Cepheus

✶ CEPHEUS ✶

the King

✶✶✶

The universe is built upon balance and order; every part of every system in existence is constantly fighting against the forces of entropy. This occurs on every scale; from the entire universe down to seemingly irrelevant solar systems and planets, everything is constantly fighting to keep itself in order.

Throughout most of history, Earth has maintained its balance without issue. Mass extinction events prompted evolutionary changes that would allow new forms of life. Regardless of what happened to it, the planet sustained itself.

Then humans evolved into something that, on a small scale, was more powerful than the Earth; the Earth maintains its equilibrium over a period of eons, but humans cause changes in a matter of centuries. This prompted intervention from the universe itself; the stars converged to form an ethereal creature made of stardust and purpose.

They called this creature Cepheus — the king.

✶✶✶

It isn't the Earth itself that is odd to him; it is the fact that he is on it that is throwing him off. It is the fact that he has a solid, earthly body instead of his usual amalgam of elemental energies; this organic body is inferior to his astral form in every way that it possibly could be. Still, his feelings on the matter are irrelevant—he is here for a reason.

It is so frustratingly difficult to move languidly in this form; he is limited by the biological constrictions of his body, whereas before he was limited only by the laws of the universe. He seems to be operating rather well, at least; he is thankful that he is capable of inherently understanding the stimuli to which his body responds. Things would be considerably more difficult if he could not.

He pushes his nose toward the ground as he walks; he thinks that he will never get used to the plethora of smells that are so unlike the scent of the stars. He identifies a few scents: herbs, whose names he cannot place, an elk herd—or maybe it's the scent of a deer, he can't differentiate between them very well—and the thick, earthy smell of the forest floor. His ears twitch as the detritus crackles beneath his paws, and a soft pitter-patter pulls him out of his thoughts. He feels his hackles raise as he lifts his head, eyes darting about as he searches for the source of the sound. A low growl rips its way out of his throat before he can stop it.

"Show yourself," he snarls at the shadows, his voice sounding oddly flat to his own ears; it lacked its usual multidimensional undertones.

A wolf with a greyish pelt tinted with blacks and browns steps through the thick bushes that surround the small clearing in which Cepheus stands. Their eyes are a piercing shade of orange, one that reminds Cepheus of some of the brightest stars. Their body language is decidedly relaxed for one so set on irritating him.

"Is there really a need for such aggression?" the stranger asks, their tail flicking idly behind them as they sit back on their haunches. "Been a while since I've seen another wolf in these parts. You some kind of rogue?"

Cepheus tilts his head, and he scoffs a bit as he, too, settles into the grass. Still, his body language is considerably more tense than the stranger's; his hackles are still standing on end, and his ears swivel constantly, agitated by every small sound.

"No," Cepheus replies, and still his voice sounds unfamiliar to himself. He is beginning to detest the stagnant, static nature of this world. "I'm not from here."

"That much is obvious," the stranger says, their eyes twinkling with mirth. Then, they tilt their head, their ears twitching curiously. "So... where are you from, then?"

Cepheus looks away. "You wouldn't believe me no matter what I said," he mutters, pawing at the dirt anxiously. "What's it to you, anyway?"

The stranger settles onto their stomach, their paws crossed. "I know another loner when I see one," they say, their ears flickering as the sound of birds drifts through the air. "But you… you're different than most loners I meet. Look, I've got no reason to harm you. In fact, I quite like you. Why not get to know each other and stick together? It'd be nice to have someone watching my back, y'know?"

Cepheus sighs deeply, his resolve easily crumbling. It is true; he is so lonely on this mortal planet. In the stars, he had constant company. Being utterly alone is an unfamiliar and unsettling experience for him.

"Okay," Cepheus says, averting his gaze once more. "I'm… from the stars. I can't give you many details, but I was essentially tasked with trying to defend the ecosystems here. This planet, it… it's changing too fast."

He pauses.

"And… if you're serious about joining forces, then I suppose I owe you my name," Cepheus says quietly, trying to ignore the surge of anxiety that rushes through his body. Such mortal feelings are unusual and somewhat incomprehensible for him. "My name is Cepheus. It means—"

"The King," the stranger says, their expression soft. "I've always loved the stars. I know of many constellations."

Cepheus blinks once, then twice. "…That's it?" he asks, tilting his head curiously as his tail sways restlessly behind him. "You're not going to question my answer? You're just going to accept that an otherworldly creature is talking to you right now?"

This garners a grin from the stranger. "You don't know much about the customs here, do you?" they ask, their voice light with amusement. "We're wolves. The sky is the origin of our spirits. We have always shown respect and admiration for the stars and the skies. You're not the first to come here wanting to help keep the natural balance between nature and humanity. But…"

Cepheus is quiet for a moment. "I'm not the first?" he asks, his voice a mix of apprehension and curiosity.

"Not the first to come here," the stranger responds. "But the first to stay."