Goldenscale smiled at Ahnah's words, though it was only for a moment before she stopped again.  It was difficult being happy in all this sadness.  Through their pain, she could see the little busts of pain Ahnah seemed to be feeling, and it made her look up and wonder why she was carving a rune into her bone.  She then gave a smile to Corazon as Deniigi made her stand.  "Yeah, we'll both do fine while you go and sort things out." she said, trying to make her voice sound upbeat though she didn't feel it one bit.  As Ahnah spoke, she was reminded of her misery and her ears fell more if it was even possible to make them go lower.  "It's so hard not to though...  I can feel you both and it's so sad, and it tears at me in waves and it hurts...  I don't want to use all the energy I have just to put up a barrier so I won't feel it, or else I might get sick again..." she said quietly, rubbing her eyes frantically before Ahnah nuzzled her.  Nope, nope, nope.  She wasn't going to start crying just because of this feeling.  She had to be strong.  She nuzzled Ahnah back though and kept her head buried in her fur.

"Unless the spirits have truely left me, I should be able to make something to help you ignore it then," Ahnah said, picking through the coals at the edge of the fire with her claws before pulling out a smooth stone. Taking the knofe once more, she began carving out the symbol for mind. Once the rune was complete, she held it to her chest, chanting a short prayer, and focusing the energy into the rune itself. Once completed, she passed it to Goldenscale with a smile. "There, you should be able to draw on that to block out the emotions of others," she said, "I know you don't like blocking things out, but you'll need it if you're going to be helping Deniigi here."

"Yes, one of the first things a shaman is taught to do is to block out the emotions from others. It is to prevent the emotions from clouding the shaman's decisions, and to prevent tampering," Deniigi said, "It isn't the most friendly thing to do, but it's for the good of everyone."

Goldenscale gave a quiet whine as she tried to supress the grief she had felt from everyone.  She completely loathed it.  It reminded her too much of Frost's passing and she didn't like remember that part of it.  She could hear Ahnah speaking and heard what she said, but she didn't really process it until the the coal was in her hand.  She lifted her head from Ahnah's neck with a jolt and a squeak/chirp in shock.  The second it had touched her, her body had reacted, and not in a pleasant way.  She was not expecting the feelings to go away in a vaccuum like way, but now that she couldn't feel the grief, she couldn't feel anything else.  The feelings of everyone else had become a part of her and she was so used to it that now she felt weird without them there. She then heard Deniigi say that it was for the best she didn't feel anything.  But she felt vulnerable without them there.  "Okay...  I'll use it..." she said quietly, still in a bit of shock.

"It may feel odd for the first couple hours, but you'll get used to it. It's not pleasant, and it's not something you'd want to do every day, but it prevents you from being influence others emotions," Deniigi said, standing up to support Corazon, "Alignak suppressed Corazon's emotions because of that. His rationalization for it was that if she had no emotions, it would never feel strange or damaging to block out others."

"If you ever want to break the barrier, release the coal. The rune is what gives it that effect," Ahnah said, nuzzling into Goldenscale's side, "It's not something I expect you to use it every day, but it should help here. Once you're done here, at least keep it in you bag. You never know when it might become useful again."

Goldenscale listened to Deniigi as he spoke, her initial shock finally over.  But after hearing what he said, it made her confused.  How could the emotions of others be influencing?  Well, it could bring upon horrifying thoughts or actions, but she couldn't see why it was so terrible.  "I understand this is to prevent emotions from infuencing you, but why is it such a bad thing.  Not all emotions are bad." she said, wanting to understand why.  She then turned to Ahnah as she spoke, giving a nod.  "Alright, I'll be sure to do that.  It's better to be overprepared than underprepared.  Thank you for the mahgic coal." she answered, not sure if she thanked Ahnah for it properly before.

"You'd be surprised  how much of an influence others emotions are on you're own actions. It's not so much to prevent that influence as it is to prevent it from distracting the shaman in their work. For shamans, emotions are more easily felt due to being nearly bound to the elemental planes. That bond is also what allows them to perform the rituals, and craft such powerful remedies," Deniigi said, "Seeing as you're connection with nature is far deeper than anyone in this clan, I can only assume you can sense the emotions of others on a much deeper level."

Giving a nod to Deniigi's explination, Ahnah only smiled. "No need to thank me, it's something we'll all need to use at one point or another in our journey. I am a bit surprised it worked though. It's been so long since I last used any of my training as a shaman, I was afraid the spirits had let me," she said, watching as Deniigi ler Corazon to the door as Alignak arrived, "As strange as it may be, I'm glad the spiritual bonds I made here are still holding tight. As much as I hated the practices when I was younger, they've proven indispensable to me."

Goldenscale nodded in understanding.  What he said was true.  Sometimes feelings did get distracting, though for her those impulses normally ended up doing more good than harm.  But if it was better this way, then she should probably go through with it while she helped out.  She then smiled at Ahnah, glad that she still had her bond to the spirits.  "Well, I'm glad you are still able to use that magic then.  I wouldn't have thought it possible for magic to leave someone so closely bonded to it, but it makes things better to know you are still bonded." she said happily.

