:Perhaps you should try something really simple, like a ball or a five-point star,: he thinks, but has a sudden realization, :Maybe if what your trying to make has more of a purpose, you could make it easier. Try making a few things for our nestlings!:
:That might work.: After a few false starts she manages to get several balls and a soft blanket. :I did it! It worked!: She smiled happily.
:That might work.: After a few false starts she manages to get several balls and a soft blanket. :I did it! It worked!: She smiled happily.
:Perhaps you should try something really simple, like a ball or a five-point star,: he thinks, but has a sudden realization, :Maybe if what your trying to make has more of a purpose, you could make it easier. Try making a few things for our nestlings!:
Sky inspects the items made from the aether, overjoyed that he could help Blodwen. If only he'd had some help when he rose to godhood...
:These are well made. The blanket reminds me of the air after a great storm, of the blanket I had when I was young..: The memory of his first night with the tribe, wrapped in the first warm and soft blanket he'd ever had appear around them. :The little ones will love them Blodwen. And you can only get better. Soon all the parents in the Eyrie will want you to make their little ones toys! And i'll be there to help,: he smiles again as they share the feeling of accomplishment.
:Now to work on your telekinesis. We can uses the balls for this. Try imagining them moving above the hatchlings in circles, causing them to make those cute little gurgling laughs of theirs.:
Sky inspects the items made from the aether, overjoyed that he could help Blodwen. If only he'd had some help when he rose to godhood...
:These are well made. The blanket reminds me of the air after a great storm, of the blanket I had when I was young..: The memory of his first night with the tribe, wrapped in the first warm and soft blanket he'd ever had appear around them. :The little ones will love them Blodwen. And you can only get better. Soon all the parents in the Eyrie will want you to make their little ones toys! And i'll be there to help,: he smiles again as they share the feeling of accomplishment.
:Now to work on your telekinesis. We can uses the balls for this. Try imagining them moving above the hatchlings in circles, causing them to make those cute little gurgling laughs of theirs.:
Blodwen tries to move the balls, but gets it a little too well on the first try as the ball comes hurtling at them at what would be lethal speed. She instinctively puts up her hands to ward it off and the ball bounces off a forcefield. She looks up, surprised.
:I didn't know I could do that.:
Back at the Eyrie, a women steps through the portal and looks around, surveying the damage some recent event has cause. Without a word, she sets to work making repairs using a spell
Blodwen tries to move the balls, but gets it a little too well on the first try as the ball comes hurtling at them at what would be lethal speed. She instinctively puts up her hands to ward it off and the ball bounces off a forcefield. She looks up, surprised.
:I didn't know I could do that.:
:The more you know, the more powers you seem to revive. I think your finally letting yourself accept this part of you. At this rate, we'll be back at the Eyrie to help reconstruct it!:
:The more you know, the more powers you seem to revive. I think your finally letting yourself accept this part of you. At this rate, we'll be back at the Eyrie to help reconstruct it!:
After several more false starts, Blodwen finally gains some control over her telekinesis, also quite by accident figuring out how to heat and cool things.
:Okay,: she says, determined. :Just one more thing and then we can go home. I just have to figure out how to not hear everyone's every thought and feeling all the time. But how do I do that without all those walls in my mind?:
After several more false starts, Blodwen finally gains some control over her telekinesis, also quite by accident figuring out how to heat and cool things.
:Okay,: she says, determined. :Just one more thing and then we can go home. I just have to figure out how to not hear everyone's every thought and feeling all the time. But how do I do that without all those walls in my mind?:
:You can feel what I feel and hear what I think through a link, right? As much as I hate to suggest it, can you remove the link, temporarily? If your making links with others, being able to stop them from forming and removing those that aren't needed will help dramatically.:
:You can feel what I feel and hear what I think through a link, right? As much as I hate to suggest it, can you remove the link, temporarily? If your making links with others, being able to stop them from forming and removing those that aren't needed will help dramatically.:
:But you're a part of me. How could I possibly shut that off?: she stops suddenly as a new idea occurs to her. :The doors. When the landscape kept changing, there were certain places that kept recurring over and over. And one of them was a corridor full of doors. What is I tried that? Each connection is like a door that can be opened or closed. Except I don't think I can practice that on you. It's not the same kind of connection at all.: She looked sad as she realized that she had no way to test her new idea.
