[SpringsSong]

Aila smiled as she drew in a deep breath, breathing in the salt air as she watched her Ballama, Kaltai, float around her lazily.

"Isn't this one of the best times of the year, Kaltai?" she asked, flicking her tail.  "People are getting gifts for their families... people are going home and spending time with their families... and everyone's happier than normal."

The Ballama floated in front of the Paragon, tilting her head as she tried to understand what it was she was saying.  She'd been in a slightly reminiscent mood ever since... well, a while, actually.  The little spirit was honestly troubled by it.

"Don't worry, Kaltai--it's all right," she said.  "I've just... got this feeling that I'm gonna see someone I remember from long ago soon..."

[1.2]

[SpringsSong]

Fortunali was in her Hollowheart form at the present moment, flying around the skies of Jawan, enjoying the crisp temperature.  However, she came to a stop when she saw wisps of pink fire curling up to the sky.

"If there's one thing I know better than my golden fire and my tri-colored Jewel, it's that that's Aila's fire, no doubt," she said to herself, taking a steep dive as she headed towards the Paragon.

"Aila!  Is that truly you?" she asked as she landed, her eyes gleaming brightly as she examined the purple Paragon.

[1.2]

[SpringsSong]

Sairahiniel was also flying in the skies of Jawan when she caught sight of the familiar pink fire, as well as spotted the Treasure Hollowheart that was flying at a rapid speed towards the source of said pink fire.  Almost instantly, her heart started racing as she continued to fly, waiting until she saw a sign of the familiar Paragon.

"Is that truly what my violet eyes think they are seeing?" she asked herself, angling slightly so that she could begin landing.  "Why, in all my years of learning in Hisonia under the tutelage of the Being of the Volcano... I would never be able to forget Aila's fire, or the presence of her aura."

Here, she spiraled around and began to land, giving a sharp caw.

"Aila!  Fortunali!  Fancy meeting you here!" she said, smiling brightly.

[1.2]

[SpringsSong]

Well, this small group would not be complete without the Goddess of the Harvest there, since she had known the Goddess of Music since she was a child.  She, however, was not blessed with wings like the others.  However, that did not stop her from seeing the group gathering around the Paragon.

"Well, well.  I'd say this is like our first day as Goddesses all over again, my friends," she said as she walked over to them, smiling brightly.  "How's it been for you all?  I can imagine that it would have been a bit different for each of you, going off in all our different directions," she said.

[1.2]

[SpringsSong]

Aila had started to drift off into a bit of a fog when the first of the voices reached her ears, followed by two more that were nearly simultaneous in their occurances, and she was most excited that she was hearing their voices now.  She looked around and saw the other three Goddesses.

"Nali!  Saira!  Yávi!" she said, smiling brightly as the other three ran over to her.  "Oh, it has been so long since I've seen you!  What has it been; twenty-five years since we last met?"

"Yes, it's been at least that much time, if not longer, Aila," Fortunali said, smiling as she chuckled slightly at the Paragon's use of all of their old nicknames.  "It's been far too long."

"It has indeed been too long," Sairahiniel said, holding her head high as she sat down.  "The last I heard from any of you, I was heading to Hisonia to receive tutoring from the Being of the Volcano."

"And I was learning on the banks of the oceans that lead into Inailia about the necessary nutrients in the soil to produce the best crops," Yáviel said, smiling.  "And how have you been, Aila?"

[1.4]

[SpringsSong]

"Oh, I've been okay.  I mean, you've doubtless heard about the Fall of Deraj and everything else," Aila said, and Fortunali and Yáviel stared at her blankly, while Sairahiniel merely lowered her head.

"I have," Sairahiniel said, sighing as she shook her head.  "I was greatly saddened when I heard about it from Yeraith.  She said that the others were greatly disappointed in the fact that he turned as bad as he did."

"We missed something, then," Fortunali said, shaking her head as she folded her wings in front of her, and Yáviel nodded as she flicked her tail.

"Indeed," she said, and Aila sighed as she shook her head.

"I can only remember parts of it when my Aftersight kicks in, for Deraj had my memories of those nine months erased--" she started, and then, Fortunali cut her off.