"I'm glad they're still with me as well. The magic I use draws on the spirits in the area as well as the few that are summoned by the runes. The spirits of any particular area can choose to not lend their energy to the user, thus causing the spell or enchantment to fail. Since I had effectively abandoned this land, I was afraid the spirits would hold a grudge against me for doing so," Ahnah exxplained, returning the smile, "It is a relief really. It means there's lees that needs to be one to finish my training. I remember having only one more rite to go through to finish, but I had left after getting fed up with everything."

Looking back after hearing Ahnah, Deniigi gave a questioning look. "Are you sure you want to do that? I wont refuse to perform the rite, but I want to make sure," he said, walking over to take a seat beside the two.

"Yes, I'm sure. While I may not be staying here, I do know that having the full spectrum of abilities of a shaman will be well worth the price they come at. My main reason is so I can be closer to those I love, but it is also to protect them," Ahnah nodded, "If we are to survive this jouney, we will need everything we have to defend ourselves."

Goldenscale listened to Ahnah as she spoke, curious about what she had to say.  She then gave a snort and closed her eyes for a moment.  "It wasn't your fault you had to leave.  It was Alignak who had caused you to leave.  The spirits must have known about this, and that must be why you still have that magic." she said.  She then listened to Ahnah's next statement and gave a chirp of surprise.  Another rite?  What if it was pai ful, like the one where Ahnah had to get a rib taken from her body.  Granted she didn't know any of the other rites, but she wasn't really sure about the pain of doing them, if there was pain at all.  She wouldn't object, since she knew Ahnah wanted to do it.  Hopefully she wouldn't have to help out.

"The spirits that guard these lands are those of every shaman that has come before. The fins right requires that the person offer their spirit as a defender for when they pass.Shamans here losse their right to a afterlife in exchange for allegence of the elmental spirits. In life, shamans protect the living, in death, they protect the spirits," Ahnah explained as a small flickering light floated in to hover above everyone. "That is why these lands seem so untouched by humans and such. The spirits of the shamans us their magic to guide them away to prevent harm to the elements."

"Yes, it's a sacrifice we pay, but we gain so much from the assistance of the elements. They provide us with the means to protect our people. In exchange, they want us to protect theirs when we can no longer protect our own," Deniigi said, watching the light for a moment before returning to Goldenscale's side, "When our spirits do eventually give way, we will have earned our afterlife of peace, but it wont be till several generations after we pass."

Goldenscale nodded as she listened to Ahnah speak.  Though she gave nothing away, she felt torn just a little bit.  If Ahnah died, then she would stay on the plane existing between the living realm and that of the afterlife.  But then hearing this brought another thing to her attention.  Everyone was always speaking of how there will always be a rebirth, but Moonlight had told her that this was her second chance.  Maybe she was just assuming that it was her last, but now she was confused.  Of course she only seemed thoughtful and listening on the outside.  "Well, if it is something Ahnah wants to do, it is her decision and I will respect that." she finally said, unsure of what else to say.

"That's all I can ask of you. I reason that with Moonlight having given you a second chance at life in the way she did, you are tied to the spirits of nature. I do know that even with the extended life, I will pass before you. Doing this though, I can continue to be at your side, even after death," Ahnah explained, looking back to the light to see it starting to split into the spirits of past shamans, "It will allow me to always be with you, even if something were to take my life early."

Drifting down from the group above, one the of the spirits settled dow in front of Goldenscale. "You are different than most champions. Ahnah is right in assuming she will be able to protect you after her passing," it said,its voice unheard by everyone else but Goldenscale, "Moonlight has given you new life for a reason, what is that reason?"

Goldenscale listened, but her eyes widened after hearing Ahnah say she would probably pass before her.  After hearing that, she shook her head violently and refused to listen to her, though she still heard what she said.  "But I don't want you to die before me, I don't want anyone I love to die before me.  I'm not sure I can handle it." she said, fear in her eyes and her ears folded back against her head.  Even though the magic piece of coal prevented her from feeling the auras of others, she still had her own.  She absolutely didn't want to think about it, at least until it happened.  She then watched the spirit float down in front of her and she listened to it speak before she answered.  "She brought me back so that I may learn from my previous life's mistakes and prove I am capable of changing the wrongs that had hapoened because of them." she answered.  Though she wasn't sure if it was true, she could feel in her soul that it was correct, or close to correct.  Moonlight had never told her her purpose for bringing her back other than to protect the forest, but she did learn all that through her guardianship.

Seeing Goldenscale's raction, Ahnah sighed. "This is only a percaution. If I were to die now, I would have no way of staying at your side. Doing this, I will always be at your side, no matter what happens. I would always be with you," she said before hearing Goldenscale  talk to the spirit.

"I can sense that you are meant for more. What that is is a mystery to us," the spirit said, flinching at the same time as the others above them. "It seems Corazon has been made whole once more," it said before looking back to Goldenscale, "We came to thank you, for everything you and your group is doing to returne the world to its former self."

Goldenscale gave a nod to Ahnah, understanding why she chose to complete her training, though she still didn't want to talk about death so soon after one.  Goldenscale listened to what the spirits said, true as it was.  Eventually she might know, but as of now she didn't know what her other purpose was, unless it was the protect the forest from evil, though she doubted it was that.  She then smiled and bowed her head as they thanked her and her group.  "It is an honor to be chosen for this mission, and we shall do our best to fufill it.  The world needs to be rid of the Shade, and it will be us that will unite the elementals to be whole again." she said with a nod.