[PRP] Lonely Soul

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LENGIDÖKK

His day, his night, had come and gone, and now the times and tides were shifting back in the other direction. That was normal and expected. He didn't usually do much, even though he knew many mortals prayed to him on that longest night that he might bring back the sun.

As if he had anything to do with the sun. That was someone else's domain and it wasn't as if the white and grey god had much to do with it. But mortals found the solstice important, and so he existed. Or had come into being...at one point...but that wasn't worth dwelling on. It wasn't as if Lengidökk remembered that first life, or who knew how many he'd lived since then.

He yawned lazily, stretching, and paused as his eye fell on something brightly colored. Brighter than his own adornments, and part of the flesh and fur of the goddess he spied. Not one he knew personally, in this life, but that was easily fixable.

"If you pace long enough, you'll find the grass," he observed aloud.  

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"There's always grass beneath the snow, even if you can't see it," Lengidökk replied calmly. He considered the fact that this was the Gods' Haven and that the snow was always here. "Often, it's not even about finding the grass, so much as knowing that it's there. Even if it's dry and withered, if it's given time and sunlight, it'll grow green and tall once more."

That was, after all, what the Winter Solstice was about. Not so much the long night, but the renewal of the sun afterwards, the knowledge that spring would come again as the days lengthened.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he offered after a long pause. It seemed that the goddess was upset about something, else why would she be pacing like that?  

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Lengidökk was quiet as he considered the questions. They were simple, but in the same way as a deep pond - you never knew what you'd find when you ventured beneath the surface.

"I believe it is good to spend time away from the Haven," he answered at last. "I do not do so often, but perhaps I should consider increasing the time I spend among mortals."

It wasn't something he'd thought about in a long while. Perhaps not even in this lifetime. An oversight, and a potentially foolish one.  

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The god had been about to reply when the other revealed that mortals may have had something to do with her death. That was...serious. And now he could well understand why she was so torn about going down amongst them. Lengidökk did not know this goddess at all, but he felt compelled to offer what advice he could to her.

"I cannot speak with any authority on your death, as we've only just met in this lifetime, and I do not know how far back one would have to go to find our last meeting," he began. "But if you permit this fear to continue, it will rule this lifetime, and perhaps all that come in the future. And that would be terrible not only for you, but for all those mortals who pray to you and know nothing of the person you are."

Worst of all, fear could easily turn to hatred. Lengidökk did not know if this goddess was one whose nature would come to that point quickly, but it was a risk anywhere that fear had a pawhold.  

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The god nodded in agreement. Fear did use a great deal of energy, though that was not always a bad thing, as it could galvanize a person into action. If it didn't paralyze them first...

He was going to ask the goddess why she was so intrigued by the souls of mortals when she answered the question by way of her introduction. That explained a lot. He was also fairly certain that he hadn't met her in any recent lives, but that didn't necessarily mean anything.

"And I am Lengidökk," he replied, bowing his head in greeting, "god of the winter solstice. It is," the male added, "a pleasure to meet you."  

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Lengidökk smiled crookedly. Those who knew him well would recognize the expression as being the one he wore most often when kissing strange lionesses. Well, he was wearing mistletoe, after all...but that was missing the point of the here and now.

"No thanks are needed for advice," he told Mtima. "It will be I who thanks you, should you choose to take it." Giving advice was meaningless if no one used it. So every time someone did as he recommended, they were doing him an honor. Of course, this did bind him to give good advice, and so not mislead those who sought him out.

This goddess hadn't come seeking him, but it went against his grain to ignore someone who could so obviously use another viewpoint. Even if she didn't take his advice, he'd at least tried to help.

"What will you do now?" he asked. He hoped she wouldn't continue trampling the snow. Yes it could take the abuse, but could Mtima stand the introspection she was forcing on herself? Or maybe she'd take her courage into her paws and visit the mortal world. He rather hoped so.  

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"I think that is a fine plan," the god agreed. He didn't know if she would stay very long in the mortal world, given that she seemed truly uncomfortable with the idea, but even going for a few minutes would help her overcome her fear.

"Good luck, and may we meet again soon," Lengidökk told Mtima, bidding her farewell and heading off, deeper into the Haven.

A most interesting encounter. He would have to keep an eye out for her again in the future.