Demiurge nods to Hitherby. Shall we assume that you Ascend, shortly after everything finishes on the earthside?
Hitherby nods! Okay.
Hitherby uses the Tether. Abandons all hosts if she has to, gets a 2 Essence loan from the Seneschal if he's companionable ;)
You say "The Seneschal is convenient and companionable and willing."
Hitherby thanks him repeatedly, which is very easy because the pigeon language is very compressed.
You say "Hitherby, you find yourself in Jordi's Savannah. The endless plains stretch out to the distance, and your Heart glows in a thousand welcoming colours."
Hitherby smiles at her Heart. Taps it in the middle with a finger, and then laughs to herself and flies up and out across the Savannah. Jordi or his "secretary" ought to be locatable; that's, after all, the secretary's job.
At the Council Fire, Hitherby, you can see several large dark shapes gathered there. You realise that is probably where to start looking.
Hitherby stretches, which looks very odd, and then angles in. She's slow, being on two planes of reality at once, but people are used to that in a Kyriotate.
One of the lion-ghosts by the fire moves aside, in a slow ripple of motion, to courteously make room for you. On the far side of the flames, Jordi is speaking with some snakes, having taken the form of a great boa constrictor.
Hitherby thumps down beside the lion. She swivels an eye and mouth to focus on it, and whispers, "The Great One busy or just chatting?" Unless animal ghosts can't speak the celestial tongue.
The lion rumbles, softly, "He is occupied, Domination. A matter in the homeland. It has been a while, though. He may soon have time for you."
Hitherby nods thoughtfully, smiles at the lion. "Thanks." Then, in the classic Kyriotate non-intrusive request for attention, she swivels about 90% of her eyes and mouths to face Jordi, and waits.
Hitherby can wait. She's in a party downbelow, and besides, Heaven feels *good*.
About half an hour later, the snakes bow their heads and wriggles away. Jordi comes coiling round the fire in a long loop of motion, ruby eyes on Hitherby. It hisses, "Oboooooooth."
Hitherby tilts the majority of the eyes his-side downwards, and says, "Great One." (She keeps one or two up in case he *wants* to look her in the eye.)
Hitherby says, "I have concerns and a report, Great One." Unless he speaks immediately.
Jordi hisses, gently, "Report, then. And then give your concerns."
Hitherby says, "There were two Renegade Kobalites, without intention to Redeem, who planned to wreak massive destruction at a human Opera." She hesitates, but only briefly. "I will explain why I involved myself momentarily."
Jordi breathes, long and serpentine, "I am sure that you will, little one."
Hitherby says "The Game and a troubleshooting Kobalite also arrived. The troubleshooter appears to have fallen in love with an angel, whereas the Game decided to destroy all of us who were involved. This includes an attack that I don't fully understand on a fellow Kyriotate, many Balseraphic lies, and so forth. I am nervous about their intentions.""
Hitherby says "The Shedite Renegade is dead."
Hitherby says "The Habbalite Renegade is now in Kobal's hands, which I mention only for completeness."
Jordi whispers, "Whose intentions are you nervous about? You know that nervousness is folly. Be wise, little one."
Hitherby says "The artifact they intended to use is in the hands of your Seneschal. The Game wanted it badly, so it may be worth examining. -- the Game's, Great One. I cannot predict them, and they have made numerous attempts on angelic lives. This is atypical behavior. I will attempt to be more emotionally precise."
Jordi hisses, "And do the rest of your swarm still all live?"
Hitherby says "Yes. As the Almost-as-Great-One Dominique has endorsed him, I am considering adding the Kobalite to that choice. The Ofanite cares for him greatly."
Hitherby flutters a few hands. "I chose to become involved because an angel asked me to and because human lives, while not the focus of our efforts, are not valueless. That concludes my report, unless you have questions. I will explain my concerns once you have asked, or not asked those questions."
Jordi is still for several minutes, tongue flickering from time to time in a long slow hiss.
Jordi hisses, "You have done well."
Hitherby dips one of the eyes that was up in case Jordi wanted eye contact, and then raises it again.
Hitherby says, "Great One." A statement, humbly made, implying thanks.
Jordi whispers, "Pass through the flames." His form begins to shift, fluctuating from serpent towards something great and shining, starred with rainbow eyes. "Pass through the flames."
As Jordi speaks, the flames of the Council Fire rise up, dancing in high peaks, hot and searing gold.
Hitherby turns an eye to the flames. Considers that this is going to hurt. Decides she doesn't really care if it does, and drifts through the fire at the Kyriotate equivalent of a fast walk.
The flames burn for a moment, but only a moment, and fold round Hitherby like some incandescent chrysalis, then release to allow her to emerge on the other side, somewhere between a second and an hour of golden flame later.
Hitherby winces, retrospectively, and then opens a few closed eyes and blinks the open ones until the images of light fade.
Jordi now hovers in a great cloud of mouths and eyes. It speaks with a hundred tongues, and they whisper in harmony. "Go, little one, and protect your swarm."
You paged Hitherby with 'You have just acquired the _Call of the Wild_ Attunement.'.
From afar, Hitherby beams. Thankee.
Long distance to Hitherby: Demiurge thinks Hitherby _deserves_ it. ;)
Hitherby hesitates longer than she did before entering the fire, and then smiles to Jordi. "Be well, thee and thy Word. I shall do my part to serve it."
Hitherby scurries away for the Tether-opening.
Hitherby will look, on the way, for any particularly senior angels who aren't so senior as to be undisturbable.
There is a senior Ofanite over there, who is busy practicing dives from immense heights in the form of a pterosaur, and does not look particularly busy.
Hitherby drifts upwards to near the general height the Ofanite is diving from and directs most of her eyes his way.
The Ofanite converts his flight into a long, circling guide. He croaks, "Domination. What can I," he pauses to catch a thermal, "do for you?"
Hitherby says, "Um." A long hesitation. "Have you ever soul-killed?" she asks.
The Ofanite continues to circle. Its voice is harsher, as it croaks, "Yes. It was necessary."
Hitherby wonders, in the cadences of Heaventongue, "How long did it trouble you?"
The Ofanite keeps on circling Hitherby, dipping nearer each time. "It still does." The starlight flashes on its black eyes, cold and hard.
Hitherby twists a corner of a mouth, and then sighs softly. "You have been kind to me. Be well."
The Ofanite tips a wing in salute, then curls down into a long dive, the wind bearing its shriek away.
Hitherby proceeds to the Tether, tumbles to Earth, and scoots her celestial form off park-ward for some insect-gathering. (And we can stop there. :))
Demiurge nods. ;)
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