Chapter Text
The Warden of Time pondered on whether or not she should respond to the Keeper of Nature's call. The way she asked for her, out of the blue and without giving any reasons, was somewhat inappropriate for them.
Although they were both goddesses coexisting in the same world, they had barely spoken before and mostly knew each other by reputation and deeds.
They had to work together with their fellows in order to maintain a balance to the universe, their goal and duties were the same. They respect and trust each other through their positions, and the kirin had always been kind and polite to her on the rare occasions they met, but still it wasn't enough for the Warden to fully trust her.
What will she ask of her? If it was duty related, why did she need to come down to earth?
Despite her skepticism, Kronii couldn't help but be a little curious.
The green-haired goddess went out of her way to ask for her, despite her timidity and her own usual stern demeanor. It has to be crucial, at least to her.
The time deity eventually made up her mind. She hadn't much to do anyway, and it might be a nice distraction from her dull routine.
***
"You want a child...from me?"
The Warden repeated the Keeper's words, astounded by what she had just heard.
She cleared her throat and quickly regained her usual confident tone.
"Well that is unexpected. Where does this craze come from? Can't you just make one like you always do here?"
The Keeper remained cool and collected despite what she just asked.
She calmy answered : "No, I want something different, I want a child made of my own flesh and blood. I'd like to give birth the way it is done here. You can see this like some sort of experiment"
"Hm...I see, you want a taste of your own medicine... Why me though? Can't you find a more suitable partner for your request? I'm not interested in you nor than am I in parenthood"
"Don't worry, I won't ask you to partake my burden as a mother. I just need someone to weave my legacy with, nothing more. I chosed you because you're strong and reliable, smart, and a beauty nonetheless. I couldn't ask for a better mate. Life can be rude out here, so I'd like to provide this child with the means to thrive"
"Thinking about the welfare of a child that has yet to come, I see why they like to call you mother...Let's see, If I were to accept, what will I gain in return? Sowing my offspring here and there will bring me nothing but troubles"
"That's fully understandable, which is why I have a deal to offer. I will be indebted of a life to you, therefore when in need, you shall ask something from me and I will comply. It can be anything you have my words, as the ruler of this place, and as a fellow deity of the same pantheon"
The proposal sparkled a keen interest in the warden's mind. She fully considered it, a favor from a goddess was not something easy to obtain, and could be helpful especially in troubled times.
It can be anything, hm?
A deicide, a helping hand in a tight spot, she could be powerful chess piece to manipulate to get her way. She'll have no use for this gift at the moment, but she could make the best of it later. She knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and indulging in some motherly fantasies was a poor price to pay for it.
"Supposing I'm interested in your deal, I'm afraid I can't give you what you want. Gods do not reproduce the way mortals do"
The Keeper returned an enigmatic smile.
"You don't have to worry about that, I have my ways"
Kronii was suspicious of whatever she was implying, but procreation was certainly not a subject to be debated with Mother Nature herself.
"...Fine. I comply then, I accept your deal. What should we do now?"
Fauna gave her a pleased smile "Thank you very much, Warden. Your help is much appreciated"
She closed the distance between them and gently embraced the deity of time.
She was smaller than her, and her soft hair gave off a faint vernal fragrance which made the warden a bit lightheaded. She didn't hold her back nor did she push her away. She knew of the keepers benevolence and meant no harm, so she simply waited for her to release her embrace.
Soon after, Fauna released her and retreated to her den, saying nothing much than farewells. The warden was dubious, she was expecting something more...constraining. Perhaps they'll meet later.
Kronii went back to her clock tower as well, and although she had woken up not so long ago she felt exhausted again. Her encounter with the kirin sapped all of her energy.
She drifted out in another slumber while watching the world from up her throne, having Fauna and their deal last thing in mind before falling over.
***
She woke up hours, days, months later. It was nothing but a short nap to her.
She quickly inquired about what she might have missed in her absence. Not much exept for some remote conflicts, nothing that requires her intervention.
She resumed her neverending watch, before remembering a certain kirin. What about their agreement?
She went to observe the earth from up her throne. She looked for the Keeper in the sacred forest she used to roamed by, but could not find her.
