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 Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 5:37 pm
AIM LOG:  Hadaya was having a bad day. It was not like his usual bad days, either. Those he could deal with. Those were almost normal now. The ones where he failed at a hunt, or tripping in front of a pretty girl his age, or said something stupid to someone he was trying to befriend. All of that was common, and he was more than used to dealing with the ramifications of his own awkward social limitations.
No, today had been much more difficult. It was as if the Gods, those same, allegedly benevolent beings that had so blessed him with this completely useless sight of his, were now focusing on him as a test subject for all of their funny little games. He had been wandering through the savannah, as was his usual routine, and had come across an injured gazelle. Seizing the chance to an easy kill, he had leapt on it. Turned out it had been a trap, of sorts. A young animal used to lure its parents. The hyena that had set it up were not happy.
Hadaya had torn out of there, as fast as his young legs would carry him. It had to be in that moment of flight, of course, when a vision of someone elses future, someone he did not know and probably would never meet, flashed before his eyes and he had slammed face first into a tree.
At least the hyena had stopped chasing him by then. Laying under the tree, his face covered by his paws, he nursed his wounds with grumbles, his pride paining him the most profoundly.
"Are you alright there, little one?" The voice spoke with nothing but the most absolute kindness, despite its low pitch and the rather large being which owned the voice. Smiling as kindly as he possibly could, Uha couldn't help but be genuinely happy at meeting the younger lion. Amazing! Compared to the normal mortals which he'd seen before, this one was so... young, and tiny. With something that didn't live nearly as long as the immortals, he hadn't expected such a dramatic difference in age groups. Still watching the younger lion curiously, Uha continued.
"You seem to be having a bit of a rough day, there. Is there anything I could do to help?" He offered gently, still seeming to just radiate happiness. Why, if he could tell Mtima he'd helped out a younger lion... she'd be so proud of him!
Sitting just on the border of the tree's shade, Uha smiled brightly and flittered his wings slightly.
"Oh, yes, yes, an introduction, of course! I'm Uhamisho! It's a pleasure to meet you."
Hadaya slowly moved his paws from his head, his ears flattening against his skull as the deep baritone met them. He lifted his eyes slowly as his fingers peeled away from them, hoping against hope that there was some other hopeless looking creature nearby, so that it was not him that this voice addressed. Failing in having luck that good, he found himself staring up at a large creature unlike any he had seen before.
The young yellow lion nearly passed out at the sight.
Mustering his ‘courage’, or whatever his body could offer him that was not complete and utter terror, the lanky juvenile shrank into himself as he attempted to speak.
“I... uhm… I hit the tree,” he offered uselessly, knowing that this statement had nothing to do with the questions presented to him. He couldn’t remember his own name, despite how friendly this introduction seemed to be, and simply sat there in dumb silence for a long time.
“Hadaya,” he said suddenly, struck by the thought, “I’m Hadaya. I hit the tree.”
Apparently these were the only words he had left.
 Staring down as the young lion explained himself with a tree and Hadaya, Uha couldn't help but laugh at the explanation. "That... can't be any good for your head," he trailed out of his chuckle gently, shaking his head lightly. "I've run into a couple of trees before, while flying- you wouldn't believe how funny birds think that is." He could see some of the humor in it. Really, he could! They could just stand to be a little nicer about the whole thing, though. ...Oh! Right! The cub in front of him! Bringing himself back to the present, Uha offered a sympathetic smile.
"Anyway, Hadaya's a nice name." He spoke gently, still keeping his distance at the tree's edge. "Is there... any particular reason you hit the tree, or were you just not paying attention?" He asked gently, now definitely trying not to startle Hadaya. He was intimidating, he knew that much. He was just... hoping that he wouldn't ever scare anyone away by his looks.
“I’ve… never met a bird…” he said numbly, staring in dumbfound horror as the large, winged lion continued the conversation. Even the smile, though meant to be kind and clearly very honestly was, made Hadaya shudder.
“I was running from a couple Hyena,” Hadaya said dutifully, as if obligated to reply. He did not move from his huddled position on the floor, craning his neck to keep his eyes on Uha’s face. It was an effort and a half, not just physically but because he imagined he might get in trouble for staring. He simply could not look away, “and then I had a vision and I hit the tree. It happens… a lot. I think my head is used to it.”
