Maeka- Will

Lorakin enjoyed the springtime more than any other Kai-Ai, she liked to believe. The feeling of seeing everything spring back to life filled her with a deep-seated content; one she honestly believed was also the result of her duty being done well. Considering both were often around the same times, she figured it was simply Kai-lo-Rah's way of rewarding her with just a little extra. The fact that she was usually finished in time for the Ceremony of the Sun was also quite lovely. She took in the hustle and bustle of the village setting up for the festival, she heard a amused, if tired chuckle from behind her inside the hut. "Wishing you were out there?"

Toraki, her protege and daughter, stepped slowly up to her sire. The young, light grey Kai-Ai was no longer gravid for now, but her recent births had taken a bit out of her, and she was being careful not to injure herself, especially considering how close the festival was. "I know how you've always been restless," she said with a grin, wide eyes crinkling in mirth. "Perhaps seeking out a male for old times' sake?" It was true, her mother made no bones about her appetite for the opposite gender, which was one of the reasons why she was the Clan's most capable and accomplished breeder. Her daughter hadn't quite inherited that same appetite, but she was eager and willing to do her part, as were many of her daughters, in whatever way they could. Lorakin had proven quite the capacity, however, and along with some of the clan's other older breeders also looking to end their duties, it was Lorakin who was looking to be the head of the next generation.

"Perhaps not," the older Kai-Ai responded, her smile equally as mirthful she turn to face the young cat. "I've found that occasionally, it's good to be able to stop and take in how our village is. Especially around this time of year." Turning back to the outside, where a pair of hunters were busily carrying a pair of large logs - they would be chopped, cleaned, and used for a large eating area later on - she let herself frown briefly. "Some were not so lucky to have survived the cold season. It's always good to be grateful this time of year, even outside of the ceremony."

Toraki could only sigh in agreement. "I'll miss Nurai," she said solemnly. He had been a Hunter who had bravely marched out into the snow to assist a few hunters in finding some additional food to be safe. He had succeeded in his mission, but at the cost of his health. He never recovered. "I'll be sure to tell his son about what he did and why he should be so thankful." Nurai's son had been born from her not a day before.

Lorakin nodded. "Good. He deserves that much."

There was a brief silence, and Lorakin noticed her daughter look at her oddly before speaking. "That's not all that concerns you, though, is it?" she asked.

Ah. Caught. Her daughter was surprisingly perceptive at times. She appreciated that usually, but now she wasn't so sure. "Yes," she admitted. "You're aware of the daughter of Kintaika?"

"Maeka? The crazy one?" Toraki could only raise an eyebrow. She had never understood the strange, sickly Kai-Ai's ways, but she generally stayed well out of any situations the madcat found herself in. Aside from that, she didn't really have any particular opinions about her. "I'd heard she was sent to seek the sun, and had yet to come back." It was then that something clicked inside her head - she'd rarely seen the girl go more than a few minutes without coughing, complaining of aches, or otherwise being afflicted with some ailment. If she had been caught unaware during the cold season... "Ah. You...think perhaps she has met the same fate?" It was a gruesome thing to imagine, someone so frail being subjected to Lu-hin-Ra's wrath so thoroughly, but...

"I-I'm not so certain that she deserved it. For all her flouting of our ways, she never seemed to do so with any particular malice. Perhaps her mind was too addled to understand. With how many times I've had to care for the poor girl in between births..." she let out a low noise of disapproval. "I am not so certain that it was the most intelligent choice by the Elder."

Toraki reeled back in surprise. Her mother was generally soft-spoken and easily agreeable- in fact, Toraki liked to think her mother was one of the nicest in the village. For her to speak like that against the Elder was practically a damning statement from her. "You disapproved? Why did you not say anything?" As a breeder, and one of the most capable, her mother's words would have more than likely caught the Elder's ear.

