Beloved stood up, then leapt off the big snake to land before the priests, she lifted the first one's mask a bit, "Psst, if the big snake is my mate, and he is your God. Am I now your Goddess, belove-ed by all?" She asked with a feigned nonchalance as she half turned away.
Tlilpotonqui stared into the sparkling eyes, he thought his heart had died when the covenant was taken… "You, you'd accept us?" He rasped out.
Beloved blinked at the male as she squatted down, hands on her cheeks, "I am a bird, birds we do fly, why not return? Snake's home I won't deny."
Tlilpotonqui swallowed down the rising emotion as he knelt, bowing his head until it hit the floor. "Of course, Goddess. Please speak your demands." Tlilpotonqui didn't know he had any teers left, but now they fell like a river, pooling in his mask as he thanked the Beast Gods above for not abandoning them.
Beloved blinked as she tilted her head, "You should prepare nests! Of large and of small! Fit for our babies, snakes and birds fly, possibly fall." She grinned as she pulled out a few of the feathers making her dress. "A small meeting gift, now that I've captured your God. Return home and wait, orders from your Goddess for all." She added with a sly wink as the feathers fell on the three. Before they could move, they all fell through the rifts out of sight.
Ashton covered his eyes, "I wouldn't say no, a fight I can't win, better to agree, what say you, Snake, God of Wind?" Ashton peeked through his fingers at the still agitated snake.
Beloved practically danced until she was face to face with the big snake, "Oh great Snake, God of the Wind, have you a name, I can call with a grin?"
The Snake God blinked at the question, a name… the ones who worshiped him merely called him their God. Nix was a Phoenix, Ru a Garuda, Beloved… was created to be loved. "Haven, I will be your Haven little bird." Her smile was blinding. Her hug was warm. Haven. A new name for a new era.
Haven gathered the birds in his coils, birds of a feather… daring to bring him into their nest. Before he could separate the birds he felt the rippled of mana as the sun shown brighter. It was over in less than a heartbeat. Of course, Ru would be watching. Haven smiled to himself as he used his wing to gather all the birds together. Well, who would turn down such a gracious gift?
Beloved strutted around the nest made of snake coils, "Haven of Beloved, now mine to cherish, mine to love. Who dares to challenge, I'll bathe in their blood." She announced as her dress train lengthened until the feathers were dragging along the coils. When none stepped forward she smiled leaping to hug Haven's face again.
"By challenge, by oath, by blood, by control, now we start courtship, broken hearts to be whole." Beloved chirped as she kissed his face. "This is mine, and this is mine, oh! This one too!" Beloved started to kiss his feathers individually. Soon all of the pieces started to look over his feathers. "Psst, mark all the best, to narrow down later, he has so many! It may take forever!" Beloved whispered loudly.
The chirps of agreement had all the black chicks seriously comparing feathers. As one found a particularly nice feather, they would mark it with a feather of their own.
Haven settled in for the birds to examine him. He had feathers aplenty. Haven had a vague understanding that birds often groomed each other's feathers to forge bonds. Keeping one eye open, he watched them. Hoping, chirping, burrowing, one small bird even hid a pouch among his feathers.
Haven kept his attention on the birds even as humans started making food. Foxes started to edge closer but kept a wary distance… one did look like he would at least be a decent mouthful. But Haven waited, watching the birds. Two unique to the world, ten without precedent.
Melia happily organized two groups to go out hunting, with the Snake God taking Beloved away, her mood had improved. The sooner they left, the better. Then she'd only have to contend with that fox, a male fox.
Neolani watched her daughter, she wasn't as optimistic. She still couldn't feel Ashton's emotions… but the snake had said something that struck a chord. Their souls. He also spoke as if he knew more about Ashton's injury…
"Regina, the scouts have a report." Alexei announced under his breath as he eyed the giant snake. What snake had feathers… or wings. He was practically a dragon. Alexei swept his gaze over Lucian, maybe… a conversation for the future.
Neolani glanced past Alexei to the two scouts, "My tent." She ordered leading the way.
Inside she listened, after the commotion this morning, dozens of ponds and rivers had been unearthed. The problem, the water was tainted. Nothing so mundane as mud or even parasites. No, the dragon's blessing was being spread through the underground water. Neolani wore a sneer but her body was more honest as she gave a small shiver.
"Have the priests cleanse everything. Animals, fruits, vegetables, water. Anything the empire touches, have it cleansed every sunrise and sunset. Everyone is to fast after dusk. If I find out anyone is contaminated, I'll whip them myself." Neolani ordered.
"Yes Regina!" The warriors bellowed before they broke off to disseminate her orders.
Alexei almost had a heart attack seeing Beloved's face peeking at them from a ring of fire. "Lady Beloved, do you have orders?" He asked directing everyone's attention to the corner of their tent.
"Oh, I was just listening, pay me no mind, though the shedding of such blood seems rather unkind." Beloved remarked as she rolled, a moment later Ashton poked his head through the rift.
"If they are tainted, they weren't just lax, they gave in willingly, perhaps more than that." Ashton added thoughtfully, only to be squished, then rolled up in the giant snake tail.
Haven gathered the birds up, away from the foxes. Predators did not share. Not even half-baked rejects like the dragonkin. Haven eyed the emperor, then closed his eyes as a breeze carried over the land. The sooner they left, the better.
Beloved was squashed in the coils right up against Nix. "Big Snake did you see, Big Snake did you know? The dragons are dirty! This is no place to call home!"
