As always, thanks for all the love, and happy reading.
The first night that the stars returned, the humans waited with baited breath. News of a goddess's wrath had spread across the kingdoms like wildfire, worrying everyone all the way down to the least devoted. Even those who followed the other pantheons waited for the punishment that would be dealt, but none came.
The second and third night they still waited, but with less fear. By the end of the first week, they had decided they were safe.
It was then they finally began to notice the changes.
Things had been happening at night. Stories of mythical beasts, humanoid cows and lions, spread as people claimed to be rescued from bandits as they traveled the roads. Hungry citizens began to find food waiting at their doors in the morning. Pests were scared off crops, and chickens laid more eggs. The night sky glowed brighter than it ever had, and every night there seemed to be more stars filling the darkness. At first, no one could figure out what had happened.
Until they finally learned of Lucinda, Keeper of the Stars and Night Sky.
Citizens who had formerly not visited the holy lands began to flock in droves to pray at Lucy's altar. Farmers, drifters, homeless, merchants and anyone else whose nights had become safer arrived to give their thanks and leave offerings. Masons arrived a month after to build Lucy a bigger shrine.
When they arrived, Lucy directed them to where she had first collected her materials, so the new altar would be similar to her first. They also built it closer to the main drag so it was easier to find. She sat in her shrine every day, recruiting new followers and visiting with those who returned every week. They brought her flowers and food, shiny rocks and metals, valuables and anything else they thought she might like.
She started a rock garden around her shrine, so she could share their beauty. She set up a system to share the food with those who needed it. Valuables were admired and then returned with protections for the family cast upon them. Flowers were given a permanent home in her rock garden, and when she started running out of space, she started sending them off to her original altar to help beautify that space as well.
Everything grew better for the humans, and Lucy's following continued to increase every single day.
She seemed to be past her anger.
There was no retaliation.
There was no anger.
And in time, everyone forgot that they were ever worried.
What is our dear Lucy up to I wonder?