Rosewater Oasis marchitó

looking for her to meet others c:

the evening sun dipped low, painting the horizon in hues of molten gold and amber, its waning light glinting off the small, crystalline pool nestled within the oasis. the air was thick with the scent of desert roses, their delicate petals swaying in rhythm with the faint whisper of a breeze. six towering palms cast long, spindly shadows over the scene, their leaves rustling softly like the murmurs of unseen spectators.  

ximena lay sprawled languidly near the water’s edge, her lithe form draped over the smooth sandstone that ringed the pool. her posture was one of calculated ease, the curve of her body accentuated by the evening light. a single paw dipped lazily into the cool water, tracing idle patterns that rippled outward in gentle waves. eyes half-lidded, she gazed at her reflection, a faint, enigmatic smile curving her lips.  

the stillness was almost dreamlike, broken only by the occasional chirp of a night insect or the distant call of a nocturnal bird. the oasis, a place of whispered legends and desperate hopes, seemed a fitting backdrop for her. here, she was queen of her solitude, unbothered by the chaos of the outside world.  

yet, even as she reclined, a part of her remained alert, her ears twitching at the faintest sound. she had come here for peace, but she was not foolish enough to believe it would last. for a place like this, coveted and whispered about in awe, could never remain untouched for long.

Winter cupped the oasis in gentle palms. Some evenings, the spirit would venture to the pool's edge to see it coated in a thin layer of ice broken easily by a tentative pat of a paw. The sensation of cold was new, exciting, and the last of Ra's rays saw Akhre visit the place again, this time to drink.

His tongue lapped gratefully, though he felt no thirst. Only his gaze watched the ripples form and thought if Nephthys saw him now. 

Desert fauna a backdrop for his musings, his nose twitched as the scent of another wafted near. "The stars look pretty today." Though his eyes remained fixed on their reflection in the water. He did not look up.

ximena had been lounging by the water’s edge, her body stretched luxuriously against the cool earth, basking in the last remnants of daylight like a serpent soaking in warmth before the night’s chill. the quiet ripple of the oasis had nearly lulled her into a comfortable haze, but the voice—low, thoughtful—snared her attention.  

her golden eyes slid toward the stranger without haste, a lazy sort of curiosity sparking in their depths. mmm, she hummed, her tone smooth as the silk of shifting dunes. pretty, yes. but prettiness is fleeting. a knowing smile curled upon her lips as she turned her gaze skyward, watching as twilight painted itself across the heavens. better to appreciate what lingers, don’t you think? 

she rolled onto her stomach then, chin resting against her crossed paws, watching him with the intrigue of a cat toying with a mouse. and what is it that keeps you lingering here, hermoso? the name dripped from her tongue, warm and teasing. is it the stars… or something else?

Her voice reached his ears, flicking to catch her speak of fleeting prettiness and all things lingering. The desert sand was a shifting ocean, briefly pretty, but the stars he reckoned were eternally picturesque. Curious though, to know how she identified beauty, her comments bringing a gentle smile to his face. 

Head rising then to finally take her in his gaze, the spirit was met with the figure of a small woman. "More than the stars," he admitted, "more than Nwt. I stay because I am meant to." And he believed it so. "What about you?"

ximena did not answer right away. instead, she let the silence stretch, her golden eyes steady on him as though searching for the meaning behind his words. a spirit who stayed because he was meant to—how poetic. how tragic.   

a slow, knowing smile curled at the edge of her lips. meant to? she echoed, as if testing the weight of the words on her tongue. her gaze drifted upward, past him, past the fragile shimmer of stars beginning to waken in the deepening dusk. qué destino tan curioso. a curious fate indeed.   

she finally moved, shifting her weight, her body fluid as the desert wind. i stay because i want to, she mused, voice smooth, like water. because the sands are soft, the water is cool, and perhaps— her eyes flicked back to him, a spark of something unreadable within them, —because the company is intriguing.

her head tilted ever so slightly. but i am jealous. to know what fate holds you, gives purpose. i must learn how your gods can help me find one.

She questioned him, whispered something in a tongue that Akhre had no knowledge of, before she approached. Moving aside so she may sit next to him, his voice was full of pride for his Pharaoh and their kingdom. "It lives up to its name, doesn't it? Oasis of the Gods." May she find much comfort here, for as long as she was permitted.

There was something admirable about this woman though, in the way she wore her emotions so readily upon her sleeves. The spirit wished he could do the same, but really, he was only just beginning to know himself. "They speak to those that listen. The fact that you want to learn is a good thing," he smiled then, patting the sand besides. "What do you already know about our Gods?"