Svimmel had seen Atheris return from the Challenge. He himself had not taken part in the activities - he found them brutish and boring, and there was much to be done otherwise. Sorting pelts, stripping leather, cleaning bones. Important things that required him to work near the lake in the wet, gritty sand of the shoreline.
"Hail, Atheris. Who came out the victor?"
"Shut up, Svimmel. You are a fool, and I am a fool, and we are all fools and I don't want to discuss it."
Svimmel narrowed his eyes at his friend before glancing back down at the leather he was working, smoothing with sand. It abraided the pads of his paws, but there was something soothing in brushing the gritty sand against the leather, smoothing it.
"I am not a fool, Atheris. But you look about to break down into tears."
"Njal won."
"I see."
"This is not good, you realize?"
"I realize you never took part in Breytast Vindar, which also means your chance to challenge your captor is now gone, which means you are still stuck as thrall, which means you will continue to be cranky and ridiculous and impossible to deal with - nothing too far from the norm, but you would be far more appealing to be around if you tried to smile now and again."
Atheris snorted and moved past his friend, grumping under his breath about idiots.
"It also means that my future cubs will be thralls, and your future cubs, too, Svimmel. And if nothing changes, then we are doomed to be thralls forever."
"Are you telling me that you believe there will not be another Breytast Vindar in the future?"
"….no."
"Then you're just being inconsolable and ridiculous. Bide your time. Don't fail to initiate a challenge next time. You truly are ridiculous, Atheris. Life is really not so bad. If you have one thing going for you it is the fact that you are a male. I would hate to … well. You see how they treat Lollys."
"I see how they treat Lollys."
"It is not with kindness, and all because --"
"Because she is a hybrid, Svimmel."
"Because she is a female hybrid. You do not see Taraxa's hybrid thrall being taken against his will at every turn."
Atheris grunted loudly.
"You know I am right."
"I know you are right, Svimmel, but it does not make this easier for me to deal with."
"You got yourself in this position, Atheris."
"I know, Svimmel, I am just --"
"You are just whining because you like the sound of it." Svimmel's tone was matter-of-fact. His tone and demeanor made it clear that he was not going to let Atheris get away with all of this self-pity.
"Badoura is .. she was saying how much she wished to be a mother, Svimmel. To me. I cannot.. I do not want to father thralls."
"Badoura would make a fantastic mother, Atheris."
"She would, I know, it is just that --"
"She looks after all of the thralls as if they are her children already, and if she desires to whelp her own litter - with you - then you should let go of all of the fantastical ideals that you will someday become a Reaver, that you will someday win back this love lost."
Atheris wilted just slightly.
"You were drunk off of berries a few weeks ago. I say, Atheris, you do love to talk when inebriated."
"Oh, shut up, Svimmel."
The striped lion shrugged and went back to the pelt he was sanding. From the edges he pulled two tattered straps - these were set aside so that they could be fashioned into straps for Badoura's mistress, or for anyone else that might need them.
"Asper is going to be upset upon his return. They are exiling the ex-Warlord and his family." Atheris sounded exhausted.
"Asper is a capable lion, Atheris. Your father, too - and your nephews, as well." Svimmel picked the pelt up in his mouth and dropped it in the water, dousing it before tossing it over his back. "Come. Grab those scraps there." It will keep your pitiful mouth busy for just a while longer.
Atheris took the scraps in his mouth with a wet, huffy sigh before he followed after Svimmel.
"You know, this place, it is not such a terrible place for a male thrall. You should thank your lucky stars that you are not of the softer gender. It is impossible to tell when the next Breytast Vindar will be held, and next time you will simply have to be prepared to fight for your proper position in the pride. Give Badoura the family she deserves. To be frank, I envy you. She is a sweet, capable, strong female. She will always fight for what she believes in."
Atheris grunted softly.
"You are lucky she found you. You are lucky she is not a fixer - she accepts you for who you are. A giant manbaby of a lion who wants to cry about the lot that he was given. And the worst part is that you brought this onto yourself, Atheris. Nobody else is to blame. You were not captured. You made a series of bad choices that brought you here."
Svimmel shrugged, slowing as they reached the communal working area for the thralls. The pelt was set down, smoothed out on a large flat rock that was always in full view of the sun - as such, the heat of the sun would cure the clean, smooth underside of the furry pelt.
Atheris set the scraps down. He was silent. Svimmel was pleasantly surprised.
"Bide your time. Wait. Start a family. Find good homes for your daughters. Raise strong sons. Win your freedom. Take Badoura as your wife, free your children." Svimmel gave his friend a sad smile. "You have so many opportunities that many of us do not have. You have a warm spot in your life in Badoura. Cherish that."
Atheris sighed softly and glanced over his shoulder at the dark-pelted lioness.
"You are right, as usual," he grunted softly with a shake of his dark head.
"Of course I am. Now, help me smooth this out."
Atheris did as his friend asked. Later that night he would talk to Badoura. He would bide his time. It was the only thing he could do.
For now.
WC 1069
