"What have I done," signed Mira after she set Fayala on the ground. "I sensed those humans that night, I felt their anger, they did not believe I was the Earth Goddess.  They were right and they were killed for it."

"You could not have known this would happen," signed Fayala in response. "I would never have thought my people capable of ... this," Fayala grimaced as she looked up at the gruesome scene.

  "Bienn knew," replied Mira lost in thought, then looked firmly at Fayala and signed, "your people need to know the truth."

Fayala looked aghast at Mira, "the truth, look at what the truth got those men, burned alive. No Mira," she signed, "I see now, we need deities to validate our timid sense of reality, to fill a need for finding meaning in our lives, to make sense of what we do not understand. Mira, something bad is going to happen and I need to get my people away from this place as soon as possible. But I do not know where to go or even how to get my people to listen to me. To them I just a deaf girl who knows nothing."

"I am so frightened,"  wept Fayala.

Mira felt Fayala's despair and sensed her feeling of helplessness. She took a deep breath and reached for her. "Let me help you my little sister."  She took Fayala into her hands, "this may feel uncomfortable at first but I believe you have the strength ."

Fayala sat back in Mira's hand, she watched intently as Mira closed her eyes and slowed her breathing. Within a few moments her translucent countenance began to glow a very deep blue.

         Fayala felt something gentle and loving reach out and encompass her. A soft, warm light seemed to come from deep within Mira and envelop her. She sensed Mira's presence and suddenly could see into Mira's vast and complex mind. It both terrified and overwhelmed her, as though she might drown in its depths.

Then, Mira was with her, in her mind, soothing  and gentle, their consciousness blended into one cognitive stream of  thought.

"Fayala, do you trust me?" 

"Yes Mira, I do."

"Do not be afraid my dear one." 

"I am not afraid."

"Just open your mind and I will teach you."

"Teach me, teach me what?"

"Everything my little sister,  everything."

Word that the Earth Goddess had returned spread quickly through the villages.  Humans streamed in mass down the path towards the pond to greet her. Many had heard the unearthly scream that filled them with dread thinking something terrible had happened. However, upon reaching the pond they instead became witness to a miracle, that of the Earth Goddess bestowing her essence on one of their own. They observed the bluish radiance that surrounded Fayala and believed she was being bathed in its sacred purifying light. The elders saw it as a blessing and knelt as near as they dare to Mira. 

________________

    The sun passed dutifully across the cloudless sky and the faithful maintained their vigil. A rumor had started that the Goddess was pleased with the sacrifices and was blessing Fayala for her conviction. Others believed that Fayala was being cleansed for a special ritual. All eyes were focused on the miraculous spectacle, only a few saw the arrival of another god, one who stepped into the arroyo and was now looking down on the crowd of humans spread out before him.

Otead was astonished to see so many,  they covered all of the ground around a pond and the whole side of a hill. Those that had become aware of his presence rushed to him bowed and kissed his sandaled feet. How pathetic these creatures are he thought as he callously swept them aside with his foot. He scanned the crowd that had suddenly become aware of his presence. Those nearest quickly backed away when they saw him kick at several of their brethren who had only wanted to pay him homage.

    There were murmurings and whispering as they regarded him with a mixture of awe and fear. Then people began scrambling to get out of his path as he strode out into the crowd completely heedless of the humans that scurried out from beneath his feet. Many quickly perceived this God to be of a character far different than Mira. This one cared little for their well being as the legs and arms of those unable get out from under his heavy footsteps were broken and crushed.  Some now exclaimed aloud that they had been wrong to sacrifice the heretics, was this God here to punish them?

              Otead despised the puny creatures that scattered before him like panicked vermin, he was not there for them, though now that he saw the extent of their infestation he was glad they were soon to be exterminated. He was there for Mira and all he needed to do was look at the humans, those that were not gawking at him were looking at a  flat precipice at the far end of the pond. There in the shadows was Mira, and in her hands was that human female, and Mira was — "No!"