Scene #9790: Tending Spirit Homes

Owner	Pose
Tamamo	Down the river, toward the sea. Far away from any Urban Center. For those who've been here before, but only that once, it's a return with a dramatic contrast. For any who haven't, the contrast is instead graded over kilometers, passing through a low-grade no-man's-land, a place visibly touched by what's most recently been dubbed the Pandemic Threat, only for that alien vista to fade away into what's somehow even less usual -- ordinary earths, tough grasses tolerant of poor soil and, ever so gradually, more and more green. It's semi-clear where a boundary is passed, as every stone has moss or creeping vines, trees dip their roots in the riverwater. Water flows lazily, then quickly, finding gaps where nature that looks far more than a year old grasps it. Brush grows densely, the bite of winter still a long ways off, from ankle high on up to trees tall enough to form a comfortable shade. Not too high. There are limits to the growth, as much as the rules have been bent. One can see, too, where all of this started, there on the stretch of land between two winding courses of water, a tiny island that can barely be called such, having been just large enough for what Tamamo had intended. Here in twilight, there are lights on it, amber and flickering. candlelight and paper lantern. More than that, there's a blue-green glow, but that is barely perceptable at all at this hour. It's only just becoming possible to see what is not, actually, bioluminescence. The sun sets early, here. The valley runs southeast to northwest, and the southwest ridge casts long shadows. The tallest tree here is cypress, decorated with paper lantern and thin, red ropes. From a hanging cloth are written the words, 'Let us not be greedy, yet hold a myriad of wishes.' It takes enough attention that one may not immediately notice many of the smaller constructions, even though they were certainly put here by people, originally. Twigs and quarts and twine and immortal glitter to catch the setting sun's last rays, paper oiled against the weather, all kept somehow clean -- 'somehow,' because the tiny, mostly ankle-high village is certainly inhabited. Its founding is commemorated on one small stele, in verse. The stones are old, the cliffs are tall, the black sand dry. The brook is long, the stream is wide, and lush shores die. Far my boat has sailed this day, the way is odd and dark. This new shrub chose a long road, but light and rains are nigh. There's a great deal to see, as difficult as it is to notice.
Tamamo	Tamamo has directed the way by boat, preferring to keep to low-powered means, even if that means it takes longer. There is no warpgate that goes here. There is no airfield, nor intention of flight, a method that carries risks even this many years after the Onslaught, and the omens are less clear when less safe paths are considered. 'Something' unsafe is going to happen, in any case -- she'd made that clear when inviting people to join her, before setting out. "I am not sure as to just what danger it is of which we should be wary, but the safety of the entire effort is at risk, in the frame of the following month. We shall have enough time to patiently consider matters if we leave at once." And so they did, and so they arrive. "Be careful of your step. There is a small path for us, and even smaller paths for them. We will first see to that which is the least shy to our presence, which is also that which holds the most power." That's the usual way of things. The tiny, ghostly presences of the tiny, crafted village aren't much stronger than they appear, even if their presence has somehow resulted in the whole valley transforming. Up ahead, however... Tamamo leads the way past the little castle and the little trailer park and the little gem-inlaid grand hall(?) and up to the same tree as had been visible from far off. She's dressed formally, for the occasion, her many-layered robes letting her hide her hands in her sleeves when she holds them together, and it almost looks like she's about to begin some shrine ritual... until she nudges Lilian forward. She whispers, "This one was yours and mine together, but more your own efforts. The tree is young, the spirit a little older, yet still new."
Lilian Rook	Though she had thought about it once or twice in the time since, Lilian had tacitly assumed she wouldn't see this place again in the next five years. If anything, she might be coming to finally check on it when she has her first child. The fact that Tamamo would suddenly need eyes on it now is a little worrying, given the perceived frailty of that little project she had worked alongside the others with, not so long ago, and a little bit more exciting than that. The results, despite being the handiwork of her own magic, are strangely breathtaking. Unable to row, with her arm still splinted, Lilian has nothing to do but to sit in the boat and marvel at the spread of what they'd all done. Even if the encroachment of nature, back upon the forces that had seized the Earth from it once before, is subtly graduated, the sheer vitality that must be propelling the quiet green swell across No-Man's-Land is far from lost on her. Her ever-increasing familiar with woods and flowers and green-growing things has only made it clearer just how much the gratitude of little spirits is responsible for. "I wonder if there are even more?" she marvels out loud, reverently hushed. "Do you think more of them came here from far away? What if it just keeps growing like this? Do you think, in a hundred years, we'll have made 'a holy place' ourselves?" She hadn't paid so much attention to everyone else's workings that she clearly remembers them all after a year, so her light-footed journey through the cluster of tiny homes gives her ample reason to slow and admire them with fresh eyes. Her gaze sparkles at what she had hardly noticed before. Stopping only to breathe in the scent of soil and leaves and clean water for a while, Lilian opens her eyes to Tamamo's judging, and gasps. "Oh my goodnes! Look at you!" she says, to the tree, trotting up to approach it. "You're so strong now! I know I helped out, but so much of this is your work, right?" A smile finds her lips as her fingers run over the bark. "You're doing a great job. Thank you for trusting me, and for hanging in there."
