Chapter Text

Chapter One: Run

Seth

He had never been in so much pain in his life. All the wars he had been in, all the injuries he acquired with each battle, nothing could compare. He felt disgusting. Under the thin sheen of sweat that covered him, making his hair stick, he was covered in bites and bruises. His own cooling cum was rubbed was still on him even after Osiris rubbed it into his stomach. What was worse was his brother's spend which he could feel slowly leaking from his hole as he lay limp on the floor. Something had caused Osiris to finally stop. He wasn’t sure if it was because he was tired or if he was finally letting Seth take a break. Both seemed unlikely, as the entire time Osiris didn’t care about Seth’s ability to continue, and he seemed just as eager to go on as long as possible. He felt so hot and dizzy. The drug Osiris made for him made his head feel light and like he had no control over his own limbs. 

He blinked. Confused. 

What was he thinking about?

A hand touched him. He immediately flinched away, curling in on himself. He was shaking, fearing that Osiris had only stopped to refresh himself, only to continue his torment. 

“Seth,” a female voice whispered. He blinked and looked up. It wasn’t Osiris. The lion headdress took him by surprise. Sekhmet was crouched over him, an uncharacteristically concerned frown on her face. His head snapped to the side, looking at Osiris, who was slumped on the ground next to him. 

“Take your time,” she whispered but put a finger to her lips as she stood and walked a few steps away. He could hear her rustling around nearby. Sekhmet was here, and he was confused. Why would Sekhmet be here? She loved chaos and destruction. If anything, she should be savoring his pain. He groaned in pain as he pushed himself to his knees. Then he heard a soft clanging sound. When he looked down, a canopic jar rolled to a stop near him. 

“Anubis’ soul has returned to his body,” she said slightly louder. Seth jolted and sat upright, ignoring every part of his body that screamed in pain. Was Anubis safe? 

“This is empty now.” She shook the last jar and threw it behind her. Seth straightened, hair hanging over his face as he stared at Osiris’ sleeping body. He was vulnerable. Completely unconscious. Even though they were trying to be quiet, it didn’t seem to make any difference. Osiris had always been a light sleeper. If someone so much as walked past his chamber, he would wake up.

“I thought we’d finally be able to get rid of him, but it seems there's been a strange turn of events. How many steps ahead of us is that bastard anyway? Well, for the time being, I put Osiris to sleep. He must’ve been quite worked up, seeing as how he didn’t even notice me-”

Seth surged forward, calling sand khopesh to him as he gripped Osiris’s Atef, bearing his neck. It would be so easy now. He could just cut off his head and call it a day. He could butcher him in the way it felt like he had been butchered. Cut into him so he could feel the pain he felt in his heart. What expression would he make if he were to wake up? Would he feel as betrayed as Seth did?

“Closing in on him… Oh dear, do you really think this is the proper way to get revenge?”

Seth stopped cold. Somehow her words gave him pause. This wasn’t what he wanted. His eyes landed on a nearby empty canopic jar. He wasn’t a god of revenge. He was a god of protection. Osiris was the god of life. Even if he cut him to shreds and cooked him, he could come back. If that happened, how safe would his son be?

Anubis. 

The khopesh drifted away as sand as he drunkenly stumbled to his feet. The world spun around him as he tried to gather his bearings. He could feel Osiris’ cum leaking down his legs. The pain in his stomach and ass almost made him double over, but he couldn’t.

Anubis. 

Osiris said he got rid of Anubis’ ha. Seth pushed past Sekhmet, ignoring her shocked expression. His footsteps were unsteady as he tried to get out of the room, falling to his knees only twice. There was only one thing he cared about. One thing on his mind and it wasn’t revenge.

Anubis. 

He had to use the wall to hold himself up as he tried to run to Anubis’ room. The haze was clearing with the fresh air. He vaguely took note of the pile of sick in the corridor on the way to Anubis’ room, and fear struck through him. He forced his numb limbs into a run as he tore through the palace, skidding into his family’s area. 

Anubis was lying on his bed, chest rising and falling softly, though the stain and smell of blood still lingered. Seth stumbled to his side,

“Anubis.” He said, his voice rough and unrecognizable to even his own ears. He bent down, placing his hand on Anubis’ chest gently and shaking. The boy jolted, eyes blinking open confused.

“Father?” He croaked, blinking tiredly at Seth. Then he groaned. “I feel weird.”

“Wake up; we need to leave,” Seth said quietly, looking over his shoulder just in case. There was no sound of movement from outside, and he turned back to Anubis, who was rubbing his eyes.

“Leave?” Anibis asked, slowly sitting up.

“Yes, we’re leaving. Come on, we need to go now,” Seth said, standing up and rushing to Anubis’ storage chest, throwing it open. He was moving automatically, grabbing what he could and tying it into a bag. 

“What about mother?” Anubis asked. His legs were over the edge of the bed, looking towards the quiet main living area. Seth moved to his son, kneeling in front of him. He reached up and cupped the back of his little one’s neck. 

“Anubis, do you trust me?” He asked, his voice rough and grave. The boy didn’t hesitate. He nodded. 

“Yes. I trust you.” Anubis answered, a crease forming between his eyebrows. 

“Then we need to leave right now. I don’t know where your mother is, but she’s not coming with us.”

Anubis nodded and went to stand. However, his legs crumpled beneath him, forcing Seth to catch him. Anubis blinked, confused, staring at his legs like they betrayed him. His heart plummeted. He wasn’t sure what research there was on the soul separating from the body and then reentering after the ‘useless’ ha was discarded, but it was possible that his soul wasn’t settling in his ha right. Seth clenched his jaw. The temptation to go back and actually butcher Osiris was growing. The cold fear gripped him not even a second later. Seth quickly looked over his shoulder. Osiris would be furious. If anyone could sneak up on him, it would be his brother. They didn’t have time for Anubis to get acquainted with his ha. The longer they lingered, the more likely it was for Sekhmet’s spell to wane. He wasn’t sure if he was strong enough, but he would have to be. With a sharp nod, he turned, grabbing Anubis’ arm and throwing it over one shoulder, helping guide Anubis onto his back so he could carry him. Another wave of dizziness swept through him in a way that made his stomach roll. He stumbled upright, heaving Anubis up higher on his back. With Anubis on his back, legs wrapped around his chest, and arms around his neck, he slung the quick bag over one shoulder and hurried to Anubis’ weapons display. He grabbed one of the bows and a full quiver handing them to Anubis.

“If you see anyone coming towards us,” Seth said slowly, making sure Anubis understood, “just like we’re out hunting.” 

There was a slight pause before Anubis shifted to take it. Once the boy was settled, he adjusted his grip, then he paused. On a quick decision, he grabbed a javelin and a dagger from the display and then took off. Anubis’ grip tightened. 

“Father, why are you taking those?” Anubis whispered. 

