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 Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:00 pm
 Oracle padded lightly across the meadow, his white-tipped paws brushing against lush, yellow-green grass at each step. There were flowers of many shades scattered around him, with trees, mountains, and soft, rolling hills in the distance, placed against the background of a bright blue sky. It seemed not a single living being was in sight, save for himself, and he took comfort from that.
Many were concerned with the future, the ever-changing unknown, which always existed but yet, never really did. And because he was the god of Prediction, countless amounts of creatures gone to him and asked for his advice. “How much longer will my mate live?” “How will I die?” “What is waiting for me in the days to come?” were but a few of the many questions he received, and each he returned with a biting, mocking reply. “Your mate will live until death comes, of course.” “Well, you’ll stop breathing. You know, that thing with you do with that little nose of yours?” “The sun, you fool. It always comes.” It was something of a game to him, really – one where he was always the victor.
Despite the lack of audience, he held his head in a high, prideful way at the thought, and his eyes half-closed as if the world he lived in did not deserve his full attention. Even his walk held a swaggering gait, and his detailed saddle, red velvet ribbons, and lustrous bells did nothing but emphasize his haughty nature.
Soon he reached a stream and he sat by its cool, gurgling waters. He watched his reflection dancing in the ripples, almost vainly, before reaching up to paw delicately at the second piece of velvet cloth he wore: the one that covered his right eye. His visible eye narrowed suspiciously, and he stilled, but when nothing happened for a few moments, he leaned down carelessly to drink.
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Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:25 pm
 With the sun's warming rays blaring overhead Starpelt couldn't help but enjoy the day. She was surrounded by lush grass that swayed lightly in the wind. From birds eye view the grass was dotted with various spots of pastel colors. Pink, lavender, sky blue... All were various flowers that bloomed all around her. Nature made her feel at ease. But then again, she was the Goddess of Herbs after all.
Many underestimated the powers of herbs, and scoffed at her existence as a Goddess of such a remedial factor of life. There was medicine afterall, what was the use of herbs when something clearly superior existed? But of course, unlike those who didn't understand nature, and underestimated it she could say that she knew better. Herbs also served as a catalyst for healing, so her powers dabbled lightly into healing as well. With the right mixture of crushed, or dry herbs, one could create a powerful, medicine that was natural. Something that didn't come with harmful side effects and could only do good in the world.
It wasn't flawless, but it was her passion.
Standing up, Starpelt headed out of the serene, peaceful meadow and headed for the sound of the stream. Her pawsteps were light, and barely made a sound or indent in the grass she seemed to glide over. It was almost as if she was never even there in the first place. Admiring the foliage all around her, Starpelt followed her senses towards the stream. It wasn't long before the crystalline waters came into view and as she stepped out of the shrubbery she was surprised to find that she was not alone.
Before her stood another fox such as herself, but he was unlike the many others she'd met in the past. There was something about his aura that reminded her deeply of her own. He was a God as well.
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Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:00 pm
Oracle looked up as soon as the female came into view, a brow raised in mild surprise. He had heard no footsteps or wave of grass he realized, wiping the water dripping from the fur on his chin. Only the rustle of the bushes she had come from, which had hid her scent, announced her presence. His eye had not warned him of her visit, either, which, although happened occasionally, was uncommon. Under normal circumstances, he would have been irritated – who knew what kind of annoying fox she could be? Their species were well known for trickery – but he could sense a subtle sort of power radiating from her, and he knew immediately she was a Goddess.
But was she one worthy of his respect?
“Hello,” he greeted politely, his voice smooth and alluring. He wrapped his short tail around his paws, waiting for her response to gauge how much attention she deserved from him. He studied her as he did so, noting how her carousel accessories matched her eyes and the star-like patterns on her flank, bright and almost luminous against her dark pelt.
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Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:20 pm
Starpelt's eyes gazed over him in mild curiosity fore it wasn't often that she met another God or Goddess. Her gaze strayed on a the cloth over his right eye for just a fraction of a second longer than the rest of him. It was interesting, but others had a different sense of what to wear upon oneself. She'd come to this stream with the intention to drink the fresh water from it, but drinking now would be rather rude given the situation. Perhaps they could make some small talk before parting ways. That would be preferable, but she was no seer, and therefore had no clue if that would happen or not. It was always best to let the future play out on its own anyway.
She could tell that she was upwind from him, but that didn't mean much because her scent meshed with the plants around her perfectly, making her the optimal hunter if she ever felt the need to do so. His alluring voice did nothing to her ears as she'd heard many with many more tones to be able to asses a fox on character rather than voice.
"Hello.", she greeted back politely with a light flick of her tail. She was more of an aloof character herself. She didn't start conversations often, and never really had the need to, but when others were in need she had no problem switching from intrapersonal to interpersonal. This situation however, was clearly not befitting of that.
