Speaking with the Goddess

"M-Morag?" Grimm asked, his body jerking and spasming back to something resembling rest.

"Listen to yourself," the fox taunted, rising to a kneeling position. "M-m-moooo. Are you tryin' to sound like a big fuckin' bovine?" She paused. "I guess you are a big fuckin' bovine."

"Thanks," Grimm said, and it was hard to tell whether or not he was being sarcastic. He wasn't, though, for the most part. "How -- how did I get here?"

"The broad with the big ass," Morag said, jerking a thumb toward Buttercup. A look crossed over Morag's face as she looked back at her own prodigious posterior. "Eh, should I say, the dizzy broad with the big ass. Fuck. You know what I'm talkin' about, fuck."

Buttercup crawled up beside Morag. She looked ecstatic. "Grimm!" she shouted, nuzzling the bull's thigh with her face. "You're okay!"

Grimm smiled down at her. He cupped her face with his hand and stroked her cheek. "Yeah, B. I'm okay." Part of him wanted nothing more than to plant a kiss on her lips, but the moment he began to move he groaned in pain and went back to lying down. "Fuck..." He winced. "Sigrid really did a number on me, huh?"

Morag and Buttercup spoke at the same time:

"It wasn't that bad," said Buttercup.

"Oh, she fucked you up," said Morag.

The women looked at each other. Morag cleared her throat and spoke. "Look, if it weren't for your lady here you would be lying in a ditch with x's on your eyes. I don't know how she did it but she dragged your sorry ass all the way to my shrine, so maybe you should be a fuckin' gentleman and give her some tongue action later. I don't fuckin' know." She sniffed. "Oh, and you're welcome for the blowie, by the way."

"I already thanked you!" Grimm exclaimed.

Morag blew him a raspberry.

"Anyway," Grimm continued. "Thanks, B. How did you get me here? Did you know about this place?"

Buttercup shrugged. "Grimm, I'm a cow. We're really strong. And I've been robbing people for a long time." She giggled. "So, y'know, strong. And yeah, I kinda knew about this place. Reese told me about it. But I didn't think anyone would actually help... I dunno, I guess I thought you would be safe here and heal after a few days of rest. But Morag found us and she's amazing!" The ditzy cow gave the fox a big hug, which the fox seemed to barely tolerate.

Morag shimmied out of Buttercup's grip. "Listen, I'm glad you're feelin' better 'n all, but you should probably, y'know... fuck off. I don't want that Sigrid bitch finding out I saved your ass. Who knows what she'll do to my shrine?"

_"It's not your shrine, Morag, my darling." _A booming voice suddenly erupted from around them. The ground seemed to shake beneath their feet.

Morag's eyes went wide. "G-goddess?" she asked, uncharacteristically shaken.

"Yes, my love, it is I."

Tears welled up in Morag's eyes. She dropped to her knees. "Oh... oh, I'm not worthy, I'm not --"

"Oh, Morag. Enough of that. Please, stand."

Morag stood. Her knees were shaking.

"I've seen your hospitality, Morag, and while in the past I've found it... wanting, I'm pleased by the way you have treated these weary travelers."

"Th-thank you," Morag said softly.

"Which is why you must leave my shrine, darling."

Morag looked like she'd been slapped. "L-leave?!" she sounded like she was about to cry. "Wh... why must I leave? G-Goddess, I never meant to --"

"No, no, Morag, it's not like that. You have not offended me. I am not displeased with you. Be calm, child. Be still. For I have need of you."

"My Goddess... anything."

"Good. Listen well, child: these two -- the bull named Grimm, the cow named Buttercup -- must travel deep into the bovine realm. They have a task to fulfill. Though they are motivated by earthly desires, they are following a higher calling. They flesh my will, but I cannot give them the protection they require, for they are not faithful. You, my darling Morag, are faithful. You must guide them, nurture them, bring them to the threshold of victory."

"So I must leave," Morag said.

"So you must leave."

Tears streamed down Morag's cheeks. "But... the shrine --"

"Will be fine, my love. It is but water and stone. I do not live here, Morag, I live within you. You are my shrine."

"Goddess..."

"You will meet other members of your order along the way. Some will be pious. Others will be false. Be wise, Morag. Be safe."

"Is there anything else I must do?"

"Yes. There will be times that those you care for need comfort and aid. You will give it to them, as you have already so faithfully done."

"Yes, my Goddess."

"Good. One last thing, Morag."

Morag's ears pricked up. "Yes, my Goddess?"

"I am proud of you."

A big, silly smile crossed over Morag's face. "Thank you, my Goddess."

"Now... go. Take these two brave travelers to the realm of the cows. You know the way."

"Yes, my Goddess."

"We will talk again, Morag. But for now... farewell."

Morag bowed deeply. And then things felt like they were normal again. The fox turned to Grimm and kicked his leg, making him groan. "Alright, big stuff, get up. It's time to go." She looked at Buttercup and raised an eyebrow. "You too, peaches."

Grimm and Buttercup did as they were told. Suddenly the bull's aching joints and bruises didn't hurt all that much.

Morag hurriedly put her things together, fitting most of them into a single traveling bag that she slung over her shoulders. She had also elected to don some clothing: a modest green-brown tunic that highlighted her sacred necklace; a pair of cloth arm-wraps; wraps that covered her legs below the knee and wrapped around her feet, exposing her toes; and a flowing loincloth that did the bare minimum to cover her thick rear.

The surly fox also had a wooden staff that she used like a walking stick. Wielding it one hand she led Grimm (who had replaced his loincloth) and Buttercup (who had changed into a newer outfit) out of the sacred spring and toward the road.

They were, after many a distraction and setback, finally on the road to the kingdom of the cows.