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 Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:31 am
 The God haven was something that Khuluma had not expected to be – what was the word – empty? Despite knowing this was the area gods and goddesses alike joined and being the place he was only familiar with, he sat debating if he should risk moving out into the mortal realm. Being alone made him feel ill and while he could curl up and rest, he was set on finding someone. Anyone really. His preferences were only restricted to the entity being able to speak and listen, as that was all the Rhetorician needed. As for desires, he hoped they were interesting and opinionated. The blonde swelled at the idea of someone who could rival him, though was smug with the established idea he could outshine anyone.
Still, as much as he had the energy, the small godling was becoming exhausted catching glimmers of a god or goddess there, but watching them vanish before his eyes before he could approach. Then there was the fact that the haven that was the sanctuary the small god was keeping himself to at the moment was also rather large for him, and traversing it made him tired, though it could also be that he was starved for attention.
Resting, he settled himself on a smooth stone and started to preen his feathers, licking them and adjusting his hair as he sighed. How was he suppose to master discourse if there was no one to enlighten him or bring up an topic of debate? It was about as displeasing as finding knots in one’s mane, but thinking about the mortal realm seemed just as foreign and new to him as this place. And what did a mortal know aside from the topics of mortality? He wanted to meet the gods, the masters of the realms and in turn, the experts of their domain first. It only made sense. If there was any argument to be had, it was with those who were most educated in their subjects.
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 11:25 am
 It had been a long time since she had visited the realm of the gods. Too long, in fact. She had forgotten how empty it was. It was, however, the perfect place to go when one needed to be alone or to simply think. That's what the goddess of the past intended to use it for now, as things down in the mortal realm were becoming rather complicated for her. She knew she couldn't stay long though, since she had left her great great granddaughter all alone in the mortal world. Amesi was still recovering from her wound, and even when she was healthy she'd never be able to defend herself.
Suddenly Koya became worried, ruffling her feathers and wondering if she should simply leave the haven. She felt selfish, being safe and protected while Amesi remained vulnerable in the mortal realm. Blue eyes glanced around quickly, and that was when she caught the sight of another god not too far away from where she was nervously standing. And, upon seeing him, her nerves became even more frayed. The last god she had run into hadn't left her with pleasant feelings, so she was a little reluctant to have another encounter with an immortal. Ears flattened and tail swayed slightly as she took a small step backwards. She wanted to flee and go back to Amesi to make sure harm hadn't befallen her again, but she was also curious about this new god.
Curiosity killed the cat, but good thing this cat was immortal. She overcame her fears and managed to move her paws forward in the direction of the other. She had no idea what she was getting herself in to.
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 12:01 pm
While Khuluma could spend time over thinking things, he was far more perceptive and was enjoying the scenery. Well, what scenery there was. Being atop a mountain in a city made of ice was pretty to watch in all it’s glimmering purity, but left little to actually see. Even still, his small frame wasn’t made for extreme cold, and while he could tolerate it, it wasn’t overly pleasant to his senses. Still, ice did provide a good surface to reflect your image on, and Khuluma was spending the time debating if one of his spots was lighter than another, turning his shoulder out to look at it, before noticing that one hair was curling out from the rest, and taking a good lick, started to pet it down. What this did was only start to make his hair stick and freeze, and he tried fixing it in the mirrored surface of a slab of ice. It was in this reflection that he noticed a gray figure over his shoulder, and his attention perked.
Turning about, blue eyes took in a gray figure. From what he could tell, she was a goddess, though that would be confirmed later. Her chest was milky white, blending into the ice, and her pelt a pebble gray. Her ears were back, and she looked hesitant to move, and the first natural reaction was that he was being stalked. God or no god, he still knew what a stalking animal looked like, and he crouched down, ears back and body curled. As much as his heart raced at the idea that a massive goddess might pounce upon him, he also was excited to see someone that he hadn’t constructed out of snow. “Hello!” He called out, slowly letting his body rise up and stand on his four legs, and letting his ears perk. Approach with aggression and that was what you got. If he approached with warmth, would he not get it in turn?
