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

[brushy]

[ amaterasu wails as chizuru cries, mouths her words and speaks her heart. she masks the girl's tears, and in unison, baus howls loudly in turn. one howl has become two, and in moments, a symphony— there are many wolves in trench. one was a patron, a handful were sleepers, plenty were true wolves, wild in the forests, and maybe there were sorrowful beasts, too, in the woods. all of them sing. all of them share this tune together, until amaterasu has ceased the throw of her head back.

the other's too, one by one, howl, until it disperses into silence yet again. it gives the wolf a moment to leave the girl to her crying— it also allows her to approach, eventually, pressing a cool, wet nose against the demon's cheek, followed by the hot, gentle lick of her tongue against the tears. she means to dry the stains, even though her cheek has just been made wetter.

"you will return, one day."

she hopes it, just as much as she wishes she could promise it. she]

[tealeafs]

[ By the time the cry of the wolves stills and Amaterasu returns to Chizuru's side, Chizuru can only do one thing in the face of that wet nose and then tongue against her cheek. For a moment she just allows it to happen, but then the girl turns, moving to bury her face into the wolf's fluffy fur. It's clearly revenge, pressing her wet face against Amaterasu now.)

For a moment the girl still seems to cry a little, but then she slowly stills. The sounds coming from her eb away, and even the shaking of her shoulders slowly starts to decrease, until they're not moving at all anymore.

Chizuru sucks in a few uneven breaths before she dares to pull away, rendering herself visible once more, rather than half-hidden in white fur. ]

.. sorry.

[ This time it's aimed directly at the wolf, rather than at people who aren't even here. ]

I still.. feel a little embarrassed for crying so much. But I understand you were just trying to kindly give me that chance in the first place, so.. thank you.

[brushy]

[ "never feel sorry for your heart and what you feel, chizuru." she had to say it, despite possible protest. the wolf curves her head inward, close to the back of the girl's head in an attempt to embrace her in return, as much as a wolf can— always with the intent and warmth of the arms of an all-accepting mother.

"they are you. they are beautiful." they are genuine and so well-meaning. amaterasu would like to see more of that, in humanity. ]

[tealeafs]

[ Chizuru does feel that energy radiating off the other - though she can't exactly place it. After all, it's not even like she knows what having a mother is like. She knows about the concept, but her own died so young, and Chizuru doesn't even remember her in the first place.

So when Amaterasu radiates her mom energy, the girl tries to place what it is. It's warm, and.. it's a little weird, something so accepting? It's like no matter what she does here, Amaterasu always manages to cover the action in a blanket of kindness.

At least it's helping in making her accept what the wolf is saying.. if not just a little bit. ]

You're always so kind.

[ She can't help but point it out though. It deserves to be pointed out. ]

I'm no so sure what I've done to deserve that, actually.. [ She sniffs, a hint of a sheepish smile on her face. ]

[brushy]

[ what she's done? what she is? it didn't matter. to the wolf, this girl— an oni by blood, was more human than the humans who act more like the onis she knew, raging and combative. it was ironic and surprising, but it was a shimmering light shed on just how the world and its inhabitants still surprise here, world after world.

"you are a child of mine. it is as simple as that."

she was born and she lives humbly, kindly— what more should she admire? ]

[tealeafs]

...

[ There's a brief pause where Chizuru is quiet, still lingering.. but then she pulls back a little. Not out of any sense of rejection, but - judging by the girl's expression - it seems to be confusion, more than anything.

As if she truly can't understand the other's words here. ]

A.. child of yours..?

[ The confusion is reflected in her tone when she speaks. ]

[brushy]

[ "but of course."

so matter-of-fact and so true, in the way she says it. for amaterasu, it is as clear as day and night, as real as dirt and bark they sit upon.

"i am a mother to all. this includes you. " ]

[tealeafs]

[ Considering the tone those words appear with in Chizuru's head, she doesn't question it. It sounds so confident, so natural, like it's just a fact of life. Like she's being told the sky is blue on a clear, nice day.

But at the same time it's still hard to understand. Perhaps even more so for this girl than any other. ]

Ah, please.. forgive me if this is a rude thing to ask. [ Amaterasu seems nice enough that Chizuru is sure she wouldn't get angry with her for asking - but she can't help but add that little cautious phrase all the same. Because even though she doesn't fear the other will get mad, it's not like she wants to accidentally hurt the other by asking this either. ] But.. what does that mean?

