Finally, some time alone. Xavier padded along the bank of a river, enjoying the night air. Above him, a sliver of moon was shining down on the world, just barely illuminating it. The sound of the water was pleasant to his ears, ever held back due to their length. Now and then he heard the sound of a crocodile, or a hippo. As his paws sank in the mud, he smiled to himself. This was the ideal sort of place to be, far away from all those lionesses and cubs that had formed a pride around him. He missed them, of course, finding their worship... Rather pleasing. He just needed some space now and then.
She hadn't expected to find what she found, out and about in the night. The hood that the baboon had made for her had provided wonderful cover for her eyes when she went out into the daylight, though she still adored the night. The albino lioness paused at a pool of water near the river, enjoying a midnight drink. The water, while cooling to the throat in the day, simply quenched her thirst now. For a lion trapped in the world of darkness, she felt a different sort of relief from others. She felt... Exalted. It was odd, really, to have such a feeling, but it was wonderful to her none the less. As she rose from her place, she noticed what looked like a hyena walking upriver. It was rather large, though...
The first thing he noticed about the other was how unbelievably PALE they were. Xavier paused, lifting his head and long ears to watch them. After a moment, he headed for the pool. It wasn't another god, he could tell that right off the bat. No, it was... A mortal lioness, wearing a hood. "What ARE you wearing...?" Elegant wasn't exactly his style, not that he even wanted to change it. The hood was a strange sight, though, with a rim of feathers at the bottom. It had to make hunting a challenge.
Well, it wasn't a hyena. But it wasn't a lion. Not one she'd ever seen before, anyway. As it drew closer, she became aware via their voice that they were... Rather male. "Oh... It's my hood." She could see the skeptical look. "I'm albino, and it protects my eyes in the daylight, if I go out in it. Not that I go out in it that often, I rather prefer the night." She tilted her head, staring at the odd creature. "Just what are you? You have ears like a hyena..." She leaned over, looking around him. "But you have a tail between a snake and a lion." It was odd, at the least.
His ears folded back, a bit of agitation showing in his eyes. "I am a lion, a god." Did this lioness even know what a god was? He'd heard of and met lions before who didn't believe in or even know about gods. "It is not easy to tell with my ears, though, is it?" He let out a grunt, before going over to the pool. Without much more conversation, he stepped into it, soon finding the deepest point. It wasn't too deep, even when he thought of it compared to the lioness. It would just cover her back with her toes touching the bottom. Going back closer to shore, he lay down in it, long tail flicking and sending water flying.
Now THAT was different. "A god..." As she stepped toward the water, her red eyes were filled with wonder. "What kind of god? The god of what?" She wanted to know, she really did! "I know back home, our goddess is Mama Asali, Goddess of the Swamps. And I met a blind goddess once..." She sat down at the edge of the pool. What was her name...? "She was real pretty, with roses, and a black coat..." What was her domain, for that matter?
Long ears suddenly stood up, as the god turned toward the lioness. "Blind goddess...? Black coat, roses..." A smile spread on his maw. He knew that goddess. He knew her well. In fact, Ni'andama had insisted half of the pride's worship was dedicated to her. That fact amused him, and tickled him pink. For a moment, his coloring altered TO pink. When he realized that he was casting the illusion sub consciously, he dropped it, huffing at his fur. "Stay green." He looked at the lioness. "I think I know the lioness you are talking about.. Abla..."
Her ears pricked. "Oooh, is she your mate?" It was a simple conclusion, one she was sure others had--
"NO." He glared a bit. "She is a good friend." Well, he was up front, at least. Plus it felt weird to suddenly have an attraction to females, when he'd BEEN one. It was an odd place he was in.
"Oh..." Zeru lay down, watching the god. "So... What ARE you the god of? And what's your name?" She wanted to know, as much as she could. She wanted to know about some of the gods out there, just how many there were. "Do you know any other gods? Do you know Mama Asali...?" Surely he'd been everywhere!
The male shook his head. "I don't know a Mama Asali. I can't recall setting paw in the swamps." He tilted his head, considering his options. Well, it wasn't like she was a threat... "I am Xavier, God of the Cursed. And before you ask..." He grinned wryly. "I can't lift whatever curse you 'ave on you, as there is no curse." He looked away, ears back. After a moment, one eye rolled to look at her. "What are you doing out 'ere, anyway...? If you are from the swamps..."
"Oh!" The lioness sat up, ears up. "I'm on my name quest!" She could see his confused expression. "See, when a lion in the pride becomes an adolescent, they go out into the wide world on a quest for their new name. We get cub names when we're little. Mine's Zeru, meaning Albino. I'm not sure how I'll know my new name, though..." It was rather odd to her to NOT know it. But she knew she'd find it eventually.
He let out a hum, watching Zeru. After a moment, he nodded. "A worthy quest, then." He stretched. "Knowing one's identity is important, something you should never give up or give up on. It is what makes us each 'o we are." He then flopped over, so that his nose was above the water, closing his eyes. "Now go away so I can sleep."
Zeru blinked for a moment, regarding the god. They were curious creatures... She stood up and padded off, wondering if she'd meet others. For now... She relegated herself to the world of darkness, the world of the night. While she could take the opportunity to find a god to change it... She liked herself the way she was.
One violet eye slid open, as the god watched the lioness leave. After a moment, he half sat up. The swamps... He'd have to visit. He had to admit curiosity about other prides... After a moment, he flopped back down, mindful of the sound of wings signaling that Vunde had found him.
