Paz
The Moon's Shadow found herself feeling heartened, unusual for this darker form. The ever-present melancholy and coldness of the moon demigoddess' Eclipse form were still there, but lightened somewhat. She even opted for a black gauzy mask over her usual veil, wishing to feel the moonlight on her skin, let it bring out the dark blue of her long black hair. It had been hours since she walked away from Karmius City with the smallest smile on her pale lips. As opposed to the glow of her brighter side, her alabaster skin seemed dull; yet in contrast to her black dress, mask, and hair, her pale skin made her look more like a ghost gliding through the forest. At first, she was merely wandering, enjoying what little extra freedom her cheery jailer was granting her. Lusine of the Moon had been so much better controlled in recent years; so this one, the Lusine of the Dark, only got to emerge on the traditional new moon each month. It was getting *Really* Frustrating and *Really* Boring. Yet, she found, she wouldn't change it for anything.
** **
When Lunara created the demigoddess, this side was meant to be her protector, meant to help her stay on track and fulfill her true purpose with more ease. Yet, the Dark Lady was finding she was needed less and less; she blamed the demigod of war, for that; but thanked him, too. Her counterpart needed much guidance, *So* Much protecting. The little weakling would tend to anyone who even vaguely needed help without a second thought, which lead to trouble at times. But with her encouraged resolve from Pride and her overzealous drive for peace, she was handling the trouble better than she used to, not needing to call on her Shadow quite as often. Less, too, were the moments of being emotionally overwhelmed, now that her hope had been reignited and she had a reliable person to lean on. But the dark one still had her job to do, and she intended to do it for as long as Lusine, as a whole, drew breath.
** **

A strange feeling broke through her blessed internal process, making her stop in her tracks. Lusine turned her head about quickly, as if looking for something. She changed facing and set off at a more slightly hurried pace, leaves rustling with her fast walk that soon broke into a steady run. What was this sensation? It felt... Familiar somehow. Not quite like kin, but something...*Not* Unlike herself. The feeling burrowed deep into her, settling like bad food on her stomach; it felt *Wrong*, it felt... Like the world rocking out of balance, somehow. The more she ran, the more confused she became, for another sensation presented itself along the same course. This second one *Was* Much more like herself, something definitively divine, and fairly strong too. But it felt incredibly peaceful, serene, and, thank Lunara, *Balanced*. The second feeling was closer, almost on the way to the first, so she veered off course, coalescing into the shadows to move a little more quickly towards the source.
** **

The dark demigoddess materialized again in the shadows at the edge of a glade. Stepping out from them, she gasped in true surprise, an emotion incredibly difficult to elicit from her. In front of her stood ruins, some of the most beautiful she'd ever seen. Plant life was everywhere, even in covered places that it shouldn't be able to grow. She smiled briefly, in appreciation, of several night-blooming varieties of flowers that emitted their soft fragrance around the glade. Taking a few slow steps forward, she saw many animals about, and asleep, predators lying peacefully next to prey. She forgot herself for just a moment, reveling in the ruins themselves. After spending so many thousands of years in such a place, any ruins felt much like home to her. Perhaps this would be the perfect place to spend what remained of the night. She noticed the tug in her heart, still fresh from the recent confession of emotion, wishing that Pride were here too. Her dark self longed to talk poetry with him under the moon, to wax poetic together over their sorrows. With a sharp inhale, she remembered why she had come here to begin with, looking around more earnestly as she treaded carefully.
** **
The statues gathered underneath the pillars did not escape her notice. They struck her as somewhat odd, in the way they were arranged. The divine presence she felt seemed to call out to her from there. She approached slowly, staying several paces away. Her masked face gazed up at one particularly tall statue that looked like a gorgon.
Jessie
Another beautiful night within the glade. The smaller birds of the day returned to their nests to rest their little beaks from singing all day, and to be replaced by the owls that sat upon the branches. Their hoots were much louder and much less songlike than that of the regular bird. But it was still beautiful in their own way. The beasts of the forest were resting by the water, and the young of both predator and prey were sleeping practically on top of one another in a lazy pile. A whole day of playing always did cause the young ones to be exhausted. But it must have been the stream that ran through the glade that was most beautiful. It was practically glowing blue! A type of algae caused the water to glow blue and each movement the fish within made seemed to make it glow even brighter. It was certainly a magical setting.