Petra Soroka	Petra wasn't here to help set this little wo-man's-land up, but she's heard about it in the intervening year, from offhand remarks from Tamamo and Lilian about the project. It being in danger demands her to help, even parasocially, because if even one of Lilian's 'gardens' gets trampled, the psychological effects would be terrible, and Petra can't accept that. Though Tamamo would likely be able to forewarn the group if any Antegent were going to attack on the way, Petra can't bring herself to totally relax on the boat ride up through the apocalyptic wastes. Her tail swooshes back and forth with a low thrum of anxiety, both to their destination and the way there, keeping an eye out into the evening. She also can't relax because, of course, it's Petra who has to row. Even if Lilian's arm wasn't broken, that's a Petra job. Doing so for however many hours it takes, even with the Silver offloading some of the physical effort, means she's sweating and tuckered out by the time they arrive. "Oh--! Oh, it's pretty!" Taking her eyes off the river makes the change in landscape seem more abrupt than it is. She exclaims at first, then hastily lowers her voice, to not disturb the glowy little townsfolk. "Oh my goodness. Look at them! They're living in their tiny little houses!" "Do you think, in a hundred years, we'll have made 'a holy place' ourselves?" With a smug tone, Petra's tail swishes back and forth as she carefully picks her way through the path. "I mean, it's only natural, for the handiwork of two goddesses." Petra gets down on her hands and knees to inspect the spirits more closely from a respectable distance, and gets entranced by the dollhouse qualities of the whole environment. "Um-- oh, what danger should we be looking for, actually?"
Angela	Netzach has come by again. And it's just Netzach, actually, having brought his little kodoma pals along with them again. Their entire little grouping seems to remember the way because it may be one of Netzach's favorite outings, and one of their few outings at all ever. They don't get out much. But they always seem to make time to come to THIS place with Tamamo. Maybe it brings them some measure of peace and comfort, or maybe they care enough about the goofy little kodoma creatures that it does, in fact, get them out of bed in the morning a little bit. "Thanks Tamamo," Netzach smiles lazily and then follows her up to the castle. The kodoma hanging of their body dislodge from Netzach and gradually crawl and hobble towards the tree so they can just sort of vibe around it. "Pretty cool to see something good you helped out later and see how it's been going, huh?" Netzach asides to Lilian. "Yeah, actually, what sort of danger, haha, I didn't think to bring any EGO."
Tamamo	The current alone will get them there, eventually -- so long as they don't hit the rocks. Still, it's better for having Petra there to provide impulse. Tamamo seems sure that they'll have time, but it'd've been completely dark. As is, Petra is stuck doing this for a looong while. Enough that she will probably need some water. 'I wonder if there are even more?' Tamamo gives a warm smile, something to which Lilian may have become accustomed by now. "Oh, yes. Both trees and communities can grow on their own, if the soil is good. Which... ah, it was not, literally speaking, but that is the very reason why such great efforts were necessary to get us started." 'Do you think, in a hundred years, we'll have made 'a holy place' ourselves?' "Mm, with another decade or two of careful tending, it might be fair to call it such. It has..." Tamamo lets a sleeve slip to wiggle her fingers in wan light. "...the touch of the divine, no?" She giggles, softly, settling into 'vaguely approving' tone when Petra says similar. Petra gets down on her hands and knees to inspect the spirits more closely from a respectable distance... As the valley darkens, the little spirits become more visible. The closer ones are startled into staring back at her, while the further off ones are less troubled by the giant in their near-midst, and going about their little spirit business. It's hard to tell what business this is. A lot are moving about as if carrying things or working with things, but it's not possible to see what they're carrying, if it really is anything. One is crawling over a roof on all fours, doing... repairs? Flattening the paper? Something methodical like that. There's a tiny twig-ladder nearby. The social activity is probably easier to understand, because it's an easily recognized mass of little motions that add into group activities. Somebody left little wooden benches along the paths, which are overhung with greenery planted by someone else. Sitting in pairs on shaded benches must be a highly favored activity. Netzach's kodoma, even if they're some different sort of creature, hardly pose a disruption at all, by contrast, even if they get close. The local spirits at most give them a poke, or -- some silent communication no one else is able to pick up. They bow for greetings, and they bow for partings, too, both of which happen a lot as they move about the tiny village. 'Pretty cool to see something good you helped out later and see how it's been going, huh?' "Just so. It has not been so long for myself, of course -- there were more needs of 'maintenance,' in the first weeks, to be sure we made the most of those efforts that had been made, but they are quite capable of taking care of themselves with only a little extra in the way of offerings, now."
