Ancients of the Pyramids

A loud wailing sounded through the stone coridors of the pyramid, signaling that one of the divine cats was unhappy. As the priest designated to be their caretaker, Siamun  rushed toward the large chamber where the cats resided.
Sunlight filtered in through the pillared corridor that sheltered the chamber from the harsh desert sun but also allowed the cats unlimited freedom. Divine cats were to be cared for and spoiled. Keeping one against it's will or treating it badly resulted in calamity so bad it had only been hinted at and not recorded in the temple's vast libraries.
Siamun looked around to find out what the problem was. Matia, the priestess in charge of the divine cats was already present as she rarely left the daybeds in the cats' chamber.
"What happened?" Siamun asked, keeping his voice steady as to not annoy the cats any further.
"We've got a visitor." Matia sighed.
With her headdress slightly askew and her dress in disarray, the priestess looked not as fine as she preferred to. Though close in age, Matia felt like Siamun disapproved of her. Probably because she wasn't quite as devout as he was. In truth, Siamun resented the fact that Matia had been in the temple for much longer than he had been as she'd been cared for by the temple after she'd been found orphaned. Neither would ever willingly share their thoughts to each other so the misunderstanding was want to persist for the foreseeable future.
Siamun turned his attention to where Matia pointed. Pillows had been flung from the bed, potted plants had been toppled over and two angry cats, Yuny and Aat, were hissing and growling to another one that was hidden behind a small box.
Yuny, a white male with a beige-brown neck and head, preferred Matia and was a real prince. He did not like anyone coming close to him and wanted his food and drink presented in a certain way or he would make a mess. If ignored he was known to get out of hand.
Aat, a beige female feline, was a bit less picky but she hardly ever showed herself to people she didn't know. She preferred to lounge on higher furniture to survey what happened below. Siamun felt proud to have forged a bond with this divine winged cat.
Matia tried to get Yuny to calm down but was having little effect in what he was doing. She finally just left them be and went to look behind the box. A stray white cat with brown wings and an iridescent neck stared back with huge, fear-filled eyes.
"Well hello there." Matia said, "I guess you just wanted to get some piece of the cake too, right?"
At this point in time Tantamani entered the cat chamber on an errand to fix a curtain rod that the divine cats had demolished a few days prior. The newcomer perked up and flung himself toward the low-born builder who had the god sense to not duck when approached by a divine messenger.
Tantamani carefully supported the winged cat, trying to keep from hurting the skinny animal. A loud purring suddenly reverberated through it's chest.
"It seems this divine cat wants you to care for it." Siamun nodded.
"C... Can I?" Tantamani asked.
He'd only ever been a carpenter. Barely more than a slave although free to go where he wanted.
"The cats decide on the matter." Matia agreed, "I'm sorry to say you'll probably need to come live in the temple. Do you have a family? People you need to provide for?"
Tantamani looked hardly more than a boy but Matia had heard of people as young as 14 being parents so it was within reason to ask him about his family life.
"No... Just me. I live with my parents." Tantamani said.
"You'll also need to give this revered one a name." Siamun said.
Tantamani looked down at the small cat that he quickly confirmed was a male.
"Raneb."
At being named, Raneb rubbed his head against tantamani's chin and both Siamun and Matia looked on in envy as the stray acted way more friendly than their own cats ever did.
"Welcome to the temple." Siamun said as he regained his normal efficient air, "You would be?"
"Tantamani." the carpenter replied.
"I'm Matia and that's Siamun." Matia introduced them in return.

"Yuny wait!" Matia called but it was too late.
Although Raneb and Tantamani had been living in the temple for over a month now, both Yuny and Aat still acted as if the new divine cat was a nuissance they needed to get rid of. Maybe because Raneb was affectionate and well-behaved. Quite unlike the two older divine cats. Still Matia did not think she treated the other two any different than before. She just hoped quiet times would return because these past days she'd had to be far more active than she preferred to be.
Alerted by the noise, both Siamun and Tantamani came rushing in. Aat hissed from her usual perch near the ceiling and she flew down to perch on Siamun's shoulder. Siamun quickly scritched Aat's chin and complimented her looks and behaviour.
Yuny crawled toward Matia, sticking close to the ground, his tail drooping and twitching. Something had spooked him bad. When Matia finally was able to pick him up, he was uncharacteristically needy. Stroking Yuny and talking in a hushed voice finally calmed him down.
Tantamani looked for Raneb but did not see him. When he called out the cat didn't come which wasn't normal. Tantamani called out louder, feeling anxious.
Finally some mewling from outside reached their ears and the trio rushed toward the sound. When they came closer, Tantamani was relieved to hear that the sounds weren't stressed or hurt. In fact, Raneb sounded happy.
"What's got you so excited?" Tantamani asked as he rounded the corner and froze.
The two other priests collided with him, nearly losing their balance but somehow remaining upright. The sight before them was awe-inducing and none of them broke the magic by speaking. Finally it was another human who cleared his throat and said:
"Hello there. Shouraith said I needed to stop here." A woman with brown curls said, "It seems she was attracted by some unusual creatures here."
The black dragon rumbled her approval as Raneb got closer and hopped on the dragon's head. Aat straightened and jumped up as well, followed by Yuny who still looked a little skittish.
Siamun coughed to regain his wits, but it was Matia who spoke first:
"Where are you taking our cats?"
"Nowhere." Toshi, the Ryslen searchrider replied, "that is unless you want to come to Ryslen too."
"Where is this Ryslen?" Siamun asked, trying to regain the upper hand.
"On another planet, maybe even on another plane. It's hard to say. But there are dragons there who need people to bond to them. It is a rewarding experience unlike any other. But you are of course free to choose to go."
Toshi let the three priests discuss. They were a bit reluctant to leave their homes. But the divine cats seemed to indicate that their future lay with the dragons. Or maybe it just meant that they wanted dragons to roost on. Who could be certain? Either way, the priests had to ensure their happiness.
"We'll need to get a few things in order." Matia said, thinking of what she would need to bring.
"Alert the right people." Siamun added.
"Say goodbye." Tantamani added.
"Of course." Toshi nodded, "Take your time.

STORY .-^-. MATIA .-^-. SIAMUN .-^-. TANTAMANI

Lantessama Isle
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