forum The Siren and the Chimera (with @Dances_with_Shadows)

Started April 12, 2019 by @PrettyLittlePyro

tune

Hera made to charge after her, but Tempest stopped her. "Enough," she said.
She hurried after the girl. "I'm sorry about Hera," she said apologetically.

"It's nothing you can do about it," she said, strangely calm despite the recent argument. "Hera's just a big-headed goddess that doesn't know how to get off her high horse and realize not everyone agrees with her or her methods."

Tempest laughed. "I have to agree with you there. But she's not even close to as bad as Poseidon's wife, Amphitrite. She was so full of herself, let me tell you," Tempest said with a roll of her eyes. "Even worse than Hera."

"Hard to imagine, but I'll take your word for it." She studied Tempest. "So, you're close with the Chimera?"

Tempest shrugged. "Eh. We're friendly acquaintances."

Her eyes narrowed. "Okay, I'll give you this warning just this time because you seem nice. I'm the daughter of the god of trickery, lies, and deceit. So that means one of my abilities is a walking and breathing lie detector."

Tempest looked confused. "That's a handy ability, but I don't see why that matters."

"You're not just a 'friendly acquaintance.' Or at least you aren't with one of them. I can hear the small lie."

Tempest frowned. "We're friends? I honestly don't know what we are."

Aurae heard the truth of that statement and nodded. "Okay then." She waved a lazy hand in the air, the snake wrapped around her arm pressing itself close to prevent getting whipped around. "Oh, before I forget. The gods that I mentioned will be coming here some time. And a good chunk of the Keres are on Zeus's side–though Earth has more."

Tempest cursed. "Well, that sucks."

"But Earth as more," she repeated with a smirk.

Tempest shrugged. "Any alliances with Zeus is bad."

"True," she said. "That's why I'm here. I can 'convince' other gods to join our cause–though the fear of facing Nyx would probably do it anyway." She squinted hatefully at the sky. "Either Zeus hasn't heard who he'll be facing, or he finally pulled up his big boy britches and grew a pair. Second option is unlikely, though."

Tempest laughed. "I don't think that will ever happen."

She pointed at her in agreement. "Aye. Say, I need to go do something that I don't really want Ebony and Ivory seeing." The snakes slithered up her arms and wrapped around her neck and waist. "Would you mind keeping them company for a few minutes?"

Tempest shrugged. "Sure."

"Great!" She held out her arm and lightly grabbed Tempest's arm, and the snakes used it as a bridge as they slithered from their master to Tempest. Ivory took up her usual spot around the waist while Ebony settled around Tempest's neck and shoulders. Their small tongues flicked out to taste their new carrier, and they found her good enough for their standards.

Tempest looked down at them. "They're beautiful!" She breathed.

"They're my familiars–mimickrees. They usually come in pairs and can manipulate themselves and their abilities to mimic that of a creature they know about to suit the needs of their master, or to make a hunt easier and more efficient." She ran an affectionate finger down the middle of Ebony's head with a small smile. "They're quite the creatures. I'm glad they chose me to be their master."

Tempest smiled. "Now I'm a bit jealous. I mean, I'm hosting about 2 million sea spirits, but they're not the same."

"They're very rare, and rather elusive. I don't even know where their natural habitat is. But they are immortal and hold many masters, which allows them to understand and feel emotions." She narrowed her eyes playfully at the snakes. "Unfortunately, I got the mischievous ones."

Tempest snorted. "Then they would get right along with Lance. They would drive him nuts!" She laughed at the image.

She smirked evily. "Oh, they already have."

Tempest grinned. "What did they do?"