Mo'onasi x Safi'theluji
The Great Mountain - Sunrise
The Great Mountain - Sunrise
Aris Ravenstar
Night was drawing to an end and the sun's light was just about to peek over the horizon, and Safi'theluji quietly padded out of the caves where the rest of her pride slept. The Maliki's tail swished across the snow as she moved away from the caves and made her way further up the mountain, growing more anxious as she neared the peak, the temperature dropping the further she climbed.
It didn't take long to reach her destination, a snow-covered cliff just under the mountain's peak; a place which she had been forbidden to go. But after all, she was Maliki. If the gods truly had chosen her to rule the Jua'nuru, surely they thought her worthy enough to be in their presence. She sat silently near the edge of the overhang and trained her golden eyes on the horizon, her mind deep in thought. Soon it would be dawn, the time of her birth.
Safi'theluji shivered with anticipation as she waited, until finally the sun graced the sky with its presence. She curled her lips into a smile as everything around her grew bright. "Good morning, Jua."
It didn't take long to reach her destination, a snow-covered cliff just under the mountain's peak; a place which she had been forbidden to go. But after all, she was Maliki. If the gods truly had chosen her to rule the Jua'nuru, surely they thought her worthy enough to be in their presence. She sat silently near the edge of the overhang and trained her golden eyes on the horizon, her mind deep in thought. Soon it would be dawn, the time of her birth.
Safi'theluji shivered with anticipation as she waited, until finally the sun graced the sky with its presence. She curled her lips into a smile as everything around her grew bright. "Good morning, Jua."
Safaia
And with the sun's arise into the day, the rays of warmth would expose that which was hiding in the shadows. Not too far off from the Maliki of the sacred mountain, a goddess herself was stirring as the sun arose. This goddess feared the dark, did not enjoy the movement through the shadows. She would make herself flee the night through dreams, dreams that she would, of course, never speak of. Dreams that she never understood.
The goddess lifted her head up, stretching her neck that had been in the same position for quite a lot time. She had been sleeping, not for a night, but for many moons. No one had disturbed her sanctuary in all that time, but feeling the presence of another had made her senses twitch.
The golden-green eyes lazily opening up, the goddess looked over to notice the nearly-pure white girl, who seemed to be greeting the sun's awakening, and not her's.
The goddess' jewels made a soft noise as her head turned, the gold bands catching the rising sun's light. She didn't speak a word, but just watched.
The goddess lifted her head up, stretching her neck that had been in the same position for quite a lot time. She had been sleeping, not for a night, but for many moons. No one had disturbed her sanctuary in all that time, but feeling the presence of another had made her senses twitch.
The golden-green eyes lazily opening up, the goddess looked over to notice the nearly-pure white girl, who seemed to be greeting the sun's awakening, and not her's.
The goddess' jewels made a soft noise as her head turned, the gold bands catching the rising sun's light. She didn't speak a word, but just watched.
Aris Ravenstar
The lioness' eyes gleamed with pride as day finally broke, sighing contentedly at the chance to see it from this elevated view. She whispered a silent prayer to the sun to protect her pride, only after which did she notice the peculiar metallic jingle, which echoed gently in the open space. She turned her head to face the form that stood regally beside her, her eyes growing wide with surprise. Is that.. Could it be..??
"Forgive me!" She spat, her eyes turning to the snow-covered ground. There was no doubt as to what this angelic creature was. If not for her wings alone, her radiance and poise displayed perfectly her place in the heavens. Was it possible that she had angered the gods with her audacity? That she could think she was fit to walk where even the Kahini dared not tread. She cowered before the figure in respect and spoke no further, gazing at her feet in reverence.
"Forgive me!" She spat, her eyes turning to the snow-covered ground. There was no doubt as to what this angelic creature was. If not for her wings alone, her radiance and poise displayed perfectly her place in the heavens. Was it possible that she had angered the gods with her audacity? That she could think she was fit to walk where even the Kahini dared not tread. She cowered before the figure in respect and spoke no further, gazing at her feet in reverence.
