Kilunzi did not enjoy spending much time in the mortal realms. Not that she didn't find the mortal creatures fascinating, because she did. It was the effect that her presence had on mortals that caused them to act aggressive and angry towards her. She'd gotten tired of being threatened and berated by angry mortals, so she'd spent the last several months in the Gods realms. It was lovely there, but could also get quite boring. So, she was at a standoff. Should she stay in the realms, where it was safe, or should she venture back into the mortal lands?
Fortunately, Kilu remembered one place where she could go where she knew she would not be threatened. There was one particular Forest where the inhabitants had always welcomed her, if a bit cautiously. That was alright, she admired caution in others. Leaving with her companion, Irc, she made her way quickly to the Forest and was surprised to see more signs of life. It would seem that a pride was beginning to grow on the edges of the Forest. Well, that was alright with her. She would skirt those areas carefully.
She settled onto the soft, mossy ground of the Forest, and looked around with admiration. The trees created a lovely, dark canopy and the area gave off a feeling of mysterious quiet. It was ideal.
For once, Jioni'Nyota was well and truly unsure of what to do. He was quite certain that his eyes were not deceiving him and that he'd seen a Goddess land in his Forest. Now, Jio had known of the existence of the Gods and Goddesses and had been careful never to offend any of them. However, he had never seen one before. This provided quite a unique opportunity if he could approach the Goddess without providing offense.
Jio knew that he needed to tread with caution. He did not know which domain this Goddess had dominion over. He would welcome her to the Forest as was his duty as the Auberon.
He swiftly made his way through the woods, his paws knowing every step by heart. He'd lived in these woods since his infancy. He peered into a very small clearing and there she was. She was grey in color, marked with intricate, glowing designs that seemed to catch the light. White birds wings lay folded across her back. Nervous, Jio shook himself a little bit before taking a deep breath and stepping forward.
"Welcome to the Forest, Divine one," he said with all appropriate humbleness. "I am the Auberon of this Forest, Jioni'Nyota. Is there anything I can do to assist you?"
Kilu glanced up from the small flower she had been admiring, surprised by the sound of a voice nearby. She hadn't expected to be found so soon. With a sigh of disappointment, she turned towards the mortal, certain that she was going to be asked to leave. She could refuse, of course, but Kilunzi was not the type who wished to cause trouble.
She was surprised to see a rather handsome lion step out of the brush. He was clearly nervous by her presence, but was doing an admirable job of welcoming her. Well, that was different. He obviously wasn't sure which Goddess she was.
"Greetings, Auberon. I am Kilunzi, Goddess of Secrets."
Irc chose that moment to fall from the sky and land gracefully on her shoulder. He was obviously trying to impress and Kilu couldn't help but smile at her small friend.
"This is Irc, my companion. It isn't often that I come to the mortal realms, but I wished to stay in this peaceful place for awhile. As long as it is no great disturbance."
Jioni stared at the Goddess, a bit hypnotized by her sky-blue eyes. He was startled out of that reverie by a small white form streaking through the sky to land on the Goddesses shoulder. Jioni had never seen a pure white raven before. Obviously God touched.
Goddess of secrets? Oh boy, this was going to be interesting.
Jio nodded deeply before speaking again.
"Welcome to the Forest. Please, you are welcome to stay as long as you please. There is no reason that this land should be closed to you. What brings you here, if I may ask?"
Kilu nodded, as she'd been expecting the question.
"I remember this Forest from when I was young. I recalled it being a safe and secretive place, somewhere I could be comfortable, without creating many problems."
Kilu was uncomfortable from standing and so she sat, gracefully, and reclined on the soft grass, hoping that the male lion would follow her example, which he did.
"One might say that I needed a small vacation. Something called me here."
Jio, seeing that the Goddess was sitting, moved to do so as well, so as not to make her uncomfortable. Though this was strictly his lands, he certainly wasn't going to make a fuss. She was a Goddess after all.
It was strange. He was normally so . . . calm. Nothing could surprise him after so many years of living with the groundlings. Then again, a Goddess had never decided to come visit the Forest before. Besides, she was a particularly lovely Goddess. Opening his mouth to reply, Jio was shocked by what he heard himself speaking.
"You are particularly lovely, Goddess. I didn't think you would be so beautiful."
Jio gaped, wondering why he had said that!
Kilu was trying to be polite and not to laugh, but the expression on the Auberon's face did her in. She laughed merrily while Irc chuckled too. She'd forgotten how amusing mortals could be.
"Please forgive me for laughing. But you see, one of the reasons that I don't visit the mortal lands very often is because of the effect my presence has on your kind. Being the Goddess of Secrets, I protect secrets, but I also have the ability, if I wish, to make others incapable of keeping secrets. Mortals who haven't spent a lot of time around me find themselves saying things that they normally wouldn't wish to say. If you were to spend more time around me, the effect would fade. Most mortals ask me to leave before they can get to know me though," added Kilu, rather bitterly.
Jioni felt chagrined, but at least she wasn't calling him out on what he had said. He pushed away any embarrassment he had to focus on what she was saying. It was fascinating the effect that immortals could have on mortals. Jio was learning things he'd never known before. This was good.
"I can't imagine anyone have the audacity to ask you to leave," said Jio, with a wry grin. Jio realized that he would have to be very careful with what he said. As the Auberon, he protected a number of secrets about the Forest that no one else was to know about.
His concern must have showed on his face, because Kilunzi frowned before standing up. He hurried to stand as well, ready to reassure her that he didn't wand her to leave. He watched, puzzled however, by her actions.
Kilunzi stood. She'd gotten very good at reading people's expressions and because this Jioni'Nyota was a leader of the Forest, it was likely that he had some secrets he needed to keep. In an effort to be gracious and so that she could stay, Kilu did something she wouldn't normally do.
Whispering her request to Irc, the bird nodded and hopped down to her wings. Kilu tensed as Irc gently pulled out a feather from her right wing. She knew that it would grow back, but it was still uncomfortable. Irc flew over to land in front of Jioni and placed the feather in front of him. He stood there and stared at it.
"Well, go on. Please, pick it up," she said with a sigh. "That feather is very special. Don't lose it. It will allow you to keep any of secrets important to your position. Not that I would share your secrets, if you were to speak them, but I understand that could be very uncomfortable for you if we were to be overheard.
Jio stared down at the white feather and gently picked it up. Irc hopped over and grabbed the feather before hopping onto Jio's head. Ignoring his protests, the bird gently attached hte feather to the fur behind his left ear. It was a temporary solution, but at least it would last until he could find a safe way to carry it around.
"Thank you very much, my lady. As the Auberon, there are several things that I cannot speak aloud without breaking tradition," he said with another bow.
Kilu nodded to him, but it was obvious that the Goddess wished to be alone for awhile. Jio bowed deeply again.
"Please, if there is anything you need, let me know," he said, before he quietly turned and faded back into the Forest.
