Third POV
Shinko hummed being patient as Ailana, her mother her hair, and started braiding it. "Mama..." Shinko asked with concern in tone.

"Yes, my dear?" Ailana asked as she finished braiding Shinko's hair and used a worn piece of silk to tie it.

"When can I start learning how to pray like you to the Eldritch gods?" Ailana paused for a brief moment before sighing a small sorrowful smile playing on her lips.

"Oh my dear child one must start praying on their thirteenth birthday but if it matters then I can start teaching you the basics but never rush it as it takes preparations to properly pray to one Eldritch God," Ailana stated as she finished tying a bow in Shinko's hair, "but do promise me dear child," Ailana moved in front of Shinko and kneelrememberinko's small hands in her big ones, "you must never summon them before the age of 16 it is quite the disaster if one tries to summon such at a y ng age... Your existence may be in great danger if one tries to summon such."

"But Mama what if one appears before me even though no such summoning is done," Shinko asked a little frightened as she just remembered one by two eldritch gods at this point.

"If one appears before you merely passing by or observing you," Ailana questioned before closing her eyes and trying to bring forth the many teachings she had sat through, "I do believe it is fine and that they have taken interest in what you might hold for the future as the majority of the Eldritch gods look for potential and what could be the possibilities one might hold. For example, did I ever tell you the story of how it was possible to have you, my dear child?" Ailana asked as Shinko shook her head.

Ailana smiled before standing up and swooping Shinko into her arms and began to tell her how she had met Shub-Niggurath before her 16th birthday and how she had comforted the motherly god from the sorrow of the loss of many thousand children. And how her wish was granted way before she had the rites ritual to ask for the wish. Several days passed like before and Shinko helped her mother with daily chores and even learned the basics of praying. And before long the end of the season was upon them.

"What are you doing here brother?" Lenix flinched hearing the mellowed-out voice of one of their brethren.

"Daniel," Lenix acknowledged the seasonal Fae Deity, "I am merely checking in from afar on one of my patients... Here once more to change the seasons again?" Lenix leaned against the tree unk facing Daniel.

"Patient?" Daniel questioned as he walked closersurprisedrest the line, "You treated a mortal woman, brother, was it a favor from an eldritch god?" Lenix hummed each time as a form of answering Daniel's question, "About how much time remaining if you're so close does that mean there was no definite cure for what this Patient had... Did they?" Lenix sighed showing defeat in the matter of always finding a cure for most illnesses. "How surprised have... How much time are you able to give to them?"

"By next autumn is as far as I could give the young woman," Lenix sighed, "barely but she will be joining the sea of souls but will be leaving behind their daughter alone.... I was very surprised that Shub-Niggurath held herself back from abducting them after I had given the young woman more time... Though you wish to say other dear brother."

"Words cannot heal what was already done," Daniel sighed, "but I know where you are coming from brother... For sure if I had known would have thought Shub-Niggurath would take them away from this place and into the dark forest to live peacefully until the death of the young woman and travel Another towards the inner eldritch gods with the young child... Perhaps giving the child a dose of their blood creates another child of both worlds like that other child... Oh, I can't remember the name now," Daniel scratched his head.

"Why do I feel like you're asking me that question?" Lenix frowned, "I cannot remember the name either." Lenix grAnotherbefore turchildway and huffing as they walked away from the forest line. Daniel followed after merely staring at Lenix as they walked through a gate that was invisible to the mortal eye and entered the in-between worlds of the mortal realm and the Celestial realm. "Would you stop staring I said I do not know the child's name so leave me be Daniel," Lenix growled out before a soft scuff from the side of the two dragged their attention from each other.

"What are my older brethren fighting about now?" The Arctic Wolf Deity said with a mellow non-emotional tone.

"Aquilo how long have you been at the entrance?" Lenix asked before taking a swift glare at Daniel and then focusing back on their other brother.