Safaia
The striped goddess blinked back a bit, trying to supress a smile. What...was that all about?
She slowly pulled herself up to her feet and, a little ungracefully, padded up to where the other lion was.
Losing (probably) all sense of the regal, immortality, and respect that mortals normally had for the gods, this one gave the other a warm smile and greeted her kindly.
"Hello there! Beautiful, isn't it?" she spoke, looking around at their surroundings, the sun's rays exposing more bits and pieces of the peak. "Dawn is the most beautiful time of the day."
The goddess' tail flopped behind her, landing just inches from the white lioness' tail. Not seeming to notice just how physically close to the other she was, the goddess spoke again, in a little more personal matter.
"What brings you up here, to where few ever tread?" her green-gold eyes full of curiousity and care, with just a hint of grace.
She slowly pulled herself up to her feet and, a little ungracefully, padded up to where the other lion was.
Losing (probably) all sense of the regal, immortality, and respect that mortals normally had for the gods, this one gave the other a warm smile and greeted her kindly.
"Hello there! Beautiful, isn't it?" she spoke, looking around at their surroundings, the sun's rays exposing more bits and pieces of the peak. "Dawn is the most beautiful time of the day."
The goddess' tail flopped behind her, landing just inches from the white lioness' tail. Not seeming to notice just how physically close to the other she was, the goddess spoke again, in a little more personal matter.
"What brings you up here, to where few ever tread?" her green-gold eyes full of curiousity and care, with just a hint of grace.
Aris Ravenstar
Safi'theluji blinked. Wasn't this.. A smiting? Were gods usually so cheerful during heretical punishment?.. She wasn't sure what to make of this. But then, who was she to judge how gods were supposed to act in the first place?
She still felt quite dumbfounded as the goddess spoke to her, but continued to stare intently at her black toes. "I was born during the dawn; it is a special time." She spoke softly. "I have always wanted to see it from this place, so I childishly ignored the teachings of my youth and gave into my desires.." She paused, before digging her chin further into her chest fur and adding, "..I am sorry if I have offended you with my presence."
She still felt quite dumbfounded as the goddess spoke to her, but continued to stare intently at her black toes. "I was born during the dawn; it is a special time." She spoke softly. "I have always wanted to see it from this place, so I childishly ignored the teachings of my youth and gave into my desires.." She paused, before digging her chin further into her chest fur and adding, "..I am sorry if I have offended you with my presence."
Safaia
The goddess looked at her for a bit, as if she was going to smite her, but turned about and laughed instead. "Offended me? I guess I could be a little sour about you waking me, but I have been sleeping for a long time...." she trailed off, as if she was thinking of when she fell asleep.
"...but, it's nice to be around and about again."
The goddess, noticing that her presence was a little troubling, backed off, just a bit, tripping a bit in the process. She stumbled just a bit, but picked herself up smoothly. "So, what is your name, daughter-of-the-dawn?"
"...but, it's nice to be around and about again."
The goddess, noticing that her presence was a little troubling, backed off, just a bit, tripping a bit in the process. She stumbled just a bit, but picked herself up smoothly. "So, what is your name, daughter-of-the-dawn?"
Aris Ravenstar
The white lioness raised her head just in time to watch the deity stumble somewhat gracelessly, and blinked again in silence. Were all gods this peculiar? She wasn't sure exactly how to react, but the goddess didn't seem to be easily offended, so Safi eased a bit in her posture. "My name is Safi'theluji." She replied, eyeing her warily. "And it is-.." She hesitated, as she looked the goddess over once more. "..Truly an honor to be in your presence."
Safaia
Pacing around the lioness, as if to check her out, the goddess gave a little nod before stopping infront of the lioness. She smiled, and bowed, just a bit, barely viewable.
"Well then, Safi. It might be good of me to tell you my name, hmm?"
She waited a bit more before sitting down on her haunches, the sudden action making the jewels jingle against their bands.
"I'm called Mo'onasi."
She wanted to add on more to that, but wasn't sure where to start. Lifting her paw up to her mouth to wonder, her tail flicked around to cover her other forepaw still in the soft snow.
