Tides of Ruse and Ruin

Questions

Delphina

I walked beside the god of war as we headed for the village. Some part of me thought that this was a terrible idea and that he was here to wage war and kill us all. I stuffed those thoughts away as I looked at him as we walked. His hair danced in the wind and I caught his scent again. Pine and something I didn't recognize, but it was otherworldly.

I noticed the small curls in his hair at the ends. Not a strand was out of place. "Here." He said as we dove behind a bush.

We looked out at my village and he inspected it all. "This is just so strange." He looks at me so intently. "How come I've never heard of this place?"

"Have you heard of Hamun? They are south of us."

He thinks back, "Yeah actually, but I thought they lived on an island somewhere else." It never dawned on me that the gods didn't know about everything. I just had to know more.

We watched as some of the girls danced and some trained. Some of the girls needed just a little more help than the rest of us. "Look!" He points. "They're doing your funny dance."

"They would be twirling around you if they only knew you were here." I noticed that the sun was already coming down and the moon was already in place. "What do you want to see?"

After a moment, he turns to me and inspects me. "Has no one prayed to us here? Does your people hate the gods?"

"No, in fact, we've been desperate for someone to help us," I told him everything that was happening including the animals, crops, and the silence.

"Something is definitely wrong. I have to go back to Celestia." I could've let him leave just yet!

"No!" I shout and he pulls me back into the bush. His hands were rough to the touch as he thoughtlessly grazed my arm. "I mean, you should stay. I can tell you everything I know about us and what happened."

He ponders my statement. "I guess there isn't a war right now." He gives me a smile that makes me melt. "I need to set up a place for tonight." Heat rushes to my cheeks thinking bout him staying with me.

I needed to push him, but not scare him off. Maybe today I would hold back. "I can help you make a shelter in the forest or..." I think to myself. I could hide him in the kitchen or an empty tent, but there was a risk that he would be seen.

"The forest will do. I've slept in worse places."

I look over and Maya is staring me down with her mouth wide open. She caught us and I don't know how I can keep her away for very long. I calmly walk over and grab some tools from a shed. Maya continues to stare at me and the bush... and back again. I know she was excited and she would meet him very soon.

I walk into the forest and Vander walks beside me. Only Maya sees us as we walk by. We run into the forest and I can't help but laugh. He chuckles too, "Why are you laughing?"

"I didn't think I would be doing this today." I almost snort. "Helping a god." Gods, even meeting one.

"I guess that's true. Gods are the ones usually doing the helping."

I mutter to myself. "Unless you're forgotten." He either didn't hear me or didn't care. Honestly, some part of me wanted to hate him and all the gods. Something happened. But whose fault was it?

I handed him my ax and in mere seconds he chopped down an entire tree. He throws the ax down and he runs under the tree and catches it with his hands. I just stand in awe as he gently sets the tree down.

After a moment, I help cut up the tree into long stripes so he can make a tent. "What's it like being a Sirenian?" He says as he ties together the sticks at the top of the tent.