Ennead || Unseen

First year

"It hurts. I don't know how I'm supposed to simply learn to survive on the ark." You groan as soft hands pluck the dead stems off your skin. They squeeze your shoulders as a comfort.

"I'm sure you'll figure it out. It took me a long time to figure out how to transform properly. Or how to make this palace livable for you." Thoth says before cupping a bit of water and pouring it over your chest. "You're still growing up, Little one. You have time before you get there."

You huff. "I bet Nu wouldn't have a problem on the Ark."

"Father wouldn't last an hour. They would have evaporated. Often they would complain about the day's heat while still wearing all black."

You giggle at that before quieting.

"Seth wears a black skirt and that idiot spends all day in the sun..." you muse.

You feel him pat your head.

"I know you miss them but you'll still be able to watch them grow up. And they'll get to see your new headdress."

You grip said headdress like a security blanket. "It keeps me cooler at day and keeps me warmer at night."

Thoth lifts and inspects the fabric. It seems to be interlaced with gold stripes, mimicking the sun's rays. He rolls his eyes.

"I bet we can make it even better. But even so, you can't rely on a hat alone.... Why don't you ask Tefnut and Shu to learn how they stay, well, alive?"

You blinked... that's a good idea!

So here you are, climbing onto Shu's arm. He lifts it and looks at you inquisitively but just lets you dangle from him pathetically, feet flailing in the air as you try to stay atop him.

"I don't know what you're trying to do with my husband but we're about to embark, please stop playing around." Tefnut chided you, crossing her arms.

"No! I want Uncle Shu to stay with me today!!!" You whined before looking up at him, trying to muster your cutest face at him. He stares at you...

Before turning to Tefnut. She growls.

"Shu... no...."

He keeps staring at her and she gets even more pissed.

"Shu! We were supposed to do this-"

———

"Together." Tefnut snarled as she rowed the ark harder than usual.

"Oh calm down, daughter. He's still doing his job, he's just... training the new passenger."

"So much for marital equality"

Meanwhile, you lay next to Shu, asking him questions.

"So like... I know you blessed me and I thank you but when I'm up here, I still feel like I can't breathe!"

Shu hummed before bending down and muttering to you, barely above a whisper. "How do you breathe?"

"Like usual? Breathe in, breathe out?"

"Ah... you must learn how to breathe without inhaling."

You squint at him. "What do you mean? I don't need to do that when I'm like on the moon and such."

He shakes his head. "In space, even if you inhale, you're not drawing in anything, the air in your lungs stay put. But here, there's still air. Hot air. You must learn how to solely breathe with the air in your lungs."

You frown. "How???"

He lifts up a hand. "Do you trust me?" You bite your lip... before nodding. He leans over and puts his hand over your face. You just kinda let him, not really getting what he's doing...