't directly hers, she might as well have been. Talisa treated the girl like her own and kept her as close as she could without suffocating her. It was nice that Dio had a few smaller cubs to play with though, often she wondered if Dio preferred to be around adults. I did! It was so hard, but you know what? If it helps the pride to know the safest paths down the summit, then it's worth it. She said as she attempted to softly boop the girl's nose. It was well worth the effort because it was a solid relief knowing that the girl had made it down without wandering off the path and finding trouble. Not to stay it would prevent someone from doing that but it was a lot easier to follow a marked path than to go your own way.

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Thank you for keeping us safe Auntie. Dio looks upon her Aunt with admiration, with respect, pride, and most of all love. She's constantly finding herself amazed at @Talisa, and although Dio was surrounded by adult figures who loved her it was certainly Talisa that she looked up to the most. Everything she did was pwoerful and loving. It was very easy to follow. She was proof enough the path had worked as intended, arriving here safely and without getting lost along the way. Markers spaced just far enough apart that they guided without constraining one in. Never could go too far without seeing another, another, and be woven along by curiousity._{CODE | BACKGROUND | ART BY MUULAND}

Anything for my family, she said whilst attempting to cast a quick, loving nuzzle to @Diomedeidae's nape. Ensuring that she showed this girl more and more love, while also holding fast to her promise to Aquila that she take care of his daughter while she learned elsewhere. Talisa couldn't imagine that it had been easy to let her go to the Summit not only because it wasn't Vermeda but because it was also a vastly more dangerous setting than one they had grown up in.

That is good to know! Thank you, as it meant that her hard work was not in vain and she could safely lead others down the right path without too much worry. Though, she did cast her gaze to her tiered rock sculpture and go an idea. Since you're here, do you want to join me in prayer? So that we might call upon the ears of Maua? Truth was, Talisa wasn't sure if the Deity was listening as often as they used to but it still made her feel a little better knowing that she was getting her thoughts out there. Maua wouldn't judge her and in time, Talisa wouldn't judge back.

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Anything for family. Family. Dio felt overwhelming love from the word, felt a sense of safety and protection just by the syllables alone. She smiled once more and feverishly nodded agreement. I hope I can help us someday. She was still quite young now, old enough to keep herself relatively safe and taken care of but that in itself was the extent of realistic expectations. Dio probably couldn't as skillfully or safely build trail makers or fight off any great threats. Not today anyways.

I'd love to. Dio settled in comfortably close to her Aunt. She sat up proper and straight, close enough to feel Talisa's warmth but affording them both room to move and shift without bumping right into each other. Dio slowly shut her eyes, the last thing she looked upon was the stone shrine A vision was engraved in the back of her eye lids of it's smooth curves, it's upright stance. Hi Maua-_{CODE | BACKGROUND | ART BY MUULAND}

Just like with any of her own kids, she wanted @Diomedeidae to have the experiences of anything and everything in life. More importantly when they're younger and it would stick with them as a core memory. So when the blue as the night sky girl settled in close and shut her eyes, Talisa took in a quiet, but deep breath and squeezed her lips together. Thoughtful, happy and at peace knowing that a young valour was interested in Maua. After all that had happened, there was still faith that Maua could continue in their family.

Hello Maua, she reiterated just after the young Dio, we call to you today and hope that you are well. The Sovereign was patient with her words in the event that Dio might want to say the same words and didn't hesitate to let the girl put in her own words to fill the space either. Today, we are asking for strength, comfort and stability in these times. For nothing was ever easy in this life anymore and after Morrigan had been attacked, she wanted nothing more than to keep her family safe. Every single one of them and while that might be hard for a mortal, Maua might be able to give them a small chance.

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We call to you and hope you are well. Dio repeats, more or less, when her Aunt expertly paused. It feels good to be out there, despite the cold from the northern winds. They are quite alone just the two of them but Dio feels her heart full of love. She wriggles her tingling toes on the ground, perked her ears to catch more of her Aunt's prayer and commit it to memory the best she could.

It was the start of love, of appreciation for Maua. A step beyond just emulating her beloved Talisa's actions and words. Dio found peace believing that Maua was out there right now, could guide them just as those most lovingly placed markers guided her here right now. We love you Maua, thank you for our family and the health you have given us this summer.

/Exit via prayer & meditation_{CODE | BACKGROUND | ART BY MUULAND}