Larksong Grotto What fools these mortals be

The events of Reek’s ritual had left Seff upset and confused, and the little pup had kept to his den that he shared with his mother most of the time.  The woman garbed in red gave him an uneasy feeling, and the anger and sadness that had swirled around the meeting upset the pup who didn’t quite understand what was happening. One word he had heard uttered many times, and though he did not know it’s meaning he spoke it now, quietly, to himself.
“Raas”
It sounded odd on the pups tongue, as he sat a short distance from his den. He tried it again, and the word sounded no less strange. Oh well, it was simply another word to add to his ever-growing vocabulary. He stood, on legs that strengthened daily, and trot off into the woods near his den, deciding to do a little exploring, and not thinking of how his mother may not have approved of this.

Maybe @Nova Rose or @Phares or @Hiram?

His church was growing. Those who's hearts did not belong to Lord were quickly replaced by those who lived in His light. The cardinal believed this to be a blessing -- a sign of the Daystar's contentment in his efforts. Surely He was pleased. Hiram could see clearly the result of his endeavors. The light of the Lord surrounded him. On this warm summer day, Raas offered his light to be basked in.

With the sun warming his back as he walked, Hiram plodded along the lakeshore with his head pointed upward toward the sky. He smiled, knowing he was blessed.

On a whim, he turned, directing his course toward the den Vuk had claimed following the Seer's arrival. He had not seen her since the ritual and he missed her company dearly. It was her son, however, that stole Hiram's attention as he passed. Raas, muttered the boy. The cardinal's brow lifted in interest. He followed the child, eventually taking to his side and cutting his adventure short.

He smiled. "You speak the name of our Lord," spoke the Cardinal warmly. "Surely child, you must be blessed." The boy had been called to the Lord, he could see it.

His adventure was short-lived, however, as the figure of Reek came into view. Though his actions at the ceremony had unsettled the boy, his voice broke out into a smile at the elder wolf approached. His worm of a tail, though gain thickness, beat against the ground as he abruptly sat, waiting for the wolf to speak. When he did, his words caused the boy's brow to furrow, as he processed the words. Reek sounded...different, somehow, though the boy could not figure out how or why, exactly. 

So he spoke, words a little slow as he formed his sentences, but there all the same. "Reek, what blessed? What Lord mean?" he asked, eyes glinting with curiosity. He glanced at Reek with his baby blue eyes, which showed no sign of changing colour as of yet (or ever). They should have begun to darken by now, the fact that they weren't was a sign they might remain their colour into adulthood.

The child had questions. Surely, in his youthful mind, he did not understand the nuance, the power, or the blessings of Raas. The Cardinal, however, would be sure to teach the boy in any way he could. He could enlighten him and perhaps save his soul. "Blessings are a good thing Seff," he said, smiling. He motioned to the bright sun shining above them. "It means He is smiling down on you." His blessings were numerous following the ritual. The land had returned to form and the famine had ended. Perhaps that was something that even Seff could see.

Without missing a beat or moving his gaze from the sky, Hiram continued. "That is the Lord." He paused, drawing his gaze away from the sun and toward the child. Dipping low, he dropped to the boy's level. "He is the Daystar. Raas. Do you feel his warmth on your back child? He is always with us."

Seff had no idea that his soul needed saving, nor did he understand the concept of a soul. Blessing were good, said Reek, like hugs and smiles and his mother. So Seff mirrored the Cardinal's smile, still not completely understanding, but his limited knowledge has enough. Blessings, check.

But Reek's next words had Seff more than a little confused, and he gazed up at the flaming sun, wincing as the harsh light met his eyes. After a blinding moment of looking up at it, he looked back at Reek, surprised to see a sun in miniature dancing in his vision, and after effect of staring at the thing for too long. Haltingly, he began. "Sun is Raas? Day...Datar...Daystar is Raas?" He was rather confused, was it not obvious that the flaming ball in the sky was a sun, not a wolf? But...what if Raas wasn't a wolf?
Seff was confused.

The boy's confusion was obvious, but it seemed he understood the gist of what the Cardinal had said. The smile that worked its way across the boy's face told him so. Soon, he looked to the sun and spoke. It was with caution that the cardinal nearly turned the boy's head away. The Daystar was bright -- his glory blinding. But he need not worry, because soon the boy averted his gaze.

"Yes," he replied; his amicable smile had yet to falter. "The sun is Raas, and we are all surrounded by his light." The boy could see the glory of the Lord, the Cardinal could tell. But soon, he would not only see -- but know. "He will always watch over you buddy. He will keep you safe."

So the sun's name was Raas,and the sun was looking at them. The sun would keep him safe. That he would remember in the coming weeks, it seemed. The sun, the Daystar, Raas, would keep him safe. The pup smiled brightly, knowing he had learned and that his sponge-like brain had picked up new knowledge.  That was good, he reckoned, for Mama always liked it when he learned something. Like how to eat meat, or swim(somewhat) or hunt or run.

Confident that Reek would feel the same about this development, he nodded enthusiastically in understanding. "When I scared, Raas help?" he asked, wondering if he had grasped this correctly.

How blessed this child was that he would be graced with this holy understanding. Raas was within him, Hiram could see His light shining though in the boy's bright expression. "Yes!" Spoke the Cardinal emphatically. He nodded his head, assuring Seff that he was right in his assumption. 

"If you call upon the Lord, He will help you." No matter the situation, the Daystar would be there. If He could pick up the pieces of Reek's miserable life, then surely he could heal and protect all who asked. "He loves you Seff -- just as I do," Hiram continued. His son (as all the members of the grotto were Hiram's children -- his flock) was shot a wide smile.

"oh" he stated, confused yet intrigued by this Raas. "Cooooool" he said, one of his newest words and one he rather liked. But this talk of Raas was growing boring, and the boy, never one to sit still for long, sprang up. "Thank Reek! Bye bye!" he called, turning on his heel and running back the way he had come, much happier than he had been. The events of the meeting would fade from his mind soon enough, and would be the least of his worries.