Enna is a Land God: Book 1

Enna is a Land God

Everything was dark and cold. The air felt heavy and the space felt vast. I didn't know what to make of it, but i felt afraid. I was just beginning to accept that I would have to make a life in the odd world I had awoken in previously, and now I was transported again? Was that to be my future now, being transported to weird places every time I fall asleep.

Shaking, i moved my hand, puffing out a breath of relief when it moved. At least I wasn't back to being a vegetable. Maybe I was blind now. As soon as the thought crossed my mind I waved a hand before my eyes. I could not see it, perse, but my eyes did pick up the movement. Son not blind, just in a very dark place. Shuffling my feet confirmed that I was, indeed, standing on some sort of solid surface.

Well, what the hell? Now I was just annoyed. Could a girl not catch a break here?

I nearly jumped out of my skin when a growling laughed echoed about my head, the vibration making me a little dizzy. The hairs on my arms stood on end as I registered that wherever I was, I was not in it alone.

"You are quite small, human." Vibrated the voice. My hands flew up and I slammed them against my ears, confirming that i really did still have ears and that they felt like they were going to bleed. "Small and weak." It said, each syllable getting just a little more tolerable to listen to. Even its presence in the air became more barrable and less invasive.

"Who- What are you?" I asked to the endless darkness, head wiping back and forth despite not being able to see a thing either way.

"A god." it said. 

"Not Aeros I hope..." I said, pretty sure that running into a god famous for hating humans would be a bad thing.

the voice laughed and I thought I picked up a slight movement in my peripherals. "Oh, do humans from other worlds even know my name?" Great... well, at least he sounded pleased.

"The foxkin were speaking of you..."

"Ah. pathetic little things, but I took pity on them and welcomed them to my forest all the same." Now the disembodied god voice sounded contemplative. "I am quite surprised they are still alive, if I am to be honest."

"From what I understand they are in a bit of a bind at the moment." I said, feeling a little protective of the people who had taken me in when they had every reason not to. Wasn't he their god? Should he really be speaking so badly about them?

"that does not surprise me. the weak are often preyed upon by the strong. It is the way of things."

"It doesn't have to be." I answered.

"Ah, you wish to put your human logic onto monster affairs. Such is to be expected of a human, I suppose."

Irrationally irritated when, logically, I should be more afraid than anything, I snapped at the god. "Look, why am I here? Why aren't you answering the Foxkin's prayers? they really seem to need you, you know?"

Aeros laughed again. "I suppose I can answer your questions. Let no one believe that Aeros was ungrateful to those doing him a favor, yes? what was your first question? Why are you here?" I saw a flash of movement but when I spun I still only saw darkness. "that one is easy. You are here- If by 'here' you mean this place of darkness- because this is your space. Inside your mind. Inside your soul. Every person has one after all. Mine is a great deal more impressive than this depressing hole."

I made a disgusted noise which the God promptly ignored. "As for why I do not answer the Foxkin's prayers? I could give you many and varied reasons, and all would be the truth... but the simplest explanation is that I do not want to."

"What?!" I exclaimed. "But you are their god! Doesn't that make you responsible for them or something?"

"No." He said with such conviction that it confused me for a moment. "I am a Land God. i am not a baby sitter of mewling mortals who ask me for the moon and more. Let this be a lesson for you, little one, a land god's job is to keep the land. And for a great many years I believe I did that quite well. The comings and goings of the people who walk upon the land are incidental. In fact, it is their job to provide the land god with the means to protect the land. And by protecting the land, those people have a place to live, to eat, and to breed. the circle of life, you know?" he seemed to collect his thoughts for a second before continuing. "And that leads into your last question. Why should a god help a people who can not help themselves? Is that how it works in your world, little human?"