Navigation: Alabastrine Shrine

It was dusk. Nagendra felt whole, and filled to the brim with a quiet sort of joy. He had found the most incredible place. He sat precisely centered in front of the gently glowing pond within the circle of stones, his back straight and his figure the picture of perfect posture. He was still. Everything was still. All around him slender white trees stretched upwards, leaning against one another in a delicate and sleepy way that gave the whole area an… eerie but pleasing tranquility. Across the trees were draped pale vines, no less elegant. They shrouded the place – made it feel safe and secluded. Faint shadows had begun to pour in from the corners of the woods, weaving in between thin trunks and dripping through the vine canopy. The approach of darkness was not alarming, but rather, worked to make the place feel all the more welcoming. It was like a blanket, and with the first inky tendrils, he could start to notice the ethereal glow of the pond even more.

After he had observed, drank in the glorious environment with insatiable appreciation, the wolf had picked out his current spot. Everything was so perfect. There was no one here except for himself. Birds did not sing, crickets did not chirp. And the silence was excellent. He had positioned himself as neatly in the center before the pond as he could, then evened his legs and sat. He held his spine straight and faced forward. He closed his eyes, and felt the world around him in his deep, slow breaths. It smelled so fresh and pure. Silence and nothingness enveloped him and he sank into it. Depriving himself of the wondrous sight of the shrine was not agony – rather, it was a step closer to peace. He reveled in the simple knowledge that it was there, around him. He was in it, and when he closed his eyes and pulled back into his mind and the thought of it, he was one with it. The quiet darkness behind his eyelids and in his ears was peace, nourished by the beautiful place he had found that helped him feel so much closer to nature. Here he could meditate, and feel completely released from the trivial mortal troubles of worry and doubt. Although temporary, he had found bliss.

She barely noticed the change in the season as she continued her undying search for her litter mate. The winter would mark her third trip around the sun as well as that most wonderful time of year when she found herself in season. She would pay little mind to the changed in her body, her focus still completely on the task at hand. She wouldn't be complete until she found out what happened to her brother. The silvery she wolf would continue looking, doing her best to search every inch of this continent. Her spirits were low, she'd been here for almost a whole season and she had found nothing but empty leads. There was no stale scent trail, tracks, or anyone who had seen him despite the girl asking every wolf she met. Her success seemed bleak, and the discouragement was obvious in the way she held herself. With her tail drooping at her ankles and her head hanging from her neck the girl continued her search. She was growing weary from her lack of progress, not just the day's travels. Her slow walk would bring her to the edge of a more than odd forest. The sight of the white trees would cause her features to tilt up and inspect the scene before her. Brilliant royal purple eyes would take in the forest, and with little more hesitation she would decide to brave it. Delicate paws would slip in and out of the snow as she quietly made her way through the silent forest. The sun would slowly fall behind the horizon as she walked, and for a long moment she would consider finding a place to lay down for a few hours. Or at least that had been the plan before she spotted the glow deeper within. Unable to rest her curious tendencies the young she wolf would cautiously make her way towards the light that was very much not the sun. As she approached the shrine she would be so caught up in the vibrancy of the water that she did not notice the man sitting perfectly still across the way from her. ""

The cold kissed his moist nose invitingly – a blessed welcome into the snow-sprinkled realm. Each breath he drew in was christened with Mother Nature’s winter perfume, crisp and invigorating, that he sought after again and again. With every inhale he felt cleansed and further melded with the environment. His mind was comfortably empty – a vacant room left not littered and ruined but allowed to be a perfect image of neatness that he could temporarily exit in good faith. Right now, there were no thoughts he needed to tend to. He could just… be. And that was something that did not come easily to everyone.

It was something many in his family pursued, and attempted to seize indefinitely. But Nagendra felt that such a thing was impossible. He felt a bit guilty for thinking so – wondering if he only thought it because he didn’t want to put forth the strenuous effort that came with. But wasn’t it a bit of a contradiction? Trying so, so very hard to achieve… the very opposite – a total peace, a mind completely existing in the present. So he mostly just enjoyed the small moments like these when he could sever himself from the burdens of a whirring mind. Contemplation was wonderful, but sometimes, taking a break was the purest joy imaginable.