"Not long I was going to make the autumn's night chilly air in the mortal realm to get the mortals moving on their winter preparations since some mortals like to dilly-dally on their preparations," Aquilo hummed as a puff of chilled air seeped from their lips, "again what were you two arguing about?"

"Aquilo," Daniel crossed his arms and gave  a glare back at Lenix, "do you remember that child that Shub-Niggurath adopted from the mortal realm that little boy, what's his name?" Aquilo hummed before sighing looking to the corner of the gate.

"I see so this is what the fight was about," Aquilo gave a blank stare, "first off I believe I was the one that led Shub-Niggurath into finding the child... And second, that child did not have the presence of a mortal child... The only reason why I lead Shub-Niggurath to discover that child is because the child's presence was that of Eldritch origin so they needed the right guidance by Eldritch beings. The mortal race had abandoned the child in the dead of winter in fear of their difference the child would've been frozen solid if it wasn't for me finding and leading Shub-Niggurath to them." Aquilo huffed before crossing their arms, "and I believe that the child was given the name of Ethmnaluthayl, a very long and strange name, but I was there when the name was said."

"Ethmnaluthayl," Daniel repeated in a bit of a daze, "the child was never mortal but why was the child found in the mortal realm, to begin with?"

"No one truly knows why that child was left in the mortal realm with humans of all places but all that matters is where he is right now is his rightful place," Aquilo shrugged before stepping in between Daniel and Lenix and going through the portal, "I'll be back within the hour brothers so try and not kill each other while I am gone."

"We're not children!" Daniel growled under his breath as he looked at Lenix, "Why do I always feel like Aquilo is older than us when we are all together?"

"Did you forget once more?" Lenix sighed as he walked further into the in-between, "his whole existence is the chilling air and snow if he were to quell to emotions we'd have another ice Age like before... I'm just surprised he settled down like he did the last ice age... Granted it lasted a few hundred years but it was better when the first almost lasted a thousand... But anyways we better go to the room so that way our emotions don't affect the mortal realm." Lenix walked away from the portal as Daniel sighed again before following behind him.

Back in the mortal realm, Aquilo hummed softly as the sun set in the far East before walking slowly and raising a hand over the bushes letting a cold breeze float below his hand as the leaves crisped with rost. The first frost of the impending winter. "Mama Mama look the sky looks so pretty tonight," Aquilo broke from thought hearing the voice of a young girl and a woman's gentle laughter.

"Those eyes they look like Lenix's," Aquilo inquired walking closer to the pair, "ah, I see... That poor child will lose their mother next autumn... That must be the woman brother Lenix extended the life a bit more." Aquilo closed his dark eyes before reopening them and a brighter blue showed before dimming once more, "another orphaned child as time goes on, oh greetings Shub-Niggurath, mother of a thousand young I am sorry I failed to notice you standing there."

Aquilo gave a short bow as the said eldritch god hummed, in response, "It is very sad indeed that another child will lose a caring mother... I'm sure your brother Lenix has told you others about the request they granted for me."

"Smaller details yes but nothing too in-depth as you know my brother's rhythm of speech," Aquilo sighed standing straight again, "might you be taking another child as your own soon?"

"That's my initial plan yes," Shub-Niggurath sighed looking directly at the Arctic Wolf Deity, "once the mother passes away in sleep I'll sweep the child away in the middle of the night of a horrid storm... Or that is something I wish to say to make it seem like the child disappeared by natural disaster and not kidnapped."

"Next autumn," Aquilo inquired again before his eyes got a brighter blue hue and dimmed again, "how about an early snowstorm from my part... It would make sense for early snow around that time instead of a hurricane so late in its season."

"Good point," Shub-Niggurath chuckled, "snowstorm disaster it is~" she looked back towards the hut before turning around and walking further into the forest, "I'll see you and your brothers around, Artic Wolf Deity, Aquilo."

