Neltharion was...to say pleased would be too generous a term. He was never, ever really happy. Not in eons. But he was occasionally pleased. Sated. It felt so, so very good to flex the power he held over mortals and have them do his bidding.
It felt better to savor the crunch of their bones between his dripping teeth; the smooth slide of their blood along his claws.
It wasn't their flesh that fed him though, and in truth it really was more of a waste than anything. He could have all he needed without touching a hair of the lions' manes. Without interveneing with anyone at all, anywhere. But this was just so much more gratifying... And there was a special tang to the final twist of the mortals' raging emotions as he gulped it down that made it worth taking the time to end their sad little wordly lives rather than abandon them.
He tore another limb from the poor creature he was savaging, the fur and meat sizzling as it met the molten innards of his maw. There had been three lions, but this was the last one he'd left. He'd made them turn on each other, tear each other apart. He'd smote the victor himself, and was really having a rather good time today.
Lazily Wotlich sat lounging on a tree in disguise of an old withered leopardess. She was watching with mild curiosity and slight disgust as the God did his bidding, caring not to notice her. Her mind wandered, wondering what domain the God was. As she waited, he started tearing another limb from the lion, rolling her eyes Wotlich looked away. Why play with food? It was the rush of the hunt that makes the entire meal worthwhile.
Yawning and rolling her eyes yet again, Wotlich dropped down from her perch in the tree. It was rather annoying waiting for him to do anything exciting. Yes, watching lions fight was sort of cool, but that was usual in the world. Wars, she wished to start them. Lines, she wished to cross them. Humans, she would lure to the lands. What a hunt needed was an unknown variable.
She would be the Gods unknown variable.
What began as a pinprick at the back of the god's neck far beneath notice grew slightly more bothersome as the hidden goddess dropped to the ground and began slinking his way. Of course, he was not certain what she was...and would normally not have noticed her at all - just another to be trod underfoot - had it not been for the faintest hints of irritation and displeasure rippling off her. He sensed the budding symptoms like others would normally catch a scent in a shifting wind, and he let out a chuff of breath, lettign the bit of a limb slither from his maw to splat upon the ground.
"Come on then," He rumbled, not bothering to turn to take a look. He was ancient, he was strong, and he feared nothing and no one. "I don't have all day to waste on something small and miserable like you," Glowing spittle flecked from his maw as he spoke, sizzling into the tall grass and thankfully hardening into tiny pebbles before setting the whole field alight.
"If you're here for revenge...heh...I didn't kill them. They simply decided to...slaughter each other." With a bit of his help, of course. It didn't feel like whomever was coming was very mad though - maybe not family like the lions had been - but then again, the displeasure of one meager being was barely a blip against the whole of Africa.
An incredibly smug expression soon drifted upon the old leopardess’ face, how incredibly drab he was. Didn’t he understand how interesting and silly the mortals were? They could easily be used, abused and encouraged to do whatever she comes up with. Crossing the now tiny pebbles that the God created, Wotlich stopped in front of the God, then, quickly she dropped her a** to the ground.
Wiggling a bit, she stretched out one foot, the leftovers of what was once three lions all about her. She wasn’t fazed though. No, she just started at him with her old face and rolled her head back to one shoulder. Just… staring.
Taking one deep breath, she ever so slowly let it out letting in the scent of the God and the surrounding area. “That was deeply dissatisfying don’t you think? I thought I God was to be more interesting. Surely you have more tricks? I mean, that lava you spit is but a lame way to freak some out. I… however, not that interested.”
Rolling her head to the other shoulder she felt a crack, her neck finally popping after having been kinked for a bit. “Well?” Raising her brows she twitched her tail, rather excited to see the results of her boredom.
Ahhh. He knew that particular stink, and it made the fire inside him flare brighter, stronger, fiercer. Once of his own kind. A goddess, wearing a shabby skin, even for a mortal. Curiousity of curiosities though...aside from the telltale scent of divinity, he couldn't place her exact scent to any one domain - and that was enough to urge him not to make her just another rotting pile of meat on the savannah. He had been there at the dawn of all things. He was one of Mkodi's very first gods. Not the first...but nearly to a one his fellows had come after him. He knew them all by sight and smell, though many had been reborn since.
Even in their new bodies, he more often than not could scent their domains. This one, though...she was...new. New. How was that possible?
His face betrayed no hint of his wonderings as he leered at the old leopard. "Perhaps for you," Came the burning hiss. "I have always enjoyed the taste of fratricide, though." He carelessly swatted aside a bit of torn flesh. "Especially when you think...they were best friends this morning. Heh heh heh..."
Her face remained bored, but an eyebrow raised as she looked up into his eyes. “So?” Wotlich slowly got up and stretched, looking at the torn piece of flesh that the God flicked to the side, then again at the God. Wandering over to the flesh she smelled the once living creature. She could have had more fun than this God with the three lions, why there was a pride just a few hours journey from her current location. They had looked hungry. They could have hunted on those lands with her urging.