"Well then, Safi. It might be good of me to tell you my name, hmm?"
She waited a bit more before sitting down on her haunches, the sudden action making the jewels jingle against their bands.
"I'm called Mo'onasi."
She wanted to add on more to that, but wasn't sure where to start. Lifting her paw up to her mouth to wonder, her tail flicked around to cover her other forepaw still in the soft snow.
Aris Ravenstar
Safi tilted her head, her ears twitching as she watched the goddess, still in awe despite Mo'onasi's strange behaviour. To think! She was standing in front of a real goddess! All of her doubts about her capability, her right as Maliki, felt somehow diminished, ever so slightly; it felt like justification, and a soothing comfort to her weary mind. Such a shame that in time the rational part of her would begin to doubt the reality of this entire encounter.
"So my people were right about this place.. " She murmured, her voice trailing off. "Do you.. Come here often?"
"So my people were right about this place.. " She murmured, her voice trailing off. "Do you.. Come here often?"
Safaia
The goddess thought about her question for a moment, before speaking.
"I...guess I do. I've been asleep for so long, I've sort of forgotten things of the past....so, I guess I must of, to have awoken here, and not feel alarmed."
She played with the words that rolled off her tongue, somewhat amused at how stupid she sounded.
"Of course, I probably could of just been told to be here. I don't think I'm very good at being a goddess. Too casual, I suppose...." Her mind trailed off, and her words soon followed. Where did she come from? Obviously she knew who she was, but other things were just so muddy....so weird.
But it wouldn't work to get herself mull on things that didn't matter in the present time. She flicked her tail back behind her, and unceremoniously plopped on the soft snow, the pale sunlight warming her fur, just a bit.
"I...guess I do. I've been asleep for so long, I've sort of forgotten things of the past....so, I guess I must of, to have awoken here, and not feel alarmed."
She played with the words that rolled off her tongue, somewhat amused at how stupid she sounded.
"Of course, I probably could of just been told to be here. I don't think I'm very good at being a goddess. Too casual, I suppose...." Her mind trailed off, and her words soon followed. Where did she come from? Obviously she knew who she was, but other things were just so muddy....so weird.
But it wouldn't work to get herself mull on things that didn't matter in the present time. She flicked her tail back behind her, and unceremoniously plopped on the soft snow, the pale sunlight warming her fur, just a bit.
Aris Ravenstar
Safi'theluji smiled at that. There was something so comforting, so simple about the goddess, she seemed so warm compared to the ice surrounding them; not so distant as one would imagine when thinking of a superior being. The adolescent eyed the ground and sighed quietly. "I'm not sure that I live up to the expectations others have for me, either. But I suppose what you will for yourself and what fate chooses for you are rarely the same.." Her voice trailed off as she eyed Mo'onasi. Were gods also bound by the laws of fate?.. "Or maybe that isn't the case for you."
She smiled gently and pressed her paw down against the ground in front of her, lifting it carefully and staring at the imprint in the snow.
She smiled gently and pressed her paw down against the ground in front of her, lifting it carefully and staring at the imprint in the snow.
Safaia
The golden-striped goddess had rolled over onto her back as the other spoke, her mud-coloured wings folded up beneath her as she listened. Her paws rested on her chest, her back legs sticking out from her body at an odd angle. Mo'onasi's tail laid sprawled out, the tip flicking from time to time, acting as if she hadn't a care in the world.
As the other fell silent, Momo stared up at the sky, the colour slowly returning as the sun began to crawl towards the sky. Such an odd thing, these expectations and bindings that mortals had for one another. Why did they have to make life so hard.
"Well, maybe they hold those expectations to you, but the real question is this: Do you want to reach those expectations, or do you want to do what your heart tells you?" The Goddess crained her neck over to look at Safi, hoping to catch eye contact.
"In that, you might discover what your 'fate' really is."
A moments silence wavered between her words. The seriousness had gotten to the goddess though, and she burst out laughing. As her fit slowly died, she gave a soft reply:
"Of course, you're listening to the ranmblings of a mad Goddess, one that cannot even control her own domain..."
