the sun rises (ota)

[brushy]

Who: amaterasu & you! (and some closed prompts)
What: mostly the blooming of the guardian saplings in their designated locations; refer to the page! also a reminder to check ammy's info page regarding her appearance to your character, if you already haven't!
When: throughout may
Where: arouuuuuu--

Content Warnings: plant body horror + harm being done to an animal in one of the closed prompts, monster body horror for anyone who wants to tag with their monster dreams!

[ during the first few daylights of may, amaterasu is diligently at work; she trots almost nonstop left and right to visit the small, green little saplings that would become strong with the sun. it's always so cloudy in trench though, even if daylight is finally upon them after an entire month of darkness. on the morning of the eighth, there is something different about this sunrise; a distant wolf's howl accompanies its ascension as the rays shower trench in a way it possibly never has. it's warm, welcoming, and wishes a brilliant day to all of those who greet it (especially mothers— she's only now just found out about mother's day).



at the locations of the Mental Health and Recovery Clinic, Trenchwood Farm, The Sanctuary and Farther Shores, one may either see the phenomena happening or be drawn to the blooms already in full: the once hardworking greenlings have grown unreasonably fast into reaching trees, bark and all. they're missing something— until it happens. an unseen force encourages them to bloom, and in an instant, the cherry blossoms burst with life, with energy and a powerful, energetic kick into the polluted soil its roots bury in. it doesn't stretch far, but it helps, and it tries its best to maintain the soil and water around it clean and purified. those sensitive to the supernatural will feel a palpable lift in the pollution where these trees are situated, that they are of great origin, important, sacred. animals will naturally be drawn to them, and so will people. for their beauty, for their shelter, and of course, for their purity and bridge to being closer to nature. even those who are not supernaturally inclined will undoubtedly feel at peace under these gentle giants. what's not to feel peaceful about, viewing the cherry blossoms gently hovering in the breeze that greets you under the shady branches?

you might even be there to catch the sight of a white wolf admiring her handiwork. or, perhaps . . . that's not a wolf at all. a woman, a little rabbit, or even a snow-white horse (or, is that . . . a dragon?). it's hard to tell with this shapeshifting blanket she was given, and amaterasu has delighted herself in bringing it everywhere for its comfort (you can tell; it's already pretty dirty, but it's not as if she cares). ]

(ooc: just as a note, amaterasu can either come in her regular wolf-shape or a temporary form, either human, statue or one of the other brush gods! please let me know if you have a preference, to maintain or shapeshift (and the desired shape, if any)! if there is no preference, i will randomize! hmu at @liberos.plurk if you would like to plot further!)

Comments

[dohaeris]

[sansa is a little nervous of lady amaterasu bellowing her true name like that, but she doesn't dare correct her. how is it that a horse form can speak the common tongue but a wolf one can't? she turns sideways, planting both hands on amaterasu's horse flank and pushing her carefully towards the ocean. lady trots along the other side like a coach dog, trying to keep her on a straight path.]

Oh, I wouldn't dare ride on such an important person as yourself.

[it's an idle platitude as she concentrates on keeping amaterasu steady. sansa could never ride a horse without a saddle, she's not sure it's even possible.]

[brushy]

[ the horse’s tail flicks almost elegantly. she is walking— this is good. the more speed the less dizziness, she sees. so far it’s only a simple, slow moving gait. she wants to lift her head, arch her neck, but finds herself heavy.

(how does a horse talk and a wolf not? blame capcom) ]

How will you keep up with me, then? I am so very fast— I think I would like you on my back.

[dohaeris]

[sansa keeps a steady hand on her shoulder, attempting to guide her towards the sea. lady holds the line on her other side.]

Oh, it's only a short distance to the water, now. I'm afraid I wouldn't know how to ride a horse without a saddle, and I don't think we could fit one over the flowers, but if you care to wear one when you are well, I will ride with you.

[brushy]

[ the horse seems to snort, or chuff at this— but she does chew a bit, idly. a little stumble here, with her weight being pushed, but she fights herself in the decline of soft sand. ]

Oh, very well. I’ll have you know I am a gentle ride.

[ that depends on her definition for “gentle”. either way, the spray of the ocean is close! ]

[dohaeris]

[sansa tries to clutch at her side when she stumbles. horses seem to lame so easily.]

Oh--! Lady Ammako, you must be very careful not to turn an ankle. Horses don't heal so well as humans or wolves.

[she must be unshod, could the sand get into her hoof and cause irritation? she knows sometimes they get stones stuck in there, which have to be carefully removed.]

I'm sure you'd take very good care of your rider, as any lady mother would.