"I felt differently at the time. I thought that perhaps she would come to a treaty in regards to herself and her place, if not a full understanding. I swore at the time that if she were to return, I would speak up for her good faith." She sighed. "But I fear I've made a grave mistake in waiting. I keep meaning to ask one of the Hunters about it, but every time I try to..." She let the sentence go unfinished, although her daughter could easily fill in the blanks.

Lorakin and her daughter sat there, watching the village go by.

A hand was placed over hers, and the old breeder found herself talking. "I... I feel responsible for her. I did not birth her, but her breeder perished after her. The clan raises all, but still... I was the one who fed her. I was the one who took care of her most when she was sick. In a way that perhaps isn't proper..."

"You consider her one of your daughters," Toraki finished.

Lorakin nodded, and Toraki could find no more to say for the moment.

In the meantime, however, there was very much being said in the Elder's hut. The Ceremony of the Sun took priority over everything, but that didn't mean that certain other issues couldn't be discussed... And this one most certainly needed discussing.

"Well, we certainly cannot organize a clan hunt now. But we do need to do something about this strange, stone-eating beast." Coroka nodded in agreement. It had been his initial scouting that had informed them exactly what was going on. The creature seemed to chew up stone itself in a matter of moments; he had watched it once for a full day, and seen it consume what he could only estimate as an entire field of stone, near a small mountainous area nearby. It also seemed to excrete it rather quickly, so he and the others were left baffled as to just why it would consume such.

"So long as it doesn't approach us, I can't say that I'm entirely too worried about it," said Bekan, Elder of Clan Beko. Suspicious though his clan was, the bluish-furred Kai-Ai had insisted that he had not taken any particular offense against the Grand Elder's Clan Raki. The Elder knew Bekan well, and his mannerisms tended to betray his thoughts. Fortunately for him, those tells informed the Elder that he was being sincere... although he would still keep a close eye. "We've clear of the other Great Beasts, and I see no reason to provoke this one."

"We have reason to provoke it because it has proven to be destroying the land itself!" the Elder Jotus of Clan Raisan spoke up. The old, one eyed Kai-Ai wasn't ever one to sit on her laurels. "If your son's report is true, then it could reduce our lands to waste were it to keep this up. Imagine what might befall us in the future were the mountains gone, and it begins to seek our forest's trees instead? Or if the beasts of the mountains were forced to come down here!"

The Elder grumbled. She wasn't entirely wrong, although Coroka had said nothing about it eating wood. Jotus continued. "Indeed, we cannot interrupt the Ceremony of the Sun for such a situation. I do not dispute that. However, immediately after we must do something about this; whether it is to drive it off, perhaps, or even..."

"You would send good Hunters after a Great Beast?" Beko asked incredulously. "Do you no longer wish to have a Clan to guide?" THAT, on the other hand, was something that the Elder thought was pure folly. No Clan- indeed, no full TRIBE- had ever manage to take down a Great Beast, all the way it was said that far back the tribe United had managed to wound one and scare them from assaulting the tribe in the future- at great cost. As things were now, it would be a miracle for the tribe to unite fully.

"We will warn them after the Ceremony," The Elder spoke. The other two immediately turned to listen to him. "Inform them that a new, and possibly dangerous Great Beast now roams. We will send out Hunters to learn more about it- all of us. After the strong rains come and go? We will convene again. Are we in agreement?"

There was some mumbling and grumbling, but they all nodded. "Then I wish you all a happy Ceremony. May Kai-lo-Rah guide us evermore."

"May he guide us," they agreed, and they shuffled out. The Elder let out a sigh of relief, and then looked to his son, who had been dutifully standing there silently.

"Well. They seemed in the more pleasant mood than usual," Coroka remarked. "Let us hope that means good things in the future."

The Grand Elder just let out a rueful chuckle as he headed out to oversee preparations.

