Sphinx
“Good morning, My Lady.” Ivy called with all of the diplomacy she could muster. -It does not do to offend a sphinx.- “Won’t you join us for breakfast?”
The sphinx stretched from front paw to back and from wingtip to wingtip as she considered. Ivy and Rou put pans on the fire and filled one with water from a canteen. Apparently, the sphinx decided to accept the offer, because she walked gracefully to the fire then sat and licked her paw. Ivy prepared breakfast and the three of them conversed. Soon Rou and Ba’Shi were arguing about the best way to take down a su, those fierce, squirrel -tailed carnivores that live on riverbanks. Suddenly, without any warning, Ba’Shi pounced. Rou tried to roll out of the way, but she pinned him between her huge paws. “See?” she said laughing. “Just like that.” Then she sat back on her haunches and gave Rou a moment to regain his dignity.
Turning to Ivy she said “Daughter of the Cat Lord, I see you are burning with questions, as is your shape-shifting friend. Yet you withheld them choosing instead to entertain me. Thank you. In exchange for the fine meal and conversation, I will answer one question for each of you.”
Of course, on hearing that one question would be answered, hundreds flooded Ivy’s mind. Most were quickly discarded, but some shared equal importance. Ba’Shi waited patiently while Ivy decided. At length she asked “Who can tell me about my power and the nature of my enemy?”
The sphinx gave a slow blink and Ivy felt that she was looking right into her mind, as if she somehow knew all of the questions that had not been asked as well as the one that had.
“You must travel to the Desert of Dreams and seek out Silver-Eye Blue-Feather, the wisest of the Lammasu.” was the answer.
“And you, Rou? Have you chosen your question?”
Rou did not hesitate. “Who or what gave be the ability to become human?”
Ba’Shi threw back her head and laughed. “Is this the burning question in your heart?” She then gave him the same slow, mind searching blink that she had given Ivy. “I know nothing of humans.” She said. “You should ask one of them.” Rou looked at Ivy, who shrugged.
“Stick to your studies, Gat. Your future - and perhaps your past - will be found there.” With that the sphinx leaped into the air and flew away.
Rou scowled after her. “Does that count as an answer?” He started packing up the camp things.
“She treated me like a kitten!” He muttered, shoving Ivy’s blanket into her pack.
“She didn’t treat you that way.” He pointed out as Ivy took the blanket out of the pack and rolled it up.
“I’m almost two hundred years older than you. So who gets treated like an adult?” He grumbled while Ivy put the pans in the pack around the blanket.
“Cheer up ’Old Tom’.” She said smiling. “At least she taught you how to catch a su.”
The sphinx stretched from front paw to back and from wingtip to wingtip as she considered. Ivy and Rou put pans on the fire and filled one with water from a canteen. Apparently, the sphinx decided to accept the offer, because she walked gracefully to the fire then sat and licked her paw. Ivy prepared breakfast and the three of them conversed. Soon Rou and Ba’Shi were arguing about the best way to take down a su, those fierce, squirrel -tailed carnivores that live on riverbanks. Suddenly, without any warning, Ba’Shi pounced. Rou tried to roll out of the way, but she pinned him between her huge paws. “See?” she said laughing. “Just like that.” Then she sat back on her haunches and gave Rou a moment to regain his dignity.
Turning to Ivy she said “Daughter of the Cat Lord, I see you are burning with questions, as is your shape-shifting friend. Yet you withheld them choosing instead to entertain me. Thank you. In exchange for the fine meal and conversation, I will answer one question for each of you.”
Of course, on hearing that one question would be answered, hundreds flooded Ivy’s mind. Most were quickly discarded, but some shared equal importance. Ba’Shi waited patiently while Ivy decided. At length she asked “Who can tell me about my power and the nature of my enemy?”
The sphinx gave a slow blink and Ivy felt that she was looking right into her mind, as if she somehow knew all of the questions that had not been asked as well as the one that had.
“You must travel to the Desert of Dreams and seek out Silver-Eye Blue-Feather, the wisest of the Lammasu.” was the answer.
“And you, Rou? Have you chosen your question?”
Rou did not hesitate. “Who or what gave be the ability to become human?”
Ba’Shi threw back her head and laughed. “Is this the burning question in your heart?” She then gave him the same slow, mind searching blink that she had given Ivy. “I know nothing of humans.” She said. “You should ask one of them.” Rou looked at Ivy, who shrugged.
“Stick to your studies, Gat. Your future - and perhaps your past - will be found there.” With that the sphinx leaped into the air and flew away.
Rou scowled after her. “Does that count as an answer?” He started packing up the camp things.
“She treated me like a kitten!” He muttered, shoving Ivy’s blanket into her pack.
“She didn’t treat you that way.” He pointed out as Ivy took the blanket out of the pack and rolled it up.
“I’m almost two hundred years older than you. So who gets treated like an adult?” He grumbled while Ivy put the pans in the pack around the blanket.
“Cheer up ’Old Tom’.” She said smiling. “At least she taught you how to catch a su.”