As day turned to dusk, we still rode

Or rather, she still rode

Riding that silvery centaur, who seemed thrilled

And I

I was just kinda awkwardly jogging to the side.

I don't really know where we are going

Nor do I really understand what’s happening.

But it seems as if these-

I mean

This army.

Somehow see’a us... Or maybe me?

As some sort of savior.

I still don't really unders-

“Heey! Butler, why don’t you join me! This is awesome!”

She excitedly said, bumping around on the silver centaurs back.

Or is it called rump?

“Yes weirdly shaped hooman! We would gladly transport you.”

The silver centaur spoke, mimicking the human’s excitement.

“Yeah! She told me she can carry four humans and still run at top speed, right?!”

“Hell Yeaah hooman, you would not mind a show?”

“NO, I WOULD BE FRICKING FANTASTICALLY HAPPY!”

She yelled excitedly.

And the silver centaur leaned back, going up on her hind legs.

The human giggling as she held on.

Then, as the centaur landed again, she sped off in a sprint.

Running faster than even I or she could run.

And she laughed loudly, every bump making her voice go a little higher.

The surrounding centaurs raised their swords up, letting out loud joyes shouts.

Spreading like wildfire through the ranks of galloping centaurs

All chiming in as they both shouted and ran.

...

I can handle one

But two?

A hundred?

Thousand?

This might be too much for me.

I thought, feeling a light touch on my shoulder

Looking towards it, I saw a smiling, presumably male centaur pointing at his bare back.

Glancing between his face and his back

I awkwardly smiled back.

Giving him a negative in response.

I will not ride you, thank you very much.

I like the ground, and I shall stay there.

But before I could speak

A pair of two strong arms lifted me up from behind.

And very quickly threw me over the male centaurs back.

Who neighed in delight as he sped off, leaving me hanging by his back with my legs and arms dangling.

Making me feel very unsecure and a little upset.

But at least we were running faster now

It seems I’ve been the only one keeping us from going faster.

...

Wait.

Did he just neigh?

As dusk turned to night

I was finally able to jump off, wiping a bit of drool and another un-favorable substance from my mouth.

Giving the centaur a big frown, but being met with a bright smile and a low laugh.

Stupid centaurs

I don't like them.

But before the first words could be spoken between us

The male centaur gave me a weird salute?

Where he took up both of his hands and touched both of his cheeks, then lowering them behind his back and slightly bowing.

As the salute finished, he trotted off, waving at an unknown centaur.

Okay.

Now that he’s gone

And I no longer have to fear for my life.

I can look around

Seeing...

Nothing, nothing really.

Mostly just centaurs gathering into small groups and talking loudly.

Where are their camps?

Their fires?

I can understand to some extent that they are not fortified, but I mean

Nothing?

Looking around in dismay.

The silver centaur with a human girl on her back came trotting up to me.

“Hey mister Butler! Did you see how fast she could run? It was like.. WOOSH!”

Arms imitating a galloping horse, eyes almost looking wild

Peeking down towards the silver centaur, I saw a mirror reflection of her expression.

“Eeehm, yeeaaah”

The silver centaur frowned immediately.

“You no think I run fast, ugly hooman?”

Brining my arms up and shaking my head, I quickly said.

“Nononono, I did not mean it like that. It was, erm, very fast. I just had ha-“

A happy laugh interrupting me.

“Hahaha! YesYes! Not so ugly hooman, I am very fast!”

Letting her arms rest on her hips as she looked stoically up towards the sky

The girl on her back jumped off, skipping up to me.

“You should try it, it’s super fun. ”

Giving me a beaming smile

I leaned in a bit, whispering.

“I prefer staying on the ground.”

She looked at me funny, asking loudly

“Why?”

I hushed her

Looking towards her and the centaur.

She followed my sight.

And loudly “ooohed”

Then whispering

“Ooh sooryy, I did not know you hated horses”

...

“No I do-“

“Shhhh, dont worry, your secret is safe with me.”

Saying that, she pretend zipped her mouth shut, and gave me a big thumbs up.

Dammit

Well, maybe it’s better like this?

Shaking myself from thoughts.

I looked up to the silver centaur who looked down on me in turn.

“Can I ask you some questions?”

“Of course, Weird horse leg hooman”

“Uhm, yeah.. I was wondering why you guys where not setting up camp?”

She gave me a quizzical look

“Camp?”

I gave her one back in turn.

“Uh, yeah, a camp. You know, for protection.”

“Hoho, silly hooman, we are the masters of the stepp, we don’t need no protaktion”

Trying to insinuate the last word, but sounding rather silly instead, getting a laugh from the human

But not hearing it, as my thoughts were in full gear.

“Wait wait. You mean like, you don’t need protection from the wind or rain?

