Coltzan's Gift

     "Feeling a bit out of place, dear?" It was the owner of the petpet stall. She nodded at him appraisingly. "Ah, it's not uncommon. We've had a boom in tourism these past few years."

     Malchyre grinned. "I'm not a tourist, per se. I'm on my way to King Coltzan's shrine. I've heard he grants great blessings to pets who visit there."

     The Peophin gazed directly into Malchyre's eyes, locking him in a rather patronizing stare. "And so you are right, young Lupe. But do not forget, the spirit of Coltzan is very wise. He may not choose to bless you in the way you had hoped."

     Malchyre snorted. "He'll bless me however I want him to," he declared. "Personally, I'm hoping he helps me with my defense. My skills in that area are lacking slightly."

     "He'll bless you however he chooses," said the Peophin. "Do not forget that."

     ---

     Malchyre stamped his feet, turning away from her. What did she know? Everything, whispered a small voice inside his mind. Keep in mind, she has lived here for her entire life. You're but a lonely traveler.

     "And so I am," he said aloud, his tone one of derisive sarcasm. "But being lonely hasn't stopped me yet. I didn't come all the way from Terror Mountain to get told off by a snobby Sakhmetian!"

     That's as may be, said the little voice, and then said no more.

     ---

     Later on that evening, Malchyre stopped at a small inn to rest. He would visit the shrine tomorrow, he decided. The trek would require all of his energy, and his willpower. He could only hope that the spirit of King Coltzan decided to bless him well. In his mind he could picture great towers of gold and jewels, powerful weapons for use in the Battledome, bags and bags of Neopoints, and endless other riches. He saw an image of himself, only stronger, more powerful, more agile... he saw Malchyre the Lupe as he would be one day, after the spirit of the King had blessed him with everything the world could offer.

     It didn't matter that they were only dreams. For in Malchyre's mind, they were the future--a future that was awaiting him when he visited the shrine tomorrow. He could barely sleep that night, for his thoughts were tumbling with visions of innumerable riches. Then, finally, he drifted off.

     He awoke early the next morning, ate a quick breakfast of fruit bought in Sakhmet, and said an unusually friendly good-bye to the innkeeper. Once he returned that afternoon, he was certain he would be richer than ever before. Then he set off into the heavy daylight, tail waving proudly behind him.

     ---

     From the bottom of the hill, Malchyre could already see the top of the shrine, the golden obelisk gleaming in the midday sun. This was it. This was what he had come for.

     He stood at the bottom of the hill for some time, veins charged with a feeling somewhere between trepidation and wonder. Suddenly he was afraid. Afraid? he thought, disgusted with himself. I am Malchyre Coldfoot, and I am never afraid!

     That gave him the strength to make his way, slowly but steadily, up the incline. The shrine seemed to multiply in size as he approached it, growing to a daunting size. He could feel it radiating mysterious, raw power, power that seemed to fill his brain with an intense--but not painful rattling.

     It was time.

     Malchyre opened his mouth to speak, but was astonished by the frightened squeak that came out. Rushing onward, he tried again. "King Coltzan, I am Malchyre Coldfoot! I ask you for your blessing!"

     He expected the sky to either fill up with fast-growing storm clouds, or become suddenly illuminated by a light too bright to stand. In his mind he saw the face of the powerful Lupe, his head adorned with an elegant headdress, his gaze shining with adoration for the young Lupe who had traveled so far to ask him for help. He could feel Coltzan's presence now, even as the air hummed with the power of an unseen force. He could feel the ancient King there, looking down upon him, deciding how to bless such a talented creature.

     Nothing happened.

     "Coltzan!" shouted Malchyre, his voice disappearing into the sand dunes and ricocheting off of the great shrine. "Coltzan, I am here!"

     Still nothing.

     "I'll give it twenty minutes," he decided to himself, settling himself down upon the sand to wait. The feeling of power in the air dissipated slowly, fading until it was a nearly unnoticed, but still strong presence. Malchyre sighed. If Coltzan wasn't going to bless him, that was his loss! Still, he couldn't help but to feel as if his entire journey had been in vain.

     "That's the last time I ever come here," snorted Malchyre sarcastically, knowing it really would be the last time he went to the shrine. Some pets were lucky if they could find the funds to travel this far, even a few times in their lives.

     His shoulders slumping, the Lupe dragged himself down the hill and walked away from the shrine without looking back once. Coltzan had failed him. There was nothing more to say.

     Reluctantly he made his way back to Sakhmet. The great walled city was as magnificent as ever in the noonday sun. Light glinted off the rooftops and domes, and then... off something closer to the ground.

     Every muscle in his body tensed with fear. Malchyre approached the golden glint slowly, seeing after a moment that it was a small-object, half-buried in the sand. He pawed at it for a few moments, uncovering it. It was a small blue Anubis sporting a gold ring in one of its ears and panting with exhaustion and dehydration. It didn't have a collar on it, which told him that it was obviously abandoned.

     Poor thing, he thought to himself, simultaneously picking up the small creature. "You can come back home with me. I don't know if you'll like Terror Mountain, but it will definitely be a nice change."

     The Anubis snuggled itself deep into Malchyre's fur, woofling happily. In spite of himself, the Lupe smiled as he trotted back towards Sakhmet with his new companion.

     ---

     It was only after he had reached the gates that he realized that Coltzan had indeed blessed him anyway.

The End