NATURE’S WRATH

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Spring comes in like a lion.
Something is anew.
Nature is calming.
Nature is thriving.
Will you heal?

It can be felt for miles amongst the shore line, seen from vast peaks of the mountains and torn from the turmoil of sea sick land lovers. She is forgiving, and loving within her lavish and lush touches. Her anger quelled by the soothing paws of their creator and woven unto a swaddled and pacified cull of brine and sea salt. Everything has changed. For the night brings day, and within the day comes fruit. Life that bares no anger, but rather calm and soothed seas. Gentle breezes from the coastlines and the shining illumination of the sun’s rays overhead - of fin the distance there seems to be flocks of gulls returning. Their vast and limitless journeys from the end of the world coming to a swift and quick ending as they call out in rejoice for the return of all things as they close upon the shore line. Everything has changed.

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INSTRUCTIONS

Trade Boosted: All Clerics who post at least 3 times to this thread and exit before the end of the BWP will quality for "+15 BWP exp". All other trades can still collect regular exp.
Minimum Participants Needed: 3
Maximum Participants Allowed: 13
1 character per person is allowed in this thread until otherwise announced

This thread must be completed with exits by the end of the BWP to count for bonus trade experience. There is no posting order. The BWP account will not post again.

pixel credit to DiddyLyn

CLERIC EXP
+15 - BWP-related exp.
+5 Meditate or pray on your own or with someone else
+5 Learn about someone else’s beliefs

For the most part, Cicada had made a point to stay far removed from the turbulent coastlines, afraid of being swept up by an unsuspecting wave, or worse, Shu being carried off and made lost to her. Most of the plants she wished to gather were further inland, though more difficult to come by with all that was going on lately.

What eventually compelled her to venture there, was the cry of gulls and a sense of serene calm and warmth. She would find her way to a place overlooking the beach, closing her eyes and taking in the warm sunshine and salty sea air. The great mother has calmed her fury and she would quietly speak her gratitude in a prayer. "Look Shu, the birds are returning." She spoke quietly, a tiny squeak sounding from a tawny dormouse perched comfortably on her shoulder, looking out over the expanse of ocean.

Settling comfortably on the ground, the rose-laquered lioness would close her eyes and simply bask, meditating for a time. It was certainly a moment worth sharing and celebrating together, but she couldn't be sure anyone else would come along.

🎫 +2 - Study one of the natural phenomena occurring
🎫 +2 - Pray to a god or deity for guidance
🎫 +2 - Analyze the changes being made to the land

image by moogle/code by saph

After having been a very diligent follower of Maua, she continued to believe that there was no way that They had done this. The Mist was one thing in the beginning but as it had developed and taken two of her children plus Lena (whom had never been found), her doubts began to become seeded. Talisa began to seek other answers instead of placing the blame on Maua so when she had seen the locusts fly in, she had come to the conclusion that Amaryllis was "sick". That there was something eating up the land and evil was taking root far into the soil. That it had seen far too much bloodshed and was turning over because of it. But as she wandered south to see if she could find any herbs to give Cassandra after her birth, she surprised to see that nature was not so hurt today. Instead, she heard noises from animals she had not expected. In fact, she was seeing a lot more green on her walk than normal and began to slow her pace as that realization sunk in. Gaze resting into the light and billowing trees over head and the plants that were regrowing, even the ocean seemed to be in better spirits. Maua, bless you. Return our Amaryllis to us with your kind generosity. She prayed quietly with softly closed eyes, feeling the earth beneath her feet and the vibrations and the gentle pull. Live.

^{MANIP BY ZODIAC !}

Talisa had a little shadow today. Young Dio did not know if her Aunt realizes yet she's being followed but is convinced it's fine to sneak out like this if it's with someone. Not her fault if they noticed her or not right..?