“Because we might need them.” Was all Seth said in response. He moved slowly out of Anubis’ room, to the main living area, trying his best to stay on his feet. As he reached the threshold he grabbed his white traveling cloak that he would sometimes wear when he moved between his armies and temples as a way to discreetly check on things and threw it over his back to cover his son. 

“Keep your head down and an eye out. Just like I taught you.” 

“Okay.” 

Poking his head out of the entryway, he scanned the hallway, gathering his bearings. It was a struggle to just get to Anubis’ room; the stables were at best three times that but that path wasn’t safe, there were too many open courtyards. Despite the fog, his brain quickly strategized through the paths before taking off down the hallway. It was a strange mix of running and stopping at each entryway and intersection to scan the area. He was sweating a lot. Everything that had cooled sticky on his body was warming and slicking again. He had to adjust his grip on the weapons in fear they would just slip right out of his hands. Anubis seemed to have noticed too, adjusting his grip and tightening his legs around his waist. Seth was thankful that Anubis was quiet, even though he could feel his son’s pounding heartbeat on his back and his rapid shallow breaths. Several minutes passed as it felt he was racing clear across Egypt just to get to the stable where he kept his chariot lodged. They finally got to the last courtyard and he was able to see his chariot from where they paused. This was one of his brother’s favorite courtyards, he had said that he always wanted Seth to feel welcomed when he came back from battle, now it felt like a trap, Osiris’ guards to keep him prisoner here at the palace forever. 

“Seth!” He heard a distant shout and his blood went cold. Letting his instincts lead him he tore out into the corridor in a full sprint, avoiding the plants the best he could as he ran for his chariot. He was dizzy, it felt like it was pulsing through his veins.

“You’ll only get dizzier by moving around so much.” he could hear Osiris say again and it made him want to curse. Just how long was this messed up wine going to affect him? 

The moment he got to the chariot he set Anubis down as gently as he could, covering him with his cloak and grabbed the side, falling to his knees. It felt like it did the first time the drugs hit. The ground was unsteady and spinning under him. 

“Seth!” 

He heaved, his stomach emptying on the sand in front of him. With as much willpower as he could muster, he called his winged sand crocodiles into the empty reigns as he pulled himself into the chariot. 

“Ha,” He snapped the reins as he stood over Anubis.

“SETH!” he heard shouting louder. The vertigo increased and he fell to one knee, grabbing the side of the chariot to keep him balanced. His well-trained beasts charged in the direction he sent them, with his will to just leave. 

Black vines sprouted suddenly, launching at him and wrapping around his ankle. He gave a surprised shout as he was violently tugged, almost topping right out of the chariot. If Anubis hadn’t grabbed him, he would have fallen. He couldn’t fully see Anubis under the cloak, but he could see the smaller hand grabbing his, and the arm he had wound around one of the strong supports on the chariot. Thorns were digging into his leg as they stretched, attempting to pull him straight out of the moving chariot. His flesh was ripping. A pained cry escaped his lips and the vines themselves seemed to hesitate before the musculature in his leg began to shrink in the way he was far too familiar with. He bared his teeth and pulled out the dagger swinging, heedless of his own body as he cut the thorny vine from his leg. The chariot sped up and he gave in and collapsed. 

 He didn’t release his hold on the javelin until the palace was nothing more than a small dot on the horizon and the morning light started to brighten the sky.  Seth was terrified. He could feel his blood cooling in him. How long could he run? How long would it take until his brother found him, and what would he do when he did? Where could he go that would be safe? Anubis. How long could he shield Anubis from Osiris’ gaze? How can he keep Osiris’ long arm of power from touching Anubis? Would his brother dare?

Seth sat up partially, enough to grab his son and pull him into a tight embrace. They were both trembling. His son was warm, his breath, though rough, was there. Seth could feel his son’s beating heart. They were both alive, even if only for now. Slowly Seth pulled the cloak away from Anubis and peppered his young face with kisses as he breathed a sigh of relief. 

Anubis

It started with the strangest dream, it wasn’t until he saw the rising sun later that he realized he hadn’t still been dreaming. 

The dream started with a gentle hand on his head, running fingers through his short dark hair. He sighed heavily, leaning into the touch. The hand was warm and affectionate, but it felt harsh. It was a dream. It had to have been one because he remembered his father coming in before and pressing a kiss to his forehead. Then his chest started to burn. A deep sharp pain that made him gasp out. The hand on his head held him still, but it hurt too much to even move. 

“Don’t worry, Seth will do anything to keep you safe” a voice that he couldn’t place whispered to him. The pain hurt to the point of burning and then it was gone. He was standing alone in a warm dark cave. There was no light. Nothing. He couldn’t move, but it felt like the cave was moving around him. Like he was journeying without having to take a step. There was crying, someone was crying, but he couldn’t find the source. He was all alone. 

Then he was back in his room, standing next to his bed watching himself sleeping. But he wasn’t asleep. There was a large gaping hole in his chest.

“Anubis” he heard his father’s voice and weight pressed against his chest and shook. 

His eyes opened again and he was laying on his bed, his father leaning over him. The dream was very weird. His father wanted them to leave and was packing his things. He felt heavy. Ra told him how heavy things were on her skyboat, and he was sure this is what his mind made up. Everything was heavy. Sitting up was a struggle. The strange dream continued as he watched his father. He had seen his father fight. Seen him after battles. His father was untouchable. Yet here he was in his room bleeding like a mortal. Bruises and bite marks littered his. His imagination was terrifying. He had never seen his father look so frightened. When his father’s warm trembling hands cupped the back of his neck and he asked if he trusted him, there was no other answer. Down in the depths of his soul he trusted his father. 

He decided to just follow the dream and see what would happen. It was preferable to the one with the pain, and the one where he was alone. 

He began to question his dream when he stood up and he felt his body drop. The harsh impact of his knees confused him. The pain in the earlier dream was unknown, but this felt real. His legs were feeling numb, a prickling feeling racing up them. It was strange. If this was a dream, he should be able to do what he wanted with ease. Then his father was pulling him up, arms moving to settle Anubis on his back. The last time his father carried him on his back like this was when he was smaller. Anubis almost wanted to argue being carried, but now he could see the bruises clearer. That was a handprint across the back of his father’s neck. Like someone grabbed him hard there. It was layered with other strange bruises on his neck, and a few very clear bite marks. He stared at the bruises with growing confusion. Why would he dream of this? His bow and quiver were handed to him, startling him. 

“If you see anyone coming towards us” father started slowly. Anubis paused. Was his father expecting them to be chased? “Just like we’re out hunting.”

Abubis paled and took the weapon, carefully slinging the quiver over his back and adjusting his grip on the bow. His father moved him around, making sure he was secure before his hand reached out and grabbed two more weapons. 

“Father, why are you taking those?” Anubis whispered. 

“Because, we might need them.” 

