Lion Head Mesa starlight parade

all welcome! dont mind multiple ppl joining in either, id love to interact moree~

Racharra has adjusted finally to life in Akashingo. now she roamed the halls more confidently than before. maybe it's because she's a bit older. soon enough, she'll be able to join the adults and do.. whatever adults do — hunting, negotiating, traveling.. thats what she presumed.

after her studies, the dark nebet was in search for something to pass the time with. preferrably a mouse, or her siblings, or someone new. in that exact order.

As it may have come as a surprise to none, Thutmose wandered, hopeful to come across a new face. And to his delight, he did just that.

A young one, this time. Perhaps the answer to his previous curious about whether children lingered within the walls of the mesa. 

Approaching, the man tipped his muzzle in a nod, wary to keep his distance in case a protective mother lurked nearby. Not a newborn, yet still a child. Caution was always the best security.

You and I are alike on this day. Wanderers. Though, I am curious to know what provokes your interests? 

Did she have the aim for interaction, or was it boredom that lingered?

a large stranger approached her, and Racharra craned her head. would she one day stand at his height? she hoped so.

but the stranger asked her a question, and it was one she didn't know how to answer in her typical mannerisms. her tail wagged but Racharra did not smile.
hello. a curt greeting — not exactly the most elegant response, but she hoped it would suffice for the time being..

what he did say was true however. they both were wanderers: the nebet just didn't know exactly what for at the moment, other than for something new. she got her wish.

There was a hint of something in her manner to suggest she was pleased to see the face of another. But her lack of response brought him to assume an option he had not priorly considered. 

Unsure, I take it? He spoke soft this time. A child. He had to remind himself this. 

The distance remained between them, but Thutmose let himself sink the ground, altering the difference in height they shared. It was not drastic, but maybe enough to give her more ease. He was not here to intimidate nor frighten.

I am Thutmose, A hopeful offer, that maybe she would indulge him further of who she was.

Racharra took a moment nod at the stranger's question before narrowing her eyes as he lowered himself. she wasn't that small..(she was) she pouted momentarily before deciding the only remedy to this insult is to stand upright, including her tail.

Thutmose.. she mouthed the name once it was given to her, breaking her gaze. once she felt she had it memorized well enough to be able to pronounce it, her marigold eyes returned to meet his.

Racharra. nice to meet you. what are you looking for? a longer sentence, but it didn't break her monotone.

Racharra. The sound of the name pleased him, drawing a faint smile upon his lips.

Acquaintances, simply. Knowledge of those I intend to surround myself with. A true commander never goes without. The truth of his upbringing in one short sentence. "Never not know those around you for more than a day's time." One thing his father never let him forget.

and there it was — intrigue. this Thutmose character had more than he let on, she realizes while remaining unaware of her own shortsided-ness.

commander? she echoed, she knew what that was. she was a good Lady who paid attention to her studies, mostly. but for Racharra to encounter one by chance got her to perk up.
do you fight? the first question that came to mind for her. also the simplest to ask for her. she didn't want to twist her tongue in all of the excitement.

A spark flies from her aura. Where now there is excitement and intrigue. 

Yes, He answers. I come from a place of soldiers. My father's place as commander will soon pass to me. He goes on to explain, keen in observing the changes of her expression. 

I have been fighting since I was a young lad, not much older than you now.

your father.. her voice trailed off. her own came to mind, and some of the confidence withered. but she shook her worries away.

fighting what? other wolves? siblings? Racharra's curiosity was soaring. do you like it?

It puzzled him, for a moment, when she began to speak of his father. But she was quick let it go, and so he would do the same.

Whatever is needed. Think of it like a military force... to be used whenever trouble arises. She must know what this is like, living in a place where war seemed to occur often. Or so he'd assumed. 

As for whether he liked it? There was nothing about killing another that he enjoyed, but that did not mean he never had, nor would he stop himself from doing it again if absolutely necessary. 

Fighting is indeed exhilarating... but that, young one, I cannot answer. He was distraught almost, that one mere question had so easily silenced him.

at the silence, Racharra frowned. did she say something wrong? she only knew of fighting of the playfight amongst siblings. she was fortunate enough to have never witnessed directly the brutality of a real fight. 
her mother made quick work to rescue her cubs before any fight between the packs could break out. and the life of a young nebet — still blossoming into an adult.
military force.. words she only knew from her studies. in the same cold, distant way one would have from observing the ants in the earth.

All of this... he knew not whether she understand any of it. 

Maybe she did, and it bothered her. 

Tilting his head, then offering a playful grin, he chuffs softly to redirect her attention. Let's speak no more of it. He suggests, not wanting to let this child's mind linger on the ill of life. 

