It didn’t make any sense, her brain kept trying to tell her. If the creature had meant her no harm, it wouldn’t have noticed the marker, and if it had sensed the barrier, it shouldn’t have been able to cross it. So stunned was she, that she completely forgot she was in potential danger. She could only stand there and watch as it approached, taking in all the details numbly as her mind argued with itself over the impossibility presented to it.
The creature walked up to her slowly, giving her plenty of time to decide what it was. Which was difficult. It almost looked like it could be her sibling; a mage-tampered sira let loose on the world. It had the general sira physique; feline in appearance, with a long neck and long ears, but that’s where the similarities ended. Instead of feathered wings, it had some sort of transparent, opalescent, fairy-like wings. Its fur was white, with pale blue markings on it’s face and ears, and all down it’s neck and sides to the tip of its tail, though they were as far from siran markings as her own were, only in the opposite direction. Where her markings were thin and web like, this creature’s were almost like geometrical figures painted on its fur in a lovely, symmetrical pattern. It had a vibrant red mane, beginning just behind its horn and flowing out behind it, almost long enough to brush the grass as it walked.
That was another strange thing. The ground around it seemed to form itself around the creature’s paws as it moved, grass and flowers growing healthier wherever those paws met the earth.
After a moment, it stopped, looking at her with mirth shining from it’s eyes. They were about three or four feet apart now, close enough for it to strike if it so chose, Arachnae thought numbly. It laughed again, and shook its head, in a somewhat exasperated gesture.
“I’m not going to eat you,” it said, and Ara thought it sounded female. The creature, whatever she was, sat down and tilted her head at the black and red Arachnae. “What else did you expect? You practically build me a temple and visit it to pray every day and don’t expect me to even come say ‘hello’?”
Ara blinked. Build her a... Her already stunned mind just gave up at that point and offered no more arguments. “You’re... you’re Niaryalii?” she asked, hesitantly.
The deity before her beamed. Litterally. “Got it in one,” she said, then chuckled. “So, now that you’ve got my attention, what is it you’d like me to do for you?”
Wow, that sure was direct, Arachnae thought, then answered truthfully enough, “I want a normal life.” Was that really her wish? She would have liked it earlier on in life, before the teasing and askance looks had had time to sink in, when she actually had a chance at a normal life. Now, however, she doubted anything could be done to make her life any better.
Niaryalii tilted her head the other way and gazed at Ara thoughtfully. “Is that what you really want? To change from the way you look now into how everyone else is? To go back to your tribe and act as though your entire childhood never happened?”
She started to say ‘yes, that’s exactly what I want,’ but something about the way the deity was looking at her made her think twice. If she went back looking like one of them, they would never believe it was really the same Arachnae that had left their midst that morning. And even if they did, they probably wouldn’t treat her any differently. Except possibly even worse. She’d broken the single rule concerning the deities and managed to attract enough attention to have it come down and meddle, as the elder sira so appropriately described it. No, she’d likely be cast out of her entire clan, set wandering alone in the wilderness.
But then again, wandering alone in the wilderness didn’t seem like such a bad idea suddenly. If it weren’t so lonely, that is. And dangerous.
The figure before her smiled again, joy returning once again to chase the genuine concern from her brilliant green eyes. “That will work nicely, I think,” she said, and Ara blinked. What? Niaryalii laughed again, sheepishly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but it’s so hard not to do when I’m this close.” Her ears flicked back and she ducked her head apologetically before continuing. “But that is a good plan. I can even provide you with a companion that will serve to both defend and accompany you wherever you go.”
Arachnae blinked. Could it really be that simple? She imagined what sort of companion this deity was promising her. Something protective and strong, since she was so delicate. Something that would keep her company. In her mind’s eye, it was another tampered sira, like herself, and she imagined settling down happily for a life together.
The deity looked sad then, but didn’t say anything. Ara wondered why, but before she could ask, Niaryalii spoke again, commandingly this time, and Ara was somewhat startled by the hurried tone in her voice. “You must leave here quickly,” she said, glancing over Arachnae’s shoulder at something behind her. “Gather up what you think you might need. Leave tonight and travel south until you reach the river, then west into the forest. You’ll know your companion when you see her.” Then, with a nod and quick encouraging smile, she vanished, leaving behind only a small waft of rapidly dissipating sweet-smelling vapor as evidence that she was even there at all.
Ara wondered why she had to make such a speedy exit, but her thoughts were soon answered by a commotion behind her. She turned around and watched as the Elders of the tribe appeared, following a young kitten that had apparently followed her this morning and witnessed her communion with Niaryalii. Well, at least there would be no chance to disobey the deity’s orders. She’d have to leave now.
When the Elders paused at the edge of her barrier, it was all Ara needed to know. “It’s alright,” she called out to them, some sadness tinting her voice, “I’m leaving here, and taking all my troubles with me.” When the Elders didn’t leave, she added “Thank you for letting me live with you, and thank you for rescuing me from the mages. I’m sorry to be so ungrateful. I’m sure you can return to a normal life when I leave. I’ll even disassemble the shrine, so you won’t accidentally call upon Niaryalii again in the future.”
That short speech seemed to satisfy them, and the Elders nodded and turned, each making her way back to the tribe to tell them the news.
It was definitely time to leave, Ara thought glumly as she gathered up the stones and other items she’d lain down to encircle this place of peace. By the time she was finished, the sun had set and Ish’aar had risen, lighting the woods just enough for her to see her way back home.
Home that wouldn’t be a home anymore, she thought as she paused on the outskirts of the tribe-grounds and sadness overcame her. She would miss it, even though most of her memories of this place were sad ones. As she snuck in and gathered her few belongings, she reflected on her life so far. She couldn’t remember one happy memory, save the fact that her foster parents had seemed to care for her more than the rest of the tribe’s elder sira.
Really, she shouldn’t be sad to leave this place; she’d been dreaming about just such an adventure for most of her life. And now, she had the chance to do so, even provided with a protector and companion. No, she wouldn’t be too sad to never see this place again, she thought as she nestled the small sack onto her back, between her walking forepaws’ shoulder blades.
But as she left in the quiet darkness, she couldn’t help but look back over the sleeping tribe, and wondering what the future held in store.