Never missing an opportunity to complain about his sorry life, he even managed to groan at his position in life before hushing up and, fur bristling, waiting for the big lion to eat him.
"Oh? Well, they're very pleasant creatures." Uha said enthusastically, adding a nod. Maybe it was a bit forced, however, as he could easily see the younger lion shudder. ...Was he really that scary? Dipping his head a bit, Uha continued to listen. His ears flickered a bit at the mention of a hyena. ...Hyenas... hyenas... it took him a moment, fishing around in the memories he had access to, but finally, Uhamisho was able to put a picture to Hyenas. Oh! That's what they were! He was yet again shaken from his thoughts, however, by the mention of a vision.
"...Visions?" He asked quietly, tilting his head to the side with a look of confusion. "I'm sorry to pry, but... what's that?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 5:39 pm
“I don’t know,” Hadaya admitted a bit more freely, “my friend Sinasina told me they were ‘gifts from the gods’, but I really don’t think she knows what she’s talking about. So far, it’s just been one big pain…”
He stopped talking, his voice trailing off as he looked up at the winged creature before him. If Gods were capable of bestowing gifts, what were the odds that they had bodies? With giant wings and strange markings, and fur the likes of which he had never seen before? Swallowing hard, he sat up a bit, to get a better view of this Uha, and to present himself a bit more seemingly.
For the moment, it did not look like he was about to get eaten, so he might as well respond to the lion’s joviality. At least a little bit.
“They’re just images in my mind, from the future, I guess, but I can never tell who they’re supposed to belong to or when they’re happening, or anything. Sometimes I get lucky and I’m close to the lion or whoever that it’s supposed to be for, but mostly I think it’s people I’ve never met, and I’m never going to meet.”
He listened with the upmost curioisity to Hadaya's words, occasionally nodding along and changing expression. Toward the end, his wings began to fltuter once more, a wide grin spreading across his face. "How absolutely wonderful!" He stepped in a bit closer at this point, looking over Hadaya from top to bottom. He seemed perfectly normal, and yet... the visions! How absolutely amazing and curious! Oh, this one would definitely be going back to Mtima, then! He wondered, idly, what she would have to say on this!
"I'm sorry to be so absolutely curious on this, but... I've never heard of such a thing!" He spoke earnestly and honestly, done looking Hadaya over and returning his gaze to the young lion's eyes.
"Mtima's not told me about it, but... she would know more than me. Still... if they're based on the gods," he reasoned aloud, tilting his head the opposite way now, "then... wouldn't it make sense that I would understand? ...But I guess I really don't understand a lot anyway, so! That's alright, I suppose!" He laughed, now, rather amused by his own train of thought. When he finally stopped, Uha yet again offered Hadaya a smile.
"Do you ever have visions of yourself? ...And, oh. Right. How's your head feeling?"
Hadaya almost forgot how to breathe. He was struck still, staring with wide eyes as the winged lion drew closer. The friendly smile and honest aura did not fool Hadaya: he knew hunger would prevail over friendship should the lion deem Hadaya a fitting meal. He had never seen a lion with wings before, after all, so how could he be sure what its diet was comprised of?
He relaxed, however slightly, when Uha returned his gaze to Hadaya’s eyes and continued the conversation. Grinning a little, the yellow failure was glad to have so impressed a complete stranger with new of what he, Hadaya, considered a curse. It was a small victory.
He listened curiously to Uha’s outer-inner-monologue, swallowing hard. It confirmed his suspicions, at least as far as the yellow lion needed, that this was a God, or at least a God-like creature, before him. Hadaya felt very suddenly that he was going to wet himself. Holding it in, he smiled back.
“Like I ran it into a tree,” Hadaya said, though his voice was more sore than his head really was, “and I haven’t had one of myself yet, but Sinasina said that it might happen, too. I guess it’s all random. I met another little friend, and she said she was a Seer, too, and that she saw herself some times.”