Blodwen tries to move the balls, but gets it a little too well on the first try as the ball comes hurtling at them at what would be lethal speed. She instinctively puts up her hands to ward it off and the ball bounces off a forcefield. She looks up, surprised.
:I didn't know I could do that.::The more you know, the more powers you seem to revive. I think your finally letting yourself accept this part of you. At this rate, we'll be back at the Eyrie to help reconstruct it!:
:But you're a part of me. How could I possibly shut that off?: she stops suddenly as a new idea occurs to her. :The doors. When the landscape kept changing, there were certain places that kept recurring over and over. And one of them was a corridor full of doors. What is I tried that? Each connection is like a door that can be opened or closed. Except I don't think I can practice that on you. It's not the same kind of connection at all.: She looked sad as she realized that she had no way to test her new idea.
:What if, even for a moment, I wasn't?: Blodwen can feel just how much he hates even suggesting it, how thinking about being without their connection even briefly truly makes his heart ache.
:But you're a part of me. How could I possibly shut that off?: she stops suddenly as a new idea occurs to her. :The doors. When the landscape kept changing, there were certain places that kept recurring over and over. And one of them was a corridor full of doors. What is I tried that? Each connection is like a door that can be opened or closed. Except I don't think I can practice that on you. It's not the same kind of connection at all.: She looked sad as she realized that she had no way to test her new idea.:What if, even for a moment, I wasn't?: Blodwen can feel just how much he hates even suggesting it, how thinking about being without their connection even briefly truly makes his heart ache.
She hugs him tightly. :That cannot be. It would destroy us both to try. We need to find someone else for me to try to shut out of my mind. We may need to take this back to the waking world now.:
She hugs him tightly. :That cannot be. It would destroy us both to try. We need to find someone else for me to try to shut out of my mind. We may need to take this back to the waking world now.:
:Then let us wake, eranoyeh.: Slowly, the path he took to find becomes wreathed in faint light with lightning lining the borders.
Blodwen follows the path into darkness. She opens her eyes. She feels disoriented and has to take a little while to figure out where she is and whether it is day or night. Her body feels weak, the aftereffects of the psychic storm she unleashed not fully healed yet.
Sky sits up, dispelling the magic he used to cloak them. He takes Blodwen's hand to tell her he is there, and waits for her to regain her bearings.
Blodwen sits up slowly. She holds out the hand that Sky isn't holding and experimentally tries to shift its shape. She lets out a sigh of relief when it changes from a hand to a wing and back to a hand.
:I seem to retain the control here that I gained in the dreamlands, so that's good. But I don't think I can fly, eranoyeh. I am so tired still.:
Blodwen sits up slowly. She holds out the hand that Sky isn't holding and experimentally tries to shift its shape. She lets out a sigh of relief when it changes from a hand to a wing and back to a hand.
:I seem to retain the control here that I gained in the dreamlands, so that's good. But I don't think I can fly, eranoyeh. I am so tired still.:
:Where is it you want to go? A place with many people could be a problem, but I will use my shamanic magic to get us there.:
:Where is it you want to go? A place with many people could be a problem, but I will use my shamanic magic to get us there.:
:A place with only one or two people would be best. I'm not really sure where that would be. I haven't done much exploring here. I've only really flown around the Eyrie and through some of the mountains, over the Place of the Winds a few times. That's it. You'll have to choose the best spot.:
:I think I know a place that might work.:
Sky casts an extended wind walk spell and picks up Blodwen. He takes off slowly, but gains speed as he flies to one of the roads leading to the Bazaar.