Aquilo did a quick bow before sighing and continuing his walk, throughout the night while everyone slept. By morning the frost settled on everything and Aquilo returned to the in-between and sat with his brethren waiting for the next cycle until winter came where he would wander around for 3 months before only returning during the night to create the cool crisp air.

The seasons passed by without much difficulty besides the few times when the baron and the mistress came to rough up Ailana while Shinko hid until they left. Such acts were watched over in secret through a key by Shub-Niggurath with the borrowing of Yog Sothoth' 's keys "You're going to crack the table again dear Shub~" Yog yawned as he looked over with glee in his eyes.

"Oh," Shub-Niggurath looked away from the key and slowly loosened her grip from the corner of the table she sat at as Yog Sothoth took the key from her hand, "Thank for lending me the keys and all but why are we limiting it."

"I am merely thinking out of concern for the area around you, dear," Yog Sothoth frowned as he made the key disappear into the lock on his side, "you've been on edge since the last meeting, and your motherly wrath is showing alarming heights so I would not dare rile you up further with extended visions of what is happening."

Shub-Niggurath sighed before crossing her arms, "my wrath is fully under control," Yog sighed before pointing down to the cracked table, "oh... But it's fine now."

"But is it truly," Yog yawned once more before looking to the side, "N'Yog Sothep and Magnum Tenebrosum what a wonderful snow fsnowfallrctic Wolf Deity set for this season right?"

"Don't drag us into a topic change," N'Yog Sothep sighed as they avoided another poke from Magnum Tenebrosum, "would you stop that, Magnum," N'Yog Sothep huffed as Magnum chuckled.

"While on the topic of said child and Arctic Wolf Deity," Magnum settled their chuckling, "I thought I heard something about a blizzard, why wait a whole year when we could easily take child and mother away from the humans like taking eggs from a confused bird... Oh dear daughter of mine, why are you showing patience now?" Shub-Niggurath sighed as she stood up from the table and walked to the opening of the room.

"Due to the troubles the last fiasco caused when Ethmnaluthayl came with me," she hummed with a sorrowful tone, "there were no traces of his origins for a while so matters got swept up into others believing Ethmnaluthayl was a mortal child until Aquilo confirmed that he was found with strong Eldritch essence too much to be from a mortal birth." Yog nodded his head.

"I remember that whole fiasco now as I have it recorded and watch it out of boredom," Yog Sothoth yawned, "is it in concern that the Celestials will see the taking of the child and mother as a broken rule that we made between our selves and them with how we are to observe the mortals and not directly intervene?"

Shub-Niggurath nodded her head before coming back to the table, "they didn't have much of a fit when I decided to sway the mortals so why care about two souls?" Nyarlathotep chuckled as he entered the room.

"Ah Nyarlathotep," N'Yog Sothep turned to the other oldest God as they strolled into the room, "I do believe it was ruled as an interesting or guiding the Celestials called it... Most made the choice and forced others. You didn't directly force anyone and they only ruled it as an influence not intervening."

"They certainly have strange definitions that all mean the same," Magnum sighed before standing, "welp I'm going back to sleep for a few hundred years, wake me if the humans do anything entertaining." Magnum Tenebrosum yawned before walking out of the room.

"Geez," Nyarlathotep huffed as he sat down, "Magnum seems lazy this era don't they?" The other gods sighed as Nyarlathotep hummed detaching one of many masks off his side, "I was thinking I might visit the human realm again and see this child myself even though I agreed to the favor of allowing you to adopt to the mortal child." Nyarlathotep took the edge of his clothes and wiped the mask off, "and I promise I will not cause anything so stop the glare N'Yog Sothep."

"You always end up causing trouble when you head to the mortal realm," N'Yog Sothep grumbled as he glared at Nyarlathotep, "no matter how many disguises you have they always end up in some conflict or event that influences the mortal realm."

"If you're going to see the child I'll join," Shub-Niggurath stood again, "after all within less than a year she'll be remaining with us for the rest of her life." Nyarlathotep chuckled as he stood as well.