"Well, yes, that is a reasonable feeling after running into a tree.." he mumbled in agreement, knowing the feeling that hitting the wood head-on gave. Frowning lightly, Uha's ears flickered again. "My apologies, then, I suppose. It's... not a pleasant feeling at all, and if you'd like me to leave, I can." Pawing at the ground, he continued. "I mean... if you don't feel like being disturbed, really, it's no trouble." Sombering slightly, he nodded sagely, as if to make his words more serious.
"...And, oh! That... sounds really interesting," he added, spirits lifting slightly from the worries on leaving the young lion. "So seers... all see differently, then? How absolutely strange!" he smiled, scrunching his nose a bit. "In your own way... you're almost like a god, able to see the future, or something!"
Hadaya blinked, shaking his head instinctively when the big lion offered to leave. He hadn’t thought about it, but apparently he did not want the other male to go. It was fascinating, this conversation, however uncomfortable he might be. Plus, this lion seemed to have some of the same, socially inept mannerisms that Hadaya had, and that was endearing.
“No, I don’t want you to go,” he said, urgently, “I’m just awkward. I want you to stay, though, because I’ve never seen anything like you before. What… what are you…? Since I’ve brought us to the topic…”
“Are YOU a God? I don’t feel like a God at all. I feel like a guy who doesn’t even know what are his thoughts and what belong to someone else. I run into trees and get chased by hyena. That’s not really very God-like, is it?”
At the younger lion's questions, Uha listened with curioisity of his own, and mild amusement. When Hadaya finally stopped with the enslaught of questions, Uha was silent a moment- though still smiling- before he began working at the answers. Letting his wings flitter yet again, he adressed them as best possible in the order they were given.
"Well, thank you, I suppose. I... well, I'm pretty awkward too!" He laughed, finally at ease once Hadaya had agreed to keep him around. Fully extending his wings, Uha nodded. "I... am a god, actually. Or so Mtima tells me. And... everyone has there down days, Hadaya. Even gods! I've run into my fair share of trees." Sniffling lightly, Uha glanced up to the tree once more. "You've just gotta keep tying, right? Because... if you give it all of your heart, things can only get better!"
“A God…” he cowered a bit as Uha spread his wings, “They must have been tall trees…”
Hadaya sat up, allowing himself to be more relaxed. Now that his suspicions were confirmed he felt a bit more comfortable, or at the very least he knew he was less likely to be eaten now. He remembered an old tale that described Gods as creatures who did not need to eat. Besides, why would one bother to eat Hadaya, when he was so obviously a hilarious joke for them?
Not wanting to be bitter with this particular God for beliefs he had held without ever meeting one, Hadaya swallowed hard and tried to think of something Uha might want to talk about.
“Who is Mtima?” He asked at length, failing at being conversational and resorting to the easiest tactic: asking a question.
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 5:39 pm
Snorting lightly at the comment on trees, Uha shook his head. "Not in the slightest! I was just talking to birds, got distracted, and," making a swishing motion with his paw, as if to demonstrate his flying, he grinned. "Wham. The moral of the story is, if you ever somehow develop the ability to fly," he snickered lightly at this, as if greatly entertained, "don't stop paying attention."
At the question of Mtima, Uha seemed to sober slightly, offering a softer smile now. "She's... a goddess," he began, setting his paw back down and almost sitting more upright. "Goddess of souls. She is... very kind, and loving. Beautiful, too." He murmured gently, as if it were a secret- or she was in the area. Flicking his ears back, Uha went on. "She's helped me get back on my paws, and... she's an excellent friend.
She's actually the one who taught me about mortals!" He added enthusiastically, beaming. "She's very smart. Why, I wouldn't be surprised if she was the most brilliant goddess alive!"
Hadaya listened, mouth slightly agape. The idea that there was more than one God around, probably more than he could reason, was staggering. The fact that they hung around each other, spoke, even, as it seemed, grew attached to one another just as mortals do struck him dumb. He was a lion who had only believed in Gods because his friend had told him they were to blame for his irritating power, and now he was learning they were beings akin to the ones he lived with. It was strange and, in its terrifying way, wonderful.
Shaking his head, the young lion couldn’t help but grin. He seemed to be running into every lovestuck lion on the savannah, having just parted company with a male lion very much in love with a leopard. Knowing absolutely nothing about the subject, he could only stuttering useless phrases.
