Bast

"NO!" I scream as Sadie falls limp on the riverbank.

I turn and hiss at the monster that did this. It's a crocodile, at least ten times my size. Its tail is swaying where Sadie had been a moment ago. The crocodile spots me and lunges. I drop beneath it, racking my knives across its throat. The monster gags and melts into the river.

That wasn't so hard. What wa- Sadie! I sprint to her. Khufu is already there, inspecting her. The closer I get, the clearer I see the red spot on her head. I kneel next to my kitten. Blood trickles from Sadie's scalp. Her face is a shade of yellow it probably should never be.

Carter runs up to us. "What happened?"

"It came out of nowhere," I say miserably. "Its tail hit Sadie and sent her flying. She never had a chance. Is she...?"

Khufu puts his hand on Sadie's forehead and makes a popping sound with his mouth.

I sigh with relief. There's time to heal her in the RV.

"Khufu says she'll live, but we have to get her out of here." I tell Carter. "Those crocodiles could mean..."

In the middle of the river, the water is boiling. As if on cue, Sobek rises from the waters.

"Could mean that." I finish.

Sobek's new form is quite impressive, I have to admit. He is twenty feet tall. His chest and arms are human, but covered in light green skin. His waist is wrapped in a green armored kilt like reptile hide. His neck slowly flows into a crocodile head. His eyes glisten with green mucus. Bull's horns part in two his black hair, which hangs in plaits down to his shoulders. Old habits die hard, I guess: he's sweating buckets in the river.

Sobek raises his staff – a length of green wood as big as a telephone pole.

I have time to yell "Move!" and pull Carter back as Sobek smashes a trench in the riverbank where he was standing.

"Horus!" Sobek bellows.

We should run. That would be smart. Instead, Carter does the stupidest thing he could have ever possibly done.

"Sobek! You, uh, weakling!" he yells. "How the heck are ya?"

Sobek bares his teeth. "That form does not serve you, falcon god. I will snap you in half."

Sorry, Sobek. I'm not losing any kittens today. I slip my knives from my sleeves.

"Don't let him grasp you," I warn Carter.

"Already got the memo," he replies. To my right, Khufu is slowly lugging Sadie uphill. "Sobek, god of...I'm guessing crocodiles! Leave us in peace or we'll destroy you!"

Sobek roars with laughter. "Your sense of humor has improved, Horus. You and your kitty will destroy me?" He turns his mucus-filmed eyes on me. "What brings you to my realm, cat goddess?" The muscles in his right arm twitch. "I thought you didn't like the water!"

On the last word, he aims his staff and shoots forth a torrent of green water. I'm already in the air. The jump sends me behind Sobek. My avatar forms before I've even come close to the water.

"Traitor!" I yell. "Why do you side with chaos? Your duty is to the king!"

"What king?" Sobek roars. "Ra? Ra is gone. Osiris is dead again, the weakling! And this boy child cannot restore the empire. There was a time I supported Horus, yes. But he has no strength in this form. He has no followers. Set offers power. Set offers fresh meat. I think I will start with godling flesh!"

He turns on Carter and swings his staff. Carter rolls away from the strike, but Sobek's free hand shoots out and grabs my kitten around the waist. I tense, preparing to launch myself at the enemy. Before I can, Sobek drops his staff, grasps Carter with both massive hands, and drags him into the water.

My avatar flickers and let it dissolve as my eyes drift towards the water. Carter needs my help. That's more important than getting a little wet. Right? That's ridiculous! I can't believe I'm even debating this! I have to help Carter! Every second I spend contemplating can be crucial. Even if helping means having to swim, and, get my hair wet, and my jumpsuit would be sticking all over my skin and it'll get heavy, and I might even catch a cold and-

Carter, surrounded by the form of his glowing falcon-headed avatar, shoots out of the water and lands on the riverbank next to me. I'm so startled I almost slash him.

"Thank Ra!" I exclaim.

"Yeah, I'm alive."

"No, I almost jumped in after you. I hate the water!"

Then Sobek explodes out of the river, roaring in rage. Green blood oozes from one of his nostrils.

"You cannot defeat me!" He holds out his arms, which are raining perspiration. "I am lord of the water! My sweat creates the rivers of the world!"

I tense, eyes on the enemy. Sobek charges and the river comes with him. A massive wave crashes into the riverbank. I jump in the last moment and lend on Sobek's back in full avatar form. He doesn't look bothered. Sobek tries to grab me. I'm too fast. My knives slash again and again, cutting through his back, arms, neck. His green skin heals before a single drop of blood has appeared.

Sobek's hand reaches out again, but I'm tired and my reflexes aren't as fast. He grabs me and throws me off. The ground is speeding towards me. I arch my back, limbs stretched out under my body. My hands touch the ground first and I push myself upwards, using the momentum. With a flip in the air, I lend on my feet next to Carter. He looks at me worried. I'm not hurt, but my aura is flickering and I need a second to catch my breath.

Carter's avatar is way more stable than mine at this point. We lunge at the crocodile god, stabbing and slashing. The more we wound him, the more powerful he seems to get.

"More minions!" he shouts. "Come to me!"

Perfect. I don't dare look back to see what's happening with Sadie and Khufu. Sobek's fist smashes into me and I'm in the air again. There isn't enough time to brace myself for the impact. When I hit the ground, my avatar flickers off completely.

It takes me a moment to get up. Every part of my body hurts, physical pain mixing itself with magical exhaustion. A blast of water sends Carter across the river bank. He falls somewhere in the reeds. Sobek is nearing him. So are his minions – two wake lines in the river, moving fast.

Sobek steps out of the water just as I enter the wet nightmare from behind him.

"Carter, hurry!" I yell. "Get Sadie out of here!"

It takes me a moment to collect what's left of my power. My insides burn as my avatar flickers weakly around me once more. It won't do much at this point, but it's enough to bring the crocodile under.

"Don't!" Carter calls. "You'll die!"

I'm not loosing any kittens today. Alas, they'll have to loose me.

"Go!" I yell. "And tell your father I kept my promise."

'"NO!"

Tears threaten to fill my eyes as I leap at Sobek. Knives slash furiously across his face while Sobek howls in pain. He starts to back away, but slips and we topple over in the water. The crocodile grabs my throat, squeezing hard. Sobek spreads his free arm, drawing the current towards him. Before he can, I stab him in the chest. I pour my power in the blade, pushing it deep in his heart. Sobek gags and goes limp. His form dissolves, his soul retreating back in the Duat.

Back home.

My lungs are burning. My magic is slipping between my fingers, green tendrils dancing in the water. The lifeforce of my host is hanging on a single thread. My kittens… Sadie was an amazing cat owner. She loves Muffin so much. For six years, I watched over her. I watched her grow into a fierce warrior. It would've been nice to see her grow into a woman one day, too. I can't leave her without some sort of a goodbye. I can't go without leaving her a… I smile weekly. A 'going away' present.

I have enough energy for one spell. I can slow my decent into Duat, make the way out easier. It'll take me 100 years less to come back into the mortal world… if there is even a mortal world to come back to.

Instead, I draw to my hands all of the power I have left. My very soul feels like it's on fire as it leaves the cat it used to call its home.

"It's time, Muffin." I whisper. "Make your queen proud."

The river explodes. The last thing I see is the green energy shooting the cat upwards towards dry land. It'll be okay. A cat keeps her promises.