The Circle Of Ten

Meet

     Fayala left the temple at first light traveling on foot as she wanted to present herself in person to the Miorpeans. She sought to meet these aliens face to face, to speak as a flesh and blood Goddess and not as some ethereal wisp. She was traveling alone so that interaction with these beings would be without the distraction of priestess or servants.

In the short time they spent with the Miorpean that visited them at her shrine, Fayala detected that their visitor had a purely intellectual fascination with her and the humans. Her sense was that these Miorpeans were much different than those she remembered from her first encounter with the aliens who, with the exception of Mira, saw humans as little more than a failed experiment. She also hoped that these Miorpeans would be open-minded and receptive of this human population that, since she had enacted the Order, had become more harmonious with the planets bionetwork.

     It had been some time since Falaya had walked amongst the people and the route to the suspected location of the Miorpean shuttle took her directly through the human settlement of Tensas. Fayala had not been out of the temple since the implementation of the Order and looked forward to being out amongst humanity.

She was feeling a little anxious as to what kind of reception she might receive. However, as she stepped into view the sudden and unexpected arrival of the sixty-five foot tall Earth Goddess startled the hundreds of men, woman and children that had just finished breakfast and were heading to their work assignments. After a few seconds of stunned silence the people of Tensas began dropping to their knees and bowing starting with those closest to their Goddess rippling back through the crowd like a slow moving wave until every human was on the ground in homage.

     While the fealty was unanticipated Fayala was impressed with the show of deference being paid to her. She considered the fact that this demonstration of reverence was required and made a mental note that should the need rise again she would have a priestess or servant proceed her to give some forewarning of her impending arrival. But for now she lamented that the small humans lying on the ground were directly in her path. She could either bid them all rise or tread carefully through their midst trying not to step on any of the prostrate worshippers.

     Spirit Priestess Sativa, while appreciatively amused at the prospect of seeing the Earth Goddess warily tip toe through a sea of human supplicants, telepathically commanded her people to make way for their Goddess. Fayala felt the message as well and after thanking the Spirit Goddess tread carefully through the crowd of humans that quickly parted from her intended path. Sativia came out to greet Fayala and after bowing, psychically enquired if she could be of service to the Goddess.

     Fayala responded by asking if Tensas had received any unusual visitors in the last few days. Sativia could not suppress the memory of her contact with Ceraon quickly enough for Falaya not to detect it but she was able to block the intimate aspect of their meeting.

Sativia replied warily, "I sensed the presence of a being amongst the people but unfortunately lacked the strength to interact with it directly. Is that the purpose of your visit, to contact this being, and if so may I have the honor of accompanying you?"

    "Thank you for your offer," Fayala smiled. "However, I wish to make this initial contact alone, I believe there to be more than just the one and I want to appear neither threatening nor defensive in any way."

     "I understand," replied Sativia bowing to the Goddess.

    Fayala focused on her Spirit Priestess and detected an effort on her part to conceal something from her. Fayala bid the priestess farewell and left the town of Tensas pondering on the truthfulness of the Sativia's statement about not being strong enough to challenge the visitor to her own.

     Sativia loved watching the Goddesses. Her long legs making strong purposeful strides as she moved through the township. She privately wished she was of a similar size and stature.

"She is going to meet with the Miorpean visitors" ...

"We know," responded the Circle ... "Follow her"

_________________________

After a few minutes of walking the large shuttle became visible to her as did three translucent blue aliens that stood near its entrance. The shuttle was located at the edge of the plain near the base of a steep hillock. Fayala was open and receptive as she approached. 

     She remembered back to a time long ago when she was still human, small and trusting.  A giant alien named Mira brought her to a Miorpean camp not dissimilar from this one thus beginning a journey that would transform a deaf human girl into the Earth Goddess.

"So that is how it happened." The psychic message slipped straightforwardly into her mind, Falaya made no attempt to block who she was or where she came from.

"Your openness is appreciated, welcome," was the next psychic communication.

     Fayala was met by three Miorpeans who identified themselves as Melete, Ceraon, and Aphaea of the Vessel Ewer. She acknowledged Melete as the one who had just greeted her and was apparently the leader of this group. Fayala looked at the three and suddenly realized the uniqueness of this situation. She was in the presence of other beings the same height as she. For over two centuries she had towered over all creatures on the planet, the only living things taller were the ancient trees created by the terraforming. This was the first time since becoming the Goddess that she was in the presence of beings that she did not have to look down upon.

     Melete stepped forward and telepathically acknowledged that because of the physical difference in their vocal faculties they will have to communicate via a mind link. Fayala smiled, in the brief moments that Melete opened her mind she perceived her to be a being that readily embraces distinctive and different elemental behaviors. Fayala felt that Melete would be receptive to even the most primitive of human practices. She raised her hands and signed, "Let me teach you something I think you will find interesting."

Melete smiled.