Alma gave Florence another pointed look before facing Callisto with far more patience. Her brown eyes softened slightly with a touch of sadness. "It... you have to bring the fallen gods to this realm. Not only that... but bring their memories back as well."

The explanation was weary and dry. Alma shook her head. "They won't remember who they are, not until something far more familiar comes into contact with them. Such as a cottage, a book, or a familiar sight," the woman explained and set her hands on her hips. Her lips pursed slightly. "It's going to be a tough and long journey. If we can't... well... I'm not a magician... but I can see what I can do."

Even if it meant... losing herself again.

---

Finn's protests were largely muffled and muted, pulling and struggling to remove himself from Xevon's arm. The man's irritated ruby red eyes honed in on the struggling young man.

"... it's the closest I can get to tanning his hide," Xevon stated shortly. "You, kid, are absolutely lucky that Alma is here becuase other wise, I'd have strung you up the flag pole for the whole night."

He let go of Finn, who stumbled back with a flurry of feathers and glares. "You--" he cut himself off as Xevon raised an eyebrow. "You're such a bully," Finn scowled and dusted himself off. "Geez. What did you hear, Lily?"

Callisto finally let his hands return to his sides as he listened, still heavily cloudy minded about this entire situation. With his head tilting to the side, he raised one eyebrow in question at Alma’s reply.

“Something familiar, how are we supposed to know what is familiar to-”

“Would seeing you be enough? I know for my father just seeing me would work to jerk him back to godhood. You were their friend, no?” Florence interjected with a feverish quickness to her words, drawing Callisto’s shocked head to turn to her. The audacity to just speak over him, but it was overshadowed by the realisation of what the young woman had said.

“Their friend? Alma, what is she talking about? Xevon was talking about something, not human, magic and all that. What is going on with you?” This time Callisto’s voice was more solid, demanding of a proper answer for his confusion.

–

Lily rolled her eyes as the bickering petered out into normalcy once more.

“I could barely hear anything over you pair!” She tossed a hand in the air and began to walk towards Finn, giving Xevon a short glance before focusing on the brighter of the two men. “Callisto was talking about something, finding gods and reuniting them but then you two piped up with your squawking.” Her land lifted to poke into Finn’s chest before she stepped to the side of him.

Her eyes roamed over his wings, frowning as she spotted feathers completely out of alignment. Lily raised her hand and began smoothing them down, muttering about Finntello being messy while she rotated around him.

Alma let out a slow and drawing sigh. It was a logical way of thinking, particularly since Florence was right. It wasn't the thing she wanted to come out, not yet. But it had happened that way, unfortunately. Reluctantly, Alma's brown eyes turned to Callisto.

"... I was not always like this," she explained quietly. "I was once ... a goddess. But throughout time and the ages, a lot of them have gone and faded or passed on. There are only pieces left of what was. I was once like them and, similarly, had a dislike of Veles. When Veles rose to full power, he took with it... the godly essence from the rest of us. I was on earth, trapped there."

The woman sighed. "I ... thought it was all a dream. Until we got here."

----

Finn scowled lightly. "Finding gods?"

Xevon looked toward the door with an uncomfortable note to his gaze. "... unfortunately, I feel like we've already found one of them."

Finn shook his head and gave Lily a weary smile. "Should we just go out there and ask ourselves or do we stay here?"

Callisto flashed Alma an exasperated look before he began to pace, feet moving fast as he wrung his hands together in thought. After a few more seconds, he stopped suddenly and turned to look at her, flicking an arm out towards the cottage door.

“Sorry, I have to clarify.” He pushed his extended hand into his hair, making tufts of it stick up in a messy fashion that looked like he had been dragged through a hedge.

“You did not think to at least mention these dreams you have to us. To anyone? Did you talk to Finntello about them? That information would have been rather helpful, Alma. O-Or whatever your name is, Cressido, Cressida.” He trailed off, striking his hand down from his head and focusing on Florence now.

“A-And what is your deal, huh?” His usual decorum was quickly becoming unravelled. These gods were so messy!

“What are you? Are you some almighty divine being as well? Or are you just an annoying pest?”

