My beloved sisters and mother have bestowed me the goddess name, Oshun, goddess of love and sweet water.  I was never a warrior among the Dahomey.  I was too gentle in nature.  Instead, I was content to be a healer, and watched over the orphans of our small community.  It was something I would continue to do, even after we came to the Sky Dome.  I would come and visit often, and teach the small ones.  The older ones would take after  me, and let these nurturing cycles continue.

Sometimes I will watch from above, and whisper loving advice in their ears, always offering comfort where it was needed.  When I am needed most, I appear.

Olokun watched over the ocean depths, and Yemaya watched over the ocean shallows.  I preferred the fresh water.  Olokun and Yemaya were beautiful in their shades of blue, Olokun's closer to black.  I preferred the color red, or gold.  Both Olokun and Yamaya have found themselves a mate.  I am still single, though I did get pregnant with a set of twins from one of my pregnancies.  They were the only ones that followed my footsteps to the Sky Dome.  The rest were content to live as mortals.  The three of us continue to visit from time to time.  For the time being they prefer to keep the shape of children.   They often visit with the miracle child in Magec's clan.

Today was a day I was on my way home, back to the Sky Dome.  But there was trouble upstairs.  A great storm was brewing.

"What's going on up there?" I asked

"Xevioso."  "Shango."  Both my little boys replied.  "Oh those boys!  They are going to wake Oya up!"

"They already did," they both replied.

That's when they fell from the sky.  I recognized my nephews at once. 

"Boys!  What did you do!"

"Well he started it!" said Xevioso.

"No I didn't," said Shango.  "We were all getting along just fine until you showed up!"

"Are you calling me a liar?" said Xevioso.  His hands began to contract, and an electrical charge began to encircle him.

"What was that?" asked Shango, his lethal fire enveloping him.

"Boys!" I said.  "There are children here!"

"Sorry Aunt Oshun," they said.

"Now, what brings you to my sweet waters?"

"Hello," said a lovely young woman with red beads.  I could tell right away who her father was by looking at her.  And by her beads, she must be from the Igbo lands.  This was Ahuana, of the werelions.

"Is this my lovely niece?" I asked her, taking her by the hands.

"I'm your niece too," said a young woman in blue.  Aside from the starfish in her hair, she could have been my sister, Yamaya's twin. 

"This is Star," said Ahuana, placing her hand on her shoulder.  "We've come to visit you.  We have so many in our family, we thought we would have an adventure and visit in person."

"Hmm," I said.  "That sounds like a wonderful idea.  In fact, we could all make a family reunion in the Sky Dome."

"That is a wonderful idea," said Ahuana.  "The Orisha clan has already married into both the Alusi and the Guanche.  We are already one big happy family."

"Could we also see who is still single?" asked Shango.

"And not blood related," said Xevioso with a dry smile.

Even I could not help but smile at these boy's antics, though I did roll my eyes for theatrics.

"And when we gather everyone and mingle, we should look for more people like us," said Star.

"Don't you mean make more people like us?" I asked her.

"Yes.  I was once human."

"As was I," said a lovely human being beside Star.  Until now, I had thought this being was a woman.

"Are you a part of Magec's tribe?"

"I am."

"Don't you mean Magec's sisterhood?" asked Star.

"Not for long my dear."

"Really?" asked Xevioso.  Shango looked curious as well.

"Indeed," I said.  "As you know, Magec has been spending more and more time with Olokun in the depths below.  It's only a matter of time they will unite permanently and make the ocean their home.  Sunshine, meanwhile, has been taking Magec's place.  And many of the bird kin have been close by, watching.  More and more will join as time goes by, male and female, or intersex.  Some will be feminine, some will be masculine.  But they will be helpful all the same in rescuing the lonely."

"Aaaahhh!" Ahuana began to squeal.  I found my twins trying to go underneath her skirt!

"Boys!   What are you doing?!" I said.  

While one child giggled, the other asked Ahauna, "Where is your tail?"

"Are you speaking of my lioness tail?"

Even as she was speaking, she began to change.  My twins squealed with laughter as Ahuana in her lioness form began to give chase. Xevioso and Shango tried to join in, but anytime they "play" together, they tend to get destructive.  They pouted at my command, but obeyed.

I noticed they lovely woman with light brown skin looking at young Star, and the beautiful man beside her.  She was staring at their holding hands.  There was no jealousy, but I could see the longing in her eyes.

"Is there someone you are missing?" I asked her.

She bowed her head.  "Yes," she said quietly.

"Does he miss you?" 

"I don't know."  The young woman looked troubled.

"Why don't you tell me about him."

This young woman, Dulce, whom I could now see was also my niece, and daughter of Ododuwa, filled me in of this fountain in the Gaunche empire.  I found it very interesting, and thought it could be of further use for us all.  For now though, I gave her my full attention of this Guayota.  I could see the signs.  She was already in love.  But she was doubting herself.  She was beautiful enough there was no need to be.  And from what she told me of him, he had some tender feelings as well, and a mutual attraction.  I encouraged her to put her fears to rest.  It would all work out for them in the end.

I watched the young one's playing together, feeling happy.  I was happy for all of them, and though they did not know it, I gave them all my blessing to have a passionate and loving relationship with their one true love.  As for me, I looked up at the skies above.  I could not help but believe, that somewhere my true love was among the stars.