"That'll be just fine. For now, I suggest you and Ahnah rest and enjoy the day. You've both been up all night," Deniigi suggested, starting to gether up the stones, "While it may still be cold to you, today is the first day of spring for us. The weather's going to be warming up, and the tundra will soon be green with life. You might partake in some of the traditional preparations while you gather supplies."

"Yes, that would be something to experience. It's mostly celebrating those whole live, and remembering those who weren't as lucky. We give prayer to the elements for a good harvest, and pay tribute to those spirits for a safe year to come," Corazon said, perking up at the mention of he change in season, "Usually, shamans like myself or Ahnah would be helld up with people wanting to speak with spirits of their family that still linger, that wont be happening this time around due to the ceremony earlier. We'll be free this time around to enjoy what festivities."

"Vegitation and other plant life here in the Tundra don't need a being to bring them back to life. All the plants here, lie dormant during the winter, storing and living off the energy they gatehred during the spring and summer seasons. When spring rolls around, they use the last of that energy to spring back to life and start again. It's usually the grasses and bushes that come back first, then fallowed by flowers, and last are the larger plants like trees," Ahnah explained, "You'll be able to see the true beauty of the tundra before we make it out so you can see this first hand. You'll know when the plants start coming back to life though, it's always when the snow has just started to thin out, usually being a thick slush."

"It'll be nice to take part in the festivities this year. For once, I'll be able to experience them as a person rather than an emotionless bystander. That, and we have mother to honor this year. As painful as it might still be, we owe it to her to remember her during this day," Corazon said, looking over to where Aga's spirit had been earlier during the ceremony, "She deserves safe passage through the spirit gates into her next life."

Giving a nod to the bit on nature, Ahnah smiled. "I'm sure he did. He went peacefully, and there's no quicker way through the gates than through peace. While we know his soul made it safely to the next life, there's nothing preventing us from honoring what time we knew him," she said, placing a wing over Goldenscale again, "This whole celebration is our way of remember those we lost. DUring the winter, we don't have the time or supplies to properly morne those we loose, but Spring is when resources are abundant. As such, we make a point to rememberthe lost. In turn, we also don't have the time or resources to celebrate new life during the winter, and is also celebrated during this time."

"That's right, spring is the only time we can honestly affor to attent to either one. During the summer, we must gather the supplies we need to survive the harshest parts of winter, and winter leaves us with too little to spare for such events short of funeral pyres," Corazon added, walking over and opeing the door, "Just know, you're welcome to join in the festivities. Even if you're not from around here, the other residents are more than willing to help you through settingup either event or both."

"A funeral pyre is the big bonfire you saw us place Aga's body in when she passed.We can't burry the body in the einter due to the cold keeping the body from returning to the elements. Burning the body, allows the body and spirit to return to nature quickkly through spreading the ashes," Corazon explained, giving a nod, "The pyres are usually more ornate than Aga's was, but we were trying to conserve firewood so that it will last us till the snow melts. Personally, I plan on gathering up some strands of sage and mandala to make incense for honoring Aga. It's believed that those two secure safe passage for the spirit being honored."

"If you'll wait an hour or so, I'll join you. I just want to rest a little bit first," Ahnah said, recieving a nod from Corazon, "While I sense that she may have already passed through the gates, I want to properly honor her memory. That, and I'd like to gather some extra mandala for celebrating Mayumi's three hatchlings. I feel there's a need to celebrate something rather than morne."

"It's fine, you're welcome to join us. As for the incense, each one is burned slowly to release vapors that calm, mind, body, and spirit. Sage is burned to carry one's wish for a spirit's safe passage through the gates to the gatekeepers. A mandala is burned with a variety of incents to carry thanks to Kyne for granting new life to the world. They're a little difficult to put together though, While Kyne is still sealed within the tower of element, they still have control over the flow of spirits in and out of this world. It's unknown whether or not these incenses actual do this, but it is a tradition we've held since the creation of the clan," Ahnah said, giving a smile, "The only evidence we have of the inscens working is through the occasional word of the spirits that protect the village."