Sebastian watched as the giant snake slithered… was that even the right word? Toward the tables of prepared food. He finally looked around the much wider clearing… uprooted trees, unearthed boulders, small streams for a solid half mile in all directions. It was now larger than Kaveri who had hidden himself in Azarius's clothes, not daring to do more than peek out of a pouch.
"I agree little birds, this is not a place to raise young. Regardless of race." Haven added as the birds started hopping about, even the little ones leapt onto the table. Haven used the claw on his wing thumb to bring the smallest of the birds to eye level. It happily chirped at him, as if telling some grand tale. Haven examined the small creature, creation mixture. Nix did have… interesting hobbies. The soul was growing rather well, the body… was not a true body. The soul was not attached.
Haven released the small bird when the rest darted off to a group of young humans. Using his tongue to taste the air, he narrowed his eyes as the young humans started giving the small birds pouches. A pouch very similar to the one now hidden among his feathers.
Calix tried not to stiffen as the giant snake approached. If his cousin's terrified expressions were anything to go by, the giant snake was directly behind him. Calix didn't dare move, he even held his breath. Until one of the guardians leapt up, using its beak to bite the pouch in his hand. Now he stood awkwardly, tiny cloaked chick dangling from his unopened pouch.
Haven reached past the youth, to take the pouch, tiny bird and all. He used his other wing to open the pouch, peering inside. Mana cores… "What manner of beasts did you gather these from?"
Calix felt like someone had slammed his head against a stone. The sound vibrating through his head was like a thousand gales of wind were trying to rip themselves free.
Melrose and Cynthia leapt forward as blood started dripping from Calix's nose, his expression glassy. He was falling before they could take so much as a step.
Ashton caught Calix, enveloping him in silver flames. "Oof! A bit much for a child, a bit hard to hear, I'll fix that in a moment, no need to fear."
Calix groaned as he held his head, stumbling out of Young Song's hold. "My apologies…" Calix barely regained his wits as a silver flame shot out in all directions. Gone in the blink of an eye.
Ashton patted Calix's shoulder, "You did well, held onto your wits, you stood your ground. A beast god addressed you, an honor few liv."
Calix paled, just being addressed had caused that?
Ashton nodded to answer the unasked question, "Creatures of power, creatures of myth, their power is crushing, their power absolute, dare to defy, you won't liv to refute."
Haven raised a brow, "You speak as if you are not one of us Nix. How else would you disperse my power without harm?"
Calix bowed his head, then fell to a knee just to be safe.
"Who me? Says who? I am no god, just a bird, passing through." Ashton teased as he fell through a rift to land on the snake's face, grinning widely.
"Look at me now boy, protected by Nix." Haven let the full weight of his gaze fall on the boy. His mana was not dispersed as he first thought, no. Instead of hitting the young human like a hurricane, his mana was spread over the land like a passing breeze.
Calix flinched, expecting the same… bombardment… but the voice only… sounded like a voice. He glanced up. Even without the power, the giant snake was intimidating to say the least.
Haven smiled, "How interesting, now, what beasts gave you these cores?" He repeated his question.
Calix could feel sweat dripping down his face, a smiling snake… made his blood run cold. "My lord, Beast God, I… I do not know exactly, but can have the information post haste."
Ashton grinned as he rolled onto his back, "The cores were gathered from the forest of Fae, all manner of beasts, birds, foxes, even snakes."
Calix trembled as he forced himself to not bow his head.
Haven nodded just enough to be seen before gathering up the birds with his tail. "So any beast will do, that is good to know."
Ashton blinked, then sat up, "Oh, Big snake they are not babies, not like the ones you will have, they require mana, it's more like a snack."
Haven returned to the table now laden with all manner of foods. He even noticed a small nest full of vegetables, pumped full of mana. Haven glanced over the largest Fox who had retreated to the tree line. The nest was a courtship gift… not for the female, but for Nix… hmm.
"I see, you are confident, especially since any offspring, would be the first of a male god." Haven commented as if they were not speaking of his own future offspring. Many had tried, many younger gods, less particular, had gone to great lengths in their attempts. Even the beast Goddesses were rarely able to carry offspring to term. Of those who had… well… the results were far from ideal.
Beloved strutted along her big snake's spine, "I am quite special, I am unique, able to carry the offspring of any I agree! Many have tried, some even to force my hand, but I have high standards, many demands!" She announced, hands on hips as she turned to face the big snake's gaze unwavering.
Haven bowed his head, "You are one of a kind, so why pick me?" He would have to coax the answers from these birds, subtly. She already belonged to him, he would not let her go.
Beloved stilled, then pouted, "Don't sell yourself short, your song is so lonely, your heart is so hurt, I want to love, you want to be loved, we are not perfect, we may not always agree. But you're longing for love, even a blind bird can see." She lightly kicked her foot, then grinned.
"So I will now tempt you, show you the light, prove that we'll make a good match, that together, a wonderful life." Beloved sang as she picked up a large pear.
"Let's eat a quick bite, then we'll sing you a song, prove that even not perfect, I'm worth it all." She quickly ate .
Ashton picked up a few mushrooms then pointed to the forest, "No need to wait, no need to tarry! If we are to boast, all should be wary!" All the golems agreed as they carried their pouches, then leapt onto the giant snake's spine.
Haven smiled as the birds clutched his feathers. He slowly slithered into the forest.
"Eh?" Beloved and Ashton chirped at the same time… was this big snake not eager for them to prove their worth???