ORIGIN - Homeward Bound

How long she had been nestled within the safety of her cocoon, she didn't know. The hatchling would have been content to stay inside of her protective dwelling longer, but she wouldn't complain. It might be nice to stretch, after all. As the chrysalis cracked, shards crumbling to the ground, Oswego was expelled in a gush of liquid. The girl took her first lung fulls of cavern air, long pink tongue knowing instinctively to flick out and taste her new world. It was a warm place. She could feel the heat through her muddy colored scales. It was dark, but it had always been dark for her. Within the chrysalis womb, there had been no light. So, at present, the young anaconda had no idea what light even was.

Instinct drove the slithering beast forward. Senses were on high alert as she moved. That tongue kept lashing outward, helping to give her a sense of where she was, where she'd been and what was around her. Eventually she made it to a pool of water. It didn't seem too large and that suited her just fine. Dipping her head below the surface, Oswego tested the temperature and, finding it pleasing, curled her entire body beneath the still liquid. Periodically she would raise her head from the water to take a breath, but for the most part, she was still as death.

how come i've never seen your face round here?
i know every single face round here

---

He'd temporarily left the safety of Orion to explore the outside worlds of his home. The entirety of the cave system seemed to be bathed in complete darkness. Oh, how he wish he still had his abilities to create stars and light but with his earthly vessel there was only so much that he could do. At the very least he could force his eyes to see better in the dark, which he did. It made traversing the caves a breeze for the strange beast and soon he turned himself towards a new place where he could sense heat, lots of it.

In this new room there was water and the tiny scuttlings of creatures in the dark, but that was everywhere. He moved forward, nose and eyes leading him to the water where he was sure he could take a drink. In the darkness the pinpricks of light on his coat let him sparkle almost like the stars he missed. His muzzle dipped forwards towards the water as he prepared to taste the liquid. Only to stop when he noticed something hidden beneath the surface. "Who art thou?" He mused to himself, noticing the rather bright serpentine appearance of the creature. His brain began to wonder, thinking about all of the creatures he'd thought about in his chrysalis. Could he have perhaps wandered upon this snake because it was fate?

---

231 | notes | @Oswego

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

an empire falling in just one day

you close your eyes and the glory fades

ready aim fire away...

While in her own personal pond, a little fish happened to swim too close, its find brushing against her sensitive scales. Again instinct kicked in and, striking outward, backward slanting teeth hauled the fish towards her. Though small, her body was pure muscle. Wrapping around the fish, she waited for its struggles to cease, tightening her coils after each minuscule movement. Soon its life had expired and Oswego set about consuming her very first meal. Jaws unhinging, the undulating muscles of her throat gradually pulled the fish downward. Stomach full, the snake coiled once more.

She felt him rather than saw him. Heat sensing pits at the front of her face felt the man's warmth. She was small and so everything could be dangerous to her. Below the water, Oswego curled tighter, neck curled in an S shape should she be forced to strike. Rather than be met with aggression, she was instead met with curiosity. The furred beast asked a question, this she could tell by the inflection in its voice. The little snake thought for a long moment, then brought the entirety of her head above water. "Osssswego." She now had a name.

@Mosi

how come i've never seen your face round here?
i know every single face round here

---

The large beast waited, air exhaling from his mouth as the distorted image of the snake seemed to first coil and then raise above the water. He could see the sparkle of her eye, a red one that interested him to no end. As a superstitious creature he was always on the lookout for signs and signals in the world around him. The sparkling eye and the fact that he found the snake in this large place so easily lead him to believe that this in itself meant something more. He wondered how old the creature was. The serpent seemed a bit at a loss when he questioned her on who she was. That lead him to think that she was a young thing. Only younglings had to think about who they were but when she gave her name he nodded, the hissing tone told him she was "Oswego".

"Oswego, I am Mosi Nyota, The First Star. Do you know who I am?" Of course she wouldn't but he couldn't help but pump himself up to say who he was. It was always pleasing to tell these mortals who he was. "I am the God of Stars." He didn't know if she could see or not in the darkness but he waved his tail and turned his muzzle in such a way that the pinpricks of light would especially sparkle for her if she looked. "How long have you been in this world, serpent?" Had she just hatched especially for him to find? Ah, he hoped so. These young ones were so impressionable and it would be easy to mold her for his purpose and teach her the true way of life.

---

282 | notes | @Oswego

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

an empire falling in just one day

you close your eyes and the glory fades

ready aim fire away...

She could not see him. There was no light. She could feel him, however. He felt warm and safe. Oswego found herself slithering a little closer, purely interested in this being that had found her. So much larger than herself, the beast must have been some sort of... what was the word? A maker? Could a being of his size not make the world?

Again the Maker spoke and Oswego paid rapt attention. He asked if she knew who he was and, despite not being able to see, she shook her scaly head. He'd told her, but had still asked. Perhaps he wanted her to guess? On an exhaled breath, she whispered. "Maker." There was awe, not on her inexpressive face, but in that bright russet eye. Mosi Nyota was a god of stars. Granted, Oswego didn't know what a god was. Nor did she know what stars were, but it sounded very important.

Another question came. He asked how long she'd been here and again, the girl took a long moment to think. "Now." That was the extent of her timeline. Today was now. It wasn't then. It wasn't later. Still, she was in awe, gazing up towards where she felt the big beast to be. In admiration, she whispered his name. "Mosssssssi."

