Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Thank you," Caleigh smiles taking the water after Belvah and took a gulp to satiate her thirst. Once that was done, she moved to get up with help from Belvah. "You a friend," the spotted hyena beamed, giving a nod. With instructions provided verbally to them, the female gave a nod and proceeded to follow with Belvah down the stairs to the room with the mural.

She took her time since she was a bit tired as well, though they still had arrived within minutes. "We're here," she said, moving over to the crystal-clear pool. The spotted hyena blinked, raising her eyebrow at the pods. "Beautiful," she murmured, giving a nod before she moved to looked to another female that was in the room. She then raised her eyebrow and then proceeded to knee before Vanya.

Caleigh raised her eyebrow, looking around. She was nervous, for sure. Who could blame her, after what they had been through? She raked her fingers through her hair and shook it afterwards, then patted down the front bangs. There we go! she thought to herself.

Amadorine's gaze shifted from Vanya to the male next to her, and her body tensed up. She'd recognize her son anywhere, but this was certainly not how she planned on seeing him again. Not that the boy knew that she was his mother; his father had made that clear. Normally, the thought of that stupid man would make Ama's blood boil, but at the moment she was too emotionally spent to feel anything to the man that she'd had a child with.

She took note that Takis seemed to look well, and smiled a little at how tall he'd grown. The son she'd never known and never played a part in... was never allowed to play a part in.

"No...I couldn't imgaine something like that" Alistair mumbled absenetly. He watched the females be lead away and turned around to face Gulliver cor a second time. "I hope we aren't going to be tested...again. I don't think I could handle it!" he laughed, a slightly nervous ring to it. He brightened up at the other fauns suggestion.

"Oh yes, something to eat sound wonderful," with everything happening, he hadn't noticed how hungry he'd been getting. "And of course, it certainly would be beneficial to get to know each other, especially since we're supposed to be a tight knit council," he laughed, grinning. He looked around now, "any idea of where we're supposed to get it?" And where had the other concil members gone off too?

Alistair looked to the place Gulliver had pointed out before nodding. "Sounds like a good plan" he chirped, winding his way through the crowd after the other faun, throwing out 'excuse me' and 'oop! sorry!' as he went. Finally he made his way out and stood beside Gulliver, trying to help him spot someplace that looked like it would have any kind of food.

<< works for me >>

Gulliver looks out of the meeting hall into the interior of the tree and smiles. "Hey that looks promising" he says to Alistair pointing towards what appeared to be a tavern across from the meeting hall. The male starts moving looking over his shoulder to see if Alistair had heard him as he moved away from the noise.

As he grew closer to the tavern the smells coming from it made his stomach audibly growl. It reminded him just how hungry he was and how long since the last meal time it had been

Vanya didn't really feel like she'd done much yet to deserve praise, but she nodded graciously in Belvah's direction. "Thank you. Now, let's get started, shall we?" She took a deep breath, turning to focus on Amadorine first. It was a bit strange, but also a bit reassuring at the same time, that she seemed so similar to Takis. It gave her something to focus on. At the same time, she was having to push the questions out of her mind regarding their relationship and why neither had said anything to the other and why...

No, later. For now, she focused on Amadorine herself, her presence in the room, the sound of her breathing, even the feeling of exhaustion radiating from her. As she focused, Vanya began to feel more than that; there was a storm of emotions brewing beneath the Faun's surface. Though muted due to her exhaustion, the raw strength of those whirling feelings was enough for Vanya to pick up on them. Shame. Anger. Sadness. Beneath that, confusion, even pride...

So many emotions, it was difficult for Vanya to pick them apart, so after a bit, she stopped trying. Perhaps if she weren't so fatigued herself...but she was doing the best she could, given the circumstances. She focused just on the whirling storm, then driven by some force, lifted her arm and touched her fingertips against Amadorine's forehead.

Flashes. Images. A brief thought or emotion, then more image flashes. She didn't see everything that the other had experienced in her dream, but she saw glimpses, not only of that trial, but of the ones previous to her trance. She pulled back her arm with a gasp; she couldn't help it, she'd been so surprised. Her breathing had quickened, and she tried to sort through what she'd seen.

The runes...

Right, right, she was supposed to use the runes in the bag somehow. She loosened the drawstring, and focusing on the myriad of images and flashes that she'd received, reached into the bag and pulled out a rune, fingering the tiny, smooth stone and running her fingertips over the carved sigil. After a moment, she began speaking.

"In your vision, you faced a gruesome beast. But the beast was not your true foe, no, it was not as simple as that. Your true test was facing what the beast represented. You experienced something tragic in the past, a horrible event that left you fearing swift beasts in the darkness. Scarred by the experience, it still haunts you today. That is why it took this form for you, but it was not a wolf you faced. It was doubt. Insecurity. Pride. Arrogance. Many concepts, one form. Yet, all forces that lie in wait for our weakest moments to strike."

"Of course, such forces are not so easily defeated," she continued. "When beaten, they draw back, waiting for the next opportunity to strike. And our weakest moment may be when we believe ourselves to be strongest, standing on the edge of success...only to plummet from the knife's edge and fall further than ever before. My advice to you, Ama, is: Beware the lurking 'wolf' who sees all, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. If you are vigilant, you need not fear."