Three days later, Captain Louis's heart skipped a beat as he heard Maeka's request. Truthfully, he had kind of expected this for a while. In fact, it really did make sense. Winter was usually never a good season for just being out and about; it would make perfectly logical sense that she would want to leave once all that chill and snow finally went away. And to be fair, she seemed to be just as torn up about it is he was. But the way she made it sound seemed like it was kind of important to her.

"Maeka-servent begs you, to let her take her leave. You have shown Maeka-servant great, impossible things. Maeka-servant feels as though it is only right and just that she spreads your deeds to her people!" She looked up at him with eyes that were both glowing and yet dark, like brilliant gemstone cuts, and he found his resolve weakening. He'd not really minded her treatment of him- to an extent- but he wasn't sure if this would blow over well with an entire village...

But then again, they were about to get loud in their mining. It might be better off for them to have the locals have advance notice of their presence, rather than spring it on them all of a sudden. Goodness knows he'd heard enough horror stories about that. "That makes sense..." he muttered under his breath. As Maeka's ears popped up, he quickly activated his comm unit, putting out an all-call. "Everyone, I need you on the bridge in about 5. Thanks."

Everyone showed up rather quickly, just as he'd hoped. It didn't take long to detail the situation. "Short story of it is, Maeka wants to go back to her village to tell her folks about us. I'm not exactly keen on the idea, but I figure it would be better than us just suddenly showing up out of nowhere to them when we start seriously mining."

"I... have so many issues about this," Nancy said, her eyes closed as she considered it. "How much will she tell, how she'll portray us, what they might ask of her..."

"Will tell of kindness! Of skill! Of grace!" Maeka answered quickly. "Humans desire these lands for gracious purposes. Maeka-servant will tell them." The way she smiled made it seem like she was entirely on board with this. "Nothing Maeka-servant will tell that you do not permit."

Rodrick managed a half-smile. "Eh...I'm not certain about it either, but I have faith that the kitten won't screw it up."

Nancy still frowned, but eventually she sighed. "Fine. I'll just have to make sure we keep to a regular patrol, and we'll set up the camo field in case any prying eyes show up. What about everyone else?"

A round of muted approval met her, and Maeka smiled, tears glistening in her eyes. "Thank you, thank you thousands! Maeka-servant will not fail!"

Louis just sighed himself, and offered to escort her to the entrance way. Before they could get very far however, a voice quickly called out. "Oh, wait!" Turning around, Basil, and one of the other Engineers, Micheal, quickly stopped them. "Almost forgot," Basil said, a smile in his voice. "Wanted to give you a little somethin'. We don't exactly have a suit in your size at the moment, but..." And with a flourish, he unveiled what seemed to be a full-body cloak, far better than what she had arrived to them in, along with a few simple garments that yet still seemed more sturdy and protective than what she used to wear. They felt snug on her hips and chest, but in a pleasant manner, and they were a deep color that reminded her of dark nights in the village, when Lu-hin-Ra was resting. The cloak was the same color, and even had a hood to protect her head. On its back was a symbol that she had seen before- on the outside of their strange realm that marked where it began. The strange circle within a circle, a strange pair of plants crossing it in the back. The human's symbol.

Maeka walked out proudly, sparing only the time to marvel as their massive area seemed to vanish before her very eyes, returning to a simple clearing of grass. "I shall return," she said in her own language- a language she had not spoken in sometime. It would take a moment to reacquaint herself. "I shall return worthy of your blessings, and I pray I will not be alone!"

With a determined step, she began the trek back to her village. She, after all, had much to say.

It was surprising, how much the forest hadn't seemed to change. Then again, it wasn't really all that long ago that she had left for more amazing locale. As she made her way through the woodlands, using the mountains in the distance for a landmark, she found an unexpected feeling welling up inside of her; a thin nervousness seemed to creep up her spine, and from there spread throughout her body in a buzz. She knew she was loved by the humans- she had no doubt of that anymore. And she knew that what they had taught her and showed her would prove far more valuable than anything she had ever learned in her clan. However, convincing them of that...