Tamamo	'Um-- oh, what danger should we be looking for, actually?' 'Yeah, actually, what sort of danger, haha, I didn't think to bring any EGO.' "The... ah, 'leader' is not quite the correct term, but this one should be able to tell us more. I know that it is something external, and there are mixed signs of whether it should be considered 'natural.'" 'You're doing a great job. Thank you for trusting me, and for hanging in there.' Out of one of the tree hollows, another figure appears. Another little spirit -- or not. This one has leaf-clothes and a flower hat, numerous pink petals stacked in layers. Their presence is that much stronger, though still, as Tamamo said, 'young.' They look a bit like a faery that wouldn't be out of place in a British children's book from the 20th century, at that, apart from too many of the features being smoothed-out into vagueness, like they can't quite come into focus. It takes a bit of effort to hold one's vision steady and make out more, but not so much effort is needed to hear them. "Hello~" With a stretch, and the impression of a yawn. "Oh~ it's you! You're here again. This place remembers." A child's voice, 'small' in a sort of sense of feeling 'far away,' like it'd be so easy to not hear at all, but clear enough when focused on. "This place remembers most of all, even if we were sleeping, then." Tamamo gives a gently prompting, "Mhm. Hello, little one. We have brought--" she snaps her fan open and makes a gesture at Petra, "--offerings." There was a package with three sugared rice cakes and a bundle of incense in the boat, bundled up with a bright ribbon and set atop a seat where it wouldn't fall. Did Petra bring it? Will she figure out she was supposed to? "Oh~ Thank you~ as always. Oh, but the usual, I don't know, that won't be enough to keep things going, now." "...Oh?" "Because of that guy over the ridge, the one trying to get through the mountain. That's what they've told me, anyway~ The ones who came from that way, they all spoke of 'that one.' That's how it is." Maybe that could still use some elaboration.
Lilian Rook	'I mean, it's only natural, for the handiwork of two goddesses.' Lilian smiles, which she tries to hide as a snort into the back of her hand. "Whore." she says, fondly. 'Pretty cool to see something good you helped out later and see how it's been going, huh?' "It's a shame Matilda is still sick." she sighs. "She'd have loved to see this. Provided the rancid old fucks would let her have the time to come here in the first place, that is." 'Yeah, actually, what sort of danger, haha, I didn't think to bring any EGO.' Lilian has no idea. "You'll be fine." she says. "It wouldn't be something like that. And if it is, I'll handle it." 'Oh, yes. Both trees and communities can grow on their own, if the soil is good. Which... ah, it was not, literally speaking, but...' "But now the 'earth' has a special quality all of its own, doesn't it?" says Lilian, smiling. She giggles at Tamamo's reiteration, bending the path of her little skip to hug her with one arm along the way. '...but they are quite capable of taking care of themselves with only a little extra in the way of offerings, now.' "It helps put my mind at ease." she says. "Every time we get up to something like this, I have the internal debate of whether to try setting up a Warpgate nearby. It's so difficult not to hover between every little thing and check on all of it constantly, but then I'd never have the time for anything else." Lilian says. 'The... ah, 'leader' is not quite the correct term, but this one should be able to tell us more.' "Come to think of it, did you just happen to swing by, or . . . ?" Lilian tilts her head, question implicit. 'Hello~' Lilian almost jumps. Her hand flies to her lips, pressing down on "Oh my gosh!" and making the following squeal no quieter. She can't help but crouch down very slightly, to be closer on the level with the tree hollow. "Hello! Oh you're perfect! Look at you!" she says, like she's talking to either a kitten she's about to adopt or a baby she's just about to hold. "Because of that guy over the ridge, the one trying to get through the mountain." Lilian twists her head towards the southwest ridge like a cat hearing a can crack open. "A 'guy'?" she says, already slathering on layers of tonal context the little spirit didn't. "Do you mean someone else came wandering all the way out here? That's--" She was going to say 'absurd', but the poetry was left here specifically just in case the romantic fantasy of the mysterious glade providing shelter to a stranger had ever come to pass. "Has he caused any problems yet? Has he been where we're standing?"
