Link to cat(s) or lion(s) involved in prompt: Khalida, Nthanda, Ravi, Valerius
Link to their pride or group: xxXxx
Prompt level completion: Level 5
Prompt:
Story A
After an "enlightening" discussion your cats find themselves given a new task, one asked of them by a majestic older lion with greying beard who called himself the "general" of this place. A simple task- but one he insisted important for your cats to do, to understand, as he so called it. A task to tend to one of the gardens in the city. Of which there were many- but he was very adamant the small sproutlings within them be cared for.
"For life is precious, and should be nurtured. Even if the tree falls, these sprouts may yet stand through the battle we could lose someday, and perhaps one day become the great tree themselves." he says. "And such, we must give them the care they need."
How do your cats respond to something as simple as gardening? can they do so gently, or do they rush to complete their task? How much do they remember? Lions, cats, are certainly not farmers- do they need help to accomplish this, or do they already understand the basics of how a plant may grow? Do they understand the lesson the general seeks to teach them, or view it as unnecessary? Does this offer them some peace in the times to come?
Story B
The voice, contented with the heroes who have stayed there shows itself, gleaming silver eyes peering from the gouges of the tree as it studies its new visitors. It's entourage of death stare unblinking at the life before them. "So..you stay." it says. "Good...good you choose to listen. The goddess... She believes in eternal life, and believes that death has no place among the world." it croons, a desperation in its voice and age beyond its words "And she is wrong...for all of life is a circle, and for new life to grow, she must be shown so..." it says. "We need your help... she would call life to fight rebirth, but it is decay who cannot defend itself.... We do not like our burden, but it is so irrevocably necessary- as the great phoenix, life will rise from the ashes even more strong and vibrant than ever" it attempts to explain. Though, despite its words, it's very easy to sense that the tree is not exactly as adept at addressing any sort of community. "She would see us wiped from this plane, and from existence....She would destroy the ways of life..." it says, desperately. The speech it gives does succeed in riling up the creaking wooden soldiers around it, that stomp their feet and let out snarls of anger. "You cannot imagine the consequence of this.."
Will you stand with eternal life, or will you stand with balance, heroes? What is more important to you, what would you stand to lose, or to gain, can you really fight against your friends? Could you bear the consequences if this being is lying to you?
The goddess... She believes in eternal life, and believes that death has no place among the world. And she is wrong...for all of life is a circle, and for new life to grow, she must be shown so..."
Khalida listened to the deity’s words, feeling suspicious of both sides at this point. She knew there was truth in his words. Sorrowful as it could be death did have its place in the world, and was necessary for new life. But what motivated the goddess to eliminate it? If that was indeed her intention and they weren’t being misled.
"We need your help... she would call life to fight rebirth, but it is decay who cannot defend itself.... We do not like our burden, but it is so irrevocably necessary- as the great phoenix, life will rise from the ashes even more strong and vibrant than ever"
As the being kept speaking Khalida listened closely, trying to pick out the truths and lies between their words. The goddess had indeed called them to fight, but what exactly was her goal? She had yet to really enlighten them on too many details. Did she truly mean to destroy them? Or were these creatures overstepping their place in the world and upsetting the balance. She wasn’t willing to easily accept the truths as told by either side, thinking each was likely to be biased or altering the truth a little to fit their own purposes.
Beside her Valerius seemed just as skeptical and uncertain as he listened. He could sense that this being didn’t seem to be too comfortable addressing them all and wondered when the last time was that anyone had come here.
"She would see us wiped from this plane, and from existence....She would destroy the ways of life..."
That was a big claim, Khalida thought, but she didn’t dismiss the idea, finding it wasn’t too hard to believe really. But many questions went through her mind. If only both of the entities could be brought together to discuss things she thought it would be a great help in determining their true motivations and purposes.
Regardless the creatures at the tree were certainly excited by this speech and Khalida felt a twinge of unease.
"You cannot imagine the consequence of this.."
Khalida doubted they could imagine the consequences or either choice. But she knew she didn’t feel ready to totally ally herself with this entity or the goddess without knowing entirely how her choice would affect this world.
If this entity was lying they could bring disaster and ruin down on this world, and the same if the goddess was the one lying. But if both of them were only telling half-truths, well then she would feel obligated to work toward the best outcome even if she had to work against them both to some degree to achieve it. But then she remembered that her sister was still back with the goddess and had yet to appear.
If it came down to it, she wasn’t sure what her sister would choose. But she did know she couldn’t go against her if this all came to a fight. The possibilities all crowded into her head, making her wish not for the first time that somehow she could find some more clarity in all of this.
“I think they may both be leading us astray,” Valerius murmured to her as the entity stopped speaking.
“Our choice, whatever it is, could have quite an impact on this world and all of its citizens,” she murmured.
“So what do we do? Ally ourselves here, or with the goddess?”
Khalida paused a moment to consider then said, “Ally ourselves here. But…let’s not commit to this cause too fully. Not until we’ve worked out the truth of this whole matter.”
“Very well. We’ll have to be careful.”
“Very careful. And let’s hope the others are as well.”
~…………~
Gardening. Of all the things that might have been asked of them Nthanda had not expected gardening. She could see how it might help. Any of these sprouts might be the ‘heir’ to the great tree. And yet, was that really the most important thing at this particular time?
Briefly she couldn’t help but wonder if the goddess was somehow growing her own army or fortress within the gardens. She wasn’t sure the goddess was entirely trustworthy and her silence on matter of importance to her champions was frustrating to say the least.
On instinct she half wanted to refuse to help and find something that seemed more useful to do, but perhaps gardening would enlighten them somehow and answer some of their questions. At the very least they could examine the plants up close and see if there seemed to be anything noteworthy about them.
Gardening had always come naturally to her so she wasn’t concerned about killing the sprouts or anything at least. As a matter of fact in the city the plants almost seemed to call to her in some way.
After discussing it with Ravi they decided to at least try and see if it helped them any. For now they wouldn’t follow their companions and would just hope that they were alright. Perhaps their best way of helping them would be to stay and learn what they could.
So the pair settled in and awaited the general’s instructions on how to care for the plants. Nthanda thought some of them almost seemed to glow with life and vibrancy, nothing like the decaying creatures she had seen the other night.
Just being near them she felt more energized than she had since going through the portal and arriving at the city. She couldn’t tell if Ravi felt the same but upon trying to ask him was quickly ‘shushed’ by the general who gave them a scathing glare.
After that she just settled in to work quietly, not wishing to ruffle the older lion’s fur. She had plenty to think about anyway. After all, war could be coming. And somehow she was going to have to survive it with what knowledge she had brought her, and this new found knowledge of gardening.
