That was the day she always visited them, whether it was in the morning, during her lunch, or late at night.
Their shrine was never big. Something hidden in the forest, in a cave long forgotten by most.
They still remembered the old days, long before they had stopped being widely known.
The place surrounding the cave was a village, bustling with life. Villagers visited them every day, leaving gifts all around the cave.
Now all they had was a small shrine at the back wall.
She'd never even meant to find their shrine.
It had just supposed to be a bit of exploration, to be 'adventurous'.
They just found it stupid.
But it'd at least led their girl to them.
She'd barely turned sixteen when she first found them, and eighty years later, she hadn't skipped a single year of visit.
They'd heard their girl had children now, and grandchildren. She'd never brought them there, though. It was too bad.
They saw her leaning on her cane as she approached their shrine, sitting down on a chair installed there a few decades ago.
Their chat had been normal.
Her saying she hoped they'd get more followers one day.
They knew their girl would die soon, but still like spending time with her, like an owner playing with an old pet.
And like a good pet owner, they wouldn't leave their girl with nothing when she was nearing the end of her life.
It had been a hard choice, to see which she'd like or hate, but they'd come to a decision eventually.
When she'd left, she'd told her family about them.
For once, she came back the next day. There was her children and grandchildren following after her.
They saw all of her family sit in the cave, as she sat on her chair.
They gently made the vines close around the cave's entrance, leaving their girl's family stuck inside.
After all, what greater gift than staying with them forever?