... She jerked a little as the thought ran through her. Did she really, truly, care so much if she didn't bring back any clan members to show them the truth? ...Yes, actually. For all that she hated their stagnant ways, and for all that they had looked down upon her creations, she still felt them as family. Most of them, at least. Still, she knew that if she could show them what she had been shown, they would come to realize just how astonishing the humans really were- just how much better of gods they were than even Kai-lo-Rah! And the Ceremony of the Sun was the best place to do it.

She was never really capable of participating in the event, but she knew it well. A day full of feasting, along with stories being told of Kai-lo-Rah and other old Kai-Ai. They would also have ceremonial dances, and even an open sparring ring for any Hunters that felt like showing off, or younglings had yet to truly dedicate themselves towards a path. It always ended the same way; as the day ended, everyone would participate in a group chant and prayer towards Kai-lo-Rah, thanking him for his guidance through the previous seasons, and praying to him to keep them until this time came again.

No, she had never been healthy enough to take part in the ceremony. Not even that last bit. She found herself smiling ruefully at that fact- then paused briefly as she stepped into an area of forest that she recognized. Quick turn to the left, and it was only a few minutes travel before she found herself at a very familiar, very run-down hut.

She couldn't stop herself from taking a look inside. The place that seemed to have been utterly destroyed in most respects - only the shell of the hut was left standing. Everything else had been molded over or clearly assaulted by woodland animals. A few creations, some last bits of food, and... not a whole lot else. Maeka couldn't help but let out a small growl at this fact. She really HAD nothing to lose in this respect- for everything that she had made already had been proven to have been done thousands upon thousands times greater by the humans. She wasn't mad at them for this, though, no. In fact, she found herself grateful that they had open her eyes to such truths. The creations were unneeded. Unnecessary. Humans had divined so much greater, and she merely needed to dedicate herself into learning their sacred use. Some small devices they had already blessed her with and granted her permission to use, although she felt it wouldn't be prudent to bring them on such a first, important trip.

They weren't worthy of being privy to such relics yet. They wouldn't understand.

With a quiet snort, and her heart beating strongly, she continued on her path. It had been some time since she had set out. And now she knew where she was...well, she could only hope that the Ceremony was underway by the time she showed up. It would make a much better impact.

--------

All seemed to be going well. Many had risen early to celebrate the beginning of the Ceremony of the Sun, as always happened during the sunrise- just as Kai-lo-Rah began his journey across the skies as he made to guide the Kai-Ai yet another day. This time, they would be celebrating his guidance, not simply following it. The other two clans had assisted as well, and it was not very long before the day was filled with the laughter, the sound of competitive yet cordial shouts, and the smells of good food amidst the village grounds.

The Elder smiled; despite his troubles and worries, seeing smiles on the young ones' faces was always a good way to cheer him up. And smile they did, for they rarely got to be so rambunctious without repercussion. Similarly, the more mature of the Kai-Ai roaming around could be seen to be loosening up a little bit more than usual. Chanting, cheering, and other such playful jibes rang out... he could hear a bit of a commotion in the distance, too. It didn't sound too bad, however. Perhaps someone was showing off? Out of idle curiosity, he headed off towards the source of the sounds. As he got closer, he noticed that a number of Kai-Ai seemed to be staring at something in particular... Something that made him raise an eyebrow - and although he didn't want to admit it, set off a slight warning in his old, experienced head. The stranger wore unusual garb, covering their head, and couldn't quite place where it could possibly come from. They were looking around at the gathered crowd, but had said nothing. As he approached, however, the individual turned their head towards him... and as they locked eyes, he immediately knew who he was speaking to.

"Maeka...?" The name came out of his lips in a whisper, yet it seemed to hold enough weight to silence the entire gathering. He could sense others coming to see the source of this strangeness, but the way her eyes locked with his... there was something in them that he wasn't used to from her, and he found it difficult to tear his gaze away. "You live?"

