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 Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 7:29 am
 Ever since speaking with Xanatos - more specifically, about the gems he had hidden in numerous dens - Etana had been thinking more and more about how much she would like to own something pretty of her own. She had done a bit of searching for the pretties that Xan had told her she could have if she found (this is what she assumed he meant, anyway) but as she did not like to exert herself unduly, so far her search had been lackadaisical and fruitless.
She would meander about the areas that she thought a cheetah might make a den, would peek under rocks and in crevices, but if nothing caught her eye, she would move on. It was possible she had missed quite a few opportunities to find the shinies she searched for, but unless she had more solid leads, Etana wasn't going to kill herself looking for them. If only Xana had given her more clues...oh well. Maybe she'll find him wandering around again...then she won't let him leave without proper directions.
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Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 4:18 pm
A rough scratching sound was heard not so very far away, like claws tearing through wood. Upon closer inspection of the source... that's exactly what it was.
A golden, striped lioness reared up on her back legs and dug her claws into the wood of a tree as far up as she could reach. With the sound of wood tearing, she drug them down to the base, and amazingly, wood split from the tree as though it were made of flesh. And though muscles bunched and stood out clearly, she seemed to do it with relative ease.
And that wasn't all that was odd about the lioness. She also wore an assortment of jewelry that would have made a magpie proud. She clink and clattered whenever she moved, necklaces draping her neck five or six deep, with mismatched bracelets around every limb, even her tail. And she shone... save for the few pieces made of natural substances, gold and silver were prominent, as were gems of ever description, turning her into a sparkling rainbow.
After a few passes like the first, she dropped down to gather the wood into a pile, meticulously arranging them on a strip of woven leather so she could bind them together to better carry them back to her lair. Sanaa smiled as she worked, much as she often did. Work was the pleasure of her life, her purpose, and she enjoyed doing it.
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Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:05 am
Etana heard the goddess before she saw her. When she turned her head towards the direction of the noise - which seemed not far away - the cheetah was, at first, unsure of what she was even looking at. Squinting against the glare Eta realized slowly that it wasn't the creature that was glowing and shimmering, only the reflection of the bright sun on many reflective surfaces.
Etana was intrigued immediately. Something like this certainly does not happen every day. Mystified and hopeful, she approached with a bit of a quicker step than usual. When she got closer, she realized she was looking upon a winged feline covered in jewels that twinkled and metals that gleamed. Etana's heartbeat picked up. She had liked the gem Xanatos had shown her, but this... was that feeling magnified by a thousand.
This was a goddess, to be sure. Etana had never laid eyes on the mythical lions before, but she had heard wind of them here and there. Etana was filled with want, suddenly and completely. She must find a way to get in this lioness's good graces. Here was a being that could be useful to her; this could be the start of Etana's path to influence and beauty.
Approaching her slowly, Etana took on a wide-eyed look and breathed her words with reverence and admiration. "You are so beautiful, Lady. What are you doing?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 8:09 pm
Sanaa tugged the ginding tight then let the bundle drop to the ground as she stretched, feeling her joints protesting in a good way. Once upon a time, before her long sleep, she'd had legions of followers, each with a specific job to do. One would have done what she was doing now, keeping her supplied in cut wood, others bringing water to fill the great cisterns she kept in the back of her cave, still others scouting for new things that might please their goddess. It'd been so long... there had been hundreds of generations born and passed away, till the lines had dwindled to nothing. Now none were left to serve her, and to an extent, it was annoying. Gathering materials took too much time from her real work.
The disguised goddes perked up as someone spoke nearby, and she turned to find the source. Well now... a pretty little cheetah girl. Sanaa straightened up, blinking great green eyes. "Ah, hello there little one." She said. "Mmm? Doing? Well, it should be rather obvious, but I'm gathering wood." She chuckled as she guestured to the bundle, her jewlry gleaming at throat and ankles.
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 2:45 pm
It did indeed appear that she was gathering wood. That of course made sense, once Etana could tear her eyes away from the sparkling lioness and actually pay attention to what she was doing. Etana spoke up with blunt honesty. "But you're so beautiful, shouldn't you have others doing hard work for you?"
Immediately Eta regretted having opened her mouth so rashly. Her words seemed to give away Eta's intent; someday she, too, wanted to be so beautiful and covered in riches that she would never have to do hard work again. But for right now, she was content to do whatever she needed to to get in favor with the goddess. "My lady, my name is Etana'Mayasa. Will you allow me to help with your work?" Etana said, hoping to recover from the greediness of her previous statement. "I am strong, and I could help. I would like to help, really."
The brown cheetah did not even consider why the glittery lioness was gathering wood. It was a strange behavior, one she had not seen before, but it hardly mattered to Eta. She sense a good heart in the lioness, and hoped that her good deeds would be rewarded - she had heard such things in stories from her childhood, at any rate. She hoped that powerful, mythical beings like this still rewarded common mortals for their loyalty. And Etana could be the loyalest of all if it meant getting some pretty things of her own.
