Chapter Text
The goat was sitting on Shamura's lap as Narinder explained everything they talked about in their absence. "So you guys are really going through with this? Well I guess I can see why you guys wanna leave, but I still wish you guys would stay together. It's going to be harder to take care of everyone if you guys are all scattered. Also I don't know about going to the land of the dead, why would you guys basically wanna live in a giant graveyard?"
"I don't trust the cult near Una at the moment, I want to keep her safe until she is old enough to speak at the very least. As for my former land, it is a difficult place to get to even for gods. I have felt someone watching me for a while, and it makes me feel uneasy. It is something hostile, it also feels unnatural. Ever since I consumed that spy's soul some of my demonic power has returned. It is still somewhat dormant, but I can sense things easier. There are four neutral demons and one hostile that reside here. I do not think the fox has anything to do with this, but it is similar in their hunger."
The goat let out a grown and hid their face in between Shamura's shoulder and neck. "I just want to come home and cuddle with Shamura, why does everyone want to tear us apart?" Shamura rubbed the goat's back and smiled. "Must you be dramatic my lord, I have told you of my dreams of gods going to war once more. You knew we would have to leave eventually, unfortunately Narinder's door can not be open until the blood moon, also and the residents will only allow us to reside there for a short time. But if I am correct, we must find a way to protect ourselves. The crowns are all taken care of for now, but we must find new bearers. I feel our child and Narinder's would be accepted for they are both children of current and former gods. Amy's and Baal's children would also be good candidates because of the demon blood. That would only enhance the crown's power like it did to Narinder."
Narinder's tail lashed out at hearing this, "I do not wish for our children to be put to war. Did you not learn from past mistakes? We will find another way, but you will leave the kit's and my child out of this Shamura. Also why did you not tell me about your dreams, why do you continue to hide things from us Shamura. We are your siblings, do you not trust us." The goat could feel Shamura's body tense up, they looked up to see Shamura looking at them with a sad look. They heard Narinder get up and start to leave. "Hay kitty where you think your going this late? Go to bed, the sun is going down."
Narinder kept walking to the cult entrance and the goat ran over to block their path. "Your not going anywhere big guy, I'm the god so I'll go talk to Ratau and the fish breath, you sleep I know you're exhausted." Narinder tilted his head and gave the goat a fake shock look. "Did you just refer to me with the name you bestowed upon the mystic one? The disrespect, compering a lowly mortal a holy being."
Goat smiled and shrugged, "it's not like I named them that on purpose, I thought they were kidding and said 'ok big guy' and they took that as their name. If I knew I would have called them something cool like Goat 2.0 or something." They heard Shamura laugh a bit and smiled. "Go tuck bebe to bed, I'll be done before sunrise. Just no goodnight kiss, don't want them to see I'm not that good of a kisser."
Narinder pinned his ears back, "I think it is best I have time for myself at the moment". Goat pushed Narinder back frowning, "I think it's best you don't run from your problems fur ball. I don't want to worry when I'm not here, and you two are going to kiss and make up before I have to go back." Once again Narinder tilted his head in mock confusion, "I thought you did not want us to kiss on the count your a bad kisser?" Goat just shrugged and looked at Shamura, "they probably know already. Also I thought about it and you're probably worse than me, I had practice with Shamura before mister 'my first kiss was the vessel that stole my crown'."
Shamura let out a sigh and Narinder's face fell. "Fine I will go to bed, but I expect you to open the drink house tomorrow." Before Goat could say anything, Narinder dragged Shamura away. Goat frowned when they felt Narinder loss half his faith. It was odd, they said worse things before. They decided on talking about it later and left.
Shamura followed Narinder quietly, they knew he was hurting. Both his lovers left him, and sadly Shamura had warned him of both. They said Kori was to family oriented to give up her flock completely, only 50 years in before she stopped eating to see her family again. Narinder decided to just sacrifice her at that point, she actually thanked him as she was taken to the afterlife. They said Lamb was fickle and had been known to have a harem, but they promised Narinder they would stay faithful if he did to. He rejected them at first, but 200 years of the lamb rejecting others made him think they were serious. When he said yes they practically cried from joy, he was the last to marry. All his siblings and lovers had golden skulls, and when Narinder married the lamb gave him his necklace. He got a missionary necklace so he can come and go as he pleased. Shamura warned him until the last day that it was a bad idea, after the wedding they stopped though.
When the lamb said they wanted children, he was hesitant. But when his siblings were talking about starting a family, he began to yearn for one as well. When Baal and Aym came to the cult with three queens, Narinder decided he missed raising kits. Now he wouldn't take his decision back because that would entail giving up Una. But it still hurt that he chose wrong again, now his lamb was going to be raised by a single father. He was nervous, he was definitely proud of Baal and Aym, but he knew they would have been better off with Forneus.
"Come inside for a moment dear brother, we must speak about my dreams, what my lord said, and the demon you said is watching you." Narinder was a bit shocked, he didn't even realized they made it to Shamura's home. They walked inside and sat on Shamura's bed, Shamura sitting next to him. Tonight was going to be a long night.
Goat had just talked to the head follower of light, they were willing to house the majority of the cult as long as they helped keep the darkness away. Apparently the light has been dimming slowly, Webber would be perfect for the job because of their fear of the dark. Next was Ratau, they were half way to the lonely shack when they saw Haro cooing at two eggs. "Wow Haro, you just got your power back and already getting busy I see." Haro looked up at Goat and smiled, "tis my first followers, tell me God of death, what keeps thee here?"
