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 Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2016 9:15 pm
EILIThe lion stretched happily on the sandy beach, dipping his toes into the salty water. It had been a bit of a journey simply to get here, but now he was so happy and relaxed. Frankly, Eili couldn't see any good reason for him to leave now that he'd arrived. The pride here, the Bahari'mtoto, was warm and welcoming from what he'd seen, and seemed like a good place to settle down. Even before you took into account that they lived right next to the ocean. "I have to admit, Mother, this is one of your best ideas yet," he told the goddess. "I think I may have to make my home here."
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2016 9:21 pm
The only downside to having mortal offspring that Theia had found was that it slowed her down considerably.. but Eili was worth it and she was happy to be spending time with him at the beach. Unlike him, she was standing knee-deep in the water and preparing to wade further. She looked out to the water's edge and grinned at her son.
"I'd like knowing where to find you," she said brightly, "And if you have to make a home somewhere, by the beach is definitely the best place to do it!"
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2016 9:24 pm
"Then consider me settled," Eili drawled at his mother, a gleam in his eyes. Really, this place was as idyllic as he could ever have imagined, and even without the goddess' approval, he could see himself living here.
"Have you come here before?" the male asked, flicking the seawater around with his toes. Theia might not have wings like most gods, but she was a bit...unusual. Especially the more time you spent looking at her. If she'd been known in this area, he wanted to know now and not later.
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2016 9:31 pm
Theia smiled at Eili. If he had a home, she wouldn't stay with him.. but she was indeed glad she would always know where to find him. She wasn't sure how gods were supposed to handle mortal offspring but this was the way that seemed best to her.
"I have, actually," she said, taking a few more steps out into the ocean, "Though not so close that I'd have been intruding on the lions that live here. They seem lovely but you never know how they'll react when someone like me shows up."
Once they figured her out, anyway.
With a smile, she backed up a couple steps to where she could still push off easily from the sand beneath her and dove into the deeper water. She didn't have wings but the maneuver was clearly helped by something magical.
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2016 9:36 pm
Eili's eyes began to widen with panic, but he calmed down again at his mother's next words. Thank the gods (well, one goddess in particular) that his mother had been subtle about her presence in the past. He didn't really want to flaunt his bloodline to anyone, especially not before he had any idea how the other would react.
He did love Theia dearly, but it could be awkward, having a goddess for a mother. His father had obviously been mortal, but since his mother had never mentioned him in any real way, Eili hadn't asked. Besides, he seriously doubted that he looked much like the lion. Whereas anyone who saw him with his mother wouldn't mistake them for anything other than related.
As his mother dived down, the male got to his feet and waded in, letting the saltwater flow over his paws and up his ankles. Ah...so wonderful. And the soft sand between his toes...magnificent!
"I always wonder what the fish think of her," he murmured to himself as he watched his mother diving around.
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2016 9:42 pm
The Goddess of Summer loved to swim and the ocean always seemed like the best place for it.. the saltiness was less than ideal but it there was just something so appealing about this kind of beach. She resurfaced some ways out in the water and began to paddle leisurely back towards the shore and Eili. There water was so calm, it wasn't much of a fight to get back inward.
"Going to stay dry today, Eili?" she called, stopping where she could almost reach the bottom once again and using her toes to push her gently this way and that.
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2016 9:46 pm
"Well, considering you're wet enough for three lions, not to mention two gods..." Eili offered with a grin. He knew perfectly well that he'd just let himself in for a soaking, but why not? It was a beautiful day, warm enough that he wouldn't take a chill, and his mother was likely to disappear in the near future.
The lion didn't really know or care when she went when she did choose to abandon him, but it wasn't as if a goddess couldn't take care of herself. And the Bahari'mtoto would probably be the safest place he'd stayed in a long time. So it should all work out.
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2016 9:53 pm
Theia gave him an exaggerated glare at the remark about just how wet she was. Taking a deep breath, she disappeared under the water again-- and when she reappeared, she was in the sand directly behind him and using whatever momentum had gotten her there for the single goal of getting him properly into the water.
It was lucky he was already in the water and she had a little magic on her side or it could have been a very painful trip into some shallow water.. but she already had a feel for this area of the beach and she knew exactly what she was doing.
And she was laughing the entire time.
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2016 9:58 pm
You couldn't ask Eili to explain how his mother had done it, but at the very least, he'd known what would happen. So the lion had already taken a good breath and while he was a bit taken aback at the speed with which he found himself floundering in the water, it only took a few moments for him to start paddling determinedly and get his head back above the surface.
And, of course, Theia was laughing at him when he did poke his head up. But Eili was smiling too as he swam over to where he could stand on the sandy bottom again. This time, only his head and part of his back remained above the waves, making him look like a miniature island or sandbar from above.
"Why thank you, Mother," he said. "I was hoping to go for a quick swim." But he was grinning and even his sarcastic drawl was failing to convey anything but amusement and a love of fun.
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2016 10:03 pm
The goddess was standing in the shallows again when he came back up for air and thanked her for helping him into the water. She gave him a wink and then leaped towards him again- now stopping short by a good two feet but sending a decent splash of salty water his way.
"Then get swimming, boy!" she said, moving to paddle around him and resume swimming.
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2016 10:05 pm
Eili would've sighed at his mother's exuberance, but he had enough experience to keep his mouth shut as the wave of water came back towards him. He did not need to be choking because he'd accidentally drunk saltwater!
"I did say 'short'," he reminded her, heading instead for the beach and gradually bringing his body back out of the ocean. The water ran down his flanks in rivulets, oftentimes appearing to trace his fainter markings.
"I think I'll just watch you play while I dry off now," the lion remarked as he exited the water entirely.
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2016 10:09 pm
She turned herself around to pout at him while Eili made his escape to shore, then stuck her tongue out at him when he looked back her way again-- but that proved to be a mistake and the face she made said she got a nice taste of the salt water.
Shaking it off, she looked back to the lion on the shore.
"Fine," she said, "You just watch all the fun I have."
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2016 10:13 pm
"Sounds good to me, Mother," the son replied as he settled himself on the sand to watch and relax further. A quick swim really had been what he'd wanted - refreshingly cool while exhilirating. Now he'd like to curl up in the sun and possibly nap a bit. Being a mere mortal, Eili often got tired more quickly than his mother, but that was fine by him.
Yes, he'd be quite happy to live here, and he knew Theia would be happy to visit him whenever the thought took her. That was all he could ask at the moment.
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