"You were pregnant?!"

[1.6]

[SpringsSong]

"...maybe?" Aila said, and Sairahiniel sighed as she gave the Paragon a firm bonk on the head.

"Yes, you were pregnant, Aila; you gave birth to twins, but then Deraj kinda killed them.  Ekal restored those memories to you, remember?" she asked, and Aila frowned as she lowered her head, revealing the three scars over her eye.

"Yes.  I do remember," Aila said.  "The scars could not allow me to forget once Ekal restored my memories..."

"So wait, what...?" Fortunali asked.  "You were expecting kids--I'm supposing they were Ekal's?"--she paused here, looking over at Aila, who blushed deeply--"...and Deraj was not happy about that, so..."

"...he killed them once they were born, and he erased your memories," Yáviel said, and Aila lowered her head as Sairahiniel nodded.

"And he formed a false memory that Ekal abandoned her for someone else when he was forced to move to Inailia," she said quietly.

[1.8]

[SpringsSong]

"No wonder Kuille was chosen to replace his father," Fortunali said.  "I mean, after all, he resurrected your younger sister for you, and he also made it possible for your elder sister to come to Evelon as something more than a spirit, did he not?" she asked, and Aila sighed.

"Valisilwen would much rather have remained dead," Aila replied.  "She hates us all, but she especially hates me.  'How is Music more important than Magic?', she constantly inquires.  She also hates my... situation."

"Your 'situation'?" Yáviel inquired, and Sairahiniel sighed as she shook her head, irritation creeping into her voice.

"Not only is she mated to Ekal, she is mated to Nyera?  You know, THAT situation?" she asked, and the other two Goddesses drew in sharp breaths as they nodded slowly.

"That cannot be helped, though," Fortunali said.  "It is just the way we are."

[2.0]

[SpringsSong]

"Yes, that is just the way we are," Aila said, shaking her head as she sighed.  "For as long as I can remember, we were taught that it was not uncommon for us Gods and Goddesses to be bound to more than one person, be they mortal or another God."

"Aye," Fortunali said.  "I've yet to discover who it is I'm to be bonded to--you and those that have discovered are lucky.  I am envious of you and Ekal... of Nyera and Ciren... of Yesac and An'ama, though it is odd to be envious of Death and Trickery... of Kuille and Alyssa..."

"Envy is a poison, Fortunali," Sairahiniel said, laughing.

"I'm sure you would know, Sairahiniel," Yáviel said, laughing.  "I'm certain you've experienced some envy yourself."

[2.2]

[SpringsSong]

"Envy?" Sairahiniel said, shaking her head as she laughed.  "I know not what you mean, dear Yáviel," she said, but it was the Paragon who responded to Sairahiniel's question.

"Oh, I think all of us know what you mean, dear Sairahiniel," Aila said, laughing.  "I think we all know that you had your eyes set on--"

"Aila!" Sairahiniel cried, flapping her wings in surprise.  "How did you remember that I liked him?" she asked, and the other two looked at them in shock and confusion.

"Who...?" Fortunali asked, and Yáviel shrugged.

"Probably that God of Time that no one's seen in the past hundred or so years," Yáviel said, shrugging as she watched Sairahiniel's cheeks turn a bright shade of red.

[2.4]

[SpringsSong]

"That is exactly it, ladies," Aila said, laughing as Sairahiniel tried to hide the fact that her face had exploded into color.  "She only met him a few times in visions, but she's sworn that they might as well be real encounters with how well she can remember them."

"Aila!" Sairahiniel said, her voice bordering on hysteria.

"Well, you have acted a bit odd as of late, Saira," Fortunali said, taking a wisp of golden fire into her claw.  "I will admit, I myself have been a slight bit... odd as of late, but I only have my suspicions.  Maybe it's because we're all starting to learn who we are bonded to?"

"It could very well be, Fortunali," Yáviel said.  "I can remember that Aila acted similarly when she first met Ekal.  But... who was the last of the Pantheon that you saw, Fortunali?"

"...Quenaz."

