"I like it here. May I stay, Emperor7?"
"I like it here. May I stay, Emperor7?"
"I like it here. May I stay, Great Erl?"
"I like it here. May I stay, Great Erl?"
The large tree looks down
You are welcome to stay young manchild, as long as you remember to treat this place as a sacred ground. Our souls inhabit there very rocks and grass of this forest. You may hunt for sustinence, but never for sport. You may collect dead branches for fires, but never cut down a living tree. If you have any questions as to what is proper, just ask .
*Rio bows*
"Thank you Great Erl. I will treat this place with the proper respect and defend it as best I can."
*Rio walks to a small hill and lays down to watch the clouds go by.*
*A large wolf lopes into the forest. He walks near Erl and dips his head in respect. Though his mouth doesn't move The Great Erl hears him clearly.*
"Hello, ancient one. I smell scents. Scents of people I know. May I ask what has happened here recently?"
*A large wolf lopes into the forest. He walks near Erl and dips his head in respect. Though his mouth doesn't move The Great Erl hears him clearly.*
"Hello, ancient one. I smell scents. Scents of people I know. May I ask what has happened here recently?"
The ancient trees sigh
There have been many come through here on missions against the Black. They came to decide on a course of action, then they departed to the Oasis to take further counsel.
"Be assured, noble ent, I'll not disturb this hallow ground. I'm a druid of minor skill, and realize Nature's Beauty must be left alone."
*With that, the large wolf curls up in the shade of a nearby tree, thanking it as he does so.*
*As he rises from his spot on the hill, Rio's eyes suddenly flash. A whorl appears in front of him, showing a battle between Alaina and The Mask. Calling Aurora out of her ball, he readies her and himself for battle.*
"Great Erl, if I do not return, tell my father I love him."
*He hops on Aurora and they fly away.*
The trees sigh as Rio departs
I fear that this storm will fell many saplings ere it is spent ...
*Sending*
Great Erl,
The Hangman's Tree attacked the new grove. He seeks Spring Sapling. I disembodied him. We must beware of where he is next summoned. IT WILL NOT BE WITHIN SPRING SAPLING.
I will keep the purifying mists around this circle for as long as I can.
The large tree sighs and sends slow thoughts to Emperor7
Beware your passion doesn't lead you astray Tree Emperor. Remeber that Spring Sapling will endure in some form no matter what happens. It is the Way of the Green.
*Sending*
Spring Sapling calls, but I can't be sure it is her voice. I will investigate but I expect a trap. The Nut is still safe...
A blazing meteor lights up the night sky over the Great Forest. A smoking form plummets to earth, striking close to the Grove of Ancients. Inside a deep crater, the torn and ragged body of Alaina lies, bleeding from several dozen wounds.
*Kiba runs to the crash site, and shifts to his human form when he sees Alaina hurt. Despite the heat, he casts all the cure spells he had prepared on her. The he hurries to find water to cool her off. He turns his attention to his burns when he's done, using a small medkit and the local plant life.*
LJ flies in, rushing to the crater where Alaina lies. She runs to her friend's side, heedless of the heat surrounding her. She shoots several arrows of positive energy into her, trying to heal her remaining wounds, before she kneels down beside her, and grabs her hand. LJ is oblivious to the fact that her burns heal almost as soon as they appear.
"Please don't die," she whispers to Alaina, tears forming in her eyes.
Alaina opens her eyes. They are emerald green again
Lyn, I tried to avenge them. I can't carry the strain. The goddeess ...so tired ..
She begins to fade against the soft pine-needled floor
Alaina opens her eyes. They are emerald green again
Lyn, I tried to avenge them. I can't carry the strain. The goddeess ...so tired ..
She begins to fade against the soft pine-needled floor
No! Don't go! LJ once again turns translucent, the stars within her shining brightly. She send a wave of healing energy into Alaina.
Lynora-Jill feels an ancient powerful presence in her mind
The wasp goddess has forsaken her, Champion of the Wind. She must now dwell in the Green and heal for a time
Lynora-Jill feels an ancient powerful presence in her mind
The wasp goddess has forsaken her, Champion of the Wind. She must now dwell in the Green and heal for a time
I understand. I know how painful and difficult it is to lose that connection. Would it be all right for me to stay and watch over her for a time?