[riding a horse that is a friend does sound kind of...fun, as long as they don't have to go up or down a mountain.]

[brushy]

Yes— oh, these long, bony legs . . .

[ she digs at the black sand a bit, but it's softer here; the tide must have been here earlier, and the crescent shapes of her hooves are leaving marks. what were they talking about? oh— ]

I had a long-time companion I miss dearly— His name is Issun. He would ride on my head and sleep in my fur. It broke my heart to part with him, but I'm proud. He became an envoy, and is a magnificent artist.

[dohaeris]

[sansa smiles faintly, thinking about jon and bran. even arya had seemed comfortable enough in braavos.]

Your friend sounds very accomplished. It's much easier to bear the distance if we know our loved ones are doing well.

[she and lady do their best to bear amaterasu steadily along towards the sea.]

I saw my little sister and brother in the portals last month. I was told they were killed, but they told me they had gotten away. Our smallest brother, too. It made everything so much better. I still hope they'll wash up here, of course. It's miserable to hide, but I'm very glad they're all right.

It would be wonderful if they could meet you.

[brushy]

[ the sloshing is soon met on her hooves— splashing and entering the coming and going of waves, amaterasu enters only enough to wet her ankles in full. should she go out deeper? the temperature doesn't bother her— she's already hotblooded. ]

I would love to meet them. Are they still in danger?

[dohaeris]

[sansa wades into the water, not quite hissing at the cold. she longs for her boots, but she can't risk anything happening to them.]

Yes, perhaps not Bran--he's learning the magic of our world, and he's very well hidden. I don't know where Rickon is, but he has a very capable guard. And Arya--I suppose she's only as safe as I was, but that's better than how we were before.

[she pauses. how to tell lady amaterasu she has to submerge herself without accidentally invoking comparisons to a bath?]

I think you have to swim out deep enough to reach all the flowers.

[which is a little concerning, as sansa has never swam in anything bigger than the hot pools at winterfell...not in this form, anyway. well, lady can probably keep her from drowning.]

[brushy]

Perhaps I could— Oh.

[ splash. with sansa and lady in the splash zone no less, amaterasu takes to falling onto her side by the time the water has hit her hocks. sea foam clings to them as the horse grows a little frantic to keep her head above the water, despite already being soaked by it. ]

[dohaeris]

Lady Ammako!

[sansa instinctively shuts her eyes against the saltwater. when she opens them she darts frantically towards amaterasu's horse's head, dropping to her knees to take it into her lap. she feels the current tugging her from side to side.]

I suppose that's one way to do it.

[she tries to splash water over the flowers on her head and neck, while lady paddles her front legs furiously at amaterasu's side. sansa watches some petals drift away out to sea.]

Just try and keep your head still. I'll hold it out of the water.

[despite that sansa cups a little water in her hand and pours it over the flowers on amaterasu's face, trying to to brush them away as gently as she can.]

[brushy]

[ the horse, despite settling safely, seems to be . . . moaning? or just groaning in a dramatic, displeased sort of way. this still feels like she’s taking a saltwater bath.

she dislikes baths.

amaterasu closes her eyes and does just that, breathing warmly into sansa’s lap and heavily sighing at least once or twice.

it is serving its purpose— the roots that have burrowed beneath her hide is peeling away. the demon petals are losing their foothold. the more she gets better, her tail slaps the water just a little harder each time in sansa’s and lady’s general direction. perhaps, a sign that she is feeling playful, and more like herself. ]

[dohaeris]

[a bath would be warm, and sansa's freezing. she continues to splash water over amaterasu's head and neck, and brush away the flowers as gently as she can. lady attempts to do the same for her legs and torso. sansa eyes lady amaterasu's tail flicking with a faint smile. it reminds her of nothing so much as a cat (but then she's never really paid much attention to the back ends of horses.]

Look, it's working. The flowers are coming off. Soon you'll be able to paddle around, if you like.

[do horses swim? well, she should be able to remember from when she was a wolf.]

You might have to go a little further out.

[brushy]

[ more and more, there was clarity to her thoughts. they weren't so muddled. she wasn't so dizzy. her eyes could open wider to inspect the girl's handiwork. she sees— she sees so much more than she did. ]

Will you come with me? [ she could go by herself at this rate, but there was something more that amaterasu had wanted to do. more and more was she seeing just how diligently sansa was working for her sake, shivering and wet, not nearly as robustly ready for harsh temperatures without a coat on her. ] Hug me tight. They may call it Coldblood, but my blood runs hot. I shall keep you warm.

[ and it is, for the record, hot underneath her skin. it's like touching the wall close to a furnace. ]

[dohaeris]

[sansa laughs a little, shivering, and brushes the last of the plant matter from amaterasu's neck.]

