The winged gypsy could not deny that she felt Calligo's presence as she trekked up the steep stone steps to the temple. Hues of pink and orange and yellow melted into deep purple clouds across the horizon like watercolor paints. Beautiful and stunning and unbelievable. The mountain was massive in size; she felt so so small as she stood staring down at the world below her. Surely, this was what the gods felt like. To be blessed to watch the makings of the realm from such heights.. she could only dream.

From a young age, Aislinn was always on the move. A nomad from birth, a wanderer in her blood, a drifter at heart. Funny, that she could not stand still in one place for long. Denocte had been her motherland for her entire life. Once a year her tribe would make the great pass through the mountains of Night. In all of her wanderings, she had only made the pilgrimage to the temple once before. She was just under a full year of seasons. Heavy lids shut, the memory sucking her in --

*   *   *

* * *

Aislinn blinked away the memory, a single fat tear falling free down her cheek. Her eyelids fluttered. The sun had dropped closer to the earth so quickly in mere moments. How long had she been standing there, lost in a half-remembered dream? Stars had begun to glimmer softly, the sun at last falling asleep beneath the line of the horizon. The moon was a silver ornament, glowing faintly. Her entire body shuddered, ivory locks shaking free of their braids.

"You were right Ma'ma," Aislinn whispered to the heavens. Her voice was smooth, a lullaby. Sucking a sharp breath of air into her lungs, she was moving once more. A stairway to the stars, a gateway to the gods. Inky blue and violet rolled across the sky, clear and perfect in it's darkness. She was almost there, almost to the citadel. Her heart thudded madly in her chest. Oh Calligo, are you listening?

Thrum. Thrum. Thump. Her strong, lithe frame shuddered, feeling like and heavy all at once. Butterflies fluttered wildly in her stomach. Aislinn's hooves clicked on the stones as she ascended the peak. Thrum. Thrum. Thump. Almost there. She could see the end of the trail now. Ivy and moss softening her footfalls. And suddenly she was there, the temple pillars reaching high above for several meters, joining together to create a stunning aclove. The air vibrated wonderfully. She was here.. finally here. Her blood boiled, her heart drumming against her ribs.

A relieved sigh shuddered out of her, bringing the winged gypsy down to her knees. "I am here, goddess of Night," she pledged. I am just a dreamer wishing for your guidance. Just a little dreamer.

---

Her eyes closed, Aislinn breathed deeply through her nostrils and exhaled out of her mouth. She stood still in the center of the sacred aclove, the temple pillars rising high above her. Quietly, she meditated. "I seek your guidance, your protection, and your blessing," she whispered smoothly along a soft exhale of breath. The night air was sweet and earthy, vibrating warmly either with her excitement or something truly divine, she did not know.

Patiently, she waited. She was not sure exactly what would happen; if the gods even did grace the mortal realm with their presence or no. She stood there silently, a quiet guardian under the blanket of stars. The moon had fully risen now, a full glowing disc hanging on an invisible thread. Her heavy lids were closed, the serene moment balancing between relief and expectation for something inherently horrible.

The winged mare was about to utter another prayer when her ears caught something so so soft; a whisper of a calling that had her second guessing if she was just imaging the sound entirely. When she was more confident that she simply imagined the sound, a moment passed and a sing-songy voice trilled a hello. Aislinn whipped around, her nerves on fire from prayer and uncertainty, her natural defenses higher than normal. Her wings fluttered outwards in surprise, and her icy blue orbs fell upon a little silver filly. Immediately she noticed how her coat seemed to shimmer under the starlight filtering into the temple -- stunning and beautiful, albeit very noticeable. However, at first glance, she could not seem to shake the sudden feeling of something being very off about her. As she took in the shock of having company, Aislinn realized that the youngling had button eyes. Her muscles went rigid, intrigued and uneasy at the same time.

But oh.. the shining filly gave off the distinct scent of fear. She looked to be folded into herself, afraid of surprising her while she was calling to the demi-goddess. Aislinn breathed in slowly, a comforting smile blooming on her face. "Hello, my dear. Don't be afraid." The gypsy took a cautious step toward her, not wanting to frighten the little one. Lowering her wings, submissive in her stance, Aislinn took one more step, her head falling so her eyes were level with the filly's. "What's your name?"

---

Instantaneously, regret flooded her as Aislinn took in the cowering little filly. A dangerous mix with her nerves on fire. She sighed deeply to rid herself of the creeping nausea. Her genuine smile stayed on her face, the mare drooping her great wings in submission. The poor thing. Icy silver-blue eyes softened as she gazed upon the youngling, waiting patiently. She did not want to press her, and scare her more than she already appeared to be. By the stars, the filly was probably lost and wandering. Where was her mother? Surely she could not be alone at the highest point in the new world.