Angela	"Well at least it isn't going anywhere. Maybe we can convince the olds to let her come next time." And by we he means Lilian because The Concord is still allied to the Manus even if he barely knows that. The kodoma are closer to thoughts than thinkers, but they mimic the bows and just sort of semi mindlessly wander around and vibe. Once they get to the tree they plunk down like they're trying to become pebbles. "Yeah," Netzach says. "But there's something to be said for close tending, too." They are inclined to agree with Lilian about just who is perfect and their mouth splits into a wide grin. "Well if this isn't a wonderful surprise. You don't mind these little ones, do you?"
Petra Soroka	"...the touch of the divine, no?" Yes!! Yes!!! Petra got a good grade in flattery, which is both normal to want and possible to achieve! She's in a very good mood by the time they disembark, despite having been worked like a dog for no reason but convenience. Maybe because of that! And the whole spirit town is just the cutest thing she's ever seen. Petra squishes herself nonthreateningly like someone would approach a wary cat, watching their domestic antics without moving abruptly or staring too intensely. She waggles her fingers at the ones looking back at her. "Hiiii. Oh, aren't you just the sweetest things? Sorry to bother you, I just wanted to visit." Mimicking their own social habit, Petra tries to bow in goodbye as much as she can when crouched down on all fours, before rising up to her feet. She holds her wagging tail with both hands to keep it still, restricting the possible threat of it thwacking one of the precious spirit homes. "--offerings." Petra has turned to sprint back towards the boat at full speed before Tamamo finishes her sentence. She's back by the time the little fae responds, panting heavily and swallowing her breathing back to politely place the package in a nearby branch of the tree. She still can't speak without gasping for a minute, so she's just silent until then. "The ones who came from that way, they all spoke of 'that one.' That's how it is." "Hahhh... is that guy stealing from you? Or threatening you? Are we able to help?"
Tamamo	'It's a shame Matilda is still sick.' "Such a pity, it is. We can hardly travel out here every day, and she would be gladdened to see how well the valley has progressed. This was just as I had hoped, in almost every way. It would have been discouraging, after all, if that much effort had not been enough, considering..." Considering that Japan alone has thousands of rivers like this one, and one goal of that effort, a year ago now, had been to demonstrate that even people of lesser means could begin to do the same. Changing a world is too big a job for even a very industrious power couple and their closest followers. 'It wouldn't be something like that. And if it is, I'll handle it.' "It may be a bit dangerous, but nothing you cannot handle, my dear. I am sure of that much." 'But now the 'earth' has a special quality all of its own, doesn't it?' "It is so, of course. 'The secret ingredient is love,' that is how the saying goes, no?" She squeezes in. There are no imppresionable children to be considering, this time. '... but then I'd never have the time for anything else.' Tamamo nods along with an, "Mhm, mhm. Just so. Some things must be made so that they will not require care 'forever,' but only 'long enough.' This is true of many things, perhaps. Even my peppers will be handed off to someone else in entirety, some day." She's actually been letting Lilian or Petra handle them pretty often, but she's not counting the watering, and sometimes they need the excuse for other reasons. 'But there's something to be said for close tending, too.' "This is true, of course." Hobbies are meant to be fun, and not just world-saving. Mimicking their own social habit, Petra tries to bow in goodbye as much as she can when crouched down on all fours. This results in more bowing, in a cycle that might be endless for anyone who isn't aware of specific rules of etiquette. There must be a secret to it. Nothing bad happens from her getting up while they're still bowing, however. They'd already mostly settled down from Petra reducing her profile as much as possible. 'Hello! Oh you're perfect! Look at you!' The faery-like spirit soaks in this adoration without a word. The features aren't really that readable, but there's some childish smugness that still gets through to let Lilian know for sure she's been acknowledged. 'You don't mind these little ones, do you?' "Oh~ those guys? They're like big, weird cousins, aren't they? But that's fine. There's room for them here, too. Even if there wasn't room, we're always making more room. Just as fast as we can get the roots to grow~" They do a little wiggle. Maybe it's a root-growing kind of wiggle.