Thinking that was a good train of through that he even he couldn’t argue with, he hopped off his rock, and fluffed up. “My name is Khuluma.” He felt introductions would be good to cement the goddess to at least stay for a small while. He was dying for some interaction, and he wished someone would stay for a short while. Maybe this goddess knew where he could find more people.
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 12:22 pm
Koya hardly noticed the cold, as she had hidden herself away in the realm of the gods for years as a sort of self-punishment. The scenery didn't intrigue her, and she often hid herself away from others. This time, however, was different, and she began wondering to herself why she was bothering. She was awkward in first encounters, and as she drew closer she realized that the god was in fact a cub, making her even more nervous. She hesitated once more, stopping her advancement and folding her wings against her side. It was a nervous habit, one that she did subconsciously in an effort to make herself appear smaller. Nothing, however, would make her as small as the cub.
Memories flooded back to her as she glanced upon his small form. Memories of past hurt and past mistakes. She lowered her head slightly, remembering also the shame she had felt. She wanted to simply fade out and return to Amesi before anything bad happened. Her ears twitched, and she raised her head to glance at him once more. She had never seen this one before. Then again, she hadn't seen a lot of the gods. Most were either reborn into different personalities and some were simply new, children of the gods. Blue eyes searched him over, wondering what his domain could possibly be.
When he crouched low, however, she tensed. She wasn't afraid of getting hurt. He was only a cub, after all. She was merely afraid of aggression and being rejected. Then, before she could move another muscle, the other immortal called out a greeting and introduced himself not long after. Realizing that he wasn't going to lunge at her and that she had been rude, she shook herself from her thoughts and cleared her throat.
"Greetings," she spoke quietly. "I'm Koya." Then she waited, rather unsure of what would come next.
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 12:53 pm
It was a short greeting that seemed to have stopped the female, but he was glad he made the right assumption. Last he wanted to do was be proven wrong. He HATED being wrong. Smiling, he watched her and found there was little to take from the greeting. Having no problem with pushing the conversation and even less steering a conversion, he hopped off his rock, tail swaying and a smile wide on his excitable face. Hmm. She seemed to be careful. Why was that? He’d have to be soft in talking with her, else she might run away. The idea of someone so big being standoffish made him wonder if his hair was really that bad. Maybe it was frizzing in all this cold. He still had yet to get use to it, but his pelt wasn’t that thick. Was there a warmer area in the God Haven he did not know about and is that where everyone was? He hoped not.
As for Koya, she was an impressive looking goddess, and this close, he noticed the markings on her shoulder. He wondered what it meant, but he couldn’t even begin to think. She wasn’t showing any signs of what might be her domain. Then again, he wasn’t really shinning with what he was ruler of either. Maybe she was of a similar domain. The very idea made him giddy. Not wanting to lose focus, he returned to looking at her and taking her image in. He never had what could be called a mother, and his life had been suddenly formed. He had existed suddenly, and he had knowledge, but he knew he did not know everything. Still, he had enough confidence to move on his own and talk to others, and it was probably the lack of parental guidance that let him be so free to move about and talk without restrictions. Perfect for his domain.
“Koya is a lovely name.” he said, hoping to gain her attention as he approached. My, was she big. He forgot how large goddess got, but…maybe he was just small? Shaking that thought off, he smiled up at her, his eyes as bright as his smile. “I was finding it rather lonesome with no one about. Not too many people come out to say hello. Are you busy or on your way anywhere? So many gods and goddesses seem to have other business that they hardly stay here. I wonder if there is something going on or if there is something that I’m not getting? Not that I don’t “get things”. I’m rather quick to understand.” In such a cold place, Khuluma had the color and energy of a small sun, and he shined up at the goddess. “What domain are you? I’m Rhetoric.”
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 1:21 pm
Koya had become all too familiar with the haven of the gods, and she felt a small shiver run through her body as she stood in it once more. It wasn't from the cold, however. It was from everything that she kept remembering. She attempted to clear her head, but the thoughts kept clouding her mind and she found that it was slightly hard to focus. But she was determined to make a good impression on this god. Obviously, they had never met before, and she would be damned if she let him think of her the way that god of rebellion did. She told herself that she wouldn't run away. She'd no longer hide from contact with other immortals.