Goat gave the owl an 'are you serious' look. "With how smart you are and how much you've stalk me I would think you knew Shamura and me had a thing." Haro shook their head before looking at the got, "tis not what I meant, why not take what thou want and leave?" The goat looked down at their ring and smiled, "I know Shamura wouldn't be happy without their siblings, and their siblings wouldn't leave their families or friends behind like that. I did think of leaving my old world godless, but Shamura doesn't want that. So that's why I'm here, because I'm just a fool in love with someone I shouldn't be. Now tell me Haro, why are you here? I know Big Guy sent you for something, now tell me why so I can hurry home."
"Gifts from the god of the forge." Before Goat could say anything they felt the power surrounding them. The crown morphed into a scythe and they suddenly felt they forgot something important. "What was that for... Haro? Where'd you go, get back here and tell me what you did you jerk! Haro! Stupid bird, I still had a few questions about you." They continued their walk to Ratau's, Haro looked down from their tree still holding the eggs. "Tis almost time to make a choice young god, shall thou give up thou heart, or thou soul?"
After Narinder and Shamura talked Narinder left to his home, Forneus was already asleep with Una. He sleep for about an hour before both cats woke up and ran outside, their tails puffed up and ears back. A Vesta was inside the cult heading to Shamura's tent before they stopped and turned to the pair. Narinder was the first to react as they hissed and lounged at the demon. His face splitting open in the process. Forneus ran inside before grabbing a bow and some arrows and running back out. Narinder was dodging a hit when she made it out. She saw a cultists peeking out of their tent and made note of who it was before firing an arrow at the demon distracting them. The cats continue to fight, Narinder taking a few hits and the cultists continued to pop out every now and then.
The Vesta finally gave up when a Paean started healing Narinder. They could always come back later they thought, Forneus ran over to check on the Tom as he struggled to get up. "Are you alright my lord? Here, let me help you." She took Narinder to the closest building to sit next to. Narinder looked up at Forneus with cloudy eyes. "Go check on Una, something is wrong." She nodded and ran to check on the little lamb. Narinder sat there and closed his eyes as he tried to rest. He was starving, he needed food now. But he didn't want food, it was a hunger he hadn't felt sense he was a kit. He heard footsteps walking over to him, he looked up to find a hippo he didn't recognize. They smiled at Narinder before pulling a knife out.
Narinder's face split as he got ready to lounge, but before the could someone slit their throat. The goat was standing there looking at the body with discuss. "Is this life 2 or did I make it in time? Nari, hay look at me. Dude don't do this, come on. Narinder." Narinder snapped out of it and looked at the goat, his hunger slowly going away. Goat held their hand out for him but Narinder ignored them as he got up struggling. "Look Narinder, I didn't mean what I said. I didn't know your love life was a sore spot, but I guess it's common sense now that I think about it. You first did you wrong and left...." "Silence" Goat jump up a little not expecting Narinder's reaction. But before they could question him Forneus called out to Narinder as she ran to them holding Una.
"Narinder, they tried to take her. She, she, I'm sorry. She's a Paean." Narinder's whole body tensed up, the goat just shrugged it off and walked over to them. "So the baby stepped on the summoning circle, she's back to normal now. No harm, no fowl." Forneus shook her head, "Paean's are mostly harmless, a hybrid on the other hand could be one of the most dangerous creatures. Even more so than a Harthor, Harthors might eat someone's heart leaving behind a lost shell of their former selfs. But Paeans consume their souls. Luckily this was Una's first kill, but if we are not careful she could get out of control."
"Shamura had trouble weaning me from souls when I was a kit. I never attempted to consume them because they found me when I was just fed, but they said I would go out at night to find my pray. They said the only reason I did not consume them was because I had become attached to them. I would usually hunt every three days if I was well fed, but if Shamura did not find food I would hunt myself or be fed by a Paean. Shamura believes them to be my parent, the fox is the way he is because they were raised only by their Harthor parent. Forneus never had to feed on hearts because a nun found her egg before it hatched. Their for her demon parent never had to take care of her. I was weaned young so I was able to stop, the fox will never change though. That is why I was given the crown by Haro instead of him, because I had control of my self."
The goat looked at Narinder confused "wait, Haro gave you the crown?" Narinder just nodded, "I was once their witness, they were the god of the hunt and education. Shamura was another of their disciples, so when a fanatic harmed them Shamura went after him. I was to protect Haro so they went alone and barely made it back alive. We later found other infant gods, they were struggling to survive since they were easy targets to other gods. We stayed together and eventually went after the fanatic. Once he was down we went after the other gods. Haro was not happy, but did not do anything to stop us. They just left knowing we could not be stopped."
"Did Haro give Shamura their crown?" "No, they found it somewhere during a hunt. I was the only one given my crown." Goat stayed thinking of a while, they really didn't know anything about the bishops. Then they looked at Narinder a bit concerned, "did you and Haro have a thing." They look of shock and embarrassment was priceless, unfortunately it was a serious question so the goat was more confused than amused. "What, no, what would even put that blasphemous idea in that small depraved mind of yours. I have only ever had two spouses, Kori and Lamb."
The goat looked more curious now, "Kori? Were they hot?" Narinder looked dumbfounded at the goat before they took Una and left. "I was actually curious, I never knew they were married before the lamb." Forneus walked the goat to a near by fountain to explain everything. Goat was sad to hear the the little bit Forneus knew, tomorrow they had to do two things, apologize to Narinder and get more information from Shamura. Then they had to get everyone ready to leave.