The Beast kin’s fine golden fur captures the fading afternoon sun a welcome connection to the noble sweet voice turning me speechless, tugging at a non-existent memory. A female Lion Beast kin. Tall for her sex. Spear carrying. Her sharp teeth reveal themselves. I run through these observations trying to collect and search the pieces of my mind to recall our previous encounter. I am aware deep in my soul I know this Beast kin. Yet before me, this statuesque, athletic stranger sways confidently with an enlightening smile dancing across her cheeks, whiskers twitching, displaying a maw of savage white teeth and I am none the wiser. My consternation is a definite disadvantage, which I am certain she recognises as her tail swishes excitedly back and forth.

“I apologise for interrupting your contemplation during this holiest moment.” Her head bows and feline ears tic.

I am certainly not in any religious meditation or delving although I concede anyone looking upon me in my current state would easily conclude I’m not aware of my immediate surroundings. My mind’s eye recovery doesn't reveal to me where this stranger fits into my past. No evolution has ever inflicted a loss of memory upon me, until now perhaps and I don’t like it. My memories are me and mine, regardless of the shape, I become and the nature of the creature which influences me while I am so changed. At least one memory has been stolen, is the infuriating conclusion I draw.

“Perhaps another time High Priestess.” Her questioning voice sings.

Regardless of my frustration and the futile rummaging within my mind, I must respond now or possibly lose this opportunity. I remember the Goddess Hera and her blessing upon me, perhaps her Priestess will prove a worthy ally.

“I didn’t expect to witness any but servants of Zeus being ordained with the founding of his Temple.”

Her maw opens wide, a silent laugh, her eyes sparkling in support.

“I am sure Zeus is as surprised, perhaps we can continue our meditation upon the half green hill.” The ribbons of muscle slide along the length of her arm as she extends her limb in the direction of the Amphitheatre.

---

[Aphrodite, Priestess of Zeus has exited the Sanctified Area of Zeus, link to Quest Dungeon of Azizos re-established.]

Her purring breath gasps as my message appears, confirming my exit from Zeus’ consecrated ground and her in her own way sensing the same as there is no Temple construct to inform any of the actual boundary.

“That’s a relief, a weight off my mind you could say,” she says flippantly.

There is silence between us as we both pad across the paved area to the Amphitheatre proper and instead of taking a seat on the square-cut blocks of stone, which invite us, we climb the surrounding grassed slope.

“Shouldn’t we be celebrating with our fellow worshippers High Priestess?”

“Perhaps. They will still be approachable in the days to come.”

“That isn’t an answer!”

I take a small joy in confusing Alba, her perplexed silence the reward.

The Beast Kin Pleasant Voice surveys the town from our vantage point, content as someone who holds a secret and at ease as to the timing and the importance of the content. Apart from my time counting down I’m not in a rush as Zeus' Temple will stop my need to rush back to him and so I appreciate the same view, the Panther Beast kin Priestess of Zeus organising his Temple below under my judgemental gaze, although avoiding the ruin where Nasim and his family are making a home. In fact, they exercise their domination over stone and repair before my very eyes. We regally pose beside each other, me on my four clawed paws and her on two.

“Thank you for your trust High Priestess.” Pleasant Voice bows her head extravagantly towards me. “My Goddess filled me with insight to find you, although upon recognising her gift within you, your unique beauty, your majesty and your magnificence would alone mark you as special.” Her head rises, her eyes finding mine.

“False flattery High Priestess! As an elder Giant Gar, many would approach me with such empty displays of homage.”

“Would you mind humouring me for a moment? A test of sorts, perhaps?” she continues, her purring voice deliberate I feel.

A curt nod of my head, my confirmation. I am certain she won’t be able to force any proposal upon me I don’t agree with and wait.

“As Priests, we are granted the use of Magic in the name of our God, or in my case Goddess. I would like you to demonstrate the Miracles you have been granted by Zeus.”

My confusion must be plain and easily read.

“You do remember how to don’t you?” She then throws her head back and chuckles.

“I wonder why … and my veneration of Zeus is a subtle one, no flashy displays.” I avoid informing her of my aspect as I am suspicious of her motivation.