“Why would we? If rain comes, it’s god will. If wind come, it’s god will and we use it to run faster.”

I looked at her, eyebrows raising high.

“But, I mean... Wait, where’s your guys home?”

“Home is stepp”

She said, looking around with a motherly smile.

“No, I mean like. Where do you guys live? Keep your stuff, ehm.. Sleep?”

“Stepp”

She answered quickly, looking at me funny, as if it’s the most obvious answer.

Hearing snickers from behind me, coming from the human.

Huh, this is weird.

I guess these guys are nomadic?

First time I’ve met people like this, or should I say horses like this?

Anyway, this brings me to an important question.

A question that I almost dreaded to ask.

“But, if you dont have a city, then... How are we supposed to help you guys build a city?”

Her smile turned more serious, but her eyes still glittering brightly.

“Yes, you are our savior. You make our city”

I gulped.

“You mean like, we build your entire city... From scratch?”

“Yes”

Damn

Almost half an hour later, I think I’ve come to realise something pretty big.

We are pretty screwed.

I mean, not like they would kill us or anything if we fail

But, I really don't think we’re cut out for this..

So, the most important stuff I’ve learnt.

One, they are both unable and don't know how to build a city.

Two, they have no magic except for wind magic, so no help from them there.

And finally, number three

They except us to be done in a month, being able to house

I think it was over a hundred thousand centaurs.

I mean

No way.

But on the bright side, she has been very supportive of me.

Giving me many thumbs up and “good luck”s.

And also

As they are nomadic in nature, they don't really expect a masterpiece.

Nor do they expect an actual city.

From what I’ve gathered, they only need a very sturdy wall

A very big, sturdy wall...

I think.

“Okay, so. If I understand it correctly, you centaurs only need us to build you a big wall?”

“What is a wall?”

The silvery centaur asked, a big yawn escaping her mouth.

Lying down on her side, head lazily leaning on an open arm.

“It’s the thing that surrounds a city.”

“Ooooh, you mean the flat mountains! Yes, we only need those”

Head bobbing in acceptance.

“Okay, but. One thing that I still don’t understand, how can you not build this yourselves?”

A loud sigh coming from both the centaur and the human.

“I have told you”

“Yeah, no wood, no stone but I mean. You must be trading with humans, I mean, you got swords”

“Oh these, no these be gifted.”

“They be gifted?”

“Yes, god swords”

My jaw shooting open

Getting dumbfounded by her words

God swords?

My thoughts rolled around for a minute.

Staying silent until I shook myself out of it.

Asking the obvious question.

“How is that possible, are you all high priests or something?”

“What is high priest?”

I take that as a no.

“I mean, only those most faithful can talk to the gods”

“Oh silly funny leg hooman. God need us, we need god. Simple”

Simple my ass.

How in the hell can they speak to a god just like that?

And, I mean

A god sword?

Is that not like a holy relict of some sort.

All holy relics hold an immense amount of power.

Capable of killing the strongest of undead

Are these guys like trotting paladins with the power to smite gods?

Wait

Why swords?

“But, why does your god give you swords?”

“Simple, god needs warriors to defend stepp”

Hm, okaaay.

We are getting somewhere.

But she’s being very un-simple right now

So no.

We are not getting somewhere.

“Okay, uhm then.. Why can't your god give you like.. Stones and stuff?”

“Why would god give us stone?”

“You know... to build a, eeh, flat mountain”

“Ooooh! I see, yeah no. God dont do that”

“Why?”

“For stepp be simple, god be simple, we be simple. God does not know how to create such stone.”

That sounds

So very wrong

How can a god not know something?

And stone of all things, I mean

He knows how to craft swords

“You’ve lost me”

“No, you there”

“Nonono, I mean like. I don’t understand”

“What is hard?”

“EVERYTHING! Like, your god, your lifestyle.... Why a wall?”

“Wall?”

“Aaaaggh, the flat mountain!”

“To stop swarm”

“AAAAGGGH”

“Yeeshh. Hey Funny hooman, why is this weird hooman so stiff, he needs relax, run a bit.”

The silver centaur said, looking towards the human girl

Who chuckled from behind me, glancing upwards to the centaur.

“Hehe, yeah, he does. But be nice, he’s one of those that want to understand everything.”

The silvery centaur's eyes lit up, lifting her head from her hand.

“Oooo, he’s one of those. I see.”

Nodding as if solving a great puzzle

Stupid centaur.

I’m not complicated.

Or wait, yes I am.

Compared to you guys, I wanna be complicated.

I don't care about your opinions. I just wanna get myself out of this mess.

Turning around, I lock gaze with the human

Why are you not with me on this, Dammit!

I thought, glaring at her

Who gave me a big smug smile in response.

