His rushed approach, the water splashing the once perfect reflection of the stars now a distorted image as Keligan comes closer. Part of her is still terrified but another is relieved. She doesn't stop him from embracing her instead she buries her face in his mane. Feeling its strands tickle her nose his scent and warmth on her face... He was alive... He was so very much alive.

The tears wouldn't stop rather she cried more as she was now certain that her brother was not lost. That he was here with her alive, despite the horrors he was alive.

The pale lioness listened to his words, he'd been there when the volcanoes erupted. When Gaia was destroyed, she'd never known what happened, all she'd seen was the barren chaotic aftermath. "By the spirits Star" she mumbled into his mane before pulling free as he asked how she knew and how she'd gotten here.

"I saw it, I came back to see you and the Run but the entrance was gone" she started her eyes still foggy though a cold creeping fear lingered in her stomach as she remembered the day she'd returned to see him. "I climbed the rocks, I had to see but there was nothing there... Nothing but ash and brimstone and the air was foul I thought everyone was..." She fell quiet her stomach turning at the memory of what she'd seen. The climb had not been easy but the pain when she saw nothing but destruction had been worse. "I didn't know what to do after, I just wandered where the spirits guided me" where her paws had led her, an aimless path that had led her here. And then the realization that perhaps it hadn't been aimless, maybe the spirits had led her to @Keligan. "I think the spirits, the totems, brought me here" she told him the humming returning to her ears. She was right, she was sure of it. Blessed be the owl and vulture totem, she'd have to bring them thanks later.

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The bright, starry lioness buries her face into his mane as he embraced his sister. He weeped with her as she spoke of what had happened. I always felt that my Totem and the Spirits were watching over me. And the last several months, I've been thinking heavily of you, mother, our whole family. I can't believe you are here. The cold of the water, he was numb to it now. Only focused on @Tapeesa as she spoke of what had happened with her to get her to come here.

When she said that Gaia was completely gone in ruins, he weeped for the loss of their homeland. Of his family and friends who had resided there. What if Keela hadn't gotten out? K'omox was much further north than his Clan at the Run. The two protective Totems and the Spirits who were connected to them must have been working together to guide the littermates to once more be united. I could never understand how the Totems worked in their mysterious ways, but I'm so happy to see you again. Shifting to move out of the water back to the shoreline, he urged his sister to follow him. I have so much to tell you.

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In truth, Tapee could not know if all of Gaia had been consumed. But from what she had seen when she peered over the rocks she thought so. The burnt and suffocated landscape she was left with little hope. The once rich green land where burnt and soothed any life consumed by flame or strangled by ash and smoke. She hadn't dared venture into the land to look further, instead, she'd run grieving as she went failing to leave a prayer or lead a ceremony for those who had fallen within.

The lioness despite her foggy eyes smiled at her brother's words about not understanding the totem's ways. She wasn't sure anyone did, even she with her training could only guess and assume. "all we can do is try our best" she mused mostly to herself than him. "I am happy to see you too" she offered as he turned to walk out of the water and for a moment she feared he'd fade away. That this was all just a dream or an illusion. But @Keligan's frame remained in front of her as she followed him her ears tipping forward with interest at his words.

He had things to tell her? Of course he did, her brother was a great lion who'd done much in his life. "Tell me" she said her tone of voice soft as she wondered what had happened to him after the chaos.

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The lioness was right that no one could truly understand the Spirits, even the mightiest of Mog-Ur couldn’t understand in full. Neither one of them could imagine if all of Gaia was in desolation or if some of it survived. But now the pair would never know. Nodding to her words, Keligan sat down in the sands, facing the water, towards the main island. Yes, a lot. I guess I should say the more important parts first.

Looking down at his sister, he could finally grasp into his mind that she was really here with him. When I first came to these lands, it was so different than Gaia. But I was able to find a home at Caladan Cove. A beach side Clan. I was a ranked member under the Leader. But a storm destroyed the Cove and he was washed out to sea. I battled against a lioness who sought to take it and won.

Pausing to let that sink in before he continued, I rule it as High Sovereign and my newest wife, Sunder, rules next to me. We just had four cubs together. Sighing, he shifted slightly. The pride doesn’t have a Cleric, a Mog-Ur, and I fear for them not to have a protective Totem. They are near their Ceremony. Unlike the pair, his cubs wouldn’t be named until a month old. He needed time to prepare and things to settle down. He just finished healing from his challenge battle as it was.

@Tapeesa, will you help me? It was a lot to ask of his sister but there was no one else that he could trust the most for this. She had the training and she understood the Spirits and how to call for the names and Totems. He worried the most for his small, strawberry daughter.

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Tapeesa listened to her brother's words nodding along as he spoke about the difference between this place and Gaia. She had not seen the differences but she unlike him had also not grown up in a more traditional Gaian pride. Irkbaan's pride had always been more similar to the cultures of the outside world. She looked at him somewhat worriedly as he spoke about a storm that destroyed the cove. Had something happened to upset the spirits? If so had they been calmed? The lioness noted he said nothing of the old king, was he alive or gone? Had he been the focus of the spirit's wrath?

