Ribbontail: Enter Emalia
Chapter 13: A Fell Wind

Author's Note: Please read my artist's comments before continuing. :3
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Amid the commotion everything halted- PuppetRibbontail seemed to forget her command entirely, whereas Ribbontail turned and froze. O’liday did much the same, with his coaching dance suddenly ceasing then and there.

Her mouth caught in a shocked and open gasp, Ribbontail released PuppetRibbontail‘s leg and turned sharply, yelping, “Fidei?!”

Ribbontail had feared that what she saw was indeed true, that Fidei saw her making a fool of herself. But as true as the sky was gray, Fidei stood there by the edge of the pond. His face was bright with a mocking half-laugh, his eyes full of a fulfilled humor.

“F-Fidei!” Ribbontail stuttered, rolling herself onto her feet and dusting herself off. She shuddered to think of the awkward situation- her clinging to PuppetRibbontail in desperation, being dragged across the ground like a sullen child clinging angrily to her mother’s legs. The moment Fidei happened to show up, she looked like a total idiot.

Laughing, Fidei approached with his usual swaggering manner. The mocking grin on his face told Ribbontail that they had amused him. “Wow Ribbontail. Already having trouble with PuppetRibbontail, I see?”

Ribbontail held her breath, then turned abruptly and whispered to PuppetRibbontail, “Puppet, please. Sit.”

With due haste PuppetRibbontail obeyed her orders, sitting back on her haunches and crouching down slightly as though she were hiding herself.

Fidei saw this and snorted mockingly. “Pheh. I’m surprised you could even figure out how to control her,” he spat contemptuously. He paused as if to devise another insult; as he did this, though, he caught sight of the silent O’liday. “So…what’s with the mortal?”

“Mortal?” Ribbontail said meekly. She turned to see O’liday cock his head to the side, a slight look of confusion on his face. That’s right, thought Ribbontail, O’liday isn’t immortal…

“Who is this dude?” O’liday meowed as he turned to Ribbontail.  

Swaying as though he were a lion ruling a pride, Fidei prowled over to the little feliulf and smirked down at him. The two young felines exchanged looks of contempt- O’liday’s casual smile combating the prided one of Fidei. “I could say the same to you,” Fidei growled, “who are YOU?”

O’liday offered a small paw to the much larger Fidei. “The name’s O’liday, dude,” he meowed in his untroubled manner, “met Ribbontail just yesterday. Rad little dudette. You know her, kid?”

Contemptuously, Fidei brushed away O’liday’s paw and lifted his head, as if to say ’I am better than you’. “Fidei. And yeah, I know Ribbontail. We have connections.”

Ribbontail and PuppetRibbontail watched this brief exchange with silence, crouched a few pawsteps away.  It was when Fidei shot Ribbontail a sideways glance that Ribbontail got to her paws to object. “Fidei, what are you doing here?”

A quick glare between O’liday and Fidei was exchanged before Ribbontail was pulled aside. Fidei turned, shrugging a shoulder as a gesture for Ribbontail to follow.

With a few more yards between them and O’liday, Fidei turned to Ribbontail. It was not the look on his face that worried Ribbontail, but a seeping red cut that lanced across both his forelegs. Fidei stared at O’liday until he was sure that the feliulf had lost interest. Then he turned back and glared sullenly at Ribbontail, face contorted with a sudden disapproval.

“Ribbontail,” he hissed, “what are you doing going about telling Eclipsians about us?”

Ribbontail almost jumped, taking a nervous step back. “E-Eclipsians?” Her voice came in nervous bits as she whispered, “What do you mean?”

Snorting angrily, Fidei shot a frustrated glance to the side before he explained. “Listen, last night I came across two Eclipsians not far from here. They were talking about you, saying that there was some goddess here on Emalia... They said her name was ’Ribbontail and she looked like a wolf’. That’s YOU Ribbontail, so now Eclipsians are looking for YOU.”

Ribbontail’s eyes widened with a sudden shock. Two days ago she had unknowingly told OmenBeast that she was to be a goddess- OmenBeast could be the one to start this news. “Was…was one of them a white wolf? Big, about the size of a horse?”

