~~~~~~[
1,256 words ] My pelt should've been bristling with the cold, but my scarf seemed to be radiating warmth. I figured it was an enchantment, courtesy of Morganus, and silently thanked them for it, continuing my trudge through the snow. I had lost track of time longer ago than I cared to remember, and days seemed like mere moments. I never felt like eating or really looking through my bag at the items I brought with me. Nothing seemed real, or even had a reason to be done. One more battle, was all I had to do. One. More. Job.
~~~~~~I awoke to the all too familiar sound of tree branches snapping off of their life-trunks. I curled my body tighter, sighed, and closed my eyes once more. I had found a rotted-out tree trunk to hide in for the night and managed to clear out all of the rogue snow. Underneath my eyelids, a soft golden light seemed to turn a corner and flash through the trunk's slim opening.
~~~~~~My head raised, eyes more alert than before. Perhaps there were travelers who lost their way. With aches and pains, I lifted my body up and squeezed through the crack. Deep-set pawprints followed me as I turned around a tree to inquire about the peculiar light.
~~~~~~I was met with a pale yellow-orange glowing figure, mostly obscured by their heavenly light. Even brighter eyes opened; they had no visible pupils, yet seemed to stare directly into my soul. I faced off against it, squaring my paws deep in the snow. The light dimmed to reveal a sleekly-built cat, with a silky coat and bright, kind eyes of the strangest pink hue. The pupils that inhabited those eyes were heart-shaped and delicate, yet strong-willed. Cupine the goddess of love blinked and tilted her aura-tinged head ever so delicately.
~~~~~~"Bachilles, I've been looking for you, my dear," she said, her gaze soft and without a hint of annoyance.
My dear his my ears like the serpent snapped its mouth: unrelenting, harshly. Cupine must have noticed as she gave me a quizzical look a split-second after. My throat tightened as the memories rushed at me. Her light flickered as she seemed to relive my memories as well.
~~~~~~I felt my body quiver and tilt to the side, forcing a paw out to stabilize myself.
~~~~~~"You know, I really believed in you two," she shook her head slowly. "I don't have much to offer you, dear hero, but I do have one last gift from the gods. Morganus gave you a mission and a scarf. Buoyar gave you magic. Now, I will give you life." Cupine offered me a warm smile that could've melted the entire tundra, her pink eyes crinkling. She looked to the night sky as a swooping shadow crossed over the snow in front of us.
~~~~~~I heard the screech of an owl and was spooked by the sound of an avian landing behind me. I spun around to see a large snowy owl perched on a fir tree, its creamy belly contracting from the flight. I gasped as my eyes met the owl's; they were a familiar sunny yellow color. They could brighten a room with their hints of orange, and make someone smile with a single glance. But they didn't belong to the bird. They belonged to Hatroclus.
~~~~~~My head swung back around to ask Cupine about this gift, but she was nowhere to be found. Only a sweet rosy scent wafted on the breeze. I knew from my father that snowy owls were one of her sacred animals, but it still didn't make complete sense to me. What was the purpose of this gift? Was it Hatroclus reincarnated as a bird, or perhaps a constant reminder of what I'd done to him? It squawked and I returned my head to its previous position. I decided to examine the bird closer, finding dashes of grey on its wings, swathes of cream on its torso, and a gleam in its eyes.
~~~~~~I could either reject this gift and face the wrath of Cupine, or accept the bird and attempt to get to know it, no matter how ridiculous that sounded. For the time being, I decided to curl back into my trunk. Without a word I stumbled numbly back to my small den and passed out once on the nest.
~~~~~~Months and months passed, filled with me trying to commune with the owl, only to find that it could hoot back. I knew it wasn't really speaking, but I seemed to understand it nevertheless. Every time I asked it who it was, it'd go silent, often flying off. The time it spent around me increased the closer I became with it. I didn't really understand why the owl had been given to me, but I filled my days talking to it, running in its shadow, and hunting mice together. It was nice. It was peaceful.
~~~~~~Eventually the realization came to me that I needed to head to the next village. I packed up the small home I had made at that tree trunk and started trudging through the snow, with my owl companion lazily flying above me, looking for dangers. It protected me. Just as I had protected him. Even if the owl had nothing of Hatroclus in him, he felt like my love. He felt warm and soft, protective and caring. He was my new barrier between the cold and dark and the newly blossoming peace I had found in recent months.
~~~~~~As the speck of a village grew bigger and bigger, I realized there was a certain lack of fear in my stomach. No longer was I anxious about the outcome of the next battle, or the nature of the village leader. I was content with whatever happened. I was at peace.
~~~~~~The trio of deities gazed down on the snowy village, roofs dusted with white. Morganus' hero had arrived moments before, and Buoyar and Cupine were discussing the latest gifts.
~~~~~~"Morganus, you've really outdone yourself! This hero is successful and has an absolutely
heartwrenching tale! A perfect combo," chuckled Buoyar, never showing much concern for cats other than his watery felines.
~~~~~~Morganus knitted their eyebrows, deep in thought as their mist swirled. "I have seen into that hero's mind. I never left it, even when he thought I had. He has thought some treacherous things, and I fear that...That perhaps he is right." Buoyar paused in the middle of his joke to Cupine. She perked her eyes and looked at the primordial god.
~~~~~~"What do you propose we do, Morganus?"
~~~~~~"Well, the first thing we must do is help the mortals."
~~~~~~Buoyar scoffed, "We've
been doing that, but we can't be too obvious about it, or else
he will find out and we'll be in big trouble. Cupine nodded in contemplative agreement.
~~~~~~"No. Our devoutest followers have suffered too much. It is our duty as their creators to take care of them, and listen to their prayers. I cannot stand by any longer and allow him to stay on the throne if this is what he does with that power. I'm sure as a primordial, he will listen to me," the feline looked at their friends with a serious expression. "I do not ask you to join me, as I do understand the risk-"
~~~~~~"We're in," said Cupine, with bright determination. "Let's go set things right!"
~~~~~~Buoyar blinked, having spaced out for a few seconds, and said,
"Let's go commit some treason of the highest regard!"