Sun Mote Copse Comfortable, not drinking too much

For @Eshamun!

It was to the sound of songbirds that Ar-Khalba awoke; a subtle tittering raining down from the trees. Vibrant and alive. It was a peaceful thing to wake up to, it's calming effect spread over him like a rich, downy blanket. The blessings of Molech were already upon them, he was sure. As he stirred, he stretched his forelimbs, arched his back, and slowly allowed his eyes to open. His vision was a blur, but after blinking the sleep from his eyes, he fixed his gaze on the light dancing through the new growth of the trees; clear as day.

This copse. It was good. Everything was good.

He breathed in deep, filling his lungs with the warm summer air. The sweet perfume of estrous still clung to his body and served as a pleasant reminder of the sacrifice he would beget to Molech. The sacrifice in which this land would be sanctified. Molech would surely be pleased, and Khalba's devotion, surely rewarded

thanks for starting!

her days were spent alternately entangled with ar-khalba or seeking out prey. soon arunik'ra would come into the blessing and, if molech saw fit, she would conceive. as it was, eshamun herself would not know for some time if she had done so -- she found it necessary to distract herself in the interim. 

for now, however, she was pleased to see the rust-ash coloration of her lover; she gave a sharp yip as she watched the man stretch and trotted to greet him with a small smile. "ar-khalba." whether or not she would admit it, eshamun was quickly becoming fond of him.

Still groggy from having woken from a much needed sleep, a noise tugged at Ar-Khalba's attention. He turned his head, allowing his half open eyes fall upon his Queen -- his lover from the night before. It was an automatic response in which he lowered himself before her; a level of respect that had been conditioned into him following his conversion. Though locked in a deferential stance, his tail thumped against the ground and his face was wrought with a gleeful smile.

"Ekar-aji," he spoke softly. "Is there anything you need of me?" It was worth asking, as it was his place to serve. Her season had yet to end -- perhaps she desired him to partake of her flesh again.

she grinned at the sight of him, her eyes alight with the glory of the dreams that molech had spun in her mind. "you know what it is i want, khlaba," the woman murmured, moving to circle him with slow strides of her slim scarlet legs, but she came to stand before him with a shake of her muzzle. "but for not, not that. only a walk."

setting off, eshamun moved toward the thickly marked borders of her dominion. the queen knew her lover would follow -- that was his lot, his role. his only responsibility was to serve her and the sunspear. the knowledge of this swung her plume joyously at her hips.

She wanted more, but now was not the time. A lecherous grin spread across Ar-Khalba's finely featured face. He could wait -- it was his duty to do so. To attend to his Ekar-Aji when she desired it. Nodding as she circled him, Khalba accepted her offer to walk. For a final time, he stretched his long, lanky limbs, all while keeping his eyes on his Queen's willowy form as she circled around him.

He rose to his feet as his Queen began to trail away. Without a word, Ar-Khalba took to her side -- he would be her shadow, if she allowed it.

eshamun smirked at the grin that unfurled across khalba's handsome features; he fell into step alongside her and they travelled in silence for a time before the woman's mouth watered at the scent of a nearby kill and she drew her consort toward it silently.

the great form of a bear moved slowly between the tree-boles -- eshamun froze, her ears cupping forward as her hackles rose. "khalba," she whispered, "come away." whatever meat the bear held was not worth their lives, not when fish could be caught from the stream that ran through the midst of the copse they had claimed.

He was content to walk along at her side in silence. It gave him time to enjoy the blessings of Molech around him. He could focus and devote his thought to his God and his duty to service as opposed to needless conversation. This warm and pleasant morning took hold and Khalba knew he walked in Molech's divine favor.

Perhaps he had not been as attentive to his surroundings as his Queen had, because when she stopped, he still took a few steps forward without noticing the bear. It was her whisper that drew his attention. He turned back to look upon her with confused, furrowed brow. He did not know her reason as to why she ordered him to come away with her, but he was conditioned to follow no matter what.

And so he did, but he could not help but turn his head to look behind him. There, he saw the bear and his unasked questions were answered. Without thought, he put himself between his Queen and the bear and began to mutter prayers of protection as she began to lead him away.

ar-khalba was swift, moving between eshamun and the bear. the queen held her breath, fear gripping her slim body, taking root within her soul. the two tophet-dwellers sought to evade the bear with mincing steps, but the brutal, shaggy head rose, swinging in their direction to glare at the wolves with a hard yellow gaze. 

the crash of its paws followed then! eshamun bared her teeth helplessly, then snapped at ar-khalba's shoulder roughly, to rouse him from his prayers. "run! run now!" she ordered in a desperate cry, terror lending a flight of strength to her limbs.

A sharp pain wracked the man's shoulder and his prayers came to a complete and sudden hault. At-Khalba was not one for profane gestures, but upon hearing the terror lingering in the tone of his queens voice, he could not help but curse under his breath. The bear followed and there was nothing more he could do. No ward could protect them now. Molech's protection was granted to those who took it, so without further prompting Khalba set off in a run. 

He was swift; built for speed and not strength, he was born for this. However, he dared not flee and leave his queen -- his lover -- behind. Turning his head back to keep an eye on the bear behind them, Khalba kept his pace behind his Ekar-Aji, fully willing to give his life for her if need be.

the bear followed; eshamun ran, praying to molech that khalba would not be harmed. behind them the bear roared, a bone-chilling sound that reverberated within the canaanite's very body. her lungs began to strain for air, but on eshamun pushed, to the very limits of her strength until the bear had fallen far behind and she was able to stop.

her limbs trembled, but she dared not fall to the earth; the ekar-aji sought her lover for balance, steadying herself against his shoulder. they were safe -- she allowed herself a shaking breath of relief as adrenaline drained from her body.

Fear gripped him -- tightening around Ar-Khalba's chest like a rapidly closing vice. The roar of the bear, a deathly wail, shook the man deep to his core. The sound threatened to freeze him with fright, but stopping with the bear hot on their heels would only ensure certain death. To die here was not of Molech's plan. Not after the blessings the Eight-Armed God had bestowed upon them.

This was a test of faith.

He pushed on until his limber, well-kept body begged to break from exhaustion. As he ran, he turned his head to look behind him and saw no sign that the bear had continued to follow. Believing himself and his queen to be safe for the time being, he slowed to a stop and began to catch his tired breath. Though the bear was no longer in sight, Khalba knew it remained close -- and so, he remained on edge.

The fur on his back bristled nervously, but as he felt the touch of his Ekar-Aji against his shoulder, his hair smoothed flat. His body however, remained primed to act. If the bear returned, he would protect her at all costs.

fade here? we need another!

khalba -- his strength flowed into her and soon eshamun pulled away to compose herself and glance about for the bear. she was blessed to have the man here, she knew -- without him, she might well have died. he would have sacrificed himself for her, eshamun understood, and affection welled unexpectedly in her heart for him.

"let us go home," she suggested softly, but this time the ruddy she-wolf did not pull ahead. she remained at ar-khalba's side -- they would find the copse together, and with it arunik'ra and the promise of safety.

I'll go ahead and close this one out!

She need not tell him twice to return to the safety of the copse. He nodded, uttering no word of protest as he set his paws into motion beside her. Surprisingly, the queen did not lead ahead to allow Ar-Khalba to gaurd her from behind -- no, she strode along side him as an equal. As a lover. As a friend.

And so he walked -- and by the time his fear subsided, his lips pulled back revealing a humble smile.