As the other fell silent, Momo stared up at the sky, the colour slowly returning as the sun began to crawl towards the sky. Such an odd thing, these expectations and bindings that mortals had for one another. Why did they have to make life so hard.
"Well, maybe they hold those expectations to you, but the real question is this: Do you want to reach those expectations, or do you want to do what your heart tells you?" The Goddess crained her neck over to look at Safi, hoping to catch eye contact.
"In that, you might discover what your 'fate' really is."
A moments silence wavered between her words. The seriousness had gotten to the goddess though, and she burst out laughing. As her fit slowly died, she gave a soft reply:
"Of course, you're listening to the ranmblings of a mad Goddess, one that cannot even control her own domain..."
Aris Ravenstar
Safi glanced towards Mo'onasi, making eye contact with her for but a brief moment before turning her gaze towards the brightening sky, a thoughtful glint in her eyes. "I just.. I want to make everyone happy.." She sighed. What was her heart's desire? Did she even know?..
Before the lioness was able to continue down that line of thought, she was promptly snapped back to reality, at which time she stared down in confusion at the goddess as her roar of laughter chimed through the mountain. She twitched her ears and smiled gently at Mo'onasi's last words. The young white lioness could scarcely take care of herself and the Jua'nuru.. She couldn't imagine the burden of being a deity. What demands were made of her surely seemed trivial in comparison.
She hoped herself not too bold as she began to inquire. "And what might that domain be?"
Before the lioness was able to continue down that line of thought, she was promptly snapped back to reality, at which time she stared down in confusion at the goddess as her roar of laughter chimed through the mountain. She twitched her ears and smiled gently at Mo'onasi's last words. The young white lioness could scarcely take care of herself and the Jua'nuru.. She couldn't imagine the burden of being a deity. What demands were made of her surely seemed trivial in comparison.
She hoped herself not too bold as she began to inquire. "And what might that domain be?"
Safaia
Momo took her own time in replying to that. It poked at her brain, when she really thought about it. Maybe that's why she was asleep for so long....an error in her past?
...best not to think about it right now though.
"Well, I'm supposed to be the Goddess of Love....but it doesn't seem that way. I think....I think I ruined something, and that's why I was asleep for so long..."
So it came out. But she figured she could trust this lion, this Safi'theluji. She seemed to have enough troubles, but through those troubles was a strong spirit. One seemingly about the break, but still strong. Mo'onasi rolled onto her side and curled her limbs closer to her body, shoving the snow off of them.
"But enough about that. If your hearts desire is happiness for others, you will get it." She smiled warmly. "Love isn't just physical, and to one certain other. It's about how you look at the world, about what you want to change for the better...that's love."
...best not to think about it right now though.
"Well, I'm supposed to be the Goddess of Love....but it doesn't seem that way. I think....I think I ruined something, and that's why I was asleep for so long..."
So it came out. But she figured she could trust this lion, this Safi'theluji. She seemed to have enough troubles, but through those troubles was a strong spirit. One seemingly about the break, but still strong. Mo'onasi rolled onto her side and curled her limbs closer to her body, shoving the snow off of them.
"But enough about that. If your hearts desire is happiness for others, you will get it." She smiled warmly. "Love isn't just physical, and to one certain other. It's about how you look at the world, about what you want to change for the better...that's love."
Aris Ravenstar
Safi grinned, as she looked the peach-colored goddess over again. Strange that she could appear so naive and yet so wise at the same time.. But was that not the way of a deity? She felt so transparent, so unworthy in contrast to the one who was chosen to wield and shape the power of love.
Perhaps that was why she felt so at ease with this one; the one who represented something she had often longed for. Love was a gift she had given too sparingly. She loved the Jua'nuru but at the same time distanced herself, too afraid to allow them to shoulder the burden that was destined for her alone. But in some way, she did want to help the world, or at least her small part of it, and such was her responsibility.
