Shy Deer Steppes First Hunt

For @Makono, @Raimo, and @Jakoul. @Ashikaga also referenced/PP'ed

It was time for their first hunt. The Prince had called upon the mazoi, Raimo and Jakoul, to help. He would heed their words. At the edge of the steppe, he looked to the men. "Today we hunt for my Queen mother. What sort of game should we expect on the steppe?" He had never been so far from home.

Deer,

She spoke, hoarse and tense. She had seen the weird deer that plagued this land. The antelope, pronghorn creatures. She did not know their proper names, but they resembled other deer she had seen before.

She turned her gaze to the boy and wondered if he'd like such a response.

makono's mind was busied by thoughts of the approaching future.

soon mourning would be over for akashingo, but the grief would always live in her heart. even beneath the happiness she had felt in short blips.

and soon she would need to tuck all of that grief back up in a neat suitcase. her trip to mereo was meant for a strong, proper princess. not a sniffling and crying child.

this task too needed her strength and present mind.

she paid no attention to the mazoi, only letting her eyes fix upon her brother.

Talamasca has stated that Raimo can be pp'd!

"Then deer it is." He and his sisters would be safe with the two mazoi. "Lead the way." Though his voice was calm, confident even, internally he was anxious — this was his first hunt, after all. He looked to his sisters, smiling. "Come on," Siptah took off at a steady lope after the mazoi.

her brother need not summon her twice. she moved at a slinking pace behind him and the mazoi, who lead at the head.

carefully he crept closer to offer a whisper to her brother's ear.

do you trust her?

Jakoul can be skipped some while talking occurs :)

As told, she would lead them onward. Directing Raimo to take a position of striking. A chase with him would have been well, but the children were present too.

She flicked an ear in their direction.

Ignored the whispers of them.

Siptah headed the trio of whelps, Ashikaga to his left and Makono to his right. She pulled closer, to whisper in his ear, and he frowned, looking to Jakoul, then Raimo. Father instructed them to take us. You don't think they'd try something? His brow furrowed.

who can say? and it was the truth, whether either of them liked it or not.

the man showed up unwell. the woman only moves at night. her brows pinched tightly together and she shared a long look for a moment with her brother, sparing her sister a glance too if she cared to be privy to these things.

did they see the need to be wary like her?

sickly beasts who moved in the night were not the welcoming kind.

Makono's words made the Prince shift uncomfortably as they trailed after the Mazoi, and he mumbled, Yeah, well, they're the hunters, and we're learning. They'll... make the kill. We can chase and observe. And stay out of harm's way.

But still, her words... why had they not brought their body-servants with them? Siptah grew uneasy, his expression hardening, his eyes like ice.

The words were lost upon her.

They whispered behind her. Children.

She turned to them and stared with pale, sunken eyes. A silent demand for their own silence as well.

She motioned for the boy to follow Raimo and the girl to stay with her. The boys could see the take down to their frail pick of the bunch. Not a threat in the slightest to the boy with Raimo there.

The girl could chase with her.

makono fell silent now.

she had said her piece, planted the thoughts within her siblings. they should all be alert of all figures. especially those that she deemed sketchy.

she fell into line along the dark woman, maintained some sense of distance still though.

a knowing looked spared to her brother.

so sorry for the delay, depression's a lot rn

The woman, Jakoul, looked to them with hollow eyes, and he stared back, falling silent. He glanced to Makono as she moved to follow the woman, and then he came to follow Raimo. Nearby, the pronghorn antelope grazed, and the male mazoi noted two creatures of interest, leaving it up to the Prince to choose which would be Satsu's gift. After nodding to a younger antelope, Raimo began to move closer, Siptah following close behind.