T. H. T. D. D. W. T. M. K. E.

Chapter 13: Field Trip

Stongdor stood waiting, dressed in an oversized dark green sports jersey and navy blue cargo shorts. In the silence of the catacombs, he would often tap his feet rhythmically. The child didn't have many toys and he usually didn't bring them around with him. Stongdor always preferred simple observation and watching his surroundings unfold. He especially liked observing birds, but we don't talk about that.

For a moment, Stongdor wondered about his origins. Sath didn't give him "the talk", but he understood most children had mothers and fathers. He only ever Sath, his caped protector and benevolent teacher. At least, that was to his knowledge. The child knew he probably wasn't related to Sath. Stongdor was pretty confident that he was black and Sath was as white as anyone could be. Sometimes, he dreamed of a woman, one who held a smaller version of him and brought him the gift of safety and comfort. The softness of her skin was a sensation shrouded in mystery, a recognizable and familiar one but one he didn't understand how he knew of. Even Stongdor realized it would be some time before he knew the truth.

Sath suddenly appeared next to the child, fixing his cape. Instinctively, Stongdor took the elder god's hand in his. Sath smiled as he felt the smaller hand try to squeeze around his own, only able to hold onto a few of his fingers. The caped god lightly squeezed back.

Sath: "Ready?"
Stongdor: "Yes, Sath."

Sath turned to the wall with Stongdor and with the snap of his fingers, a blue portal opened. The two entered the interdimensional gateway and began their journey through the sea of dark matter. Their speed blurred the stars and the planets to the point where their round shapes appeared as thin lines.

Stongdor: "Sath, do you have to snap your fingers every time you do something?"
Sath: "No, it just facilitates the process. It's easier to imagine a power being used rather than creating a picture in your head."
Stongdor: "What does 'facilitate' mean?"
Sath: "It means to make something easier to do. Come, we're almost there."

The child held the elder god's hand tighter, subconsciously bracing himself. Another portal opened and as the two entered, they beheld the most beautiful world of all.

Sath and Stongdor stood atop a mountain's peak, one covered by soft, rich soil. Ahead of them was a vast sky akin to a canvas painted in mellow hues of pink, blue, and orange. The clouds appeared as white, fluffy giants in the sky, but enhanced the view rather than obscured it. A flock of brightly-covered avian creatures flew among the clouds, calling to one another in their own language of whistles and chirps. Another mountain stood across from them, standing even taller and lightly covered in a layer of the purest of snow.

Below them, a clear dirt path could be seen cutting through the trees but not in any way that interrupted them. A multitude of different animal calls could be heard from the lush greenery. The trees themselves were magnificent, towering at hundreds of feet and providing sustenance and shade to the local populace. Some trees bore fruit akin to flowers but with a taste sweeter than honey. Low-lying vegetation and tall grass occupied the jungle's floor but didn't overcrowd it.

Sath, guiding the child, floated down to the dirt path with Stongdor. Before they could even begin walking towards their destination, a white lioness with bright, sparkling blue eyes approached Stongdor. The lioness laid on its back before him. She wanted her belly rubbed and the child would provide these generously.

Stongdor: "What is this place?"
Sath: "The people of Earth once called this Heaven or Eden. It's the first world I ever created. Universally, it's called Paradise, but I called it 'home'."
Stongdor: "It's very nice here. I like the animals and the birds are pretty."
Sath: "Yes, it is quite nice. Come, there's something I would like to show you."

Stongdor scratched the lioness's head one last time and whispered kind words in her ear. She almost seemed to smile as she closed her eyes. 

The child took the elder god's hand again as they continued down the path. Pink and blue toucans flew overhead and pygmy horses walked alongside the two before disappearing into the foliage.

The two crossed a wooden bridge. A deep chasm blanketed by mist loomed below. Strange calls could be heard, but Sath told the child to ignore them. The two were met by a blue-green waterfall by the end of the bridge, one that seemed to give off light as it flowed. They approached the waterfall as an opening appeared, letting them enter.