There was silence in the air for a few moments, before the familiar, high voice came from the hooded figure. "I do. And so I've come back. And with reason." Her voice was a bit more steady than he recalled; often times she had to take a shuddering breath when she spoke, if not pause to allow some intermittent coughing.

He sensed none of that now, and it made him curious - and a bit concerned. "And for what reason would that be?" He asked, after she had shown no inclination to continue. "Have you come to understand your place? Yourself?"

The cloak had some of her face, but he could tell she was smiling - and not in a good way. "To tell you truly, I have, Grand Elder." The way she spoke his title was something he had not ever heard from her before; a near mocking tone, sweet yet laced with bitterness. "And I would hope to enlighten everyone else here as to the truth."

"What truth?" one of the Kai-Ai asked. "Have you come back with a mad creation meant to blaspheme yet again?"

The look she gave the speaker was astonishingly venomous; to the point where the offender actually took a step back upon meeting her gaze. "No." Then just as it appeared, it vanished, replaced by a beatific smile as she continued. "The truth that we all need not struggle. That there is a way for us to live in truth and in bliss! That our lives can be as simple as we desire... And we need only follow the proper path."

"We DO follow the proper path, you crazy girl!" One of the other villagers called out, his fangs bared. "You are the only one who was so worried about it, simply because you had no place!" He got a couple of strange looks for that, but no one necessarily disputed him.

However, she didn't meet him with the same wicked gaze that she had given the other. "You're correct. I had no place. However, I have found one." And here she straightened up even more as her gaze finally moved out to the massed people. "A place that gives me food and shelter aplenty, and infinite. A place where I am guaranteed safety, and blessed with health and strength I could not have had before. A place where the weather is adjusted at a whim... And even the Sun is at beck and call." She let a small snicker escape her, and the Elder saw how she continued to focus on him again. "And Kai-lo-Rah has no say in it."

This pronouncement caused everyone to gasp, the Elder included. What she spoke of was blasphemy, impossibilities! Sheer lies! And yet... He couldn't find himself to grow outraged. Instead, he only found himself growing more fearful... Although he could not say it was of what she described. It was for a different reason entirely.

The others weren't quite so restrained. "How dare you! What being could have deluded you so into thinking they are so superior?! What madness have you delved into now!?"

She giggled. Actually giggled. "I have been shown true gods, and true power! And they are called Humans." That word - humans - she spoke it so reverently, so powerfully, that the Elder knew immediately that she was in fact wholly taken in by whatever they had claimed. "Beings twice and thrice as tall as we, with no fur - no need of it! Their strength eclipses that of the greatest hunter, and their capabilities defy any true explanation! Food is of no concern to them - they make it as they please, when they please, and need not hunt for it. They need not listen to the whims of the Earth, for they are the *masters* of it! They have created suns, Kai-lo-Rah in miniature, and used them so casually as to be un-noteworthy. The rule of falling does not prescribe to them should they not wish it. Walls and structures shape and reform themselves at their command. They create beasts to do their bidding, that which they deem unworthy of performing themselves. Beasts which are sturdier than the greatest stone, and capable of shredding the very Earth beneath it!"

The Elder's heart skipped a beat as he heard that description. Were these things responsible for what now troubled them? And she had been privvy to this!?

She did not stop there, however. "And what's more? They can heal the sick, in mere moments. Even more, they can bring you incredible health and strength. Such as they did with me." And here she removed her hood, and the Elder was furthermore astonished to see that her fur was healthy, her skin was no longer crackling and discolored. Her eyes were bright and healthy now that the light was fully on them, and held everyone in a controlled madness, a fevor that she had clearly been longing to let escape. "They brought me from nothing, from the edge of death itself. And they healed me, and made me better than I had ever been before. They have shown me their ways, they have blessed me greatly with strength and knowledge galore, and-"

"And you have been deluded!" A familiar voice rang out. His son, Coroka, who was standing there with a look of rage on his face, his brilliant red fur bristling. "I know not of these creatures you speak, Maeka, but your blasphemy is impossible and incredulous. Tell us truly, what bargain have you made? You call these creatures humans? When did you meet them? What did they say?"