But she turned her thoughts away from her doubts, scolding herself for her petty selfishness. So often had her thoughts reflected on her own worth, and her own lack of faith. She swished her tail as she reflected on the lioness' words. "Ruined something? A mistake.. In love?" She grew silent as she thought to herself. "Does such a thing exist?"
Perhaps that was why she felt so at ease with this one; the one who represented something she had often longed for. Love was a gift she had given too sparingly. She loved the Jua'nuru but at the same time distanced herself, too afraid to allow them to shoulder the burden that was destined for her alone. But in some way, she did want to help the world, or at least her small part of it, and such was her responsibility.
But she turned her thoughts away from her doubts, scolding herself for her petty selfishness. So often had her thoughts reflected on her own worth, and her own lack of faith. She swished her tail as she reflected on the lioness' words. "Ruined something? A mistake.. In love?" She grew silent as she thought to herself. "Does such a thing exist?"
Safaia
Mo'onasi looked at the other, still on her side. She rested her head on the soft snow, staring at the female's black tipped paws, just barely visible from the snow. She wanted to think about that part in her past, but it didn't come up too clearly. That worried her, but hey, it would come in it's due time. She shoved those thoughts away, and flopped onto her back again, looking at the sky. A few, small puffy clouds began to appear in the sky. Nothing threatening snow, but it was something to look at other then the pale silver-blue nothingness.
"There can be mistakes in love. Loving too much is a very big one. Age differences, circumstances, emotions like jealousy....it's so complicated. I'm not sure what I did....but I think...I messed up. Pushed two together that probably shouldn't of been together."
She grumbled a bit and pulled herself up into a sitting position, her heart-shaped emeralds flailing around wildly before they smoothed out.
"I may be the Goddess of Love, but that doesn't mean I can't be a hopeless romantic, and screw up..."
"There can be mistakes in love. Loving too much is a very big one. Age differences, circumstances, emotions like jealousy....it's so complicated. I'm not sure what I did....but I think...I messed up. Pushed two together that probably shouldn't of been together."
She grumbled a bit and pulled herself up into a sitting position, her heart-shaped emeralds flailing around wildly before they smoothed out.
"I may be the Goddess of Love, but that doesn't mean I can't be a hopeless romantic, and screw up..."
Aris Ravenstar
The lioness furrowed her brow at that and shifted her position a bit. She couldn't begin to fathom just how complicated it was, but that didn't stop her from trying to give some advice of her own. She idly wiped her tail across the snow, sending it flying in a small wave to her side. "But jealousy, circumstance.. Surely, it doesn't all fall to you to bear. Perhaps you're being too hard on yourself..-" She paused, shaking her head. That advice sounded almost hypocritical coming from her lips.
Safaia
Momo gave a small, but genuine smile.
"When you hear the prayers of lovers, it's hard to push those things aside and ignore them. I mean, why should you worry about them if they don't affect you, personally?"
The Goddess stood up and paced a bit around Safi, not looking at her, but at the snow on the ground. "But you come to learn, as I've learned in this sleep, that everything does affect you, in some way, so silly things like that do bear on my shoulders...as I believe you notice, al-oof!"
The Goddess, more focused on her words then her paw placement, tripped on something in the snow and landed flat on her face, getting a mouthful of the pure-white stuff. So much for a thoughtful moment.
"When you hear the prayers of lovers, it's hard to push those things aside and ignore them. I mean, why should you worry about them if they don't affect you, personally?"
The Goddess stood up and paced a bit around Safi, not looking at her, but at the snow on the ground. "But you come to learn, as I've learned in this sleep, that everything does affect you, in some way, so silly things like that do bear on my shoulders...as I believe you notice, al-oof!"
The Goddess, more focused on her words then her paw placement, tripped on something in the snow and landed flat on her face, getting a mouthful of the pure-white stuff. So much for a thoughtful moment.
Aris Ravenstar
The snowy lioness returned the smile and watched Mo'onasi as she moved gracefully around her. It was as if the weight of her own problems had lightened as she gazed at her, the one who held in her paws the future of love itself. How splendorous and wise a creature she seemed in that instant. How strong she must have to be to carry such a burden herself. And Safi was just about to tell her so, but as she opened her mouth..
