He stepped through the entrance to the temple with ease, the guards stepping away at his appearance, and resettled at their post as he waved them down, he was one of the few allowed in the inner temple without expressed permission.

His staff echoed as it clicked against the floor with every step he took, and he looked about him to observe the different pieces of art painted across the walls, different hieroglyphs. They were beautifully painted, with intricate detail. He nodded to the guards at the door way to the inner temple, and found his charge pacing back and forth before his throne, wringing his hands together in the way he did when deep in thought and worried on some matter unknown. His human form was tense, something had captured his inner attention, and it was not something good. The godling growled lowly when his thoughts seemingly led him nowhere, and he turned, upturning a tray of fruits and a jug of whine that had been placed on a small table near the left arm of his throne.

"What has got you so worked up?"

The Healer went ignored for a moment, the other huffing softly, fists tightening at his sides. He turned to peer at him with silver eyes, from over his shoulder, and his sharp canines glinted in the lighting of the sandstone room.

"Something is stirring." He went back to pacing, his hands digging into his thick furlike hair, "I can feel it but I can't name it."

"Well." He stepped up to meet at the throne, leaning his staff against the lefthand side, he sat to watch his Egyptian charge pace back and forth, his head turning one way and then the other as he did, Anubis was aggravated about something. "Pacing does no good on solving the matter." He caught him by the wrist when he made to cross in front of him again, tugging him down to sit in his lap, the godling yelped and looked up at him, he smiled to him in greeting, "Tell me what you feel?"

He nodded, the godling was not one to share such things with those outside of his circle of deities, but the Healer was a special case.

"Something is stirring in the underworld, something massive, but I can not say just what it is."

"Well, think on it, what lays in the underworld that could cause such a disturbance that you would feel it?"

Anubis looked up at him blankly, "Umm… Everything?"

The Healer nodded, he had regretted the words as soon as they had left his mouth, "Point made.", he pat his waist to get him up, and Anubis stood as ordered to, "Come," the archangel reached for his staff, "Let's return home."

The god raised an eyebrow at the Healer, as though he had forgotten, "I am home."

"My home."

…

"Brother?", the Healer turned to look at the call, meeting the gaze of his oldest brother, he smiled and turned back to the task at hand as he bent to collect the ball that had been dropped at his feet once more, and threw it far. "Do my eyes deceive me?", they watched the creature run after the ball having been thrown, "Is that a jackal?"

His brother chuckled, and Michael smiled at the sound, "Indeed, Anubis." The elder hummed, raising his chin in acknowledgement. The Egyptian had helped them through many wars, and they returned the favor in kind, him and the Healer had formed quite the odd bond.

"What brings him here?"

"Something is stirring.", Raphael bent to pick up the ball once more, patting the hound on the head, and threw it once again, "Deep in the underworld. Usually he can easily pick up on the nuisance, but things have been rather helter-like in the ancient city recently, his mind is too congested to figure it out."

"And you figured playing a game of fetch with him would help?"

He chuckled again, and Michael smiled once more, the godling could be very amusing at times. He bent for the ball once more, the jackal huffing at the exertion, bent forward on its two paws waiting for it to be thrown again, and he complied, chuckling when the jackal darted away once more.

"It gives him something to focus on and clear his mind of clutter, and, don't let him know I told you this," the Healer leaned over to him, "He likes playing this game. Honestly, sometimes I think he's more jackal than anything."

"He reminds me of Erathaol."

"Father help us if they were to ever meet."

…

He sighed again as the godling took to pacing the length of their sitting room in the villa once more, even after a rousing game of fetch he was still too preoccupied with other happenings to name what it was stirring in it's prison down in the underworld. The Healer rubbed at his temple in exasperation.

"What did I say about pacing?"

"I can't help it!" he turned a rather annoyed look to his celestial guardian, "You of all people should know a nervous tick when you see one."

"Watch your tone."

He went ignored as the Egyptian went back to pacing again, muttering under his breath in the native ancient tongue that all deities knew in his world, rubbing his eyes with his hands.

"What we need to do," he caught him by the waist, having stood with his back turned, and he pulled the young god back into his chest, "Is to clear your mind."

"That's easier said then done! Do you realize all that has happened in the last weeks? There is so much to fix and so much to rebuild, your war bled unto my people. Temples have to be rebuilt, Ma'at is being as annoying correct as ever, the council is gathering, Osiris and Horus are still mourning the loss of his wife, Azrael isn't talking to me." He paused, "Have you heard from him recently?"

"He has been rather busy, but yes, I have heard form him." The Healer swayed them side to side, not interrupting his rambling, best to let him speak the thoughts that clouded his inner sight then to allow them to remain unsaid, "He apologizes for the neglect but wants to get with you soon."

That seemed to satisfy the deity for a moment, as he fell silent, "I think I know of another way we can try to clear your mind."

Silver eyes met his from below, "How?"

"I don't think you'll like it."

"Don't say you have a cure and then not explain."

He smiled as his own thoughts captured him, it had been some time indeed since they had last had this type of moment, "I can show you rather then tell you."

"Anything to help me."

"Anything?"

"Anything."

He dug his fingers in his upper belly, hounds were known for their sensitive tummies, and his was no different. Anubis yelped, a bark of a yelp, and bent forward as he burst into immediate laughter. The Healer bent with him, he wasn't about to let his charge get away that easy and continued the treatment in getting him to clear his mind. Perhaps a good dose of laughter would clear his mind to allow his inner eye to see what needed seen.

"How about now?" he couldn't help but chuckle at the godlings reaction, "Can you think clearly now?"

"I cahahahan't!" fingers closed around his, and he will not lie, the godling nearly pulled his hands away, his strength was most certainly deceiving with the visage he kept most times, it often served him well in battle. But he moved his own hands away, digging into the middle of his belly instead, and the godling fell back against him, fingers curled around his wrists as a means to hang onto something.

"Yes you can, I know you can, think hard." He found a particular sensitive spot and focused on it a bit longer, "Clear your mind and think."

Anubis choked on a breath, his eyes widening as he saw, "Rahahahaph! Ahahaharchahahahangel! Stop!" the fingers stilled and the Egyptian heaved a breath, "Ammit."

"The demoness?" his charge nodded against his chest, "Do you require assistance in caging her again?"

"Nah, she's a minor goddess, I can handle her."