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Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:25 pm
Sanaa raised an eyebrow as she focused on this small creature asking why she was doing her own hard work.
"Well, that should be obvious, my dear. I don't have anyone else to do the work for me, thus I must do it myself, or not get it done." She chuckled as she kicked the pundle with a forepaw. The compliment wasn't lost on her, but unlike most other creatures, she didn't preen under it. She didn't find herself particularly attractive... after all, she was a living creature, and nothing had made her but nature. Now, if Eta had complimented her jewelry, she might have been flattered. Things, now... there was real beauty. The beauty of something well made, of something that flawlessly performed the function it was designed for. That was something to admire.
Still, she quirked a smile as Eta offered to help her and eyed the cheetah, assessing her probably strength. "Nice to meet you, Etana. I'm Sanaa. You can help if you want. I'll be able to carry that much more if you take part of the load." She left out, though, how really insignificant that load would really be. With her strength to rival the Ukali, she really didn't need the help carrying, but she'd let the little one help. Perhaps she might make a good worshiper... someone to replace all those she'd lost... Now, there was an idea.
"Here." She said, lifting up the bundle she'd made and settling it on Eta's back. A free loop hung down over her shoulder, and Sanaa demonstrated its use as she gathered up the other bundle, about four times it's size, and put it on her own back. The loop went over her head and was captured in her mouth, allowing her to adjust the load on her back with a simple turn of her head and a tug.
"This way." She murmured through the woven cord in her mouth, setting off for her mountain and her den.
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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 4:18 pm
Now, the lithe cheetah was not a burly creature; her body was specialized and designed for speed, not strength. Thus even the relatively light load that the shining goddess applied to Etana's back surprised her at its weight, but she tried not to show the strain. The cheetah had overestimated her ability to do this favor, but she was glad to have volunteered. Here was a lady with a voice that could command the mountains to move; Etana admired this greatly. And so she did not complain, but simply followed the goddess' lead. Etana was fascinated by her, and sincerely wanted to be in her favor.
After Sanaa demonstrated the strange use of the corded loop. It was ingenuous, really. When Etana wasn't busy concentrating on balancing the unfamiliar weight on her back, she would have to ask the goddess where she came up with such an idea.
Eta thought it strange that the goddess did not particularly answer her question the way she wanted it to be answered. Of course, she realized she had not phrased the question just right. Curiosity alone begged the question of just why she was gathering wood to begin with, for what purpose. But that would have to be vocalized later, whenever they got to their destination. Etana did not want her voice to show the strain she was under; she was strong enough in mind, if not in body, and she could overcome this small thing if it would reap her favor with the goddess.
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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:10 pm
Sanaa smiled to herself around the cord in her teeth, pacing easily over the ground. The load was nothing to her, but her practiced eye noted that it was rather more than the smaller creature could easily handle. Well, she had asked for it, and she wasn't complaining, so it must not be too much.
After what seemed a suitable time for the mortal to get tired out, Sanaa called a halt under a spreading tree, offering nice shade for the pair of them. The goddess said nothing about resting, just set down her load and expected Etana to follow her lead, flopping down in the shade. It was bothersome to keep up the illusion that hid her divinity, so with a glance to the cheetah, she let it fade.
Large wings shimmered into view, and not just any wings either... large, and shimmering gold. When they moved, a glimpse could be caught of two more sets nestled under that pair, one each of silver and copper. Her right foreleg lost its seeming organicness, and became instead an appendage of gleaming gold. Sanaa watched the mortal to see what she would make of it, wondering if such a transformation might not scare her off now.
After all, the goddess didn't really need her... could actually cary all the wood and travel in half the time, if she flew. Still, the little female amused her, and she wanted to see her reaction.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:34 pm
Etana did follow Sanaa's lead to the shade tree and released her burdened back. The relief that warmed her muscles as she stretched distracted her momentarily from the lioness' doings, and so she didn't actually see the change that came over her. Instead, a flicker of something different caught the attention of her peripheral vision. Turning absentmindly, Etana's eyes were overcome with the sight of a lioness even more beautiful and awe-inspiring. What - what had just happened here? Who was this? Not only did she have wings - she had three. And a leg that appeared to be made out of metal, not flesh. Surely, the cheetah had never seen anything like this before, and was overcome with gladness that she had had the fortune of not only meeting her, but performing a service for her.
She opened her mouth to say something - to question - but nothing came out for a long while. Her brain was too inundated with the splendor of the goddess for it to conjure up words.
When she was finally able to speak, her words tumbled forth. "My lady - who are you?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 6:28 pm
The goddess watched with a small half-smile as the cheetah finally took notice and was overcome with awe. Sanaa might be a work-oriented girl, but she hadn't been properly worshiped by even one mortal in a very long time... and she was not one to dislike being admired, either. It was refreshing.
Her wings unfurled, fluttering to straighten her feathers, then folded again, lying sleek and glistening along her sides.
"Who am I?" She said as she smiled. "Well, didn't I say before? I'm called Sanaa." Perhaps a bit obtuse, but she wanted her to come out and ask just what she was. It was more fun that way. "You did well, carrying that load. You seemed to get the hang of it rather fast, Etana."