“That really isn’t very interesting.” Frowning, the leopard reached her paw out towards the molten God. Curiosity overcoming her as far as how the God felt. Surely he would burn a bit, right? Maybe he was the god of Volcanos?
He let her give her thoughts on the matter - many gods did not appreciate his work. Usually he ate them. There were many, many gods that had found themselves reborn atop the god mountain thanks to his fury at their insolence. Most of them had become too soft, too attached to their mortals. They were wrong. Gods were meant to rule, to firmly govern the masses. To keep them in line and use their emotions and actions for the gods' own good.
He felt what curiosity had stirred over the unusual goddess' newness begin to wane as she criticized his actions once again. Her domain wouldn't matter if he destroyed her here and now... Only by great effort did he restrain himself from lashing out when she dared to reach out a curious touch. She was still fresh, new; the fingerprints of Mkodi were yet upon her... He would abide her, if only until he gleaned what he needed.
Why had Mkodi remained hidden? What had prompted her to now, now of all times return, only to make THIS goddess and then vanish again? Why hadn't she answered his unceasing call?! The cracks in the god's skin blazed white hot and he snarled, looming towards the reaching goddess to hover near her. The need to know was sudden and painfully intense, his ruin of a mind honing in on her. "How long have you Been? What are you, and where did you awaken?" His tone was demanding, threatening. "Tell me, or the only interesting thing you'll find here is a swift rebirth, where She's made you or not!" The anger, the fury, the violent hatred was plain in his voice as he snarled in her face."
Pupils dilated as her flesh started to burn, his white hot anger reaching her with such intensity that she had to smile. He was absolutely perfect, perhaps anyway. Maybe his domain was war… Anger? Fury, perhaps? Allowing the skin of the leopard to melt away from her, Wotlich emerged, large and proud. Her wild eyes glittering with excitement.
“Finally, something interesting.” Nostrils flaring, the Goddess rose on her hind legs to meet the eyes of the God. Her deep green mane spiky and aggressive, horns ebony black, adorn with jewelry and claws of another. She wanted to touch her nose to his, however she felt that may be inappropriate at the moment, his seething anger and barrage of questions making him rather threatening. However, she didn’t back down. Rather, she took another deep breath and slowly lowered back down, getting distance from the other.
“I have always been, just never as one of flesh. I have remained in the abyss know as purgatory to some. I am sure if you think hard enough you to could remember it. As for what I am, I am certain you know? Where did I awaken? Well, upon a mountain.”
Deadening her eyes, she snarled up at him, “Rudeness will not be tolerated. How about you speak to a lady with more respect. I am new to this world… I want the thrill of using mortals for benefit. I want to know them and many other things. If you were to attack me I shall prevail. Stop you nonsense and calm your soul, fire breather!”
He snarled in obscene pleasure at the sight and smell of her mortal skin searing away. It likely didn't hurt her at all, but it made him feel a little bit better. His eyes raked over her as she filledo ut into a more appropriate figure - why so many of his kind bothered skulking around in mortal guise for pleasure was beyond him. Then again, he needed nothing but himself to perpetuate his domain's hold over the world.
She did not back down, but still he felt a thrill of victory when she lowered herself. A part of his mind crowed tha he had cowed her in part, another whispered that none could stand against him, but still to be wary - he could trust none but Mkodi. "Purgatory," he snorted, the name bringing back hazy memories of that dark, formless place. "I have not walked that place since the birth of Godkind. Before mortals sprang from the mud." His lip curled in a sneer - her domain could not be a critical one, to be so long in state and shapeless. Still, there was something predatory about her. Something new, but smelling of a nameless fear. It was not an entirely unattractive scent, and one that promised a new golden era of power for himself...if he took advantage of it.
"Your recent birth to this plane is not anything to brag about." He stalked about her, inspecting from all angles. No wings, but lovely little horns... "And respect is to be earned, not given, whelpling...You do have much to learn." The very idea of her besting him in combat was worth letting her live. She was...amusing. A bright little spark, easily stamped out. Perhaps he would blow on her instead and see what fires he could set.
"Tell me, little willful one...what do you govern? You are the first domain since Mkodi trod the land that I do not know by sight or scent alone."
“Or perhaps my birth is something to be sung and told in stories for generations to come. I will be the bringer of war unintentional, I will be the one to bring man to the masses, I will be the one to make others cross borders normally restricted.” Puffing out her chest, she smirked at the God. He was an arrogant son of a b***h, but she sort of enjoyed it.
“I will agree with only part of that statement, I do indeed have much to learn, however, without respect comes danger.” Flicking her tail she waited for a few moments before again lifting herself up to look him straight in the face. She was going to touch his nose. She had to. It was impulsive, but that was part of what makes her who she is.
“I am Poaching.”
With that she vanished, leaving the God to his dead. She had a feeling he would cross her path again.
