The young girl had made her way from the Brook back to the Grotto. With her mixed feelings about her new half-siblings, Cassandra figured she’d make her way to a place that she knew she would not only not get in trouble for going to, but that also was a place she felt at peace at. So she’d made her way to the Hidden Grotto. She was Talisa’s daughter through and through, and felt a strong connection to Maua - even if she’d not gotten the chance to actually meet the deity quite yet in her life. Though if what she had been told about the circumstances of her and her littermates’ existence was really as rare as she had been told… then that might explain why she feels so close to the deity that watched over the lands.

In her mouth Cassandra had some wildflowers as an offering to Maua. Going off of what she’d learned from Aelynthi at her first solo excursion to the Grotto, the Valour daughter settled down at the edge of one of the pools near a flat stone. Spreading the flowers out in front of her on the stone, Cassandra dipped her head down as she closed her eyes for a few moments, sitting in silence as she did so. It was… nice to be alone for a few moments with her thoughts. Even if she wasn’t truly alone, since Maua was always watching over their children. The quiet was nice, and it made Cassandra realize that she didn’t just let herself sit in silence to terribly often at all.

Perhaps someday she’d have the opportunity to meet Maua, and get to know them as she believed her mother did. But until that day arose, she would just do offerings and prayers to Maua as well as learn from others other things that clerics do. Perhaps at some point too she’d get to meet an idol or a guardian as well.

actions. "speech." thoughts.

Art by Amphispiza | Table code by Zodiac

[OOC: tell me if you want this deleted. I didn't see a tag or anything but if you have plans for this let me know:)]

The ebon lady moved silently across the realm of Amaryllis. She had a goal in mind today and had slipped from the warm sides of her mate and children to make this trip. While she had ruled the Cove, Jewel had wondered why the land itself hadn't risen against her as it had other rulers. Now she knew, Maua had other plans in store for her at the time. Something that would see her beaten, battered, but stronger.

Or so that was what Jewel thought. She slowed as she approached the Grove, her jaws having tightened into one another to try to silence her breathing. It wasn't that she wished to sneak up on @Cassandra, but that she didn't wish to disturb the other. The shadow shifted and moved carefully off to the side.

She had no offerings to the diety of these lands, only to come and let her heart speak the words her mouth was unable to. Jewel gave the young girl a wide berth so as not to bother her and settled in silence to her haunches to let her gaze turn towards the trees and sky above. She closed her eye, inhaling the subtle aromas of thr Glen before exhaling a soft, but drawn out sigh.

Thus, she prayed. She prayed that her sons would grow strong. She prayed that in their ventures in Maua's realm they would find peace and prosperity. She hoped that the guardian to this island would look over her children and her mate after she was gone. She prayed that the guiding lights would follow the rest of those she considered friends and help them where they needed it most. She prayed for the safe delivery of the upcoming Wolfbron cubs, for she knew of two such litters.

Jewel knew she was neither Native nor blood related to this realm but could only hope that her prayers would reach the ears of the gods despite her lacking.

---

"Speech"

Code by corvus. Manip by scarf

It were the energy that drew him to the Grotto, the sensation more palpable than what he were used to. It wouldn't be until eyes took in that there were two figures there, one that held the unique marking upon her body that Maua gifted to all of their children that were specially delivered by them and another that Valhalla was quite sure he had met at one time. His nostrils would flare as he took in their scents that wafted on the soft breeze, the cub from the Brook and the woman from the Cove. They both were places he were very fond of and for a moment would he feel a lump in is throat as he thought about Avaneira and wondered how she were going ruling Caladan.

With little time to waste would the Viking decide to appear, form beginning to appear out of thin air. The aura around him shone like a soft light, pink in color and that wrapped around his whole body. His eyes would flicker between both the females, standing in front of them both. "I wasn't told I would be having company," his voice would speak in a humorous tone, ears flicking and inky lips pulling into a soft grin.

@Cassandra @Jewel



from the midnight sun where the hot springs flow

DEE / NOVI

An ear turned around at the sound of pawsteps and breathing behind her. Opening her eyes, Cassandra turned her head to see who else had chosen to come to Maua's home. She'd been taught that the Hidden Grotto was Maua's home, though the deity could appear anywhere through their realm. She wasn't sure who the other lioness was, as she briefly studied her appearance. The scent of the Cove washed over her as the breeze blew the other lioness' scent towards her. She was from the Cove, then. Perhaps she knew her mother and aunt. Maybe she could ask about her aunt's cubs... see how things were going for her and her mother. Lifting a paw, Cassandra turned her attention back to the wildflowers in front of her as she gently ran her paw over them. She had picked some of her favorite flowers from the Brook to bring here in an offering to Maua - hopefully they would appreciate the offering...

