The world had succumbed to a world of haze and ice, snow falling from the sky in thick flakes that dusted the paving stones before the temple. The courtyard, normally filled with activity as various priests, priestesses, shaman, and monks went about their daily business, was empty, save for the carpet of snow left by the passing storm. Staring out the window on one level of the temple’s largest pagoda, Sehryn Raincatcher, High Priestess of Esera, gazed out into the storm and watched.

It was not the storm that she watched, however. In the storm, dancing amidst the white and the cold, were visions of other places, other creatures, visions of revolution and greatness. She had seen the visions before. Had understood only in part what they meant. Yet they remained. They remained, and the High Priestess could not say why. What did Esera want her to do in response to the things she had seen? Would the goddess grant her more than these few flashes of faces and great deeds? What dreams awaited Sehryn when she rested, the snow leopard wondered, and what would they reveal to her?

In a flash, the vision ended, broken by a speck of black against the white sheet into which the priestess gazed. Blinking, Sehryn watched as a lone figure drew closer to the temple, a traveler and a stranger come to the temple in a storm, swept here by some instinct… Sehryn gave a soft purr, amused by her own thoughts. She looked everywhere for Esera’s signs these days, even in the travelers who brought tales of great adventures beyond these mountains. It was natural, but foolish, and the snow leopard chided herself for these silly thoughts as she stepped away from the window and shut it with a gently tap of her paw.

The High Priestess made her way down the stairs of the pagoda and along a walkway open on the sides but roofed and walled only by thick, red pillars and made her way into the great temple proper. She had drew near the door by the time the knock rang through the empty hall. Lifting one paw, the snow leopard drew the door open.

“Enter, traveler,” Sehryn said in her warm, accented voice. The snow leopard’s green-blue eyes were luminous, her calm expression warmly lit by the temple’s torches. “You must be cold and hungry after your journeys. The climb up the mountain is not easy. I will see about having a room prepared and a fire stoked so that you may rest.” The priestess did not ask questions or demand the wolf declare his intentions. The temple was open to all. Esera was a welcoming goddess, a goddess who did not abide by falsehoods and trickery. If an undesirable guest entered her house, Sehryn would know. She did not sense any danger from this creature, intimidating and worldly though he seem. Turning, Sehryn caught sight of a young initiate walking nearby.

“Cub, go and prepare a room for our guest, and tell Maisie to prepare a meal,” Sehryn said.

“Yes, High Priestess,” the young one said with a bow before she scampered off. Sehryn nodded, as if satisfied, and turned her cerulean eyes back to the stranger.

Vera OOC: I’m so excited!!!!

Word Count: 548

Sehryn blinked and dipped her head slightly, acknowledging his words. She knew enough of the world to understand that the north did not mean what lay north of the mountain, but rather he came from one of the two northern continents of Verys and Quarys. Based on his accent and the pleasant warmth of his tone of voice, Sehryn guessed that he must be of the former, though she had no way of knowing for certain without asking, and such truths were meant to be told in their time.

It seemed that she would not be waiting long. After the initiate scampered off to prepare a room for the visitor, the wolf bowed his head and introduced himself, both by name and by the tribe to which he belonged. Sehryn knew a little of Northern customs, mostly what she could learn from books on the subject. Very few Northerners left their homeland to venture this far south, however. His presence here made her curious, though the look on her face did not betray her interest as she returned his bow with a slight dip of her head.

“You are welcome to the halls of the Goddess of Stars and of Truth, Night of Endless Snow, Watcher in the Cold North,” the High Priestess said formally. She did not speak comfortably with those she did not know. Truthfully, she didn’t find it easy to speak comfortably with those she did know. But she always made an effort to be cordial when visitors came.

With a slow, calm blink, the snow leopard added, “I am High Priestess Raincatcher, Speaker of the Stars. If you have questions, you may ask.” The high priestess tended towards bluntness, she knew, when it came to her role. Many travelers came to seek a “fortune teller,” believing Sehryn to hold the very essence of their future in her paws. Her visions were not so straightforward, but what little Truth she saw, she passed on, if it be the Goddess’ will. Though she did not know if this wolf believed in her abilities, or had simply stopped here to take shelter from the cold. It was possible. Unlikely, but possible.

Vera OOC: It’s all good

Word Count: 368

For a moment, the wolf was intriguingly silent. This was not a common occurrence, as many who came to this temple had questions, many questions, usually more than one, and they were all too eager to ask them. That was part of the reason why Sehryn never put off the stating of business when it came to strangers and travelers. It was best to know their intentions at once. This hesitation, and the stammering, however, were somewhat new, and the High Priestess couldn’t quite contain a quizzical tip of her head as she waited for him to formulate his thoughts.

Her confusion was not cleared much by his confession of emotional instability. The words came as a surprise, given his strong, weather-worn appearance. She would have taken him, at first glance, as a creature of the world, in a manner of speaking. And why in the name of Esera would he come to the Goddess of Truth for illumination regarding matters of the heart? Were those not pursuits more suited to Kleis, the Goddess of Love?

Still, it was not Sehryn’s place to turn away any creature who came in search of truth. The snow leopard’s expression was placid as ever, though a slight frown may have revealed some of her befuddlement to the stranger. “Your… emotions. I see. Well, the Goddess knows many things. Perhaps she can help you explore these feelings to come to a better understanding of yourself.” The High Priestess regarded Night of Endless Snow thoughtfully. There was something about him… something…

Sehryn’s eyes widened. Before her, she saw a stretch of flat land as far as her eyes could see. She felt it beneath her paws, as solid as if she stood there among the hills beneath a seemingly endless sky. Turning, she saw Night of Endless Snow standing beside her, his gaze locked on hers, words stirring her cheek as he spoke to her, yet she heard nothing.

With a jolt, the High Priestess snapped out of the vision. She stood still, frozen, uncertain. Never before had her visions of her own journeys taken her away from the mountains upon which Esera’s temple was built. Certainly she had dreamed of exploration, of discovering the truth of the world out there, but this… This was no dream, no daytime fancy. This was a vision, given of the Goddess. What did it mean?

Stepping closer, Sehryn gazed hard into the wolf’s eyes, searching for something there she could not put into words, yet she felt it, felt something drawing her to him that she barely understood.

“Who are you?” she asked softly, the question spoken almost absentmindedly, as if she spoke to herself. “Why have you really come?”

Vera
OOC: Haha wow, poor Night only just met her and he gets to see just how weird she is.
Word Count: 460