[JRP] The Prettiest of Them All? [ Khet & Roho'Nzuri ]

[Kimaria]

He smiled a little, glad that she hadn't ruled out the prospect of seeking them out altogether. "Perhaps, when that time comes, you need not go alone? The lands out there are filled with many types of lions and non-lions and some of them are not nice creatures. You are a part of the pride now and as such you will have our protection. Perhaps a guardian could accompany you on your journey to ensure you remain safe until you are ready to return to your homeland?"

He seemed somewhat embarrassed by her compliments, modestly waving them away with a flick of his paw. He was just doing what was right. Just as any lion should do.

He paused then to allow her to enjoy the sight that he had brought her to. He loved this place perhaps more than any other and he could not deny that he came here often on his trips around the pride.

"Quite by accident, I assure you. I was attempting to help a friend when I was younger and we went in search of some rocks for him to leap from. These ones were the tallest ones by far that we could find in the area so here we came. Both of us were rather surprised at what we found, that is for certain. I'm not sure he ever came back - he was a grumpy sort of thing - but I couldn't help but peek in whenever I came by; just to check that my eyes weren't deceiving me. Every time I come here I think to myself that maybe I'll find nothing but sand and empty stone. But each time it has been here." He smiled and sat, waving a paw to encourage her to go closer.

"It's alright. I think they're tougher than they look. My friend stomped all over them when we first came across them; just to check they were real." He smiled a little at that memory. He'd certainly lectured Khaldun about that.  

[Depawsit]

Roho was overcome with excitement as she listened to the story of how Khet had come across it. It was strange to see such a beautiful thing in such an unexpected place. But at the same time, wasn't that the best place to find it? She thought it was, the unexpected had never let her down before. Smiling she looked down at Khet's paw as he gestured her forward, but she intently shook her head no at him. And instead sat on her paws admiring it from afar. "No, i'd rather admire it from afar, and leave it's beauty untouched." She smiled softly and continued. "Because it may be here tomorrow, but if we touch it what's to say we won't have an unwanted effect? Perhaps your friend just had a very strong green paw!" She giggled slightly, trying to make light of the situation but also maintain her serious tone.

"I have to say Khet, you have quite an eye for beauty when you want to!" She commented, referring back to his initial interruption. "And I wasn't sure what to expect when I followed you out here. But you surprised me, and gave me quite a bit to think about along the way."

She patted her paws against the sand nervously as she sat there before leaning into Khet and giving him a quick nuzzle against his cheek. "Thank you for both of those things." She smiled shyly, and ended her speech with one final comment before staring back out at the tree in silence. "I hope that one day - when i'm ready - perhaps you could be the guard to escort me on that quest."

 

[Kimaria]

He chuckled, thinking of Khaldun as being good with plants. Actually, perhaps he would be better with plants. He certainly didn't like hanging out with lions very much. But that was a concern he'd deal with later. He had a feeling Khaldun wouldn't be around much longer anyway. He'd always been so desperate to leave and prove himself.

"I'm glad you didn't find it too awful." He replied, remembering how nervous she had been at first. Perhaps this would give her the confidence to do a bit more travelling about the territory and see what else she could find. "No doubt there must be other secrets the desert has hidden away somewhere. Perhaps, next time, you can show me something you have found?" His eyes flicked up to look at her, smiling a little at how this had turned out, particularly when they hadn't started on a particularly good note.

Then she nuzzled him.

For a moment he froze, his eyes wide and his jaw slightly agape. And then, embarrassedly, he cleared his throat and shook his head as if to snap himself out of his awkwardness. Then, with a small nod, he settled down to sit beside her. He wouldn't leave her side - of course - until she was back in the heart of the lands where she felt safe. It wouldn't be right to leave her alone before then.

"You are very welcome." He replied after a moment, following her line of sight out to the tree once more. "And I would be honoured to accompany you when you are ready."

/fin