His expression was calm as he sat, breathing in and out with slow rhythm. He was allowed a few more minutes of solitary relaxation until he heard something, treading gently amongst the snow. Slowly, both of his emerald eyes opened and unto him was revealed the most stunning image of a silver wolf, picking her way towards the pond. Nagendra’s lips fell delicately apart, not in anticipation of words but merely in an expression of graceful enchantment as he watched her, head tilted slightly to the side. He said nothing for another moment, his fascination hanging gingerly in the silence. And then he lifted his muzzle a little and called out, softly but surely, ”What brilliant phantom strides before my eyes? Stutters my heart in both enthrallment and awe?” A brief pause. The next sentence rose upon the throne that was the quiet of the approaching night, each word enunciated so carefully that they would entice no less than full attention. ”This evening must be a special one, for, surely the divine do not descend without reason.”

Virdian's paws would sink into the snow as they brought her close to the water's edge. It had not frozen over, which was interesting to her. A moment would pass where she wondered about the possibility of a warm spring that fed the curious pool. Eager to test her theory her curious features would lower to the surface of the odd pool. A bright blue green color would reflect onto her fur, shimmering brilliantly as she moved to lap at its surface. She'd realize instantly that the temperature was indeed warmer than the air, what a curious place indeed. Her attention would be pulled, rather politely away, by the voice of a stranger calling out to her. Brilliant lavender eyes would find his form, sitting peacefully across from her. He was poetic, and had her hanging on every word. Charcoal tipped ears would tip forward with curiosity, as her cheeks turned pink and warm. With his second statement her ears would fall against her head in shy acceptance of his compliments. "You're quite well spoken, sir." Her tail would stir nervously at her silver hips. She had yet to meet anyone who wasn't eager to help her, but she felt a need to be cautious in this eerie forest. What if he was saying he was the deity? ""

Nagendra watched, his expression still one of frost-nipped awe, as her pale purple eyes found him. Her ears sank back modestly as she responded, her voice so sweet and so fitting of such a delicate appearance. A small, puckish grin flickered across the man’s slender features at her reply, amused. She had granted him only a few words, leaving him needing more the way that a man dying of thirst needed more than a dew drop. ”The words can only come when the perfect muse arrives,” he smiled, his voice the embodiment of grace. ”My name is Nagendra Bahri, Miss,” he bowed slightly with his introduction. ”May I have the pleasure of yours?” he’d ask.

Nagendra's gentle green stare continued to hover about her face curiously, reading. Was she… afraid of him? She looked a bit wary. He never liked anyone being afraid of him; it made it very uncomfortable to make advances on someone. Although he supposed it was anyone's right to be cautious, alone in the forest like this. As pretty and serene as the place was, it said nothing for whatever dangers might lurk within.

He wouldn't make a move to approach her, which would help her nerves incredibly. She'd settle slightly, but instead of fear he'd turn her to bashfulness. She'd lived on a secluded island with only her family for her whole life, such pretty words being spoken about her threw her off track. She didn't know what to do or say, her cheeks would just turn a delicate shade of pink. He'd offer a name that she put to memory as she dared to look him over. He was hardly scary looking, and maybe even handsome with his brilliant gaze and soft pelt. He was obviously more gentleman than villain. Still remaining across the small pool she would give him an answer, "My name is Viridian Memoire." She felt a little silly being so unable to speak as gracefully as he. "I am no goddess." She'd add with a gentle chuckle, just in case he still thought otherwise. ""

The glow of the pool lit up his company’s eyes with a bright streak. Her silver image reflected vibrantly in the water below, but even the exquisite imitation could not steal his attention from the real thing. She seemed to grow less uneasy, and with that, his expression settled from one of impish amusement to one of soft contentment. The lady introduced herself with a name as splendid as herself. He grinned faintly, the tips of pearly teeth peeking from beneath inky lips. She would add a small afterthought, to which he would grin more broadly. ”Ah, modestly is just as necessary as the act of pointing it out,” his grin grew mischievous and amused once more.

He inhaled deeply one last time and then stood and stretched, taking a brief second to forgo the sight of the woman for that of the pool. It was so… unnatural. He wondered how ever such a thing could exist – a glowing pool! Surely it must have had some special power, some… higher meaning or connection. He wanted to be a part of it, to immerse himself in both the physical thing and whatever abstract meaning it had. Of course, he also partially felt that to touch it would be... to contaminate it. He seemed lost in it for a second, and then glanced back up to the purple-eyed lady. ”What brings you here? Have you seen this before?” he asked, interested in beginning a significant conversation.