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 Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:57 pm
 Streaked Sky had been changed by that dream. That much she knew. The extent of her new abilities were mostly unknown to her, and she felt a change in herself. She was surprised at how easily she could slip into the song bird that was sometimes there and sometimes not. Right now she was mostly slipped into it; still feeling and seeing somethings like a kimeti. She was currently looking after her family, who were probably worried about her.
There was Reflecting-Dusk, the unofficial mother (and official mother of Dream Weaver) and Rabbit, the unofficial father (although Heralded-Nightsong was her official father). Cold Hammer was there, tending to...twins? She knew they weren't his. Somehow she just knew that Rabbit had mated recently, and now there were two new babies in the family, that she might never meet. And Rainwash had grown in her time away. Majesty had even returned.
Then Streaked Sky wondered how long she had been away. Her father wasn't among the group. Perhaps he was looking for her? She knew he was. She didn't know why she kept asking such asinine questions anymore, when she now knew what the swamp knew.
She followed Motherfather to her father. He was searching some ways away, looking for her. They had shared such a tight bond, probably because he had never really gotten to know her brother and sister, his other children. She felt an overwhelming sense of sadness at the thought of leaving him. She was now a part of Motherfather, and she didn't think that she'd be able to stay. After all, she would continue as the swamp continued, and her father and her family would fade into the forever night.
Gathering her courage, she decided to ascend to a branch where he could see her. Maybe he would take it as the message from the swamp that it was, and rest assured that she was alright now.
She watched him look up. She watched him recognize her coloring. In a fit of sadness she accidentally shifted back to kimeti, right in front of him. He took a startled step back, and she cried out, "No, Father! It is me, I am alright! The swamp...I am part of it now. Please don't be sad anymore!" Her last plea came out as more of a sob than anything coherent, but she was far from that at this point.
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:06 pm
 Heralded-Nightsong was in a terrible state. No one had seen his daughter in a fortnight, and here the others were copulating. It wouldn't do! He needed his daughter like the moon needed the stars, like the swamp needed rain! He had searched for her profusely during the first week, but by now he knew that if she couldn't come back by herself she wouldn't come back at all.
He had taken to sitting away from the others, staring into the swamp, hoping that she would show up. It was becoming a nuisance to the others, he knew, but only Reflecting-Dusk could understand (and Rabbit would soon), but they didn't seem to be speaking up.
How could they understand? His daughter had been a part of him once, and that part of him was marked on her coat, and in her eyes. In his grief he saw the songbird above him, and it looked like it had a coat like his daughter. Intense pain gripped his heart, and then his daughter-but-not-his-daughter appeared.
She cried out to him, and he knew that this most sacred of does, this mare, was his daughter. Joy over took his heart, and he heard himself say, "I know, daughter mine, I know. What has happened to you? Where have you been?"
He went closer to her, and nuzzled her coat. He had been afraid he would never do that again, but here she was!
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:14 pm
 She was ecstatic that her father had accepted her new self so readily. She wanted to tell him everything! But time felt so liquid now. If she wasn't careful, it felt like an eternity could slip by and she wouldn't notice!
"Father! I fell asleep in a cave, and the Motherfather came to me! I was asked such a strange question, too, father, and when I gave my answer I was ripped from my body, and given a new one," she was still sobbing at this point, though whether out of happiness or sadness she didn't know. She continued, "I chose the bird...we're so pretty, it seemed obvious. But now...now..." she could hardly keep going at this point. She didn't want to leave, but she had her duty to the Swamp now.
She really shouldn't have come back, but she needed to let her father know. It seemed so cruel to let him wander about her fate, and to watch him always looking for her, in every flash of bright colors or any pink doe...
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:27 pm
So, the old stories were true then. The fact that his daughter had now become...an avatar of the swamp was quite surprising to him. She was quite wayward and self-centered, and not really one he would have picked if asked. Rabbit, maybe. Cold Hammer, even.
But his wayward daughter? Who was now sobbing into him? What was she 'butting' about. Couldn't she stay? The family would have good fortune. If she didn't want to be known, then she could do that bird thing if anyone came around.
He'd have to tell her though! She wasn't the brightest firebug in the swamp, but she was his girl.
"Daughter, why do you cry out so? Can't you stay with us?" He almost dreaded the answer, but it was hers to give.
Naturally he would fight any no that came up.
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:37 pm
Her father was always so rational about things! It was maddening! Her she was, in the crisis of her life, and he was calm, cool, and collected. She dried her eyes (with a scowl, no doubt) and pondered his question.
"Could I stay? And what, pretend to be your pet when anyone else came around? That would be weird!"
But maybe it wasn't such a bad idea after all. Well, she could at least come and visit sometimes, and give blessings and good fortune. Because that is what family is for!
"Father," she began tentatively, "I don't know that I could stay all of the time, but I could stay some of the time. I think. The Motherfather calls to me. I have business now."
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:52 pm
Then that was settled. She could come back if she wasn't bending to the Motherfather's beck and call.
"All right, daughter mine, what say you to meeting the rest of the family, again?"
He chuckled to himself as he led them towards the others. They would be surprised, that's for sure!
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![[.Lady of Shalott.]'s avatar](https://a1cdn.gaiaonline.com/dress-up/avatar/ava/55/bf/58026c5110bf55_flip.png?t=1634154867_6.00_01)