Sath and Stongdor entered a small hut. The sun dimly shone through the straw roof. As far as the child could tell, it was just an old sod hut. The elder god approached the child with a small metal lantern with many holes along its sides. He handled it with much care, holding it close with both of his white hands.

Sath: "Do you want to see something cool?"
Stongdor: "Does it have to do with that light?"
Sath: "Mmhm. Could you light it for me, please?"

Stongdor produced a small, ardent flame from his fingertip, shooting it into one of the lantern's holes. Soon, his eyes lit up with the wonder only a child could show as dozens of minuscule amber fireflies emerged from the lantern to illuminate the hu as they clung to the straw ceiling. The new light revealed five simple hammocks extending from the walls and a simple round table in the center of the room. The walls had been decorated with lines of colorful stones and flowers.

Sath sat down on one of the hammocks carefully, groaning and laughing to himself quietly. He rested the lantern next to his feet. Stongdor joined him on the hammock as he was still in awe of the bioluminescent light show.

Stongdor: "What's so funny, Sath?"
Sath: "Nothing, I just feel a little old is all."
Stongdor: "But you're a god."
Sath: "Yes, but I'm thousands of eons old, son. I've seen many, many things."
Stongdor: "How long is an eon?"
Sath: "Very long, Stongdor. Almost too long."

The child and the elder god sat in silence for a little while. While Stongdor admired the bright lights and the new liveliness brought into the room with a smile on his face, Sath began to reminisce. Old memories that seemed to be an eternity ago resurfaced as he became familiar with the hut once more. He could almost hear the swinging of the hammocks, quick footsteps along the floor, and faint laughter.

Sath: "I built this home for my first children. I tried to build it plain and simple."
Stongdor: "Why? What's so good about 'plain and simple'?"
Sath: "I wanted a home all my children could live. My daughter lined those walls with the rocks and flowers. My two younger sons would usually run into the forest to play with the animals. Nogu would spend a lot of time in here actually. He liked reading and drawing and sometimes, he would write."
Stongdor: "Uncle Nogu used to live here?"
Sath: "Yes, he did. When we kept things simple, we were all very happy in this little home. This used to be the only world, a great and beautiful one."
Stongdor: "Why wasn't there just this one world then? Why did more have to be made if simple is good?"
Sath: "It had to happen. Things had to become more complicated."
Stongdor: "Aren't complicated things bad?"

Sath laughed quietly and pat Stongdor's back, eliciting a light giggle from the child.

Sath: "Now, I wouldn't say that. There are some good things in this universe like love and meaning and we need to take the good with the bad."
Stongdor: "Would having all these 'things' get messy?"
Sath: "Yes. Sometimes, but we need messes."
Stongdor: "But messes aren't good. Uncle Nogu always tells me to keep my room clean and all or else."
Sath: "Well, I'll have to talk to Nogu about that, but you should keep your room clean. When Nogu and his siblings grew up and I began creating more, things become messier. Sometimes, we lost our way in the confusion and sadness and mania and trying to grasp the infinity and eternity of it all and..."

There was a pause. The elder god almost seemed trapped in his own head, caught on by his infinity spanning train of thought.

Stongdor: "Sath?"
Sath: "I'm sorry, son, I started rambling."
Stongdor: "It's okay. You were talking about things becoming messier."
Sath: "Right, right."

There was another pause. Sath smiled a bit at the boy's innocence. He brushed his fingers through Stongdor's hair gently, resting his hand on his shoulder. The child leaned against his mentor, sinking into the feeling of safety and security. He smiled slightly.

Sath: "I'll tell you when you're older, Stongdor. For now, look around you. Savor every moment and remember every detail. You'll understand one day. Life must go on. It must."

The child did just that as his eyes continued sparkling in the face of so many fireflies in the humble, little hut. Sath put an arm around the boy's shoulders, smiling. He shed a tear. He could only hope he understood the lesson.