Shiyan was beneath the ruins as she often was, having had a rather good day of tending to both the forest and the animals. Upon her shoulders, and kept steady by the snakes on her head, there was a small fox resting. She was large enough that it had plenty of space to sleep without having to rub up against her face, but it seemed to be doing so either way. She had a small book in hand, taking her time to read over each page, after all it wasn't easy to turn the paper pages with her large stone fingers. She had received the book from a traveller, a kindly girl who had been exploring the world with her steed. The girl had wished to explore every inch of the world to find inspiration for her books, supposedly she had been a rather well-known writer. Shiyan was lucky to have given her a decent bit of advice, and the girl seemed to have been rather appreciative and left with her an unfinished work. A rather kind gift, but Shiyan was dreading not having an ending to such a grand story.
** **

Then, she heard the familiar crunch of leaves beneath one's feet. She was quick to look up and noticed the girl that was now stood near her. A warm smile appeared on her face, not unlike one that a mother would give upon seeing their child playing. **"Oh! Hello there. Thou caught me whilst I was reading."** She softly shut the book, as to not awaken the fox upon her shoulder before placing it to the side.

Shiyan was dressed in a moss cloak that clung to her body. It almost seemed to be connected to the ruins themselves, but that might have just been by design. Designed to make her look as though she was part of the environment. The bits of gold within her skin shone under the moonlight, highlighting her features and adding an extra layer of beauty to her. The statues around her seemed faceless, but one could easily identify that they were of different gender and race. On her left was an elven man, but on her right was a human woman. They all seemed to be standing perfectly still, as if they held no sentience at all. Shiyan's golden eyes took a moment to look the woman up and down, her gaze turning concerned as she spoke. **"Goodness, thou looks as though they have seen a ghoul, what with such pale skin. Are thou alright?"** Shiyan was considering getting a meal prepped quickly, just in case. Such pale skin she had only seen on those who were starving or injured.
** **

Around Shiyan, one could not deny that there was an oddly comforting aura. It felt as though one was just being healed from her words better than any healer could perform. Of course, with the plants that seemed to reach up towards her, she would be unable to deny the bit of magic that went into creating such a feeling. An aura to heal both plant and beast. It had the odd effect upon such creature's as a good stew would. It made the area around her feel warmer, more comforting. Like a ray of sunlight, even though the moon was high in the sky. She simply wished to make sure that the woman before her was not injured in such a way, many people did not trust those they met in the forest when they were going through some sort of hardship, but Shiyan merely wished to provide a place to rest.

Thus, she would be unable to deny the way her gaze took a moment to look over the girl. For a moment, the thought of vampire entered her mind, it would explain the pale skin and the midnight travel. But then she felt it, she had been lost in her own little world that she hadn't noticed the presence that seemed to fill the air as the woman had entered the glade. That divine presence, similar to the one that rested within her. After a moment, she let out a gentle laugh, leaning back against the ruins behind her as she finally understood.
Paz
The central statue was *Quite* Impressive. Looking back over her shoulder momentarily at the glowing blue stream, a small smile graced her lips before fading; she had an appreciation for things with a soft glow. Turning back to the statue, she was just about to step forward to further admire the bits of gold when the statue smiled then moved to turn a page. Lusine was very still the next few moments, watching another page or two be turned before she was certain she was awake, this wasn't in the dream realm, and it was real. Though the statue appeared to be a gorgon, it was apparently a divine being, and nothing about this place *Seemed* To be evil. She let her tensed muscles relax, and that was when the statue spoke in such a comforting, kind tone, that she was completely certain there would be nothing to fear here. **"Greetings, I apologize for the interruption."** Her tone was cordial, somewhat business-like, but not unfriendly. For a moment, she looked at the book curiously, and couldn't resist asking, **"What are you reading? I'm quite an avid reader myself. I might need to add it to my library, if you'd recommend it."**
** **