"Under the moon of the early cold season, great Hunter," Maeka answered without preamble. "As I said before, I made the decision to seek food, as my stores were running low. The hut that you so graciously provided for me was proving poor in not keeping my reserves edible, and so I made the decision to risk dying from the cold as opposed to starvation." The growl she made was thicker and fiercer than he had ever heard from her before. "I quite nearly paid the price for such a choice, were it not for a strange being appearing to me out of the darkness of the night. He took me in, transported me to their outer realm. I awoke in a strange place, where I saw impossibilities, and they- the gods- healed me, and learned about me, as I made to learn about them."

Under the moon...as the Elder looked over to a snort from his son, he guessed that Coroka had figured the same as he just did. "Fool girl. You've been taken in by the Nightsnatchers. Lu-hin-Ra has captivated you, deluded you, and why you have been set free-"

"Lu-hin-Ra would still be better than what I've had as an option!" She yelled out, her breath leaving her in a fierce cry. "And I know nothing of these Nightsnatchers. Even if I did, I could tell you that there is nothing like that amongst the humans. It is Lu-hin-Ra that would bend to their will, not they to his! The humans have given me so much, and-"

"For what price?!" Coroka quickly interrupted. "Perhaps I believe you in that you have met a strange power, but all comes with an exchange, girl! It is an immutable part of nature. Tell me, what was your offer in the bargain? Have you thrown away your soul, your promised peace in exchange for a little mortal respite?"

There was silence. And for a moment, the Elder thought that his son had revealed the horrid truth.

And then a strange, bubbling sound came from her mouth. "Behehahahahaha..."

Laughter. She was laughing at them. "Bahahahahaha!"

"Cease your gibbering laughter, girl!" one of the hunters yelled. She looked at him, a strange gaze in her eye that spoke of a certain sort of pity.

And almost immediately, the laughter ceased. "Nothing." It was a sharp, simple, answer, and the way her face straightened out was so quick the Elder for a second was wondering if he had perhaps blinked wrongly. "They have asked of me nothing. And I owe them nothing. I grant what I grant freely, and in exchange, they bless me." That strangely peaceful smile returned to her as she looked out at the others- a quick look around revealed that Lorakin and Toraki were both in attendance, standing in rapt if fearful attention. "It is simple. Very simple. Simple enough that anyone who wanted to could experience it. If any of you would be so willing-"

"To follow you into an abyss?!" Coroka roared as he picked up his spear. "Maeka, your madness has consumed you if you think you will force any of us -"

"No forcing. No pleading," she said calmly. "It is entirely your decision if you are to join me in bliss or not. I won't force anyone at all. Neither will the humans. They understand that such a decision is not one to be taken lightly. They will not bother you, nor will they cause issue to our people unduly. But should you desire a taste of true blessings, and true godhood..."

Before she can finish however, another speaks up. "Gah, enough of you!" Tall, powerful, and with short but bustling fur- Hunter Makorok was easily one of the best in the village, only coming second to his son in terms of strength and skill. Makorok actually broke the strange semicircle that had surrounded the girl, marching up to her with a confidence that the Elder was uncertain was desirable at the time. "You bush so highly of blessings and improvements. Last I remember you, you were ever sickly. Too weak to even hold a spear properly for an extended period of time. What kind of blessing could have made you so bold, so...foolish?" He looked her in the eye, and neither blinked for several moments before he shook his head. "No. I see nothing in those eyes. Your strength is as false as your words!"

The response he got from her was an odd tilting of her head. "You would have me prove both?"

