This beautiful land revealed more and more secrets to her every day.

After all that had happened to her recently - Gwyn, Myles, that strange pregnant woman pacing the shores - when the fog drifted apart and revealed more of this place she couldn’t help but follow. Tiny wings of fireflies beat the air, vibrating the atmosphere as they danced above the untouched shallow pools here. Truly, it was beautiful. It simultaneously felt as old as time, yet untouched, like a secret kept for hundreds of thousands of years.

The golden lioness gasped as a firefly danced before her eyes, warm burnt orange reflecting in her pale blues. A laugh chimed out of her throat and she chased it, batting at the little bug, never intending to catch it. Stopping to catch her breath by one of the shallow pools, she caught her reflection in the still water. Youthful face, wide eyes, still naive and small. A frown veiled her maw, and she instead turned her gaze skyward. She wondered faintly what God had made this place. What deity was responsible for creating something so pure and beautiful? And what lay beyond the thick border of the fog that remained? What lay beyond for her? Cubs? A life with Gwyn? Or something greater, maybe....

oh, but this place was beautiful! there's something absolutely idyllic, though she can't quite put a paw on it. was it the wonder of it all, passing through the waterfall to find a paradise tucked away? or was it the walls and walls of vines? hmmm. it was all beautiful, and she's glad she doesn't have to pick a favorite. but if she had to...

then she'd definitely pick the fireflies!

they are a wonder unto themselves, the way they blink in and out of existence. she's never seen them before and stands slack-jawed, enthralled, by the strange little lights. they're quiet as they zoom about, and the moment one drifts close to her face she gasps, standing stock-still until it leaves. then she's bounding after it, though she quickly loses it in all her excitement. what she doesn't lose, however, is the other girl - standing among the grotto like she, too, is one of the winged beauties, "excuse me!" she calls, a happy sing-song as she all but bounces in @Dia's direction. "do you know what these things are?" besides melly's New Favorite Things, obviously!

""

It was rare to meet someone smaller than she, but Dia was more than happy about it, feeling like she didn't have to put her guard up for once.

The younger woman bounded towards her, small caramel body bouncing with excitement as she watched the bugs fluttering in the air. The stranger called to her over the sea of dancing lights, and Dia answered back. "No idea!" she cried joyfully, trotting over, eyes lingering upon the little lights. She would try and follow an individual's path, only for her to loose the trail amongst all the others. Delightful. "They look like stars. " she breathed.

She spared a glance for the girl veside her - she didn't yet look to be an adult, bit at ;east she was here instead of..... more unsavoury places. Brightly, Dia sent her a small smile. "What should I call you?" she asked.

fortunately for melly, she is not turned away: instead, @Dia welcomes her with open arms. the tiny dragoness almost squeals with excitement, peering up at dia with wide, vibrant eyes. to her, dia is a giant: tall and beautiful, with fur like these strange little flashing lights. and when the other woman speaks an answer, melly does gasp - eyes widening even further. it's almost comical, but she's dead serious as her gaze swings back and forth between dia and the fireflies. "stars!" she says, voice pitching high with excitement, "that's what they are! i bet they're stars!" boom, case closed! oh, they were brilliant! folded ears twitch atop her head and she grins, a happy chirrup to her words as she introduces herself: "i'm melava!" there is a brief pause, hardly a second, before she's speaking again - this time dropping her voice low, as if she's letting dia in on a great secret. "but you can call me melly!" that was a nickname reserved only for her friends, but dia was already honored with it! her head tilts then, her whirlwind of movement finally freezing - if only for this moment. "what's your name?"

""

The young one's genuine awe of the fluttering, shining creatures made Dia's heart swell, the resulting joy clear on the golden woman's face. Such a sweet girl, out here all by herself. Dia could only hope her mother was nearby.

"Hello Melly," she said warmly, tone indicating she was honoured at the privilege of using the young one's nickname. "I'm Dia. But just for you, you can call me Dee." A petname given to her as a child, unused by anyone in these lands yet. Who better to give it to? "A name for a name." Sharing a small, secluded part of herself with the young one felt only right, returning the favour given.

Dia made a point of casting a glance around the glowing grotto, scanning for any signs of a parent or perhaps a sibling. Melly, despite being at least a year, still seemed quite young, and Dia worried for her safety out here, alone. "Do you have family close by, Melly? A mother or sister, perhaps?"

oh, sure, melly had given her the nickname she liked - but the little dragon was hardly expecting dia to do the same! her surprise is written clear across her features, pastel eyes all but twinkling in the grotto's soft glow. she's obviously touched by the gesture, and it's all she can do to keep frrom bouncing up and down. instead, her paws knead against the ground - like a little cat on a soft blanket. "it's so nice to meet you, dee!" she exclaims, trilling happily.

a mother, or a sister? hmmm. her parents probably hadn't come looking for them just yet - as far as she knew, it was just her and eri! "i have eri!" she explains with a smile - not realizing that dia has no idea who witcheri was. despite this missing piece of information, melly's tail wags at her ankles - peering up at her new best friend with a smile that now borders on being shy. "and now i have you! and all these pretty stars!" and, like, honestly? what more did you need?

""