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Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 12:00 am
From her words, or lack thereof, and the remote way she held herself was enough for Oracle to conclude the female wasn’t the most social of foxes. It was strange to him, for he was used to encountering… well, normal, non-deity creatures, who yearned for attention from one such as himself, despite their usual characters. Yes, he had met other Gods and Goddesses before, but they had shown some curiosity, and wondered about his domain or, at the very least, the cloth around his eye. They had not treated him with this… this… detachment. The only sign she showed of any form of interest at all had been her gaze, but it was brief: the sort of look you’d give to an especially strange mushroom, and nothing more.
It was the first time he had encountered anything such as the indifferent attitude she gave him now, and to put it bluntly, he disliked it. He considered replying with a farewell and taking his leave, but he had heard females were strange (and some of the females he had met had been strange indeed), and could blow their tempers at the smallest of things, and he knew the action itself would be rude. He wasn’t against snubbing another, but she was a Goddess, whose domain – which could anything, really, including powers that would prove stronger than his own and give him a gruesome death – was yet unknown to him. So it would probably be his best interest to not be disrespectful. And since he started the conversation, he guessed the best thing to do was to just go on with it.
“Lovely weather, isn’t it?" he asked, phrasing one of the most common questions first asked when the speaker obviously had nothing else to say.
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Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:59 am
Starpelt blinked at his response, the typical response of one at least attempting to start up a friendly conversation. It was clear that he didn't intend to bid his farewells anytime soon - or so she thought. It would be rather impolite if she were to be the one to do it as well. They knew not of eachother's domains, so leaving would not be the most optimal choice. She definitely didn't want a fight to ensure before them of course. She herself had little to no fighting skills, but in prickly situations she probably would be able to make use of her surroundings in the most benefiting way, but of course, if his domain was fire then that plan would be reduced to ashes. Literally.
"I agree.", she said with a smile, and quickly added to it before there was too much of an awkward silence. She usually wasn't this distant towards others, but of course her timidness often got the best of her. "I'm Starpelt. And you are...?, she asked, with a mild curiosity. One's name sometimes revealed something about their character, so that may or not apply to this case she'd figured. And in any event, giving your own name before asking for someone else's was always the most polite way to go about things.
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Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:00 am
That was better, Oracle thought, one ear cocked towards her while the other swiveled this way and that, lest others decide to approach. Not that he held any skepticism towards his power. The female’s appearance merely showed him that it would be unwise to depend on it heavily, as he lacked full control of his domain, unlike many others. His predictions came and went as they pleased, for the most part. He could summon it if he chose, but it wasn’t as easy to do as it was to say. It took much effort, effort he didn’t really feel like using.
“Your name is very fitting,” he commented, once again eyeing the star-like patterns decorating her pelt. “I go by Oracle, seer of that which is to come,” he said, the latter of which could be taken as the meaning of his name, a hint towards his domain, or both. If she didn’t get the implication, then he could always emphasize. After all, his domain would be revealed eventually, and he hoped that, if he gave it away of his own free will, she would be more inclined to do the same.
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Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:41 am
Starpelt wasn't exactly sure how to reply to what he said at first. It wasn't necessarily a compliment as he was just stating a fact, so saying words of gratitude would be a little out of place. She'd always been the type to think before she spoke, which was a bit of a nuisance at times, but still, very helpful. She'd gotten what he meant almost the moment he'd spoken it. So he was the God of Predictions then? She'd remembered this one fox in particular that she'd helped not too long ago that had mentioned meeting one that could tell the future once. Was that him? If her assumptions were correct then she wouldn't have to worry too much about a fight happening between the two of them as neither would have an advantage per se. Not unless he was skilled in fighting as is.
Thinking that it was rather impolite of her to stay on the other side of the stream for long she decided that it was high time she go over to his side for the duration of the conversation between the two of them at least. But naturally, before doing such she'd ask for his opinion on the matter. It was only polite that way. "So it's safe to assume that you are the God of Prediction then?", she inquired with a smile. "If so then that's truly interesting. I've heard many rumors about you if that's so.", since he'd generously provided an answer to one of her unasked questions she felt it only right to do the same. "And I'm Goddess of Herbs.", she finally added in just a few seconds after her last words. It wasn't often that she met someone that'd get her to speak so much at a time. This was a rather interesting meeting. "Would you mind terribly if I were to cross over to your side?", she asked with a flick of her ears. "It's only polite to be in closer proximity than this when speaking with someone."
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Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 12:20 pm
Oracle could see the flicker of recognition in her eyes, which was confirmed when she spoke, asking if he was the God of Prediction. “It is,” he replied. His lips rose into a pleased smile, and he felt smug knowing that another Goddess would know of him. And what was this? There were even rumors about it, too. He held himself in a way that said he was used to such news, and he raised his head just a fraction. Certainly, if there was one thing he was weak against, it was his own pride.