"Ha! A fool indeed. If you would be so bold as to step into the sparring ring, I would prove to you here and now just how deep your madness runs, and how false your words are."

A low sound of amusement escaped her, much to Makorok's slight surprise, and she did not give him an answer - she nearly started towards the small wooden enclosure. He was quick to follow amidst the roaring audience, as was the Elder. He felt as though he probably should have said something by now, but what this girl was boasting... He had to witness for himself.

"If nothing else, you are at least not so far gone as to forget some traditions," Makorok said smugly. He was fit, lean, every inch of the ideal Hunter. "I will ground you quickly, and I'll let you run back to your demonic masters with your tail between your legs!"

"My gods know I would need to defend myself. They have blessed me with strength and skill beyond and unlike anything any Hunter has seen." At these words, she shed her cloak, and a gasp rippled throughout the gathered - one that the Elder found himself a part of.

She was no more a scrawny thing. Her body had swelled by an order of magnitude, and now her stature was such that she no longer showed ribcage- only musculature was revealed on her abdomen, her limbs thick and strong. She was strangely bulkier than most hunters, almost to the point where one would mistake her for a Caretaker. However, the Elder could see that it was no simple pudge that lay on her frame.

Maeka had indeed gotten *strong*, and the Elder's worry only increased. Makorok frowned at this revelation, and Maeka smiled.

"I have gained their favor, and so the gods bless me thoroughly. Can yours say the same?" Even out here, the Elder recognized a taunt when he heard one.

Fortunately, Makorok may have been a braggart, but he wasn't a fool. His approach as the fight started was quick, precise, dedicated as a Hunter should be.

Which made it all the more astonishing when she sidestepped his strike with ease born of experience. Makorok did not stop there - he quickly spun around and delivered two more strikes to her abdomen, both of which were deflected easily. Upon the third strike, suddenly her hand lashed out, grabbing his own. She moved parallel to him, and in a flash her knee was driven into his gut. A second blink of the eyes would have had the Elder miss the elbow that was in driven into his back the next moment, and with a small huff of exertion, she stepped inside of his leg, swinging it from front to back.

Makorok crashed onto the ground with a grunt of pain, accompanied by gasps from the audience- which turned into screams when her fist drove into his gut fiercely, causing him to cry out in true pain. One of their greatest Hunters had been felled, and in a matter of moments, by a Kai-Ai that had until recently been considered too weak to ever truly be of any worth.

With calm precision, Maeka raised herself up from the dirt, call me brushing out bits that have gotten into her for her. She then turned to the crowd, that simple smile back on her face. "Do any else doubt my blessings?!" Her voice was loud, put the expression on her face was practically begging for someone else to do the same.

No one else came forth.

“So do you see now?!” her voice rang out throughout the village, and not a soul spoke to interrupt her. “MY GODS- HUMANS- HAVE GRANTED ME THIS GIFT! WHEN I LEFT YOU, I WAS WEAK! I WAS *NOTHING*!” The tenor of her voice washed over them as though she was an angry waterfall, and they simply fishes that had been caught in its current- the Elder himself found it difficult not to shudder with awe. “AND NOW HERE I STAND! HARDLY A SEASON PAST!” And here she paused- if only briefly, if only to look with sheer scorn at the one that dared deny her words. “AND I STAND VICTORIOUS OVER ONE OF OUR STRONGEST.” she looked out over the crowd again, and as she locked eyes with someone- the Elder couldn't quite see who from this angle- her expression softened, although her voice was still loud and strong. “MY GODS ARE POWERFUL, YES! MY GODS ARE CLEVER AND WISE. HOWEVER..MY GODS…my gods are loving!” her voice lowered in volume, if only by a portion as her intensity somehow increased. All who listened could still hear her. “So very, very loving! They do not desire total dominion over you, no. They do not seek our village for nefarious reasons. They are kind. They are beautiful. So very beautiful… even their scent is a delight! Simply being around them is bliss! And this is my goal here! I want to share this Bliss with you! I merely wish to help, just as I always have!” for a brief moment, her smile warped, and the Elder saw flashes of the Maeka he remembered-  only for it to bring him great joy and sadness, as he knew what he would have to do next.

