The atmosphere was calm, quiet. Anyone who happened upon it would see and feel it immediately. Perhaps it was because the All Mother's presence was real or perhaps it was because of the cat that was seated right next to the white mushroom with her dark nose delicately pressed against its base. Around her were different trinkets she'd offered to the Mother: gems, shards of cloth, bones, even different plants that she grew around the base. She hoped the offerings would make the All Mother pleased and she would open her Eyes again. The Mother could be so finicky sometimes. Even though she was a mushroom now Blackfeather liked to believe that in a past life she had the form of a cat but that was just a wishful hope. Sure She used the felines as her primary prophets but no one new what the Mother's true form was like. Not until they entered the Void to join with Her.

Behind the gray feline's closed eyes she focused on the All Mother and Saw the plant as she was meant to. Their lives were glowing and bright, a positive sign despite the circumstances. Perhaps something would come and happen today that would prove to be positive for Her Garden. Maybe she should find Dovefeather and tell her the sign. Yes. But after. The gray cat still focused her energy on spying all of the plants around her, examining them for signs of any weak links. Ones that the Mother would want her to help but she could see nothing today. Good. Very very, good. The feline opened her eyes and sat up.

A content sigh came from her throat as she lifted a paw and licked it so that she could gently rub her ear with the black feather sitting behind it. Good omens always made her happy, happier than usual anyway for any day that she could serve the All Mother was a good one. Now, she could tend to the trinkets she'd offered the All Mother. The gray cat began to move around, rearranging things around the Mother's base to make it more tidy and appealing.

---

The busy feline moved deftly, arranging things and humming while she was doing so. However, even while she was doing this she could hear something, or someone, approaching. The cats ears swiveled around to track the movement of what sounded like a much larger creature. Perhaps she should have been afraid to be approached by such a huge thing but she was not. She knew the All Mother would protect her, so she did not worry.

It was only after the creature spoke that Blackfeather stopped rearranging her things and turned to face the wolf. Her mouth curved upwards into a kind smile while her green, blind-looking eyes peered up with infinite calmness at the wolf. Blackfeather always seemed to have an air of peace and certainty about her. "Greetings, Sister." Here she dipped her head politely to the wolf before returning her green gave to her own heterochromic eyes. "No, we have not but I have smelled your scent before." Out on her patrols to heal and send plants to the Void she had certainly scented this particular wolf. "I am called Blackfeather and I tend to the Mother's Garden. I've been here for my whole life, doing Her will." The feline sat on her haunches in front of Arkrael, tail wrapped around her paws.

"And you, Sister Arkrael, have you been here your whole life like I?"

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Ah, the trench. She'd been by there in her search for the Mother's non-speaking children. It was a lovely place, serene and quiet. Just what Blackfeather liked. Her ears pricked with particular interest when the wolf mentioned that she protected the area. A Guardian? Was that it? How interesting! "Protect? Sister Arkrael, are you perhaps a Guardian of Mother's Garden? I have been searching long and hard to find someone who would help me and my Sisters keep this place safe." She was hoping so. Blackfeather was not the type who could stop trouble. She was far too kind and a pacifist for that sort of thing.

At the wolf's question the she-cat smiled and with one paw pointed to the giant mushroom behind her. "This is the All Mother, Sister Arkrael. I was born here right beneath her base. Before I was released from my chrysalis she spoke to me and told me of my duty here in Eridanus. She did the same with my other Sisters: Dovefeather and Owlfeather." Those green eyes gazed up at the wolf with calm certainty. "She is a very powerful and benevolent being."

---

The gray she-cat nearly grinned from ear to ear when Arkrael confirmed her roll. It was nice to hear that someone was out there protecting them and helping defend the Garden. It nearly made her shiver with happiness to know that the All Mother had sent someone to protect them even when she hadn't even known about it.

"Oh yes, many do not know that our creator resides right here." It was a curious thing really. They were so near to their Mother and yet no one every stopped to acknowledge her or thank her for their existence. It was no wonder the Mother had closed her Eyes. "She is a great Mother. She wants her children all to Live, Grow, Emerge, and Learn as her non-speaking children do. She's here to listen and hear our prayers to her and grant relief from our pain." To indicate the "non-speaking children" the feline gestured with her tail to the plants around them. "Peace and devotion. That is what she asks of us... Truly though, I wonder if our All Mother is angry with us. I have been informed by my Sister that Mother's Eyes have closed and it makes me fear that she's wanting us to See or do something but I do not know what..." Here her words trailed off as she seemed to be thinking to herself, lost in her own imaginings.

---

The little cat smiled and nodded her head. Yes. She was absolutely a great mother. "Oh yes, Sister Arkrael, She is." The cat didn't mirror the wolf's movements, instead she turned around and began to rearrange the trinkets again. Brows furrowed as she concentrated on the wolf's words. Dove was far more adept at deciphering signs than she was and probably more adept at understanding cryptic words but she gave it her all as she thought.

Finally after a few moments her paws stilled as she stopped fidgeting with the items. Her gaze, calm again and brow now unfurrowed turned back to Arkrael. "Two pools over that way which serve as Mother's Eyes have become cloudy. They normally are clear so that they can look and See us all but now they do not." The she-cat explained in her calm way. "I do not know what to search for. I have always been the Watcher of the Garden. I tend to the plants. Dovefeather, she is who Sees the signs and tends to Her Eyes. I believe that maybe the Mother wants something of Dovefeather or wants her to prove something." She remembered her sister's words about how she loved another. Perhaps this was what was wrong. They were all being tested.

Almost as a murmur to herself she said, "I do hope She is not angry with us." For Dovefeather's love or even something she was not doing. The gray cat shook her head. She just wished this testing could be over and that they could pass.

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