Then they were moving. His father was moving cautiously, in a way that didn’t feel like it had when he was younger, towards the entrance to their threshold. Before sticking his head out the door he grabbed the travel cloak and threw it over him. 

“Keep your head down and an eye out, just like I taught you.”

“Okay.” Anubis whispered and bit his lip. He did keep an eye out, looking around the halls as they moved, but he couldn’t help the fear that was growing. All of this was things his father had taught him to know for warfare. Worst case scenarios if war were to come to Heliopolis. The slightest noise was setting his father on edge. Even in the midday sun in his father’s desert never made him sweat as much. 

Promotion?

Perhaps he was having this dream as a sign that his family was in danger? If he kept with the dream maybe he would see what the danger was. He had heard Thoth was able to have promotions and see the future, though he didn’t know how it happened.

He did his best to keep the bow from hitting his father as he wound them through the halls and tightened his legs around his father’s waist just for security. It wasn’t until they got to the courtyard that he realized that the war chariot was the destination. However for some reason his father stopped. Anubis scanned the balcony area, looking for any sign of life, someone hunting them down. 

“Seth!” Anubis stilled, even as his father started sprinting. That was his uncle’s voice. The closer they got to the chariot the more unsteady the run became. His father just about dropped him into the chariot, covering him with the cloak. Anubis could barely see his father dropping to his knees. He opened his mouth, hand moving to touch his father’s shoulder.

“Seth!” His uncle called again, and Anubis froze. His uncle sounded very angry, yet scared. His father vomited before stumbling into the chariot and pulling away. The chariot was moving fast, too fast. It jarred him over every rock as his father had the beasts move with no amount of concern. He looped his arm through a support beam at the front, trying hard to keep himself from getting in his father’s way. That’s when he saw it just barely from under the cloak. VINES. Black terrible things with long sharp thorns that wrapped around his father’s ankle. He reacted instinctively, hand darting out to grab his father just before he was yanked out of the chariot. It was almost like a tug-of-war game, and for a second, he thought he was going to lose as he grit his teeth in the strain to keep his father in the chariot before there was no more resistance. He kept one hand on his father the whole time, now scouring the area for vines or anything that was being controlled by his uncle. When the sun’s morning rays touched them, his father pulled him into his arms, and collapsed in the chariot. 

Then the sun was shining. 

The morning rays held the heat of every other day.

The sun was out and rising in the east.

The sun.

It was morning, and it hadn’t been a dream. 

His eyes went wide as he turned his gaze to his father’s shaking form. The bruises injuries were still there, clearer now in the light. He suddenly felt sick. This wasn’t a dream. His father was really hurt. His uncle was actually hunting them down. 

“Father… are we hiding from Uncle?” Anubis asked quietly, turning his eyes to his father as the cloak slipped from his head.

“Yes. Yes we’re hiding from your Uncle.” Seth admitted quietly, tightening his grip.

“Did Uncle…” He paused and raised a shaky finger to brush over one particularly bad bruise. “Did Uncle do this? Did he hurt you?” Anubis asked, noticing with horror how his father flinched at the slightest touch. It took a bit for his father to respond, as if he was lost in his own mind for a minute. 

“Yes.”

Anubis swallowed thickly, looking at the distant dot that was Heliopolis. 

“What are we going to do?” He asked. His father’s arms tightened around him and he sunk into them. 

“We hide. I’m the god of the desert. Even if your uncle thinks he gave me the desert it’s mine. I’ll keep you safe this time. I’ll keep us both safe.” His father’s voice was unsteady, but there was a determined edge to it. Anbuis’ mind froze. His father wanted to keep him safe from his uncle this time . The feelings of how the dream started came back to mind and he felt cold. The pain in his chest started to return with a sickening feeling. The sight of his own body laying in bed with the gaping hole.

“Did Uncle do something to me?” Anubis felt his father stiffen and he pulled back to look at his father with confusion and fear. “I- I had a weird dream. Someone was petting my head and then my chest started to hurt. They said you’d do anything to keep me safe, and the pain got worse. When I thought I couldn’t stand it anymore, I was alone in the dark, unable to move, but the dark was moving around me. Then I was standing next to my body, and there was a hole in my chest. And then you were there. I thought this was a dream-”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” His father cried, tears staining his bruised face. There was a sharp tug and he was back in his father’s arms. He closed his eyes and curled into his father’s arms. There were so many more questions he wanted to ask, but he couldn’t. The feel of his father’s trembling and the injuries stilled his mouth. He knew something bad happened, and he had something to do with it. He closed his eyes and pressed his face into his father’s chest, letting Ra’s sun warm his back as the chariot continued, pressing east. 

They stayed like that for hours, until the morning sun was high in the sky. The bruises were fading rapidly, the bites and cuts stitching back closed. His father was getting stronger again, and the beasts carrying the chariot grew faster. Sometime in the late afternoon the sand started to stir and grow into a great cloud that seemed to consume the area around them.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2

Osiris

Seth had an amazing habit of vexing him. He loved him so dearly, and that was what vexed him so. His desert was beautiful falling apart at his fingers. Watching him moan and writhe on his manhood was a dream come true. He lost count of how many times they climaxed, he stopped keeping track after he came for the eighth time and Seth for the eleventh or so. But as was Seth’s way, just when his dream had come true, and he could shackle him to his side, he woke up alone in the room. Just when he finally had Seth, when he was finally able to shower his beloved desert with all the love and affection he kept hidden, like sand, he slipped from his fingers at the slightest opportunity. When he woke up, he was slightly confused. He wasn’t sure when he fell asleep, or even if he fell asleep, but he was alone, a small puddle of cum next to him. The boy’s canopic jars were empty, and there was no sign of Seth. The thought of Seth walking about with cum leaking from his ass made him hard. He had sighed at the time, vexed but unconcerned, as he assumed that Seth would want to see the boy’s ha. He stood, pulled his shendyt on, and walked to the chambers his beloved occupied for the moment. When he got the chance, he would have Seth at least move to rooms next to his if he couldn’t convince Seth to move into his quarters with him. When he went to the room, he had expected to hear Seth’s lovely cries again, to see him kneeling next to the boy’s ha, waiting to be taken again to create a new body to house the child, their child. However, the rooms were empty, the bed empty, and his travel cloak gone. He had been so close to getting Seth. His sand was trying to escape, and he succeeded. 

It had been months since the sandstorm started. It was like a great wall that formed not far out from every city, only a few miles out from the fertile land of the Nile. It was a curious thing. Caravans were still permitted to pass, and from accounts, a sha would appear, the storm would break where they walked for easy travel, and sha even seemed to guide their paths better than any road. Yet, whenever he tried to go out to search for Seth, or whoever he sent to search would get the same results, the storm wouldn’t break and only seemed intent on ripping the flesh from their bones grain by grain. 

It was infuriating. 

