Lion Head Mesa sycamore of the sky ☥

"ba!"

the boy's voice was imperious.

as royal child, he knew no hierarchy. he, his sisters, and their brother fed at the breast of the divine, nurtured by voices which had been sculpted in god-forges. he had three equals. he had none.

as royal child, he knew a hierarchy, sensed the unfurling ivory wings behind his small shoulders and the glowing queen's-eyes floating at his right before he knew a single word.

and now, straightbacked and pudge-bellied, imperious even so, khaemwaset raised his tiny paw and again squealed "ba!" into the corner of the room. a servant had come from there and brought something forward to his mother's royal bed. the prince did not see them now, his eyes barely focused, but his inherent arrogance was wakening.

his command would be heard.

ungainly and milkfat, khaemwaset tipped then roundly to one side, caught by a royal arm and a laugh.

“By order of your Amiir– out with you,” Rashepses dismissed the maid, laughter in his eyes. Kem roared at them in command. “He is a lion! His heart is pumped up with the blood of kings and warriors.”

“And what of you, @Den?” He pawed his perfect golden child, raising him for a nuzzle. “Are you a lion, too?” It was only a matter of time before the entire kingdom took them to its heart. He set the cub beside his brother, eyes sliding over to look upon @Toula. She made a picture of lovely young motherhood, awakening an ache within him.

“It is apparent they were conceived in a storm of much passion,” he waggled a brow at his wife, considering now to call the handmaiden back to watch the pups for an hour or two.

Den felt the prod of his father's paw against his small frame and he responded by pressing back. Catlike in the way that he sought the touch of anyone, anything that would give him the attention he deserved. Khaemwaset was a noisy brother. He was not the glimmering gold of Neith. There was darkness upon his coat. Darkness deeper than the earthy base of Den's belly and paws. It was a curious thing... to observe this bold little sound that emerged from Khaemwaset's mouth. 

Rashepses asked if Den was a lion too. 

The boy was not so eager to display his spiritual power. Even at an age when the concept would not make sense, he understood on some intimate level that he was better left to conceal. The hand he had would remain close to his chest. 

Instead of roaring with pride, Den put space between himself and Khaemwaset. He pressed himself possessively to his father's leg. His eyes were trained upon his brother.

panthercub regarded the golden glimmer of the feline arched against their father.

monster twins, came the susurration of the voice heard only by the boy for now, though he was not yet aware enough to decipher those tones for himself.

khaemwaset raised a paw and brought it down with intention to swat den, for no visible reason save for his own desire to drag gilt into the sunlight.

Ba!

She’d been awakened! And the princess prepared now to voice her own indignation! Until, upon the slow blinks of lapis lazuli she saw it was her beloved brother who was making his grand objections known. The girl cub yawned and smiled lazily, tail a minute sway at her back. She was about to run over and join her brothers’ antics before the warm marvel of mother caught her eye.

Neith, so eager to learn, drank in everything momma did. Even in infancy, the daughter understood her mama was so divine as to scarcely seem real. Daddy was perfect, too, deep as the night with eyes that never seemed to lack sparkling laughter. She observed how they’d take one another into their arms and stare into each others’ faces as if they hadn’t ever seen each other before!

Momma always knew exactly how to answer daddy, even with just quarter-horned eyes. With soft whispers and sweet kisses.

Neith observed, and trodded over to her warring brothers, pressing first her small, pudgy body close to Den, then soothing Khaem’s rounded forehead with a delicate brush of paw. Loved— how she loved them both! So it was appropriate to plunk herself in between her brothers, rosebud lips prone to pout if neither listened.

even Toula herself gave to laughter, feeling affectionately amused. it seemed by the day her heart grew and grew, and her brain worked to store each precious memory! the look of pride in her husbands eye, of love—and the sweetness of Kha, adorable in his efforts, and it was Toula who caught him to help him remain upright. it is best to stay on your feet when giving commands, our Mahes, she looked to him with a warm smile, but already there was pride within her too. yes, indeed—she too saw the gods of Kings and warriors within him, and of Pharaohs! 
her gaze turned to the young Den, that love and pride lingering. she watched him press against his father and regard his brother in silence. look how he watches! and waits! like Sobek, who waits in the water for His bounty to come to Him—ah! Toula laughs and allows her paw to catch the swat from Kha meant for Den and says, careful! that is how He would catch His prey! do not make it so easy, her eyes are bright with delight as she played with their children, gentle and doting. 
their one daughter had awoken, watching as the other still slept. Toula kissed her good afternoon as she had the others, though as she felt the eyes of Rashepses her own gaze turned to him. in seeing the look upon him, and hearing his words, the very same thought came to mind! now more than ever she longed for him—seeing him in his newest role seemed to only add to his endless allure! that passion, she breathed to him, it only grows, in watching you with them. you have… you have fully brought me back to life, my Ptah-Seker, another name for Him in his divinity—Osiris, also a God of Reincarnation! she was made anew by Him—Pharaoh, wife, and mother now! 
she could not turn away from him, her eyes glued to his face and roving over every perfect feature. the sharp cut of his regal jaw, his gilded gaze, the symmetry of his listening ears (perfectly cuspidate at their apex!)—how could anyone doubt the Gods existed? who could imagine this being before her as anything but for that? 
leaning towards him, she whispered against a feathery ear: summon her back, before turning to regard their cubs once more before the other returned. she found herself marveling at them, too—truly each of them were divine beings, from nose to tailtip!

Mature Content Warning

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The participants have indicated the following reason(s) for this warning: these two can’t be trusted smh

Toula needn’t say the words. Rashepses knew what she wanted. He knew them backward and forward, inside and out; he knew them as he knew her. She could scour the world, run away into the arms of a hundred other men, but her heart was in her eyes when she looked at him.

Carried away with his own persuasions, the riverking growled staunchly for the nursemaid, commanding her to stay and watch the royal infants at the same time herding his mate up against the far wall, hot breath teasing the tender pink chin. He nuzzled down into her chest before leading her out into the hallway, laughter echoing behind them.

in her eyes and in her throat was love and laughter, commingling with the feelings he had awoken within her that made her catch her breath in a gasp with every touch! she was easily guided, happy to be pressed against the faraway wall, happier still to catch him in a kiss before he buried himself in the thick furs of her bosom,
Toula was quick to dance after him, and then ahead of him—she would lead him to some place she knew they would not be disturbed! she felt him behind her, the chase a different sort of thrill, but she never intended to be out of his reach! disappearing into a room with a giggle, Toula moved to embrace her husband once more.