Tapeesas mind was snapped back to his words when he mentioned a wife. "You're married?" she asked surprised but happy as she smiled her two tails moving in quiet excitement. Not to mention he had cubs, and she had nieces and nephews. Though her face almost instantly grew more serious as @Keligan mentioned their lack of a Cleric or Mog-Ur. Without one the cubs would be totemless not to mention nameless. They'd stand without the protection of the spirits.

Though his request brought unease to the lioness. She understood his plight but she was not a Mog-ur. The other spiritual lions of Gaia had never quite accepted her as one of their own. "I'm not a Mog-ur Star" she spoke her voice quiet and regretful. She wanted to be, she wished she was. She understood the spirits, heard them, and prayed to them. But a woman as a Mog-ur had been unthinkable to the old fools. And so she'd left to follow the spirits and the path they had put her on. A path that leads her to a spiritual cave and now her brother. "But I'll be happy to do their ceremony, I'm sure the spirits will allow it." she said her tone reassuring and warm. She would prove herself as a Mog-ur not to the dusty old lions of Gaia but to the spirits all around her and those residing in this new land. She had already found a sacred grotto, was that not a sign in itself?

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While Keligan spoke, his sister listened and pondered. And he gave @Tapeesa uncomfortable feelings by giving his request. Yes, we married last winter. As she got more uneasy and spoke up about it. Mog-Urs were never female in the lands of Gaia which was why Tapeesa had left the land. You could become a Mog-Ur here. I don't trust anyone else to do it. You know how to bless the ceremony. He didn't know if the Spirits were angry at him or angry at Gauthier. The Cove isn't too far from here once you get back on the mainland. You don't have to live with me but it's up to you.

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Last winter, her brother had been married for a full year... A bit long to bless it but that didn't stop the pale lioness who was looking at him with wide eyes and a big grin. "Congratulations, may the totem spirits bless your union" she spoke somewhat formally though also wanting to ask about his wife if not for the more serious subject to come.

With the worry in her chest like a tight knot Tapee couldn't help but stare at @Keligan as he offered her the role she had wanted so desperately. He thought she could do it? He thought she could be a Mog-Ur? She smiled tears once again threatening to fall down her cheeks. "Thank you" she mumbled overwhelmed by emotions tough listening as Keligan spoke of his pride and her freedom to choose anywhere else.

She laughed, overwhelmed by emotions and a new happiness blooming within her. "How am I supposed to be your clans Mog-Ur if I'm not in it?" she looked at him smiling "I'd be happy to stay in the Cove" she had no hesitation in that decision. Keligan was her family, likely the only family she'd be able to reunite with. So she wasn't just gonna leave him behind... not this time...

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It was mere months of being married, he hadn't spent a full year here. Smiling at her blessing, he dipped his head slightly. Thank you. It was nice to have the blessing as they were not formally married but they were mates. Flicking his ears forward, he listened to @Tapeesa and then nodded slowly. If you would like to, Lead Advisor is like a Mog-Ur position. There was no hesitation on her joining the Cove but wanted to give her the choice of if she wanted a rank or not. Shifting to lean into his sister, he smiled slightly. I'm so glad that we found each other again.

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The lioness nodded her head at his words "I'd be honored star, or should I call you chief.. King?" she spoke the first part truthfully honored, the second with a teasing tone of amusement. She did not mind taking an advisory rank. If she truly wanted to serve as her brother's Mog-Ur it would make her life easier. Not to mention lead advisor didn't sound like a rank where fighting would be expected of her. Despite her maturity, the pale lioness was still no fighter.

"Me too" she hummed quietly though her thoughts were spinning with all the new information. She'd had to prepare for the cub's ceremony, oh spirits how long did she have? What kinda names were in their families? What were the cubs like? Could she find the herbs for deep meditation in winter? If not, could she seek the full guidance of the spirits without them? She'd have to do one thing at a time but also didn't truly have time for it... "I wanna meet them" she spoke standing two tails dancing behind her in excitement. She wanted to meet her brother's wife, her tiny nieces, and nephews. "What's she like?" the pale lioness asked her tails stopping mid movement as she looked at her brother with wide turquoise eyes.

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The lioness was honored and Keligan smiled at his sister. The relationship between the two blood-related felines was strong and the two would continue to have that bond. There is no formality of names in my Clan. Star or my given name of Keligan is fine. Laughing slightly and shaking his head, @Tapeesa then asked about his family here. Looking at the lioness as she stood up in excitement, he mused for a moment before speaking up. She is so wonderful. Much like Rei in how she thinks. Her name is Sunder and she is accepting of our traditions.. Clicking his tongue, Keligan then added, We had three girls and a boy. One of the girls, I am worried about. Do you remember my first litter? The one I had with Rei? Lowering his head, he added, I had another strawberry pelted girl, but this one wasn't born breathing. The lion was worried about the little one.

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