“Perhaps a simple [Worship Zeus] to start?” she suggests.

Yes, something which is available to all Priests of their respective Gods, although I will start with [Soul Sight] to assess this Priestess of Hera.

I draw on my stored magic from the two attuned spirits. There is a connection, I am attuned and yet no response. They are both exhausted, still in existence as is a rock, not existing as is a plant that regenerates by absorbing what it requires from its surroundings.

“You appear pale upon white High Priestess. Can I assist in any way?”

Her tone, she is aware or hoards a suspicion …

I draw on my own magic, from within and cast [Worship Zeus], although I admit to myself, that my heart isn’t really committed. I am rewarded with silence. My magic depleted; I sense the pool siphoned. I fume and boil within, my motivation not holy fervour, now indignation, he ignores me! I who planned and toiled to create the foundations of his greatest Temple, suffering the pain of reuniting with my daughters, wondering if they would reject me, their mother.

Casting [Worship Zeus] with purpose and determination yields the same response, silence.

I resist the urge to grab her neck, Alba is helpful in this one instance, influencing my wrath to disperse the reactive emotion with several simple words.

“Calm High Priestess, she may only be the messenger.”

“How did you know?” I accuse the Beast kin beside me drawing up my Panther body and Human torso to threaten her from on high.

The palms of her hand paws quickly rise before her, her spear resting in the crook of an elbow. “My Goddess suspected. Your purpose completed, you are no longer required and now out of favour. Zeus believes he is beyond justice and the need to honour loyalty.”

My plan requires Zeus’ favour, to return me to my Creator, why abandon me? I have done his bidding, drawn his presence into this world to be worshipped, rallied worshippers to fuel his … his holy invasion into a world without Gods and Goddesses, a world ripe for him and his Greek Pantheon to establish themselves.

I change tac and ask a question. “How does a Priest of Hera become ordained when a Temple to Zeus is being consecrated?”

Her lips and whiskers retreat. “Good question. The answer is within you. Three Goddesses marked you with their gifts, I don’t know how, only that you were. When you [Sanctify Area] Zeus answered as expected. Unknown to many, especially Zeus and certainly Hera, Athena and your namesake, Aphrodite they also felt the draw and for little effort or sacrifice accompanied Zeus, entering this world with their presence.”

Could Zeus’ ire with me originate from the uninvited Goddesses ordaining their own Priests?

“You are perhaps associating your excommunication by Zeus with the invasion of the three Goddesses," she continues.

When my jaw drops slightly, she pauses to smile, her sharp white teeth, prominent.

“They are all Gods and Goddesses of the same Patheon one can’t exist alone for long, eventually the other eleven Gods and Goddesses would be drawn here, to reform the Twelve Olympians. Once they all arrive, then my Goddess suspects other Gods would be able to follow. Zeus’ motivation would be to arrive first, establish himself as the King of the Gods and once his position secure, invite the other Olympians as he knows he must.”

This information changes nothing for me, still betrayed and cast aside. Zeus must compete against three Goddesses, who from the gifts they granted me aren’t offering much more than Zeus. Aphrodite, Goddess of Love marked me with [Prolific Fertility], so perhaps the Beast kin could use that to replenish their numbers. Hera, Goddess of Marriage, marked me with [Concealed by Shadows] and [Silent Step] to pursue unfaithful husbands or lovers, although useful to me beyond that while I obey her conditions. Finally, Athena could challenge Zeus as warriors are always interested in weapon skills and while not marked per se, her influence upon me to make a wise choice, ever-present like a guiding hand.

Perhaps the time has arrived for me to call Athena for wisdom and guidance, given Zeus has abandoned me.

“Have you found a Priest of Athena or perchance Aphrodite?”

Her claws dig into the green grass. “My Goddess and the Goddess Athena are … shall we say, at odds with the Goddess Aphrodite, a conflict called the Trojan War. I have no more details, solely inheriting my Goddess's attitude in the matter. I doubt any Priest of Athena would welcome another bearing the image of her rival Aphrodite and Aphrodite being jealous of any beauty to rival her own, in your case her duplicate and to her perhaps false would reject you the same. My Goddess has other motives, although thwarting and frustrating the plans of her husband is high on her list and hence why I found you and am now talking to you.”