In addition, it seemed that only he was worried about the god of the desert’s disappearance. It seemed that most of the gods were either more concerned about the shows of power with the neverending sandstorm or with the disappearance of the child. Nephthys seemed to have taken the confrontation of her betrayal to heart and had locked herself away in a prison cell and, in the past months, had only come out if Osiris had ordered her to attend an event to keep face. And then there was-

“Osiris,” a voice softly called behind him, and he held back the sigh.

And then there was Isis. 

She had been just as infuriating the past months, though that could be accounted for by the child she now carried. Isis had been determined after that night to have his heir and the desire to have a child running around the palace again. At first, he wasn’t interested, but he relented. If it shut her up so he could focus on Seth, he’d do what she’d ask. He turned to face her as she gently held a hand to her inflated abdomen. 

“He’s moving, would you like to feel it?” She asked, stepping closer. He permitted her to take his hand and press it to her stomach, where he felt a strange jolt. His child was moving within her. This hadn’t been the first time he felt life growing in a woman, Nephthys had also excitedly let him feel his seed in her when she had been pregnant with Anubis.

 If only his seed in Seth took. His fertile soil letting his tree take root. Giving himself over to his imagination, he allowed his eyes to close and pictured Seth standing where Isis was, his stomach round with their child. Seth would be bearing marks of their lovemaking on his exposed skin, and he’d allow Osiris to adorn him with jewels and gold. Every opportunity Osiris would take him, ramming into his ever-tight hole. Seth would come to crave him, he’d get to the point where he wouldn't be able to go a day without Osiris’ lovemaking. Then when their child would be born, he’d find another soul to put into another child for Seth to bear. They could work their way through the lesser gods until everyone was reborn from their union. Isis’ child would also be reborn as his child with Seth. Not a day would pass without Seth getting all the seeds he needed to be the fertile soil to build a new legacy. Perhaps one day, even Ra’s ha would be cast aside to be reborn through Seth. 

“Good, he’ll be strong,” Osiris said shortly, opening his eyes to stare down at his sister-wife. If he gave himself the leave to run with his imagination, it would only torture him until Seth was at his side again. 

His eyes turned back to the storm. What was a few months? They had all eternity. He’d let Seth have his little tantrum, and then he’d bring him back to where he belonged. By his side, forever with him. When that day came, he would make sure that his precious desert didn’t slip through his fingers.

Thoth

He was scanning through the scroll with mild interest. He had been tasked with trying to figure out how the sandstorm could be kept up for so long. Most gods were powerful, yes, but to be able to not only keep up the strength that would require a sandstorm of that size was unbelievable. It didn’t even include the amount of control that was required to part the storms around cities and caravans that traveled between them. It shouldn’t be possible. He himself experienced the amazing feat after he crossed the Nile to Memphis and then moved south to his temple in Hermopolis. As far as he could tell, it had something to do with the Sha, the little sand creatures that belonged to Seth. They led the caravan through the storm, and the sands seemed to part for it. None of it made sense. He had delved into his knowledge for days, searching for what it could possibly be. Osiris was restless, though he didn’t go over it in detail, what was told to everyone was that Seth and Anubis had disappeared. The first two months had everyone on edge. It was only the storm that assured almost everyone that Seth was at least alive. However, Seth never showed this much sheer power. Then there were the reports of the uniform changes for high-ranking soldiers. They now bore Sha-shaped masks much like that which Seth himself wore. Thoth himself wasn’t sure how each mask differed to show the change in higher ranks, but the soldiers seemed to understand enough. That is the soldiers whom they had seen, as many seemed content to remain at the forts and encampments in the desert frontlines.

He was mulling over the scroll he had in front of him when he felt the shift of a person entering his chambers. He had told his priests not to interrupt him after the thirteenth priest interrupted his train of thought.

“You better have a good reason to be interrupting me again,” He snapped, dropping the scroll with annoyance. However, when he looked up, it wasn’t one of his priests standing there, but a short figure, a young boy wearing a dusty travel cloak with the hood pulled close. He didn’t recognize the stranger, and he should have been stopped by one of his priests before he got this far. “Who are you, how did you get here?”

“I need your help, please, Lord Thoth.” The boy said, leaning back to look back out into the hallway. Thoth stretched his senses and felt another presence down the hall near the entrance. When the boy straightened, he sighed deeply and took a step further into the room. Thoth took a step away from his desk, ready to run if he needed to. 

“I’m not someone who just gets up and helps any little vagabond that walks into my personal chambers in my temple. Away with you before I call my guards.” Thoth said, trying his best to scold the desperate-sounding child. Then the child pulled the hood down, and he almost dropped his jaw in shock. It was Anubis. However, the young teen who he had last seen was younger, quite a bit younger. Where he once stood almost a half head shorter than himself, the child was now a good two heads shorter, his cheeks rounded with youth that had once stripped away with age. He had been nearly 13 before he disappeared, he now looked close to 6 or 7.

“Anubis? Where have you been!” Thoth rushed around the desk and pulled Anubis into a hug. However, he felt Anubis stiffen in his arms, and he pulled away quickly. Thoth was slightly surprised, the Anubis he knew was always a physically affectionate child. He placed a hand on Anubis’ shoulder, reassuring himself that he was really there. 

“We need your help and your discretion.” 

“We? Is your father here? All of Egypt has been in an uproar, Osiris has been going mad with worry!” Relief was rolling off him. It would be so good to be able to calm Osiris and the other gods. Even Maat seemed to have grown concerned over the absence of one of Ennead and his son. 

“You can’t tell him we’re here! No one can know we were here. Please .” 

Thoth stepped back, dropped his hand, and stared at him, eyes narrowed. Why wouldn’t either of them want to be found? They were missing . Besides the concerning change in his age, the more he looked at Anubis, the more he started to notice small details that fed the worry. The demigod had always been pale, like his father, but it seemed worse right now, it made the dark bags under his eyes seem worse. He looked tired. Anubis took a step out of the room again, looking back at whoever was down the hall, and he grew restless. He turned back to Thoth with a glare that he had never seen on the child but looked very much like Osiris and Seth, however, it was quite adorable on such a young, innocent face.

“You need to come with me, and you can’t let anyone know where we are.”

“Anubis, it’s not that simple. You and your father are missing-” Thoth started, and Anubis cut him off.

“If you tell anyone I was here, I’ll tell Geb about what happened at the Oasis.”

Thoth froze. Fear crept up his spine. There was no mistaking the incident that Anubis just threatened him with. A cold sweat started on his brow. There was no way he would survive Geb if he were to find out. 

“Wh- what are you talking about?” Thoth asked, trying to sound innocent. 

“I know what happened, and I’ll inform my grandfather of what occurred.”

There was a rustling sound, and a tanned man, obviously human, wearing Seth’s mask, entered the room, followed by a sha that was pushing him in. The sha stopped pushing the human and went to circle around Anubis before it slowly started to push the boy out of the room, corralling the demigod and human towards the exit. Both started to leave, a tension growing between them as they obeyed the Sha. Anubis gave Thoth one last glance, and for some reason, Thoth felt it in his ib.