Before sharing her true intention in being here, in being in the woods at all, the demigoddess wanted to get a good measure of this... Creature. Unlike her other half, she was not one to spill her guts, openly display vast arrays of emotion, or open up to nearly anyone decent. No, the Child of the Eclipse was far too discerning for that. At the look of concern and the statue's words, Lusine only huffed a laugh. **"I assure you, I'm quite alright. But your kindness and care are quite refreshing... She'll like you."** The last part was more murmured to herself. She weighed it in her mind a few moments more and decided this place, this woman, seemed safe enough. By then, Shiyan had already come to her own conclusions, leaning against the ruins. The demigoddess spoke matter-of-factly, **"I was drawn here by you, by the holy presence I felt within you... Though, you are not like me. Not a demigod."** She felt relieved by this; despite Pride's insistence that demigods no longer slaughtered each other needlessly, Lusine felt apprehensive about meeting more of her own kind. **"I am Lusine Sterre and, in this form, the Moon's Shadow. I am only pale in that I am... Of the moon itself, in a way. Much more so than my counterpart,"** She touched her temple lightly for a moment, looking irritated, **"Who is** Clambering **To meet you. But it will have to wait. If you are a guardian of nature, as you so seem to be, we have business to discuss."**
** **

The Dark Lady briefly considered removing her mask but ultimately decided against it. In the last few millennia, only Pride had ever seen her without it, and she rather wanted to keep it that way. The eyes held too much of what was being felt, what was being thought, and she hated feeling naked in that way in front of people she didn't know well or trust completely. Like this very moment, in which she suddenly felt emotion she wasn't expecting, and was happy to keep it private. Her eyes widened under her mask, glassy and vulnerable. The only give away outside her mask was slightly parted lips. The aura flowing off this being was so like Pride's... Intended to calm and heal. She felt safe, comforted, and warm. If she closed her eyes, she really could pretend he was here... But that was just a dream, a distraction, and she pushed it aside in her mind; let the brighter one enjoy such frivolity. It wasn't the dark's purpose, to love and be loved, but to protect and fight. Maybe her day would come, too, but... Not this moment, not this day. 
** **
Regaining her momentarily lost composure, Lusine's brows furrows as she shared her news in a grim tone, **"Something is wrong... Do you not feel it? It's like the... Balance of the world itself is swaying. Like... Nature is** ***Angry*** **."**
Jessie
**"Oh, do not worry. You have no need to apologize for such an intrusion. It is rather lovely to have a new visitor within the glade."** Shiyan gently placed the book to the side, into the hands of one of the many statues that were around. **"The tale is called The Book of Lies and the Universe. The author gave it to me as a gift. A unfinished tale, a story that they may never truly publish."** A tale without an ending was truly the saddest thing to ever exist. Whilst it was certainly a great read, she found herself reading it a thousand times over just to try and figure out what the ending could have been. What could have happened to the characters within? Would they find peace within their world, or would it be doomed to burn? Thousands of questions that would likely go unanswered, lest she saw the author once again. **"I am unsure if they have written other copies, but I am happy to lend it to thou for a read."**

The murmur caused her eyebrow to shift upwards for a moment, curious as to what was said. But, she wasn't going to be prying, at least not now. They had only just met after all, and it was not often that she met another with a similar presence as to her own. **"I am indeed not a Demigod. I am merely a Champion that resides within the woods."** As the woman introduced herself, Shiyan took a moment to check over herself to rid her body of any crumbs. She had just had some fresh bread, and whilst there were no birds clinging to her clothing to try and pick at such a treat, she just had to make sure. **"I am Shishiyan Kevirya, the Sculpture of the Woods."** The way the woman was acting did cause some interest to appear in her eyes. Hearing about this supposed counterpart was something that brough a bit of curiosity into her eyes. She was rather curious about whom this person could be.
** **

