“So you’re a God?”
Talfrid nearly jumped out of his fur when he heard the voice, and he turned his head to look at the source. A young lioness, with pale peach fur, was standing behind him some few feet with her head canted to the side curiously. He stared at her for a long moment, then shook his mighty head and offered a chuckle.
”And why do you think that?”
“You’re big. You’re fancy. You have that kind of air I think.”
“Have you met a God before?” He sat down, facing her now, and looked her over. She was young, and her fur had some dust clinging to it. She must have been walking for a while now, out here alone. He wondered if she was another wayward traveler, without a home, or if she had some place to be. He might ask about that later but for now he was more interested in her decision about him. It made him smirk and he watched her curiously as she shook her head.
“No, but that doesn’t mean I can’t recognize one when I see one.”
He chuckled. She padded closer to him, investigating. She was not a shy lioness, adventurous and bold, but friendly and kind. She had nice eyes, ones that lacked hostility or malicious intent. He wondered if she cared much for hunting. It seemed like she would not want to hurt anyone if she had a choice in it. But this was just an assumption he was making about her, something he did not really have a right to do without knowing her better.
He smiled.
“So you think I am a God because I’m a large lion? And because I’m fancy. These cloths, I imagine. All that evidence seems very circumstantial, you know. I may have come across these clothes in my travels. And my being large is no more my fault than your being a female, or the color of your fur. I was just born this way, you know.”
She shook her head and laughed.
“Well look at that marking on you! The way your fur kind of glows. And you talk like you’re very fancy. I dunno, man, you look like you’re a God. God of Fancy Things, I think.”
Talfrid watched her, considering. Generally, he liked to keep his identity a secret, and he had an easier time of it than most because he had no wings and did not need to invest in using his magic to conceal himself. Sometimes he took that for granted. Keen eyed mortals were bound to see him. He looked at her and shook his head slowly. At least she was tenacious. He supposed one mortal knowing who he was would not damage him: many more would know soon enough.
“My name is Talfrid. I am the God of Chivalry. It is a pleasure to meet you. I do not give my identity to many, but you have caught me. Though how you seem to know so much about something you have not met before is a surprise to me. Are you keen like this in the day to day?”
“I try to be!” Siaga beamed. She had just met a god! And she had guessed it. The last time she called someone a God she had been wrong, but that had not deterred her very much. She laughed and shook her head. She could not believe it, though she was not sure what it entailed now. Were Gods that different to regular lions in passing? It was not like he was going to offer to take her off with him for adventures.
Was he?
No, he was not.
“What is your name, then, Miss Clever?”
“Siagi,” she said, not timidly. She was not going to be scared of him. He was the God of Chivalry, was he not? That probably meant he was not allowed to attack or kill anyone that figured out who he was, right? Not very chivalrous, and attacking a lady who was being friendly was definitely not good. Anyway, he was smiling and nodding and seemed genuinely amused by her. Pleased to meet her. Maybe he would take her on an adventure some time!
“Do you know, Siagi, where the lands called Tokakinji are? I have been searching, but things are much different on the ground than they are above. And it has been some time since I have seen it. Walked these plains. As nice as it is, I would like to know I am walking in the right direction at the very least.”
She shook her head thoughtfully.
“No, I haven’t seen a land like that. But I just walked here myself. I can tell you it’s not that way,” she motioned with her paw, “because I just walked from there and I didn’t pass any place called that. Or if I did I walked right through it without any lions greeting me. So I guess it could be a small pride and I just missed it, but. I dunno, I don’t think it’s that way.”
Talfrid felt his heart fall a bit. That had been the direction he was walking. But he smiled at her and hid his disappointment. He would just have to go in a new direction and see what came of that.
“Well, I will not go that way, then. I appreciate your help.”
“So, wait, that’s it?”
“I… what?” Talfrid blinked at her.
“Don’t you do some godly things? I mean, can you show me what you do? I want to see something amazing!” She looked bright eyed and eager, and he shook his head slowly at her enthusiasm. It made him smile, but he would have to disappoint her here.
“I am afraid my purpose is to simply find my homeland. I have nothing amazing to show you. I am sorry. I will see you again, perhaps, and maybe when my duties are complete I may take you to the sky. My word is a promise, and I keep my promises. Hold on to that, and in your life time I will return. And you will see what you wish to see.”
He smiled at her and she believed him, nodding her head. He bowed graciously and moved to pad off, the two heading in different directions. She was tempted to follow him, but decided she’d bothered him enough. She watched him walk off and sighed, though his promise was echoing in her head and her heart was thundering because of it.
But how long would she have to wait?
(Word Count: 1,099 in Word)