“I wasn’t here,” Anubis said before he started hurrying away. Thoth knew if he let Anubis leave, he wouldn’t see the child ever again, and Seth would never be found. He rushed to his desk and scribbled out a note on a papyrus ‘Gone to do research, will return when complete’ and rushed out the door. The two were already almost out of the temple, hoods drawn and cloaks pulled tight .

“Wait, wait!” Thoth rushed after them, running to catch up. “I’ll come with you.”

It wasn’t unnoticed how both Anubis and the human sighed in relief. Whatever it was, Thoth knew it was important.

“Come on.” Anubis grabbed Thoth’s hand and dragged him along, sneaking out of the temple and into the desert.

The path cleared, led by the sha, who seemed eager to get them into the desert. It was almost amusing how the creature of sand kept doubling back to circle around Anubis, refusing to leave the boy’s side unless he got a pet. Thoth was a nervous wreck, he couldn’t remember the last time he had gone out on his own without armed guard, but it seemed his curiosity was winning out. Something serious was going on, and it seemed to center around Seth. If he really wanted to figure out what was going on with the storms and Seth’s displays of power, he would have to investigate it himself. 

“Hey, why do you wear that mask?” Thoth asked, looking at the human in question, who only slightly tilted his head towards him.

“Because this is what Lord Seth asked of us.” He said quietly before turning his attention back to the opening path.

“Do you know why he wants you to wear them?

“You will need to ask Lord Seth yourself.” The human said, this time not even looking at him. 

“How do you tell each other apart? From what I can tell, you all dress exactly alike.”

“You will need to ask Lord Seth yourself,” he responded again. 

“Do the masks you wear serve a purpose besides cosmetic?”

“You will need to ask Lord Seth yourself.” Thoth huffed a sigh. He was beginning to wonder if those two sentences were the only ones the human could say. Seeing that the human was a lost cause, he turned to the now young demigod.

“Where have you and your father been?” he asked the child, who shrugged.

“The desert, of course. It’s the only place that’s safe. We don’t stay in one place for very long, though. It's easier for father to keep us safe that way. No one sees us, no one knows us, and before they get suspicious, we’re already gone.”

“Is that why he’s been keeping this storm up?”

“Hmmm… sorta? I’m not really sure. He hasn’t been telling me much.”

“Oh? Why isn’t he telling you?”

“He says I’m too young. It’s not my fault this has been happening, it's just-” Anubis gestured widely at himself as if his size was what his father was talking about and then sighed heavily.

“Why did the two of you leave? You weren’t taken.”

“Because it wasn’t safe,” Anubis said quietly and went silent. They continued walking for several minutes before he spoke again. “Thoth, you’re the god of knowledge and wisdom.”

“Yes?” Thoth chuckled, looking at the young boy with mild amusement, curious of the question that was bound to come. 

“How are babies made?” he asked innocently.

Thoth froze in his steps as the human started coughing and sputtering. His eyes turned to the human who, despite the mask hiding his face, seemed to be exasperated and shocked. 

“Um… well…” Thoth quickly tried to think of an answer that was appropriate for a child between the ages of 6 to 12, as he wasn’t sure where Anubis’ mental capacities were at the moment. “Well… Women are blessed with the power of creation, but they need the seeds that only man can produce. So, when a man and woman join together, over time, they love each other so much that they decide to have a child to show their love to the world, and to do that, they share a very special embrace. In that special embrace, the man gives his seeds to the woman to create a child. Through their love and the special embrace, the woman creates a child in her stomach.” The silence that followed made Thoth think he had given a good answer. They continued walking slowly, the man shaking his head the whole time. 

“What if-” Anubis started, his fingers playing with his rope collar. “What if they don’t love each other? What if one of them doesn’t want the special embrace? Can a baby still be made?”

Before an answer could be given, the storm opened up completely to a military encampment. However, it wasn’t anything like he had expected. He had seen some military camps in passing. The tents stood in the desert sands like a small city, hundreds of men either walking about or standing in formation. This, however, was very different. Only a small handful of tents stood in the sands, and certainly no more than 15 men, all wearing Seth’s masks, were about, seeming to be relaxing, though there was a small handful standing at a tent near the center. More curiously, there were women and children, too, something that he knew typically wasn’t allowed. It seemed like a rather subdued camp, but it could have been due to the lack of numbers.

“I’ll go warn him, you warn him .” the human said before jogging off towards the center tent. Anubis seemed to take a deep breath before turning to Thoth. 

“Okay, don’t get too close to father unless he says it’s alright. I know you have a lot of questions for him, but things aren’t good, so if he doesn’t answer, please don’t press.” Anubis seemed concerned, glancing at the tent. Thoth frowned. What was the point, then?

“Anubis, why am I here?”

“Because you’re the only one I can trust… and blackmail.”

Thoth was stunned. But then he just sighed. At least Anubis was honest, but that honesty was concerning. 

“Come on.” Anubis started walking towards the center tent. Thoth followed at a slight distance, looking around the complex. Normally tents were placed close together for protection, and so soldiers could move between them with ease. However, these were spread apart, mostly as it neared the center. 

“Father-”

“Anubis! Where have you been? Do you know how worried I’ve been?” Thoth heard Seth’s voice, and his head snapped in that direction. He couldn’t see the god, but he could see Anubis’ back and his father’s hands on his shoulders. 

“I’m sorry, but I’ve brought Lord Thoth.”

“You brought him here !” Seth’s voice raised several octaves, and both Anubis and Thoth flinched. “I didn’t tell you that story to get you to bring him here. It was for emergencies. What would I do if you didn’t come back? Hm? I can’t keep you safe like this, Anubis. I’ve been so worried.”

Thoth bowed his head, trying to give the father and son some sort of privacy. He noticed he wasn’t the only one. Most of the soldiers around him were doing the same, looking away or shifting uncomfortably. The tent was large but sparsely furnished, from what he could tell. The front and back of the tent were open to allow a breeze, while partitions on either side blocked off the rest of the area. It seemed to Thoth that this was most likely also a living space, Seth’s if he were to guess. 

“I know. It’s been uncomfortable.” Anubis spoke in a softer voice. And the only answer was a heavy sigh and an apology. There were a few seconds of silence that followed. 

“Go to Nanu and Moha, Anubis. The rest of you, leave, close the tent on your way out.” Seth said loudly, and by the time Thoth looked over, the god of the desert was already standing with his back to him. Slowly everyone started to leave, some uniting the straps that held the flaps open as they went, though Anubis was the last to leave. Thoth swallowed thickly. Though he wasn’t as frightened of Seth as he was of Ra and Osiris, the god did still intimidate him. 

“I need you to swear on your ib that nothing said or seen here will be repeated anywhere or communicated in any way,” Seth said after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence. 

