All the lands of Egypt were celebrating on this joyous day. The Beautiful Festival of the Valley. This day, brought only once a year, celebrated the loved ones of mortals who had passed on into the afterlife.

Families of all stations of life held feasts in their homes and laid offerings on the resting places of their loved ones who have passed on. Music flooded through the sandy streets lined with humble homes that bustled with activity. People of all ages danced with friends and strangers in celebration.

The gods looked upon the mortals with either indifference or amusement on this day. In the crowd, a young lady could be found dancing with her friends. The goddess Sekhmet. Maintaining the size of a mortal over the years has connected her to the humans like no other god. She lived among the lesser beings, though she did not see them as such, and they grew to view her as their own.

Sekhmet had set up a healing center in the village of the common folk. Humans of higher standing had to come down to her for healing, an effect she found humor in. Sekhmet provided standard care that any human could provide for minor injuries but used her magic for greater illnesses. Her powers for destruction and death remained confined and hidden. The mortals slowly forgot about this part of the goddess' haku like the winds sweeping over the dunes of the desert. But the goddess could never forget.

The joy of the humans grew as Sekhmet radiated with joy as bright as the sun. As a daughter of Ra, she shared the radiance of the sun he commanded. Her golden hair seemingly floated as her body twisted with the flutes and drums. The movements of the goddess Sekhmet were as stealthy and graceful as the lioness she shared form with.

This day was especially significant to Sekhmet as she could visit with her sister, Hathor, who continued to remain in the underworld. Sekhmet had pleaded with her sister to let her find a way for the two to be reunited once more but Hathor denied the help and cut the connection that was allowing them to correspond. After this failure, Sekhmet returned to her mortal friends and joined in their celebrations.

Anyone who looked upon the oblivious goddess would become quickly enamored by the joy that shone through her eyes and twinkling laughter. No being was safe from the unintended trap the goddess laid through her beauty and joy. Not even a god.

Warm brown eyes were pinned on the dancing goddess from the shadows. Eyes that could be seen as kind if not for the cocky expressions that sheltered them. The god moved to approach the goddess but came to an abrupt stop as mortal maidens ran past to join the festivities. Cursing under his breath, the god of the sky begrudgingly transformed into the height of a human but maintained all other qualities of a god.

If he wanted to approach the human-sized goddess he supposed he would have to do the same. He would see if lowering himself to this weak form would be worth holding the goddess in his arms. Confidently, for there was no other possibility for the god, he strutted toward the dancing circle.

The music and dancing wavered, gasps joining the light breeze, as people realized the man walking among them was, in fact, no man at all. He was Horus, god of the sky, future king of Egypt. Many of the common folk had only been in the presence of the gods in times of significant events for few gods enjoyed the presence of mortals.

The people quickly resumed their activities after a stern look from the god who quickly pursued the goddess. There was no need for him to push through the thick crowd as the people obediently made a path.

Sekhmet continued dancing but looked around in confusion as she spun. Her eyes darted around the crowd to find the cause of their strange reaction. A gasp escaped her own mouth as a hand rested upon her waist and grasped her right hand with unmistakable strength.

No human man had ever been confident, or possibly stupid, enough to dance with her. The exception was young children who had yet to understand that she was a goddess. Not only was the action of this stranger astonishing but so was the burning sensation that simmered under his touch. It did not hurt but felt rather... welcomed. Like the glow of a fire and getting too close would cause searing pain.

Sekhmet was spun around by the unyielding hand on her waist to come flush against a sturdy body. Raising her head to meet the eyes of this fearless stranger, Sekhmet released a sound of surprise but quickly recovered and continued dancing with the god.

"You are Horus, Son of The Great King Osiris. Are you not?" The goddess spoke with mock disinterest and walked around the god as he held her hand.

Horus found humor in the goddess' attempt to appear without care. "And you are the goddess, Sekhmet, daughter of The Almighty Father God, Ra. Are you not?"

Sekhmet's glowing eyes snapped to the gods as he pulled her against his chest, her dancing remained unphased. "I must say, I am quite surprised to see you in such a lowly form, Your Highness." The goddess lifted her arms into the air and swished her hips as all the women did as well.

Horus quickly licked his lips and grabbed both of her slender hands, moving to have her trapped by her own arms against his chest. Sekhmet only had to turn her head slightly for her nose to brush against his chin. "Why are you here, Horus?" she whispered in agitation. "You are not known to humble yourself among the gods or mortals."

"That is true." She frowned at the egotistical god. With a short laugh, he continued, "I saw you from the palace. Had to see if you had become the mortals' pet as they say. You truly let yourself go surrounded by this filth." His eyes darted to the people around him with distaste.

Sekhmet used her goddess strength to break away from his grasp. "How dare you say that," she growled.

The god smirked, enjoying her entertaining anger. "I didn't know you were one to care about appearances, Lovely Goddess."

Her glowing eyes narrowed into slits. "That's not what I was referring to. Your wretched words are the true filth around here. Good day."

Hair slapped his face as she sharply turned away from him and disappeared through the crowd. The god chuckled, a smile remained etched on his face for the rest of the evening.

He would return for this amusement.