Lost Moon [2/2]
anonymous
May 27 2009, 16:50:04 UTC
"I helped her live" Greece continued, almost unmindful of Egypt's presence. "She was by my side for a long time, longer than most others".
"She was 24, was she?" it was a respectful age for a cat, Egypt knew it. His own cats barely lasted over 20. "She didn't look like it".
"I forgot" Greece continued. "I forgot they could die. I forgot they can disappear like this..."
Egypt felt a twinge of pain in his chest, at the familiar words. He’d been like that too, at first. "You didn't forget. You just chose to ignore that… it's how it works".
They remained in silence for a bit more time, until Egypt slowly reached out, taking the unmoving cat from Heracles' lap, noting how cold it felt under his fingers, how raw and rough the fur felt now, the more time passed.
She had been a beautiful animal, with grayish-blue fur and beautiful green eyes, now closed, and a white spot on her chest, that resembled a full moon.
It had been that white spot that earned the young cat her name, Hecate. Sinuous, beautiful, shifting through the shadows as if she was part of them herself… yes, the name had been perfect.
Greece let Egypt take her away, but his eyes were still fixed on the cat's unresponsive body, filled with pain. This cat was not one of his humans, of his children, but it was his all the same. He was hurt by the loss because the cat had been at his side for a long time, in human comparison.
Not much for a Nation, but this was how things worked for them. Nothing but them in the end. Any company would be left behind. Any attempt at trying to be human was easily burned away by either time or catastrophes… because only a Nation could truly suffer for each life lost in their territories.
And yet, despite everything, it still hurt so much, when one of them died.
"Come on, Heracles, let's go" Egypt held the cat's body reverently, then placed her still body inside his hat. To him, this was different. Ancient beliefs were still rooted deeply inside him, beliefs that maybe in modern times no one cared about anymore, beliefs that in the future might disappear forever, but he still held them close.
Beliefs that were him as much as the lands and the deserts.
To him, death was nothing but a new, different start, and to him, the cat would soon start a new life, her spirit reborn…
Unfortunately, Greece didn't think the same. There was no satisfaction, no consolation to hold on whenever one of his adored cats died. The thought hurt Egypt as well, for they were close. Closer than any other nation could account for.
Against differences, and wars, and everything. They were simply close.
"You'll bury her?" he asked, trying not to feel too upset by their different traditions -he respected Greece too much to even think about it.
Heracles slowly nodded, watching the other shift and stand up. The air had cooled down a bit, and Egypt kind of missed his hat, but now it wasn't his anymore. Keeping it against his chest with care, he held out his hand to Greece, who grabbed it and allowed the older Nation to pull him to his feet.
"We'll offer a small feast for Hecate" Egypt continued, passing his free arm around Heracles' shoulders. "We'll bury her under her favourite tree, tonight... there's full moon, so I think it's quite fitting".
Heracles stared at him for a second, then allowed a smile to edge on his lips. He was glad for Egypt’s presence and kind words.
"Yes" he murmured. "She would be happy".
"Come on then, Heracles" Egypt smiled warmly, pulling the other Nation with him.
As a Nation, Greece knew there would be more cats. Until the world ended, there would be more cats. They would die, like nature wanted. But he would remember each of them. They would remain, in his heart, forever alive, just like him. All precious, all important, all unique.
Hecate, and all the cats before her, that Heracles had to say goodbye to.
The moon chose that moment to peer from behind some clouds, her cool, silvery light bathing the two retreating figures. It did look like the moon itself was opening her arms of light to call the soul of one of her own children to her.
"She was 24, was she?" it was a respectful age for a cat, Egypt knew it. His own cats barely lasted over 20. "She didn't look like it".
"I forgot" Greece continued. "I forgot they could die. I forgot they can disappear like this..."
Egypt felt a twinge of pain in his chest, at the familiar words. He’d been like that too, at first. "You didn't forget. You just chose to ignore that… it's how it works".
They remained in silence for a bit more time, until Egypt slowly reached out, taking the unmoving cat from Heracles' lap, noting how cold it felt under his fingers, how raw and rough the fur felt now, the more time passed.
She had been a beautiful animal, with grayish-blue fur and beautiful green eyes, now closed, and a white spot on her chest, that resembled a full moon.
It had been that white spot that earned the young cat her name, Hecate. Sinuous, beautiful, shifting through the shadows as if she was part of them herself… yes, the name had been perfect.
Greece let Egypt take her away, but his eyes were still fixed on the cat's unresponsive body, filled with pain. This cat was not one of his humans, of his children, but it was his all the same. He was hurt by the loss because the cat had been at his side for a long time, in human comparison.
Not much for a Nation, but this was how things worked for them. Nothing but them in the end. Any company would be left behind. Any attempt at trying to be human was easily burned away by either time or catastrophes… because only a Nation could truly suffer for each life lost in their territories.
And yet, despite everything, it still hurt so much, when one of them died.
"Come on, Heracles, let's go" Egypt held the cat's body reverently, then placed her still body inside his hat. To him, this was different. Ancient beliefs were still rooted deeply inside him, beliefs that maybe in modern times no one cared about anymore, beliefs that in the future might disappear forever, but he still held them close.
Beliefs that were him as much as the lands and the deserts.
To him, death was nothing but a new, different start, and to him, the cat would soon start a new life, her spirit reborn…
Unfortunately, Greece didn't think the same. There was no satisfaction, no consolation to hold on whenever one of his adored cats died. The thought hurt Egypt as well, for they were close. Closer than any other nation could account for.
Against differences, and wars, and everything. They were simply close.
"You'll bury her?" he asked, trying not to feel too upset by their different traditions -he respected Greece too much to even think about it.
Heracles slowly nodded, watching the other shift and stand up. The air had cooled down a bit, and Egypt kind of missed his hat, but now it wasn't his anymore. Keeping it against his chest with care, he held out his hand to Greece, who grabbed it and allowed the older Nation to pull him to his feet.
"We'll offer a small feast for Hecate" Egypt continued, passing his free arm around Heracles' shoulders. "We'll bury her under her favourite tree, tonight... there's full moon, so I think it's quite fitting".
Heracles stared at him for a second, then allowed a smile to edge on his lips. He was glad for Egypt’s presence and kind words.
"Yes" he murmured. "She would be happy".
"Come on then, Heracles" Egypt smiled warmly, pulling the other Nation with him.
As a Nation, Greece knew there would be more cats. Until the world ended, there would be more cats. They would die, like nature wanted. But he would remember each of them. They would remain, in his heart, forever alive, just like him. All precious, all important, all unique.
Hecate, and all the cats before her, that Heracles had to say goodbye to.
The moon chose that moment to peer from behind some clouds, her cool, silvery light bathing the two retreating figures. It did look like the moon itself was opening her arms of light to call the soul of one of her own children to her.
---
Hecate: goddess of the Moon in Greek mythology.
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