When she spotted him looking at her shoulder marking, however, she turned herself slightly so that the marking wouldn't be so visible. She hadn't always been sensitive about it, but after recent events, she was beginning to loathe the thing. Feeling uncomfortable, she tried not to look at him the way he was looking her over, but she had to take in his appearance one way or another. She noticed how bright he was, and the flowing hair that fell well past his shoulders. He looked like a cub, yet his mane seemed thick and almost full. She shook her head, thinking that she would never understand these new gods. She wondered vaguely where his parents were, or even if he had parents. So many things were unknown to her.
The compliment came as a bit of a surprise. She hadn't really been paying attention, but his words brought her immediately from her thoughts. She had gotten compliments on her name before, but suddenly she felt self-conscious. She wasn't sure why others considered it pretty. Thankfully, he moved on to another subject and she was freed from an awkward silence.
Finding her voice, she nodded slightly. "Yes, I'm finding that fewer and fewer gods actually visit this realm. As for me," she paused, shrugging slightly, "I came here to think, but I was going to head back to the mortal realm very soon. I have... some things to take care of." She didn't want to reveal too much about herself, and she especially didn't want to talk about her encounter with Ezriel and the plan that they had come up with. Koya remained suspicious and doubted that the male would go through with his end of the bargain. She shook her head, realizing that she was letting her mind wander again. She focused once more on the godling, and noticed that he seemed a little... confident.
"Rhetoric," she repeated slowly, testing the word. She'd certainly never met him before. "I'm the goddess of the past." She ruffled her feathers slightly, a little uncomfortable. The Past was hardly an easy or fun domain to reign over.
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:07 pm
Being reserved always grated him the wrong way. Being an open person, the fact that someone was hiding something made him want to pry it out of someone’s muzzle, but he hardly had that power. Instead, he knew that words were his only tool, and being presentable and warm was the most he could do. The goddess didn’t seem the angry type to get riled up and start slipping on what she would say which was why his other option was being kind to her and hoping she would match his pace. It wasn’t like he could or was every picky about who he talked to. In fact, Koyo was the first person he had a conversation with that wasn’t Khuluma’s own reflection on the ice. Already he was feeling his mood and his health improving just by talking.
He didn’t want to press, but he also wished she would stay. What was it that was important to leave so suddenly? And there it was. He had to convince her to stay. “Well, it you came here to think, but have to head back, how about you tell me what you want to think about? I’m a good listening and know plenty, even though I’m sure a goddess of the Past must be very intelligent since you must know so much about history.” Flattery was a friend, after all. “It won’t take much of your time, you could even save time just by spending some time to think with others and not have to come back here again, though I’d be happy to help in the future. What needs to be taken care off down below must not be that urgent if you had the time to come here, or what you need to think about it very important. You shouldn’t push it off.” He smiled again, sitting down and letting his tail sway as he welcomed her to open up to him, just for a little while. His presence was friendly to others, after all, when he wanted it to be. To further help his goals, he tilted his head and let his eyes widen. A godling such as him knew what he had in their arsenal to make others more likely to buckle.
“Please? I promise to keep whatever it said a secret.”
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 2:13 pm
Koya had learned early to keep to herself, as putting herself out there and opening up allowed for others to infiltrate and ruin her. Past memories still haunted her, and even in the present she found herself paying for past decisions that had gone awry. She tried not to worry too much, but she cared deeply for those affected, and it was her mission to set the situation right again.
As the godling spoke once more, she brought herself from her thoughts once more and forced herself to focus on him. Her blue eyes, however, remained clouded with concern.
She smiled sweetly as he offered to listen to what was bothering her, but she just wasn't the really talkative type, especially around strangers. And, true, he was merely a cub, but she knew that even young gods could have immense power. Although, being the god of rhetoric, she wasn't quite sure what sort of harmful powers he could possibly possess. Deciding she didn't really want to find out, she opted to remain on his good side and maybe humor him a little. Especially after that blatant flattery, she had to return his kindness. It was only polite.
