The Eyes of Horus: The Eye of Thunder
Chapter Four: Aftershock
Raiden watched as the lion goddess disappeared in flames, too late to question Sekhmet about the serpent warriors the village had just witnessed. He looked down at Bastet, who was in human form. The cat goddess seemed troubled, green eyes filled with regret as she stared at the place where Sekhmet once stood. Raiden could see bruising and a few burns on her body, but he knew none of those injuries were mortally threatening. She also stood a bit irregular and Raiden could see a deep bite mark on her leg. He saw the cat goddess shutter and look up at him. He noticed that she was examining his own body for injury.
It was true. He did not escape the bout with the serpent warrior who was revealed to be named Hasani without injury. The warrior gave him a few good cuts and he could feel bruising on his body from falls that he took. But the thunder god knew that he'd be okay. He'd treat his injuries later.
"Come Bastet," Raiden spoke softly to her, making the cat goddess stare at his face. "Let us check on the village and see if all is well."
Bastet gave a curt nod and the two walked through the streets. Luckily, the structural damage was very minimal. Homes only had some minor damage to the walls and the blood of warriors could be easily washed off. The temple also was safe from harm. But the smell of death was in the air. Bodies of slain warriors, serpent hybrids and Shaolin warriors alike, were littered in the streets. Survivors who were physically able picked through the bodies, picking up their fallen comrades and carried them to the center of the town. Raiden did not enjoy seeing the bodies of people he had sworn to protect from demons killed, especially in an almost pointless battle such as this. Luckily, he could no longer sense the presence of Sekhmet and her newfound "friends" near and they possibly have gotten the message to never mess with this village again. However, the price seemed to be too high for their freedom.
"I can't believe this," Bastet said under her breath, shaking her head in disbelief. "All these people…dead."
"It has been many years since you have seen carnage just as this," Raiden said quietly to her, trying to comfort her as best as she could.
The two made it to the town center, where the rest of the village was beginning to come from their homes to witness the aftermath of the battle. Many of the warriors were being treated for injuries. Some narrowly escaped with minor cuts while others were missing limbs. The cried of women were in the air, mourning and screaming the loss of their loved ones. The most painstaking image was that of the several lifeless bodies in the middle of the center, covered with sheets to mask their faces. As more bodies came in, it was Liu Kang who would pull the sheet over, paying respect to his fallen friends.
Liu Kang heard the two gods approaching and turned around to greet them. He had some bruising on his chest, but he seemed very able to move about.
"It is great to see you two well," Liu Kang said to them.
"And it is great that you are still well, as well," Raiden responded.
"Wish the same was for the rest of the village," Bastet muttered darkly.
Raiden saw Bastet flinch when a newcomer came into the town center. It was one of the Shaolin monks carrying in a small bundle wrapped in a blanket. The monk first brought the bundle up to a woman and lifted open the blanket so the woman could see what was under the cover. After a few moments, the woman broke down into tears, screaming in despair as the monk carried the bundle away. The woman followed after him and stayed close to the bundle, even when the monk left. Without saying a thing, Bastet limped over to the weeping woman and the small thing lying on the ground.
Bastet kneeled down beside the woman and asked for permission to see what was under the blanket. The woman was at first reluctant, startled by Bastet's approach, but allowed the cat goddess to see the person under the sheet. Bastet pulled the sheet back slowly and was shocked to see the face of a little girl. It was the same little girl who placed the flower behind her ear just earlier that day. Bastet looked at the little girl's face in shock and pulled the blanket back over the girl's face when the woman, who was now presumed to be the mother, began to cry again. Baste looked over at the mother and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It'll be fine," Bastet spoke quietly, trying to comfort the woman. "This kit walks in the heavens with the Elder Gods now. She will never have to face another battle ever again. She will be in peace for all eternity now."
"B-but she was too young!" The mother wailed like a sad kit missing her mother. "She was just only a child."
"I know. But now she'll be safe from any harm. Besides, if she was injured, you wouldn't want her to suffer now would you? She is in a much better place now."
Bastet's words seemed to be getting to the mother now. The mother wiped her tears away and gave the cat goddess a very tight hug. Bastet gave the woman a small smile and looked at her with serious green eyes.
"Now go into your house and tell your other children and your husband you love them very much," Bastet instructed. "Then, you can come back and sit a vigil for you daughter along with your family."
The woman gave a weary nod, wiped the remaining tears away and stood up to leave. Before she left for her home, she thanked the cat goddess. When the woman left, Bastet turned back to the child. Bastet stared down at the little form. She was too young…
The cat goddess placed a hand on the child's forehead. She could feel skin that was beginning to get cold underneath the sheet. Bastet let out a shaky breath and pulled the flower that the little girl had placed earlier out of her hair, setting it gently on the little girl's still chest.
"Good bye, sweet kit," Bastet said quietly to the corpse. "May the Elder Gods light your path as you make your way to the stars in the heavens. And may we see each other one more day in a time of peace. Until then, go in peace and may the Elder Gods protect your soul forever more."
Bastet stood up, wiping a single tear away from her eyes and letting the tear rest on the flower. Raiden watched as Bastet limped over to him, her eyes cast down at the ground. When Bastet was near, Raiden placed a hand on her shoulder and made her look up at him.
"You did a good job comforting that distraught mother," Raiden said to her. Bastet tipped her head to him in regards.
"When is the funeral for the fallen warriors?" Bastet asked.
"Liu Kang said a ceremony will be taken place when the sun rises."
