On the frozen island of Truce, the deities of Jade are deliberating their future.
One-by-one, they’ve stood before the God of Creation, Azurrel, and agreed that sacrificing the lifeblood of civilization, elentia, was the only path to salvation. But of those soon to be apotheosized, one has yet to be convinced. Etain, the Lemur I’ve spent my entire life worshiping, is standing before the group with her tail twitching nervously. The eyes of those already convinced are staring at her with eager anticipation.
“And what about the others?” She asks. “Has the Kingdom of Ryne truly refused to join us?”
Lying in the slow, Lithan Keuvra ruffles slightly.
“I don’t think it’s a matter of choice,” Etain says, staring up at the far larger Dragon. “A great number of them wish to follow Azurrel!”
“And many who do not,” Jaya responds, his voice stern. “The representatives of their species have decided what is best for their Kingdom. If they wish to freeze to death, then so be it.”
Etain flicks her tail, failing to regain her composure. “So, that’s it? We’re raised to salvation while they’re left to freeze? How can we save the lives of our own while condemning so many others to death? Every Fox and Wolf will perish!”
“As will the others,” Malfex shakes his head in dismay. “It’s heartbreaking.”
Of all the deities, Jaya seems the most firm about the fates of the other ascendants. And when you think about it, It’s easy to see why. Back then, the Rabbits were split on whether to follow Azurrel to the raised continents. But instead of conceding their differences, they simply joined the Kingdom that, to this day, remains moonbound: Ryne.
Rabbits joining Foxes and Wolves… it’s crazy to think about. Though nobody’s seen one since ascension, it’s said Wolves were the fiercest of the ascendant species, causing even the toughest Martens to turn their tails in fear. Even the Avians breathed a sigh of relief when they no longer had their claws to worry about. How frustrated must have Jaya been, watching half of those he was supposed to shepherd walk into the welcoming arms of an enemy?
Ever since then, the populations of Rabbits have been a fraction of the other ascendants. And after the Rabbit phage, their numbers were reduced even further. It’s fascinating to think about how things might have been different if they were as prosperous as the other species.
Azurrel transmits from his perch in the snow.
Etain seems distraught. She fixes her hair and stares at the ground, contemplating a response.
“Please,” Scew says, draping a wing over her shoulder. “This is a lot to take in. And I know you’re worried about him, but we all have to make sacrifices for the greater good.”
Him…?
Wait, who is Scew talking about?
Etain raises her head, overco with emotion. She clears her nose and mutters, “It’s not fair. We suffered so much trying to hide our relationship. If it wasn’t for Keuvra, they’d have sent Gust back to Nortane. How am I supposed to abandon him now?”
Wait… what?!
Gust? You an that Gust?! The prey-bird that stalked around Felra is the Goddess’ boyfriend?!
Dragon Keuvra curls his talons and frowns.
Oh, wow! This is incredible! The holy book doesn’t record a lot of information about Etain’s life as a mortal, only the things she did that led to her deification. Even among the Monarchs, it’s said they know very little about her personal life. Well, of course they wouldn’t! Nobody is supposed to know about Gust; his existence is a total secret!
Back in the deity’s ti, speciesism was still a real problem. Lemurs blad Rabbits, Avians blad Wolves, and everyone was at each other’s throats as the moon cooled. It wasn’t until the dawn of airships that multiculturalism erged and taking a mate from another species beca socially acceptable. Is it any wonder Etain is so upset about losing Gust? I can’t imagine the hardships they must have faced trying to hide their relationship.
Etain stares across the ground, her lip twitching. Finally, she throws down her arms in defeat.
“No,” she speaks, barely louder than a whisper. “Unless he joins us, I won’t do it. That’s my decision.”
Like a bomb detonating, the deities reel in shock.
“N-No…!” Scew stamrs.
Keuvra quickly rises on his talons.
“You told I had to respect Ryne’s refusal,” Etain says, crossing her arms. “So respect mine, Keuvra!”
Growling in anger, he paces away from the group and smacks his tail against the ground. “Rhe arra kree sssrek!”
Malfex flinches, caught off-guard by Keuvra cursing in the Lithan tongue. “Etain, how could you refuse!?”