[2.6]

[SpringsSong]

"Oh, heaven help us then, ladies," Aila said, laughing as she placed a claw to her temples.  "Quenaz has long had his eyes on you, hasn't he, Nali?" she asked, turning her eyes to the Treasure Hollowheart.  She could have sworn that she saw the heart on her chest darken from gold to blood-red for a moment, but then, it stopped.

"Regrettably," Fortunali replied.  "Long has he spoken of having me be a companion on some of his hunts, that they may be blessed with fortunes untold, but... my abilities are not meant to be used in that fashion."

"I'm sure it could be worse, Nali," Sairahiniel said, shaking her head as she laughed.  "As Aila stated, I've never met Zaman in person, so I do not even know what he is like.  And Yáviel... you've not spoken a word as to who you are bonded to."

"I'd rather not," the Wood Slynx said, and Aila smiled sympathetically.

"I'm sure it can't be that bad, Yávi--"

"It's Bruicaunion."

[2.8]

[SpringsSong]

A stunned silence fell over the group as they stared at the Wood Slynx for several long moments before Aila finally spoke again, and when she did, it was in a soft, muted voice.

"...I take that back, then," she said, shuddering slightly.  "That's about the same level on which I would place a bond between my cousin and Tirmat." As she said this, the other three burst into laughter, shaking their heads as they tried to contain their laughter.

"I could actually see Tirmat and Lairelithoniel together, Aila," Fortunali said, shaking her head as she laughed a little more.  "After all, they both love partying..."

"Aye, that's why I place a bond between them as being on the same level as putting the Goddess of the Harvest with the God of Thunder--abilities aside, the two of you are not exactly all that compatible if I remember right from our past dealings with the entire Pantheon," Aila said.

"You have a fair memory, then, Aila," Sairahiniel said, laughing.  "As I recall, it was Ehecatl that first showed the most affection towards you, Yávi."

"Yes, but he's falling for our only blind Goddess," the Wood Slynx retorted, and Aila felt a fire begin to rise within her heart as the other three backed away slowly from her, knowing what she would most likely say.

[3.0]

[SpringsSong]

"...Ehecatl was one of my closest friends in elementary school..." Aila said in a halted voice.  "In fact, I would dare to venture to say that had we stayed in the same school throughout my high school days, it may have been him that I bonded to and not Ekal.  And now you mean to tell me that he is falling for my younger sister, who wishes she was not even a part of the Pantheon?"

"It would appear so..." Sairahiniel said quietly, wrapping her wings around her as she tried to fight off a sudden shiver.  "Is it just me, or has the air suddenly grown deathly cold?" she asked.

"It is not just you, dear Saira," Fortunali said as she wrapped her wings around herself as best as she could.  Aila moved so that her tail was where the other three could access it, and they quickly moved towards it and huddled there.

"This is when I don't mind being a Slynx," Yáviel said, smiling.  "My coat is thick enough that I do not mind the cold."

"Aye, that is one thing I miss about my Slynx form, but I soon forget that when I take to the skies, Yáviel," Aila said, smiling as she placed her snout closer to the fire.  "So... what say you to your apparent bonds?"

[3.2]

[SpringsSong]

"I say that either the Celestials hate us or they have a sad sense of humor," Fortunali said, shaking her head as she mirrored Aila's actions and placed her snout closer to the fire.  "Hyurakhun and Fáreryniel obviously conspired about this at one point or another."

"I'm sure it could be worse," Sairahiniel said as she moved as close as she dared to the fire.  "Could be Bruicaunion and Lairelithoniel forming a bond with one another--where would you place that on your levels, Aila?" she asked, and Aila--understandably--released a shrill roar.

"My cousin with Bruicaunion?" she asked severely before breaking out into laughter.  "Decidedly worse than her and Tirmat.  Endless amounts of energy and both having a reputation for causing poor Hyurakhun grief?  I wouldn't want to be at that wedding."

"Indeed, that is not something that I would want to see," Yáviel said, sitting down next to the fire.  "But wouldn't you ladies agree that this is just like old times for us?"

[3.4]