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Tari was an extremely fast flier. Almost to the point where the little falcon couldn't keep up. In fact, Altair had to resort to putting on a burst of speed and latching onto her necklace. They ended up curled up in a baobab tree, Altair sitting in front of Tari's face looking flustered and trying to dab at her cheeks with his wings.
"Mama-ri, please stop crying. You know we don't like it, what would Hermes think?" he pleaded, calling her the name he hadn't used since he was a hatchling. Yet he was still such a young bird. The goddess sniffed and wiped at her eyes, doing her best to look brave in front of... of her boy. Hermes was giving her time, Altair didn't know any better. For all she knew, her dearest Hermie was talking to Tafari, even explaining her behavior. She trusted her friend to keep her secrets, he would never gossip about her, never.

"It's okay, Altiar, I... I was just scared."
"Goddesses get scared?"
"Sometimes we do. I just don't want to make the same mistakes," she replied, hugging him. Sometimes she wondered if he wanted to go back to his own mother, if the falcon sometimes missed the chick she'd never seen, just like Tari missed her own cubs. Did they miss her? Or did they ever know?

Hermes had grown up with his goddess, it was almost as if her mother had planned it. She had been the first thing he'd seen upon hatching, just as he was the first thing her eyes beheld when they finally opened. Needless to say, there was no place she could hide from him. He had followed Tafari, angled down to land next to the god when he started calling her name. Landing with a hop, he studied the landscape for a moment.
"She's likely in there. Hangs around us birds too much, trees are a safe-haven for her," he said, gesturing one wing to the huge tree. A running start and a few flaps of his huge wings and he was heading towards it.

"He was... nice..." Tari smiled a little, her head on her paws as the falcon preened. She thought she heard her name, but she had turned her attention elsewhere.
"Coming from you, I'm surprised. I thought you didn't like lions," she replied, her mind drifting to Tafari. She didn't want to screw things up with him.
"I don't, and you don't count because you're like a bird. But you were having fun and that doesn't happen a lot with not-us, so..." the falcon shrugged.

Tari's ears fell as she moved, her head peaking over the edge of her hiding spot in order to look down at the god who'd found her. Hermes flew into the tree and landed on one of the branches, earning a frown from Altair.
"Traitor," muttered the falcon.
"Hush up, hatchling."

Tari sighed and rested her paws on the edge, cushioning her chin as she looked down at Tafari.
"I..." What could she say, really? That she was scared? Embarrassed? Shy? None of it seemed appropriate.

"I did something wrong and I didn't know how else to react..." It seemed to be a genetic thing in her family, if her relationship, or lack there of, was anything to base an opinion on.

He was right, of course. But then what should she do? Should she just stay away from Tafari? Or... should she just not get too caught up in things and actually figure out what she was doing before she got carried away? Maybe that was best. But keeping secrets from him probably wasn't the best idea, either. Now... just didn't seem the right time to blurt out that she wasn't just looking for her father anymore, but her kids as well.

"I guess you've got a point..." She paused there, smiling and tilting her head in such a way that her mane slipped a little bit out of her face. Normally her left eyes was covered by the curly blonde mass, but in that moment both eyes shone down at him.
"I'm sorry I flew away, it's just really easy to lose track of what's going on when I'm talking with you."

Well, she didn't think roaring would really solve her problems, or make her feel better, but it was a nice thought. She smiled down at him and nodded.
"Yeah, I'll be okay," she replied. After a moment, Tari made her decision on what to do next and jumped down. Using her wings to slow her descent, she landed and threw her paws around his shoulders in a hug, setting her face into his neck.

"Thanks Tafari." She wanted to say more, but it really felt like simpler was just better in this case. Just thanks. No telling him he was a really good friend, for fear he might take it the wrong way, nothing like that.

He pulled back just as she felt it was getting awkward. At least they were on a similar page, though she could admit she hadn't been uncomfortable in the embrace.
Tari dipped her head with an almost shy smile at the compliment.
"You should see me when I have a message to deliver. Or... not see me for that matter. Hermes has said that it's like I'm there and in the next heartbeat I'm just gone," she replied with a nod.

"Though, I've never met the wind goddess, at least not in this life, so I couldn't be sure on that. But I am fast. It's best when messengers are, in fact that's one of the blessings I can give." Anything to improve her followers. She wondered what Tafari could do. Ambition was an interesting domain, and certainly reflected in the god.

"Sort of. They're only tapping into my gift when they're delivering messages. And it could be speed, endurance, or memory, depending on what they need or want," Tari replied with a nod. Though, she hadn't really been giving those out very often, it seemed like she wasn't really needed much anymore.

She shrugged.
"It's not like I sort of remember, from other lives. Seems like mortals don't need me much anymore, you know? I mean, I know I'm useful in wartimes, but I don't seem to catch that much. So for now I just travel around, seeing if anyone does need me."

"Well, you're a god, so I'm not going to go giving you a blessing... Huh, I mean, can we even do that? I don't think I've ever tried..." Come to think of it, she hadn't thought about it. It was sort of just an unspoken thing to her. Gods had advantages over mortals, so they didn't need blessings and they certainly didn't want curses. Huh.

"You're probably right, but it's a big place! And it's hard to meet everyone. Did you know there are a lot of creatures that are bothered by being in the presence of a god? I didn't! And on top of that, I once met a lion who thought he had a chance at capturing me and making me one of his mates. Not his only mate, one of many! Well, I set the poor boy straight, I mean he wasn't even any bigger than I am, and his father kindly asked me to stay away from their pridelands since goddesses bother them because they try to keep females that get into their territory. I mean, good for them and all, seemed kinda like a good system from what I saw and Hermes told me, but geez. When I tell someone I'm a goddess and that they don't stand a chance, take it like a male, you know?" Obviously Tari had gotten back into that comfortable place, because she just went on and on. Gossiping, telling stories, it was all a form of spreading information, which was her lot, and passion, in life.