The morality and duality of obey and disobey was a concept quickly lost to Dio as they neared the shore and ahead a beautiful flock of birds were alight with grace and ambient, warm, light. She gasped a little and trodded up beside Talisa just as her Aunt began her quiet prayer. Dio looked over in observation, in curiousity. And then as Talisa's voice faded another small one rose up. Dear Maua. She tried to imitate her aunt's quiet and serious, but immensely kind voice. Please help the sand to be sandy and the sun to be sunny. A simplistic request from a child that didn't really understand the gravity of dedication and religion. Dio immitated @Talisa out of fondness for the woman herself and not yet love for Maua. But how else did one learn to love the things greater than them then by practicing on family and other mortals? Her eyes were squinched tight, cheeks all pitched up together, as she 'prayed' but save for one moment she snuck a peak to see if her Aunt was watching her._{CODE | BACKGROUND | ART BY MUULAND}

The woman had had no idea that she had been being trailed from the start. Unaware that young little @Diomedeidae had followed after her in search of the great beyond. After her own prayer had finished and she heard the faint echo of something small near her did her eyes turn to find the young one reciting her own prayer. One that was, of course, something that a young child would come up with. This was enough to illicit a very happy, motherly grin as she listened and waited for it to finish. Very good, Dio. Well done, the thought of the girl even praying to their Maua was enough to make the cleric happy and full with pride. Pleased to see that the girl was at least curious even if it could potentially be short lived. Sun-blessed legs of hers a beautiful trademark that she wondered could've been a sign -- that in the dark, there was always light.

^{MANIP BY ZODIAC !}

Auntie was proud and it made Dio beem with pride. That little squinty peak turned into a big wide eyed stare and mouth hung open with the biggest grin her little face could manage to hold. And it still looked like it might overflow from the sheer joy that rushed through her. Really? Lovingly she leaned over to press her skull into @Talisa's shoulder, a fierce with love nuzzle planted on her kin's body. I hope Maua heard us. Yours was really pretty. Little did she know Maua could hear into their hearts, that they did not need to be loud to be heard. Dio had a great deal still to learn and her heart had a ways to travel too.. but baby steps like these, beloved moments with her Aunt, would be cherished all along the way._{CODE | BACKGROUND | ART BY MUULAND}

Thrain Casales

It seemed the chaos was fading, the storm-ravaged seas returning to a state of quiet ease. Seabirds had begun to occupy the shoreline, instead of seeking shelter inland from the untamable lashing of salty tides and crackling lightning. The boy wandered somewhat aimlessly, admiring the more welcomed changes to the land.

Though, footprints in the sand and the distant sound of voices caused Thrain to seek the cover of a rocky outcrop along the shoreline; choosing to roll liberally within some damp sand to try and mask his scent somewhat. He settled nearby, hidden behind a stony formation, vision trained upon an adult and cub in the near distance.

**Thrain is hiding **
+5 Study the landscape of an area
+5 Infiltrate a group thread without getting caught
+5 Practice disguising your appearance

_{table by yumpy}

A gentle laugh slipped past her lips as the girl was beaming with subsequent pride. A certain shyness that seemed to melt away in favor for pride and warmth, to which Talisa was quite happy to give. A nod to confirm that it was a very lovely prayer and truth be told, any prayer was a good one. Just so long as you could feel it in your heart and your soul, and put it forth into the world with kindness behind it. Talisa's head bowed slightly to nuzzle the top of @Diomedeidae's head. I am confident that they did. Hear their prayers, that is. Maua was always listening. Thank you, Dio. Practice makes perfect. And age, thoughtfulness and years of devotion to them but as a mother she knew to start with the simple facts and not the boring details. As she began to lift her head did her eyes catch sight of @Cicada not too far from where the Vermedan's stood and she looked for a few long seconds in an effort to catch the woman's eye. Wishing to give the other a nod of friendliness, so that she wouldn't feel alone in this beautiful time and that friends were here if she needed them.

^{MANIP BY ZODIAC !}

The strangeness that had made the beach appealing to her finally seemed to have receded. She huffed unhappily as she padded along the beach, until she spied a group of lions. She almost just strolled on past, but who was she if not lonely and curious?

“‘Chu doing?” She demands of the group. “Why you make it calm?” She asks with a growl, glaring out at the water then looking at the group of lions so unhappily. This sucked. She liked the storms. Grom was happy then. Who was happy now? What God was happy with this weird sense of peace?!

coded by flea + background credit

As she observed the serenity of the scene before her, others would begin to arrive, though at some distance from her. A pair of them had begun speaking together, and despite not wishing to eavesdrop on someone else's conversation, she was very curious about the subject matter.

She had heard the name before, prayed to and regarded highly. It was not the same as what Cicada practiced, but they were not dissimilar. Perhaps the only real difference was in the given name. She might not join them, but she was not alone. She would nod to the lioness looking in her direction, but she was content to stay where she was.

image by moogle/code by saph