Sebastian turned slowly in a circle, all around them, as high as a mountain was a wall of feathers. Sebastian took a moment to realize… they were in the center of a giant snake, coiling around them. Its body didn't have scales, or at least, none that he could see.
Mages screamed out spells to cast light, the one ring of the snakes body had surrounded the more than two square miles of campgrounds, and still there was more. Sebastian followed the column so far up he couldn't even see its head for the clouds. Not only did the serpent have feathers, it's wings encompassed the entire sky as its body continued to lower, more coils circling them. This… this was a beast god…
Beast God of the wind, the storm is unwelcome.
I'm sure you didn't notice, but you've come uninvited,
So settle down that thunder, hide away those claws.
This isn't a battle, where the loudest takes all.
A feathered serpent head lowered itself from the clouds just enough to be seen. Its head alone was enough to flatten the campgrounds. The feathers were raised like a rooster ready for a fight.
Beast God of Wind, this may come as a surprise, but its my territory you're in.
Your storm causes mischief, you've crushed all the trees, I've half a mind, to delay my plans, if it's a reminder you need.
The giant snake snorted, the resulting gales blew over the campgrounds, but the resulting crash on the far side of its body caused trees to go flying.
"You've taken my wife, your plans do cause strife, you stand there and squabble while you hold my heart, left in shambles."
The words were sung like tornadoes crashing into the sea. Each sound created new gales that escalated into dancing cyclones.
Ashton showed the jewel that had bound the ingrate, the physical representation of the snake's covenant to the Ophion tribe.
"Beast God of Wind, your heart in my hand, I've no malicious schemes, won't you sit a while with me?"
"You've removed the covenant, all but slain my to be wife, yet you dare claim you meant no strife? What plans do now fester, brother of kin eater?"
Ashton paused as he held up a hand, asking for a moment.
Leonard was about to have a heart attack. Was Ashton not taking this seriously? For the Love of all Beast Gods, this snake made the full-grown Caius look like a newborn kitten beside… beside a dragon! All it had to do was lay on them and they'd all be crushed into mush!
Sebastian had been keeping an eye on Beloved, not that it probably mattered… one of those eyes was larger than all of them combined. To his horror she fell through the ground in a ring of fire! "My lady!"
Ashton held out his palms as His Beloved fell into them, he held her up, presenting the most precious piece of his heart.
"You want a wife, I have a sister! You need companions, she needs protection.
Let's make a deal, strong as the sun, you and my Beloved, two may leave as one." Ashton proposed with a wide smile.
Beloved cupped her face in her hands as she blinked up at the large snake! He has the most colorful arrangement of feathers she'd ever seen! That alone may be worth enduring the ingrates.
The giant snake blinked, twice. Slowly he lowered his head into their territory. He breathed in her scent, then flicked his tongue to taste the air… how… intriguing.
Beloved giggled as she held the skirt of her dress down, his breaths had her hair flying into Nix's face.
The giant head retreated back into the tempest, "You speak of a deal, after breaking my wife, though who'd expect, you show such disrespect. A prize you now cheapen for a goal you wish sweetened. This crass bargain you offer, a sister you proffer." The sneer echoed as the snake shifted, now circling around the small birds.
Beloved crossed her arms, puffed out her chest, and glared at the large snake in challenge.
"You are painfully mistaken, if you think she is for barter. The bargain I speak, an alliance against sea.
She is not the prize, she is no bait. I simply thought, you worthy to mate.
Now choose your words wisely, my pride you offend. Remember Wind God.
Nothing is safer, than what I protect." For the first time Ashton glared up at the large snake. The snake stilled for a moment as the giant orange irises narrowed around the deep purple pupil.
"You fallen bird, protect something from me? You overestimate yourself, weakened as you are. Hardly a fight, you would soon perish, would you still chance it?" The snake hissed as his body roiled, coiling, ready to strike.
"A war of attrition it would be, you might be stronger, faster, more mana than me. But I am relentless, I do not back down. Death is no obstacle, my body not bound. So think this over well, then think twice more. Start this battle today, and your death will be sworn." Ashton reminded. For a single moment the very air stilled as far as the eye could see.
Half a breath later the cyclones restarted, no evidence of the interruption as the giant snake raised his head once again.
Leonard was sure, yes, today would be the anniversary of his death. Hopefully Damian would survive, thrive, and ensure their lands prospered. Ashton was threatening an actual beast god.
The giant snake tightened its coil around the birds territory, he continued to examine the pair as he folded his wings. Fine, if they were tempting him with a companion, he would see just how daring they really were.
"Come little birdie, approach if you dare. Show me why, my life I should share. Sure you are pretty, more ideal than any before, but can you stomach, my mana endure?" Despite being kin to another god, their abilities were their own. If simply being a beast made them more compatible, he would have found a companion long ago.
Beloved leapt to stand on Nix's cupped hands as she looked into the giant snake eye, "You may be the wind, you may be almighty, but make no mistake, don't make of me lightly!
You'll be my protector, the first to defend, follow my lead, and from harm me you'll keep.
You'll cherish me, body and soul, my heart your compass, my love will be whole.
Fly where I roam, my nest is your home, you will be conquered, you will submit!