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Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 7:39 pm
Etana didn't know what to do. The cheetah had no scripts for an encounter like this. Should she grovel? Would that please the goddess? Groveling wasn't exactly something that came naturally to Etana, but she could sacrifice a little dignity to gain some favor, of course.
"I did it gladly, and would do whatever else you would ask of me, Lady Sanaa," Eta said in her best sycophantic tone. Though tempted to go on in flattery and praise of the goddess - without even knowing what she was goddess OF, only knowing she was beautiful and powerful - but she stopped at that. The cheetah was testing the waters, so to speak. She didn't want to go overboard before she knew how Sanaa would react.
But she was willing to do whatever necessary to make her happy. Itching for reward, Etana lowered herself to the ground and awaited her next command.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 1:54 pm
Sanaa smiled benevolently and waved her mechanical paw.
"You don't need to bow down. I don't require devotion to that degree... it often gets in the way of more practicle things. I'm pleased, though, that you would offer it, as well as offer your services to me. I've been without helpers in my work for a century now. The pride that served me has long since moved on while I was absorbed in my work, so its with gratitude that I accept your service to me." She failed to mention whether she expected that service for the moment, or for the mortal's lifetime, but it hardly mattered at the moment.
"And don't think that my helpers go unrewarded, either." She purred, spreading a wing and lifting a paw to best display the finery she wore. "I make so many trinkets that I'm always willing to let my followers take their pick of it, in return for their loyalty." Ah, the bait was out... now to see if the cheetah girl would take it?
Sanaa made a good patroness, offering absolute protection, a place to shelter, and wealth beyond the dreams of any mortal, but she was a cruel taskmistress the times she was absorbed into some new project, and the limitations of her mortal helpers were rarely taken into consideration. If Etana let her, the goddess could use her up utterly, just like she did with any of the material she used to fashion her many objects, and not even realize she was doing it.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 4:01 pm
Etana, who had lowered her eyes to the ground as the goddess spoke, saw at first only the mirrored reflections of sunlight reflecting the goddess's jewelry, sending glimmers of light all across the ground. In order not to be overwhelmed (or blinded), the cheetah slowly and carefully peeked at what Sanaa wanted her to see. Etana had never been really in love with jewelry, but she was female, and really how many females could pass up an opportunity like this? Everything likes shiny things, right? Etana was no objection.
This goddess that asked for service and rewarded it with beautiful trinkets? Etana's very soul could have been modeled after her. For a moment, she considered. Could she remain in this goddess' service long term? Eta didn't know what she was even goddess of. Jewellry? What kind of work would be required? The same kind of back-bending mule work that she barely achieved just now? All questions that spun in her mind; she did not think it was right to ask Sanaa any of these, believing she would take it as disrespect.
It might not be a bad life, Etana mused. Taken care of, given something in return for work. It was not dissimiliar to the view she had on life. The only thing is....in Eta's version,she was the one at the top, and others did work for her. Then again, she could make herself rich with this lioness, grow strong in the process, and then leave her to strike out on her own, using the trinkets she earned to pay for others to do work for her. It might be finagled somehow.
But then Etana's eyes shifted to the face of the goddess. There was a benevolent smile on her face, true. But there was something flinty in her eyes. Not maliciousness. Perhaps a sign of...what? Eta knew right then that she had to be cautious, not give in completely to her. She had to remain in control of herself, should things get harder than Eta was willing to endure.
"My lady...give me a task."
Oh, she was gambling now.
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:11 pm
Sanaa was unaware of the thoughts rolling through Etana's head at the moment. She wanted followers, minions to do her work, but this little cheetah girl didn't seem like quite what she had in mind. Still... one for short term was better than none at all.
"A task?" She was a little suprised when the girl came out with such a request. It set her back and forced her to think on it. Obviously, hauling wood wasn't a good task for the petite girl, so hauling water probably wouldn't be either. What could she have her do that would be best for her talents? That took some real hard thought.
"Well now... I should think wood carrying is a task unsuited to you, so I shall relieve you of it. Instead, I think... you shall collect interesting things for me. How does that sound? As the goddess of crafting, I live to make things of all shape, size, and design, but I must have material to work with. This wood is part of it, but what I want from you is to find for me things that are... unusual, rare, or different. Does that meet with your satisfaction?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:02 am
At first Etana didn't understand. Collect unusual things? It seemed to her that the goddess had many beautiful and rare things already. And the word "crafting" meant very little to her. Not being a girl to let information pass her by, she recorded that word in her head so that she could figure it out later.
The cheetah had to admit, however, that she was relieved to be given so light a task. She spent many of her days looking for unusual and pretty things on her own. And of course she was glad to no longer have to carry something so heavy; she mentally thanked Sanaa for being so generous as to give her a task that suited her.
Though she didn't understand the reasoning for it, it was an easy job and Eta had asked for one, so there was no reason not to accept.
"Indeed, and I accept. I have but one question: How am I to carry all of these things back to you?"
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