'Too far to fly on her own' is a very exciting distance! She has never been that distance before, and so she's looking forward to it very much! She is an excellent passenger for her mother, sending lovelovelove all the way as she watches the land below speed by.

The land flows on and on underneath Alexstrasza's shadow as she flies tirelessly across rocky mountain and secluded vale, placid lake and ancient forest.

To pass the time over the days of flight, she tells stories of days gone by, of adventures with the Titanic Watchers. Mighty Odyn, who generaled the armies that beat back the Black Empire. Fierce Ra-den, who subdued the rogue elemental lords and sealed them in their planes. Vigilant Tyr, who roamed the world as the first warning of danger.

Oooo. These are excellent stories!! She listens to them raptly, and asks leading questions and about where all of the involved people have gone and what they're doing and if she can ever meet them. Will the Black Empire ever be good? Can they be friends with everyone else and then everybody gets a happily ever after, once everyone has learned how to be better and understands everyone else's point of view??

Mostly the Watchers have retreated their citadels and remnant Titan installations. Their great tasks are done, and the world now belongs to those they made it safe for.

The Black Empire was made up of the forces of the Old Gods, and the Old Gods are embodiments of the Void, which is hostile to all life. They wish nothing more than for the world to be wiped clean of all inhabitants and torn asunder into its constituent parts, as it was before the Titans came. Even their own servants they drive unto madness, twisting them until they tore each other apart as much as those who opposed them.

Oh. Okay, so those guys are no good and cannot be redeemed and are distinctly not friend material. That's a pity, but oh well, Ranaex understands and thinks it's good to know these sorts of things early. Any other groups that are distinctly not friend material that she should know about in case they want to drive her mad or eradicate all life or something?

There are still some Twilight cults that pop up from time to time, but there aren't really any remaining forces that pose the same level of threat.

(Alexstrasza is quietly relieved.)

Oh! Okay, good, that's how things should be, then. Ranaestrasza is pleased that the world is so conveniently nice.

They pass by a large, ornately scuplted tower of white stone. This is Wyrmrest Temple, says Alexstrasza, and it was constructed as a neutral place for the dragonflights to meet when something important needs to be discussed.

Ooooooooo. That's smart. Wait, they need a neutral ground? Do the dragonflights fight sometimes? Is it a just-in-case precaution if they start fighting later so they can have peace talks??

It is more that it is place that no flight claims, so there are no questions about territoriality or rights of ownership. And it also serves as a reminder of duty, as it was constructed for the dragonflights by the Titans themselves.

Oh, okay. But if they do ever fight (which they shouldn't because they're all working together to protect the same thing) then they have a neutral ground for it. It is smart to have these things. She thinks. With her minimal life experience.

It's good she's thinking!

The Ruby Dragonshrine is just a little further past Wyrmrest Temple, in a comfortingly green valley with an enormous oak with red leaves at the center of it. As Alexstrasza circles in to land, an elf emerges from beneath the roots to greet them.

Ranaex thinks this place is very pretty, and stares accordingly. She waits patiently for her mother to land, then cheerfully flies up to the elf to say,

"Hi!! I'm Ranaestrasza!! What's your name?"

She curtsies smoothly. "My name is Dahlia Suntouch. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ranaestrasza."

Alexstrasza shifts into her elf form as well. "Dahlia is the Keeper of the shrine, and one of the red flight's oldest mortal friends."

"It is my honor to serve, Dragonqueen." Dahlia curtsies deeper.

"Nice to meet you too!!" And there it is, lovelovelove from the little baby. "What does the shrine need in order to be Kept, is it hard? Do you need help? May I snuggle you?"

"You may, if you wish. I tend to the grounds and watch so that nothing disturbs them, and remember all those who come here."

Snuggle!! Dahlia now has a little whelp curled around her shoulders, humming contently.

"What does it mean to be mortal?" she asks, next.

"It means that I will grow old and die, in time."

"Oh. Why?"

"It is the balance of the world. Mortals are born, we live, we age, we die."

"That seems sad."

"It does not have to be. Life and death are what you make of them."

She hums thoughtfully. Internally, she's unconvinced, but there's no reason to argue. Instead she can just offer the elf snuggles.

Pat pat.

     "When is Seriss due?" asks Alexstrasza.

"By noon today, my queen," Dahlia says, glancing up at the sun, about halfway through its climb. "Rielstrasz and Lyastrasza are accompanying him. Vorastrasza should be here soon as well."

"What's the meeting for?" she asks, curiously, realizing that she doesn't actually know this answer already. "To pay respects or are there other reasons too?"