[ Being.. mother to all? How? What? ]

[brushy]

[ there is no hesitation that seems irritable or angry— chizuru may relax in what seems like an attentive smile directed toward her, only paused to lick her lips and cross her paws.

"where i am from, it is said that goodness is born from me. there is goodness in you. there is goodness in most of humanity, and in places you may not expect it. it is like blood, passed down from parent to child.

if there is goodness in you, then a part of you was born from me. that makes you a daughter, and i, a mother." ]

[tealeafs]

I.. didn't know it worked like that.

[ Some people might be entirely sarcastic when saying a phrase like that - especially in response to what the wolf is claiming here.

But Chizuru? She sounds entirely genuine. And surprised. Like this is just yet another baffling new concept she has to try and wrap her head around. Could it be that she somehow got her kindness from.. some sort of wolf spirit or wolf goddess from another world..?

...

The world works in mysterious ways. ]

Don't I have some sort of obligation to you then? Like.. um.. some filial duty..? [ Clearly that should be anyone's #1 concern after hearing something like this, right. ]

[brushy]

[ there is such a simple answer to that, that amaterasu gently chortles inward at the thought. oh, it counts. children always want to make their parents proud.

”live your life to the fullest and honor yourself. that is all i would like to see, and i will be so proud seeing it.” ]

[tealeafs]

[ It doesn't sound like the usual thing a parent would say to you, right..? Chizuru isn't sure. She tries to think of her own biological parents, only to once more realise she truly knows nothing at all about them. She can't even remember their faces. And then there's her adoptive father.

.. sure, he probably would've wanted her to be happy, but.. he did have certain expectations of her. Ones that she couldn't live up to. He wouldn't be proud of her just for making her own decisions - not when they didn't line up with his own.

It might be why Chizuru starts to look a little more sad as she nods at the wolf. ]

I'll.. try. If you really think that'd be enough..

[ The girl's tone seems to indicate that she worries that it might not be. And even though the concept of her being everyone's mother is still hard to process.. Amaterasu has still been so kind to Chizuru.

Of course she'd want to make the other proud in return, even aside from anything else. ]

[brushy]

[ "it is more than enough, and you will do wonderfully."

her only "expectation" is lodged in belief and support, and if that wasn't enough— well, the wolf mother has already proven that she is here to help, and in any way she could. at last, though, she stands and shakes herself, noticing the twinge of . . . something in her features, and attempts to "wipe" it away with a lick across her cheek.

"would you like to stay beneath the tree longer?" ]

[tealeafs]

[ Chizuru nods. ]

I'd really like that.

[ She means it. After all, the tree provides a sad kind of nostalgia, a longing for home.. But at the same time, it's the closest thing she can get to home in this place. She would like to spend a few more moments in its presence, allowing to wolf to give her that lick without complaint.

After a few seconds, Chizuru politely adds: ] If that's okay.

[ It's part her usual politeness, part still feeling emotionally vulnerable, really. ]

[brushy]

[ ”of course. what is here is yours.”

the trees belong to everyone, now. they are part of the sleeper community, and amaterasu would never be against a desire so pure.

“you may come and go however you please. i shall take my leave— but, please stay, for as long and as many times as you would like.”

amaterasu had more things and people to check and attend to. she’s on her feet and rounding about the tree in preparation.

”i enjoyed our time.” ]

[tealeafs]

[ At least it's not hard to understand that the wolf might have more things to do. Chizuru generally assumes that everyone has a pretty busy schedule - and if Amaterasu, on top of that, is the mother of all.. Well, then she sure must have a whole lot of people to check in on, Chizuru thinks.

So she just nods again, before politely bowing. ]

Thank you. For your gift to everyone..

[ And if other people might not thank Amaterasu for it, then Chizuru certainly will. ]

I'll make sure to enjoy the trees. Please take care on your way.

[brushy]

[ amaterasu gives the girl a long, lingering glance. her thoughts come to, all encircling as she takes the gratitude and returns love.

"the sun is always with you, chizuru."

the wolf picks up on a bouncing lope, before off she goes, with her dash of speed and etheral blooms behind her. ]