For a moment, the girl hand an inkling of a thought- just the briefest hint of wondering if she should feel more out of place standing before a god, speaking to him as though he was another citizen of the land. And though she revered them all, respected all four with every ounce she could muster, she never did feel out of place before them. Perhaps it was childlike innocence that allowed her this trait, but she did not know or question what the real answer was.

As the others shared all their answers, some agreeing with her and others having other thoughts, she smiled pleasantly and hummed easily enough. It was nice to get out into the open air again, to gather with strangers away from the confines of the dark caves, and no matter the affiliations that these friends would take up, the queen was glad to have met them at all. But it seemed that the Sun Lord was not done with them yet. For a moment, the girl felt the tiniest shred of anger well up within her- the darkness had come because of the god's negligence? She had attacked and wanted to murder her friends because he had forgotten to open his eyes? And yet, anger was not the girl's style and she could not maintain it for long. With a long sigh, it fled from her chest and she was left to ponder a question she hardly knew how to answer. What would she do differently.

So often, the girl spoke without thinking, just rattling off whatever nonsense came into her head without any consideration of what it was. But here and now, she didn't find any words coming. What would she have done differently? What could she have done differently? After all, she couldn't have avoided being a wraith. She couldn't have avoided her actions as a wraith, her mind being completely taken over. That left after being a wraith. What had she done? She'd sulked, scared and afraid in the caverns while her king had braved the darkness to rescue fallen friends. And it suddenly occurred to her, and made her sad to think, that she should have been out there with him. “I would have helped Kaj find our friends, to make them healthy again. I hid in the caves because I was afraid. But I was afraid of the caves too and I didn't know what to do.”

It always hurt to admit her faults, even though she was reasonably aware of them. But surely the Sun Lord already knew she was a coward. “I would have tried harder to be less afraid and to lead instead of to hide.” In the end, her words no longer held that dancing quality they so often did. It made her sad to think of what dangers she had allowed Kaj to fly into without ever demanding he let her follow. Was she really worthy of his valor?


OOC| My absence thread says I am absent, but that starts tomorrow, I just put it up tonight so I wouldn't have to worry about it tomorrow.

It was truth, what the deity spoke. Cera had met the lords of earth and sun, and both had proven to him that species meant little to them when their physical forms were materialized. The patched son felt little in terms of racism, for he did not condone it, but knew that upbringing was a very powerful thing. One that could not always be reversed. It would always exist, but it didn't mean Cera had to agree with it. Had it not been racism that had almost taken his life? He refrained from chuckling a little bitterly. Maybe he, too, was biased towards a hatred of racism. But it was a thought he could not hold onto for very long, Amani drawing his attention back. His smile was nearly glowing as he turned it upon her, encouraging her words as she spoke them, wanting her to feel as comfortable with him as he could manage. "Amani? I love your name. Can I call you Ama?" Though she seemed excited to call him friend, she also seemed nervous as Ilaria approached. Cera chuckled and called her back to his shoulders, reaching out a flight feather in hopes of brushing it against Amani's soft down. "Friends it is then," he laughed softly, smiling down at the tiny fae at his side. Was this how Note had felt, when they had first met? It was pleasant, warmth spreading up and throughout his chest like a blooming flower. Maybe he could make a change in the orphan child's life. Maybe he could be for her what Hototo and Note had been for him.

But they go quiet, Amani sharing her thoughts softly, hesitantly. None seem to be completely right, but then again, who knew the ways of the celestials well enough to determine the correct answer? Certainly not Cera. Even when his Lord admitted to it being a slip of consciousness that had hurt them so deeply, Cera could not bring himself to be angered. Life played out in funny ways. Even without shedding his light upon them, the Sun God still found ways to make them grow like the plants of his brother which he nourished daily. But what would Cera have changed, in his times in the caves? He fell into quiet, he and Ilaria going through their memories of their times from the infection to their freedom. Only when he had secured an answer did he clear his throat softly and begin to speak up.

"I would have tried to be more courageous in meeting those who were once considered enemies. Old habits die hard, and I did not meet as many of those as I could have who may have once been hated merely because they lived in a land not my own." It was all he truly regretted, and there was no point in lying to impress the God. Surely he would be able to detect such a thing. Lying to his Lord seemed blasphemous as it was, keeping him from ever imagining doing so. It may not be as awe-inspiring or impressive as the painted lady's response, but it was sincere and all his. That was all he needed.

I listen closely as Hector replies to the God's question. My lobes are perked forward, attentive. Complacency he says. Were we complacent? Taking advantage of the good will of the Gods? I can't help but think that even if that were so, it did not apply to me. I never even believed in the Gods before my eyes told me otherwise as I arrived before the God of the Sun, here, today. Even through Africa's words, her spirit and her heart, I did not believe her. But then, just because I was ignorant does not mean that I wasn't complacent as well. I ponder the concept, feeling myself grow anxious inside.