Flying gently into the Eyrie, Sky carries Blodwen down into their nest, throwing a smile toward the babies and the eaglets curled up around Freefall. He lays her down carefully and looks over the edge of nest, having seen the gouges in the side of the mountain, and tries to determin the remaining amount of damage. He sees Djuhah, Azuri'ith, and a women he doesn't know working on fixing the Eyrie, so he lays next to Blodwen and takes her hand in his again.
:Looks like we won't be needed for a long time.:
Flying gently into the Eyrie, Sky carries Blodwen down into their nest, throwing a smile toward the babies and the eaglets curled up around Freefall. He lays her down carefully and looks over the edge of nest, having seen the gouges in the side of the mountain, and tries to determin the remaining amount of damage. He sees Djuhah, Azuri'ith, and a women he doesn't know working on fixing the Eyrie, so he lays next to Blodwen and takes her hand in his again.
:Looks like we won't be needed for a long time.:
Blodwen sighs contentedly. :It's good to be home, eranoyeh.: And promptly falls asleep, her mind and body exhausted.
Once all the structures are stable and the wounded have all been treated, Djuhah will approach the mysterious woman. He is looking rather tired and disheveled, an unusual state for the usually fastidious djinn.
"Greetings. I am Djuhah, the high priest of this temple. I give our sincere gratitude for your assistance in this latest crisis."
Once all the structures are stable and the wounded have all been treated, Djuhah will approach the mysterious woman. He is looking rather tired and disheveled, an unusual state for the usually fastidious djinn.
"Greetings. I am Djuhah, the high priest of this temple. I give our sincere gratitude for your assistance in this latest crisis."
"Greetings djinn, my name is Ellara Duskwa-, just Ellara. I was told by a friend that the Eyrie could use a little help. It would seem he was right, though he may not have known this had happened. Do you know what happened? There are gouges on the side of the mountain, something big made those."
"Greetings djinn, my name is Ellara Duskwa-, just Ellara. I was told by a friend that the Eyrie could use a little help. It would seem he was right, though he may not have known this had happened. Do you know what happened? There are gouges on the side of the mountain, something big made those."
"As you like, just Ellara," he said with a weak smile. "I am not sure what the thing was that did that. It was large. It blotted out all the light for a moment. I do not like this at all. I will feel much better once the goddess returns."
"As you like, just Ellara," he said with a weak smile. "I am not sure what the thing was that did that. It was large. It blotted out all the light for a moment. I do not like this at all. I will feel much better once the goddess returns."
"Returns? But I sen-, oh, I see. That will be a good day won't it? I'm sure that day will come soon. Tell me of this 'goddess' you are the high priest of. She sounds like someone I could like."
"As you like, just Ellara," he said with a weak smile. "I am not sure what the thing was that did that. It was large. It blotted out all the light for a moment. I do not like this at all. I will feel much better once the goddess returns.""Returns? But I sen-, oh, I see. That will be a good day won't it? I'm sure that day will come soon. Tell me of this 'goddess' you are the high priest of. She sounds like someone I could like."
"Her name is Lynora-Jill, the Star Song. She is a goddess of air, music, and healing. But not perhaps the most conventional goddess. Her life-force is tied to Yggdrasil, which I think changes certain things. She is fairly recently ascended. But her body was destroyed in a recent battle with the Black, and her daughter has been working to restore her so that Lynora-Jill may return to us here."
"Her name is Lynora-Jill, the Star Song. She is a goddess of air, music, and healing. But not perhaps the most conventional goddess. Her life-force is tied to Yggdrasil, which I think changes certain things. She is fairly recently ascended. But her body was destroyed in a recent battle with the Black, and her daughter has been working to restore her so that Lynora-Jill may return to us here."
"A goddess of the air who has ties to the World Tree? Interesting. So this mountain is her temple? Then everyone here must be her allies. You may count me amoung her allies Djuhah, but Nethys takes point for me when it comes to worship. This is a beautiful place, and you can be sure I'll protect it and all who reside here with all the magic I can cast."