When she revealed her own domain, he almost balked. He had expected something powerful, perhaps an element such as the earth, or relating to the night sky, not something as weak as herbs. They were nothing but plants, and while having the power to control plants in general would have been worth mentioning, limiting it to herbs only seemed like a waste. Anyone, deity and non-deity alike, could learn about and use herbs and their full potential.
“Starpelt, Goddess of the Bitter Leaves,” he said contemptuously, ignoring her inquiry. He couldn’t believe he had almost feared her just moments before, and he gave her a look of such disdain it would have made weaker creatures falter, before looking away.
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Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 3:29 pm
The few rumors Starpelt had heard of Oracle were definitely nothing to be proud of, but judging by the smugness of his smile she was sure that he knew nothing of these rumors. Pompous future telling fool was what he was usually called in these rumors, and as far she could remember, none of them had been in the least bit, something to be proud of.
His words had hardly wounded her pride. No, they hadn't so much as scratched it. "Oh?", she asked with a smile, a mischievous light began to glow in her eyes, one that was usually never there. "Goddess of Bitter Leaves, huh? Very insulting coming from someone who's domain is a fickle as the weather. When was the last time you actually told a prediction that came true word for word?", she asked with a bitter smile. Was she usually this way? No, never. It was always those who underestimated her domain that received treatment form her like this. She met his look of disdain with her own apathetic gaze. There was no way on Earth that someone with a domain as fickle as his would ever make her doubt her domain. Herbs were absolute, what they did was for sure, but the future? No one could predict exactly what'll happen next. Every action shaped the future, and what may've been the case one moment could be changed entirely the next.
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Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 4:20 pm
A harsh laugh left Oracle’s lips and he turned back to her, his fur bristling slightly. “Never,” he sneered, his lips raising to form an expression that was more fangs than smile. “And do you know why? Because I’d never tell low lives such as yourself any predictions of mine,” he said, and it was true. The visions he saw he kept to himself. Sure, there were times he “helped” certain creatures, like the time he saw a young lion fall and flail around in a river in a vision, and he kindly directed said lion towards the water source without letting him know what awaited him, but he had never directly told another of what he had seen.
“The weather may be fickle,” he continued, “but what causes it is not. When the clouds grow large and moist, you know there will be a storm. Likewise, the powers within my domain allow me to take in countless happenings into consideration, no matter how small, to give me a prediction that will be much more accurate than anyone else’s ever will be. Sure, others can do the same,” he said, sniffling lightly, but audibly to show he considered even the very idea stupid and a waste of time for others besides himself. “But they can never reach my level.”
Usually, he cared little for the opinions of others. He knew his own worth, and rude comments in his direction did little to daunt him. But she was a Goddess, and while he knew other beings were simply too unintelligent to understand his ways, he thought that someone of her rank should at least understand.
“Your herbs, on the other hand, are little more than food, as useful as a hunk of carrion. I admit, they can heal and they can kill, but everything comes with a weakness. What if you were to run out? They can’t be grown forever. And you can’t deny that they have such a repulsive taste that some wouldn’t even get within a ten mile radius of it, much less eat it. My powers, at least, are infinite, and there’s never a lack of others eager to hear what awaits them, even if they say they couldn’t care less.”
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Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:32 am
Starpelt laughed at that. What he has just said was utterly and completely stupid. Never told any of "lowlifes such as yourselves" about these visions? That was utterly preposterous. If he would go through so much trouble to simply flaunt the fact that he had, no claimed, to have these powers why would he not tell them to others. "Wow, and what does that prove? That you're really just some scam who's afraid that others will find out that you really have not the slightest clue as to what you're talking about?", she retorted with a bored frown. Why she was sinking down to his level and throwing back insult after insult was completely beyond her. She never acted this way before, save for certain occasions, but this was ridiculous.
She blinked at what he'd said next. What was he, some meteorologist? "The future changes every second, my friend.", she replied. "Even if you're as accurate as you seem to claim you are it must take a toll on you to get a precise prediction of what will happen next. From the death of a fly, to a start of a battle, anything that was not the case at the time of the prediction will change said prediction, making you about as accurate as all the fortune tellers out there."
"My herbs running out will never be a problem that I'll have to face.", she replied simply. She didn't care to explain what exactly her powers entailed to someone like him so a simple sentence was better than a long-winded one. "I really couldn't care less.", she replied, enunciating every syllable with care. It was true, to her, what happened in the future was none of her business. She didn't care to find out when she'd find a mate or when she'd died or even how she'd die. Things like that were better left untouched until the time came to do so.