Coroka spoke first, however. “And you would think this display makes you right? That suddenly we would drop all alarm and come crawl to your new masters? If you truly believe such, then you are truly blinded- to the point that you do not see the cost that you have paid.”

“I have paid nothing! Nothing has been asked of me whatsoever!” Maeka retorted hotly. Hereford was bristled, her ears fluttering in aggravation. “All I have given, I have given freely and of my own will!”

“So you claim. But the Maeka I knew, although misled, was strong hearted. She would not give into temptation so easily, nor be led around like a lost kit. They have stolen that which is most sacred to you and perverted it. Your will! They have plied you with false blessings, and turned your will to live into the will to serve them! To serve-”

“Demons,” the Elder whispered solemnly. It was not a conclusion he liked, Nora story he told often, but all the signs were there. “The spirits of the night- of Lu-hin-Ra’s domain. Sending his twisted spirits out in the covers of darkness to beguile and ensnare those who stray too far away from the light. You all are aware of this!” The last sentence was shouted, in a voice that was resplendent with all of the strength of the Elder had yet available in him. “This is why we pray. This is why we are vigilant. This is why we protect each other come the setting of the Sun! And Maeka… this is something that you have not realized. Not in time.”

There was a tense silence… and for a brief flash, not even for a whole moment, Maeka’s eyes flashed utter loathing- a profound and visceral hatred so deep, so total, that it made the Elder’s heart skip a beat in abject fear. “Fine,” she spat out, and it was then that he was certain that had they been alone, she would have done her best to end his life then and there. However, her eyes then relaxed, and her stance became easier. “I won't distract you any longer. Have your festival. But I will show you the truth. This I swear.” and with a sudden burst of speed, she turned and ran.

Coroka sputtered, and begin a call to rally his Hunters, before an upturned hand stopped him. “F-father?!”

“Let her go,” the Elder ordered. “She will return to tell her Masters, and they will devise tricks to sway us. But I suspect that so long as she lives, they will not take direct action against us. Her corruption has proved that we can be turned. And Lu-hin-Ra's greed is great. He will want more, and so we must be vigilant.” His staff hit the ground, as a mark of finality. “Remember the tenants, and your lessons, and you will not falter!” His speech was met with cheers and stomping of approval, and he knew that painful though it was, he had made the right choice.

However, the issue was far from resolved, and the way Coroka looked at him told that his son thought the same. If her new gods were indeed as powerful as she claimed...then it was likely they were responsible for the new Beast. If they could simply create Beasts like that at will...he suppressed a shudder at that thought. Instead, he simply moved closer to his son. “I desire a meeting with the Hunters later, after the Ceremony. We have much to discuss.” He spared a glance over the still cheering crowd. They would be well served in continuing their festivities, and remember what they would now have to fight for.

What he didn’t see, however, was a certain retired breeder who hadn’t joined in the cheering. Lorakin was looking in the direction Maeka had vanished.

And Lorakin wondered, and worried.

Maeka, for her part, felt wounded. A part of her knew that she wouldn't be able to just convince the village in one day, but she still had hope that someone would express some sort of curiosity. Perhaps then she would have been able to explain a bit more about why they were so great. But no. They had roundly rejected her, quickly blinded from her persuasive arguments by that stubborn old, damndable Chief! Why, if he hadn't been surrounded...but no. That would be time to ruminate on that later. She needed to return to her gods and beg forgiveness.

"I swear...I swear it, I WILL make them see the truth! The humans are what's best for us, and I will convince them- somehow!" With that resolution in mind, she began the long walk back to her gods. She hoped they would understand...