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 Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 1:10 pm
Amedia watched the scene unfold, not batting an eye. Yes, this would work. She was a good judge of character! [Although, Phib probably would have disagreed.] But she knew there was strength to her voice. Both her voices. She just had to reconcile herself. "Yes, I believe it most certainly will."
"Powers are dangerous, make no mistake. But you should never feel as though you are fumbling. They will work for you, you just need to tell them where to go. You must feel what you want to be done, and you must never rush. Do you think I need flowers to heal Cassian's eyes? Not at all! But, they help me focus." She grinned. "The most important thing is that you do not second guess yourself. You can't doubt that you won't fix him. Doubting yourself is when these whole messes start to happen."
She took a few steps back. "But, as to the process... well, only you know that. Think of what you did to start the process, and slowly let it undo."
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 1:25 pm
She nodded, feeling afraid again. What if they still didn't trust one another? Their friendship was rocky. One day they would be the best of friends. The next they would be arguing non stop. Some days they would refuse to talk to one another.
Things hadn't ever really been good since Pelli had taken control as the dominant personality, either. Roko had been more scared and timid than normal and seemed unable to do anything but timidly warn her other half against doing certain things.
But they had to see eye to eye on this. They had to work together.
She listened to Amedia, feeling afraid again. What if this didn't work? What if they couldn't remember what they had done?
"You did it, Pelli. Tell me and I'll help." Roko replied softly.
Pelli was surprised that the normally timid character did not sound as afraid as she felt.
"O-okay."
Her gaze returned to Amedia. "You don't need the flowers?" She repeated, quietly, not sure that she truly understood.
"I...I think I remember." Pelli continued, standing up straighter and shaking her wings loose in an attempt to relax.
"We are ready."
Cassian found the flower, glad that it was a bright colour and easy to spot. He bent down, hooked his teeth around the stem and severed the link between it and the earth. He carried it gently and with good reason if the flower could really help cure his eyes.
He wondered about stopping by to wake Illena but decided against it. If this went wrong then her hopes would have been raised for nothing.
Stumbling over yet another rock and muffling a curse, he started to head back, hoping that Amedia had gotten through to Roko during the short time he had been away. The little Goddess had a good heart - he had decided - but she sure was an idiot at times.
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 1:45 pm
She smiled and shook her head. No, she didn't need flowers. Nor did she need herbs or spices or any of the large assortment of healing contraptions she had. Truthfully, whenever possible she did heal with natural means, rather then her powers. But when her powers were involved, all it took was focus and her own energy. She had found, however, that lions took better to healing when they took something they believed was medicine.
And, not only that. But there was much to be said of a lion who struggled to find his own cure. Nothing in life was easy. Making him see would not fix all his problems either. Such as things were. But she had faith in this particular situation. There was no need for Roko or Pelli to worry.
She felt a bit of her magic be disturbed, somewhere in the distance. "And your friend has found his flower. Now, I believe it is up to you."
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 1:55 pm
"We're afraid..." Rokopelli whimpered a little, standing and drawing up alongside the pale-pelted female. She hadn't needed to voice the obvious but it made her feel better admitting it.
Releasing a long breath she looked up, expectantly, waiting for Cassian to arrive.
"If we fail...we deserve the darkness." She spoke, again as one. A good sign despite the sadness of those words.
Cassian could feel the swell of Rokopelli's nervousness the moment he stepped into sight, feeling the pull of her mind guiding him along the somewhat treacherous path. The flower in his jaws was almost undamaged as he drew up to face them.
It seemed that they were done with their conversation. So...did that mean it was time?
He lay the flower on the ground, close to Amedia's paws and then glanced between the two again, his dark mane so contrasting against the white of his pelt.
"Are you both...ready?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 2:17 pm
"Don't be afraid." She smiled.
They waited until Cassian came into view. The sight of him so dutifully carrying the flower pleased her. Yes, she would have no problem healing this one. And was sure Roko would be able to carry through. "Well done, my friend." She hummed. "The flower you have looks quite fine indeed."
She stepped forward. Perhaps, a little demonstration would encourage Roko. The flower which had been dropped at her feet suddenly took a life of it's own, and fluttered upwards. It spun once, before landing smoothly upon her paws. Once it was reunited with its creator- it even seemed to glow. She let it flutter there, as though she was having a conversation with it.
Finally, she released it. Amedia plucked the petals from the flower, and placed them again before Cassian. "Eat these. They won't taste very well, but they should fix your sight." Her bright eyes fluttered. "It won't all come back at first. But within a few hours, all will be as it should be."
