Lion Head Mesa second

He almost teased the boy for taking so long to gather himself, but he thought he might explode if Akhtar did that. It didn’t stop the slight cheeky grin from breaking out, though Akhtar strained to put it away.

Ah, to have the power his own master had once wielded over him.

He put the thought away, continuing to swipe and move, occasionally dipping back down to dip his paw into the bowl, and rearing back up again. After several minutes of silence, he spoke, voice tinged sepia with nostalgia.

My mentor, when I was but a lanky limbed child, this was the first thing he taught me. Before I knew anything, any prayer, he taught me how to pray without words. He pushed off the wall, looking at the swept lines across the red stone.

The gods know your meaning either way.