"We are still trying to figure out what to do with the bodies of those serpent monsters," Liu Kang voiced in, overhearing the two gods' conversation. "We do not know if their warriors plan to come back for them so they can bury them properly. But I can assure you we are not going to give them a proper burial if they stay here and are not recovered."
"The serpent warriors are no longer in the area and I feel they are not coming back," Raiden said.
"Then set up a pyre and burn them," Bastet said, adding in a growl. "I'd rather see them burn than honor them for the trouble they caused to this village."
Liu Kang looked at Bastet. "That will be the plan then. I'll arrange some warriors to gather materials to set up the pyre."
"And we shall see to the bodies of the serpent warriors," Raiden said, speaking for the two gods.
The trio agreed and parted ways to go to their duties. Raiden and Bastet walked the streets and retrieved the bodies of the dead serpent hybrids. Bastet reformed into her feline state and helped Raiden drag the bodies to where they needed to go. The bodies were fairly heavy, even with two gods dragging them along. Eventually, they managed to collect all of the corpses and brought them outside of town. The bodies were neatly stacked on top of hay, wood and dry grass. One of monks carried out a torch and handed it to Raiden. Raiden nodded his approval to the monk and the man went away. Raiden lit the wood and the grasses, which immediately burst into flames and soon the creatures were beginning to catch on fire. The thunder god threw the torch into the flames and the area was in a huge fireball. Raiden and Bastet only watched the fire for a few moments before leaving to let the monsters burn.
As the two walked, Raiden noticed that Bastet's limp was getting worse. Dragging the bodies of serpent warriors must have further damaged her leg. Blood dripped slowly from the wound, as if the scab broke again. Raiden grabbed Bastet by the wrist and made her stop walking. Bastet hissed at him, shocked by the sudden action.
"What are you doing?" Bastet growled.
"How's your leg?" Raiden asked.
"Its fine," Bastet mumbled, trying to take her arm away from him.
"You're lying."
Bastet let out a breath. "Okay, fine. My leg hurts worse than it did before. Sekhmet bit me and dragging those bodies made it worse."
"Thank you. Now may I see your leg?"
Bastet grumbled something that Raiden could not hear and lifted up her injured leg so the thunder god could see. Raiden placed his hand gently on the mark that Sekhmet left behind and Bastet let out a small hiss of pain. He felt a strong, burning sensation come to his hand that felt as if fire had been set on the cat goddess' skin.
"Does it burn?" Raiden asked.
"A little," Bastet answered through gritted teeth. "Sekhmet's bite has always had that little side effect of being hotter than the flames of the Netherrealm."
"I see. Well, this may sting a little bit."
"What are you talking about-OW!" Without Bastet being prepared, Raiden send a quick shock of electricity onto her wounded skin. Bastet took her leg away from him and hissed at him. "What was that for!"
"I just healed you," Raiden said, folding his arms over his chest and blinking with amusement at the cat goddess. "I did warn you beforehand."
"Oh…well, that was more like a shock than a sting."
"But how is your leg now?"
"A lot better now, thanks to you."
"It is no problem." Raiden looked up at the sky and saw the sky beginning to lighten. "Dawn will come soon. Let us go and find Liu Kang and see if we have anything else that he would like us to do. Then I feel we should leave and continue on with our journey."
Bastet looked at him with wide eyes. "But what if those monsters attack again? Will they be able to defend themselves? You saw the aftermath of the last battle."
"I know. But this village is more formidable than you think. They will not lose without a fight. Besides, I do not think the serpent warriors will bother this village ever again."
Bastet blinked at him slowly, as if trying to come up with an argument.
"I also think we can find answers about your sister on the way. Why she has turned on us and the Elder Gods and why she has aligned herself with those serpent warriors."
Bastet looked at him for a few moments before nodding her head. "I guess you are right…"
Raiden looked at her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "We will find answers and we will also find Lord Ra."
Bastet nodded and did something Raiden did not expect her to do. The cat goddess moved quickly and wrapped her arms around him, drawing him into what an Earthrealm mortal would call a hug. That action shocked him and he stared at Bastet with astonishment. He felt Bastet tense up, prompting her to answer.
"I saw some Earthrealm people doing this. This is considered a comforting action, I assumed."
Raiden understood where the cat goddess was coming from and wrapped his own arms around her petite form. "You assumed correctly."
Jenn: Thank you! I was hoping that the little clash between the sisters would've been at least subpar but I'm glad you like it. I'm beginning to enjoy Sekhmet as well because she is so mysterious and fun to write with. And don't worry, we'll learn what her story is eventually in the story. ;)
Paritheikae: Fixed and done. I swear, your comments help so much and I kowtow to you for it. And I will continue going and thank you, once again!
SuperSaiyanMario9000: Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying it.
A/N: I really don't have much of a history note today but here's one. The little scene with Bastet comforting the mother is based on the fact that the Goddess Bastet was seen as a protector to mothers and children. It seemed more in place to have Bastet comfort her than "God of Mother Trucking Thundah" Raiden comfort the upset woman.
I also decided have Raiden heal Bastet's wounds because he actually does have healing powers, as seen in the new game where he heals…that one guy who I can't remember. I think it was Jax or someone…Anyway, I was going to have the funeral in this chapter, but I felt that it'd be better off to end it where I did. A little hug is always good after a hardcore, intense chapter.
Thanks for the read, once again! And, also, constructive criticism is always welcomed. Stay thirsty, my friends.