like a jar, you housed infinite tenderness
and infinite tenderness shattered you

What in Adonai’s name, are they all hurrying towards? Caught up in the throng of residents, all of whom are heading in a single direction, Yael can only guess that it’s important she head that way too. There is a spark of something in the air, a merriness, a thrill; she hears it in joy-tinged voices and sees it in their eager pace. Come one, come all! something seems to say, and so like several times before, Yael obliges. Because magic is magic. And she learned a long time ago to pay attention when it calls.

A giant turtle. Of course there is a giant turtle (and a well-decorated one at that!) The gilded Pegasus would chuckle if everyone else didn’t seem to be in reverential awe. Magic Day? What is Magic Day?!

Yael watches as, one-by-one, they step forward to place items on a tree; some with lengthy explanations, and some with few words. Whatever the case, the things they produce come from antlers and bags and out of thin air, and she is caught up in all beautiful pieces the creatures of this land have created. By now, the tree is well covered with baubles and other items, and twinkles pleasantly in the daylight.
But what could Yael offer? She has but one treasure, and that she keeps well hidden beneath her mane, too precious to expose to the world – her only lifeline to the past. She could not bear to part with it (not knowing, of course, that she would get it back). Her people had a saying that the poor man who gives all five of his coins gives far more than the rich man who gives fifty. But this talon, this piece of her Van is… everything. How can she give everything to some magical creature she knows nothing of? No, there must be something else...

On impulse, Yael reaches around and grasps one of her short, top feathers. She yanks hard, wincing when the shaft separates from her flesh, and watches as a few dots of blood fall to the snow. Gilded feather in mouth, she gingerly steps forward and places her gift along a lower bough tucking it in along the dark green needles. It contrasts nicely! Pleased, Yael murmurs a couple of words to the turtle, “I xaf nozing but myself, and my vings,” before backing into the growing crowd. She tries to lock eyes with Lyanna (the teal is eye catching!), but isn’t sure if she succeeds, and so simply stands to watch more Xelovians offer gifts to the turtle and its tree.