What hobbies do you enjoy, Racharra? Perhaps we might partake in one together. I find myself with an empty day. The company of such a bright young lass would be welcomed.

Racharra agreed to it. it was best to just move on. it seems whatever she said disturbed the older wolf enough to change the conversation. perhaps she could ask Eset or Toula as to why later. Or Miho, she seemed better at conversations than Racharra. if the prideful cub had to admit a weakness in anything, it would probably be that.

hunting. exploring. digging. those were the only three hobbies that came to mind. she knew not of arts or worship but would rather move her stubby body, as if to make sure she grows to be as big and strong as the mother she looks up to.

3 hobbies. He was being forced to choose!

Eenie, meenie...

Before long, he finally made up his mind, settling on one of the options she'd given.

Do you enjoy digging for anything in particular? Certain trinkets, maybe?

gemstones. i like gemstones. she hummed. though of course that'd meant being lucky enough to find such a precious mineral again.. so Racharra lowered her expectations. 

bones good too. and not too hard to find. they're also much easier to chew on than gems — she's tried it.

Ah, gemstones. This returned the memory of the few wondrous discoveries he made within the sandy dunes of his home valley.

Which do you favor? If any. Perhaps she had not seen many. Or, maybe Akashingo harbored many of these beautiful splendors!

bones.. she couldn't go asking for gemstones, that'd be unladylike of her.. probably. 
besides, it was a lot more of a realistic request. things die all the time, so there was bound to have been some remains picked clean by carrion that the pair could gather. 

but she'd probably still keep her gaze keen for any gemstones.

Bones it is, then. She decides, so he agrees.

Tail swishing gently, he rises, ready to follow. Lead the way.

is this to close out the thread or would you like to keep going? i feel we can keep it going but this would also make a good closing!

Racharra's eyes lit up at the notion of being the leading wolf, and she took the role without hesitation. keep up. she ordered as nebet, though only because of the excitement that she struggled to contain in her tiny body.

she kept her nose to the ground, lapping at the occasional gusts in case she could pick up a scent. being shorter also meant a much better view of the ground, so she kept her eyes peeled as she took her role more seriously than one would expect of a pup looking for a playmate.

We can keep it going! :)

With a light chuckle, Thutmose followed. The child seemed delighted by this all, and he wasn't about to destroy that.

They traveled, they watched. While he let her do more of the tracking, he still searched the air himself, curious to see where the items they sought might turn up.

Racharra led the way, though not without issues. sometimes she'd change directions as she realized she'd veered off the scent trail, or what she'd been following was absolutely not what she wanted. sometimes she'd bump into a wall she didn't realize was there but kept moving along like it never happened. 

but she was having fun, feeling like she was leading a pack of strong wolves on a noble hunt. only this hunt would just amount to finding the bones of a long-gone mouse.
this way. she would chuff so confidently despite not having much of a clue herself. but she hoped Thutmoose took it as seriously as she came across.

They moved in what seemed to be the path of the trickiest maze. This way. Then that way. Then back again. And yet still, Thutmose said nothing, finding it better to let the child find her own way.

Then when her voice rung again, he snapped back to attention. Did she have a scent, truly, or was this just a way to make it seem as though she knew what she was doing?

He wouldn't scorn her efforts, but sooner than later, they had to come across something. Whether she found it, or it found them.

fortunately for Thutmose, she had actually managed to find a scent. it was faint, as expected, but still there. and that was all Racharra needed to trail after. with that, she turned her deliberating steps into a gallop — not too fast that the wolf behind her couldn't keep up (not like it was hard to catch a pup anyways) but not too slow either. perfect for the sudden rush of adrenaline that shot throughout her body.

the nebet took some time to note the halls, recognizing each one from exploring on her lonesome on the occasion. she wondered what room the trail would lead her towards, and if it was one she would remember. it was like a little test of knowledge for herself, to prove she really was learning.

do you smell it? she asked Thutmose. she wondered if adults had keener senses than cubs, or maybe she hoped her senses would be better than those of a grown wolf.

I do. He had, even before she mentioned anything. But he left the discoveries to her, not wanting to spoil it.

Closer to her side, Thutmose loomed. Upon the child he gazed fondly, seemingly adoring her present mannerism. So full of wonder, along with the enjoyment of taking charge. It reminded him of his own self when at this age.

at the confirmation (she didnt want to admit she was looking for the agreement of a more experienced third party), she perked up even further and quickened her pace.

it didn't take long for her to finally reach where the scent was at its strongest, and she didn't hesitate before digging.