Sheath and Felix Ch 14

I watch nervously as Sheath steps into the golden pillar of light.
All this magic, all this talk of destiny and majesty and universal death was becoming too much for me. What began as an act of rebellion against a stupid tyrannous government had suddenly become something far more imposing, as sheath would put it. I was now being faced with the impossible task of joining Sheath on his journey to save the universe from an attack from some dark force originating from who knows where.
Not only that, but now I’m standing inside of some fancy crystal tower waiting to meet my mother. The mother I was told had died before I was born. The mother that had abandoned me and my father to fend for ourselves so many years ago as the Felian nation fell and was taken over by the stupid Animilians.
What is even more ironic, that is the word I’m looking for I assume, is that this mother of mine is not even mortal, and on top of that, she is the goddess of felines herself! Ironically, The one person who should have been doing everything in her power to keep her people from being overpowered by the stupid Animilian nation! Of all the wretched things! Not only did she abandon her mate and only son, but she abandoned an entire country of loyal worshippers to fall under siege against the tyranny of a rebellious hybrid nation!
I crumple my fists. This couldn’t get any worse. Honestly I’d prefer that my mother was mortal and had died during the siege. At least then she would have some sort of honor!
“Hello! Felix?”
I start, looking down at the small pink fleshed creature that was looking up at me. His face carried an annoyingly confused expression. It took everything in me to keep from kicking him away. He irritated me just by existing, so dramatic, even more dramatic than Sheath!
“Golden one, your mother is nearly here. Would you like me to bring you something to sit on? It must be a labor standing there for so long.”
I glare at him, “No I don’t need anything okay.”
He nods, “Yes, yes, but you need not be so humble.”
I growl at him, “I’m already irritated as it is, please just leave me alone.”
He looks cross, “But my liege, it is my duty to ensure you are comfortable.”
I growl louder, “Your voice does not comfort me.” I hiss, my voice coming out tense and raspy, “It is the complete opposite of comforting!”
He nods, “I am sorry Golden one, please do relax. Wait here and I will get you something to sit on.”
“Arrrgh!” I shout, a menacing growl bubbling up from deep in my chest and flowing loud and imposing from my nostrils, “NO!” I shout, “I said-“
“Well, well, well.” Murmurs a husky feminine voice.
My voice catches in my throat and I turn to look at a beautiful tigress, clothed in golden silk.
“Just like your father.” She continues, turning away from me and addressing the small human boy, “Pan, that is quite enough. There is no need for seating. I will take my son to my chamber and we will talk there. You are dismissed.”
The pale skinned creature nods and scurries away down a corridor I hadn’t known was attached to the room. I quickly realize why I hadn’t noticed it before as the crystalline wall closes up over the opening, making it look as if it had really never existed.
I turn back to my mother. Here she was; Felia, the goddess of felines.
She was truly beautiful, I could see why my father admired her, her slender body was well shaped, she had nice full hips and large perky breasts. Her coloration was more golden than a normal tigress and she glowed with a seductive, youthful energy that reminded me of the girls that met the rugby team at the bar after games.
“Hello Felix.” She purrs, or at least it sounded like she was purring, the tone of her voice was so textured and resonant that it was hard to tell.
I blink at her, not knowing what to say, “Um… Hi.”
She smiles a gentle smile that spread down from her eyes to her muzzle. “I’ve wanted to meet you for quite some time. I’m sorry this didn’t happen sooner.”
I stare at her, silent, my mind blank.
“There is so much I have to tell you. I know you must feel a great bit of resentment and I am sorry for that. I wish I had time to explain everything to you but there is just so much happening now.” She motions to the pillar of light, “Come, let us go to my chamber. We can speak for a moment there before we go to join the others on the celestial platform.”
I nod, still at loss for words. She was just as I imagined her to be. Beautiful, well spoken with a gentleness about her that made my heart crave her presence. If crave is the right word I mean. It stunned me, it paralyzed me. I had lived so long without even knowing her, only imagining what she’d be like. These first moments seemed to bring those dreams alive. I fear going any further because I know that talking to her will taint the clean perfection of this moment.
We stare at each other for a while and then she smiles at me, turning and walking over to the pillar of light, “Well, come on you lump!”
I hurry over, feeling small and dumb, “Sorry, I’m just in shock or something.”
She smiles again, “It’s okay, it reminds me of your father.” A darkness comes over her gaze for a moment, then dissipates as she pushes me towards the pillar, “Well, in you go!”
I yelp as she shoves me into the light, expecting to feel pain, or be tossed into space like me and sheath were when I did that chant that transported us to Helios, but there was no sensation. I entered the light and in less than a second I was stepping out into a warmly lit room with soft emerald colored carpet. The walls seemed to be made of terra cotta and the air smelled of lilies and cedar. A small Japanese maple grew in a patch of soil in the center of the room. Beneath the open canopy of red leaves there is a small patio table with two chairs. To the left of the tree and the table setup is a small kitchen space, to the right are two wooden doors that probably led to her room. Straight across from me is a floor to ceiling window looking out over the skyline of the city. A nice little apartment, much less than what I was expecting.
I jump as I feel a warm paw settle on my shoulder, “Do you like it?” My mother murmurs in her warm resonant tone, “I wanted it to be quaint. Elegant, but not over the top. I like to believe that I’m not as indulgent as some of the other celestial rulers.”
