5/1/2025, 2:07 AM
![[Image: Aine.png]](http://magatia.net/x/Aine.png)
The festivities drifted on for hours, filled with laughter and merriment. It was not quite the same as the hundreds of Beltane celebrations she had seen over the course of her life, but Epona was pleased - this world was different, she had to often remind herself.
She thought back to she and Alistair's first Beltane, wherein they had unwittingly been bound by Aine herself. It had seemed nonchalant at the time, but their unspeakable bond was evidence of the goddess' power, even if their fates had not been bound across lifetimes. The moment the daisy chain touched their shoulders, it had all been over - it was the batting of a butterfly's wings and the effects rippled into every aspect of their lives.
And at the end of that life, their massive family was a testament to the boundless love for one another and the life they had made together. Would there be those who left this ceremony feeling the same: the weight of connection, as terrifying as it was wonderful? The exhilarating, nauseating, profoundly moving moment of realizing whatever they had felt a breath before, had coalesced into something altogether different in the next?
She hoped so. Not because Avon hosted the festival itself, but because she wanted that for others. Epona solemnly accepted her title of Diviner to serve as the vessel for the gods, doling out and conveying their wishes where possible, if it was to their desire. The crone would do just that on this day, receiving the young couples who wished to pursue a union on such a blessed and holy day. Should she feel the compulsion, she might even offer a word of blessing to dance partners whose bond resonated.
Golden hour reached its peak and the warming, dreamy glow of sunlight streaming down upon the earth was the thing of dreams. Birds sang, both in the trees around them and those elsewhere - it was as though they knew what lay ahead and they wished to provide the backdrop, or at least that's what Epona chose to think. Truthfully, they were merely roosting for the day, but that was a less appealing way of thinking of the world's magic.
Epona settled onto the fallen log within Aine's Embrace, soaking in the sight of the scattered wolves and other creatures who had attended the day's event. With a gentled smile across her lips, she summoned all who wished to take part in the final ritual of the day - a simple dance.
She had earlier tasked them all with choosing their dance partners, a request that was fulfilled by offering a daisy to their choice. As she scanned the clearing, she was pleased to see her instructions had been followed. Earlier in the day, she had attempted to show them all the basic with a demonstration with Koyuki - whether or not they retained the source material would soon be made clear beneath the truth-bearing light of golden hour. The moves were a series of twirling motions that most anyone could master - even children, but required a good sense of paw placement so as to not send one another onto the ground.
In th' last light o' th' day, we revel in th' season o' abundance t'come with a simple dance. Whatever clouds may threaten us, we are t' enjoy this light an' love brought t' us this day,Epona began.
As Avon's Diviner, it is m'honor an' pleasure t' oversee this rite. It is m'wish that ye take th' bonds found today with ye wherever ye go, for th' rest o' your lifetime an' any beyond it.
The moon child took a small breath, inhaling the thick and heady scent of spring on the air. Aine had certainly blessed them with a picturesque day and spared no expense.
Let us begin - be careful not t'step on your partner's paws,Epona beckoned them, a teasing edge to the last part of her statement.
When ye make a full circle around th' clearing before me, I will see ye off t'enjoy your night.
Epona disembarked the log she had stood upon for leverage and onto flat ground, crossing a few paces to stand beside a small heap of daisy chains. She hadn't asked a raccoon to put together anything before, but it had turned out perfectly. Without hands of her own, it was as close as she could come to replicating her previous life's offerings.
INSTRUCTIONS
To participate in the dance, just post your character showing up with their chosen partner. PLEASE allow a character's partner to post immediately after their other half, and ping your character's partner in your post so that everyone knows who posts next. I will post the next round with Epona on May 22, giving everyone 3 weeks to get in! ♥ Children are welcome in this dance, it's just a cute little thing and will only be 2~3 rounds in length, with the 3rd round essentially being your character's response to things. This does NOT have to be romantically inclined unless you wish it to be (for adults)!
If you want a partner chosen for you at random, tell me and I will try to choose someone for you (with consent of the other party)!
IF you wish to have a UNION of your characters, please tell me and we'll figure out how we work that in! Epona can offer them a blessing when she drops the daisy cord on them that binds them, or it can be a thread broken out just for them. Just give me a holler so we can plan it out all out, or you can request it and let me cook something up.
If you have any questions, please DM me on Discord (Foxfolly), ping me in-server, or DM this account and I'll get back to you ASAP!
