“When my horrorscope claimed that a deity would destroy my home, this was not what I had in mind…”
Retvik and Gath stood outside where their home once was, in the storage areas of Palaestra. Their house, a converted warehouse with a pretty garden out front and out back, was the last in a long line of buildings that had been crushed by the appearance of a massive, whale-like being. It had clearly been travelling a long way, having hit the nearby planet of Astathy before slowing down, dragging into the orbit of Portalia and crashing into the Ksithan city.
“No one was hurt though, funnily enough…” Gath muttered, not impressed that his house was now rubble.
“That we are aware of…” Retvik tutted. “Seems as though the universe is breaking again. All conscious beings turning immortal, actual, noticeable stoppages in time, entire populations going sterile, deities crashing into our damn homes…” The tired Rethan put his head in his hands. “Sometimes I feel like they are targeting me, dear Gath…”
Gath gently put an arm around his little partner. Retvik always admired how Gath could always see through the gloom. “I am sure it is just coincidence.”
Suddenly, the humongous body of the Panelix moved. It flapped and flailed for a moment, nearly squishing a nearby being, before flopping over to one side, immediately spotting Retvik.
“YOU!”
Retvik wanted to roll his eyes but dared not to.
“Yes, Panelix?”
The Panelix shuddered, then shook herself down and righted itself. Now that she was properly conscious, the Panelix floated in mid air and surveyed her surroundings, becoming more and more upset.
“Oh no. I broke it all. I must… have been thrown quite far…”
“You crashed into and nearly destroyed another planet before shrinking down and settling here.”
“Oh…” The Panelix’s words devolved into quiet sobs. “It is not going well…”
“What is not going well?” Retvik spoke calmly.
“The thing that attacked us… I cannot feel the presence of Yisini or Kairos. Something… terrible is happening…” Epani lowered herself back down onto the ground. “It is all falling apart. Time is not running correctly. The being that attacked us is bringing everything down…” The Panelix trailed off, thinking to herself.
Retvik and Gath looked up at Epani, not sure what to do.
“Do you think she is telling the truth, Retvik?”
“I would not know.”
“Why not?”
Retvik threw an odd glance at Gath. “Epani is the only deity I have not properly met.”
“She knows you.”
“They all do. But I do not know them.”
Epani suddenly flopped around again. She seemed to be in pain. “Ugh! I cannot take this! I was not meant for both space and life!” The Panelix turned back to the two Rethavok. “You two. You are allies of my brother Arkadin, yes? Do you know where he is? He must be found!”
Retvik shook his head. “No, we have not heard from Arkadin in a long time. His last known whereabouts were within Skyavok territories.”
“Then we must find him!” Epani exclaimed. “I do not know what happened after I left the conflict, but if Kairos and Yisini are unreachable, then Arkadin will be under duress and will need assistance!”
“We?” Gath asked.
“Yes, we!” Epani growled as she flapped her fins. A small cloud appeared then faded, revealing a large capsule, which opened up. “Get inside! I will take you!”
Gath and Retvik both sighed and did as they were told. After all, who were they to argue with a distressed deity?