Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ro returns to her seat next to her mother, and leans her head on Caroline's shoulder. She smiles at her jittery friend--hopefully he'd loosen up once he got to know more people. She draws her legs up to her chest under her skirt and sets her chin in the little dip made by two knobbly knees. She sighs with a smile, happy for the new Fortunette that would come from DeArca's carving.

((I wasn't sure if I was supposed to see my vision or not, so now that I've read through, I've gone back and revised my vision post...Just fyi for Oq.))

Irina looked up quickly as one of the women called to the three new members of the caravan...Of course, she was one of them, but an object seeking growth? Irina wasn't sure what she meant...

She watched as Ro pushed DeArca forward, toward the gypsy woman standing at the center of the circle. He held a strange wooden carving in his hand, and it looked like an intricately carved tree. Wondering what the carving would grow into, Irina slipped her hand into her pocket, and rubbed the mushroom charm once again. It heated under her touch, and she couldn't help but wonder if it was the item that Oqaia was talking about.

If it was true, she'd go see the woman and her sister directly after the ceremony. She was certainly curious to find out more about the charm.

DeArca came forward with his statue- the tiny likeness of the tree of life, chewed, somehow, at the base.

Oqaia took it in her hands, but something in her told her that was wrong- so she handed it back to DeArca, and said "Blessing."

With that, the light of the meij gave, as it desperately wanted to do during a wagon ordering ceremony. This Fortunette, Oqaia knew, would have an easier starting path than most- so bathed was it in this positive atmosphere of loving and belonging for its first growth. More than becoming an animal- this truly was a gift for its future.

Red and brown light circled around DeArca and his statue as he took it back. Then, the light was gone- as was the tree.

Lorelei smiled and laughed happily, a warm feeling washing over her as the meij did its work. Vanna fluffed her feathers, twittering, truly calming down for what seemed like the first time in days.

The mouse was so small and delicate! Just like Vanna. Perhaps the two would be friends? There shouldn't be the predator-prey complex to get in the way...

Kale gasps happily. This is the first growth he's ever witnessed, and though he's not yet old enough to grasp the meaning, he knows the aura is good and giggles, smiling at his mother. The woman feels bright emulations from the new creature and is glad for it's birth. She grins. "Congratulations, DeArca, and welcome," she says softly from her seat.

Heather watched the transformation happily, Amkia was clapping his hands as it happened and was making some strange happy gurgling noises. She kissed his head again and looked to where the guy stood with his mouse. "At least he wont have the problem with it flying off all the time like I did!" She whispered to Amkia, who seemed to understand and chuckle some more.

"It is a Fortunette," Oqaia explained, "a creature born of the meij. That statue you had was not truly a statue- but really, just the form that the meij that chose you as its father decided to take. And now, it has chosen to take the form of this- a little male mouse... with the element of wood- to experience life as an animal. After you have nurtured it, and it feels ready to join the world in its next incarnation- it will become a child."

Valelldia, then, came forward. "For you other newcomers, we have gifts- and one very special gift to bestow to a member of the caravan that has found her home. Then, we shall order our wagons to accommodate for the new additions- our new strengths, our new brother and sisters." A burlap bag was at her side- small, patched, and grey with the years of travel. From the inside, Valelldia took... three small objects.

"DeArca," she said, "this is for you. A further welcome to our fold. To me, it seems your journey as a gypsy, and discovering your past has only begun. There is... confusion, and wonder in you. Here." She handed him a leather bound book- simple, the pages thick with meaning yet unwritten. "This is a book of discovery. When you write in it- ask it questions... then close it for the night- when you return, it may have responded to you, helped guide you on your quest of discovery. It's a piece of rather white magic, so you need feel no fears using it, your TellBook."



((Aka, when you write in your journal and specify that you're writing to the TellBook, something may turn up in that entry that will... guide you. ^__^))

Then, she called Irina forward. "You... have such a strange path ahead of you." Valelldia's lips curled in amusement. "You have... no idea what a twisting road you will walk upon. To fit in with the feeling of your journey, this is Speaker. He.. well, you shall see."

She pulled a tiny, purple stone statue- it was so small it fit in the palm of her tan hand, and handed it to Irina. As soon as it saw the light... the statue... blinked, behind its tiny glasses, and looked at Irina.

"Hello." It said, very simply, then it went statue- cold again.

"He is a fairy-cursed statue- only grey magic, so it will not harm you to use it. When given to a new owner, he will speak but a word- maybe two a day- but the longer you have him, the longer he will speak, and remain animated. After a long while, he will be as a tiny, bizarre companion to you and your family. He's even been known to spew fortunes, tell the future.



((Aka, you can make him speak gradually more and more, and he'll act like a Banya bird... although giving slightly more 'weird' predictions. XD))

"And finally," Valelldia said, calling forth Altaira. "This is for you. A rose-stone bird. You can wear it about your neck, or keep it with you close- for some days, when you come into your magic- or your child comes into their magic, you will be able to summon magical creatures to your aid. You are strong, and yet- I sense a fragility in you. This will give you power over both- your strength... and your vulnerabilities."



((Aka? Well, you'll see. *ninjasneak* XD))