"A goddess of the air who has ties to the World Tree? Interesting. So this mountain is her temple? Then everyone here must be her allies. You may count me amoung her allies Djuhah, but Nethys takes point for me when it comes to worship. This is a beautiful place, and you can be sure I'll protect it and all who reside here with all the magic I can cast."
"Then we are honored to have your friendship, milady. And you are welcome here regardless of whether you worship the Star Song or another. I must admit I am not familiar with Nethys, and I hope you will not mind enlightening me. And I thank you again for your help. I have been doing my best, but the task of caring for the Eyrie is sometimes a bit much even for a djinn," he added with a charming smile.
"I have been doing my best, but the task of caring for the Eyrie is sometimes a bit much even for a djinn," he added with a charming smile.
"Then perhaps it is time for a brief respite. I can discuss Nethys to you in length while we rest." Pulling a piece of cloth from her robe, she places it on the ground and stands back as it becomes a table and two chairs with a selection of small baked goods seemingly still fresh from the oven.
"Then perhaps it is time for a brief respite. I can discuss Nethys to you in length while we rest." Pulling a piece of cloth from her robe, she places it on the ground and stands back as it becomes a table and two chairs with a selection of small baked goods seemingly still fresh from the oven.
Djuhah's smile broadens. "Now that's a sign of a woman who comes prepared for anything." He holds out one of the chairs for her and politely makes sure that she is seated before sitting down himself. He also politely waits for her to make a selection before placing any food on his own plate.
Djuhah's smile broadens. "Now that's a sign of a woman who comes prepared for anything." He holds out one of the chairs for her and politely makes sure that she is seated before sitting down himself. He also politely waits for her to make a selection before placing any food on his own plate.
"The sign of a woman who learned to be prepared, actually. Now where to begin? Ah yes, Nethys the god of magic, has two sides. One that is destructive and the other healing what he destroyed. This two sides makes his magic very potent, and he is a powerful god. I actually stylized my magical studies based on this lore." Ellara continues on in this fashion until all her knowledge of Nethys is spent.
The galaxy shrinks closer and closer together, coalescing into a ball of light. The light gradually takes on the shape of a winged woman, slowly becoming the familiar form of Lynora-Jill.
Sky wakes up gasping, eyes flying open to reveal a galaxy of stars. Unlike in his fight with the wyvern-creatures, the galaxy is the only thing in his eyes.
Quietly so as not to wake her, Sky thinks to Blodwen,
:Eranoyeh! LJ is back. She's back!:
He stands quickly and lets out a laugh that echoes throughout the Eyrie. Jumping from the nest, he uses his renewed connection to the Wind to float down gently. He runs to Djuhah.
:"Can you feel her Djuhah? Lynora-Jill has returned!":
Gently breezes carrying joy and happiness flow through the Eyrie, causing those awake to fly around the Eyrie and those asleep to fall into a sleep more peaceful than they have experienced in a long time.
Djuhah laughs exuberantly. "Yes, I can feel it too." The stars on his amulet have begun to glow and swirl once more. "She's back and she'll be arriving here soon."
His energy, not to mention his spells, renewed, Djuhah sets to work preparing the Eyrie for a celebration.
Blodwen smiles in her sleep, still too exhausted from her ordeal to wake, but she can feel happiness coming from her link with Sky. She sighs and drifts off again, reassured that everything is going to be alright.
meanwhile, in a small cave in one of the rocks, a raven flashes in and out, every few seconds.
His energy, not to mention his spells, renewed, Djuhah sets to work preparing the Eyrie for a celebration.
After realizing what Djuhah is doing,
"Oh! A celebration! Why didn't I think of that? I know just a thing to brighten the Eyrie up for the party."Keeping his mind closed off so this can be a surprise from Blodwen, Sky lifts slowly into the air. Lightning streams from his hands and lines the walls of the Eyrie. Staying where it is, the Lightning begins to slowly change colors all along it's length. Magically storing the lightning in the cave walls, Sky flies back to his nest and begins to make the party clothes for the young ones from the hide he and Blodwen had collected on their last hunt together. He even pulls dyes from his pack to make the match the babies's eye color(plus some small magic to make it softer and stain resistant).