However, the silence that hung between herself and @Jewel (who she didn't know) was suddenly broken as a voice came from in front of her. Bi-colored gaze snapped up as she looked to the source. A large lion stood in front of her, but there was an aura around him that she knew didn't appear on normal lions. Cassandra blinked, stunned into silence for a few heartbeats as she tried to find her voice. ""Y-You're a Guardian, aren't you?"" Cassandra said, her voice breathless as she spoke. She remembered being told the difference between Spirits, Idols and Guardians when she was first taught about Maua. Was she actually meeting one?? She almost couldn't believe her eyes... wait until she told Mama and Mummy about this...

She of course didn't recognize the man in front of her, not knowing that he was the father of her cousins. Nor knowing he was buried in her homeland. Or even knowing her own mother was responsible for him being a Guardian in the first place. She wanted to know so many things about this Guardian... But she didn't want to be rude and rapid fire off questions before he'd even gotten a chance to say anything at all.

@Valhalla

+5 Meet a Spectre, Idol, or Guardian for the first time (1/2)
+5 Spend time with a member of the after-life (1/2)

actions. "speech." thoughts.

Art by Amphispiza | Table code by Zodiac

Jewel let her eye open when she finished her prayer before she realized they weren't alone. The other female, @Cassandra spoke, and the ebon woman noted @Valhalla's form. Her tails twitched near her haunches as she shifted, settling and watching the red male curiously. "You're the one that died in the rainforest." Her tones were soft - but then again, they often were. She let her gaze drift over the lion, taking in how he looked in the afterlife.

The female had questions - but so too did the other, and she seemed the sort that may understand better what the lion had to say. Truthfully, Jewel was wondering if she even belonged here - As the younger female smelled of Vermeda - was she a native? Did she have blood ties to the fallen lion standing before them?

---

"Speech"

Code by corvus. Manip by scarf

He couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle at how the cub was shocked to see him. Valhalla, even though he had grown up around the teachings and knowledge of the afterlife and the possibility to come across one that had passed on it was still nerve wracking and a but unsettling when it actually happened. And let's not mention how much more those emotions made him when he kept having to remind himself that he were the one that wasn't in a living body anymore. "I am," he would confirm with a nod of his head, gaze shifting from her to the ebon woman as she made her own comment.

This one would cause for his lips to pull into a thin line and for his ears to swing backward slightly, tail tip twitching at his hocks. "That I am, too." A more somber tone to his voice would lace his words, his eyes lingering upon the older female before he shifted between the two once more. "What brings you two here today?" Might as well try to get some information and learn about them since he had all of eternity to roam around these parts, right?

@Cassandra @Jewel



from the midnight sun where the hot springs flow

DEE / NOVI

The ethereal male would confirm her suspicion that he was in fact a Guardian. She'd heard so many things about Guardians and what all it took to become a Guardian. She herself was hoping that when her time came to pass, that she too would get the chance to be a Guardian or something similar. One ear would twist backwards as the lioness from the Cove spoke, stating that he was the one who died in the rainforest. Died in the rainforest? She looked between @Jewel and @Valhalla, curiosity present in her dual-colored purple gaze as it flickered between the two lions. Suddenly, her gaze froze on Valhalla. He looked... familiar. She might not have gotten the greatest of looks at her aunt's cubs - but she had gotten enough of a look at them to recognize the stripes that coated both Valhalla and her cousins' forms.

""You... look a lot like my Aunt Ava's cubs.."" Cassandra said, choosing her words cautiously. She wasn't sure what would happen with her speaking as she did, or how Valhalla would react. ""Forgive my manners... I'm Cassandra Valour."" She said, realizing she hadn't really introduced herself to either lion there. Her eyes flickered between the two adults once again, not sure what else to do. ""H-How did you become a Guardian, if you don't mind the question?"" Cassandra asked, gaze fixing on Valhalla as she asked the Guardian one of the most burning questions on her mind.