Tamamo	'Has he caused any problems yet? Has he been where we're standing?' "Not yet, not this far. That guy's been working at the edges, you know~ Where the green ends, and the red begins. Some are too used to the red, you know~? They've survived that way, instead of sleeping for spring." "And... were there problems?" "Oh~ yes, that one won't join us here, doesn't want to, so..." They wiggle their hands in the air. The gesture is very active. Its meaning is...? "And then... wow! That far from the water, the green will all~ get pushed back. All the way to the river. Maybe even to here? Oh~ that'd be really bad!" They still sound mostly pretty sleepy-lazy about it, but like the idea of an emergency is just getting through to conscious memory. Tamamo glances at Lilian. "We passed a number of fields of red on our journey here." Sessile Antegent terraforming. Nothing especially dangerous to just be in proximity of, on its own, which is why it was hardly worth notice, except as a contrast. "We can't get along with someone who likes all their growing backwards, you know~ We're wishing in to~tally opposite ways." 'Hahhh... is that guy stealing from you? Or threatening you? Are we able to help?' "It's more like, hmm, like 'that guy' is trying to impose on us, you see~? Ways of living, whether you grow up or grow down, whether water is light or heavy, whether the sun is light or dark, that kind of thing. Ohh, if you could do something about it... just shoo 'that guy' off, would you?" Tamamo's thoughtful pose might also look a bit uncertain about this.
Angela	''Big, weird cousins, aren't they?'' Netzach looks down at the kodoma. Are they big for spirits? They have no idea. Netzach squints their eyes for a bit and ultimately says, "Huh... How about it, would you guys like to live here?" There's still kodoma at the Library and he doubts Angela would miss a few kodoma and... it seems kind, to Netzach, to let these ones stick around now that they've made some friends and met some small, weird cousins. The kodoma spasm and wiggle at Netzach's general direction and make themselves comfortable. "Well, if you don't mind them, then for the sake of community building--I don't think Miss Angela'd mind." They crouch down to give each one a little pat on the head with a finger. ''It's more like, hmm, like 'that guy' is trying to impose on us, you see~?'' "Some folks gotta learn how to relax," Netzach decides which seems to be their way of agreeing to help, not that they have any idea what to do. They didn't bring a broom either.
Lilian Rook	'Such a pity, it is. We can hardly travel out here every day, and she would be gladdened to see how well the valley has progressed.' "Somehow, Warpgates are the single most convenient thing imaginable, in the grand scope of the Multiverse, and travel is still the big problem." Lilian sighs. "Or perhaps we've all just become so greedy for everything life has to offer that our reach is exceeding our grasp~?" 'It may be a bit dangerous, but nothing you cannot handle, my dear. I am sure of that much.' Now that Tamamo has gassed her up, this is a fact that is true! "With one hand tied behind my back . . . Goodness, I'll look like such a showoff~" ''The secret ingredient is love,' that is how the saying goes, no?' There it is. The sappy giggling. Her brain is cooked. The day is good. 'Mhm, mhm. Just so. Some things must be made so that they will not require care 'forever,' but only 'long enough.' This is true of many things, perhaps. Even my peppers will be handed off to someone else in entirety, some day.' "Even children, eventually." Lilian sighs, wistful. -------- 'There's room for them here, too. Even if there wasn't room, we're always making more room. Just as fast as we can get the roots to grow~' Lilian gasps. The little wiggle! "Oh you're perfect!" she coos, unnecessarily. "And so polite, too! Neighbourly, even!" 'That guy's been working at the edges, you know~ Where the green ends, and the red begins. Some are too used to the red, you know~? They've survived that way, instead of sleeping for spring.' The possibility that the little spirit is talking about another of its kind, or at least similar to it, enters Lilian's mind, but she sets it aside to fixate on the idea of a human being coming upon this place for a while longer. Only a couple of years ago, the idea would have been so ridiculous that she'd have dismissed the claim out of hand. Now, after seeing Nevada for herself, and hearing the rest from Ash, the wondering of who might still be out there, conveniently forgotten by the powers that be, has gottne harder and harder to ignore. 'Oh~ yes, that one won't join us here, doesn't want to, so...' Ah well. That makes it very clear. 'Oh~ that'd be really bad!' "It would." Lilian frowns. "Thank you for telling us. We don't want that to happen either, so we'll go deal with it before it does." 'We passed a number of fields of red on our journey here.' "I could look into the original case file." Lilian says, halfheartedly. "I do have international database access for all Antegent-related information as an Immune corps officer. I just sort of doubt it'll amount to much." 'We can't get along with someone who likes all their growing backwards, you know~ We're wishing in to~tally opposite ways.' "Total agreement!" she says, emphatically, nodding in Petra's direction as if she could puff little anime clouds of steam about it. The description of 'that guy' is . . . eerie, to say the least, but it doesn't sound like a deranged gunman nor a terrible monster, so she's prepared to address it as 'occult matters'. A demented hermit mage at most. She's about to say 'consider it done' just before she sees Tamamo's expression, prompting Lilian to hesitate. "Tamamo? What is it?"
