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Flowers in full bloom, grass and leaves the most gorgeous hues of green and all the forest Nymphs are attending to their duties.
A perfect time of the year for a celebration.
For today was the day not only day when a new round of Nymphs were officially being brought into Riddle’s court, another Nymph was being being chosen to raised to the level of Demigod. Cater was to be promoted, like Trey the Demigod of Hearth and Harvest had been many years ago, to tend to more duties and help govern an aspect of Nature to help Riddle, the God of Nature. If you were to ask him he'd say he’s thrilled and about time with how much he’s already done to take care of and guide new Nymphs into knowing how to behave and performs their duties to the God of Nature.
Cater loves the forest, loves to help Riddle and show the new Nymphs the ropes and becoming a Demigod will be an amazing social status upgrade, he'll gain more respect and notoriety on whole.
And yet, Cater is quite nervous? Anxious? To become a Demigod, it’s still a daunting ask when you really think about it. Many more responsibilities and Mortals will begin to pray to him. MORTALS! Humans praying to him for help to resolve their plights. Even if he knows this new role his will be a lighter load than that of Riddle and Trey it’s still daunting to know one day he’s going to be prayed to and have to answer those prayers. If he didn’t meet expectations what would Riddle say? How would he react if one of his top Nymphs he trusts to keep everyone in line couldn’t handle such a simple role? I mean it's Cater who can move as if he's in two places at once, Cater who seems to know everything to T. How could not be able to handle his new role?
Demigod of Flowers and Celebration. Simple enough right, same thing he did before but now he’ll help out with humans parties and gatherings. For decades he’d head the parties and celebrations of work well done for the Forest Nymphs. But, he knows the everyone here and has for a long time, it's second nature to know things and the Forest Nymphs are pretty predictable in what they enjoy and act like. Humans can be. . . well they can be unruly and down right terrifying at times in what they can decide to do.
Cater was currently waltzing through the forest to a shrouded and isolated pond he’d grown to depend on for times he needed space from everyone else. It was decent walk to gather his thoughts so he could vent to himself in a black mirror of water. Brushing hands past the unruly bushes and reeds his smile began to fade, into a neutral, natural feeling blank stare, it's nice to be able to relax his face.
“We meet again old friend,” Cater whispered to the pond sitting down and heaving a sigh “I love Riddle, I'm good at helping him, and helping the other Forest Nymphs do their duties and learn to do everything perfectly but, it’s starting to get away from him.”
“I mean he’s doing amazing, probably even better than the previous god of Nature, but I think he’s still far too particular about all of this” he regales leaning back until he’s lying down on his back and as a hand mindlessly dances across the waters of the pond.
“So what if some of the flowerbeds were out of line or the wild flowers weren’t spread out enough! How can wild flowers even be to close or far apart we literally just fling the seeds about so their random!” He exclaims with his other arm shooting up and softly thudding to the ground as it dropped. “Why’d I have to be good at my job, why did I feel the need to keep up with these impossible standards and then encourage everyone else to do so along with Trey?” Cater sighed in defeat, he knows why he done everything this way, and why he’s doomed himself to these standards.
Nymphs are connected to plants and trees, every single one it's their connector to life. Cater for the longest time had been lost dug up and used in decoration in a royal courtyard until Riddle showed up demanding all plants harbouring Nymphs be returned to him and his forest. He had been freed, and given a new life thanks to Riddle he wanted to do everything in his power to help the newly appointed God to become the best Nature God ever prayed to.
He still does, and Riddle has been doing amazing, but within the last century there had been a shift of things needing to be perfect to nothing is ever perfect enough. No one but Trey was quite sure of what caused it, and Trey had been keeping a tight lip about it, not even a hint of why things had begun to get this way. Cater knows Riddle would never actually hurt someone especially the Forest Nymphs but there was this fear that stirred in him whenever things had begun to get heated, especially with this new round of Nymphs. Ace and Deuce were proving to be quite the handful, Ace questioning everything and why do it this way or that way, and despite his best intentions Deuce had gotten into a few fights with other Nymphs and even one of the Satyrs that lived near the Forest.
“I mean all in all things are fine but if Ace keeps pushing it, it could be quite the melt down” Cater said as he pulled his hand back and on to his stomach. “If I can just get them to understand it’s easier to go along with him and to stop pushing back then it’ll be fine”. Saying and wanting to believe it himself, he knew that it’s inevitable that this is all going to blow up in their faces, and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to stick around for it. He could leave, Forest Nymphs aren’t bound to forest they could go wherever they please, Vil was able to take a Forest Nymph as an apprentice from this recent group of Nymphs and the kid was doing fine according to Riddle’s inquiries about him.
“I wish Vil had picked me as an apprentice instead of Epel but, God of Beauty and Knowledge knows best I suppose.” Cater sighed as he closed his eyes, it’ll be fine to rest for bit right?
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After resting in the calming silence for far too long Cater returned to a sitting position, stretched and rose to his feet brushing and smooth his toga making sure it was still in good form. No stains, no dirt, and no tears perfect. The sun had moved closer to the horizon, if he went quickly he'd make it back in time to be early for dinner.
“Time to get back to grind and make sure the kids are behaving themselves” Cater said as he began the trek back to Riddle’s domain. He then bagen to ponder what would he do if he could just leave and be free to do as he pleased? What did he want in life? Questions to not think about right now, maybe next time he comes back here, or never because he has his duties to Riddle and the Forest, the only escape from reality would be in his dreams. There are worse fates than to become a Demigod he supposed.