Glaedreon

A mother's tears are shed from the heart. When the extension of the astral plane bore nothing but emptiness, cold and dark, it brought a somber weight on her heart. The translucent tears that fell from her cheeks, sparkled and glittered like a thousand diamonds. Each drop fell to her feet, sprinkling along the plane like a million budding flowers. The darkness is really so lonely, so desolate. But to the mother's surprise, a cry above her own reverberated through the darkness. From her tears, life was born.

From the buds, bloomed a proud creature. A breast of silvery plumes dusted with the tears of its mother. Wings that could beat against the wind and talons that could grip her wrist like a vice. The mother couldn't believe her own sadness could create something so beautiful. Something so precious. The mother believed she could be happy with her new children, tending to them, holding them close.

But to every lesson a mortal has come to know, if you love something, you must let it go. The ethereal plane is no place to raise children. The mother realized this soon enough when she could only provide so much as gentle words and hushed lullabies. With a weight lifted from her heart, the mother bore her feelings and her wishes unto her children.

'I give you light, I give you love. But I'm afraid I cannot fulfill all your desires. To you my children, I bestow a gift for you to create your own sadness. Your own happiness. Your own light and love to spread.'

With all the power mother could surmise, she bestowed upon her children the gifts of the natures. From the soil of her tearful garden, to the water that seeped from her eyes, she sent her children with the magics to prosper and live a life of their own. With a hand to her heart, she bestowed her children the warmth and fire of love, creating the essence of the flame to keep them safe and well. From her voice, from her breath, she bestowed her children the gift of the winds and the sounds that could be carried along to bring sadness and happiness.

But to her first children, her few most beloved creations, she bestowed upon them her condolences. The emotions of sadness and happiness, love and lost and longing. Emotions that transverse past the heart. Mother believed her children should understand that not everything can be granted with only tears and smiles. To her special children, she cut a strand of her silver hair, lacing them into the plumes. To her special children, she gave her gift of creation and order to signify her trust within her children. The power to create a world, all in their own image.

With a sorrowful goodbye, the mother let her children reach their way across the void. Her special children touched their feathers across the plane of darkness, forming a divide. Stars. Brilliant, white and shining, they glittered across the darkness and brought the order of a new world. Mother's children dipped their own talons into this new world, creating the rivers that run deep, the trees that stand tall and the fires that warm our homes. The winds that rush across the valleys and the voices that resonate a lovely tune to fill our days with happiness and tears.

"--And the rivers and earth phoenixes brought us food and water, right mama?"

There's a soft laugh, a hand patting the child's mouth in a gentle hushing gesture, "Yes, that's right. But they were only called phoenixes later on. They are Mother Glae's children. All phoenixes and her creations from their magic, are Mother Glae's children."

"But... you're my only mama!" The child giggles, reaching up to pat his mother's cheek. A smile returns the gesture, as she presses a kiss to his palm.

"That's right, my son. But listen well now... Mother Glae had forgotten one thing when it came to her special children. The gift of creation and the gift of emotion, it can manifest something quite dreadful." Her hand brushes over the folded corner of the book, flipping to the page that displayed a dark mass.

"Darkness. Darkness never left Mother Glae, even when her children did. The influence of being forgotten, being alone, being sad and scared. It reached the new world. It bore its own talons and sought to gain the same love Mother Glae had given her other children. The children of the Dark."

The child shrinks in his mother's lap, his shoulders huddling beneath the blanket. The mother just smiles as she brushes her thumb to the next page.

"But do not fear. The Darkness, no matter how scary, are still children of Mother Glae. Even though she is not here, she loves her children equally. Always. All mother's love come from the heart, no matter the shape or form. That is how we live so peacefully here, in Glaedreon."

The child's eyes brighten upon the image of a silver haired maiden within the pages of the book. Her hands extending outwards with the image of her children displayed around her in a glittering halo. The child giggles happily, "She's not as pretty as you mama."

The mother giggles and closes the book, picking her son up to lie him back down in his bed, "Thank you, my dove. It's now past your bedtime. Rest your eyes, dream your dreams, may you wake with Mother's morning light." She presses a kiss to her son's cheek, taking the book with her and closing the door behind her.

"Mother's light..." The boy yawns, turning on his side, "Everyone in Mother's light..."