Djuhah puts the finishing touches on a couple of projects that he's been working on in his spare time between crises for some time now. The Eyrie is now all set to welcome back the Star Song.
LJ, JH, and Arielle arrive in the Eyrie and are greeted by a smiling Djuhah.
He bows deeply. "It is good to have you back, Star Song. I have prepared a small celebration in honor of your return."
Djuhah proudly shows off his handiwork, beginning with a bar and dance club that he's put in called 'The Hole in the Wall' as well as a juice bar and playground for the kids called 'The Roost'.
"Since the Eyrie was built during a time of war there wasn't time to add such amenities then. But I thought it was something which would make life more pleasant living here long term, as so many of those who came here have decided to do. Also, I must admit, I enjoy having an opportunity to indulge my favorite hobby by cooking for the guests. We have several air elementals who have signed on as wait staff as well."
He also shows Arielle her new room, perfectly set up for a little princess. She tests out the four poster bed by bouncing on it energetically.
LJ, JH, and Arielle arrive in the Eyrie and are greeted by a smiling Djuhah.
Sky looks from his nest, still making the finishing touches to the younglings new clothes.
:Hey LJ, good to have you back!:
LJ, JH, and Arielle arrive in the Eyrie and are greeted by a smiling Djuhah.Sky looks from his nest, still making the finishing touches to the younglings new clothes.
:Hey LJ, good to have you back!:
"It's good to be back. I see you've learned something new while I was gone," she says with a smile, referring to the fact that he greeted her telepathically. "Oh, what sweet babies," she says, looking at the little ones. "I missed that with Arielle. I know what her father will say," she adds with a mischievous grin. "He'll say that he's glad to have missed out on the dirty diapers."
"He'll say that he's glad to have missed out on the dirty diapers."
"Depends on if she takes after my side of the family. Your side might have been safer for all involved. ...But of course, you don't put alcohol in baby bottles to wash down the white castles do you? Ah, forget it..." ;)
"It's good to be back. I see you've learned something new while I was gone," she says with a smile, referring to the fact that he greeted her telepathically. "Oh, what sweet babies," she says, looking at the little ones. "I missed that with Arielle. I know what her father will say," she adds with a mischievous grin. "He'll say that he's glad to have missed out on the dirty diapers."
:Feel free to help whenever you want!: he 'says' jokingly.
"He'll say that he's glad to have missed out on the dirty diapers.""Depends on if she takes after my side of the family. Your side might have been safer for all involved. ...But of course, you don't put alcohol in baby bottles to wash down the white castles do you? Ah, forget it..." ;)
"Why would you eat a white castle?" Arielle asks, confused.
:Feel free to help whenever you want!: he 'says' jokingly.
LJ laughs. "I'm sure I can manage some babysitting once in a while. "
She reaches down and gently brushes Blodwen's hair away from her face, sending a wave of positive energy through that touch to speed the girl's healing.
"Why would you eat a white castle?" Arielle asks, confused."He'll say that he's glad to have missed out on the dirty diapers.""Depends on if she takes after my side of the family. Your side might have been safer for all involved. ...But of course, you don't put alcohol in baby bottles to wash down the white castles do you? Ah, forget it..." ;)
Sitting out of the way, Ellara tries to keep her laughter silent.
"Why would you eat a white castle?" Arielle asks, confused."He'll say that he's glad to have missed out on the dirty diapers.""Depends on if she takes after my side of the family. Your side might have been safer for all involved. ...But of course, you don't put alcohol in baby bottles to wash down the white castles do you? Ah, forget it..." ;)
"Well, Jacks can get real hungry sometimes. The problem is that you can't eat just one white castle."
"Well, Jacks can get real hungry sometimes. The problem is that you can't eat just one white castle."
"Why would you eat a white castle?" Arielle asks, confused.
"But aren't castles really big? And how do you find so many white ones? And how do you chew them? Aren't they really hard?"