affection

[Sitting at the Master Ravenwood with Illyria, Xenthos, Gael, Olethea, and eventually Tau.]

*You feel the warmth draining from you as excited voices whisper to you from your shroud.

The pointed tips of your ears twitch to hear an errant sound.

Illyria absently tucks a tendril of hair behind an ear.

*You have emoted: Esei lifts their head, running their fingers lightly across their shroud.

Ilistala, an enormous leopard rubs up against Illyria, purring like a cat.

*"You come to Me at times with odd questions, My little one..." A voice suddenly whispers softly, hardly louder than a breath, in your ear.

Spotting you, Gael turns and lowers his head to you and mutters, "Thank you for leaving shrimp here. It has helped me often, now".

Brennan Stormcrow looks about himself suspiciously.

*You think to yourself: ...well, if I've questions, it is best to actually put them into words.

You nod your head at Gael.

Her gaze shifting towards you, Olethea considers you in turn, thoughtful, before smiling her hidden smile at Gael. "Ah, you remembered. Auspice Esei has been a constant in the Glomdoring since I moved here. They serve the Silent Lord Nocht, and are a prominent member of our guild. We both have quite a bit to learn from them, as Augurs...."

*The voice whispers in your other ear, its tone flat and hollow, "And what made you wonder if I desired a hug?"

Thoughtfully, Proselyte Olethea, Euphony of the Dark Heart says to Gael, "I've spoken more of the Wyrden Mother, Lady Viravain, so far, but the Silent Lord created Mother Night, who is central to the beliefs of the Glomdoring and necessary for our Wiccan practices. He has a rather large following here, as a result."

Following the flow of conversation with her eyes, Illyria seems perfectly content to be on its outskirts, one arm now looped lightly around Ilistala, an enormous leopard's neck to reach the far side of the furred expanse.

You have emoted: Esei's eyes flick from Olethea, to Gael, then Illyria, before gazing somewhere into the woods beyond.

Olethea tilts her head curiously at Brennan Stormcrow.
Brennan Stormcrow completely ignores Olethea, not even registering her existence.

Ilistala, an enormous leopard closes her eyes entirely, her rumbling growing louder.

With a note of curiosity, Proselyte Olethea, Euphony of the Dark Heart asks Brennan Stormcrow, "Is... something troubling you, Brennan?"

*You think to yourself: Sometimes, I imagine, one simply desires contact with another - plain, and easy - though that is oft for mortals. Not necessarily... You, and other Elders.

Olethea emits a soft, polite noise of consternation, before her gaze drifts to Illyria. She stares at her in silence for a few seconds, tilts her head to one side, and shifts her attention back towards Gael in full. "I have no idea who that is."

*You think to yourself: I suppose I just... wondered.

*"Is it because you desire such, My little one?"

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says to Olethea, "She is Illyria, another young member of the Glomdoring."

Tau hums a happy tune.

Tau the Twilit says, "Oh, hello!"

*You have emoted: Esei blinks, then taps their cheek thoughtfully.

Tau curtseys gracefully before Illyria.

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist smiles and says, "But the youth is of little consequence, I think. She is serving the Forest well."

The sound of wings flapping heralds a screeching murder of crows flying overhead.

Olethea nods her head at Xenthos.

*You think to yourself: ...I had not thought of that. Perhaps, but there are those who I can seek out for one.

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says to Illyria, "I do not think I mentioned it, but that scabbard you put forward was quite an interesting design."

Tau the Twilit says, "I remember seeing it. I liked it."

Smiling faintly, such that her eyes crinkle in the corners, Proselyte Olethea, Euphony of the Dark Heart says, "There you are then. Sometimes, there are better people to ask, than I."

A wry smile spreads across your face.

Tau the Twilit says to Illyria, "Do you want your design back?"

Tau waves about barely illuminated indigo stationery energetically.

Illyria returns Olethea's stare levelly, fingers never slowing on Ilistala's neck, then pulls it away to offer Tau a respectful nod and look over at Xenthos. In a voice a bit rusty from lessened usage, she softly says, "Thank you, Warden. I only hope it honors Him."

Ilistala, an enormous leopard curls herself around Illyria, the tip of her tail twitching.

Gael nods once at Olethea before dipping his head politely again towards Illyria with a "Nice to meet you as well."