LJ looks even more exhausted than she did back at the Oasis. It is somewhat doubtful she could safely fly back in her current state.
...
I understand. I know how painful and difficult it is to lose that connection. Would it be all right for me to stay and watch over her for a time?
LJ looks even more exhausted than she did back at the Oasis. It is somewhat doubtful she could safely fly back in her current state.
The voice chuckles ..
Indeed, if you wish you can sink into the Green and talk with her.
...
I understand. I know how painful and difficult it is to lose that connection. Would it be all right for me to stay and watch over her for a time?
LJ looks even more exhausted than she did back at the Oasis. It is somewhat doubtful she could safely fly back in her current state.The voice chuckles ..
Indeed, if you wish you can sink into the Green and talk with her.
Thank you, she whisper, sinking down beside Alaina. She tells herself that she is only going to close her eyes for a moment, but exhaustion soon overwhelms her.
As Lynora-Jill lies down to rest, she feels as if her soul is sinking into the wram brown earth. She opens her eyes to a wonderous sight.
The forest is alive with shifting colors. Everything, from trees, to squirrels to moss is alight with glowing Life. Looking down, she sees her own life aura revealed, replendent in blues and golds. Standing next to her is a glowing outline shaped like Alaina. Her friend looks like a glowing Celtic knotwork tracery of red and green colors that flicker and shift in a neverending dance.
Hi Lyn. The glowing form says quietly.
Alaina! Oh, it's so good to see you again. I've been so worried. I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that pain. If there's anything at all I can do to help you, all you ever have to do is ask.
Alaina sighs
It hurt so bad Lynora. I couldn't breathe it hurt so bad. I just wanted to stop feeling them die.
The glowing figure begins to cry, sparkling motes of light falling from her face.
Alaina sighs
It hurt so bad Lynora. I couldn't breathe it hurt so bad. I just wanted to stop feeling them die.
The glowing figure begins to cry, sparkling motes of light falling from her face.
LJ moves forward and hugs Alaina. I know. Gods, I wish I didn't, but I know. You're not alone.
JH is unable to add to the repertoire of healing. He senses that Alaina will be fine, somehow.
JH feels compelled by the large roots of the One True Tree. He walks towards it and places his hands upon it. His mind is overwhelmed at first. He sees scenes of worlds being born and eventually dying. Some explode into points of bright light, others are swallowed in darkness. Sometimes he is standing on these worlds, and othertimes he is watching from space. Apart and separate he walks among a multitude of life.
JH falls into a deep sleep at the base of the world-maker.
LJ moves forward and hugs Alaina. I know. Gods, I wish I didn't, but I know. You're not alone.
The glowing form of her friend hugs her tightly, her pattern of whorls and lines throbbing as she sobs
Thank you
...so small and yet so large...
I am alone, but not...
Who am I?...I am no one, ...and everyone.
No thing, ...and everything...
Whose thoughts are these?...
LJ moves forward and hugs Alaina. I know. Gods, I wish I didn't, but I know. You're not alone.The glowing form of her friend hugs her tightly, her pattern of whorls and lines throbbing as she sobs
Thank you
LJ will hold her and let her cry for as long as she needs. As she does, she unconsciously hums the lullaby the winds sang to her when she was in pain.
Seeing that she has done all she can for her friend, LJ gets up. She sees JH sleeping under the enormous tree. She smiles and walks over to him. She lightly kisses his forehead. Then she finds a spot not to far from him to sit and wait. She calls on the wind to go out and scout, especially on the carnival, but also to look for any signs of the other enemies, and to keep an eye on her friends at the Oasis.
*Kiba watches all this while leaning on a small boulder. He will continue to watch over Alain when the others are gone.*
JH awakens, his mind full of memories past, present, and future. He has touched infinity.
He finds LJ sleeping beside him and looks upon her with new eyes, and old eyes.
He does not need to move, in this place of primordial power, to sense Alaina's rebirth. He also senses other lives, and turns to the wolf nodding greetings and thanks.
