Welcome to Gaia! ::

"I'm Lorelei, and this is my daughter, Vanna." She smiled. "I'd hold out my hand, but, ah..."

Vanna was squirming again, and it took all her attention to keep the girl from falling. Lorelei laughed as the girl clambered around and climbed up onto her shoulders, looking around.

Irina was glad to see that the woman didn't seem to be too shocked by Kal. Most people thought it strange that an animal could eventually become a mostly-humanoid child. "I'm new to motherhood, but it's been wonderful so far. Kalpana is a very good girl," she said with a grin. "She listens to her mother," she added, looking down at the badger who had twisted her head around to listen to her mother compliment her.

Irina petted her fur, stroking from head to tail before looking up again to see a flask being handed to her. "Thank you. It smells wonderful already." She took a sip and proceeded to put the flask close to Kalpana's mouth. The badger sniffed at it, and licked a few drops from the spout where Irina had poured it into her own mouth. She seemed to like it, pushing her head further into the flask to get more sweet nectar.

"Looks like we found something she likes," Irina giggled, looking up to see the priestess whisper something into the delivery-boy's ear. It made her curious, and she watched the boy head away, toward the front of the crowd. "So, this ceremony...How exactly do you select the woman who will be the Savior's mother? I've never been to this festival before. It's intriguing."

(I don't know if I can interact with an NPC, but I thought I would give it a try)

Now that Ash was caught from either a game of hide or seek....or cat and mouse, DeArca had finally explored the event a little further, his eyes bursting around left and right to find Illyana. "This is getting to be hopeless, Ash. My Tellbook hasn't answered my questions ever since and I have no clue how to find Illyana in this place. There is just too many women here"

Ash squeaked, clenching his little claws into DeArca's clothing so not to fall off. When he heard that Illyana was perhaps here, he squeaked...not because he was happy, but because he was curious to learn more. Now that things were looking up for DeArca, perhaps an adventure was to be made.

DeArca had but one choice to hopefully get a lead on Illyanan's whereabouts...asking the priests and priestesses of the event. With just a tap of the shoulder, he would get the attention of a nearby priest and priestess, and began to describe to them Illyana's characteristics. Brown hair, lovely eyes with a innocent sparkle, came from a lumber farm in the far north like him...and always wore brown clothing, even though she would have to wear the white clothing for the theme of the event. "Can you please help me?" He asked.

Silver looked over to see Kidra, Stefan's temporary caretaker and member of Esperita's caravan. "Kidra! How are you? Are you here for the festivals as well, or did you just happen to be here at the right... or wrong time?" Silver chuckled. She had NO idea what they were getting themselves into - and she was enjoying herself.
Aisrhan grudgingly nodded her head in greeting, only because her mother had told her to behave herself. All she remembered of this woman was that she had given her mother that deer, and though she had been fond of Stefan at first, he took up too much space. His hooves had often found her tail, and like any creature who disliked being trampled on, she decided she no longer liked him. She didn't protest when Valelldia found him a new home.
Khevashi made a noise that sounded like a caw and a giggle at the same time and raised a hand to wave at Kidra.

[Two Apologies:

One - Sorry for not being around, but...well...y'all know.
Two - Big sorry if I figured out too much in advance and this post takes away from some of your sneakiness or creative thunder, Oq. I love you.

Brought in Vesh, sending him to ASD 3nodding

oh, wait, Three Apologies - Sorry for writing so darn much!]

"Mum, look!...Look there..." Anezka bounced a bit as she grabbed her mothers skirt and pointed to the lovely Filor woman. "She looks like my friend...Like Twinket...The one who gave me my first piece!" Not a day passed that Anezka didn't think about Twinket, the Protectorate, or the eventuality of receiving real wings. The memories and possibilities bubbled within the young child's head. "We should follow after her, she may know something more..." Leshya'e glanced around and noted the other sisters from the caravan and, feeling that there would be safety in numbers, nodded to her daughter. "Yes, sure...what have we to lose?"

Wrapping her arm around Anezka's shoulder, Shy headed further into the crowds. Taking torches for herself and Ani, then passing them on, she didn't notice that her daughter had managed to get her hands on the festivals candies. As Shy turned to accept some fruit from the onlooker next to her she gasped, watching as her daughter brought the candy to her lips. "No, Ani, No...You can't have sweets...Stop!", reaching out, she grabbed for the candy. As a struggle between mother and daughter ensued, the words from Hadassah to Anezka came to Shy's head, You have the key to one of your wings. The other waits at the shore. But caution, one wing comes fairly sweetly. But she can't have sweets, not after she went all crude and naughty last time. So what does that mean?

"Give them...Come on..." As Ani yanked for the sweets, her bottle of Icarus Dust began to wiggle and slip from her belt. The glass of the bottle and the white wings flashed about as they were jostled, distracting the two females from their argument. ...It's a powder that's linked to a piece of the tri-rune. If mixed with food, it will show you the location of a piece. Dropping the candies, they both reached out to catch the bottle. As Anezka secured the bottle in its place again, she lifted her head and looked at her mother. Their eyes were both wide, neither one having to say anything to each other, both of them understanding . Picking up the candies they had dropped, Leshya'e tucked them into an empty pouch on her belt. "We'll...just save them for later...alright?" The little girl nodded and hugged her mothers' waist, continuing along with the crowd.

---

Even as a small pup and a young boy, Veshengo had always followed after women, possessing an inflated obligation to protect and look after those close to him. As he grew up, the desire to defend expanded to all gypsy women, which lead him to remain with Valelldia's caravan long after his original purpose. Listening to what was happening in Tempranillo, it didn't take Veshengo long to realize where he best belonged. He had heard many people speak of All Savior's Day before, but only ever in a fairytale way.

"Pani...shall we go? Yes?" Veshengo jokingly asked his bird, having already decided an answer, and knowing there would be no response from his fiery bird. Or perhaps there had already been a reply? Veshengo looked back at the bird and thought for a moment about Pani's last fortune. I only assumed you meant Marissa because of my feelings for her...But, what...if it really was regarding another? He bit his lip lightly as he thought some more, It must be...she doesn't know me, and even if she did, she wouldn't love me...Pani even said so. She loves another, Fire, she's too consumed by fire. Whoever he is. Content with his reasoning, he grabbed the bottle of serum and tucked it into his belt, then headed to where the processionals would be.

He watched as Marissa and a few others headed a different way, then joined the parade of priests, priestesses, virgins and commoners. Having noted the apparel of those nearby, he stripped off his jacket and vest, hanging them on a nearby tree. Now only donning his boots, pants, his red sash-like belt and a billowy white shirt, he looked more in place with the other celebrants. It was not normally within his realm of personality to want to fit in with everyone, or to stick out like he was destined to, being a man amongst so many women. But something in the air was giving this loner, this dweller of the shadows, the idea that maybe things should be different.

"Oh, a leopard. Well, that should be easy to find then." She didn't seem to be surprised- the sallow look still sat upon her face. "I'm looking for... five people. Or one. My sisters. Any of them."

Burs made as if to respond, but then she looked ahead and beamed. "Oh look, we're in view of the Core." She smiled at Lorelei. "I love being part of festivals, don't you? And afterwards, we head towards the river. If you were going to find your friend, now, before the Expression, may be a good time. Or afterwards. Most people celebrate on the river."