I nod, “It’s… nice.” I reply, truly meaning it. The space had a nice warm feel to it that reminded me of the villa me and my father lived in in the old Felian Empire.
She motions to the patio table and chairs, “Come, sit, we have a few minutes. Let’s talk.”
I nod again, and then, realizing that I’ve been nodding a whole lot, I turn to her and smile, “Okay that sounds nice.”
She grins and follows me over to the table letting me take a seat first and then settling down in the other chair.
“So…” she murmurs.
“Yeah…”
“Yep.” She smiles, obviously trying to let me start the conversation.
I look around the room, taking it in again, “I kind of expected something more opellent.”
Felia looks puzzled, “Say again?”
I cringe, realizing I probably pronounced the word wrong. This always happens to me when I try to use the fancy language sheath teaches me out loud.
“I mean Oh-Pew-Lent.” I say, trying to pronounce it slowly and clearly.
“Oh Opulent,” she purrs, “Yeah, I used to indulge in nicer spaces, but after I lived with your father for so long In the mortal world I gained a new appreciation for more quaint spaces.”
I nod, she looked like she genuinely meant it. I could see a shadow in her expression that seemed to be sad. I wonder if she actually missed him, if she regretted leaving us.
“So… Why did you leave exactly?” I ask, trying to sound nonchalant, as sheath would put it, keeping my tone even and my face calm.
Her expression grows darker, “That’s a complicated story hon…”
I nod, “I thought you were dead. That’s what dad told me. He said you died in the fire that destroyed the villa.” I try to keep my tone even and calm, but this time I struggle with it, my voice cracking with emotion.
She meets my eyes, her expression fully solemn, another word sheath taught me, her eyes were dark and sad, her muzzle tightly held and her lips a straight line. We stare at each other for a long while before she speaks again.
“Ill spare you the long story for now and just say that I was called to serve other duties, elsewhere on the planet.” She murmurs, her voice not so soft and warm as it was before.
I couldn’t hold back my emotion for much longer, I could feel an involuntary growl building in my chest.
How could she have any duties to serve elsewhere on the planet! She was the god of felines! Her people were being attacked! Slaughtered! Wasn’t it her duty to save them!?
“Felix?” she sighs, her tone flat.
I let the growl free, it was a deep, menacing, sorrowful sound, “But what about us, what about your people? They burned Sorrel city to the ground! They slaughtered millions! And you say you had services to preform elsewhere!?” I narrow my eyes, “You’re supposed to be the goddess of Felines!”
Felias expression changes from sadness to anger, “Its not that’s simple, I wanted to help, I wanted to! That’s why I was there! But Solaris. He called me! I cannot disobey the creator…”
I no longer had control of myself now, I was growling uncontrollably, my claws unsheathed, “Me and father were in a church, they were praying to you, crying out your name! Begging for forgiveness, begging to be saved! We tried to make them leave, we tried to make them follow us to safety but they stayed! We told them about the bombers.”
Felia roars, a fearful and oppressive sound that made my growls sound small and feeble, “You don’t think I didn’t hear them? You don’t think I wanted to help them!?”
“They died there!” I shout, “Me and father watched the Animilians bomb the place. It crumbled to the ground! They DIED! They Died praying to you! Begging to be saved and you didn’t protect them! So many lost faith that day!”
Felia growls, standing from her seat, “I know what happened! I know what they did! I would have helped but I couldn’t!”
“You’re supposed to be a god!” I shout, “You’re supposed to have the power to protect your people!”
Felia slams her fists on the table, “Silence! Silence, you ungrateful child! You will not speak to me like this!”
I am immediately floored, her voice had changed it was bigger, louder, and her eyes burned inside, glimmering and flickering like lanterns. The room seemed to be getting dark and small.
I sit down and look at the floor, my tail lashing back and forth, my body trembling.
Felia, my mother sighs, the fire leaving her eyes as she stands up fully. I feel the dark weight lift from my shoulders and the room returns to its original brightness.
“You must understand that I am sorry for what happened, but I had no choice. I was under orders.” She says.
“Now I understand why father resents you.” I mutter under my breath.
She sighs again, stepping away from the table. “There is nothing more I can say on this subject right now Felix. We must go, Solaris, and the others await our arrival.”
I stand up, a growl rumbling deep in my chest, “Yeah whatever.”
I follow Felia as she strode over to the pillar of light in the back of the room, feeling angrier than I have in a long, long time. I should have just went with sheath, it wasn’t worth it talking to her. I knew I would get mad, I knew she would make excuses. This was all just a huge waste of time.
She pauses in front of the pillar and I look up at her, her eyes were glimmering, with what? With tears? I look away as she gives me a sorrowful smile. Who is she to want my comfort. She abandoned me, she left and her people to be killed and imprisoned.
“Felix.” She murmurs, “I really am sorry. I’m so sorry I left you. It was the worst decision I’ve ever made. I regret it every day… I…”
“Well father left me too.” I mutter cutting her off.
“He did what?” she gasps, “Why would he do such a thing? Do you want me to talk to him? I can talk to him! That foolish lump!”
Her fur is all ruffled and her fangs are bared.
“There is nothing you can do. I am alone now.” I report, dejected, “There is only one person who I can trust now…”
“Felix, you can trust me, I’m your mother, I want to…”
I didn’t hear the rest, by then I had already stepped into the pillar, not wanting to hear any more…