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 2:26 pm
Roko watched intently, saying nothing, though her thoughts were awhirr with life. Such a spectacle it was to see a deity using it's power. She suddenly felt ashamed that she had spent days wishing she were a mortal. Mortals led good lives - to the most part - but she had been blessed with a gift. A responsibility. It seemed suddenly a terrible thing to wish it were gone.
Cassian drew back a little as the flower moved. Not just moved, but floated as if it had some invisible wings to help lift it into the air. A moment later and it was cradled in the white one's paws, glowing there in her grasp.
He swallowed back the nervousness and stepped forwards agan, not wanting to shy away from the one thing that could help. Then those petals were plucked, petals filled with...with a cure for his eyes, perhaps? His eyes trailed down to them and, after a long moment, he did as he was told, eating the petals. The medicine.
She was right. They didn't taste very good at all, and his face screwed up a little as he forced himself to swallow them. And then it was done. All there was to do now was wait.
He lifted his eyes back up to Amedia's and for a moment at least, his grouchiness seemed to have lifted. His eyes would work? Truly work? He could not express his gratitude and felt awful for not finding the words to describe what he felt.
"Thank you." Was all he could manage. "Thank you." He had no doubts that the cure would not work. No doubts at all. He just hoped that the Goddess understood how much this meant to him. To give him his independance. His usefulness.
But there was the other problem...the problem that buzzed constantly in his mind. His eyes slid over to Roko and he frowned at the look on the Goddess' face.
What was wrong with her?
"What...what did you discuss with Rokopelli?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 2:40 pm
She thrummed pleasantly. Yes, it would work well enough. As he swallowed the petals, she could feel a little bit of power leaving her and going to work. Fixing, slowly. Working. She liked that feeling. The only hitch she felt was the problem still blocking his mind. Once that was gone, well...
"There's no need to thank me." She smiled. "This is what I am. I am happy to help."
As she continued to speak, she slowly kept working on his eyes. She was used to her powers working as naturally as they pleased. "We spoke on how we would fix your other problem. And, I believe we are at a conclusion."
She turned, and looked towards Roko. "Just as I am able to heal your eyes, so will Roko undo what she has done to your mind. She is the only one capable of such a task, but she worries of the damage she's caused."
Her head bowed. "That is why, you must trust her in this."
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 2:54 pm
If Cassian felt anything happening to his eyes, it certainly didn't seem like it. They were still blurry and he squinted to focus on Rokopelli who seemed to be hovering at the white one's side.
"Only one capable?" He parrotted. "Is there a chance she could make this...worse? The thing that she's done?" He shook his head as Rokopelli's thoughts invaded again.
Trust. Could he trust Rokopelli? He supposed that he could. After all, she had stayed with him when she could have flown away. She had asked others for the location of the one who could help. Followed rumours to dead ends. And finally she had brought him here, to the healer's domain.
So, yes, despite their patchy friendship, he supposed he could trust her. He nodded slowly. "I do. She's helped me so far." He spoke carefully.
Rokopelli broke into a smile at that, standing up straighter and pressing her wings tightly to her sides. The braids of her dark hair hung neatly about her face and as she stepped a little closer, the snakes around her forelegs seemed to shift their golden coils.
"We'll do our best. We promise, Cassian. Amedia...Amedia has healed us, too."
She looked fondly across at her newfound friend. "You think...we're ready?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 3:05 pm
"Anything is possible," She said in response to his question. "But, I believe you have a friend who is quite sincere in her desire to help you. And that is a very powerful thing."
The lioness slowly took a few steps back. There was no need to impede on this. And Roko would not need her assistance, at least not in this. But a warm smile was fixed upon her face. "Yes, you are. Just think of how far you've come to this spot. And that's all you'll need. Take your time."
And with that, Amedia settled. She had to admit, this was quite exciting! It wasn't everyday that it wasn't her who needed to do the heavy lifting. Silently, however, she decided to carefully focus on Cassian. Yes, it was true Roko could make it worse. And she would help him if she could.
But she doubted it would be needed.
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 3:18 pm
Taking strength from Cassian's trust and Amedia's words of encouragement and confidence, Rokopelli felt her nerves slowly dissipate. They were still there, but she decided quickly that nerves were a good thing to an extent. They'd keep her on her toes!
Breathing in deeply, she stepped forwards towards the much larger male. Their height differences meant that when she reached up to make contact, the top of her head met with the bottom of his chin. She felt him tense a little and soothed him with a thought. The contact wasn't necessary but it would hopefully strengthen the bond needed to undo what had been done. Besides that, it would bring her comfort to know she was not alone.
Closing her eyes, she felt for that power of hers - the power so often left dormant. But an unpractised power - as she had learned the hard way - could often be dangerous. Hopefully, after today, she would have learned to harness and control it a little more.
