[center][h1][b][u]Anhaf[/u][/b][/h1][/center] [hr] Anhaf knelt before the altar. He pushed the second thoughts about his judgement aside. Tohash had departed, the three Selka taking what few possessions they had and leaving. With luck, they would never return. Or else Anhaf would need to dispense an even harsher judgement. Now, it was time to stop thinking about that. So, he cleared his mind, and focused. [i]Kalmar, God of the Hunt, hear my prayer…[/i] There was silence. Of course there was silence - there had always been silence when he prayed to Kirron. But his elders had always told him that Kirron would always hear, even if the god chose not to respond. If that was true for Kirron, then perhaps it was true for Kalmar. He continued on. [i]I thank you for-[/i] [color=orange][i]Who are you?[/i][/color] a voice interrupted his thoughts. Startled, Anhaf looked around. But he was alone. It was he who had been the first to accept Kalmar, and it had been his idea to build the shrine, so the other Selka had decided to allow him the first prayer in private. Which meant… a god was actually speaking to him! [color=orange][i]Who are you?[/i][/color] the voice repeated; a twinge of annoyance mixed with a dash of impatience. [i]Um… I’m, I’m Anhaf![/i] he prayed, pulling himself together. [i]Chieftain of the Ubbo Tribe.[/i] [color=orange][i]The what?[/i][/color] [i]We are a tribe of Selka,[/i] Anhaf explained. [i]The one your-[/i] [color=orange][i]I don’t even know what Selka is. How do you know my name?[/i][/color] the voice questioned. [i]I… a bird named Arryn arrived in our village two weeks ago. He told us of you, and he taught us how to hunt. You have my tha-[/i] [color=orange][i]Arryn? Tell me what he taught you.[/i][/color] So, Anhaf did. He started from the beginning - how the village suffered a shortage of fish, and then Arryn arrived, to bestow them with gifts and the knowledge of how to use them. He went on to mention Arryn’s other teachings, such as the necessity of never wasting food. Anhaf then claimed that the bird had been so useful, they had decided to build a shrine in Kalmar’s gratitude and worship him alongside their creator, Kirron. [color=orange][i]Hmph,[/i][/color] Kalmar’s voice grumbled when it was all over. [color=orange][i]That bird had other duties to see to. But he taught you well, and he spread my teachings, so I can forgive it. And I accept your worship - just stay true to what you were taught.[/i][/color] [i]I… I will![/i] Anhaf vowed, almost unable to believe what he had just occurred. A god had spoken to him… [color=orange][i]And the shrine is unnecessary. But if it’s already built, there’s no point tearing it down.[/i][/color] [hr] The God’s words had been blunt, almost harsh. Anhaf had not expected to receive a response at all, but he had always imagined that a god would sound… different. When he told his people of the conversation, there were mixed reactions. Some looked at Kalmar’s shrine with interest or excitement, while others shook their head, muttered under their breaths, or cast their gazes to the shrine of Kirron instead. A few moved to Kalmar’s shrines at once and began to pray. By their astonished reactions, Anhaf realized that Kalmar must be answering their prayers as well. And that… was troubling. He found himself staring at the bloodstained altar. In his entire life, Anhaf had not once received a response from Kirron. He had heard that Kirron did sometimes speak to gods, and indeed one or two of his tribe members had claimed to have heard Kirron’s voice, but Anhaf had never heard that voice for himself. Now, a second god appeared, and he answered their prayers immediately, without delay or hesitation. Why were the two so different? Anhaf advanced toward the altar, and knelt in the dirt. At first he did not pray, he merely thought. How would he phrase this? It probably wouldn’t even be heard of answered. But he had to give it a shot. [i]Kirron, God of Blood…[/i] he began. [i]I have prayed to you all my life, and I have never received an answer. But a second god made himself known to us, and when I prayed to him, he answered. I do not know why he answers while you are silent. I do not need to know why this is, but… can you please offer some sort of sign? That you are there?[/i] Anhaf waited and listened. He was perhaps not listening expectantly as much as letting the world around him slip away from his senses, as he usually did in prayer. It was all too familiar. Except, this time, the feeling of being listened to was made sore by his little hope of a response melting away. [colour=Red][b]"Why, Anhaf, I think this time I will."[/b][/colour] The words spread across Anhaf's entire body like warm, relaxing water. He looked up in astonishment. The voice continued. [colour=Red][b]"...Not because you need a sign, mind you. You are doing great on your own. Your tribe has been sounding healthy and hearty! They're earning their fun again. Makes me happy, Anhaf. No, I'm just having one of those days where a good talk will help me...refocus a little. You get me?"[/b][/colour] This was completely unexpected, and he had no idea how to respond. [i]I… thank you,[/i] he managed at last. Anhaf could feel a shark-toothed grin watching him. [colour=Red][b]"You're welcome, chieftain. Heh. You know, you remind me how easy it is sometimes to cheer folks up. Just a little nudge can be the strongest thing in the world."[/b][/colour] The voice grew in volume. [colour=Red][b]"But! We're talking now, so don't think you just get to be all passive and dumbstruck. Tell me! How are you? How's the family?"