“Are you alright, Kora? You look… lost” I look up, startled by the sudden interruption to my brooding, to see a concerned – and tired – face of Olka. I take a deep sigh.

  “It’s just… a lot to take in” I gnce at the tent where a miracle happened – now surrounded by a small, but rapidly growing, crowd – and smile, weakly. “But I’m gd that all is well” not only did I see 10 kids be delivered safely, their mother survived as well… or at least is stable.

  “I know” the Risitha says sitting down next to me; I observe as she stretches her legs, groaning. “I haven’t heard of anyone having so many Little Ones at the same time… but everyone’s response is annoying as fuck, too!” I nod, recalling the most annoying – and puzzling for me – details.

  “Say, Olka… you know how I am unfamiliar with your culture, right?” I begin and she nods in addition to grunting in an agreement. “The way people reacted to the kids – and their sexes, for some reason – and how their family reacted to me specifically… and those two kids, a boy and a girl, being born joined at hips” I shake my head. “There’s a lot of going on with all that and I can’t make head or tail of it” I look my friend in the eye. “All I know it has a lot to do with the religion… and that’s the crux of it. I’ve been neglecting to learn about it for far too long!”

  “But… why?” The young Witch tilts her head and frowns. “You said you’re not religious – never were, even in your previous life… so why?”

  “Because I might not be a believer, that doesn’t mean others aren’t – or that their faith won’t influence their actions” I close my eyes and massage the bridge of my nose. “You know… I’ve been thinking about my past life and the Potion of Crity helped me realise, that even though I was an atheist, I was still brought up in a culture quite strongly influenced by the religion – even beside my parents’ fanaticism” I sigh, deeply, while the Lynxgirl waits in silence, her raised brew betraying her curiosity. “It’s just… you don’t notice that certain symbols, or phrases, or words come from mythology; like, I’ve spent nearly my entire life in a hospital – and they are marked by symbols of not just one, but two different religions! And one of them hasn’t even been practised for centuries!” I look my friend deep in the eyes while grabbing her hand. “I feel left out – and you understand which specific aspects of that birth brought such commotion, among other things. I ask – no, beg – for your help in making sense out of all of it!”

  “O-oh!” Olka is clearly surprised by my plea, but she pulls herself together quickly. “But… why me? Why not ask Po?” I smile at that.

  “Oh, I’m asking her ter, definitely” I quickly assure her. “It’s just I feel you would be straightforward… I’m not asking you to retell me your entire creation myth – just enough for me to make sense of” I point to the growing sea of people. “This.”

  “All right, then!” The Lynxkin, seemingly satisfied, leans back and rexes. “So you want a short version… how much do you know about our gods?”

  “Not much” I admit. “I’m familiar with the calendar – I can tell that today is” I make a quick calcution. “…Waning Stvera of Full Week of Waning Zorya – and I also learned about the Species of Yavea and their mythological origins… but I only learned what, say, Arana is worshipped for earlier today, in addition to some snippets here and there.”

  “So you are not fully in the dark” Olka rearranges herself to sit in a more comfortable – but focused, instead of rexed – position. “Okay, I’ll keep it short; gods of months, those who are told to be ancestors of all the Species, can be called the Elder Gods; the gods of days can be called the Younger Gods; the rest would be called the Awakened Gods. The 5 Elder Gods ruled over Nature and they birthed the 5 Younger Gods, who ruled over aspects of mortal existence; finally, the Awakened Gods are called that because they were mortals who achieved – or awakened to – godhood. Is everything clear so far?”

  “No” I answer, frowning. “Things doesn’t add up; there are 11 calendar deities – and Scalekin are supposed to be descendants of Zhemay, who isn’t even there… and five plus five is not twelve! And shouldn’t Kolo and Ko be those ‘Awakened Gods’? Why are they the namesakes of the days of the week, then?”

  “Because they are” she says with a smirk. “Just remember that originally the Elder Gods were Arana, Ostaran, Vodyana, Zhemay and Nado, in that order; then Ostaran and Vodyana had the Younger Gods: the Divine Twins Stvera and Stvoz, Vyena, Miron and Zorya, in that order. And while they myths grant them abilities to change their shapes, they still give them preferences. Preferences they matched to a tee” she points to the crowd.

  “Even the conjoined twins?” I ask with a frown.

  “Even the conjoined twins” she nods. “Stvera and Stvoz are ones, since Vyena had to stitch them together after Zhemay’s rampage.”

  “The rampage that killed Ostaran?” I ask, remembering his moniker of the Dead God.

  “Pretty much; Ostaran’s pce was taken by Zorya, he took Zhemay’s pce, and the st one lost everything and got imprisoned in Cyvsiet” she rexes. “That’s pretty much it.”

  “So… why is Zhemay even counted? I’ve get the impression he is some sort of ‘The Root of All Evil’ type character – and he was even kicked off the pantheon!”

  “Well – it makes as much sense to me as it does to you” she admits to my surprise. “I guess it’s because he is one of the original ones; and it’s not like his worship is outright forbidden everywhere – Zherymans sometimes have small shrines dedicated for him and Asmsir even still uses him in their calendar, I’ve been thought.”

  “Asm… do you mean Asmmisr, the Kingdom of Lion Kings? That country beyond the Maw, far to the South?”

  “Yeah, that’s what I said” it is not, but I hold my remark seeing how distracted she is. “Now that I think about it, while for Zherymans or for us the worship of Zhemay is not a norm – usually only limited to exceptionally bad circumstances – Tamarans outright prohibit even saying his name.”

