[PRP] Journey to Peace

[mouselet]

Tzarach was perched on his friend's back while she knelt at the river, drinking. They had to be close now! It had been a hard journey through the mountains, but it would be worth it once they found the pride of lions blessed by the Goddess of Birds. Then they could be around people who didn't look at him as if he was, and he could quote, "an unnecessary and unattractive growth that should be eliminated."

Then the bird looked up to see another lioness, this one with a bird flying around her head.

"Oh, look there! They must be from the pride! Isn't this wonderful?"

Teet ignored the tickling of Tzarach's claws on her back with the ease of long practice as she drank slowly. No reason to founder herself now when they had to be so very close. The bird was much more excitable than she, so it was just as well that she take her time and try to teach him some patience.

So only after she had drunk her fill did the green lioness look up to see a pair of strangers coming for them, another lioness and another bird.

"So it seems," she replied slowly. "But we may not be there yet. Do not get too excited, my friend."  

[mouselet]

Teet breathed a sigh of relief as Tzarach didn't take his cue from the other bird that was flying around, excitement apparent in its every movement. She knew her old friend could be as (she hated to say it) featherbrained as any avian out there, but over time she'd managed to instill some form of manners into him.

"Don't worry about it," the green lioness told the black and white one. "My name is Teet, and this bundle of feathers," she jerked her head backwards at her familiar, "is Tzarach. We've been looking for the pride that favors birds as partners."

Tzarach was twitching on Teet's back. He knew that she preferred to take her time about things, but could she talk any more slowly? Not to mention the other lioness was walking so incredibly slowly, but he knew that if he just flew over there to get a better look as she was coming, Teet would ask him just what he thought he was accomplshing, and he'd have to admit that it was nothing at all, and she'd give him one of those sighs...

Better to stay here and fidget. But when they finally got close enough for the lionesses to talk comfortably, Tzarach pushed off from his partner's back to get a look from above, and to get a better look at the other bird.  

[mouselet]

The green lioness' eyes widened in surprise to hear that bit of news. "They certainly can be treacherous, from what I've seen," she agreed. "But for us to get so far without seeing anyone is disturbing news. Are you short of scouts?" the newcomer inquired gently. She didn't want to seem pushy or anything, but what if she'd been some kind of murderous invader? How could mothers with cubs feel safe if it was so easy to enter this pride's lands?

"I'll talk when I have something to say," Tzarach returned with dignity. Shikra was...perhaps not the most polite bird he'd ever met. Hopefully though, this was merely a first impression of her. But only time would tell. The green bird sighed inwardly. Gods, now he sounded like Teet, even in his own mind!  

[mouselet]

The darker lioness nodded in understanding. "My thanks to the gods that you survived," she told the other quite seriously. She was not one to care for the shedding of any blood, even when the other deserved every death she could deal a thousand times over. And the fact that a potential mother should have had such a brush was a crime. Teet took life and death very seriously, and expected no less of those around her.

Speaking of which, it was always remarkable how Tzarach was as much of a chatterbox as Shikra...when no one else was around. The moment they came amongst others her little green bird would clam up. So shy, and yet she could hardly twit him for it. It was simply a part of who he was.

"Perhaps, then, you could take us to whomever rules the Aka'mleli?" she suggested. "We have come seeking admission."

Tzarach, now that he wasn't being pestered, completed his examination of Lomasi and her familiar. He noticed that her muscles seemed to be vibrating an awful lot for someone just standing still. Maybe she was nervous? He wasn't very good at reading a lion's body language even after so long with Teet. Well, that was a lie. He could read his partner, always.

Still, he puzzled it over as he settled down to perch on the green lioness' head.  

[mouselet]

"Oh!" the exclamation slipped out before Teet could stop it. Stupid stupid stupid! Lomasi had told them about how she'd nearly died in these mountains and how she hadn't been in the pride that long. And yet the green lioness had taken so long to put it together.

"No hurry at all," she assured the other. For the first time in the coversation, the newcomer took a few steps closer to the other lioness. "Is there anything I can do to help? Lend you a shoulder maybe?"

Tzarach took off again as Teet started moving. She didn't like him stabbing her head on accident, and if she was going to help the other lioness, she certainly wouldn't want him perched on her at all. Not that there weren't other places around where he could rest his wings.

"Who exactly is Umoja?" the bird asked instead. Yes his partner had specified the ruler, but he wanted a little more information than that!  

[mouselet]

Teet nodded. "I understand. But if you need a break, please let me know! We two have been journeying so long, what will it matter if it takes us one span or five to get to Umoja?" She hoped Lomasi wasn't overestimating herself, but it was hardly her place to reprove the other lioness. Simply being understanding and supportive was the most she could hope to offer at this time. They were, after all, stll the next best thing to strangers.

"I should hope we aren't too...chatty," she replied with a quick of her lips.

Tzarach snorted at the comment about the chatty bird. Teet had told him more times than he could count that "silence was the better part of discretion." Now he could certainly see how true that was! Just to prove he could, he kept his beak shut instead of replying to that comment or twitting Shikra herself.  

[mouselet]

"What is necessary is never shameful," Teet agreed. She'd seen many things in her time that were considered shameful - most of them for fairly absurd reasons. But life and happiness were more important than shame and that was a belief the green lioness held strongly.

"I'd love to hear all you can tell me," she told the other lioness. She was also relieved that they would be able to spare Lomasi the long walk she'd clearly not looked forward to. Thank the gods.

Tzarach eyed Shikra as she came back and landed. Why did she have to say so many unnecessary things? He conveniently forgot how excited he'd been on first sight of the other bird and her lioness and how unnecessary some of his own words had been.

If anyone had told him that he and his lioness were so much alike, at least in public, he'd have told them they must be lying. Still, he was certainly excited to meet this Umoja and his bird, and to make a nest for the two of them at last.