Rance had been trying to process the strange things Maea was telling him, trying to accept that he was no longer what he had been — had never been? Would never be? — but the idea that a shifter could be more than they were, more creatures than that which was their being, seemed utterly wrong to Rance. Any semblance of good humor dropped away, his frown deepening. That he could still change into his true form was a relief, even if it wasn’t perfect. He was a raven, literally born and bred. The thought that he could put on other skins, other sets of feathers, seemed like a violation.
Her obvious confusion about his derision of the gods’ favor didn’t help the panic still running circles in the corner of his mind. Of course she could state such things as being copied so calmly. There were plenty in his world that were so faithful, too. Out of respect for the information she’d given to him, he bit back his first scornful reaction. Quite literally, as he bit his lip before answering her. ”Listen… your gods are obviously different from mine. Mine only make their will known in ways that always come with a price. All the stories of miracles come with a tragedy fallin’ upon someone who isn’t the so blessed.” He licked his bitten lip, fingers digging deeper into the soil and forest debris beneath them. ”And… fuck, one of your gods makes fuckin’ changelings out of people.” He could feel the fear and anger simmering below the surface again, threatening to overwhelm the curiosity. He wanted information, craved it, but to find out that he was not only pulled from his world, but that he wasn’t even the same being anymore?
Her obvious confusion about his derision of the gods’ favor didn’t help the panic still running circles in the corner of his mind. Of course she could state such things as being copied so calmly. There were plenty in his world that were so faithful, too. Out of respect for the information she’d given to him, he bit back his first scornful reaction. Quite literally, as he bit his lip before answering her. ”Listen… your gods are obviously different from mine. Mine only make their will known in ways that always come with a price. All the stories of miracles come with a tragedy fallin’ upon someone who isn’t the so blessed.” He licked his bitten lip, fingers digging deeper into the soil and forest debris beneath them. ”And… fuck, one of your gods makes fuckin’ changelings out of people.” He could feel the fear and anger simmering below the surface again, threatening to overwhelm the curiosity. He wanted information, craved it, but to find out that he was not only pulled from his world, but that he wasn’t even the same being anymore?