"I'm just worried about a family member, is all," she spoke softly, letting him in on what was bothering her but purposely not going into detail. She really wanted to get back to Amesi, and she knew that if she launched into her whole story, it would be a while until she could return to the mortal realm.
"It is urgent, but even goddesses need a break," she replied, her voice tight with slight offense that he might think the problem wasn't urgent since she had time to come here.
"But don't worry yourself about that too much. It's my problem, and I'd hate to dump all of my issues on you." She canted her head slightly, almost as if in a nod. She believed that she could handle herself and the problems life decided to throw at her, and she didn't need any help to do so. Although, she did require some assistance from Rebellion...
The silver goddess let that small detail go, however, as she rendered it irrelevant. Smiling, she looked down at the other god. "I'm sure you can keep a secret, but it's really petty. You wouldn't want to bore yourself listening to me ramble on."
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:57 pm
Khuluma didn’t want Koya to go. It had been a while since he had seen anyone, and she was the first goddess she had seen. She was the first god he had seen. He didn’t want it to be such a short encounter, not to mention he was very interested in what a goddess thought was petty and yet worried about at the same time. Family? Ah, he didn’t have that, but if she was a mother that meant she might know more about other gods. Right now, he was starved for attention and conversation. It felt as if he hadn’t spoken since the first moment he had awoken here in the cold, ice-made city. It was a selfish thought, but it was a want he had all the same. Before Koya, he felt she was very warm and powerful, but she was very hesitant and timid. Appearances were not everything. A lesson learned.
“If it’s family and your worried about it, then it mustn’t be petty. I – may not have anyone here, and I don’t really think I have a family, but I think I could understand if you told me. This family member must be close to you if you are worried about them, and it must be weighing on your mind. I really would like to listen, just for as long as you can talk to me. I really have nothing else to do, and I’m really good at figuring things out and making sense.” He looked up at her with wide, pleading eyes. “Maybe you need a new perspective, and another mind is always helpful. And if you think it’s petty and small, then there should be no reason to guard it so much. Right?” he moved closer to her and sat, putting on a air of being concerned and understanding. “Now, what is bothering you?” he said, prompting her to start.
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 3:54 pm
Koya, on the other hand, did want to go. Every second she spent talking to Khuluma, the more chances her great great granddaughter had to get herself into trouble. What if, as she was standing there, Amesi was being attacked? She tried to tell herself that it was probably unlikely, as they had found a secluded spot to rest in, but her mind kept envisioning the worst scenarios and she couldn't help but worry.
She had to admit, though, the younger god had a point. Amesi was her family, and she valued her above everything else, so why did she say it wasn't all that important? She instantly felt guilty and pressed her ears against her skull in slight shame. How could she have been so senseless? "It's not petty and small," she grumbled in admittance. And, as much as he was pleading her to tell him what was on her mind, she found that her voice had escaped her. She simply didn't want to reveal her personal life, as she had simply always been one to keep to herself. Anything else just felt... unnatural.
"I appreciate the offer, really, but I'd rather not," she spoke quietly, ruffling her wings before folding them against her side. She didn't want to offend him or make him sad, but she was too worried about Amesi to stand around chatting about it.
Her tail flicked and she glanced around her slightly, wanting desperately to get back to her family. She was starting to get a bad feeling.
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 4:27 pm
It was no good, and Khuluma took it hard that he had not been good enough to convince the other God to stay. Whatever it was, he was of a lesser importance. When it came to a stranger and a family member, blood took priority. The goddess probably was very worried about whatever it was she was thinking about, and while she had come to think, she did not want to share. He was, of course, a stranger that had no connection to this goddess and had nothing to give in to prove he was trustworthy aside from his own word. It was her decision and the one she gave him was disappointing.
