It didn’t surprise her one bit when Ismena began to settle at the promise of a story. All the Vuesain children had grown up with her stories, all of them the ones she had been told by her own father growing up. Her mother had given her and her siblings herbs and tribal ancestral faith, and their father had given them knowledge of nature and of their surroundings and tribal stories passed down for generations. Namid had never taken as strongly in the faith as Veho had, and Ooljee, even as protective of his family as he had been, hadn’t taken to it at all. The pale queen was stuck in some strange in between, not quite as into it but not a non-believer either. Her first litter hadn’t shown a lot of interest in her faith, but if any of them had questions she would be happy to inform them and educate them.
Settling herself, her characteristic soft smile etched onto her maw, the woman reached down and nuzzled her daughter softly. “Alright. There once were two sisters name Terra and Aella. Terra lived on the earth, while Aella lived in the clouds. Terra had a pelt made of rich browns and creams, looking much like we do in fact! Her eyes were a beautiful shade of green. Aella’s pelt was colored a pure, light cream allowing her to blend in beautifully with her clouds, with eyes the as crystal blue as the lake. They had made a pact in their youth that Aella would give Terra water from her clouds in the sky to keep her beloved plants growing if Terra promised to give it back in return. This arrangement lasted peacefully for many years, as Terra and Aella never grew old. Aella would guide her clouds over to wherever Terra said needed water and then let loose, and in return, after everything was watered, Terra would raise the temperature of the land a little bit, causing the water to evaporate and return to Aella for cleaning and storing.
One day, Terra forgot to return the water when she had promised to do so. Her sister grew very angry, flying over Terra and calling down to her “Sister, you have not kept your word! We had an agreement, why do you betray me?” Terra, having forgotten, instantly felt guild for her actions and apologized. “I am sorry, Aella, please forgive me. It will not happen again,” and because it had not happened before it was forgiven and Terra returned the water. After the next rainfall, Terra had once again forgotten to return her water. Again, her sister flew over to her angrier than before. “Sister, you have done it again! Return my water to me at once, thief!” she accused. Terra was shocked and felt guilty once again, not an angry soul but a loving one that tended to plant life on earth. “Sister, I apologize. I did indeed forget again, but please forgive me. I shall not do it again,” and because it had only happened one other time, Aella forgave her and went about her business. But, when it came around the third time Aella was done forgiving. Her anger was so palatable that it heated the air around her, her teeth bared at her sibling. “Terra, no more of this! I am done forgiving your empty words! I will not take your water away, but to ensure you remember our agreement I will send down many bolts of great crackling lightning. Their booms will remind you, and they may occasionally leave destruction in their wake if I feel you are not taking heed.” and with her words a great bolt of lightning crashed to the earth, shaking the air around it. Terra was terrified and upset by the new rule, but knew there was nothing she could do about it. So, now almost every time it rains the great booms of thunder are Aella reminding her sibling of their agreement.”