“I suppose in your head she would have to be, since you… like her so much…” he cleared his throat, “she sounds nice though. She’s the Goddess of Souls? Then what are you?”
"Well, that and she's taught me so much," Uha rambled on, happily oblivious to the implication of Hadaya's statement. At the next question, however, he smiled. "I am memories!" He boasted proudly, puffing up ever-so-slightly as he recited his domain to the younger lion. "And I know of... other gods and goddesses, too, though I haven't met them," he went on, tapping his paw lightly. "Honestly, Mtima would know more of them than I do- I haven't met very many mortals or immortals, even though there's more of you than u- OH!" Nearly jumping at the recollection of Posca, Uha frowned. "There was Posca, too! I'm not sure what her domain was, but.. it couldn't have been too pleasant. Honestly, she didn't look very happy about it, either."
Still seemingly upset, Uha sighed lightly. "S...sorry I don't know more about it."
Hadaya grinned, a bright and sincere expression that almost did not look like it belonged on his face.
“That’s okay! It’s amazing, that there are so many!”
That was not what he was so excited about, however. It was the fact that this God was so much akin to Hadaya, that Uha seemed as inept as some things as the yellow lion was. It almost gave him hope, to see a God struggling to find words and names, just as Hadaya often did. These higher beings, if he had given himself the time to think about them or even believe in them, should have been infallible. It was a comfort to see that some of them, or at the very least one of them, was as normal as the awkward yellow lion was.
“I’m glad you told me what you’ve been able to, so it’s okay if you don’t know more. I don’t want to keep you from… godly… duties, though, if you’re… busy doing… memorial things.” He didn’t think that was the right word for it, but he could hardly come up with something better.
Uha smiled at this. "Isn't it?! I was.. rather shocked, too. I mean... mortals far outnumber us, but that's what really gets me. How many of you there are, compared to us!" And it really did astound Uha. Mtima had mentioned a pride of mortals... but, really, they seemed to be everywhere! That was probably why there were so many gods, too. Belief fueled existance, after all! And if there was a lot more belief... well, then, it made sense that there was a lot more existing to be done, too. Or something along that line of thinking.
"There's not really... duties... to be done, that I know of," he mused lightly, tilting his head a bit. "But.. I was looking for Mtima, earlier.
Would you be horribly offended if I left to go look again?" He asked, offering up a smile once more. "I'd certainly love to tell her that I met... a seer? That's the word for it, right?"
“I don’t mind at all,” Hadaya said, shaking his head furiously, “you should go find her. I bet she’d like to see you, anyway, right? I mean… I don’t know… I’ve never met her so I can’t… assume. Anyway, you should go find her.”
He snapped his mouth shut, babbling a bit and not enjoying it. Slightly biting his tongue, he winced and nodded at the question about the word.
“Yeah, that’s why my friends call it, so I guess that’s what I am. A Seer.” He put a little more emphasis on the first letter, for pride that he did not actually bear in the title. Though, now that he was absolutely certain of the existence of Gods, his feelings toward his powers of vision were already shifting.
“It was, uhm. Nice meeting you.”
"Ah, thank you!" He spoke with some release, standing up from his position by the edge of the trees. Stretching out lightly, Uha continued to smile. "I.. suppose I should, shouldn't I? I don't want to keep her waiting, if she's looking." He grinned in a rather silly manner at this, an obviously love-struck look passing his features. He remained in this daze for no more than a moment, snapping back to reality to give a small bow toward the little seer.
"Well, thank you for speaking with me, Hadaya!" Uha added happily, indeed rather thankful for having met the young lion. "This narrows my list of who all I need to meet a bit, now! Good luck in the future," he added politely, smile dimming to a more polite and acceptable one, "and I hope your head feels better!"
Turning around from his standing position, Uha took a few steps in the direction back home- only to pause, turning over his shoulder. "Oh. And... try avoiding trees from now on? The next time we meet, I don't want you to have a headache!" He laughed genuinely at this, and resumed his retreat in the opposite direction, taking to the air after a running start.
What a curious, curious meeting! He had so many questions to ask Mtima now.
END
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