Trying not to feel affected, he nodded and kept his smile, thought it was much more forced and smaller than before. His ears twitched, falling down and the perkiness he had before vanished. “Ah, it seems it is important. Family is family after all. I can tell you're ready to go. It was nice talking to you.” It was nice talking to anyone, and while it wasn’t long and Koya didn’t talk as much as he wanted her to, it was still someone. He felt that familiar twist in his stomach at the prospect of being alone again, but this was the God Haven after all. He had hopes that more gods would be coming, and hopefully ones that had more time and less on their mind.
“I hope you figure things out, Koya, and I’m glad to have met you. Maybe…you can come back sometime when you have more time? I’d like to talk to you again.” If he could not convince her to stay, maybe he could convince her to see him again. Maybe Koya was far more talkative when she was less worried, and he hoped he could show her he was someone she could talk to.
“I wish your family the best.” he said, rising to his feet and showing that she could go. It was a bit disheartening to see her flick her wings as if she was itching to leave. Even though he did not know much about family, not having one of his own, he did know what to say and now to be polite. His eyes looked up to her, and he smiled softly.
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:18 pm
Although she felt bad for leaving Amesi in the mortal realm to fend for herself for a short period, Koya also felt immensely guilty for having to leave the other god so soon. She could tell now just how excited he had been to have someone to converse with, and she had turned him away almost without a second thought. What a terrible thing she did. She thought that she must have come off as selfish.
Wanting to somehow make up for it, she stamped her paws slightly then craned her neck to nudge him slightly with her nose. "I'm sorry to leave your company so soon, but I fear that it is terribly important." She paused, thinking for a moment. "If you really want to know, my great great granddaughter is traveling with me in the mortal realm. She has health problems, and she was also just recently attacked. So it's my duty to watch over her and to make certain that no further harm befalls her." She took in a deep breath, attempting to fill her lungs with air once more after that long, but also condensed, explanation. She hoped that, at least, would satisfy the godling enough that he wouldn't be so sad about her departure from him.
Smiling warmly at him, she nodded her head slightly. "It was nice talking, although I fear I wasn't very good at keeping the conversation going. For that, I apologize. But I hope you can forgive me for having a lot on my mind." Her smile turned sheepish.
"I will certainly venture back when the situation has improved, and perhaps we will meet then. Or, who knows? Maybe I'll see you in the mortal realm. Remember that the Past always has a way of catching up to you."
Nodding her thanks as he said he wished her family the best, she flicked her tail, having a little more respect for him after that. She really did feel bad for leaving him. "And I wish you the same. Perhaps next time we will be able to chat longer."
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:50 pm
The touch was soft and for a moment, he closed his eyes, tilting to the soft nuzzle. Koya wasn’t his mother, no, but he had a feeling what a motherly figure was like. Soft, warm, and caring, enough to worry over someone, even if they were a goddess. He breathed in, and took in such a soft scent that matched her, and he had to keep himself from curling into her, as much as he wanted to. It made him sleepy thinking about it. When she withdrew from him, he felt a pang of loss at something that had been a fleeting glimmer of something he wanted to understand, as if her staying there a second longer would have made him closer to knowing what a family member was like, and he kept himself still as she went away. It was a soft sentiment, and while he was comforted, he also felt a stronger idea that he was indeed missing something. Company. Relatives. A warm somebody.
It was then that Koya told him what she was worried about, and he nodded. “I see. Then you should go see her. ” He felt a bit of resentment to this mortal, to have a goddess watching over her. He wanted to tell Koya that the mortal was lucky to have someone like her, but he didn’t. Instead, he smiled. Soft and sweet, and older than what his appearance told. At least Koya was sad that she had to go, and that took part of sting away. He would like to think that if it wasn’t this urgent, she would have stayed.
“No hard feelings. I forgive you for it, and I also thank you for letting me take your time when you had someone waiting for you. I’m sorry for holding you back.” As Koya got up, he started to watch her go, but saw her hesitation before saying her last words. “I would like that. Goodbye Koya.” He said, and with that, watched the goddess say goodbye, and fly away.
When a few minutes past, he breathed out. He had made a friend, and was already missing her. Lightly, he touched his face where the goddess nudged her and smiled. That mortal was a very lucky one indeed, and he hoped that they understood how grateful they were to have such a kind goddess watching over them.
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