The hour was late, the sun setting the sky afire in hues of crimson, pink and gold. Shadows cast by trees and brush were long, spindly fingers reaching out across the savannah. Prey animals had settled down in close-knit herds to lazily graze and catch small naps, ever aware of predators that lurked in the bristly grass that swayed with the slightest breeze that kicked up every so often. The sun took with it the blistering heat, nightfall bringing cooler temperatures that provided the inhabitants of the savannah with much-needed relief. The sounds of insects carried on the wind, buzzing and rattling a soothing lullaby punctuated by the occasional whirr and chirps of birds.Amara'sarai had been wandering pointlessly for the past few days, stopping at nightfall to rest while it was cool. It was hard for her to sleep during the incessant heat of daylight, and the pesky flies buzzing about her ears didn't help much. Flies were such a nuisance to the lioness, among other things. This night, her stomach was full and her eyelids heavy and she wanted nothing more than to rest in an outcropping of rocks she'd discovered. It was cool there and it seemed a perfect place to sleep.
"You sleep too much, Amara." The words sounded bitter but held no sting. Amara didn't bother to look around; she knew who spoke. If another lion were to happen across her, they'd have seen a strange sight; a pretty lioness slumped atop a rock, idly talking to herself. Though, really, she wasn't talking to herself. She was talking to.. each other. In her mind, she wasn't just one lion, she was two. It was odd for them to exhibit simultaneously, but they were relaxed enough tonight that it was happening and they weren't trying to stop it. Sometimes it was soothing to allow both Amara and Sarai to have a conversation betwixt the two, but only when they were alone and weren't expecting company.
"So you say, Sarai, but I think you enjoy complaining a bit too much for my tastes." Amara spoke lazily, tail flopping in ultimate relaxation against the cool, dusty rock she'd found. It was bowl-shaped so she would be able to sleep without worrying about falling to the ground, but she was high enough that any noise would wake her from her slumber. Sarai was always trying to talk when Amara craved sleep; it was one of the things that was most annoying about Sarai. Well, that and her penchant for stealing.
Amara kept up the conversation with Sarai, the personalities of the lioness bickering between themselves. With each switch, Amara's voice would climb and her expression was sweet and honest; when Sarai appeared, her voice plummeted, her expression taking on a scowl. It would continue, the lioness switching expressions between the two entities that lived within her mind, until they either combined once more or ran out of words to say.
"You're rather uppity tonight, Amara," Sarai crooned, flexing her claws. "What's buggered you now, kitten?" Sarai knew that Amara hated being called kitten; it was why Sarai did it as often as she could. Sarai took perverse pleasure in harassing Amara as much as she possibly could. It delighted Sarai to incite Amara to show any emotion aside from her shy, sweet disposition. Sarai was fire and spark; Amara was anything but.
Amara didn't dignify Sarai with any sort of response. Instead she merely ignored her, pink gaze looking out over the savannah she was perched above. A bird swept low over the tall grass, catching Amara's attention. She smiled as she watched the bird, ignoring the snort that Sarai offered. The two enjoyed completely different things. Where Amara found enjoyment in the trilling of birds and earthy scents, Sarai preferred stealing pretty objects and the coppery scent of blood. Amara had never killed a soul in her life; her meals were provided by Sarai.
"I do love how the sun paints the sky with such lovely colors before she rests. It's almost as if she's bidding us goodnight." Amara shifted, sprawling out in the dished rock she rested on. She arched her back in a stretch, purring softly. The purr was cut short by Sarai's snort which was followed by a yawn. "Yeah, whatever, Amara." Sarai rolled her eyes and grunted, flopping to her other side. Amara could be SUCH a chatterbox, going on and on and on about this pretty tree or that pretty sky or how pretty this rock was. How annoying.
Amara ignored Sarai's sour tone. She breathed deep, finding pleasure in the sweet tang of the prey animals that crowded together in the distance. Her world held so much beauty, and while Sarai scolded her often for her simple and honest outlooks on the world around her, Amara secretly coveted the richness of her surroundings. She loved the gentle brays of the mother wildebeest that called to her young, or the chirps of busy birds swooping across the savannah in search of food. She found joy in the warm breeze that lifted her mane and toyed with her tail.
Sarai grunted warningly. Amara was insufferably boring and Sarai despised it. She was far too happy-go-lucky and her positive view on life sometimes made Sarai queasy. Sarai didn't see things the way Amara did. Sarai loved the thrill of the chase, the bright red blood of felled prey, the musky scent of rut. She preferred the company of males over females and the simple entanglements they offered. Sarai loved luring males to do her bidding, using her graceful, sensual ways to seduce them. Amara did not tolerate such things, and unless Sarai had a firm grasp on the situation, Amara could ruin her fun (and had before quite a few times).
Soon enough, the two fell into deep slumber. It was the one of the few times they were truly in synch with one another. Breathing the same breaths, thinking the same thoughts, dreaming the same dreams. They never dreamed of flowers or bloodshed; instead, they dreamed of the savannah, their home. Completely neutral thoughts, neither Sarai nor Amara taking control. It was during sleep, peaceful sleep, that they were not they, but they were she. She was Amara'sarai.