"Shub dear," Yog yawned again as he held up a key, "try to keep your motherly wrath to a minimum... The mortal realm cannot withstand another wrath storm from you, considering the last one left a grave scar in the earth.... They haven't truly forgiven that event but they understood it was in justice with how they harmed your thousand young without provocation."

"I promise that I'll keep my wrath to myself and wait until I am back in the Arkham borders to release some of the wrath," Shub-Niggurath gave a small smile before nodding to Nyarlathotep, "shall we get going it'll be mid spring when we get there."

Smirking one last time and shrugging his shoulders, he stood up and walked out the door as Shub-Niggurath followed. "I'm going to watch them, just in case," Yog Sothoth pulled another key from thin air and placed it close to his right eye.

"Good thought, child of mine, good thought," N'Yog Sothep sighed seeing how the events of the short meeting happened, "oh what was the gift you gave Ethmnaluthayl as in grads for the splendid accomplishment?" The Nameless Mist God asked as Yog Sothoth hummed in thinking before answering.

"His own little pocket dimension to house his creations... I've been keeping an eye on him now and then but I say he is very happy with the little dimension I gifted to him," Yog Sothoth smiled before sighing, "though I do wish he would come home more often than the occasion family meetings... Especially for his siblings and Shub's sake. I should probably get things prepared if I am welcoming a new child soon, gathering the rites artifacts and the blood that the little one needs to drink in able to become one of us... And probably a new name if she wants to change it or add an official title."

"Ah, I see," N'Yog Sothep sighed before standing, "I am going to go wander a bit before going to merely close my eyes for a bit." Yog Sothoth waved I'm acknowledgment before N'Yog Sothep left the room leaving Yog alone before soft breeze swept the room and Yog chuckled.

"I suppose we can grant that request," Yog moved the key away from his eye a bit, "we just have to gather the right materials and create a vessel that is able to withstand a fourth of your presence, dear creator." Yog stood before place the key back in the lock located next to him, "record " Yog commanded as the key glowed a shade of red before turning clockwise as he also left the room, "perpreations won't do gather themselves better get started."

With Shinko and Ailana, it was after another round of relentless beatings Ailana took before the baron growled out, "why aren't you and that stupid child dead yet! It was a foolproof plan and I followed everything by fault."

Shinko had heard just beyond the door even though her mother told her to hide in the forest until she called for her. Hands covering her mouth as tears flowed down her cheeks, shaking with holding back any noise to let them know she was merely steps away. "Where is the girl anyways? Ever since Syhcoa and Red came back they've never been the same and would rather bully from afar than the physical interactions they use to do," the Mistress said as she huffed and flipped a fan to hold in front of her mouth grinding her teeth, "it's about time that child learned punishments for what they did to my children."

Shinko froze and hiccuped as the mistress and the baron whipped their attention to the door as they walked to the door and move aside the cloth they came face to face with a gentleman caught in mid knock. The gentleman had dark Raven hair with dark eyes dressed somewhat fancy and have slightly darker skin than that of Ailana, "pardon me I got lost in the woods and came out in this area do you think you can tell me how to get to the town center Square I am late for a trade meeting?"

"Oh," the baron coughed before peeking out and pointing towards the dirt road, "if you head that way and right at the cliff edge rock you'll be in town less than 30 minutes."

"Ah I see," the gentleman smirked, "thank you for the directions I'll be on my way." The gentleman waved before walking towards the road as the baron frowned looked all over the visible area before shrugging and closing the cloth door once more. "That was quite the scare wasn't it little one," the man chuckled moving his cape off of Shinko who was clutching his pant leg tightly to where her knuckles were turning white.

"That was reckless, Nyarla," Shub-Niggurath huffed as she came out of the dark forest, "but quick thinking... Hello darling do you remember who I am?"

"S-shub-Ni-Nigurrath," Shinko sniffed as she let go of Nyarla's pant leg before running over to the motherly god and practically throwing her self into Shub-Niggurath's arms before sobbing everything to her.

