Tisvetaia laughs. It's a nicer laugh than Maeverine's.

"Well, I'll just go with what seems best, then. Follow me, please?"

And the bird flies forward and perches on a branch ahead.

"If you need something, please let me know! Everything that looks edible probably is, but if you have any doubts feel free to ask. Springs should be pretty numerous and easy to find if you're thirsty, and they're all free of diseases or insects. Oh, and if you see something that you think could be improved, please, feel free to mention."

She certainly seems much nicer than Maeverine.

"I will, thank you." Ellie follows the bird, building the route they take in her head as they go, and commiting major landmarks to memory.

There are lots of landmarks! They are all very pretty. Large stone rocks and distinctive trees and little strangely shaped ponds and streams. Tisvetaia must make a point of making her domain easy to navigate. It's mountainous, but not so much that the place becomes unnavigable.

Soon enough they're on a neatly paved path. It leads them to an absolutely gorgeous view of the bay, black sandy beaches lining it, and a town that overlooks it.

It, too, is lovely. Though it's hard to tell if it's just impressive to look at, or if the people in it are actually happy to be there.

Oh.

"It's beautiful," whispers Ellie. She starts down towards the town.

"Thank you," says the bird. "I try to make my domain a nice place to live."

The path widens and joins with another, this one nicer, but a bit more worn. It must be used more often.

"There are some people up ahead that you'll cross paths with," says Tisvetaia. "Would you rather I introduced you as an acolyte, or not?"

Maeverine said that gods would always recognize her but if she could pretend to not be an acolyte to the commoners she might be able to get more information.

"Not, please."

"All right," she agrees.

Soon enough: there are the commoners! It looks like a cute little family, out for a walk. They have a daughter with them. About the age Ellie was when she was kidnapped.

She lights up when she sees Tisvetaia's bird.

"Tisvet!" she says, grinning. "Hi! Can I pet you?"

"Why, sure!" says the goddess, and she flies right over and lands on the child's shoulder gently. And then the bird gets gentle feather pets.

The parents look faintly amused.

Well, isn't that nice.

Ellie puts her people-face on.

"Hello! My name's Ellie, I'm a traveller. Tisvetaia was kind enough to show me around her domain."

(The mother gently pets Tisvetaia, too.)

"It's a nice place to live," says the father, smiling. "Though she's not a jealous god, won't mind if you leave. She'll even still come by and poke you if you're not too far away."

"Daaad," complains the girl. "You haven't pet her. You should, what if you forget and get old!"

He rolls his eyes, then holds out a hand to Tisvetaia's bird. She graciously pokes him with her beak.

"There, see? Happy?"

"You didn't pet her!"

"Pokes work too, dear."

"But they're less fun, she is soft."

Right, Tisvetaia does preservation. And she seems to have a positive relationship with her people. Probably helps that touching their god doesn't produce excruciating pain.

"I'm not looking to settle down just yet. There's still many places I've not been. This is one of the nicest so far, I must say."

"Thank you," says the bird, ducking her head.

"You should see her temple! The one nearby, it's pretty!" says the girl.

"Most temples are pretty," says the mother.

"Yeah but it's the best of everywhere."

"Have you been to everywhere?"

"No but it is!"

Tisvetaia: does not laugh. She is a good bird, look at how graciously she accepts pets.

"I would like to see her temple, while I'm here. Is it in town?"

"Yep, near the center of it. It's the big grey and white building, you can't miss it," says the father.

"I'll be happy to show it to you, if you'd like," says Tisvetaia.

"Yes, thank you," says Ellie. She smiles at the family as she passes them.

Once they're out of earshot: "They seemed nice."

"Yes. They've lived here for a while, the parents are both in their, oh. Fifties, I believe?" She sounds faintly smug. That is a faintly smug goddess.

"You'd hardly know it, looking at them. Very impressive."

"Thank you. I can keep mortals alive indefinitely, as long as I or my acolyte pokes them once a decade."

"You only have one?"

"Yes. I have to be very careful with my acolytes, barring violent death, I will have them forever."

"Of course. I'd like to meet them, if they're around."

Brief pause.

"He's in my domain, but it'll be a few days before he can get to this area, if you're still willing. He's curious about you."

"I don't have any specific plans. I could stay a while."

"Certainly, stay as long as you like. Provided you don't cause me or anyone in my domain any trouble."

"Of course not. That would be intolerably rude of me."

Walk walk. Is the town getting close?