Aaaarg

“Hooman with thing growing out of head. If you want, we can take you to our hearing.”

Turning back towards the centaur, I raised an eyebrow.

“The hearing?”

“Yes, we talk to god, ask him for advice. Thas where we heard about prophecy.”

Oh

OOOH!

Yes, maybe I can get some answer-

“Your gonna get so dissapointed.”

A small whisper from behind, interrupting my thoughts

I turned around, seeing her looking skywards

Pretending to not notice me.

...

“Did you say something about me being disappointing?”

“PpfffftHahaha yeah, yeah let’s say that.”

She chuckled loudly, wiping a small tear from her eye.

I, in turn, gave her the stink eye.

Trying to hold in a smile

Failing.

“Funny looking hooman, hold on”

Hold on?

Moving to turn around

Or trying

As I find myself being pulled upwards.

Legs flailing as I’m put down on a very familiar horse's back

Looking up, I’m met with a smile.

And a manly-looking centaurs face

You again.

Please

Dooooooo-

And he sped off, galloping behind the silvery centaur with a smiling human riding on top.

A few minutes later, and a very upset stomach

We find ourselves in a small clearing

Or rather a big circle, surrounded by maybe a hundred centaurs

Creating an oval shaped circle.

As we trotted inside the circle, I find myself thrown off

Glaring up at the manly centaur, getting flashed by a toothy smile

And running off.

I’m gonna punch him next time I see him.

“Horse leg hooman, we are here”

Looking around

I see nothing special.

“Here?”

“Yes”

“I mean, what is here”

“Here is where we talk”

“But, why here”

“Why not”

“No, is this like, an important ritual place, or burial or something?”

“No”

...

You got to be shitting me.

“Now listen, I talk to god, god likes me. I’m good warrior, will be able to defend stepp well”

Saying that, she looked up to the sky.

Lifting her arms

And

Nothing.

A few seconds passed

And she looked down to me

“I talk to god, god say you still build eeeerm, uuuuh well?”

...

I

Okay.

This is really getting on my nerves

Making me ask something stupid.

Something I would have never done, not even where I lived

A question that most cultures found taboo.

“Can I talk to your god?”

“Yes”

Oooh.

My eyes lighting up, a big smile growing

Holy holy hoooly shit!

“Seriously?”

“Yes, why I not be serius with you?”

“I mean.. I mean like, but..”

Not wanting to risk her regretting, I swallow my words.

Looking up at her hopefully.

“So, uuh, how do I talk to her.. him.. it?”

“Simple, just talk”

Okay.

Why am I surprised?

Hmm

Maybe just

Copy her?

Thinking that, I moved my hands up.

And

Eeer, okay

What now

She did not speak.

Maybe she spoke in her head?

“Hello”

I thought

Getting thrown upwards

Upwards in speeds I could not fathom

Did not even realise

Thrown through both time and space

Through what we mortals would call the void

And

Down into an exact copy of where I stood earlier

The only difference being the lack of centaurs.

It took me a few seconds to even realise I was somewhere new.

As I was still staring up

But once a large shadow loomed over me, I realised something was amiss

And I turned around, being met with a humongous centaur.

Taller than mountains

Larger than lakes

Holding an enormous sword on its side

But weirdly

Lacking a face.

“Hello Faun, I welcome you to my humble abode.”

I stood there.

Gawking at the awe-inspiring figure

Making me lose faith in my own god.

“Hohoho, Faun, it’s embarrassing when you stare”

The god spoke

Glowing redder by the second

Which swiftly took me out of my awe-inspiring state.

What the hell

Is this real?

A quick pinch to my cheek and

Yes

This is real.

Maybe.

“What do you wish to ask Faun?”

The god spoke, seemingly not remembering the earlier shyness.

“Uuuh, I...”

But found myself lost for words.

What did I wanna talk about?

“Hohohoh, Faun. Maybe you want some answers? Maybeeee. Why I have chosen you for my prophecy?”

“YES!”

I screamed

A little to loud.

“Hoho, yes Faun. A good question. And my answer is simple, I need your help. My stepp is in grave danger, a danger not even my subjects can defeat.”

“A danger?”

“Yes, a swarm, something that brings only death and destruction. A thing created from one of the most hellish of gods.”

Gulping in response

“Wh-What is it”

“Rats”

What

“Rats?”

“Yes, Vermin, devourers, killers of all and everything, once they come to our land they will suck the very life of the ground and kill all that is holy in my land.”

The god spoke in a loud voice, making the ground shake.

Clouds flying by faster

But I did not feel hurt

Only

Confused.

“They will come, bringing with them death. And to their south, they will bring new life. Life that will corrupt and change, killing me in the process.”

