Clouds and Currents - VoK & HW 2021 Event Prompts

   Although it had been less than two weeks, it felt as though he'd been away much longer when he stepped through the portal into his realm of residence again.
   It's funny the way one's perception of time can be so distorted. A thousand years of godhood and thousands more of discipleship often felt like a blurry nothing, save a few key points, anchors, the same way that a cub forgets so much of their childhood as they grow, but only a week and a half away felt like months, even years. Perhaps it was because of how chaotic and busy things in that other realm were. It was hard to say for certain.
   Regardless, he was back... for now. It would be an even briefer visit than his one to the Valley, but it would be enough, with any luck. Now, if he could just find-
   "Bora! You're back. How is it over there, huh? Find out what was up with those chains?"
   Heh. It seemed the one he sought had found him, instead. "Were you waiting for me, sir?" He raised an eyebrow and turned around to find Mintovo plodding up to him with that same exaggerated swagger he always had.
   "Still so formal," he jabbed. "Guess the mortals and their messes couldn't knock that out of you so quickly after all. Guess Galiene owes me dinner one of these days."
   "You were betting on whether or not a week and a half in the Valley would cause me to forget my place?"
   "No, we were betting on whether or not they'd find a way to get you to loosen up for once!" He laughed. "Guess it wasn't much of a vacation, then, huh?"
   "You say that as though I've left it permanently," he remarked.
   "Oh?" Mintovo ruffled his wings. "Going back, are we? Unfinished business?"
   "Something like that," the smilodon answered. "Actually, that's why I've returned. I hoped to ask your assistance in some matters there. A cataclysm approaches and threatens to wipe the people of the realm from existence."
   The god raised an eyebrow. "Bora, you know we're not supposed to meddle in natural affairs." He frowned. "Look, I really am sorry about your people, you know. If I could have changed things, I would. But-"
   "These are not natural affairs," Bora interrupted.
   "Oh?" Mintovo's frown disappeared. "Well, that changes things. Tell me, what exactly are those mortals getting up to?"
   "Well. Siphoning the magic and life from a titan and siccing it on the rest of the people there, in one case," he answered.
   "...Fascinating," Mintovo said. "Tell me more."
   "Hah, where to begin? They're relying on a mortal chosen as a hero when she was still only a cub to stop the perpetrator," he began. "They're going to try to fight and hold back the titan to buy her time. Drive it into the ocean and keep it busy while she apprehends the one who angered it."
   "Into the ocean? What, are they like Gali? Water gods or something?"
   "Not quite," he answered. "But there are those who live in the sea. And in the sky. Those are the sources of the chains, their kingdoms."
   "How quaint," Mintovo commented with a grin. "And you're coming to me to assist in this? What, help you freeze it in place? Don't get me wrong, this all sounds intriguing, but you've got the same ice powers as me. You're just as capable of doing that yourself." He tilted his head, ruffling his mane and cracking his neck. "Don't get me wrong, I'd be happy to lend a hand, always glad to have an excuse to go out into the mortal worlds, as long as I'm not having to spend a few thousand years teaching someone to do their job-" He nudged Bora, who rolled his eyes. "-but I gotta ask, why? Why not do it yourself?"
   Bora scrunched up his mouth, trying to find a way to explain. "There's a place in that realm which is being threatened by the colossus's advance," he said. "It pertains to my domain as god of knowledge. It's imperative that I work to preserve its existence to the best of my abilities, but to do so, I would have to sacrifice the assistance I can offer in the battle against the titan."
   "Oh, gods, you and your knowledge," Mintovo said, rolling his eyes, though the smile on his face didn't falter. "Fine, fine. You need me to take over in the fight? I can handle that. Just tell me where to go, and you do your whole preservation thing, then. I'll handle the monster." He gestured to Bora. "Lead the way."
   He nodded. "I greatly appreciate it," he said, closing his eyes and summoning another portal. "Follow me."