I never knew what kind of blood you had. Your magic is more like the children of the forest, from my world. Or Garth Greenhand! The Tyrells always said they ran warm, too. None of them ever wore a jacket.

[well, except for lady olenna, who was a redwyne by birth. sansa sort of sits down in the sand and wraps her arms around amaterasu's neck.]

You'd like my friend Margaery Tyrell. I think you would find you have very much in common.

[even the support of very powerful grandmothers!]

[brushy]

[ amaterasu will allow her to rest there, for a bit. gather herself, warm up, too. he’s a bit antsy, now that the world has cleared for her and the demon plants are peeled clean off of her. ]

Oh? Is she a mother, as well?

[ she will gather the side of her neck and head to cradle sansa, make sure she’s close. ]

[dohaeris]

[sansa laughs and tries to scoot closer. it really is much warmer.]

No, she's not very much older than me. But she's a queen, and a queen is supposed to be a mother to her people. She's very kind, and she cares about everyone, and sometimes she jests when you least expect it. She always knew what to say to make me feel better, even when everything was terrible. We used to walk in the gardens.

[perhaps someday when cersei is no longer regent and sansa has retaken the north margaery could visit the glass gardens at winterfell...it would be nice to see her again, but sansa has no idea what she'd do in trench. would she try and marry a pthumerian?]

[brushy]

[ with the tide rolling in, it's easier for amaterasu to allow her legs space to stretch and sink into deeper waters. as long as sansa keeps close, the mare helps guide her to a sturdier cling. ]

You're right; I would like her.

[ she might even like her already! now, ammy is tricky thing, too— as the water grows deeper, she seems to favor her back for sansa to go to. ]

[dohaeris]

[sansa clings to amaterasu; never having ridden bestride like a normal person, she lacks the skill and inclination to properly attach her legs to an underwater horse, and they sort of drift along beside her.]

Of course you'd like my mother too, but she's much less mischievous. Someone had to be, or Arya would have cut my clothes to ribbons while my brothers ran wild in the Wolfswood. She's not really a wolf, either--oh, but we're all fish now, aren't we? I always thought she must be happier than any of them, in the ocean.

[brushy]

[ amaterasu seems to . . . laugh? at the mention of an arya. she can see a feisty thing that likes to gnaw and pull at whiskers or ears for fun. torment her sister for the heck of it, because she enjoyed a good chase and her sister so mad. ]

Perhaps a wolf at heart, still, if you are all a family. She seems wild, and free.

[ well, it's time to get out of the water, or head closer to shore. it's rather prompt— and she doesn't warn sansa to slide off but rather makes it a task to catch her by surprise. ]

[dohaeris]

[catelyn stark has never been wild in her life. sansa laughs.]

Yes, she was as much a Stark as a Tully, but I wouldn't say she was very wild--

[oh!! they are out of the water!! sansa sort of drops down on amaterasu's back, clinging to her neck very tightly.]

Oh! I think I can walk from here, Lady Ammako...

[brushy]

Oh, of course, of course. But I need to thank you, you see! You have cared for me despite my moaning about baths. You've lifted a curse on your own, child. Have you realized?

[ ah, but— amaterasu doesn't cease in her walking. in fact, once out of the water, there is a soft little prance to her gate, keeping an arched, elegant posture with her neck. ]

Let us have some fun.

[dohaeris]

[sansa's eyes grow wide in fear. she clutches amaterasu's neck even tighter.]

Oh, but Lady Ammako, in this form I need a saddle to ride with you. Perhaps you could set me down, and Lady and I could run with you, together? I'm sure we could keep up, for a little while.

[brushy]

Allow your legs to settle naturally at my sides, child! Your breast to my nape, and hold my mane as you would reins! Very, very tightly. You can do it.

[ the mare's gate grows antsy and excited to run, only giving the girl those few moments to prepare herself— before her strides hit the sand and propel them, forward and fast. the transition to a gallop is smooth enough, an airy bounce to it kept and hopefully making the ride manageable. the gallop escalates, the mare whinnies, throws her head and snorts out the air she strongly breathes—

and soon enough, they are at a fully-fledged dash across the beach. wild and free, as the wolf mother had said. ]

[dohaeris]

[unfortunately sansa uses the time to try and make her case...]

It's not natural to me, I was only ever taught to ride sidesaddle--!

[and then they are off, lady barking wildly after horse-amaterasu. sansa digs her heels into amaterasu's side and clings to her neck, she manages to concentrate her chakra into her feet and legs to keep them and her from flying wildly off amaterasu's back. she hopes that arya might be watching from the sea, as she'd probably enjoy this more than anyone.]