"You really seem to be full of yourself.", she said suddenly. Her eyes narrowing in boredom. "If you truly had no doubts about your powers, then why are you arguing with me, a 'lowlife' as you seemed to put it, about the use of your powers? Why would you sink to such a childish level just to prove a point. If you really believed in your powers then you'd just leave. As long as you believe in something, what others say shouldn't bother you in the slightest.", she concluded. Her tail twitched in irritation after she'd finished speaking. It'd be wise that she followed her own advice after all. She got up then and turned around before starting back up the hill form which she'd came from. "Well so long then, Oracle of 'Predictions'. It's really been a blast.", she added sarcastically before continuing her leave. Now where would she find another stream...?
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Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 5:30 pm
Oracle was stunned, to say the least. Never had he been so insulted, for those who had wished to spite him were often too afraid to do so, or their attempts were so pitiful he could do nothing but laugh haughtily in their face. But now he was left with wounded pride and humiliation and some anger, too. It was enough to have him leap into the cold waters of the stream, paddling to the other side with deft, sure strokes. He shook himself free of the water that clung to his fur and ran to block at her at a quick, infuriated pace, his bells ringing like shrill cries of warning.
“Don’t be so daft, you little simpleton,” he said, putting his face close to hers. He pressed his ears forward, and his legs were stiff with aggression. “Look at this,” he said, scraping loose the dirt and grass, along with the occasional rotten fruit, and piling it by her feet. It mixed with the water that had lingered on his paws, along with some loose fur, and was crushed together with the force of his strokes, making the resulting lump look and smell like something you’d see coming out of a rear end.
“You say it doesn’t matter if no one believes you, so long as you believe in yourself? Then what if you could make this, and only this, into an herb that could cure everything?” he said, ignoring the fact that a pile of foliage did not constitute as something that could be turned into an herb, or that no plant, no matter how potent, was capable of healing everything. He was here to set an example, not show how knowledgeable he was on the properties of plants. “But no one believed you, because of its obvious resemblance to a piece of s**t. Are you saying you’d just idly sit by and watch everyone you could save die, just because you believe in it, and shouldn’t have to prove it, as it’s so “childish” to do so?” he snapped, practically spitting the words out.
Rarely did he care for another save for himself, and if he were the one receiving such words, he would only say something along the lines of “if they chose not to believe me, then they deserve it.” But he was the one saying it, and he figured someone like Starpelt, whose main powers rested in healing, would hold the lives of others in much higher consideration than he did.
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Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 7:56 pm
"Now I'm really impressed.", Starpelt said with a flick of her tail. When would he just give it up? She wouldn't accept his power so long as he didn't accept hers. It wasn't out of childishness that she'd done so, more of her own reasons really. "I thought we had a whole conversation about this. I'm the Goddess of Herbs, genius. What you've gathered before doesn't even in the slightest resemble an herb. When you show me an herb. A genuine herb maybe I can show you something. All that you've proven is that you don't seem to know the difference between plants and dirt.", it took all she had to all but growl in his face.
"I don't need to prove anything. Like I said if I believed in myself I'd just show it when someone was in need. To help one who needs it isn't proving something it's taking action. Now maybe you in all your selfishness would love to watch someone die before your paws when you could've saved them, but I'm not so spiteful. Life isn't something you take for granted, and when the day comes that you come face to face with death maybe you'll know.", her tail was lashing out behind her as she said all those words. This whole conversation... She'd never acted this way before with others, but it was animals like Oracle that brought out this "side" of her. "Talking to you is obviously wasting precious minutes of my life that I definitely won't get back as you could probably already 'tell'. So if you have nothing more to say then I really should be leaving.", and without waiting for a response she darted to his side before making for the bush that she'd come from.
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Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 8:30 pm
Oracle felt himself bristle with frustration. Obviously, the concept of “pretending” and “imagination” was lost on the female, and he thought her attitude was pompous enough to rival his own, but not in a way he would enjoy. Honestly, she was just so stupid. Did she not hear his "what if" and the rest of his sentence, which clearly stated he understood what he had gathered was not an herb? Did she hear anything except the words she chose to reply to with her absurd, self-righteous nonsense?
He would have liked to remark with comebacks of his own, along with the occasional rhetorical question, of course, a few of which included something along the lines of ‘What if she wanted to die? Would you have me keep her alive for my own purposes?’ and ‘If your time is so precious, why bother wasting it by telling me?’ But he could only shake his head, baffled by her lack of intelligence and understanding. He knew some believed in a single god, the creator of the world and everything in it, but if such a god existed, then it must be even more dense than Starpelt herself, if it had chose to make her a goddess.
He turned as abruptly as she did, and strode away from her with harsh, angry steps and a seething, bitter anger. If he never saw her again, it would be too soon.
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