Coraline. A sweet name, for a sweet girl, she presumed. She reminded her of another filly she had been told stories about, a Rahilah gypsy that eventually became known as the Red Maiden. Her thoughts drifted to the  story as she stood there, so much so that she was not sure she heard the filly's next words correctly. Eat her? Stars above, where exactly had she come from? No wonder the youngling was so frightened! Aislinn shook her head softly, dropping to her knees and laying down in front of her. Surely this way, the winged mare would able to convey that she was not a threat. "My darling, no. I am not going to eat you." She spoke calmly and evenly, in an attempt to soothe her. "Where did you come from? Are you lost?"

---

The winged mare laid there beneath the stars, crystalline blue eyes on the silver youngling before her. Perhaps she had been wrong all along.. the little one may not be as young as she appeared to be. She could see it now, although still youthful, but the stranger's physical form was somewhat mature. But her demeanor... Aislinn could not place it. She cocked her head to the side as she thought more on it, failing at figuring out exactly who and what this beautiful youngling was.

She thought again about the Red Maiden and her story. Maybe she will tell it to her, now or later or someday far off. Maybe the shining silver filly with button eyes can learn from it, just as Ash once had. She mulled over this as she listened her newfound company. Oh.. so she was lost. Possibly curious, a wanderer, she might guess. Biting her lip, Aislinn's gaze reached past the little one and to the stars that sprinkled the dark sky. Almost mindlessly, she replied, "We are at the top of Veneror Peak, the highest reach of Novus." Sapphire orbs turned towards Coraline, warmth growing in Aislinn's eyes. "This is the temple of the gods, a most sacred place," she said softly, the memory of her mother when she was young surfacing in the corners of her mind. She smiled to herself, the nostalgia and indescribable feeling of stepping into her mother dame's footsteps overwhelming her as she peered down at the young mare - not a filly, no - in front of her. "They say that sometimes the gods grace this place."

---

The stormsinger's crown tilted to the side as she watched the young mare, her curiosity blossoming in full force as she beheld her. Such a lost girl; to have no inkling of where one was in such a vast, mysterious place. Aislinn thought of this as her gaze flickered to the expanse of stars shining through the columns of stone that supported that beautiful citadel. So so close, that she could almost reach out and touch them; swim in their sea of pearls against Calligo's great darkness. A smile tugged at her lips at the thought, before she turned her attention back to the shining youngling, her own gaze of brightest blue meeting hers made of buttons.

What gods are here? Are there different ones?

The stormsinger's grin widened more. "Yes," she started, a soft chuckle rumbling in her throat. Oh to be young and innocent again. "There are five. Oriens, the god of the rising sun; Solis, the god of unrelenting day; Vespera, the goddess of sunsets," she paused, her eyes closing and warmth flooding her as the fourth name touched her lips, "Calligo, the demi-goddess of stars and slumbering darkness." She slowly blinked her eyes open, inhaling deeply as the story of the gods washed over her. Another tale, for another time, perhaps. "And the fifth; their father, Tempus, the god of time itself."

How do I know which one is right for me? Will they betray us? Hurt us?

Such curious, cautious questions for someone so young. Aislinn inhaled sharply, turning the girl's words over and over. But in the end, she shook her crown, her wild starlight-colored mane shuddering at the movement. "That is for you to decide, little one," she replied, almost solemnly, "but I cannot speak for the gods. In my heart, I do not believe they would ever harm us though." Some truth, at least. I cannot say for sure for the other three, save for Calligo. For she knew in the deepest corners of her soul that her own goddess could never harm one who called the Night home.

Do they grant wishes? And perform miracles?

Aislinn laughed then; truly laughed. A musical, bell-like sound that rumbled in her throat and echoed off of the temple's stone walls. The stars glittered and winked almost in answer to the night-blessed mare. "Yes, they do.. at least I'd like to believe they do." With a great inhale, the winged mare pulled herself up to stand, a shiver of relief shuddering down her spine at the sweet bliss of stretching her muscles once more. She slowly stepped closer to the young mare, a soft smile a phantom on her lips. "You just need faith."

Moving to the entrance and exit to the citadel, she turned and silently spoke a prayer to her demi-goddess once more. Thanking her for her listening ears and patience, and for bringing such an unexpected but not unwanted visitor to her this night. Turning back to look at the silver youngling, she fluffed her feathers to prepare for her launch into the skies. "You are always welcome to the Night, little one." A smile, a goodbye.

And as she bent her knees and her great wings unfurled to taste the sweet air of Calligo's shadows, the stormsinger's voice fluttered back into the citadel like a whisper. "My name is Aislinn," she sighed, and then she was gone in a flurry of moonlight and stars and smoke.

---