She tried to move on for a while, she shouldn't care much. But she couldn't left her curiosity go unsatisfied. She went as far as as to listen what the earthlings and some other local deities had to say about their missing ruler. There was several rumors about her absence, the most popular one being her nesting deep into the woods, away from prying eyes.
The Warden kept an eye open and later found her by the shore of a lake at dawn refreshing herself, surrounded by a herd of deers. Under her loose gown she had a slighty rounder belly.
So she did managed to have her child, huh?
The kirin god retreated into the woods shortly after, and didn't shown herself until much later.
Kronii resumed her watch without paying much attention to her.
***
As months went by, Kronii's attention was once again drawn to earth. While she was on duty she uncovered some schemes against its ruler, some opportunistics fools decided to take advantages of the Keeper's absence to wreak havoc there. They even managed to flush out the kirin's hideout and tried to take her down.
Kronii had become irritated by the situation. Usually she wouldn't have mind, it was not her place to deal with something as frivolous. However, if the kirin were to die or to lose her child, their deal would no longer be. She was defending herself just fine without even coming out of her den, but the Warden couldn't help but feel concerned about her fate.
She frowned, then gave in. In a flash she came down to earth and by her spear obliterated the troublemakers there, before retreating back as quick as she arrived. Time was her domain, and no one had spotted her.
She kept on her discreet killing sprees until eventually the assaillants fully gave up on their regicide fantasies. They spread the word around : the Keeper of Nature wasn't easy to take down, even when she was supposed to be at her lowest.
Some other were convinced she had a powerfull ally at her side. Wether it was true or not, everything fell into place, and Kronii could finally breath and focused on her usual duty.
***
A while later, the Warden of Time heard commotions amongst her fellows. The news promptly reached her : the Keeper of Nature had given birth to her first child.
Many were those who heard of it and came to see the newborn kirin.
Kronii stood aside and observed the scene from her pedestal. Fauna was laying on a thick bed of feathers and flowers, radiant, with the baby in her arms. Presents were heaped at her feet, and she was constantly surrounded by a dozens of gods who were patiently waiting their turn to introduced themselves to the now youngest god beknown.
Despite being as graceful as always, the kirin seemed a bit pale and exhausted. Kronii felt sorry for her. She heard that giving bith to a child was one of the most painful experience mortals could endure in their life.
The Warden waited patiently for all of their colleagues to leave before finally descending from her tower.
Fauna smiled sweetly at her, obviously happy to have her here. She softly called her out.
"Come here"
She presented her the child, a tiny baby wrapped up in a silky blanket embroidered with the crest of the Guardian of Civilization. The baby had pale skin and soft features, with faint green hair just like her mother.
"It's a girl"
The Warden looked down on her and took an haughty tone.
"This child does look nothing like me, it is not mine" It has to be a scam, her heritage cannot be that weak against the Keeper's.
"Are you sure?"
As soon as she said that, the baby opened her eyes. They were deep cobalt blue, bluer than any child's eyes she had ever seen before. There was only one such distinct shade of blue ever known, and it was surrounding her own pupils.
Facing this evidence, the Warden suddenly became aware of what she had done. The little kirin was her firstborn too, and she had given her away in exchange of a favor. From now onwards, another one would carry her legacy in the same plan of existence as her, and regardless of being her progenitrix she had the responsability to watch over her and to control her power if she ever had a time affinity.
She quickly pushed this thought aside and came to her sense. Business is business. She'll just have to make the best out of her deal with the kirin goddess, It'll be worthwhile the trouble. Besides, if she plays her cards right, she can still make this child a powerfull ally, or get rid of her in the worst case scenario.
She gritted her teeth, that last thought was too bitter, even for her.
"So?"
Blind to her trouble, the kirin was looking expectantly at her.
As the Warden came back to reality, she should indulged. She knew the kirin just had a rough time.
"You did a good job, it is a healthy and fine baby"
The Keeper giggled and blushed like a young girl. She offered the Warden to hold their child but the later refused.
After a while, Kronii bowed to them then took her leave. She spend the night and the next few days keeping a close eye on the Keeper and her baby from her tower, hand on her spear, ready to annihilate whoever might come trouble their rest.
Something sparkled within her. An odd feeling of possession, a desire to protect the baby and her mother.
But surely it is just to ensure both their safety, just like she did when the kirin was nesting. A grieving mother would do no good to their deal.
She's doing this to serve her own interests.