+5 Meet a Spectre, Idol, or Guardian for the first time (2/2)
+5 Spend time with a member of the after-life (2/2)

actions. "speech." thoughts.

Art by Amphispiza | Table code by Zodiac

The red hued spectre had questioned what it was they were doing and Jewel allowed @Cassandra to speak first. A smile touched the lips of the dark woman when the youth seemed to be full of questions. It quickly became glaringly apparent to the dark twin tail that she was intruding.

Rising silently to her feet, she let her singular gaze linger on the pair before tilting her skull in a silent farewell towards @Valhalla. She had come to give her prayers to the gods of this land and had succeeded in that. To stay and be a third wheel in what was obviously to be a familial discussion... didn't sit well with the once queen.

Jewel turned and padded away, her tails flickering lightly near her haunches as she left as silently as she had come. Perhaps she would return someday, but given that the lioness was certain the spirits that lurked this meadow belonged to the natives... perhaps she would bring her prayers elsewhere so as not to find herself in yet another awkward position of unintentionally eavesdropping.

//Exit//

---

"Speech"

Code by corvus. Manip by scarf

He would take note of the ebony taking her leave, golden eyes watching her silently. But his attention would be quickly redirected back onto the young girl as she mentioned cubs and Avaneira. "What?" He could feel the nerves in his ethereal form begin to feel like static, his ghostly heart beginning to thump quicker. "She had her cubs?" The words would be spoken in a somewhat hushed manner, trying to process the emotions he were feeling. Valhalla knew his children would be born, obviously, but he didn't realize that it had already happened... and he wasn't able to be present for their birth. It was a tough thing to swallow, causing a lump to form in his throat. Clearing his throat in an attempt to rid of it would ears prick forward as the girl then introduced herself, her last name the thing that brought him back to their conversation. "It is nice to meet you, @Cassandra. I'm Valhalla Brynmawr, a a close friend of the Valour family and the father to Avaneira's children." Lots of new information was being passed between the two, that was for sure.

Her inquiry on how he had died would cause for his skull to shake back and forth a bit. "I don't mind," he would begin, deciding to finally settle down and allow for his rear to lower itself to the ground. "A woman named Ismae declared a death match against me during another one that was happening between Aquila and Sangria. She was blinded by the woman's rule is what I can only assume. She bested me in the end and once I was brought back to Vermeda, Talisa called upon Maua and they obliged by bringing me back." It was still all too crazy for the Viking to really wrap his head around, and knowing he were going to be around for eternity was both exciting and exhausting to think about.



from the midnight sun where the hot springs flow

DEE / NOVI

An ear flicked at @Valhalla's hushed words. It would seem he didn't know her aunt had given birth to her cubs. ""I didn't stick around for too long, but I did sneak a glance at them. I didn't want to disturb her, and I'm not super good with younger cubs myself at this point in time."" Cassandra said. The Guardian would then go on to introduce himself, saying he was a close friend of her family and that he was also the father to her cousins. Interesting. Was he her uncle then...? Or was he simply the father of her Aunt Ava's litter and there was nothing between the pair beyond that? Now she wanted to know more about the pair.

Mentally shaking herself from that line of thought for a moment, he would settle down and start to explain what had happened to her. She knew who Aquila was - he was another relative to her. How he was related, she wasn't really sure. But she knew he was related to her. Who these Sangria and Ismae were, she also didn't know. ""Why would Aquila seek another's life? I thought Maua was against such senseless violence? What had this Sangria done that he felt the need to seek her life as punishment?"" Cassandra said, curious about this situation. She knew so little about the tensions between native families and outsider families, and she wasn't sure where she was supposed to stand on the issue. Her thoughts were broken by more of Valhalla's explanation. Her mama had helped bring him back? ""My Mama helped bring you back?? I didn't know she could do something like that.."" The young girl said, her tone hushed as she realized the force of Maua's powers - and those of her mother.

Circling back to his relationship to her Aunt's cubs.. ""Were you Aunt Ava's husband? Does that make you my uncle too?"" She asked, tilting her head as she spoke. She wasn't sure sure how some relationships worked, all she knew was that she had Mama (Talisa), Mummy (Morrigan) and Farrow. They were all involved in some way, so she wasn't aware that there were situations that were different from that. Even Aunt Nymeria had Uncle Gareth and Uncle Soren with her. She'd never come across families that weren't together in some form or fashion before.

actions. "speech." thoughts.

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