“Is that really-”

“Yes. It’s necessary. If you can’t do so, one of my Sha will take you back to your temple, and that will be the end of that.”

Thoth bit his lip. It was a heavy ask, but if it was that serious, then he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep unless he knew what it was. 

“I, Thoth, God of knowledge and wisdom, do so swear upon my ib to keep what is seen and discussed here with Seth, God of the desert and war, secret until I am released from my vow,” Thoth swore, and he felt his ib resonate with the oath. Then Seth turned around his khat and mask fading with sand as he did so until he stood facing Thoth. Bright red hair hung loosely over his shoulders. His usual adornments were present, even his plain black shendyt was as it usually was. What was unusual was his stomach which was large and round, seeming to be stretched to an uncomfortable size. Thoth swallowed thickly. He’d seen stomachs like this before personally in only two other gods: Ra and Nephthys, when they were carrying a child within them. Seth seemed to be staring at him with his blood-red eyes with caution. He took a deep breath. He was beginning to understand why Anubis was in need of his help.

Then an ache rose in his chest. He felt slightly sick. There was no other reason a child would ask such a question.

“What if they don’t love each other? What if one of them doesn’t want the special embrace? Can a baby still be made?”   

Chapter Text

Chapter 3: What Resides in the Desert

Ari

Sandstorms were something that Ari was intimately familiar with. That being said, it was normally when he was out on deployment in the desert, defending the borders of Egypt, not sitting at home. He knew the signs to look out for, the changes in the sand were often orders by their lord, so when the sands shifted in the early morning, he stood watch and waited. Hours later his beloved wife Nanu stood with him at the window of their small house on the edge of the desert. He stood still, his arms wrapped around her as he watched concerned, his only movement were his eyes as he scanned the desert expanse and his hand as he rubbed his wife’s pregnant stomach. Then the sand swelled greater than the flooding of the Nile, more expansive and explosive than ever before. 

“Ari?” Nanu whispered, her hand clutching his arm. She was frightened. He understood, but he wasn’t frightened, he was concerned. Lord Seth was powerful, and his control was frightening, however, he never used the sandstorms for anything that could be handled by his army. Aberrations, monsters, foreign deities trying to get ahold of the people of Egypt, and armies far too large for just the soldiers to handle, those were what sandstorms handled. This storm was too close. 

He watched the storm and waited. 

Hours passed. 

Days passed.

Weeks passed.

There were no signs. The Sha that was kept at his side laid out in the sand quietly, as it too watched. The storm was too violent for no signs to be there. After the 2nd month of the storm, he finally had enough. He pulled on his travel cloak and grabbed his spear and bow, and his pack. 

“Ari, where are you going?” Nanu asked as he reached the front door. 

“Something’s wrong. I’m going to go to my lord.” He said as he pulled on his sandals.

“What if you're right and he does something to you? If he wanted you he’d send for you.” Her hands landed on her hips, glaring. He paused and looked at her cooly. 

“Nanu. I love you, but my life belongs to my lord. Everything that I have and everything I have been able to give to you is because of my lord. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for him. If something is wrong, I need to be there for him.” He said firmly before kissing his wife on the cheek. “I have faith in my lord. I will return.”

She could say nothing as he stepped out of the home and into the raging storm. Surprisingly as the sha looked at him, the storm in the immediate area ceased into a range of a few yards where the air stilled, and he could see the clear blue sky above. The sha stared at him with blazing red eyes with an expression of mild interest as he approached and bowed. 

“Take me to him.” He demanded. The sha stared at him for a minute before standing slowly and walking away. The sandstorm parted for it, and Ari followed. It was a long journey. Well over a week he walked following the sha through the desert into the wilderness of Shur, until he came upon a small clearing in the storm where a small desert cave was. The sha pointed its nose at the entrance to the cave. He approached the cave slowly, cautiously, looking for any sign of life. The cave was comfortably cool, the air not stagnant as caves usually were. Near the entrance was a familiar looking chariot and a much larger sha that he had often seen by his lord’s side. 

“My Lord Seth?” He called out when he heard movement in the cave. The sand underneath his feet shifted. He frowned and took a few slow steps deeper into the cave until he saw a large shape huddled against the hard wall. A low growl came from the shape and Ari stopped moving. 

“My lord?” He asked as he squinted into the darkness. 

“General?” a young voice whispered into the empty cavern. It took a moment for Ari to realize why the dark shape was so large, but hearing the voice, he began to understand what he was looking at. His lord was huddled against wall, his body curled protectively infront of the young lord Anubis. With his eyes adjusted he could now see his maskless lord’s glowing red eyes and a look that he had only ever seen in the eyes of a cornered animal ready to fight. He raised his hands in a placating manner and slowly lowered himself to the ground. 

“Yes,” He said gently, looking at the wide dark eyes of the demigod that was peering out from behind his lord. “It’s Ari. I was watching the sand and grew worried, so I came to find you.”

He could hear the child sigh in relief and even saw a slight hesitation in his lord. 

“We’re hiding.” the young lord told him, and a cold fear gripped his chest. What would be terrifying enough for his lord, the god of war, to hide away in fear with a response like this? 

“Okay.” He said slowly. His thoughts swimming momentarily before resolve came. “Okay. What do you need me to do? What supplies do we need?”

“I’m hungry.” the young lord said. Ari took a shuttering breath and nodded slowly. 

“I have some food in my pack. I’m going to reach into it to get it, alright. I’ll move slowly.” Ari said gently. He waited a moment to see if his lord would tell him not to move, but when there was no refusal, he slowly lowered his pack to the ground in front of him. Flipping the pack open, he slowly reached in and with measured calmness, he raised a small bag showing it to his lord, who still watched with gleaming red eyes. 

“This is some dried meat, nuts, and fruit. I’m going to reach out and hand it to the young lord.” He said, reaching out slowly to the pair. Anubis reached around his lord to grab the bag and opened it. His lord’s nose wrinkled and gaged slightly in unveiled disgust, leaning back from his son as a piece of dried meat was taken from the bag. 

“General,” his lord spoke in a hoarse voice, rough from disuse, “is that even edible?”

“I- Yes, my lord, I had some just an hour ago?”

They sat quietly, the young lord eating ravenously. When night came, he moved to the front of the cave and laid by the entrance near the two sha who had remained. For the next week, he shared the rations he had with the young lord, often in silence while Lord Seth watched him warily. His lord was still often curled around his son, eyes sharp at the slightest movement. It hadn’t passed his notice that his lord was forsaking sleep. He had served close to the god of war, often enough to know the slight signs of the god tiring. 

“My lord, if I may?” Ari started, when the god did not protest, he took a deep breath. “I don’t presume to understand what is happening exactly. But I do know that we are hiding from something worthy of being frightened of. Your sandstorm has blocked everything but that which the sha willingly guide. It’s not feasible to continue to stay here in this cave long term. If we are on the run, we need the resources, and we should keep moving. Like some of our harder campaigns, those who keep moving are harder to find.”