[talking about various things]

Proselyte Olethea, Euphony of the Dark Heart says, "Oh. Ah, no. I was born in Magnagora. And he came from the Portal, so his memories are fuzzy, but..."

*"Hmm... It is not something I contemplated, little one. My soul beats in tune with the Wyrd and the Night. With Creation, itself. I do not often feel disconnected..." the voice swirls around you, its soft tones only audible to you. "Do you feel such, even within the Glomdoring? Do you wish for a hug to deepen your connection to the Forest?"

Tau the Twilit says, "Oh. Neat. I don't think I've ever been there."

Glancing at Gael, Olethea asks him, more than she speaks for him, "The way he's spoken of being here sounds like he's... never been here before entering the forest."

*You think to yourself: ...

*You close your eyes and inhale deeply, absorbing the scent of your surroundings.

*You let loose a long breath from your lungs, exhaling slowly.

Eyebrows furrowing slightly, Nascent Gael, Attendant to the Wyrd says, "No...this place does not strike me as familiar.."

Tau the Twilit says, "Ah, man!"

Tau the Twilit says to Gael, "Hey. We can speak real soon, okay. Meeting new people has been a blast so far, but my psyche is calling me."

Tau waves and says "Goodbye!"

Illyria's attention drifts back away from the people assembled and off into the trees. After a minute, she fishes out a book and begins to study it, gently running her free hand down the enormous leopard's back.

Ilistala, an enormous leopard promptly plants her chin flatly in the middle of the pages of the open book, her eyes still closed.

Proselyte Olethea, Euphony of the Dark Heart says to Gael, "As mentioned... it doesn't matter that this is new. Glomdoring is a good place to find a new beginning, and to leave an old life behind. It's a good place to start over, and to build a new you."

Proselyte Olethea, Euphony of the Dark Heart says, "You're here now, so you're Wyrden."

*You think to yourself: ...I do not think so. ** the shadowy sea churns for a moment, as though pondering a quandary. ** But it could help. Clearly, I have not tried.

You barely catch Akuuko out of the corner of your eye as he enters from the north.

Olethea blinks.

Olethea perks up a bit, attention caught by Akuuko, the Rewoven.

Akuuko, the Rewoven peers at Olethea and then blinks, too.

Proselyte Olethea, Euphony of the Dark Heart says, "Oh, I remember you..."

Illyria pauses, looking down in consternation at the obstructed reading materials, then up at Akuuko, the Rewoven curiously.

*You think to yourself: I was just more... concerned- ** a brief, swirling feeling - love, like a child for a parent. ** for You. I suppose. I do not have a word for it.

The ghost of a smile passes fleetingly across your lips as you glance at Akuuko, the Rewoven.

Akuuko, the Rewoven says, "You oughta get that eyeball -- eyeballs -- checked out, miss."

Gael simply nods his head to Olethea and mutters, "Wydren...", his attention moving to the Master Ravenwood Tree.

Her brow furrowing briefly, Proselyte Olethea, Euphony of the Dark Heart asks Akuuko, the Rewoven, "I - sorry?"

Pausing in thought and then, loudly, proclaiming, Akuuko, the Rewoven says, "WYRDEN."

Akuuko, the Rewoven claps Gael on the shoulder and then beams brightly.

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "Ah. So now you are concerned with pronunciation?"

A wry smile spreads across Xenthos's face.

Akuuko, the Rewoven says, "Nah, Warder Guy. Just happy to be wyrd. And weird. And wyrd? Hahaha."

Akuuko, the Rewoven says, "Anyway, just passing through. Gotta find Filib."

Akuuko, the Rewoven waves goodbye.

With a start, you are suddenly made acutely aware of Akuuko's absence.

Akuuko, the Rewoven yells, "FILIB."

Olethea blinks a few times. "...The Stablehand?"

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "Akuuko likes to spend time with him, aye."

You say, "I believe he has affection for dear cousin Filib."

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "I suppose I will check the stables."

*"Your concern is noted, My little one. And We are quite aware of loyalty and reverence of all the wyrden kin. You need not worry..." the voice whispers, fading away.

Proselyte Olethea, Euphony of the Dark Heart laughingly says, "...Well, time to be nosy."

You let loose a long breath from your lungs, exhaling slowly.

*You think to yourself: ...thank You for humoring me, anyway.