This meeting was a long time in the making. Talisa had wanted to bring them here since the moment that they were born but between them being so tiny, and @Ori being sick she hadn't wanted to risk anything. After all, it was a rather long journey to get here so she wanted them to at least be able to make it this far on their own. She might be willing to carry one a good way if they absolutely needed it but mostly, she hoped that they would enjoy the adventure without.

So when Talisa arrived within the Grotto with whichever children had volunteered to come along (@Cassandra, @Khal, Ori) she made to set down a few feathers upon a flat rock. @Morrigan was free to come, too, and likely would have been notified of when she planned to do such. @Farrow would have seen her depart from the Brook with the kids and immediately followed, if he wanted to meet the father of his wife. She encouraged them both to not worry about him, for he was a gentle soul but also, he couldn't harm them because he wasn't with a physical body.

manip & table code by k'sariya

Anticipation and nervousness kept Khal on edge enough as they trekked toward the Grotto that he barely noticed the distance except to note how long it was taking. He of course knew as much about Maua and the afterlife as he could ask, but that was still a very different thing than to actually meet a spirit. Mama and Mummy had told him of his own divine origins, of how the Creator had actually shown themself to his parents and blessed them with their own power to have the children. Thus was where the three strange markings on the three siblings had come from. This was all concrete truth in his young mind, but the idea of meeting his deceased grandfather for real and in person was somehow still mind-boggling. He kept close to @Talisa as they walked, glancing around to see if anyone else was nervous like himself.

She followed behind her wife and son with her own bit of nervousness. She almost envied Khal for being born into this knowledge, and Morrigan chided herself for getting nervous about meeting a spirit when she'd literally touched the paw of a diety. That diety hadn't been @Talisa's direct father either though, even if they were her heavenly parent. Meeting Daario would be different and she couldn't help but wonder how much he might have in common with her own calm and steady father. He was, after all, the famed ruler before Nymeria's time. The patriarch of the large family. Morrigan would kiss the top of her growing son's head, wondering how much longer she'd be able to do such a thing, before moving to stand at Tali's side, her dark tail twitching with her nerves.

table coding by ferus

Cassandra Valour

(Sorry this is delayed!)

Cassandra had kept close to @Morrigan, not really excited about the prospect about meeting a ghost. She, like her brothers, had been told of the land's deity, Maua and how they came to be. Apparently Maua had blessed her moms with the ability to have a litter, despite being both female? It didn't really make sense to her, but she had an understanding of Maua that was expected of one with Valour blood coursing through their veins. Perhaps some day she'd get to meet this Maua for herself, and see what they were like. Mama had said they were awe-inspiring but kind, and she wanted to know what the deity was like.

A soft chuff was given to Morrigan as the girl stayed nearest to her dark-pelted mother. Somehow, she'd grown closest to the warrior rather than Talisa, though she loved both mothers equally. She wasn't sure how to think entirely about meeting her dead grandfather... How was he going to communicate with them, if he was dead? She didn't really understand the whole situation. ""How exactly are we supposed to meet grandpa, Mama?"" Cassandra asked, looking to @Talisa as she spoke. The brown Valour girl had oriented herself on Morrigan's other side, peering around the tall warrior to look at her other mother.

text. "She speaks." 'She thinks.'

Art & Table code by Zodiac

The will of the world around him had pressed onward for long enough and thanks to a few individuals he had been able to keep himself somewhat in the loop. Though, it was hard (he imagined) to come back here after every little thing changed. He tried his best not to hold it against his children to not come visit very often but he couldn't help but wonder how they were. Luckily, Talisa appeared in the Grotto and it was enough to stir him from a rooted slumber. Breathing life into his soul as he saw not one but two children straggling along beside her that were unmistakably hers, with a lioness beside her that also seemed to have passed down a few things.

Elation played a large part in his feelings but pride came first and foremost, pushing at the forefront of his mind as he materialized in front of the gathering. Eyeing each of them and hoping not to stir fear at his apparition. Talisa, my dear daughter. He bellowed as he looked to her fondly before looking to the others that were present. @Khal and @Cassandra no doubt his grandchildren and there was a certain glee to be seen there. A large picture of Valour strength and nobility that he was thankful to see passed on into another generation. I'd be a fool to not see family when it comes knocking. You two must be my grandson and granddaughter. And you, my daughter's .. wife? While his attention was almost entirely focused on the two children, he was curious as to @Morrigan and her world. She was no native that he had ever known so the obvious was written out for him. It only made him more curious.

To be honest, the two children and Talisa's wife could have called him anything. Morrigan likely would be better off simply calling him by his first name while the children would be far more endearing to call him something like Papa. Oh yes, he liked that one. My name is Daario Valour and I am your grandfather. Or Papa, if you'd like. They didn't have to seeing as they were a little older and might not take to calling him something so simple but seeing as these were his very first grandchildren, he hoped they might indulged an old spirit.

table by sentinel / lion + brook

Coming out to the Grotto had been on her mind for months with the incessant need to introduce her very first litter to her father. To let him see the newest generation of Valour's that would begin to see the world for more than what Vermeda was. Talisa wished she could shelter them forever in their sanctuary but knowing who their mother was, she doubted she would have much longer left before their independence came knocking.

