[PRP] Life in the Sands (Jendayi'maat + Desher-bik)

[TheWishling]

Winters in the desert were always strange, with the temperatures dropping so drastically at night. Even now, Jen found herself preferring the mornings, the warmth of the sun on her golden coat. It was a warmth more than welcome as she travelled as well, taking in the freedoms of the moment. Being mated was not the most simple thing in the world, as she'd originally thought it might be, but the male she had settled with was good to her. The deaf lioness' paws carried her to the river, head lowering to carefully drink from the cool, twisting waters.

magnadearel

 

[magnadearel]

-_Wish of Tevarae_-

Desher was enjoying a quite early morning to himself. Since his pride had disbanded and most of his family scattered to the winds of the desert, life had been relatively quite. The male couldn't find it in himself to abandon the desert either. It was, and always would be, his home. He stretched his muscles in the early light of the morning and gave his rusty colored mane a good shake.

He spotted another early riser in a female with a golden pelt down by the river. After finishing his stretch, Desher went down to drink nearby the female. "Good morning," he said cheerfully to her before bending down and lapping the fresh water.  

[TheWishling]

magnadearel

The female's head raised, pale eyes looking at him only because she'd noticed the movement of paws coming near her. It was fortunate for Desher that she had noticed his paws BEFORE he spoke, the attention allowing her to see that his maw was moving. He was just greeting her, something simple, but the Queen recognized something distinct! That jewelry...It was akin to hers! That of her old pride, before ther mate had taken her in! "Hello!" The slur of her words was heavy and noticeable. After all...she was deaf. Now. As a cub she hadn't been, but time had robbed her of hearing.  

[magnadearel]

-_Wish of Tevarae_-

He knew to drink his fill now. Water could be hard to find in the desert. Desher finished and stood, just as she returned his greeting. Something was off with her words, it sounded heavy and slow. He gave a reassuring smile. She reminded him of his mate who was blind. Some of their first litter had also gotten the disease that had taken her sight. He hoped his children were doing well for themselves now.

"How are you?" He tried to keep it simple, not sure why she spoke the way she did. It took a moment for the similarity of their jewelry to register. This was someone from his old pride. A true child of the desert. He let his eyes flicker toward her jewelry, then back, and his grin widen slightly.  

[TheWishling]

magnadearel

"The desert treats me well." Came her quiet response. It took a moment before Jen found it comfortable enough to sit, the tip of her tail brushing into the water, "And you?" She couldn't help her excitement. Another who'd chosen to remain in the desert, like she had. Like her mate did...A thought crossed her mind that she might have known him once upon a time, when she was a scribe for the Tuait, rather than a Queen of a small Pride as she was now.  

[magnadearel]

-_Wish of Tevarae_-

"I'm glad to hear. The desert can be harsh." As she settled, so did he. He didn't think he recognized her. A guardian spent much time in the desert, and not a lot in the temples or other places once they grew past cubhood. Desher was pleased that she'd decided to sit and talk. It was a slight adjustment to this smaller pride, with ways slightly different than what he was use to.

"Adjusting, surviving. Learning the desert anew with each day." He wanted to laugh at himself. Such silly words. "It's been lonely the past few days." There wasn't all the activity he was use to, or cubs running underfoot.  

[TheWishling]

magnadearel

The femme couldn't help but laugh, her eyes lighting up, "Yes. It is changing." As oft it did. The gods seemed to find it fun to play with their landscape, from floods of the river to trials in the jungles. It was never simply EASY being here, and that was alright by her. The mate she had taken was ensuring ease of being, and their little ragtag band that he called a pride was flourishing. It put her heart at ease. One paw moved forwards to run along the river's bank, a sigh escaping herself, "I think....there will be cubs soon. Less lonely." It was a hopeful thought, since cubs would mean a continuation of her life.  

[magnadearel]

-_Wish of Tevarae_-

I flaked sorry!

He wondered a moment at her comment. A female would surely know before a male. He rumbled, "I would like to see cubs again." Cubs were the essence of a pride. Without a pride would cease to grow and it would die. He shook his head from that dire thought. They needed something cheerful to talk about. "I think we should organize a hunt." Fresh meat would surely bolster pride moral, or maybe it was having full bellies that did that. Desher looked around as if expected a large prey item to jump out before them.

"Do you think we could find something in the desert or should we aim for some grass lands?" Closer to home or further away? He'd be willing to go along on a further trip to help the lionesses carry any catch back.  

[TheWishling]

magnadearel

"I do think that perhaps we could find more in the forests that we hold sacred. Near the temple where we have buried our dead." Her tail flicked slightly, curling about behind her elegantly, as a question moved through her mind. Would they indeed be able to eat enough? Sekhemket had said they could. She did belive the male....he meant quite a bit to her. The femme's ears moved from their usual spot against her head, raising as she stood, "Come, let us see what we might be able to find."  

[magnadearel]

-_Wish of Tevarae_-

Fin?

The forests sounded like a great idea, but he wasn't so sure about near the temple. Desher scuffed his paw in the dirt, "I'm no priest, but I'd feel better about not disturbing the resting." Let the dead keep their prey. Still when she said to be off he nodded his head. He would follow her lead. As the queen, she would know better than to do something that bother's the dead. With luck, they would find plenty of easy prey long before they reached the temple.