It drew a scoff from the back of Florence’s throat and she strode up to him and poked a finger, pointing at him.

“Don’t talk to me like that! I’m not some little child for you to boss around, old man.” She chuffed out, eyebrows crushing her eyes. “Ugh.” Florence flashed a hand at him and turned away, muttering under her breath.

–

Lily peeked out from behind Finntello’s back and nodded her head.

“That’s what they said.” She hummed to confirm before stepping her way out from behind him.

“Go out there if you want, but even you two can hear them now.” She took a few curious steps towards the front door, cringing as she heard Callisto’s raving continued.

“Or at the very least to stop them from arguing.” She hissed from between clenched teeth and threw a look over her shoulder towards Xevon. “Your one is getting a little..rowdy out there.”

Callisto was staring at Florence, eyebrows crushing together as he looked down his nose at her. Ignoring that hand she was jabbing at him, he felt something in his chest move in the beginnings of a growl that curled his lip. His nose wrinkling as the noise travelled up from his chest and escaped through his teeth. Just at that moment, a tanned hand darted out and grabbed a hold of Florence’s wrist, drawing a yelp from her as she shrunk backwards.

Her hand falling limp as she darted her wide eyes up at him, for a moment a dash of fear in them before it was replaced by repulsion. With a sudden rush, she ripped her arm free from Xevon with a snarl. The arm rippled with the beginnings of blackened feathers and fur, the smallest hint of bone sharpening her fingers as she recoiled. Dragging her arm towards her and clutching it to her chest, glaring up at Xevon as the fur and feathers melted back into her skin.

“Keep him on a leash then.” She spat, throwing her now human arm out towards Callisto. With a frustrated sigh, she turned away and caught a glance into the cottage where a blonde woman with a particularly messed up eye was staring back at her from the doorway.

“What the hell mauled that one up?” She asked to no one in particular, lip curling in distaste before she turned back away, beginning her own pacing session.

Callisto was left huffing and puffing beside Xevon, still fighting his own irritation that was making his chest rumble and nose scrunch.

–

Lily had stepped through after Xevon, waiting in the doorway as she watched him rush towards Florence, not wanting to become involved. She remained there as she saw an awfully familiar flare of fur with glossy feathers flash from Florence, then the next moment it was gone.

She was left in surprise, so that she only came to when Florence’s eyes met hers. Her chest tightened at the expression and tried to steel her nerves at the comment towards her face. Outwardly, keeping her gae steady but it hurt to see someone look at her like that.

Was that how everyone at home was going to look at her? Disgusted? Pitiful? She didn’t want any of it. Lily remained where she was as Florence walked away, breathing hitching only then, once she was safe from the prying eyes.

Florence’s eyes snapped up towards Xevon, stopping her pacing as she stared up at the dark winged man with malice in her gaze. She felt her back begin to bristle at the name that was thrown her way, unable to help the anger that was rising in her. It took a moment to form a coherent thought to speak.

“I didn’t ask to be born!” She screamed, guttural as it pulled from her throat with an effort that made her double over as she shouted at Xevon. Eyes burning bright, preparing her next barbed remark until Alma piped up and shut them both up.

Florence looked between Alma and Xevon, obviously fighting to keep her mouth shut. Callisto on the other hand was forcing himself to control the bubbling noises coming from his chest. The feeling of Xevon’s hand on his shoulder brought some solace but not much.

“Just stop shouting.” He managed to eek out between hard breaths, he wasn’t sure if he could handle much more theatrics.

Lily tensed her shoulders at the sound of Finn’s voice, craning her neck to look over at him as he continued to speak, drawing her attention.

“I-I don’t think..” She began, looking back towards Florence, shell-shocked at the reveal. It made her head hurt. Alma wasn’t human, this woman was Veles’s spawn, all the shouting.

What were the chances of Florence being as demented as her sire? Would she seek to slaughter Finntello in revenge? The thoughts made anxiety rocket through her bones and instead of speaking, Lily took a short step towards Finntello and the flimsy safety of his wings. Tightening her grip on his hand, assuring herself that he was still there even if she wasn’t looking at him.