A/N

This was based on a challenge to write a 500 word (or less) story that uses the phrases "I'll be back," "it's a trap," and "girls just wanna have fun." Somehow managed to do it based on Egyptian mythology. Go figure.


In Sunlight's Shadow

"Ow…ow…ow…"

Ra limped across the sky, the Egyptian landscape illuminated in a blood-red glow. "What happened?", Khonsu had asked. "Are you alright?", Isis had inquired. "Do you need a day off?" Nut had simpered. And in response, the sun god had answered "shut up," "no," and shut up." In that order.

But there was a simple answer to what had happened. Apep had happened. And Bastet had…not happened.

"Bastet!"

On cue, Bastet came running along the Egyptian sands. If she'd bothered with the serpent god, there was no sign of it. What there was a sign of was-

"What in the name of the two kingdoms is that?!"

"Do you like it?" his daughter asked, taking on a humanoid form and setting the…thing down by her. "I never thought I'd get a better pet than a cat, but…well, look! Isn't he cute?"

The 'thing' was a jackal, though it looked more like a dog, as per mortals' breeding efforts in the lands to the north. Some were calling it "man's best friend." Anubis was calling it bizarre that they'd want to make friends with his heralds. Then again, Ra had never considered mortals to be particularly rational. He'd left his pharoahhood behind for a reason.

"What can I say?" Ra's daughter asked as she played with the mutt, as if reading his thoughts. "Girls just wanna have fun."

"Fun," the sun god sneered. "Oh yes. Lots of fun being gnawed at by Apep." He let his red light settle on his daughter. "He sunk his bloody teeth into me, the serpent. And it's your job to keep him off me!"

"Relax pops, it's just one day," Bastet said, transforming into her feline form to play with the jackal. "Won't do any harm in the long run."

"That's not the point!"

"Fine!" the cat goddess exclaimed, though still partaking in a nose rubbing contest with her new pet. "I'll be back in the east tomorrow morning, crack of dawn, fighting the same bloody fight all over again." She glanced up at her father. "Unless you'd care to rise in the west for once."

"I would, but Nut gets…well, nutty if I do a three-sixty on her."

"Don't you mean one-eighty?"

"I'm bleeding!" Ra exclaimed. "And do I look Greek to you?"

"No, Helios is much better looking."

Ra wanted to keep arguing, but he held himself back. It's a trap, he told himself. A way to keep me arguing until I set so my daughter can have the last word.

Despite that, he still wanted to argue. But a jab from up above caught his attention.

"You done?" Khonsu asked. "I'd like to start shining while some mortals are still awake."

"Fine!" the sun god snapped. "Shine! Shine all night! And you," he said to Bastet. "Six hours past midnight tomorrow. Eastern edge of the world. Be there on time, or I'll send you into the tenth region of the night with that damn serpent!"

"Sure pops," Bastet murmured. "Whatever you say."