Heaven's Gardens

Tyr

Tyr was kneeling by the edge of the large body of water that had gathered in the lowest area of the ground he had created. The water was puzzling to him. Though the rivers and streams that he had made so lovingly ran clear and bright with a taste so pure and cleansing it nearly brought tears to his eyes when it first passed his lips, this water was not the same.

The water lapped at the ground beneath his feet, almost as though it were trying to wear the surface down to nothing. Tyr reached out a hand, his sensitive fingertips reached through the foam to the water beneath.

The chill of the water was enough that Tyr could feel it all the way down to his very bones. Surprised, he withdrew his touch only to raise his now damp fingers to his lips for a taste. That taste was very quick and left his features twisted in a grimace of disgust.

There was nothing of the clear purity of the springs he had tasted before, instead the taste almost seemed to attack his senses. This water bit at his mouth, and seemed to pull away all the moisture from his mouth.

In one smooth motion, Tyr rose to his feet, stepping away from the edge of the water. He lowered a glowering look at the undulating surface as though the unpleasant taste was entirely its fault. Though now he understood the reason the plants he had encouraged to grow at the margin of the water had begun to wither and die, no longer desiring to grow to their full beauty.

He wanted nothing to do with the deep water, disgusted that the water had become so twisted from the rivers that had gathered to create it. "Oceanus," he muttered darkly before turning away from the water, ready to stride back to his work.

But his steps were arrested as a sense of Knowing came over his senses. Turning his head to look over his shoulder, a faint light shone from the water for just a moment and he felt no more connection to it, nor to the running water of the springs crossing his lands. What had that been?

There was no time for him to consider what had happened as he became aware of Nyx's presence somewhere near, and it felt as though she had no traveled to see him alone this time.

Releasing his form, Tyr sped across the distance that separated them, and paused before resuming his physical body. Nyx appeared as lovely as ever, with even more of the silver sparks scattered across her body and hair, but it was the man standing at her side that caused him to pause.

From whence had this person came? There had only ever been him and Nyx. Now it appeared there was an interloper.

"Nyx, we are not alone. Something watches," the stranger said. His voice held confidence, and sounded higher in pitch than Tyr's own, the sound evoking a sense of the freedom of the sky instead of the strength of the ground. The bright silver eyes then managed to focus directly at the spot where Tyr's spirit rested.

It was truly unnerving.

Before Nyx could make any response, Tyr returned to his physical form without bothering to move from the spot the stranger was focused upon. "You have sharp eyes stranger, perhaps I should rid you of that problem," he said testily, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Is the ability to see things truly a problem?" the stranger asked, innocence permeating his tone. "How would you rid me of my sight? I have always been able to see things. If you mean my eyes now, would they not just reform when I make a body like this next?"

For a moment, Tyr almost felt guilty at having snapped at someone that so clearly did not know how to take his words. But this feeling lasted only for a moment. Instead, he lifted a single eyebrow testily, shifting his gaze to Nyx.

She laughed brightly, putting a hand on the stranger's shoulder, almost seeming to warn Tyr away from the stranger. "Tyr, this is Polaris. I have declared him the leader of the Stars. That is what I have decided to call the bits of light that have sparked in the sky," Nyx declared to him, her confidence clear in every line of her form and pride was in her voice.

The lights all were individual spirits as well? Perhaps something like that had also happened when he had named the water. That would be worth investigating soon. Not that he would mention that sort of thing aloud to Nyx while this Polaris was there at their sides.

"It seems congratulations are in order then," Tyr told Nyx, a tight smile appearing on his face. "You have managed to create something I can actually see so know you are not telling tales."

A soft noise left Nyx's lips, and Polaris pulled himself up, almost seeming to bristle with danger as he took offense for the insult. Surprise ran through Tyr as he saw the figure's silver eyes shine more brightly, the light turning more cold than before, and seemed to radiate down to shine from the pale skin as well. The sight spoke of threat and danger.

"You will not speak to Nyx that way," Polaris declared, moving forward enough to place himself between Nyx and Tyr. It seemed the Star had a quick temper.

Nyx lifted her hand to touch the slender shoulder, this time seeming to try and restrain him from doing anything to escalate the situation. "Please, Polaris, this is just how Tyr is. All his care goes to his plants, and yet, I enjoy speaking with him, despite his grumpiness," she said warmly, her words obviously calming the Star almost immediately.

Rather than calming him, Nyx's words made Tyr feel vaguely uncomfortable, almost as though his skin was too tight for everything lying beneath it. She enjoyed speaking with him? He had been trying to get her to go away so he could keep working. Seems that had not worked as well as he had thought.

Nyx laughed when she saw the look on Tyr's face at her words. "You didn't know? Of course you didn't, silly Tyr. But it is true, I enjoy you and the things you have created," she assured him, moving her hand from Polaris's shoulder to touch Tyr's heavily muscled shoulder. Her fingertips were cold, almost like the water he had been touching so recently.

The touch was disarming.

"And I don't know how or when, but you and I will make something wonderful together in the future," Nyx continued, moving her hand to touch his cheek before withdrawing entirely. "But for now, I would be satisfied with gaining your permission to wander your ground to admire your creations. It was Polaris's first wish after finding his form, and would make me very happy as well."

She was looking at him with large eyes that made it look as though if he denied her request, she would start to cry. It only made the uncomfortable feeling in his chest grow.

"Fine, you may wander as you wish, but do not expect me to watch over your journey, I have much to do," Tyr replied shortly before releasing his physical form. He did not wait to see if the Star was still looking at him, instead he rushed from them both to return to his work.