"There's no reason for you to not join us in remembering Aga. Ahnah considers you family, and that's enough for me to consider you family as well. You only need to ask if you're confused with any of the preparations, and one of us will help you. I'm just happy that you've taken an interest in the traditions we maintain here. While it's rare that we allow outsiders in, it's rarer that they take interest in out traditions," Corazon said, gathering up several tools, "You don't nescesarily need to know someeone to honor them. You need only to have reason to honor them."

Goldenscale smiled when Ahnah said she could join them, then listened intently as her dearest friend and lover began to explain the purpose of the different incense burned.  It wouldn't be too twrribly hard to remember the names of the herbs, but she made sure to commit them to memory.  "It sounds like a good tradition to have.  Giving thanks to the spiris is something I can't say I notice a lot of, and it must make them glad to know that there are beings that appreciate their work." she said with a nod.  She then smiled at Corazon and purred at the offer.  "I am a curious dragon, so there are always times when I ask questions and want to learn.  Besides, learning the traditions of other clans is quite beneficial.  It could help people grow close because of similarities and good ideas." she said to her.  "And speaking of questions, I do have another.  Can more than one being be honored at a time, or will there be separate rituals?" she asked.

"So long as the beings are being celebrated or honored for the same reason. An example would be that you can celebrate the birth of multiple newborns at once, but you can't celebrate a birth and a death at the same time. The exception would be in the occasion that a child doesn't manage to survive, but that is an extremely rare occasion here," Corazon said, giving a nod once she had everything she needed, "Well, if you two are ready, we can head out now to join the other families gathering inscens. We can talk while we're out."

"I'm ready if Goldenscale is. It's still fairly cold out, and I'd rather not leave her to fend of the cold alone. Besides, it'll be easier to find the plants we need to create inscens bundles when there's more eyes looking for them," Ahnah said before turning to Goldenscale, "That being said, we wont need to make a mandala. One of the things left inside the box Aga left for me was a small slab of silver with a mandala engraved into it. It would only be an insult to her to not make use of it now."

"I doubt she would be insulted by you not using it, but I know for sure that she would be happy to see it put to proper use. While usually madde of wood, those made of silver or gold tend to carry stronger scents through multiple inscens burnings," Deniigi said, , "In any case, I wish the best in your search for the needed herbs. Sarsaparilla will probably be one of the hard ones to find compared to sage this year."

"Sasparilla root is a powerful medicinal ingredian for skin and scale illnesses. It also makes for one of the many substances burned to carry thanks to Kyne. Among them, it's probably the only one that actually has a medical use. The others are either used to season food or aromatherapy,' Corazon said, giving a nod to Goldenscale, "As for the scents of the plants we're looking for, you'll be able to smell them soon enough as several families are already starting.  My hope is that we can find some mint leaves."

"Sasparilla is also a fairl easy to prepare medicine for digestive illnesses. One only needs to ingest the ground up root, but it's better when used as a seasoning itself since it cn be rather strong on its own," Ahnah said, standing up, "Well, if you're ready to go, we might be able to beat the first rush for herbs."

Goldenscale then smiled when she head of ehat the herb was used for, smiling to Corazon.  "Now I remember what it is.  It's not easy to find, but I know it's scent so I can find it.  I would use it occassionally when I worked with some of the healers inside the forest." she said with a purr.  She then listened as Corazon finished speaking, turning her head to look at Ahnah as she began. "I'm ready when you both are.  I may not be able to stay out as long as you both, but I'll certainly try." she said with a nod of determination.

"If you start to feel cold, just let us know. Between Corazon and me, we have more than enough warmth in our fur to share. It wont hurt us to take breaks every so often to warm up and talk," Ahnah said, nodding for Goldenscale to fallow as she went towards the door, "Besides, this may be a good chance to see what magic I now have. What better place to test it than within the evergreen forests?"

"I can't think of a better place for such practice. That's where I praciced the magic Sunlight granted me, so I can onlysay it's a safe place to practice. I suspect your magic to be similar to mine given the association between Moonlight and Sunlight. Your's may learn more towards the nocturnal though," Corazon said before fallowing Goldenscale, "Sunlight's magic is cery much give and take. A balance much be made, much like every light casts a shadow just as dark as they are bright."