“Get to the point,” the god croaked.

“Call your most trusted soldiers, a small company of people you trust to protect and aid you and your son, those who would never even give a thought to betraying your trust. Then we keep moving. Staying in the desert except for those who would do supply runs. Every week or so, we move camps, no one will know where we stay.”

“I-” His lord stopped a shudder running through his body. “I do not want that many men near me.”

Ari froze. There was an implication there that his mind did not like. Never before had his lord denied the presence of his men. Though he’d often be annoyed by them, he didn’t go out of his way to avoid them.

“What about women and children?” Ari asked. His lord’s head tilted to the side, and brow furrowed. “What is more inconspicuous than a group of warriors hiding in the desert? Let the men bring their families, their wives and children. The group would look little more than a caravan traveling.” 

“Fine”

“My wife is at my home on this side of the Nile from Memphis. If it’s acceptable, we can go there first, have your nearest trusted meet us there. Then we move to upper Egypt, and gather those who live along the way. From there-”

“Keep our movements unpredictable.” His lord nodded and slowly stood. “We’ll leave when my son wakes.” 

Travel was quicker with the sand carriage that was brought into existence, his lord’s chariot pulled by his beasts next to them. His body told him it was late at night, even the young demi-god was curled up fast asleep in the back. Ari moved to the front to sit near his lord, but made sure not to touch him. It hadn’t escaped his notice how his lord immediately stiffened at his presence. 

“Your son’s resting. You’ve raised a good child, you must be very proud of him.” Ari said quietly. 

“... Thank you.” Seth whispered.

“My lord, I’m your general for a reason, but I’m also your friend.” Ari sighed, looking up at the star lit sky. “I won’t ask you what happened. You’ll tell me in time, when you are ready to, and no sooner. I’m here for you, I will continue to support you even until apep consumes the sun. But, I need to know who the enemy is. Who, or what, are we fighting against?”

“Osiris, the god supreme.”

Ari’s mouth went dry, and his stomach dropped. Fuck. He braced his spirit firmly, as if pulling up his battle gear and bracing for the first wave. 

“Then I will face him with you. Where you go, I will follow, until the very end.”

Thoth

“What if they don’t love each other? What if one of them doesn’t want the special embrace? Can a baby still be made?”

Seth was staring at him with calculating eyes, but Anubis’ words wouldn’t leave him. Though he hated to think of the path this situation implied, he couldn’t help but put the pieces together. It had been 7 months since the sandstorm started and Osiris claimed that Seth was missing. The generals and high-ranking military members have all taken on Seth’s Sha mask, which would make it difficult to discern which one was actually the god from a distance, and some even up close. Anubis seemed much younger, but healthy, despite having been missing, and had left this camp to find him, which meant the boy wasn’t a prisoner. It came down to a few options but one firm conclusion. Seth hadn’t gone missing, he ran away, and the swell of his stomach was the reason why. But the power of creation was only for women, and he knew with no amount of doubt that Seth was not a woman. 

“Uh… how… This should not be possible.” Thoth finally said after opening and closing his mouth several times. Seth seemed to sigh heavily at that and turned to sit back down in his chair. The god of war looked tired.

“Yeah. I’d keep it that way but I wasn’t given the choice, now…” He gestured to his inflated stomach with a look that Thoth couldn’t quite decipher. The stomach seemed to be quite uncomfortable if the way Seth sat and rubbed it was any indication. He blanched slightly. Was he called to be a midwife?

“Are you expecting to deliver-”

“Not yet, got a while left. Besides, others have already taken up that charge. Don’t worry Thoth, you’re safe. Who said I wanted you there anyways.” He rolled his eyes before gesturing to the second chair that was near him. Hesitantly Thoth sat down in it as Seth watched him carefully. Thoth remained quiet as Seth stared at him, waiting for the young god to say something.

“Seth, what’s going on?”

“You’ve seen Anubis?” Seth asked. Thoth froze. He wasn’t sure what he was expecting but his young, healthy son wasn’t it. 

“Yes?”

“What did you think of his appearance?”

Thoth frowned. The child seemed extremely tired and paler than usual, but he knew that wasn’t what Seth was edging towards. 

“He’s much younger than I remember him being.”

“It’s been happening since I conceived. He also feels discomfort, but also like he’s being held at all times. If I press against the child in me, he says he can feel it too.”

“That's- Seth, what happened ? I need to know what happened.”

Seth didn’t answer. His eyes had glazed over, and he seemed to be staring off into nothing as a shiver raked over his body. His breath hitched, and tremors raked his body. 

“Seth?” Thoth asked, but the young god did not react. Just as he was about to stand, the tent flap slung open, and the human that traveled with him rushed in and dropped to his knees next to Seth. 

“My lord, do not fret. There is no one to fear here.” the human whispered, grabbing Seth’s hand. The human kept whispering to Seth, who eventually jolted into awareness. He glared at the man who bowed his head. “The young lord sent me when he felt your distress. May I get anything for you?” 

“Grapes.”

“Of course my lord, I will return.” the human bowed to both gods and exited silently. 

“Seth, what was that?” Thoth asked, watching the trembling god with concern.

“Memories,” Seth whispered. “I do not wish to tell you the… details.” the young god paused and rubbed his stomach just as the flap opened again, and the human came in with a large plate filled with grapes still on the vine. 

“Thank you, Ari. How is Anubis?”

“The young lord is trying to be strong, being around Moha forces him to be responsible. He will be a great brother, though I think Nanu is trying to mother him. I will leave you to continue discussing with Lord Thoth.” the human Seth called Ari, bowed, and left again. 

Seth sat quietly, popping a grape into his mouth, chewing quietly, and swallowing. There were a few seconds that it continued before Seth quietly spoke.

“Seckhmet hinted that Anubis is not my child. I confronted Nephthys, and she confirmed. Anubis was born from her and Osiris.”

Thoth sighed heavily and sank into the chair. That was… difficult. 

“Naturally, I was, upset, and I… I was furious, and confronted Osiris about his betrayal. He, calmed me, and we drank together… He gave me wine to drink. It was drugged, specifically to me. It was to keep me from turning to sand and sapped my strength. I thought he was trying to kill me. He told me that as part of the deal with Nephthys that he would give her the child she wanted if she gave him the power of creation. He forced the power into me. He said he wanted to give me the child I wanted, but I was resistant. Until he brought up Anubis. He had canopic jars, Anubis’ canopic jars. I-” Seth went quiet, and wrapped his arms around him as much as he could. “I couldn’t let him kill my son. His ha was gotten rid of, the only reason he wasn’t dead was becasue his ka was still there. He could do away with his ka if I didn’t.  I- I sumbitted. I let him- It finally ended when Sekhmet knocked him out. I was going to try to kill him, but Anubis, he wasn’t safe. He wouldn’t be safe so long as we were there. I took him and I ran.”