But the God allays my fears, in a way I had not quite suspected. Negligence? The darkness that overcame Helovia, took me, and took me from my beloved before I could even nurture the feelings I have for her... it was because of extended meditation? REALLY. The first feeling I have is anger. Anger that I have no idea where she is or what is going on in the world because a stupid God couldn't be bothered to open his goddamned eyes. A deep breath, and I let the anger out through my flared nostrils. Thanks to Midas and Hector, I was healed from the infection that threatened to kill me, and kill everyone in my path. He poses a question to us all. "What would you do differently?"

Well, it seems to me like a lot of what had happened was beyond my control. When a darkness has brought a strange and powerful infection, and you're one of the first to get sick, there's not much you can do. But there is one thing that I wish I'd been better about. I listen to the replies of the cheerful spotted mare, then the boy Cera, then a snowy mare. My own answer comes easily. "Before I went to the Sanctuary.. I stopped by the Heart of Helovia. It was there I came upon the filly Sikeax.. she brought the darkness to me and infected me. What would I have done differently?" I lower my head, unsure if my answer will please the Lord, but certain that the truth is the best. "I would have been smarter and less arrogant, staying away from something clearly dying. I would have found others to save, and made for the caves as bidden." It sounds like a lame and pathetic answer to my ears, but it is the truth, and even if I tried I could not come up with a different answer.

Walking "Talking"

Satanic Silk

The homely young lady gives a bashful smile at his request, crown dipping in acknowledgement and agreement as her lips form words that emphasize her action. Cera smiles in return, genteel but affectionate as he looks upon the smaller dame at his side. He won't abandon her like all of his family had done to him. Something seemed to be resting on her tongue, unspoken but desperately wanting to be, and Cera waited her words with a patience he'd been born with. When it came slipping out, hesitant and slightly fumbled in an endearing, infinitely precious way, he laughed softly; careful not to draw too much attention from the God they so revered. "She's a red panda. Much like a small bear and a lemur perhaps?" his brows furrow and he laughs as he tries to think of a genus he knows nothing about. Only her species is known to him. "But she is very gentle. She is a healer, in fact." Ilaria stood upon his withers, front paws tucked to her chest, and chirped an affirmation with a delighted swing of her tail. Pretty, pretty. Nice! Like her! Cera winked at his companion, laughing in his throat, and turned back towards Amani. "She said you're very pretty and nice, and that she likes you." With that little tidbit, he turned back to the God momentarily, one ear still affectionately tilted Amani's way.

The God looked upon him and Cera tilted his head, Ilaria quickly moving to pay attention once more. His words embodied his element in how they moved the youth before him, warm in his chest like embers and hot summer days. Proud and loving. The celestial's smile was like an award, a note written in a language one could not read, that Cera was no failure. That the path of light and honesty would always lead him true. Stepping forward with surety, the patched stallion looked up into the face of his Lord and smiled. One wing dropped, followed by a knee, into the smoothest, most graceful bow he could muster. "Thank you, my Lord. I will not disappoint you." But what did he desire? Ilaria could heal, and in his mind he knew there were only two options left; offensive and crafting. Which would serve him in the coming days to uphold his Lord's ideals? "I wish to use your light, my Lord. To stun my enemies as they look upon your fires, so that I may use the time to strike them down and protect those I love." Slowly he slid back out of his bow as he spoke, eyes firm with decisiveness.

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[Magic: Light | Able to create a small explosion of light, with his body as the focal point, that can temporarily blind or stun his opponent. Only effective if gazed upon, the burst itself only lasts a few seconds.]

The god speaks to one of the other individuals of courage and quests. I look over at them in silence. This god is granting what the mortal desire!? Well, he still must embark on a quest but still, the Father simply had the angels deal with the wants and wishes of mortals. There is a spark of admiration and reverence for this god, perhaps in this mortal life of mine this is a god I can worship. My eyes slowly drift to the ground, until I hear my name called, not Lee, but my given name. I look at the god as he addresses me and I am completely at a loss of what to say or do.

“Th-thank you my lord,” I say, any form of control or eloquence gone from me now. How can I push past this darkness and into the light? My brain scrambles about and I desperately try to think of something that can push me out of this. “This may be a bold request, and I hope it doesn’t displease you… But can you gift me with my wings once again?” There is a pleading look in my eyes and I can hide it. If fire took them away, couldn’t fire return them? One deity stole them, one deity surely could return them. I don’t doubt the strength of this mighty being, I just don’t know whether such a request will be granted, but in my core it is all I can hope for. This will be my only chance to gain what pieces of me have been lost.

"blah blah blah"