“How do I know what you are saying is the truth?” I accuse.

She grins, her head bows slightly. “You have no reason to believe me, I am a stranger, although a Priestess same as you. My words are easily proven though, find the Priest of Athena, find the Priest of Aphrodite and be subject to their rejection as I, a Priestess of Hera would also reject you, while we have established Zeus has abandoned you. The favour you currently hold with the three Goddesses is the only favour they will ever grant you and clearly, Zeus isn’t likely to grant you any favours so perhaps your purpose is fulfilled.”

She bows curtly before me, although I spy the glee in her eye, a messenger enjoying her task believing herself immune from the consequences.

“Politics High Priestess, you are excommunicated by Zeus, yet not a murderer in the eyes of those enlightened about you. High on this hill, your actions are being watched by many.”

Alba’s words counselling me, she proves herself useful on this one occasion.

“Well Priestess of Hera, Pleasant Voice, I need to find myself a new purpose …”

“Hold your words High Priestess, don’t let your enemies know more than they already know!”

I shake my head, my long hair tickling my back allowing me to fully consider Alba’s words, for once proving herself useful as my next words would have been a clouded threat. Why should I warn them, let my return be a surprise? Time to negotiate with Azizos, the single power in this land who needs to use me as much as I now need to use him.

The Priestess of Hera retreats a step along the rim of the green. “Killing me will not serve you well, there are many witnesses …” Her pleasant voice is now light, her nervousness constricting her throat I suspect.

My turn to laugh. “I am beyond petty murder upon receiving bad news, no point in killing the messenger, as they wouldn’t then have the chance to deliver good news in the future, would they?”

Her taut muscles relax, her body fur lays back and a weak smile, no sharp teeth, returns.

“Farewell Priestess,” I say with the cheeriest of sentiment and then coiling my hindquarters I power off the green rim into the air, hopeful the stroking of my wings manages to lodge something annoying in her eyes.

I wing my way around the town, flying low, then gliding along the streets separating the various Beast kin Quarters eventually landing between Badger Beast kin Quarter and the newly claimed consecrated ground. Nasim hails me before I spot him, I am checking who else is observing my arrival at his doorstep.

Waiting in the street, I am eventually rewarded as he approaches me, his face inquisitive and questioning.

“Why do you wait on the street High Priestess?”

“I am no longer favoured by Zeus, so I am no longer your High Priestess, you must obey the Priestess of this Temple if you wish to continue to honour Zeus.”

He looks back to the consecrated ground and then returns his eyes to appraise me.

“What do you wish of me and mine High Priestess?”

“I …”

He waves his huge grey meaty hand at me. “You called to me, and you ordained my clan, you will always be our High Priestess.”

“I can’t offer you any protection, any powers, spells. I am alone and searching for a future.” I explain lowering my voice almost to a whisper, saying these words define my position, Azizos it seems now proven to be my last hope and my stomach churns.

“We are used to being subservient and respectful until offered better, we will serve Zeus as you say until offered better High Priestess.” He solemnly closes and opens his eyes.

“The Priestess has expressed a desire to reject you and your clan’s assistance in building the Temple, although with my departure her opinion may change. Either way, make friends here Nasim, prove your usefulness with stone, perhaps by building your own quarter, perhaps closer to the river and the Dungeon path,” I suggest.

“Yes, an example of our skill on neutral ground, how could such a feat be misjudged and perhaps if we don’t occupy the future Temple with our numbers, we will be seen as less of a threat, especially if our settlement is not plain view.” He smiles and gently hugs my shoulders with his strong hands.

Breaking free, before I tear, I am in flight, gliding over the Cat Beast kin Quarters ensuring the more inquisitive observe me flying North and when satisfied I am out of sight, I break West away from the river, my wings pumping, propelling me higher and higher until I glide South, returning to Azizos, wondering if he will welcome me or curse me.