Thoth felt cold, in a way he never knew. His hand was over his mouth as he watched the younger god shiver in his memories. Osiris was the god supreme, and everything was by his will. As far as everyone believed, he was kind and benevolent, however, just this image of him that Seth relayed changed everything. This Osiris made a deal to get a power than no male was to have, forced it onto an unwilling victum and then used the soul of a child as blackmail. This was not the acts of a benevolent god. It made Thoth question what Osiris would be willing to do to have Seth. 

“I didn’t know about… this, until a few months later. Ari’s wife Nanu was the one to question it. I did what women do with the barley and wheat. I was very shocked when it came back with the results, but since then-.”

They fell quiet. Seth was foggy eyed as he rubbed his inflated stomach. Thoth, didn’t want to admit it but for the first time in centuries, Seth looked like a young lost child. It had been so very long since the four children of Nut were young, but he remembered it, and at times he was sure he was the only one who remembered it. Seth was a loud, rebellious child, always running free and wild, but there was so much uncertainty there. He remembered what he used to be called. ‘A useless god’ . Thats what the boy had been called. When he ascended Seth did everything he could, always trying to prove himself, to the older gods, to his elder siblings, to himself. The boy was always acting so sure of himself because he was the only one who would always be there for himself. Now Thoth wasn’t looking at that self-assured god of war, but the young boy who was called useless, uncertain of his standing, of what to do next. 

Then there was Anubis. It was concerning for Anubis to grow rapidly younger as the child within Seth grew older. It was unprecedented. He was fearful of what it meant for the boy. He knew no curse, no spell that would cause it. 

“Seth, I think we should go to see Isis, perhaps she-”

“It’s pointless.” Seth interrupted sharply, looking away from him. The response was enough to cause Thoth to momentarily falter. His brows knitted together. 

“Surely Isis would do anything she could to help, both you and Anubis.”

“I have already tried to see my sister.” Seth said bitterly. But Thoth knew this child. Yes, his tone was bitter, but  the young god bit his lip the way he used to whenever he used to be told to stay behind in the oasis while his older siblings went out, and his ruby eyes were moist. “I am not welcomed in her temples. She has turned me away. After all, why would she help the person trying to break her marriage?”

“Seth… It doesn’t sound like you had a choice. If you explained it to her she’d understand.”

“She was there. She watched it happen, and then she left. I don’t want to speak of it.” Seth shoved another grape in his mouth, and chewed slowly. Thoth frowned, what in the world had happened? Sekhmet loved chaos for entertainment, but even this seemed too far for her. If she helped him in the end, perhaps even she knew it was too much. The four siblings had been so close, he couldn’t figure out what had triggered such an explosive change. How had he not seen the signs? 

“Anubis,” Seth started, looking to the closed tent flap. “I would like you to check his soul. I think Osiris did something, that that’s why Anubis can feel what happens to the babe.”

“How did he use the canopic jars? Anubis is clearly still alive.”

“He collected the parts of Anubis, intending to get rid of anubis’ useless ha . He was talking nonsense. Something about he ran tests to create a new soul, but he couldn’t because of the risks, so Anubis’ soul would be used” 

Thoth’s eyes widened and he stood abruptly. 

“I need to examine him, now.” 

Anubis nodded and started tapping on his stomach. A second later the tent flap opened and Anubis gripping onto a small child’s size sword, ready to defend Seth. 

“Anubis, come here.” Seth beckoned. And the child lowered the sword and moved over to Seth, leaning into his open arms. “Thoth wants to examine you, okay?” 

Anubis only nodded and followed Seth when he indicated for Thoth to follow him into the sleep area of the tent. There was a single bed, just large enough for Seth and Anubis to share. Anubis laid down on the bed, looking at Seth for reassurance. Seth held his hand tightly and nodded for Thoth to proceed. 

Thoth ran several scans, checking over each aspect of the soul more than once just to be certain. To his relief, Anubis was indeed, a healthy boy, but the soul components were concerning. If his scans were correct, which he was certain they were, the ka did it’s job. It sustained Anubis’ ha even without the sheut, ba, ib, and ren, and in that time it doubled everything , save for the ren. There were traces showing signs of it having been copied that this was the original. He moved from his inspection of Anubis and voicelessly pressed his hand to Seth’s stomach. He could feel the same traces. Reaching back to Anubis, he pitched the boy’s leg and felt the babe beneath his hand kick just as Anubis did. 

He closed his eyes and reached for his foresight, pulling at the future. He needed to see what the future would bring for Anubis, for the child in Seth. He pulled at the strings of fate, pulling his sight into the near future. Then he saw it. 

The red sand of the desert was quiet and still. He was standing in the sade of a tree, watching a group of youngsters run around playing. His eyes immediately were drawn to a group of three children who were playing with long sticks that had been fashioned into spears. They were young still, most likely around 10, maybe a bit younger. Two of the children were wearing Seth’s khat and mask, though said mask was pushed up to show their faces. He knew the one child, Anbuis, who was facing his direction while the other two had their back to him. He was showing off complex moves with the happiness he’d seen when the child had been that age, learning his father’s skills of battle. Then one of children turned to look at Seth and his heart stuttered. It was Anubis’ face. And absolute match, save for the coloring. Instead of Anubis’ warm gray eyes smiling at him, they were red, and a small tuff of white hair could be seen from under the khat. The child waved in Thoth’s direction, but his gaze seemed to be over his shoulder. Just as he turned to look everything went dark.

His eyes snapped open and he was staring at the tent ceiling and Seth’s wide red eyes. 

“Thoth, are you with us?”

Thoth blinked. And slowly sat up from the bed. Anubis was kneeling on the floor next to the bed staring at him. He rubbed his head and looked between Anubis and Seth’s stomach. 

“This has never happened before,” he muttered.

“What?”

“I don’t-”

“What’s wrong with my son?”

“He’s fine, they’re both fine. I saw them both alive and well in the future.”

Seth sighed heavily and slumped, the weight of worry lifting from him. Anubis shifted, wrapping his arms around his father’s legs, laying his head in his lap. . 

“See Thoth said to stop worrying,” Anubis said smiling.

“Where did he say that?” Seth shouted hitting the top of Anubis’ head. “Listen to the adults. So whats going on?”

“I saw both Anubis and a child completely identical to him, with only a change in eye and hair color. It seems that Anubis’ soul was separated long enough to be duplicated. The only thing that was untouched was the ren. So the child in you is both Anubis but not Anubis.”

“Well, well, well, you certainly make everything more interesting don’t you Seth?” A terrifingly familiar female voice spoke from the tent’s entrance. Thoth’s eyes snapped up to the intruder with fear in his eyes. There, sillouetted by the light outside stood Ra, a wide grin stretched across her lips as her gleaming gold eyes took in the sight before her. Thoth never wanted to run away more than in that moment.