Petra Soroka	"We can hardly travel out here every day, and she would be gladdened to see how well the valley has progressed." "Oh! Do you think we should take some pictures for her?" Petra's already pulling her phone out to do just that. "Maybe I'll text them to her, or swing by her... doooorm...? Yeah, she does live in the dorms. Which one of these buildings is hers? She made one, right?" While taking pictures, Petra tries so very hard to gently catch the spirits' attention to pose for the camera. If she could get one of those little blobs of featureless spirit-energy to make a peace sign then she would be the happiest girl in the world. "You know, I hope she's doing okay. I've never been that sick in my life besides... well, before or after when I was starving and homeless, but I'm pretty sure Matilda's eating well. I mean, look at her." "Huh... How about it, would you guys like to live here?" "Oh, cute... you know, I've kind of always wondered if they felt trapped by the Library too." "Some are too used to the red, you know~? They've survived that way, instead of sleeping for spring." "I see, I see." Petra nods very seriously at the fairy, as if she actually knows the sort of 'that guy' they're talking about. She figures that she'll... probably just have to walk into the red and find out? But that seems pretty dangerous too. "Well that's no good at all." "Oh~ that'd be really bad!" "It'd be so bad if it got to that point. But you can depend on us!" Arms crossed, Petra dips her chin in the most earnest of sympathy and consideration, already attuning herself to the fairy's language patterns. "Oh, for sure, it's much better to do growing forwards rather than backwards. You've got so much forwards here already! And it's really cute!" "It's more like, hmm, like 'that guy' is trying to impose on us, you see~?" "Right, right, it's a disagreement. But we'll get right on it."
Tamamo	'Oh! Do you think we should take some pictures for her?' "Though these little ones will not mind the taking of records, they may be bothered by the camera's lights. Please do take care, in that matter." As she said, the little spirits don't mind Petra carefully (slowly) looking at them, but a flash would be another matter. They'll even notice the range-finding light, depending on the kind of camera used. She'll have to be extra careful, there. They're not bothered by candlelight or paper lanterns, though. "Oh, as to what Ms. Bouanich placed, you may look for the gemstones." Sadly, there's no way to get them to give a peace sign. Staring, bowing, headtilts... occasional wiggling, but that seems to be reserved for their own communication, and not a camera reaction. 'And so polite, too! Neighbourly, even!' 'Well, if you don't mind them, then for the sake of community building--' "It's no trouble~ We'll have some nice leaves grow for them, and they'll be right at home, right~?" The last part seems directed at the new neighbors, but the little flower-hatted spirit isn't too fussed how they respond, either way. Growing leaves is a patient kind of neighborliness. '...so we'll go deal with it before it does.' 'But you can depend on us!' "Ohh~ That's good, then! I knew you'd have it handled~" 'I could look into the original case file.' "I believe it may be more of a symptom of sorts than a root cause, here. We will need to examine it for ourselves, either way." 'Right, right, it's a disagreement.' 'Tamamo? What is it?' Tamamo thinks for a little longer. "A disagreement, yes, a... ah, you know how it is, that such spirits are 'of the land,' yes? A spirit may be transformed, if the land is transformed, as well. There are spirits of disaster the bring the same, and those that are so made by elements of disaster. The way in which this was spoken, I suspect it to be such a case, that this was one adapted to 'that' land. One who could not survive until restoration without joining that other side." She thinks about it a little more, while carefully unwrapping the presents -- offerings, that is -- that Petra delivered. "If so, it is a harmful spirit, but also a pitiable one. It is not the land's fault that no one brought back Spring sooner than this. Well, we shall see to it, in any case."