"Mph!!" The white lioness let out a muffled groan and spit out a clump of the snow that now covered her face, kicked up by the goddess as she struggled to get her footing. Safi shook her head and cleared her throat as she glanced at Momo face-first in the snow. She muttered quietly, a chuckle in her voice. "...Then again.."
"Mph!!" The white lioness let out a muffled groan and spit out a clump of the snow that now covered her face, kicked up by the goddess as she struggled to get her footing. Safi shook her head and cleared her throat as she glanced at Momo face-first in the snow. She muttered quietly, a chuckle in her voice. "...Then again.."
Safaia
Momo pulled herself out of the snow, looking quite embarassed.
"Looks like I killed that moment..."
She pawed at her face to get rid of the extra snow around her face, her jewelry jingling around as she did so. When she lowered her paw back to the groud, she gave a big 'oops' smile and apologized.
"Whoops, sorry about that. I'm not usually this serious, so I think I'm getting a little too flustered up, hehehe." A slight pink tone hit her cheeks, which warmed up in the crisp, cool air. She slinked her way over towards the side of Safi, a little nervous if she offended her. Even though she was a goddess, she didn't see Safi as one mortal, but more like...someone she could trust, if only recently.
"Did I...do any harm?" She cowed a bit, slouching in her posture as she continued to apologized. Most likely another reason why the other Gods didn't like her; she was so casual and kind to the mortals, as others were rude and meddled in their lives, as Mo'onasi tried to help their lives.
"Looks like I killed that moment..."
She pawed at her face to get rid of the extra snow around her face, her jewelry jingling around as she did so. When she lowered her paw back to the groud, she gave a big 'oops' smile and apologized.
"Whoops, sorry about that. I'm not usually this serious, so I think I'm getting a little too flustered up, hehehe." A slight pink tone hit her cheeks, which warmed up in the crisp, cool air. She slinked her way over towards the side of Safi, a little nervous if she offended her. Even though she was a goddess, she didn't see Safi as one mortal, but more like...someone she could trust, if only recently.
"Did I...do any harm?" She cowed a bit, slouching in her posture as she continued to apologized. Most likely another reason why the other Gods didn't like her; she was so casual and kind to the mortals, as others were rude and meddled in their lives, as Mo'onasi tried to help their lives.
Aris Ravenstar
Safi chuckled and stood, shaking out her fur and letting any snow still clinging to her body fling off to the ground. "Mmm.. I've lived here all of my life. You have to get used to the occasional snow-pelting." She grinned, perhaps more playfully and childlike than she had before. She raised a paw and instinctively brushed a bit of snow off of Momo's shoulder, but her face grew weary as she realized what she had just done, having touched the deity. Was that.. Alright?
Safaia
Mo'onasi didn't seem to mind the brush off on her shoulder, instead, it made her smile brighten even more. She hated it when other seemed to fear her, it made her feel so very different, which was something that she didn't like, not at all. Maybe she never had any friends, but that was probably because of her odd behavior and general acceptance of things, mixed in with her naive views on the world.
But that didn't mix in with the here and now. For the here and now, she was a total klutz.
"Oh, I'm still sorry. I just get so flustered...so...I'm sorry."
Then the other words hit her, and it made her curious.
"Wait...so you've been here your whole life? You've never seen anything different?"
But that didn't mix in with the here and now. For the here and now, she was a total klutz.
"Oh, I'm still sorry. I just get so flustered...so...I'm sorry."
Then the other words hit her, and it made her curious.
"Wait...so you've been here your whole life? You've never seen anything different?"
Aris Ravenstar
Safi let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, once it was discovered that she hadn't actually broken any mortal-to-deity laws. Her black-tipped tail swished slowly in the air as Safi pondered why she felt so at ease around the goddess. She shook her head as she lazily eyed the tracks in the snow. "Nothing but this. The others, the old ones, have told me of before, but.." She paused, smiling weakly. "It isn't important.. This is my home."
(finishes here)