“Yes. He was the one who was talking about you.”

“OmenBeast,” Ribbontail breathed, “I…I thought he was an Emalian so I kind of told him that I was a goddess, so that he could help me.”

“Pity you were slow enough to do that,” he glowered. “But that’s not the point. Now Eclipsians are going to start spreading word of your existence. Hell, they might even figure out about ME soon.”

Growling deep in his throat, Fidei licked his teeth with an aggravated snarl. “If Eclipse HIMSELF hears about us, he could launch a full-fledged search. He could start sending out HUNDREDS of Eclipsians to find us, not just one or two. Eclipse does exist, just like the Emalian Gods, and he wants all Emalians dead. Obviously, Ribbontail, if he knew we were here in the mortal world he’d want US dead, too. In fact, I’d think that would be especially great on his part.”

Tentatively, Ribbontail opened her mouth as if to ask something, but shut it as soon as her eyes met the anxious gaze of Fidei.

“Ribbontail, don’t go around telling strangers that you’re a God,” he warned, “that’s just idiotic of you. Now you’ve put us both in grave danger!”

Ribbontail stared at Fidei blankly. So it’s true, she thought, OmenBeast will do anything to get me. And now others of his own kind could be after me, too.

The two stood in silence for the longest while, trading stern glances. Fidei’s eyes reeked frustration and resentment; Ribbontail’s was one of confusion and worry. At least I have PuppetRibbontail, she told herself, and O’liday. I have him, too.

A hushed roar of thunder echoed in the distance, resounding through the clouds miles and miles away. Fidei heard this and took is as a signal, sitting down and licking his lips nervously. “Just remember that, Ribbontail,” he rumbled as he rose to his feet. He flicked his tall black ears and flicked aside a lock of white hair, showing Ribbontail both of his crystal blue eyes. They glittered with a strange light- half was a mocking tone, half was serious. “The last thing we need is a dead Ribbontail.”

Ribbontail paused, silently caught in a state of shock.

“Last thing we need is a dead Ribbontail, eh?” O’liday bounded up suddenly, catching both Ribbontail and Fidei in a double-chokehold. “Sounds like SERIOUS business.”

Fidei cringed at the feliulf, his face contorted with a sudden disgust.

“Ooh so dudes, looks like you two are pals after all, huh? Pretty rad!” O’liday boxed Ribbontail’s shoulder, laughing as he gave her a promising look. He seemed so cheerful and carefree, unaware of the danger that now lurked alongside Ribbontail. “So Ribs, how long have you two totally cute dudes known each other?”

Stuck without a thing to say, Ribbontail opened her mouth and shot a glance at Fidei. They had known each other only three days- their relationship was strictly professional, revolving on a common goal and a godly alliance. Fidei and Ribbontail did not know each other well.

Fidei snorted down at O’liday. “Not long,” he said flatly.

Sticking his pink tongue out, O’liday seemed to object with flagrant optimism. “Ah dude, me neither. I’m sure we’ll all be the best of friends, though, dudes. You two, me, Puppet. We‘ll be the happiest of totally awesome pals.”

O’liday paused and shot a cheerful grin in Fidei’s direction. “You‘re gonna come with us, right kid?” he asked.

The smug god of light snorted and glared away, shouldering O’liday away from him. “No. I’m on my own, you little twat.”

“Oooh a free wave, dude?” O’liday tipped his festive hat at Fidei, completely understanding of this sudden rudeness, “sounds chill to me. You go on and have fun wherever you go, ‘kay kid?”

Again, Fidei snorted slightly and peered away. As he did this O’liday patted Ribbontail’s shoulder and turned to hobble off, returning to Puppet’s side by the pool. Once the feliulf was out of earshot Fidei turned, his conceited aura suddenly subsiding down into a graver, more serious one.

“I’m heading east, to a rainforest. My mission takes me there,” he explained impassively, “Where are you  going?”

