[PRP] Live a Little (Chyrun & Uchanjaa)

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Had it really been almost a year since Shangyue had slaughtered his way to the throne? The brown lion shook his head as he added up the moons and the seasons and had to conclude that yes, it really had been so long. Lions who'd been cubs at the time were now grown up and new generations had been born who knew nothing else. Things had settled...somewhat.

There hadn't been any more killing, but the threat of violence was far from gone. The so-called "Royal Guards" were little better than a gang of bullyboys eager to throw their weight around the pride. He knew they kept an eye on him, as the last visible protester to remain in the pride. No one doubted the existence of others, but none of the others who had physically stood up against Shangyue had remained in the Mwezi. Some, he knew, had been "encouraged" to leave by those selfsame Royal Guards. Most had gone of their own accord.

At this point in time, it seemed that those who had gained by Shangyue's rise to power were flaunting it, those who were mostly neutral were trying to get on with their lives as normal...and those who had lost were seething. It was a quiet thing, but Uchanjaa could feel the tension each and every night. There were arguments, even fights. True, there had been such things before, under Thoth and Khathelela, but not nearly so many or so frequently. And before there would have been consequences. Now...not so much.

Uchanjaa sighed and wondered, not for the first time, if it had really been worth returning to the pride of his birth.  

[ChaosTheories]

Chyrun had been one of the cubs that grew up under Shangyue's rule, and he knew nothing else. The only thing he carried with him were vague memories if when he took the throne, but he had been so young then, they were quick flashes and impressions, not full fledged images in his head.

He wasn't completely ignorant to the pride's restlessness; he just chose to ignore it. He was content, despite being a slave. He worked hard and felt good about his work, and that's all that he needed in his life. If things were whispered or rumours spread, he shrugged it off like water dripping down his shoulders. he could even overlook the occasional scuffle. It made little difference to him. As long as he kept his head down and continued his work, few paid attention to him.

At the moment, his job was to discard the remains of an earlier hunt. He hauled a ragged old pelt filled with bones sucked of their nutritious marrow behind him. It was heavy, but Chyrun was strong. The pelt catching on foliage and rocks caused him more trouble than it's weight.

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An odd, rattling noise drew Uchanjaa's attention. Turning to look, his eye fell on an exceedingly familiar pelt color. It was the same he saw when he looked into the watering hole after all. But considering that none of his sons had inherited his coloration and Halili had had no sons until recently, this adult must be one of his nephews. He hadn't spent much time with Nko since rejoining the pride some years back, but that didn't mean the other was invisible.

Besides, it wasn't like the pride was that large.

However, his lack of attention to his sister's life did mean that Uchanjaa wasn't completely certain which of her sons this was. However, there was a perfectly good form of address he could use, and it wasn't "hey, you."

"Nehpew, what on earth are you doing?" he asked the younger male.  

[ChaosTheories]

Chyrun wasn't quick to respond, at first. He heard all kinds of chatter around him, at all times of the night, and it was rarely directed at him, so he tended to ignore it. But he couldn't ignore the question he heard next.

Nephew? He stopped tugging on the pelt and looked up. A lion with the same kind of copper-coloured fur as his had spoken to him. His mother's brother, no doubt. He didn't really know the lion, since he had always preferred to keep to himself, especially when his mother had been displeased by he and his littermates' position in the pride. There really hadn't been much reason for him to mingle.

"Good evening," Chyrun answered, low and polite. "I am getting rid of some leftovers from dinner. Nothing worth salvaging." He rolled his shoulders in a shrug.  

[mouselet]

The older lion dipped his head in acknowledgement of the greeting as he studied the boy and his load. "I see. I admit, it's a job I've never considered before, he told the younger lion.

Uchanjaa considered the heavy load his nephew bore. It was something of a mess, but seemed fairly well in hand. Still, just because their class differed was no reason to be rude.

"Would you like a paw with that?" That was how it worked, right? You helped someone out and while the two of you worked, you spoke and got to know each other a bit. At least, that was what he hoped for.