“Find soone else to be your savior of Lemurkind,” she says, locating a stronger voice. “I wasn’t even Azurrel’s first choice, so it’s not a big deal!”
“But, it has to be you! Azurrel said—”
“I don’t care!! I promised Gust they’d never separate us!! Find. Soone. Else!”
Etain whips around and goes to grab her bag, propped against the side of a tree.
Dread fills Jaya’s face. Realizing what’s about to happen, he takes off after Etain. “Where are you going?”
“Ho,” She replies.
“But you can’t!”
“Yes, I CAN!!”
Jaya stops, flinching at Etain’s roar. Everyone present stares in dismay, having no idea the soft-spoken brown Lemur could speak with such ferocity. Etain is supposed to be the Goddess Mother, full of boundless compassion and unyielding sympathy. The Lemur I see before is a furious monster!
As she paces away, Scew looks to Keuvra with a hushed, expectant gaze. The Dragon rumbles, again cursing to himself before squaring his wings and drooping his neck low. A pallid blue light forms around his body, twisting in intricate patterns. His feathers waver, and he shrinks in size.
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If I could gasp right now, I would. Keuvra’s transforming! He’s returning to his Lemur form! Is this what it looked like when I beca one a little while ago?
“Wait…” Jaya’s ears droop. He inches closer to Scew and asks, “He can still do that?”
The Conure scoffs, “Of course he can, nimbus.”
Wow, I haven’t heard an Avian call soone a ‘numbus’ in a looooong ti. But why is Jaya surprised? How long has it been since Keuvra last beca a Lemur, anyway?
It isn’t long before Keuvra rises from the ground, his Lemur self fully restored. He steps forward only to seize up after the first step, a chill jolting his body. Dressed in sandal footwear and mage’s robes, he’s completely unprepared for such frigid weather. Ignoring the concerned gazes of those around him, he flicks his tail in determination and begins running after Etain.
“Hey, wait!”
Etain stops halfway to the tree where her bag is propped. She spins around and shock fills her face. “Keuvonis?!”
“Please, just wait up!”
“What are you doing?!” Etain yells back.
“I’m trying to stop you from making a mistake!”
At that, I find myself drifting across the ground, spirit Keuvra bringing us closer to the conversation. We catch up with his younger counterpart just as he cos to a halt before Etain.
“Idiot,” she huffs, removing her furred gloves. “Here, take these.”
“Keep them,” Keuvonis says, pushing them away. “I’ve survived far worse in Felra. You need to reconsider this.”
“Why should I?” Etain asks.
“Because nobody else can do it. Candice won’t and Ellyntide doesn’t trust anyone else.”
“That’s not my problem.”
Keuvonis frowns, growling like a Dragon. “Then why did you agree to co here?”
“Because I had no other choice.”
“Azurrel told us we’d have to leave our families behind. You knew this was going to happen.”
“I know! But, I thought…” Etain sighs heavily and explains, “When I accepted the role from Candice, I thought I could still negotiate. I thought everyone would agree that giving up our families was too much. If I had known you’d all go along with this nonsense, then I would’ve stayed in Coleport.”
“Nonsense?” Keuvonis’ tail lashes. “How can you possibly say that?”
Etain looks away, but doesn’t offer an explanation.
“When Redaga flew over Hollyhead, you were the only one standing in their way! When the Ember Flock bore down on Varecia, you nearly gave your life to defend those who couldn’t fight back. And when the fighting was over, you refused to sit down until every Lemur was taken care of.” Keuvonis stares in disbelief at the friend he thought he understood. “Your compassion was the only reason Ellyntide survived the Dragon onslaught. Every soul in the Kingdom knows your na because you believed there was no sacrifice too great.”
“And despite everything I did, they nearly turned their backs on when they found out about Gust,” Etain speaks with the fire in her eyes restored. “All I wanted to do was love those close to , no matter what they looked like. But sohow, that was too much. Well, I can turn their backs on them, too!”
“But they didn’t turn their backs on you! Because of Candice, you two are together!”
“And if I go along with this plan, we’ll be separated forever. Don’t you get it, Goldfeathers? Every ti we try to love each other, soone else stands in our way!”
Keuvonis tries to find a response but remains silent. His body shivers; It seems the cold is finally getting to him.