"Shh~shh dear child it's alright we're here, I'm here," Shub-Niggurath wrapped her arms around Shinko and picked her up effortlessly and rocking her to and through, "Nyarla what were you able to see while standing there even for a mere minute."

Nyarla sighed and growled, "I can see why your wrath is going so high, but whatever the Thunderbird did to give the young woman more time it's instantly healing every wound that they inflict.... I need to learn what they used cause then it'll be something as a bargining chip or use to advance more compatible mindless soldiers so that child Ghatanothoa, he tends to go through a lot of them with his practices."

"Your not helping with your comments," Shub-Niggurath grumbled out before focusing her attention on Shinko and calming her down.

"Why not take them now it'll be easier this way?" Nyarla suggested shrugging his shoulders, "all we have to do is wait until night time then just take them... Heck why not set a few of my masks on straw dolls and make it look like they died in the middle of the night."

"Theres," Shub-Niggurath paused before sighing, "I have nothing to say. I want to but I want to pace myself with this one... Too much change could stress out both young ones and I don't want to overstress either one of them in fear it'll bring early death to both. Though I am aware the Thunderbirds medicine would never allow the young woman to die such misery or pain."

"So it's setting Principles than desires?" Nyarla spoke with a mellowed out tone. Shub-Niggurath nodded as she kept swaying rocking Shinko's sobbing body, "I'm aware I am self-centered and known throughout history as the trickster and the ruthless one but aren't you cutting your self short? I know these children mean a lot but if it comes down to it, wouldn't it benefit you and the two that they are taken sooner than later?"

"Perhaps," Shub-Niggurath sighed as she felt Shinko slump into her arms, "but causing more of a ruse right now especially after my wrath nearly a decade ago is not going to be helpful neither condolening. So I must be patient until the agreed time comes," she rubbed the small part of Shinko's back before looking at the hut again, "the deities agreed to a time and place so I shall use that event to my advantage as suggested... They mean well and they do favors for us, so I trust their insight and motivation."

"True, true," Nyarla huffed before taking off the human disguise mask returning to his black Pharaoh form, "they do a lot of favors for us in the long run like cleaning up a few of our messes or mistakes," Nyarla placed the mask back on his side and grabbed another turning it over before looking over it, "I need to repair this one... Darn and this is my favorite one."

"Well you do use that one constantly," Shub-Niggurath sighed as she watched Nyarla place the mask on his face and transformed once more to another human disguise, "what are you thinking now?"

"I think scaring them should be enough," Nyarla chuckled, "simple scare shouldn't harm anyone and maybe it'll settle my nieces wrath for a bit." Nyarla hummed before turning around and walking up to the front of the home before knocking on the door. The Mistress answered the door as Nyarla greeted them and asked to be welcomed in and wanted to do a 'deal' with a new product.

"Oh bother," Shub-Niggurath huffed as she watched him enter the home and the door closed, "let us go check on your mother, little Shinko. I am sure things need to be cleaned up and tidied." She hummed a soothing lullaby. Walking up to the hut and moving aside the curtain she frowned at the sight. They had merely left Ailana on the floor as the wounds healed automatically with the soft hue of blue glowing above the wounds.

Quickly walking over to the smaller bed meant for Shinko she set the child on the bed and tucked her in before moving around and with inhumane strength picked up Ailana and set her upon her own bed before Shub-Niggurath walked around the room picking up pieces of broken clay and stone and with much detail try to fix what still held majority of its shape or form. She was nearly done when she heard the collection of screams coming from within the home. It was quite loud to be heard within the little hut but she smirked with glee knowing fully well what transpired within the home.

"It's what the deserved," Shub-Niggurath heard from the side of her before she looked to see a half dazed Ailana peeking up at her, "madam Shub-Niggurath I thought I would have never seen you again." Her voice soft and weak as a whispering whisp.

