bsumone | ❝ Our greatest glory is not in never falling ❞

Falling out of the sky like some kind of wounded osprey was never pleasant. Nor was it dignified (not that Gaja cared much about that). He knew he was approaching the end since about three years ago. The fiery orange plumage began to fade then and he knew it was time. He was hardly a young bird, but even so he’d never found that his life cycle was exact. It was every hundred years or so.

It always began with the fading colors. Then Gaja found he couldn’t travel as far or as long in one go. Until, finally, a sudden weakness gripped him and, if he were flying (which he usually was), he simply plummeted from the sky like a rock.

This time, he saw the wooded area below… a dangerous place to burn, to be sure. Gaja tried to be careful to find somewhere safe, a place where he wouldn’t endanger the local creatures or human settlements. But very near… a river! As much as he disliked being in water, being near it tended to be safe. River basins were often far enough away from the trees and brush that it was safe for him to be ablaze there.

Since he wasn’t flaming on his way down, Gaja knew it could take a few days more before he burned. Hopefully he could rest here in peace. Hopefully this was somewhere where animals, people, or even just high winds wouldn’t disturb his ash for the time it took his body to reform in it…

Gaja threw his weight through the air to direct himself toward that shimmering river. And crashed with a meteor-like rumble just beside it. From out of the small crater, came a groan – falling out of the sky was never pleasant because that meant crashing into hard earth. After a moment to change into his smaller, human form, Gaja clawed his way out of the hole his much larger phoenix shape left in the ground.

Gaja was practically across the world from Nam's river when the question of bellybuttons arose. Because he mimics the human body, of course Gaja has one when he's in that shape. He just assumed Nam does, too. But the question burns in his mind for hours, days, weeks. He's never had occasion to see Nam naked — why would he? It's their power to conjure up clothes when they shift forms... right? Has he ever actually seen Nam transform? Gaja can't remember (not surprising).

Eventually, the question prompts him to make the long journey back to pay his dear old crocodile a visit. It's urgent he finds out! So urgent he doesn't bother traveling like a human. Instead, he takes to the sky on flaming wings, soaring high above the clouds, out of sight of most mortal eyes. It only takes him a few days to traverse the globe in his true form.

He shifts one more into the shape of some mortal bird — always something easily as large as an albatross — before dipping out of the cloud cover. Gaja lands on the bank of Nam's river and transforms once more into the shape of a human. He bounds eagerly to the water's edge, crouching down to splash in it with one hand. To get Nam's attention, of course. It's like knocking, right?

"Nam~! Naaaam~"

Nam hasn't had such a day in quite some time. An almost constant flow of people to and from his riverbanks. He's certain that he's seen nearly every one of the locals during the day. All coming to honour the dragon. All coming to recieve his blessings, hoping he can grant them their wants and needs for the upcoming year. Hopes for prosperity. Wants for untold riches. Some simply desire good health for themselves and their families.

And of course, they brought him offerings. Fresh local foods and expensive imported wines. Handmade crafts and jewellery. Jewellery that he will never wear, but that he will always graciously accept. It's not quite to his tastes. All manner of things that he appreciates but has little use for.

As the day wore on, the visitors grew fewer and further between until finally, Nam sits alone. It's dark now with the only light coming from a small fire Nam's built to ward off the chill in the air. It reflects beautifully off of the surface of the water, and especially so on the jeweled necklace given to him by a certain bird.

Along with the beautiful necklace (his prized possession), Nam has dressed himself in elegant, flowing clothing befitting the river guardian. His nails are all painted a glossy black and the colour around his eyes matches that of his clothing. He's even gone so far as to have strings of small gems weaved into some braids in his hair. He's mostly dressed up for his own benefit, but perhaps also just in case a flaming bird should happen by.

no subject

Bellybutton!

Intimate New Year's Celebration