Tales of the Herd - An Under Gods Story

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The atmosphere broke under the weight of Zoartemi's descent. Clouded in misty wisps of silver fire, she and two Valkymphry, three armored bodies each, hurtled towards a city that shimmered gold in the morning sunlight. Zoartemi looked off to the east, she glimpsed a similar comet-like form, bursting repeatedly with its own golden light as if it were engulfed in a continuous slew of explosions. The goddess smiled lightly, turning back to the shimmering spectacle of the city below.

Towers twisted high into the air, mimicking the spiraling shape of horns, while other buildings seemed to erupt from the surface of the world like glistening balls of dough. Flashes of light blinked all over as Elohimians teleported from the glimmering silver streets to their places of work. Their worlds were Zoartemi's favorite part about the Elohimian kind. Every lifeform was understood to be necessary and important, functioning as a healthy body. But she knew their strange, rigid systems could never work on a scale larger than their own society.

The comets began to come together in the marble circle in front of a massive court, surrounded by bushes of platinum foliage and fountains that sprayed streams of what looked like liquid diamond. They drifted low, hovering just above the large insignia decorating the marble flooring of the yard, the flames around them dissipating as the occupants landed safely on the warm ground.

From the yellow flames emerged three figures. An amphibian woman with illustrious emerald skin, spotted in dark patches and adorned in the finest jewelry around her neck, wrists, ankles, and hips. Opposite of her was a taller woman taking a puff from an enormous, club-like pipe. Her antlers jutted from her forehead, reaching high into the air, matched nearly by her thick, curly afro tied behind rows of braids. Between the women was a figure much grander in stature.

Lagovereign stood even above his wife's antlers, wide-shouldered and decorated in scars he proudly wore on his chest, showing through a suit made of thick, alien hide. His platinum blond hair was matted into long locks that jutted from his head like the points of a star, and his mouth was hidden behind a coarse beard. His old eyes lit up with joy as they caught Zoartemi's gaze.

"My favorite sister!" the King boomed heartily.

"I'm sure you say that to every⎯oof!" Zoartemi was cut off by a massive squeeze from her brother.

The Valkymphry avoided eye contact with the massive man, eyeing the ground and the surrounding structures.

"What is this, a funeral? Lighten up, ladies!" Lagovereign cackled.

"Your entourage, sir," one of the Valkymphry mumbled. "They're exacerbating tensions."

Lagovereign raised an eyebrow before everyone's attention was drawn to the court door. The golden wall melted away, a row of ten Elohimians walked out in unison. They made their way down the stairs, an air of weariness about them. They paid most attention to Lagovereign's guests.

"First and Ninth, it's a pleasure to meet you both on such decent terms," one of the Elohimians sang.

Zoartemi and Lagovereign nodded.

"I'd hoped you'd both feel the same." The Elohimian turned to Lagovereign's wife.

"He means your forms, they suggest aggression," Zoartemi explained.

"I know what he means, I'm just waiting for him to remember who he's talking to," the King's wife scoffed.

"Xenite...," Lagovereign groaned.

"Fine, fine." Xenite's body began bubbling and twisting, appearing almost immaterial before settling back into a more human form. "What, do you want me to look like you or something?"