Welcome to Gaia! ::

The approaching alkidike seemed distracted, looking almost everywhere but at them. That is, until she finally stood at a proper speaking distance and a beatific smile spread across her face.

"Ah! There you are." she said, opening her arms in a not-quite embrace of the two and the world around them. She seemed... happy. "The two of you... good! This is good."

Hijil went very quiet, wary of the intrusion. She stood as tall as she could - which was still shorter than both other women - and watched the other Alkidike defensively.

"Hmm? Oh. Yes." The woman, Eshe - it was very definitely Eshe - blinked. "It is I." She folded her outstretched arms and pressed her palms together, inclining her head in an acknoweledging greeting.

"Are you sure?" murmured Hijil. Enough 'friends' of Bhima's had turned on them as of late, or had made veiled comments that even Hijil could sense were aggressive. Others had been supportive, even defensive of them. And still others had, apparently, simply ignored the whole thing. It had all been too complicated for Hijil, who had never dealt with so much complicated interactions and subtle social tones before, but it had taught her to be wary.

"I am sure!"

Hijil wondered if the woman realized that she hadn't been the one asked. The Shifter tried to search her eyes, but the woman didn't hold eye contact for long enough... though Hijil did glimpse something there - something keen and intelligent and bright - in their facets, something that made her uneasy. Whatever it was, however, it was not hostile. She calmed.

"I am glad that you both have arrived." she said, though it was clear that she spoke more for Bhima than for Hijil, "For today is a marvellous day, and you both have been honored with it..." Her gaze drifted off to the side, towards a fallen leaf from Aisha's branches, "It is only right that you both recieve it."

Hijil didn't like that comment much herself. Of course she was here! She wouldn't have come without her (for obvious reasons) and she certainly wouldn't have let her go alone. Not now. Not after their promise. There'd been enough comments like it - 'so good' that they were together, still. As if a union between a Shifter and an Alkidike was not destined to last. She bristled, and could not be silent.

"Are you saying that they are here?" she asked. If so... she was a mother. She was claiming her children as hers - as theirs. She had to be strong, no matter what stood in their way.

"Yes, yes." Eshe seemed not to notice Bhima's tone of voice, though she gave Hijil a beaming smile, "They are here."

Hijil felt herself shiver - so it was true. Bhima's feeling had been real. Her throat caught with anxiety, but she'd had no response for Eshe anyway.

"Hmm? How long?" Eshe offered Bhima her hand, "Not long at all, Daughter of Aisha. Our mother called you forth - you both forth- so that you could recieve her blessing." She beckoned - was she excited too? "So come!"