High Priestess of Hestia

“YOU NO GOOD IMBECILE!” The thundering voice was heard all over the pride, yet no one moved an inch, none batted an eye, some still laid lazily in the sun, basking in their full glory. Why? I questioned, but only to myself as I kept being beaten half to death by the lioness in front of me. “Mother, please…I’m sorry…” I managed to croak out, tears flowing, begging, pleading. It hurt, everything hurt, I didn’t care if I couldn’t have food that night, I just wanted it to end. “Please mother…it hurts…” The lioness in front of me, glaring, growling menacingly at me. The last thing I remembered was her paw coming at me, and everything going dark. Why, mother? Why do you…hate me?

Ever since I was born, I had been the pride’s punching bag, being tossed around, beaten, kicked, starved, at one point I was thrown into a hyena den as a joke, I only survived because I was small, the runt of the litter. I hid and hid, moving only when I could, and returned to the pride only two days later. When they saw me, they looked at me in such a way that I could’ve sworn they were saying, Why aren’t you dead?

As I woke up from having passed out from blood loss, a gentle voice comforted me, “There there, you’re okay now, no one will hurt you now, you’re safe.” I opened my eyes slowly, seeing an unfamiliar face. I was afraid, yet I knew she wouldn’t hurt me, I knew I had to go with her. “P-please…take me with you…” She hushed me before I could say more, “I know, I’m glad I got here in time. It was later than I would have liked, I’ve patched you up the best I could, but…some things were lost, I’m sorry.” I tried looking down, seeing a huge pool of blood, my blood, but no wound in sight, she had healed me, saved me.

“Let us go now, shall we? We have much to do, and you must rest up before your training.” I nodded at her, steadily getting up from the ground, and as I walked with her, a mark, her mark appeared on my body, signifying the connection between us.

A sudden voice interrupts my trip down memory lane, “High Priestess, we’re sorry for disturbing you,” I open my eyes to see two adolescents, their quiet voices rang loud in the silent sanctuary, with their heads bowed low. The one on the right speaks up this time, “her holiness wishes to speak with you, we are to escort you there.”

I gestured for them to lift their heads, “Perfect timing young ones, I was just about to visit her. Please, lead the way.” As we leave the sanctuary, I take a quick glance at the scenery, a gentle wind flowing through my mane and robes. A smile forms, my marks shining from the light, I think to myself, I am home, I am where I belong.

~ Credit: Nyra Zombie (#490644) ~