[/b][/colour] [i]I am well,[/i] Anhaf answered after a moment’s hesitation, not expecting a conversation with a god to be so candid. [i]I have no family, only my tribe. A few weeks ago we were struggling, but then a messenger of the god Kalmar showed us a new way to find food.[/i] [colour=Red][b]"Really?"[/b][/colour] The deep voice breathed with fascination. [colour=Red][b]"Kalmar, eh? I had that fellow down for being too awkward for the likes of you lot. I keep underestimating my peers."[/b][/colour] He laughed. [colour=Red][b]"I'll have to thank him for helping you out."[/b][/colour] [i]He was very… blunt… when I spoke to him,[/i] Anhaf admitted. [i]But he and his bird have been of great help. There is only one problem…[/i] he paused, unsure of how to continue, until finally he asked a question. [i]Are we allowed to worship more than one god? Gods other than you?[/i] The voice grew quiet, though not in a tense way. Anhaf could feel a contemplation that would make sense to any asked such a question. After all, it was a question that demanded an answer of a different nature than its grammar implied. [colour=Red][b]"Anhaf, you're a responsible selka,"[/b][/colour] the voice said frankly. [colour=Red][b]"If a man or a woman of the Ubbo wants to go and visit another tribe and they come back with a friend who wants to stay, what do you say to that?"[/b][/colour] [i]Then I let them stay. But what if others in my tribe do not want them? Three Selka have already left because some of us chose to worship Kalmar, claiming it is not your will, and others are unhappy.[/i] The voice pulled a sturgeon face and nodded, somehow. [colour=Red][b]"So, the blood is heating up. What have you tried so far, chieftain?"[/b][/colour] [i]Nothing yet - it happened today. One of them pointed a weapon at me and tried to force me to step down. He knows that is punished with exile, so I exiled him. Two others chose to leave with him. As for the others who are still unhappy… they didn’t choose to leave, so I think they might learn to accept it. I’m not forcing anyone to worship Kalmar, I only encouraged it because of what he did for us.[/i] Anhaf felt stared at. [colour=Red][b]"Chieftain. What do you want?"[/b][/colour] [i]What I want? All I want is to keep my people happy and safe,[/i] Anhaf answered. [colour=Red][b]"Bahaha!"[/b][/colour] The sudden laugh sent a jolt of surprise through Anhaf. [colour=Red][b]"Anhaf! Here's a little secret. You can't [i]keep[/i] people happy. You can only allow them to find happiness themselves. And safety? All you need for safety is a game with rules, and you have rules, you've already told me about two already. You have everything you need to make a decision."[/b][/colour] The voice breathed in deeply though his nose. [colour=Red][b]"Haaaah, but I can't let your little knuckle head think if I keep yammering. Go sit on a rock or something, put your hand on your chin and think it over. I need to get back to helping the rain goddess find pieces of her soul."[/b][/colour] [i]Okay, I will…[/i] Anhaf prayed. [i]Thank you, Kirron.[/i] [colour=Red][b]"It was nothing, really, you had all you needed!"[/b][/colour] he reassured. [colour=Red][b]"Oh! And one more thing. Whenever anyone prays to me, I hear every word. Remember that. Earn all the fun you can, Anhaf."[/b][/colour] Anhaf rose to his feet. Several of his people were watching him, with confused expressions. They had seen him pray before, but never had he become so immersed. He glanced over to the Kalmar shrine, where a handful still knelt in prayer to the Hunter God. Then he looked back at the Shrine of Kirron, and breathed a sigh of relief, the conversation having erased his doubts. Kirron had not opposed the worship of a second god, which meant the concerns of Tohash and the rest had been moot. It also assured him that his tribe was watched over by two gods instead of one, and with that knowledge he would sleep more peacefully. Anhaf was about to announce the details of the conversation for all to hear, to settle the remaining doubts, but then… he didn’t. Not all would believe him, and the timing was too convenient. A mortal, who had never spoken with a god before, suddenly speaking to two different gods in one day? No, he would have to convince them by himself, without leaning on Kirron. Not all would listen, and if they chose to leave, then that was their decision to make. But Anhaf and the rest would have a clean conscience. [hr] [hider=Summary] Anhaf decides to pray to Kalmar at the newly created shrine, and Kalmar answered. Kalmar mainly tries to learn how Anhaf learned to contact him, and when Anhaf tells him the conversation turns to the Ubbo Tribe’s interaction with Arryn. Kalmar then more or less tells Anhaf to keep doing what he’s doing, and signs off. Anhaf then has a mini-crisis of faith and starts praying at the altar of Kirron. Kirron answers him as well. They talk about the state of the tribe, with Kirron remarking that they are doing well, and then Anhaf asks if the Selka are allowed to worship multiple gods. Kirron responds with an analogy which seems to imply it is alright. Anhaf then tells Kirron about Tohash’s exile and the disapproval of some of the tribe members, uncertain of what to do. Kirron assures Anhaf that he should be capable of making his own decisions. Kirron then goes back to whatever he was doing inside Li’Kalla. Afterward, Anhaf decides not to inform the rest of the tribe of his conversation with Kirron, suspecting that some won’t believe him and that it would be best if he convinced them on his own. [/hider]