A white-haired man made his way once more through Ludo's Woods, his steps slow and aimless as a gryphlet bounced happily at his side. He followed her as often as she followed him, their path winding and circuitous until the trees eventually took on a familiar shade of reddish flesh and the Shrine came into view before them.
The man carried a bundle of cloth that rustled intriguingly and two sticks in one hand, and an iron lantern with a burning feather in it in the other. One stick was wrapped around the one in his hand like a tentacle, and even days later he treated it with wary respect. When he reached the Shrine he set down his burdens and bowed before moving to place an offering in one of the niches in the trees: a small yellow sunflower seed loaf, mad under Amalia's supervision as a sweet summer treat, dusted lightly with powdered sugar and only a little smudged from travel as he unwrapped the napkin around it.
Isuma happily nibbled crumbs from his fingers as he knelt gracefully in the forest loam before he shifted into the form of a ghostly white fox and composed himself into reverent frame of mind.
Ludo, I have brought the items that you requested: the goldfish scales, the Wicker Woman's branch, and the Sparkbird's feather. I hope that these are enough. If they are not I will go and find you more, he promised, hoping his prayer would be heard and answered - and that the mischievous soul guide was in a good mood today.
The man carried a bundle of cloth that rustled intriguingly and two sticks in one hand, and an iron lantern with a burning feather in it in the other. One stick was wrapped around the one in his hand like a tentacle, and even days later he treated it with wary respect. When he reached the Shrine he set down his burdens and bowed before moving to place an offering in one of the niches in the trees: a small yellow sunflower seed loaf, mad under Amalia's supervision as a sweet summer treat, dusted lightly with powdered sugar and only a little smudged from travel as he unwrapped the napkin around it.
Isuma happily nibbled crumbs from his fingers as he knelt gracefully in the forest loam before he shifted into the form of a ghostly white fox and composed himself into reverent frame of mind.
Ludo, I have brought the items that you requested: the goldfish scales, the Wicker Woman's branch, and the Sparkbird's feather. I hope that these are enough. If they are not I will go and find you more, he promised, hoping his prayer would be heard and answered - and that the mischievous soul guide was in a good mood today.