“I’m going…” Ribbontail gulped, taken aback by Fidei’s sudden interest. “I’m going south, across the desert. Riddle wanted me to deliver this scroll to some wizard.”

Fidei nodded, acknowledging the scroll and strap that Ribbontail wore about her shoulders. “Is that the scroll?”

“Yes.”

A feeling of strange misunderstanding arose in Ribbontail’s mind. Fidei was here talking with her for once, and with such a strange personality. When in front of the others- WereRibbontail, the Gods, O’liday- he acted as though he was overly prided and arrogant. But alone, where nobody would hear him, he seemed to worry about many things. Perhaps he had even cared about Ribbontail and the sake of his mission, and not only himself; maybe he didn’t want to show this, as to appear to be a tough, individual god.

Ribbontail cocked her head at this thought, looking at Fidei while his eyes became unfocused and distant. He was gazing over Ribbontail’s shoulder at the pale skies.

Finally Ribbontail gained the confidence to ask the question. “Fidei, why do you always try to act so tough and mighty when the others are around? Can’t you just act nice like you are now, when nobody’s watching?”

Fidei’s eyes hardened into a glare and his ears folded back. He did not say anything, though, and merely turned away.

Perhaps he’s just lonely, thought Ribbontail, watching as Fidei sighed and once more let his eyes wander. ,and he’s just worried that nobody would like him. This was the only reasonable explanation Ribbontail could conceive, and with the idea she offered a welcoming smile to her fellow god-in-training.

“Fidei,” she asked quietly, “do you want to come with us? O’liday is going to some place and he’s following me, so we’re going to travel together. PuppetRibbontail’s coming with us, too. Do…do you want to come?”

Fidei paused. When this question had been thrown at him before, he had acted prided and self-absorbed, but now he seemed to be wrapped in deep thought. “No,” he said calmly; very little smugness could be detected in his voice this time, which made Ribbontail grin, “I’m on my own, Ribbontail, especially with the Eclipsians after you. In fact, who knows what else you‘ll mess up.”

Slowly, Ribbontail’s ears drooped.

Such a strange guy, thought Ribbontail to herself. Was he too afraid to admit that he wanted to gain a friend?

“There is a gorge not far from here…” Fidei added shortly after, “a canyon of sorts, and there is no way around it. I’m headed in that direction now. But if you and your mortal friend would like to follow me, you can do that.”

A slow smile broke across Ribbontail’s face. “Really? We can follow you?”

O’liday, yards away, looked up from his rest and gazed in their direction. He had obviously caught wind of Ribbontail’s words, and Fidei saw this.

“Sure,” Fidei lowed in a suddenly arrogant tone. He knew the other two were watching. “You can do that. But I’m not waiting for you.”

With a swish of his long tail, Fidei displayed a cat-like stretch, licked his two leg wounds, then turned and prowled away. Gone in a flash was the benevolent and considerate Fidei- he was back to displaying that he could be a tough, young, individualistic renegade.

Ribbontail sat quietly and watched as Fidei’s milky white form melted away amongst the high field grasses, sighing as she considered that strange personality of his.

She seemed to be so wrapped in thought that she failed to notice O’liday, who had already hopped onto her shoulders and was trying to kick her into motion. “C’mon kid!” he meowed, “I guess Puppet’s back in your command, and I’m chill and ready to go. How bout you, dude?”

A foolishly nervous face spread across Ribbontail’s face as she got to her feet, stretched her tired limbs, and hurried into the grasses. “Sure,” she woofed coolly as she made her way into the thick golden grasses.

Long, dark late afternoon shadows lengthened across the golden fields as Ribbontail’s icy blue form pushed through the waves of field grasses. A relaxing hush of post-storm gales sighed across these amber pastures, their portentous breaths sending chills throughout the land. The faded light of the approaching evening seemed to creep closer, washing over the land in brilliant hues of ocher and crimson. All was quiet, all was calm.

Whispering across the moor, a soft gale played at Ribbontail's ruff. She shivered and felt O'liday snuggle further into her shoulder fur, but the warmth she felt from the feliulf could not make up for the cold, fell wind that blew.