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Lifting one hand, Elle let her fingers settle upon the side of Lonan's face. Her smile appeared, gentle and thoughtful, as she caressed him. "I will bring no darkness to your life, sweet wren, nor will I hold the light from you. That rule alone I shall live by. Keep that in your heart, and the rest shall always be clear."

The pain within him, however slight, sang discordantly within her, yet Elle made no effort to sink back into herself. Such things would be faced together...and change would come gently until all was well. This knowledge eminated from her, warm and ever present. No rushed promises, no juggled compromise. After all, what could be said? The truth was the truth, just as love was love...all would be as it was meant to be.

None of it was simple, of course, but then such things rarely were.

"Give me your uncertainty, Lonan, and make room for the joy that is yet to come. Today will be a beautiful day...as will be every day we share. Once we have had time to walk and think, we can speak of such things again."

Her hand blindly sought a blossom from the basket...a crimson wild rose, with sandy thorns. Similar to those she wore in her own hair, nestled among the copper curls. Leaning forward to move his hair away from his face, Elle tangled the dark strands about the stem...the flower resting near the back of his neck. "Even ruffled, you are beautiful and strong." Elle trailed her fingers along the satin feathers as her hand dropped back to his, tightening in comfort. The garland rested beside their clasped hands, vibrant and fresh. "Do you wish to start another? The first is beautiful."

Though it was a rare exercise, Elle pushed her deepest truth forward...stretching an ability that had never truly been realized. Appreciation, love, respect...each heartfelt and distinct, echoing her unspoken words. Melting naturally against Lonan, the young woman let her fingers weave the garland with his, and let her vague worry go.

The thrum of the blue lotus was always outpaced in such company, it's memory driven away for brief and warm times. As the pink blossoms knitted with the red and the gold, Elle drew a breath. Something within her, that she hadn't known was hurting, was quietly beginning to heal.

"I would like this one...to be mine, the next to be yours." One hand drifted to the waiting piles of red and white petals, waiting to knit the blooms that would adorn her companion's crown. "At the end of the day, cast it where you wish. Beautiful things will sprout, with just a little faith."

The last of Elle's worry faded into contentment, and she sank against him with nothing but trust. The rhythm of the weaving provided a tempo for her thoughts, gentle and constant. As the last few blooms found their place, Elle helped him tie the garland off.

"It's beautiful. Such things come so easily to you. You make art out of life, and knit the two perfectly." The warm unease she'd held for so many weeks had faded, and something like her younger self once again shook free.

Laying the first stems for Lonan's crown carefully, Elle chose each bloom with care. The light, the dark, the green and the drops of red...so enraptured was she in the process, that Elle failed to see Kudzu leaning over the side of his basket.

In fact, the baby had been observing quietly, and noticed no one was watching him. Or, at least, no one seemed to be. The ground wasn't that far away, and the sun filled him with languid energy. Surely a roll in the grass would be nice!

As Kudzu was lifted out of the hanging cradle, he made a quiet, appreciative noise...leaning forward to gum on the side of Devi's hand. The babe was at least twice as heavy as he looked, and possibly more...no chore at all for the massive centaur, surely, but a new perspective on Elle. The amethyst facests at his ankles gleamed as he settled into the grass...the gem upon his forehead catching the light as well.

For a moment, Kudzu simply rolled...a single leisurely flop that sent him over onto his back. From here, he peered up with great amusement at the skyscape of Devi towering over him...obviously inviting the centaur to play as well. The babe wasn't lonely...it was just too good not to share!

Elle tipped her head back at the kiss, brushing her cheek to Lonan's. Again, the urge to push the flowers from her lap, and simply roll with him in the sweet grass...but she was content, and the garland manifested beneath her nimble fingers. A strand of Bleeding Heart, a kind and balancing bloom, found its way in with the roses, and Elle let it stay. Her thoughts were of Lonan as she finished, and turned gently to let him explore the vivid crown.

"For you. May I?" As their hands settled over the blossoms, Elle leaned in for a kiss...waiting to place it upon his head.

The sweet moment was interrupted by a giggle from across the lawn...the happy noise of a very amused little Kudzu. Tiny hands raised to bat at the blossoms, swirling the petals in the air. Briefly, Kudzu's eyes focused beyond the flowers...meeting Devi's with a bright and genuine smile. What a kind being!

Finishing the kiss with a smile, Elle settled the garland upon Lonan's head...arranging at a flattering angle. He looked so exotic with a splash of color, her hand tightened in his as she stole a longer glance. "Ah, you look wonderful! Ready for the day. I'll work on finishing the rest of these...many more to go!" Tucking one more flower into the arch of his wing, Elle laughed quietly.

It was going to be a beautiful gathering.

Rolling to the side, glad to be in the grass, Kudzu paused as something cool tickled his nose. What was this? Eyes focusing slowly, he peered up at a grand, arching blade of a leaf...tiny drops of dew still clinging to it in the shade. Mouth open wide, Kudzu batted at the leaf....not enough to hurt it, but surely enough to shake loose a drop or two!

"Sure, if you'd like to weave a few! You did well with the first. And these..." Poking one more stem between the quills, balancing out her addition to the other side, Elle tugged the spray gently downward. She left these spray to trail gracefully down from the lower points of his wings.

"...are just some bright tokens, woven into the black." Leaning back, she tried to judge if both sides were even, and nodded with a smile. "Would you like them off again? I don't mind, but I'm sure he would be a little sad." With a quiet rustle, a butterfly had settled onto the arch of Lonan's wing...fanning gently in the sun as it pondered the sweet, out of place blossom. Elle leaned forward to peer at it, settling against Lonan's chest.

Kudzu hummed happily as Devi kept him company...little fingers questing among the assorted flora around him. Finally, the babe found a long and spiraled leaf, already fallen from a nearby tree. Holding it up with an unsteady arm, he offered the pretty to Devi.

"Well, you don't look odd. You look ready!" The butterfly stumbled off through the air as Elle laughed, fluttering silently. Everything looked beautiful, the garlands made thus far hanging from the nearest branch, and the Hollow decorated so brightly.

Glancing up at the sun, Elle smiled and found Lonan's hand with her own. The invitation that had been placed in the Center said any time around now was okay...surely people would be arriving soon!

"Will Drac be greeting the others as they arrive? I would be happy to, otehrwise. It's that time!" Adjusting the flowers that tangled and wreathed in Lonan's hair, Elle glowed with excitement.

It was a lovely Spring day, and as always, the elf in Akina screamed to go for a stroll. So, packing up a few things, she had decided to force Brimstone out into the open air along with her. It had been a 30-minute battle to get him dressed and break his spirit enough for him to agree to come along, but as Akina rounded the corner of her path, she decided it was well worth it.

In front of her lay a beautiful orchard, the scent of which had brought her in its direction, and Akina selected this as the perfect spot for them to relax with the lunch she had packed: juice and capers. Disgusting as it was, it was all her little bundle of joy would touch so it was always on the menu.

Elven ears picked up the sounds of other creatures, and it didn't take her keen eyes to spot them nearby. Scooping Brim into her arms, she brought him close to whisper, "It looks like we aren't alone, B. Think we should say hello?" Not waiting for an answer, Akina moved so that her presence would be known, purposely making enough noise of the crunch of leaves and grass beneath her feet to grab some attention.

Making eye contact with a few of the inhabitants, she smiled as amiably as she could and issued a greeting of, "Hello there! Sorry, we didn't mean to interrupt anything. We were just on a stroll."