"Rest dear child," Shub-Niggurath quietly made her way over to the bedside and took the worn down cloth before tucking Ailana in, "though it maybe spring there is still a chill in the air."

"I'm dying soon am I not, madam Shub-Niggurath?" Ailana questioned as Shub-Niggurath felt herself freeze in her tracks, it's rare but even she feels hesitation, "no need to answer cause I know the blue hue in my eyes are fading I've been feeling everything around me... Just like how I know the last night visitors before my suffering end was you and the spiritual deity of the Thunderbird. You came in and helped me and my daughter, in matter of fact I always felt you when you were near," Ailana choked back a sob before using her sleeve to wipe away her tears, "I knew when you helped Shinko whenever you watched from afar but only if I had more strength to take Shinko and run into the dark forest into your protection once more but I couldn't, was I a bad child, dear madam Shub-Niggurath?"

"You were never a bad child," Shub-Niggurath began as she sat on the edge of the bed, "unfortunate circumstances lend to this, no one has complete control on what the future holds, sure you can see some events that may happen but nothing is set in stone unlike the past. Time is a very fickle thing in actuality," Shub-Niggurath said in a hushed tone as she placed a hand on top of Ailana's head gently patting her head, "but I promise dear child you did nothing wrong. You just happened to get caught it the flow of time. I'm sure things would have been different, definitely, if things went the way you dreamed about... How if you had truly listened to your brother and made it into the safety of my forest or if when you were able to move freely how you returned to the dark forest with Noc when they nudged you towards that direction. Or when after the birth of Shinko you had the strength to carry the newborn and your self to the safety of my arms in the dark forest."

Ailana had tears swelling in her eyes and Shub-Niggurath saw them and merely pulled her closer soothing her just like soothing Shinko earlier. Ailana's body shook with sobs as she sobbed into the skirt of Shub-Niggurath's dress. The paired remained like that until Ailana's sobs subsided and her breathing became light indicating that she had fallen asleep. "Well," Shub-Niggurath looked up seeing Nyarlathotep come through the curtain taking off the mask and putting it on his side, "are we not going to take them tonight or wait a bit longer?"

"Wait a little bit longer, I promise the Deities and so I'll keep to that promise to them," Shub-Niggurath hummed lightly as she gently moved Ailana's head off her lap and stood up and rearranged Ailana's sleeping form and tucked her in then moving over to Shinko and did the same. "But I am going to make those two pay... I will not punish children they'll just have to live with the fact that their parents harmed the wrong ones and paid the price... Those two will feel my direct wrath," Shub-Niggurath growled as she walked over to the door before turning giving one last sorrowful look at the inside of the small hut, "I won't allow this treatment slide. That I vow."

"Now that's the niece behavior I like to hear but come it's about time those silly humans come to check on those fools," Nyarlathotep chuckled as he moved the curtain aside and stepping out, "I might've frightened them too much... But I did get a good laugh at their frightened faces. And I am sure Yog Sothoth recorded everything that happened today. Nephew always enjoys recording interesting events as little as frightening mere mortals back into their places."

Shub-Niggurath followed as she sighed closing the curtain fully before shaking her head, "and here we promised not to cause a scene in the mortal realm... I am sure there is soon to be a discussion about what happened."

Nyarlathotep cackled loudly as they walked back into the dark forest as lights from the village came closer to check in on Baron Greth and the Mistress. But only find them and the two children frozen in fear with them scratching at their faces mouths wide open as if they saw something they weren't supposed to see and was feeling suffocating feeling.

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Sorry about the wait and I just realized something when I was editing this chapter cause I noticed that my application I use to help with grammar and spelling was editing in wrong places and all over the place random words or punctuations I've been mostly typing this all out on my phone so I am wondering if the application doesn't work so well with mobile devices but when I get the chance I'll go back over on my laptop and fix everything that the application messed up and so sorry if it sounded so randomly glad thing I caught it early during this chapter than later.

Catch ya in the next chapter! Bye! ~