[FIN] Bony Bones (Masuko & Aneetz)

[mouselet]

Bones were Aneetz's life. His collection was, if he did say so himself, one of the best in the pack. He had a vast number of different ones, and could fully reconstruct the skeletons of a large number of prey creatures. He didn't have that many bones from larger creatures. Few hyenas (well, that would just be disrespectful) and not nearly enough cheetahs, leopards and lions.

Sadly, these were some massive holes in his collection. He kind of wondered how he could fix that. Not that he wanted to kill anyone, of course not. Lions may have killed his parents, but the pack had been at war at the time. These things happened.  

[mouselet]

The grey male looked up in surprise. He didn't see Masuko very often. She didn't have the temperament for bone collection (well, okay, she'd probably be thrilled to eviscerate a lion) and seemed to consider those who dedicated their lives to the ivory pieces a bit strange in the head.

"You'd think my collection's complete," Aneetz answered, gesturing to the neatly stacked and organized bones that took up almost all the space he called his own. "But while I can accurately lay out the skeletons for snakes, hares, a wide variety of birds, a warthog, and several meerkats, I don't have a single complete cheetah, leopard, or lion." He'd love to have a giraffe or an elephant, but those would be far too big for him to keep for himself. He did have a nearly complete antelope though...  

[mouselet]

Some of the subtext went over Aneetz's head...or beneath his notice.

"A lion? Really? A whole skeleton, just for me? Or would I be sharing with the rest of the pack?" The lighter hyena's attention was now riveted on his Alpha, as if she held the key to the world in her paw. He didn't want to seem too greedy or anything, but gods, a full lion skeleton would do wonders! It would be the talk of the pack, and his prized possession!

Okay, well, maybe he had heard the word "soon" and could guess a few things that meant. There were some new slaves around lately, and, frankly, a lot of packmembers weren't so concerned about the wellbeing of property. Sad, but a fact of life.  

[mouselet]

The male nodded eagerly. That was completely understandable. Gods, even having most of a lion's skeleton would make him happy - more than half and he'd be able to reconstruct another quarter from bones he already had! Then he'd still be quite close to a complete skeleton!

"It would lead my collection, the way you lead the pack, Alpha!" Aneetz assured the female. He could see it now, how such a beautiful body of bones would bring joy to him, to the pack, and so much more! He wouldn't trade such a thing to anyone, not even Masuko herself. Nor would he give it away, the way he often did with smaller, less important bones for the good of the pack.

It would be his ultimate prize. The one thing he'd keep even if he had to get rid of everything else.  

[mouselet]

"A complete lion skeleton wouldn't be for boasting," Aneetz agreed. "Boasting is to say you've found the absolute best specimen of a particular bone ever. Complete skeletons are rarely so perfect, even if they aren't missing any pieces."

Besides, the grey male never liked to boast. He would show to interested parties, but not show off. And he was always careful to find equally exquisite pieces in their collections to compliment.  

[mouselet]

"Of course, Alpha," Aneetz responded with a smile and a bow of the head to Masuko. He couldn't help grinning at her promise. A skeleton! Of a lion! For him! The only happier day he could see would be the one when he actually received such a beauteous thing.

It was also good to see her in a good mood and out and about. The whole pack took its cues from the Alpha, after all.