@Mosi

how come i've never seen your face round here?
i know every single face round here

---

The creature slithered closer to him, closing the distance and making him marvel at her bravery. Here he was a massive creature that could easily crush her and end her life and yet here she was, unafraid. He wondered... Could she be enticed to come aboard him? He remembered vaguely another creature he'd tried to entice to become closer with him but it had ended in failure.

The large beast laid down on the ground, easing his head forward so that he was inches away from the snake. Wet nose sniffed at her, learning her scent so he would always be able to search it out. With how close they were and how closely he was paying attention to her he didn't miss the whispered words on the wind.

Maker.

He shivered, a surge of pride and power coursing through his veins. The awe in her voice made him let out a pleased rumble in his throat. Yes. He was a "Maker". A Maker of stars. A Maker of great beings. If they would only listen and allow him to work his magic with them. Usually these mortals were non-believers and shunned what he tried to tell them. But this one, she was smart. She held promise and potential. "You are not wrong, smart one. I am a god which also makes me a Maker. A Maker of the stars." He grinned, an expression wasted in the dark but still one that he couldn't help.

Her answer to his question was "now" which lead him to believe that she was definitely newly hatched. He thought for a moment, mulling over what exactly he would say to her next. "Oswego... You who have hatched now. You will be destined for great things. As a god I am in need of an emissary, one to be my companion and my muse.... I believe that is to be you. Would you be my Emissary?" He stared at her, eyes drinking in her serpentine appearance. "You will be granted power and will always be in favor of the gods if you accept." How could one say no? To be aligned with one such as him? It was an honor for him to seek out and grant one a portion of his power.

---

378 | notes | @Oswego

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

an empire falling in just one day

you close your eyes and the glory fades

ready aim fire away...

@Mosi

The heat poured off of Mosi as he lay upon the earth, getting himself closer to her. The little snake, moved forward even more, tentatively extending her neck to scent the man. Her tongue flicked out, ghosting over the tip of his wet nose. He smelled and tasted exquisite. Just how a Maker should taste, she imagined. It seemed as though he wished her to climb upon him, but about this she was unsure. After fighting with herself in her mind, she eventually gave in, muscles taking her forward to do just that.

Now, Wego considered herself small, but in reality, she was almost three feet. That was terribly small considering how large she would become. She wouldn't be too heavy yet and so the Maker would be able to carry her comfortably. As she aged and ate, she would grow quickly in mass and muscle. Soon he wouldn't be able to carry her. Then she would pass him in size. Eventually, she would be the one protecting him.

Oswego sighed softly as her sensitive scales touched the very first tendrils of his pelt. He was soft. Soft was nice. Undulating muscles propelled her upwards, her body slowly wrapping itself loosely about Mosi's neck. He had made an offer; asked if she would be with him. Offered protection and companionship. At that moment in her short life, she wished for nothing more. "Yesssss" she whispered next to his ear, her tongue flicking outward with the syllable. "Part of Maker." And, if things worked out between them, she would indeed be a part of him, for he would imbue his words and beliefs upon her, raising her like his own child. And Oswego, being the sweet girl that she was, wouldn't let her new found Maker-Father down.

"World-breaker..."

how come i've never seen your face round here?
i know every single face round here

---

Every moment she seemed to ease closer, fighting within herself and battling the urge to stay away. He silently pushed her forward, eyes hungrily staring at her and waiting to see if she would take it upon herself to close the final distance. Finally... She did. The serpent slithered forward and moved over onto his body, climbing up his neck and slithering into the fur to come to rest just behind his head with her body curled loosely about his neck like a sort of living collar. It felt strange having another riding upon him but it felt right as well. He was correct in choosing this beast for his own, for now she would fit perfectly in the folds of his fur and ride there as she grew. How large she would grow Mosi did not know but he would surely be surprised when she showed her true potential.

Once she was secure the canine-creature rose back to his paws, a pleased rumble erupting from his throat. "You have chosen wisely, My Muse. A part of me you shall always be, an exquisite creature that will always have my favor. If you have need of me, call, say a prayer and I shall come to your aid." He turned then, taking it upon himself to take her back to his realm and let her see what she would be a part of. "Come, I will show you my home, the lands of Orion where I have created the very stars in the sky and been tasked with bringing the old city back to life." He grinned as he walked forward, taking long strides that would get them back to his... no, their home.

---

284 | notes | @Oswego

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

an empire falling in just one day

you close your eyes and the glory fades

ready aim fire away...

He was so warm, her Maker. So patient with her. He allowed her to climb atop him. Allowed her to wrap her coils about his neck. He was not afraid. And he shouldn't be. Oswego would never hurt Mosi. She would protect him. Keep him safe. The thought brought her a bit tighter around his neck, but not unbearably so. A snakely embrace, if anything.

Mosi spoke further, praising her wisdom and making more promises. He would keep her safe. It was a fair trade. "Keep you safe." The hatchling anaconda whispered against Mosi's ear. She would become strong for him so that she might serve him well.

The Maker then promised to take her to his home. His home would now be her home. The trusting little serpent would stay with him for as long as he would have her. He would show her the stars that he made. Oswego wished more than anything to know what stars were. The anticipation set her a'quiver.