He spoke, with great gravity in his voice.

Both literally and figuratively.

“And you, and your friends. Are the only ones who can save my subjects... Save. Me”

He said, making his head fall down low

Going down to view me, eye to eye.

Or, eye to face?

And seemingly going smaller

But also staying huge.

Making me unable to fully focus on him as he never truly stayed the same size

Blinking a few times.

I found myself with multiple questions.

“Okay, but.. Why us?”

The god rose up again

“I dont know”

You dont.

Know?

“Wait whaaaa”

“I just hoped someone would come and help us”

He wanted what

But

Prophecy?

“Did you not say that this was a prophecy?”

“Yeah.”

“Then, then you could see us coming could you not?”

“How would I do that?”

“YOU’RE A GOD!”

The god shrugged.

“Yeeesh, Fauns and their preconceived ideas. Look, I am a god YES, but I’m not omnipotent nor am I omniscient. I can use my power for so much until they either run out or I’m not strong enough.”

What

But...

That goes against so much that I’ve been thought.

My entire life

Was that a big lie?

Well.. To be honest, meeting a dragon was also a huge one eighty when it comes to life lessons.

So this might not be that bad

Right?

“Then, how do you know about the, eeh, swarm?”

He gave a small sigh

Shaking his head in obvious disapproval.

“Look, everything and anything that involves my stepps, I know. I know about the swarm because they will destroy my land if they are not stopped. And through my visions, I saw a future where someone created something new within my lands.”

He gave me a wide look.

“Someone created a city within my land. A city that will last for centuries.”

He looked around

Taking in the view.

“If I’m right”

A gloom expression forming on his non-existent face

Staring off into the distance

To the horizon.

“I’m not the strongest god, and I’m not the best with prophecies. But the swarm, it is something that will happen. Of that I am certain”

Then he looked down to me.

Looking a bit softer

Smiling

Even on a faceless face

“But I truly hope that there is a future where the city is built. The one you build to save us”

He gave me a new look

Shrinking down in size again.

Or maybe not.

It’s hard to tell.

“Okay okay. I think I get it”

I did not.

“But then, why can't you help them? They are your people.. Horses”

“Did I not already say?”

“You said something about a lack of power, but I mean like... What’s so hard about creating big walls?”

He sighed again, looking around, gesticulating wide with his arms.

“Look around you. Do you see anything I can build a wall with?”

Looking around, I saw nothing.

Nothing but the earth and grass beneath our feet.

“The ground?”

“Funny, but no. The ground is not my domain, the stepp is.”

“But you're a GOD! Can’t you like.. Like create stone for them to build with at least!”

“No, I dont know how to create stone from nothing. There are gods that do, but they have not taught me that.”

“But... But you can create swords!”

“Yeah, swords are easy. I got this from a very dear friend off mine. He taught me how.”

The god said, gingerly lifting the sword in front of him

Caressing it softly.

“I. I!... I’m confused”

I said.

Slumping down in defeat.

“Hoho, finally some true words child. Yes, this is confusing, that is why we are gods, and you mortals are just that. Mortals”

The god said, stopping his caressing of his sword as he took his attention back to me.

“Okay, Faun. You want to know anything else?”

Yes

There was so much I wanted to know

So many new questions

So many

To many

I’m lost

I feel lost.

This is

...

To much.

“No.”

“Hm, well then Faun, I truly wish that you will succeed in your mission”

The god said.

Making the world blur around me

Colours blend

And sounds mix

But one thing stood out.

“Oh and by the way. I also want you to bring together all the tribes into one, creating a peace that has not existed since the dawn of the stepp.”

And I was thrown back.

Feeling myself stagger a bit as I collected myself.

Looking around, I saw the silver centaur look at me with a smile.

And the human opening her mouth.

“Took you long enough.”

She said, face staying neutral

Only slightly twitching by the corners of her eyes and mouth

But I took no notice.

Only asking

“How long was I out?”

“Oh, a little longer than usual. A minute. ”

A minute?

But it felt like hours.

Days...

Then I was brought out of my day dreaming.

Seeing a laughing human, joined by a silvery centaur

Both pointing at me.

“Aaaahhaa it’s truue! People have such silly faces when they learn about the time thing!”

She said, looking towards her centaur friend

“Yes I told you, Everyone has such fun expressions when they learn”

The centaur responded.

Both laughing at my expense.

But I had stopped focusing on them.

Deep in though

Thinking

Thinking of how screwed we were.

I think I’ve made a promise with a god

And...

I also think he tricked us.

Pushing even more trouble onto us.

Great

Not only do we have to build an enormous wall.

But now we have to act as diplomatic intermediaries.

Trying to solve an age old feud between warring nomadic tribes?

Just

Great…