Not because I am less, but because I am worth it."
Leonard was thinking if there was a way to leave a note for his family… Clearly Ashton and his Beloved were trying to antagonize this snake to eat them all. No, they wouldn't be worth the effort of eating, they would just be… squashed like insignificant bugs on the road.
The giant snake reared up, looking down on the two birds, they looked so confident that he would yield.
"And what little bird, do I gain in return?"
"A companion, a half, a piece of the sun, you submit now, and there's nothing unwon." Beloved stated confidently without blinking.
The giant snake chortled, "Such big words from such a small bird, you've caught my attention, I'll give you a chance. Leave your Nix behind, face my tempest."
Beloved grinned as she changed back into a bird, "You're clearly mistaken, if you think I don't dare, my courage is endless, like the light of the daystar, so posture and pose, threaten or scold. You will be mine, and I yours."
Sebastian took a step forward as Ashton flung his Beloved into the air. She was flying directly into the giant snake's open mouth for Beast God's sake!
Beloved left Nix's protection, unwaveringly into the snake's storm.
The giant snake watched the bird easily evade the debris of the storm, not that he was aiming to hit her. She used the currents as if they were created for her, flying as gracefully as any dancer. "OkayLittle Bird, let me see, just how you intend, to conquer me."
Sebastian watched as the miniscule form of Lord Reece's Beloved left a trail of white fire as she started to circle around the giant snake. She appeared no larger than a fly attempting to string up a great oak tree… If it were not for the trail of white fire left behind Sebastian wasn't even sure he would be able to tell where she was.
Ashton watched as the Wind Serpent was engulfed in spiral after spiral of white fire. Despite the raging winds or how the serpent moved to watch his Beloved, the spirals didn't break. Ashton tilted his head, ahh, what a soft heart this big snake had. Feeding his Beloved's fire.
Ashton grinned as he watched, two eager hearts, this was good. It was… really good. For a single heartbeat, his heart felt like it was being ripped to pieces.
As the spirals continued down the serpent's body, he would raise himself accordingly. Soon, he had extended his wings, the first flap had uprooted hundreds of trees, dozens of tornadoes were now competing in the small area.
Sebastian gasped as between each spiral red flames filled in the gaps. For the first time the giant snake resisted, thrashing its body as it sharply ascended. The saying Beast Gods above must have come after seeing such a sight. The snake's body wove between the clouds. For miles in all directions, they could only see serpentine body. Sebastian turned his gaze to Lord Reece, how was his fire engulfing such a large beast?
Ashton had restricted his connection to Neolani, allowing his Beloved to have full control. Despite the snake's appearance of violence, not once had he struck at his Beloved.
Beloved continued to spiral around the giant snake. Dodging debris as she maintained her mana output. Unlike Nix and Ru, her mana was a mere lake to their oceans. She may be small, but she was fast. Had she been flying in a straight line, she would have easily flown a few thousand miles already. She had almost reached his tail, extending her talons she made contact for the briefest moment. That one moment of contact was enough for her to engulf him in her song.
Beloved didn't bother with words, her song echoing over the land like sun's first light. This was her promise, hope, warmth, love, companionship. She let a trill echo as she raced along his spine. Should they be compatible, there would be more. The silver red flames settled along his feathers neatly, like mist settling along the grass. Soon she reached his head, she was so small in comparison.
Beloved trilled fiercely as she spiraled around his hissing mouth before landing on his nose. To her surprise, his face wasn't as rounded as Kaveri's, his face was stockier, more angled, not quite like a lizard, but an interesting in between. Luckily, his flatter nose was easier to keep her balance as they started to fall.
She clutched at the feathers halfway up his nose, then quickly pulled out her longest tail feather. Glancing at the eyes several times larger than Nix's current nest, she puffed up her chest as she changed to her human form. Hands would work better as she continued her wordless song, even with the wind rushing past she didn't faulter.
Beloved slowly moved forward until she was on the center of his forehead, after a moment of gathering her resolve, she pushed the tip of the calamus between his own feathers. At the same moment she was almost flung off of his head as they hit the ground.
The earth shook as the snake god's body started to hit the ground. Continued to shake as the rest soon followed.
With a silent apology Beloved released the large feather she had instinctively grabbed. With a softer, more soothing call she let her body be engulfed in white fire. She leaned down to kiss the tip of her feather as it sank into his flesh. She felt his body tensing, he kept his head still but his body thrashed.
Beloved glanced at the mountain that had been flattened. Oops. She made sure she wasn't causing pain before proceeding. He would be hers.
White flames settled, then the spine became red. Just as her fire was starting to dim, so lightly that only four could feel the pulse, gold fire etched itself along the trim of her feather. With a smile, Beloved kissed the snake's head where her feather had now assimilated amongst many.
Beloved stood up as her song started to tapper off, among so many larger feathers, hers would be mostly hidden. As the fires faded out, she could just barely see tiny specks of gold between the white and red flames. Ru was such a softie.
"As you now see, as I did say, you are now conquered, my worth now displayed. I'm too great of a prize to be won, but for you, a companion, and threw me, a bond to the sun." Beloved half skipped down his face so she could turn, looking into his narrowed eyes. She liked his eyes, she wanted to see them watch her.