Lion Head Mesa Let Me Out

Forward-dated to the 1st, Siptah has entered the socialization stage! <3 Tags are for reference, all welcome!

He could move - in fact, he was big enough and strong enough to playfight (mostly fight) with his sisters. But today, he just wanted out. While @Satsu was busy tending to one of his royal sisters, he snuck out of her chambers, then gave a triumphant cry as he began to race down the redstone hallway. He skidded to a right and found himself right at the entrance to @Ramesses quarters. He scented the air carefully, though he couldn't yet tell if anyone was inside. He peeked in, eyes wide, whole body tensed. He had a feeling he wasn't allowed here, but he was the Prince! Why shouldn't he come here?

the pharaoh had not been back to visit his children since their birth. belen thought this odd but not for her commentary. all the fellahin were now tasked with the overseeing and progress of the royal trio. when she found the princeling gone, belen recoiled in horror and ran at once to find him. she headed down several hallways, at last spotting the boy but blanching when she saw how close he was to the throne-room. "ven a mi!" the servant hissed, swooping forward to scruff the boy and whirl away from the forbidden quarters. her ears caught the sound of kasmut with pharaoh. that was good; he was deeper in his own bedchamber and distracted.

As soon as he was scruffed, Siptah let out a massive wail. He had not seen his father at all - he of course had no recollection of his birth. His mother had spoken of him, but the little Prince wanted to meet him for himself. "Da! Da!" He cried, trying to flail about in Belen's jaws. This wasn't fair! Why did he have to be cooped up in his mother's chambers for so long?

for now siptah was easily held. belen ignored his wails as she carried him back to the queen's apartments. her neck ached by the end of the journey but it did not matter. "your father will see you when you are older, divine one," she mumbled to the baby prince as she set him back down between his sisters. all she could do was hope that ramesses had not heard the little boy's squalling all the way from his door. belen sat down in the entrance to satsu's bedchamber, guarding siptah and the others from another escape. "i can show you a game, prince," the fellahin suggested lightly.

Why wouldn't his father see him now? The young Prince didn't understand it; he gave a soft whine, which then turned into a growl - he couldn't show his sorrow. He would be strong. Siptah just nodded to the female, and when she suggested a game, he gave a little bounce of excitement. "Game?" he repeated, little tail wriggling behind him.

belen motioned to where two polished bone-ends were beside the door. "go and bring them here, prince," she said softly. the girl wondered if he would agree to do it. he was very young, but already they all deferred to he and to his sisters. she stood, ready to fetch the toys if he did not. when the pair of pieces were before belen and siptah, she cleared her throat importantly. "do you know what these are called, great one?"

Siptah did as he was asked, excitedly taking the two pieces of bone into his mouth, hen hurrying back to Belen. He dropped one along the way, so had to run back for it, growling impatiently. When both were before Belen, he looked to her expectantly, and when questioned, the Prince answered, "Bones!" He didn't know what they were for, exactly, so he met Tavina's gaze, asking her, "How to play?"

siptah brought them back. belen congratulated him with a grin and a coo. "well, we roll them," she said, demonstrating with a short movement before she contained both of the ivories. "now. we are going to take turns rolling them and seeing which is fastest," she explained. "it is called racing. do you understand, divine one?" it felt foolish to call him by such a title, but belen had been taught no other.

Siptah's eyes lit up, his little tail wriggling excitedly behind him. It sounded fun! He nodded when asked if her understood, then, unable to contain himself, gave a quick play bow and a yip of excitement. He was rather study on his paws, save for when he tripped over them - they were just so big and bulky. "Let's race, let's race!" he cried, almost desperately - he had been so bored cooped up in Satsu's chambers with only his sisters and the occasional servant. He was ready for excitement!

belen laughed softly. she rose and used her claws to scratch a long line across their raceway, some feet ahead. "whoever rolls their piece closest is the winner of that time." she returned to the prince. "you go first." siptah and his sisters were growing quickly. the servant herself was interested to know when ramesses would visit they and the queen once more.

Siptah wasn't sure what would be the best tactic to roll his piece, so he decided to first try shoving it with his muzzle; too forceful, the bone rolled and spun, and not even towards the line. He looked sheepishly to Belen, giggling, "Oops! Your turn!" He would watch her closely, to see how she rolled hers.

belen grinned and sent her own piece off. it was a better roll but did not go farther than that of the prince. the bones clacked together. she clucked her tongue and moved to retrieve them. "now, prince, see how fast you can roll yours," belen suggested, shifting his body a bit here and there with her muzzle to align siptah toward his goal.

so sorry for the wait
Belen was better at rolling her piece, but it still didn't go far. If he were older, perhaps he would wonder if she were going easy on him, but alas, he just smiled up at her, then readied to roll his piece again. Her touches to fix his form tickled, and he giggled through clenched teeth; it was his turn again.

The little Prince rolled his piece, and did much better this time — it was mostly straight, and went about halfway to the line before one end of the bone piece snagged and stopped it abruptly. Still, he gave a little cheer, then turned to urge Belen on, his father long forgotten.

Physical Health (100/100)

Siptah is healthy.

---

Mental Health (65/100)

Siptah is grieving the loss of his mother.

no worries, i totally understand! <3 we can fade this whenever!

the little piece went farther this time. belen laughed and praised him with a swift grin. "very good, noble one." she was servant and he divine, but she had started to think of the little boy and his sisters as siblings of a sort. not that they would ever be, but her thoughts were her own. "do you want to keep playing? or would you like to find something sweet?" belen offered, thinking of the fresh and yet unfermented berries.

Can we fade here? <3

Siptah's body wriggled happily at her praise, and he grinned, little tongue lolling. It had been a fun game, even if it didn't last long, but when Belen offered to get something sweet, he nodded and barked, "Something sweet!" He gathered up his bone piece swiftly, placing it with Belen's so that they wouldn't get lost, then looked up at her expectantly, blue eyes shining brightly.