Vanya seemed about to move on to the next fauness, when she paused with a frown. She set the previous runestone on the cot next to her, then reached into the bag again.

"I'm sensing someone else...someone on the edge of your mind, only in the shadows of your thoughts. Male. He lives...near the water, but in darkness. I cannot see him, but, you think of him from time to time. Who is he?" she questioned aloud, puzzled, but not expecting Amadorine to answer. "He seems to be a part of your life, but obviously, you've not given your heart to him completely, else you'd not be here," she mused, all aspects of the ceremony considered. The spirits would have known if her heart belonged to another, so...what was the story here?

"Perhaps, you should consider your motives. Why do you compete so fiercely for Rais' heart? I can feel that you are conflicted, trapped between two worlds. You have the connection to our Faun community, you even have a place now on the Council as our Pathfinder. However, I can feel that you are drawn in another direction as well. Away from Laisidhiel, to a family on the isle that you consider your own. Then, there is this strange male I cannot see. You are drawn in so many different directions; the most I can offer is this advice. You are a very independent young woman, you value your freedom very much. Take this into consideration along with your motives for this competition. Our society is perhaps not the best for one wishing to lead her life as she will, come and go as she pleases. Keep this in mind."

Another frown crossed her face, and Vanya seemed to be listening to something only she could hear. Looking puzzled, she turned towards the Earthmother, silent all this time. "Something about...a protection charm?" Vanya asked hesitantly. She couldn't see the Earthmother's reaction, but she felt it as the elder fauness pressed something small and smooth into her palm. Vanya passed her fingers over the stone-like object, then knew: amber. Much like those carried by Rais and his mother, but much smaller and less powerful. But powerful none the less, from what the spirits told her.

Returning to Amadorine, she held out the precious gift. "You have proven yourself with these many trials, Amadorine. This is a piece of amber, from Laisidhiel's heart. It will offer you protection as well as aid in your duties as our Pathfinder. In your travels, if you encounter trouble, the amber will allow you to instantly camoflage yourself and blend into your surroundings. Guard it and use it well." With that, she pressed the small gift into Amadorine's hands, nodded her head solemnly, and moved to the silvery fauness next to her.

"Belvah," she said with a smile and a nod, remembering her earlier kind comment. Without further ado, she reached out and touched her fingers to Belvah's forehead as she had Ama's, focusing all her remaining senses as well as her new ones on the young fauness. She was prepared for the visions and flashes this time, concentrating on them as she pulled a runestone from the bag.

"You also faced your fear, but in a much different form. You fear, yourself...but not the 'you' that you are today. The 'you' that you could have been under different circumstances. You made a conscious decision not to become that person, however, that's what made all the difference. You chose to steer away from the decisions that others tried to make for you. You took control of your life and made it your own. The past is exactly that; the past. Focus on the future and on not making the same mistakes that others have made."

She smiled, reaching out to place a hand on Belvah's shoulder. "Hold fast in your decisions, do not doubt yourself, and keep your friends close, for they will keep you strong in moments of weakness. You have already begun to learn this lesson for yourself, so just remember: beauty may be found within or without, however, true beauty within will always shine through."

A weariness had crept over Vanya's features, but she shook it off as best she could, knowing she was almost done, but couldn't rest until she had finished her duty. She turned and nodded to the final fauness. "Caleigh," she smiled, repeating the act of concentration and reaching to brush her fingers against the other's forehead. "You faced...a similar fear to that of Belvah's...but also different. While you fear some part of yourself, you fear that that will force you to live alone, without friends. Yes, you have a wild energy about you, something feral and free, refusing to be restrained. That is not a bad thing. Such energy comes with freedom, strength, and independence."

"Do not worry though," Vanya smiled, placing her hand on the spotted hyena-faun's cheek. "You possess an innocent, child-like nature. It's a charming quality and will help you in making new friends. And I said child-like, not childish, so do not fear; I meant no offense. You take pleasure in the simple things in life, the everyday joys, such as plucking a ripe, tasty apple from a tree. Those are the best things in life to pursue. Don't let others mistake this for simplicity. You are a complex, quick young lady with a strong fire burning deep inside. Take heart, make confident decisions, and enjoy life as it is meant to be enjoyed."

"My advice to you, Caleigh, is to pick your friends as you would pick apples. Make your choices carefully, and even if you select only a few, select the best, and the results will be the sweetest."

She was starting to sway a bit, but she felt prompted to say something else to the last two girls. "Belvah, Caleigh?" she questioned, making sure that both knew they were being addressed. "I just wanted to add something for the both of you. In light of your trials, I feel inclined to add this reminder. We each have a darker side inside us," she cautioned solemnly, unclear whether or not she was making a personal connection to this statement. "It is not a sin to acknowledge this darker side, for in acknowledgement, it can be conquered. The valor is in never letting this darker half grow larger than the light, nor to gain control, even in a moment of weakness. It takes constant vigil, but it is possible. Remember that."

It seemed that whatever remaining energy reserves Vanya had were spent. She swayed again, like one about to collapse, but caught herself with one hand on the cot. "I'm sorry...I think...I'm done," she mumbled hesitantly, not sounding quite as sure of herself now as she had while delivering the other ladies' fortunes. She let her head fall forward, her free hand reaching up to rub her temples. Her head hurt, and her entire body felt like it was shaking, ready to collapse and give out on her. She could sleep for a week...