Hushed Willows ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Her children’s absences do not go unnoticed, but Olive chooses not to pay attention to it. Instead, she makes the deliberate decision to focus on each and every one of the attending member’s faces and index them in her memory — a lovely tan female with children, an unaccompanied young girl, a dark coated man who spoke like a gentleman — as Lily’s dulcet tones sweetly drifted in one ear and danced around in her mind’s space.

Olive was immediately impressed with Lily’s demeanor and sense of professionalism. She appreciated the way the young woman toed the line of warmth and authoritative directive as she instructed the others to introduce themselves, speak their minds and make a friend. It was the perfect place for the shrouded sylph to share her sentiments, similar as they were, without treading on the councilwoman’s toes. “Yes, welcome! We are thrilled and honored to have you here — Elysium could not exist and work its magic without you.” Olive’s smile shined bright as the winter’s first snow as she offered a cordial dip of the head to everyone in attendance, even the cherubim. 

Then — an opportunity!“I have a small bit of news…” she began falteringly, interjecting a bit despite her having been the last to speak. It was not small news at all, but Olive had a fine-tuned sense of modesty that prevented her from calling it anything but. “Seabreeze and I are officially wife and, er — wife!” Perhaps this had already been assumed by any wolf who encountered the two woman, clearly enamored with each other for well over a year, but the decision to pledge themselves to one another permanently was recent and, Olive suspected, might encourage others to share in their happiness. This meeting was all about good things, whereas Elysium’s previous meeting shone a light on all the areas they had left to grow. Onwards and upwards!