LJ wasn't sure when she had drifted off again. She hadn't been the least bit tired. But she was quite sure she was asleep when she found herself in the midst of an infinity of stars. Even here there was wind, though it was a different sort of wind than she was used to. And as she traveled between the stars, she realized that she did not ride the wind, she was the wind.
Then she was somewhere else, a house in the middle of a forest. A young elven woman with blue skin and white hair that seemed to blow of its own accord was watching a blue skinned little boy trying to chase butterflies in the yard outside. He could barely toddle, but still he drifted this way and that like a small breeze unsure of the proper direction.
She was still at the same house, but the scene was quite different. The woman was not here. There was sadness over that loss. The boy was older, not quite grown up, but nearing it. He carried anger like a storm cloud carries rain. The air around him smelled like lightning.
The boy was all grown up now, and she recognized him as the man she spoke to in her dream. As her father. He was laughing, but for all his charm there was still a dangerous recklessness clinging to him, like a storm waiting for a place to happen.
Then she was standing in the Place of the Winds. Before her stood a very large air elemental. "I am sorry I do not have more memories to share with you, Granddaughter," he said sadly. "I did not pay as close of attention to him as I should. The pain of losing my daughter was great. I forgot that it would be even greater for her son. I regret not being there, helping him more. I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me for that neglect."
She opened her mouth to tell him that of course she could forgive him, only to find herself once more in the infinity of space. And then she woke up. She opened her eyes to find herself still at the grove.
JH walks to the spring to get a drink. The tattoo on his back is more vibrant. So much that it looks like to be alive. The branches of the tree move slightly due to some unseen wind.
He moves over to check on Aliana's chrysalis.
Refreshed by the long rest, and looking more serene than usual he asks Now what do we do?
I think that all we can do is wait. Transformations take time. And she was so badly hurt by what happened. Calistria abandoned her at the end.
I think that all we can do is wait. Transformations take time. And she was so badly hurt by what happened. Calistria abandoned her at the end.
She seems safe now.
Spring Sapling has been reborn, but there some concerns amongst the guardians. E7 will bring her here as soon as she's ready to travel.
I hope that Spring Sapling will be all right.
She looks off into the distance, not sure how to say what she's thinking.
I had a dream while I was here. After I spoke with Alaina in the Green. I wasn't tired, but somehow I ended up falling asleep anyways.
I was flying among the stars. It seemed natural, as if I had always known how to do that. As if I were the wind itself.
I'm not sure what any of that means, but I think that somehow I've changed and I just don't know yet into what.
I hope that Spring Sapling will be all right.
She looks off into the distance, not sure how to say what she's thinking.
I had a dream while I was here. After I spoke with Alaina in the Green. I wasn't tired, but somehow I ended up falling asleep anyways.
I was flying among the stars. It seemed natural, as if I had always known how to do that. As if I were the wind itself.
I'm not sure what any of that means, but I think that somehow I've changed and I just don't know yet into what.
This place has that effect on you. I've had weird dreams too, and feel changed as well.
Must be the overwhelming feeling of Life and timelessness.
E7 and Spring Sapling arrive at the Grove. The Emperor is still in elven form and he helps the frail young girl walk over to the Spring in the Circle.
As he walks past the heroes Ahh, Sky Wanderer and Earth Wanderer. It is good that you are here.
he turns Elders, I have brought Spring Sapling. She has been reborn to the World of the Green. She has need of the Green's strength. Do we have your blessing?
This place has that effect on you. I've had weird dreams too, and feel changed as well.
Must be the overwhelming feeling of Life and timelessness.
Yes, that must be it, she says, smiling at him and taking his hand. There are still galaxies of stars swirling in her eyes. It seems to have become a somewhat permanent effect.
The thin form of Spring Sapling stands a bit straighter in the Grove
Yes, that must be it, she says, smiling at him and taking his hand. There are still galaxies of stars swirling in her eyes. It seems to have become a somewhat permanent effect.This place has that effect on you. I've had weird dreams too, and feel changed as well.
Must be the overwhelming feeling of Life and timelessness.
JH looks into LJ's eyes, and can't be helped but to be drawn into them. Moreso than before. He recalls his own visions as slept against the One Tree. He knows that each of those stars is a centerpiece of Life. He smiles.