Maya laid under the overhang of a rock formation that she had called her home for the last few days. It was better then nothing at least and it kept her skin from the unforgiving gaze of the sun. With her ears back she began to lick at the charred skin on her forelegs, trying to put moisture back into the wound. Maybe tomorrow or even later that day she would nap and wake to find her fur back. Wishful thinking would get her nowhere. Her sad expression changed quickly, her brow furrowing as she began to glare at the burnt flesh while lapping at it. Maybe she just wasn't trying hard enough.
Airion on the otherhand was having a much better day. He had seen his mother recently and was on his way to see his daughter for the first time in a very long time. His trip towards the land of the Dawn Walkers was a long and hard one though without wings for easier flight or teleporting that would surely drain him. Egg-yolk yellow marked paws carried the large lion (but small by god-standards) across the African plains. A smile was on the god's mouth as he was in good cheer. That was, until he caught sight of what he originally thought was a hyena hiding in the shadows but was actually Maya nursing her wounds. Carefully, the god began his approach.
The lioness was far too caught up in her grooming to notice the large white, blue and yellow male making his way towards her. She had to be clean, to be beautiful again. These scars were the exact reason that she was not! They marred her, caused others to turn away in disgust when they would have fawned over her if they had met her before her sister's sacrifice. Before she got those accursed burns. She would have had a harem of males answering her every call and fulfilling her every wish!
Tears began to form in Maya's eyes as the selfish thoughts began to fade. She would never truly be beautiful again. Not so long as the physical memories from her parent's betrayal so many years ago remained.
Airion's eyes widened as he finally managed to see that the hyena was actually a lion and a lioness no less! As he made his way a little closer his eyes began to soften as he saw her old wounds. His pace slowed and his step began more cautious as he did not want to startle her and possibly have her attack from fear of his large size or because of the fact he had a horn on his forehead. Though he wouldn't blame her if she suddenly bolted or struck at him.
"Hello?" Airion called out softly, his head lowered a bit. Hopefully him making the first contact would help.
Her head raised suddenly at the sound of a voice. It wasn't even that far away either! Maya's eyes widened as she saw what had made that voice. She had truly been expecting something else, but what she had been expecting she didn't even really know. Something more...malicious looking perhaps? "H-hello?" He was a stranger to her. A threat. Despite her weakness, she wiped her forming tears onto the backside of her paw before coming out from under her rock to face him.
"I did not mean to startle you."
"You didn't startle me."
"Of course not."
Airion raised his head, looking her over with kind eyes that came to rest on her burns. The god failed to noticed the scrunching of Maya's face as the fact he was looking at her abnormality did not go unnoticed. He shook his head, breaking his gaze on it, letting his blue eyes come back to look into her bright green.
"I'm sorry if I stared. I did not mean any offense. I was merely worried for your well-being. Does the sun not harm you?"
"It does."
"Then why do you not go back into the shade?"
"Because you're here."
"I see..."
Maya's gaze never left him for a second even while he turned to look away, towards the horizon. His eyes came back to hers. "I may be able to help you, even if it is only a bit." With that said, Airion stepped away from her much to the brown lioness' relief.
Within minutes though the deity returned but this time with a mouthful of various herbs and grasses in his possession. Spitting them to the ground, he began to break them under his paw, smashing them until they became a finer mixture. Then, mixed with a bit of mud, dipped his paw in it and approached the scarred lioness. She, of course, was not amused by him approaching her but she was curious about what he had been making.
The male gently, ever so gently, began to spread the mixture onto her burn scars. She winced at first, tensing but only for a few seconds before easing under his touch. It was soothing, and cooling to the horribly dried skin.
"That should help. Let it dry and crack off naturally. That way it will be protected for as long as possible. The herbs should help moisturize your skin and perhaps, if we're lucky, help it heal." Airion stated, smiling back towards her. She on the otherhand just stared up at him, shocked. Why was he doing such a thing for her? What had she done to promote such undeserved kindness?
"Thank you." Those were the only two words Maya could manage to get out of her mouth and even those were hard as her emotions had no idea what to do with themselves at that point.
"You're welcome. Take care of yourself." With that said, the larger male as he turned and began to walk away with a large smile on his face. It was definitely nice to leave her in such a shock just from a simple show of kindness.
"Wait!"
"Yes?"
"I didn't even get your name!"
"Airion, the god of patience."
A god?! She had been blessed by a god?!
"T-thank you Airion. I'm Maya."
"Well then, take care of yourself Maya."
[Word Count: 1031]