So with @Khal cruising to her side and taking a few nervous glances around, Talisa eased her head down towards him to put her nose at his cheek. You have little to fear, my dear. A few words that she hoped would ease his concerns but knew it was no band-aid. Instead, she cast her gaze to @Morrigan who came to stand on Khal's other side and @Cassandra came to Morrigan's other side. A small line-up of an almost complete portrait of her little but growing family. We will wait, he will sense us here -- and he did.

Daario sensed them and appeared before them, his form just as magical as ever as she took in the sight. Pleased to see that he was still here and didn't hold any ill will that she had been so pre-occupied. Their last conversation had been about the natives "invading" and now look, she had truly mingled. Hello father, she cooed and resisted the urge to run forward and take him in an embrace. It took all her control for she always had to remind herself that he could not be touched. Not yet.

manip & table code by k'sariya

Khal was comforted with both @Talisa and Morrigan there, as it wasn't something he got to enjoy very often. Farrow had always been good company to Khal though, so he didn't resent her absence so much as just wish things could be different. Still, today wasn't about that and he was very nervous about the prospect of finding out what the afterlife could consist of. It was a comfort to know that death was not the end, but he wanted to see the evidence that it was at least peaceful. It was difficult to conjure anything up in his mind and as @Cassandra joined them he looked to Talisa for reassurances, which she was quick to give. It didn't take long before a strange sensation passed through the Valour boy and there was suddenly the figure of an apparition before them. Khal couldn't help his surprised expression, but other than being transparent and ghostly, it was difficult to think of the lion as anything scary. Especially once he spoke, telling them with kind words they were welcome to call him Papa. With a last glance at his mothers, he would do his best to find his bravery and take a few steps toward his grandfather's spirit. "It's good to meet you, Papa," he said to @Daario, hoping Cass would join him.

Morrigan tried to convince herself that compared to meeting Maua themself a minor spectre shouldn't have been a big deal. But this was the famed Valour patriarch and Talisa's father. Others might be so lucky to not meet the parents if they'd passed on, but not in Amaryllis. Not if Maua took you into their great care. When the air shifted around her family she felt her breath catch as a shape began to appear through the mists. Morrigan would always love this place and the significance it would hold to her as it had been the place she'd first met @Talisa, but it was a holy place for other reasons too. @Daario greeted his blood kin first but he turned his gaze to her now and made his guess as who she might be. "Yes, sir. My name is Morrigan. It's an honor to meet you." Her voice held a trace of uncertainty at being accepted since she was an outsider, but she shifted her focus to the reactions of her children, proud to see @Khal take a bit of initiative and turning to see @Cassandra meet her grandfather.

table coding by ferus

To bear witness to the life that his daughter had created was magical and he hoped that beyond that glimmering hope on her face that there was a million more bottles of it. Each Valour child desired no less than the best happiness and now that extended to not just @Morrigan but to @Khal and @Cassandra, too. They were perfect in all that they were and certainly showcased many of their mothers golden physical traits and likely many personality traits, too.

The young boy was the first to address him and his heart leapt; a thought driven back to Aurum who was his only son. A son he had yet to see come visit him in the Grotto but he wasn't going to hold that against him. Life was busy and it seemed that it was far busier than it had been when he'd been alive. Tell me, my grandchildren ... how old are you now? Daario could have rendered a guess as the age of grandson and granddaughter but it was better that he ask them. Let their brains grow and thrive on answering questions, ones that would allow him to get a better look at their growth as well as their link to the daughter-in-law that he didn't yet know.

The honor is all mine, Morrigan. A side-glance to Talisa by means of being playfully teasing, I am very thankful for your role in my daughter's life. I know that you are worthy of her heart simply by the way you two look upon one another. As well as could see the love within the children that they had brought to him. There was no denying the bond that they shared and the more he looked upon the dark warrior, the more he saw the differences that made them one whole.

table by sentinel / lion + brook

Cassandra Valour

She kept close to @Talisa and @Morrigan, almost leaning against Morrigan's leg she was so close. An ear would push back as Talisa answered her query of how exactly they were supposed to meet this grandfather of them. Almost as soon as the Heiress finished speaking, this supposed grandfather materialized out of thin air it would seem. The sudden appearance of the Spectre would spook the growing Valour girl, and she'd make an attempt to hide underneath Morrigan's taller frame while pushing her ears back on her head. Bi-colored purple eyes of different hues would widen as she looked upon the Spectre's form. Her brother @Khal seemed a bit more bold than she was at the moment, willingly stepping up to greet their grandfather.

Cassandra would remain hiding underneath Morrigan's frame for a few more moments, but when a question would be aimed towards her and her littermate, she would cautiously poke her head out from underneath Morrigan. ""We're... 7 months p-papa..."" Cassandra said, her voice a bit nervous. Morrigan and Talisa's normally headstrong only daughter was unusually shy as she spoke and looked upon their grandfather. She'd never seen a ghost before. It was weird, and made her a bit nervous. She was still at that age where new things could be a little scary and weird.

As @Daario would continue to speak to Morrigan, Cassandra would look up at her mother. The long fur on the Greyflood's chest draped over the dark brown girl's head as she blinked up at her, comfortable in her position underneath the taller lioness at the moment. Perhaps she'd come out from 'hiding' soon.. once she got comfortable enough anyways.

text. "She speaks." 'She thinks.'

Art & Table code by Zodiac