**"I am indeed a guardian of nature."** To hear that they supposedly had business was a rather curious thing to think about. She had never met this woman before, yet supposedly there was something to discuss. How exciting. Shiyan took a moment to lean forward. The moss bristled from the movement as it became disconnected from the ruins, almost seeming to flow like water as it clung to Shiyan's body, as if it even left it for a moment it may wither away and die. But when Lusine began speaking about what exactly they were talking about, Shiyan could help but let out a soft laugh. She knew exactly what was causing such a feeling. At least, she was fairly certainly that she did. **"Yes, I do feel it. There is another staying within these woods. A man who seems... Cursed in such a way. He means no harm or foul to any of the life within these woods, nor to anyone who enters them. He and I have spoken. He is a kindly individual, but none can escape their nature, nor the aura one creates."**

It was a saddening tale, one so cursed and yet so full of love for the world around them. She could understand that the plants and wildlife weren't exactly happy. Such a cursed thing went against the natural order of nature. But then again, such an order was always shifting. **"This is what you meant, yes? A feeling of... Emptiness?"**
Paz
This living statue was quite a lot more friendly and warm than Lusine had expected her to be; hells, more warm and friendly than *She* Was in this form. She only nodded in acknowledgment of the gorgon's joy at a new face, regarding the other woman appraisingly through the thin mesh of her mask. Looking over the book, she could tell it was one that had been read and reread over and over; while the title was interesting, she had no interest in an unfinished story when she felt like she was living one. **"I thank you, but I couldn't possibly take such a well-loved book from you. Besides, I'm not in control enough to have much time to read it."** She was a little irritated that her one extra night of freedom was suddenly filled with business, but it couldn't be helped. Their duty had to be done, anything more could wait. It was the bright one that got to live a full life; this one existed primarily to serve. But damn, she was tired.

The demigoddess laughed softly, **"Merely? My dear, you are** Merely **Nothing. Not only a Champion but quite a fascinating and imposing figure... Do give yourself more credit."** She wore a wry smirk on her pale face. **"It's a pleasure to meet you, Champion. I think we'll work quite well together."** It wasn't often that dark Lusine handed out compliments, but she had to give credit where it was due. This being before her was clearly wise and powerful; it would be idiotic to suggest or believe otherwise. She typically disliked working with others, feeling they were too incompetent to keep up, but she was hopeful with this one.
** **

At Shiyan's explanation of what she thought Lusine was referring to, her dark brows furrowed. Casting out the net of her senses, she did notice the person that Shiyan was speaking of, but... It was not the same thing she was feeling. At the final words, her face contorted into a frown, **"No. It's quite impossible to escape one's nature or aura. Gods know I've tried enough to be sure."** She felt a small bit of empathy for this cursed man. She knew too well what it was like to be immediately judged for what you were, or even just what you seemed to be. All her thousands of years, only two in her life had ever really bothered to get to know this side of her, to accept her as a whole person instead of just the fun, happy part that suited them best. Meeting this statue's golden gaze, she wondered if that number might grow to three.
** **

Shaking her head of dark hair with mild agitation, the Moon's Shadow tried to explain further, **"I feel what... Who... You're referring to, but that's not what I mean. Emptiness is much an old friend of mine, that I could endure."** Though the mask hid the casting about of her eyes, her head still turned from side to side, **"It's far more... Unsettling than that. Perhaps this metaphor will help... It feels like the rage and pain of a mother bear that's had her cub taken from her... And a little like the confusion of a flock of flying geese that have lost their leader, unsure where to go."** Pain, confusion, loss, and rage were the dominant feelings coming to her from whatever... Whoever this was. It felt volatile enough to hurt others, but her larger concern was of more importance for this particular conversation. **"I'm afraid if left unchecked, it will invite upsets in the natural balance that will harm many, man and animal alike. I plan to check it out. And I would appreciate your advice, or at least, your blessing."** Her tone became a little mournful, **"My control over nature is little, so unfortunate when Mother expects us to help maintain its balance."**