  “Interesting, but there’s one thing that bothers me… Beastkin physically cannot feel lust towards their siblings, right?” Olka nods and tilts her head in confusion. “So… how could the Younger Gods be born then?”

  “Because the Elder Gods aren’t siblings, obviously; everyone knows that!” Both me and the Risitha flinch, startled by a sudden comment from the side. I look to the source – the two Witches I’ve met today: the tall Konitsa and the chubby Volkhsa.

  “That might be the case usually, but not for Kora” Olka is swift to defend me; it’s pretty sweet, actually. “Remember that she didn’t grow up among Kin – not in this, neither in previous life, Laura” the Horsegirl rolls her eyes, while the Wolfgirl looks apologetic and bashful.

  “Ummm… Sorry for interrupting your conversation” the shorter newcomer begins to ask for forgiveness, but I wave my hand.

  “Don’t be – we were finishing anyway… and I see the commotion has pretty much died down over there” I point to the crooked silhouette of Baba Tika, steering the crowd so it is slowly dispersing, finally giving the new family its much deserved rest. “But you aren’t here to talk, are you?” I take a long look at them. Laura, the tall Horsegirl Witch, smiles sciviously; her face is simir to that of a, well, horse – albeit much shorter and cuter. She appears to be on the younger side – closer to Olka than me or Po. Her horse-like ears are standing over her slickly, braided hair is dyed blonde and contrasts neatly with her tawny fur and brown eyes; her tail is simirly braided. She wears little clothing, funting her fit body and jewellery, including multiple ring earring, a stud in her belly button… and – when I look closely through the cloth – I can see that nipples on top of her rge breasts are pierced too. She also moves in a quite fmboyant fashion – and it finally clicks for me. “You’re… are you maybe reted to Chieftain Yuras in some way?”

  “Yeah, he’s my grandfather – not that it’s rare” her smile fades a little. “It’s not that great, to be honest – especially when you mature and just how many hunks and cuties are your cousins, or aunts, or uncles… really, I envy you, Kora; you can truly have anyone!” Her mood returns, along with a pyful glint to her eyes; she suddenly grabs her shorter friend and brings her closer, presenting her to me in a hug. “So… how about the two of us?”

  “Laura!” Lora, the Wolfgirl, is clearly embarrassed; her round, friendly face is flushed red, matching her sultry, rge lips, and accentuating a beauty mark under her right, strikingly blue eye. She looks to be the older one of the duo, closer in age to me or Po than Olka. Her hair is rather short for a woman, curly and dark, with a purple sheen. She dresses way more modestly than the horny Konitsa, with less jewellery and exposed skin; her attire is also more Witch-like, a bit baggy, with many pouches and pockets. However, it cannot conceal her curves – and she’s got plenty – probably even more than Nadia… although the Myshka is way shorter than the Volkhsa, so it might be skewing my perception a bit. One thing I am sure of, though: her jugs are massive, especially when cupped by her taller friends. “Stop it!”

  “Yeah, stop it!” Olka suddenly butts in, sounding pretty salty. She’s even pouting!

  “Uuu” the Horsekin pouts mockingly – but nonetheless releases the beetroot-red Wolfkin, raising her hands. “You’re such a spoilsport, little Olka!”

  “DON’T CALL ME ‘LITTLE’!” The Risitha suddenly gets up; she’s clearly upset and furious, judging by her closed fists. “YOU…! YOU…! You…” as suddenly as she rose did she plunk down; she looks exhausted and overwhelmed – she’s even started sobbing! I panic a little, then decide to hug her, lending her a shoulder to cry on. “Why does everyone… why do you all need to change? You weren’t like that before… before…!” She manages to snivel. “I… I don’t want to change…”

  “Olka… I’m so, so sorry, my dearest friend” Laura kneels in front of us – and she looks to be seriously concerned about my – our friend. “I… I would like to say I’m the same old me – but I would be lying to you” it seems she managed to get Foxgirl’s attention; even sobbing stopped. “I cannot deny that I am a different person now – outwardly, at least – and I understand why it might be so scary to you. You’ve always taken pride in your insightful, introspective mind – and you fear of losing yourself to the lust… and I understand that it might seem to you I did just that, but…” she sighs, heavily, with a tinge of frustration audible in her voice. “I say I’ve changed, but it’s more like… expanding – I am the same me at the core, but I notice things I used to gnce over; I’m also more aware of myself and the others, believe it or not. It’s like… like with Aura! Magic! And… did she just fall asleep?”

  I look down at my friend – and indeed, she’s sleeping. “It looks like it.”

  “Fuck” the Horsegirl curses quietly. “I always have to screw up like this!” She sounds frustrated.

  “Don’t… don’t be too harsh on yourself, Laura” concerned Lora chimes in. “You two have been fighting and making up for as long as I can remember… and Olka seems to be in a way worse mood than usual today.”

  “Sooo… she’s afraid of puberty?” I ask the two of them. “Is Beastkin puberty that scary?”

  “Not really” says the Konitsa. “Not for most at least – but Olka isn’t like most Kin; she’s always been this level-headed, serious – if stubborn – girl. I can see why she might fear the change it brings – or rather how rapid it is” she shakes her head. “But she will understand when she gets there. And she will be happier… and have one more way to rex” she finishes with a mischievous smile – and looks me in the eye. “You know what I’m talking about, don’t you?”

  HoraceH.Horney