“You talk about my compassion like it’s sacred. How can I…” Quickly, Etain glances past Keuvonis’ shoulder. Azurrel is perched on the ground, gently preening it’s feathers. “How can I respect so so-called God who has no compassion for those who refuse to follow them? One who condemns them to death?”
Keuvonis pauses, and understanding fills his eyes. “That’s what this is about, isn’t it? You can’t stand the thought of being subservient to soone like Azurrel.”
Etain fixes a strand of her long, curly hair and rests a hand on her hip.
“Yeah, okay,” Keuvonis says. “Gust, too. Both of those things.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll admit… I have my reservations. I don’t understand how we’re supposed to shepherd an entire species while looking past Ryne.” Keuvonis gazes across the island, frozen and barren. “But if there’s one thing the war… no, this entire existence has taught , it’s that we have to savor what this life offers us. You know? We can’t dwell on the things we have no control over. But we can choose to accept what’s been given to us and believe that things will turn out alright in the end.”
Etain’s eyes soften. “Do you really believe that?”
“I do,” Keuvonis nods. “It’s what kept going through the raids on Ellyntide, and what gave hope during the battles with my flock. And do you know who inspired to feel that way? It was you. That’s why I don’t think Azurrel matters, because nobody in Ellyntide considers them their savior. When the going gets tough, they think of you.”
Etain seems a little lost for words. She looks away and frowns. “I want to do this, Goldfeathers. I know how much everyone looks up to , but… if I give up on Gust, then I’ll just be betraying all those principles about that everyone finds so endearing. How could I lead everyone as a hypocrite? How would they respect ? Azurrel says they created everything, including ourselves. And yet, how can they not understand simple compassion?”
Silence drifts through the soon-to-be deities, interrupted only by the sound of Keuvra’s tail swaying softly against the snow. For once, it seems he has trouble locating a response.
Finally, Etain musters the courage to speak. “If… if there were so way—”
A streak of iridescent light interjects the conversation.
“Eep!”
“Aah!”
Etain and Keuvonis stumble backwards, kept upright only by deep snow drifts. Slowly, they lower their arms to see Gust hovering in the air before them, dappled light falling like raindrops below the God of Creation. It seems they were listening to the conversation and found it necessary to barge in. As their breathing slows, Etain and Keuvra exchange startled glances before looking to Azurrel expectantly.
Azurrel dips their dainty little head.
Etain’s muzzle drops. “Really! I’m…” she trails off, flicking her gaze to Keuvonis. “Shocked. Really, I’m quite surprised that you would offer this.”
Keuvonis nods in understanding. “So, Gust would be the one carrying out these influences for us. Not as a deity, but a liaison.”
Etain looks away, carefully contemplating the offer.
Kevonis approaches her and asks, “This is what you wanted, right?”
Etain looks up at him, asking a question not spoken. He seems conflicts for a response, but soon nods.
The Goddess turns to Gust. “And we’d still be able to love each other?”
“I should clarify that your mate will not be a divine lifeform. They will not be privy to the conversations of you and your fellow deities, nor will they exist on the sa plane of existence. However, you will still be able to visit them as you see fit.”
Etain’s face twists. That was an awfully crude way of explaining it, but it sounds like the answer is yes. She looks away from Gust, contemplating her answer.
“Please,” Keuvonis says, resting his hand on Etain’s shoulder. “For all of us.”
Etain stares up at him with a somber expression. But before she can deliver her response, the world drifts away from .
Slowly, the freezing island and everyone on it fades to black, and I find myself floating in the void with spirit Keuvra at my side. My light dims slightly; words are hard to co by after witnessing the most important gathering of animals in the history of Jade.
Again I find myself short for words, realizing a deity is admitting the ritual used to summon him is entirely unnecessary. Does Etain feel the sa way about communion with Ellyntide?
I clumsily transmit,
Kevura’s light dips as if he were nodding.
For a curiously long mont, Keuvra is silent. His light dims slightly as he transmits,
That was a strange response. What exactly is Keuvra trying to tell ? Feeling compelled to answer him, I locate a thread and transmit,
At that, I feel Keuvra and I drifting apart until his light dims from existence, leaving alone in the void, awash in a river of conflicting emotions.
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