She touched his mind, felt its strength, its nervousness, but its hope, too. Its colours were so unique to any other mind but familiar, now. She let them wash over her own mind, bringing comfort from their connection rather than irritation. There did not always need to be friction over such a union.
Relax She thought to him, we can do this.
She sought the parts that were broken, the parts of his mind where confusion had been embedded, where parts of her own mind had pressed their image into his. And, as she sought it, she came to understand what needed to be done. How it was so clear, she was unsure, but the strength in her abilities seemed so much stronger than they once had been.
It's because we work together. They chimed in unison. All three of us.
She did not know how long she sought to fix what she herself had broken. But, when it was done, she drew away from him and peered up groggily. And then the world span, her stomach convulsed with nausea and she all but collapsed, her legs falling out from beneath her.
The world span. She felt weak.
Was this a sign it had worked?
She tried to blink the spinning world away, but it didn't seem to work.
"Did we...did we do it?" She whispered hoarsely.
Cassian, feeling equally exhausted, was forced to sit, blinking the darkness from his eyes. His vision was still blurry, but no longer could he hear Roko's uncontrolled thoughts in his mind.
It had worked?
It had worked!
He smiled - a rare thing for him - and nodded, finding himself unable to speak.
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 3:36 pm
Joy fluttered in the goddess's chest. Yes! How brilliant! She could sense the power from Roko slipping away from Cassian. She felt his body relax, despite the weight of exhaustion hanging on them. The old lioness leaned forward, and allowed some of her own power to permeate around her. Hopefully, it would alleviate some of the exhaustion.
"And there it is." She smiled. "All has been untangled, and you have what you seek. I only hope you will continue to work with your powers, so such a thing does not happen again." She hadn't doubted Roko would find her way. A god's power was like breathing. It was, and it always was so long as they existed. It would take time to fully grab hold of her abilities, but she would.
And to Cassian. "And, when your sight returns, you will not take for granted the gift which has been returned to you. When I heal, I expect to hear only good things from your life, so use those eyes as well and true as you can."
After it was said, she stood up and bowed her head. "But, I am quite pleased to have been able to assist."
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 3:45 pm
Cassian looked to Amedia with a respect that would probably never be directed towards anyone else (save his mate). She had helped him with his eyesight and she had helped Rokopelli, too. He realised now that the Goddess had been suffering too, maybe for a long time. He was also surprised to find himself saddened by the knowledge that she would soon take her leave of them to go her own way - now that she had fulfilled her promise.
"Amedia, if there is anything I can ever do to help you, be sure to seek me out. I would be eager to repay what you have done today. For me and Rokopelli."
He paused, thinking of what he would do next. "I think, once my eyesight is healed, I will go on a hunt with my mate, then seek out a pride to settle in and find a position of usefulness." With good eyesight he could be anything he wanted to be. A hunter. A warrior. A guard. "I will do all I can to make use of this gift you have given me today, even if I might never do anything heroic, I'll never take it for granted. Never."
Rokopelli, feeling the warmth of restoration flowing through her veins, stirred just enough to be able to hear and comprehend the words spoken around her. And yet she was too tired to say much aloud.
Instead, she spoke with her mind, finding it less straining that way.
I think, after this, I'll go home for a while. If I can remember where it is...
Even her mind-voice sounded tired and, after a moment she was dozing there on the mountain path.
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 4:05 pm
She smiled. "There's nothing more heroic then living life. I am sure you will not disappoint." No, she did not ask for heroism for her gifts. Hearing that he would look out for his mate- that he would make a life for himself, and be better for his recovery. That was all the thanks she would ever need. Yes. This was a good ending.
With a soft smile, she looked over to Rokopelli, who had all but collapsed where she stood. Her head bowed softly, and she looked back to Cassian. "I am sure she will be fine. You should go see your mate. I can look after her for a while until she is well enough to leave on her own."
Speaking of mates. She had a sinking notion her own was starting to get suspicious about her absence. A grin stretched across her face, and she settled down beside Roko to be sure she rested undisturbed. He'd understand. Eventually.
Well. She hoped anyways!
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 4:11 pm
He stood, bowed his head a little and took a few steps back. "I think I'll do just that. There's much to tell her. So much has happened and the sun has not yet risen to its highest peak."
He watched the two for a moment and with a nod, turned back the way he came. He hoped that he would get to see Amedia again, to tell her about his life and how she had helped him live it.
And, as he walked down the ridge and back towards where his mate slept, he thought to himself that perhaps gods and goddesses weren't so bad after all. They'd certinaly made a big impact on his life, and mostly for the better.
The sun touched gold onto his face and as he looked down the mountainous paths, he thought that already things looked a little bit clearer.
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