Pietr was hunting, though it really wasn't his position in the pride to do so. He needed some time to himself for once, away from Petra (his sister) and his responsabilities of being the future king. He was padding lightly across the jungle floor, his senses taut and attentive to his surroundings... sort of. He wasn't aware of another presence near by. His grey pelt shined lightly in the darkness, the bioluminesant plants around him reflected against him. He lifted his head, closing his eyes and breathing in the sweet scent of the jungle.

He loved this place. This was home

Kaym'itan slipped along the broad bough of the tree, his dark blue pelt blending into the shadows around him. He was in the middle of his patrol, the night was still stretched out before him. A sound caught his attention, the soft pad of paw to ground. Flicking his ear toward the sound, he moved through the darkness to find the source of the noise. It did not take him long.

Regarding the young heir with calm crimson eyes, he stepped from the concealing foliage, so that Pieter could see him. “Oel ngati kameie tsmukan” the scout greeted his prince, bringing paw up to his forehead and back down again.

Pietr padded along for a moment, gazing down at the ground to see if maybe there were tracks somewhere, but he saw none. He sighed, he had to practice more... he had to get better at this life. To become a heir, to become head warrior and chief. Everyhing was starting to fluster him. He sighed, sitting down; when a voice startled him.

He lifted his head, his ears twisted back as he gazed in direction of Kam. He smiled, recognizing the scout easily. "I see you Brother." He said with a chuckle, feeling a big embarassed to have been caught off guard like that.

Kaym'itan stepped into the clearing fully, so that his prince could see him. “ You are unescorted your Highness,” the scout rumbled in his deep voice, “ and close to our border.” He kept his gaze level with the young heir, his stance relaxed, showing the deep respect he had for the leaders of The People.

He nodded his muzzle toward the east, the red feather in his mane following his movement, “ A few leagues and you are beyond where you are safe your Highness, and the line is not easily seen.”

Pietr felt a bit of uncomfort at his words, his gaze going to the ground for a moment with a frown. Was he that close to the border lands? He felt a bit of hopelesness pass over him. "Oh..." He looked towards the area in which was made clear to him. "Oh... I didn't really know. I usually don't go out on my own like this. I just needed some... me time..." He looked back to Kam. "You don't have to call me that... I am not the king yet. My title is Heir and I'd prefer to simply be called Pietr..."

He sat down, observing the male for a moment. "Forgive me... my mind is full of worries..."

“ You will have to forgive me your Highness, I am not your equal. I would not be so familiar with you.” The scout was not opposed to becoming friends with those above him, but until he was bestowed such an honor, he would remain polite and respectful. It was his way, and it was the way of his father, and his father before him. They had always served, and always would, in anyway that they could. From defending with claw and tooth, to being a steadfast presence to be relied on, or if there was need, an ear to listen.

Kaym'itan sat down, his head tilting to one side, his entire baring radiating calm. “ Worries are a burden best shared your Highness. I am not a priest, but I am a child of Ewya, and your servant. Anything spoken to me will not pass beyond this clearing.”
[18:43] cmihal02: BRB mom calling
Pietr apprecaited his words and took them deep to heart. Pietr had sort of always felt like an outcast, considering he was not blood or born here like most of them. But his blood was foriegn and would assure that this pride would prosphere. For this, he stood strong. "If you are offering a listening ear, I am willing to fill it with my chatter." He said with a smile, chuckling to himself.

"I am nervous about all this. I have tried my hardest to grow up to be like an heir should. So I can be strong and a fighter like Eytucan is. Sometimes I wonder if I will be able to be what everyone wants me to be. To be... leader and follow of Eywa and... to be a father in the future... it's all so much." He sighed. "My mother was not sound of mind, if you can understand. She was not a bad mother, I just had to grow quickly to be an adult.. and coming here has made me realize that I am capable. I am just... nervous."

Here the young heir was rewarded with a low chuckle, as Kaym'itan shook his mane at him, “ We all carry that burden your Highness, the burden we place on ourselves because we wish to become so much more then we are. I have found that we are hardest on ourselves, but that because we are, we rise to the challenges given us.”

The scout leveled his crimson gaze at the heir, the shadows of the war within them, “ Tourk and I grew up during the war, we have seen our land and our people destroyed, but through it all, we trusted in Eywa to keep the balance. Now you will have to trust in her, and in yourself.”

Pietr could barely even imagine being alive during a war of such magnitude. So many had died. The carvings amongst home tree, scattered across her bark, told the tale. The whole tale. spoke of times of sadness and pain, family seperating and a pride that was broken. A time of solumn songs. The pride was so happy now. Things had to get better wtih time, if they could even get bettter. "But.. what if I can't do it..." He said soflty, looking frazzled. He reached up with a paw and ran it through his mane, adding to his apperance.

"I am just.... so nervous."

Kaym'itan looked over to the east, to the border that was far closer then it had been when he was a cub, “ If you can not, then The People will fall and we will scatter to the winds. All that we fought for, and bled for will be gone.” He regarded the heir again, “ but I do not believe you will fail your Highness. Do you know why?

Pietr looked a bit more worried at Kaym's words. He swallowed the lump in his throat, looking back towards the pride. "Uh... why?" He asked, looking very nervous. He could think of a billion reasons why he wouldn't be good. It was just, so nerve reacking. Especitally the fact that when the king and queen had cubs,the first born daughter was betrothed to him.

“ Because you are not alone your Highness,” the scout said calmly, “ You have the benefit of decades of knowledge at your claw tips. There are many here who can guide and advise you, allow them to, but always follow your own instincts, and listen your Highness, to your people, your heart, and your goddess.”

Pietr smiled, shaking his head slowly with a chuckle. He supposed Kaym was right. He did have the support of every-well almost every member of the pride. He sighed, feeligng sort of silly. "You're right. I just... forget sometimes. I am everyones faith I think." He rubbed his mane again. "I just need to stop being.. silly. Oih." He sighed, looking foolish. "You're right though... I have everyone behind me... and they will help me if I need it."

He smiled.

The scout returned it, his patient eyes sparkling with approval, “ Hardest lesson learned I think your Highness, that you are no longer alone and baring the burdens on your shoulders only.” He chuckled then, the sound warm,” You are not unlike Toruk when he was your age. Unsure and nervous, needing to be so much so quickly. I will tell you the same thing I told him, even if you are scared out of your fur, never show it, and the pride will draw its strength from you.”

Pietr gazed at him intently for a while, before standing up, his chest puffed out and pride sparkling in his eyes. "You're right. I can't sit around and feel liket his. I have to do this, not because anyone is making me but because it is my destiny. It is.... it is the way of the people. I must do this. For myself and my mother..." He said soflty.

He chuckled. "Toruk... i can only imagine what he was like as a child. I will show strengh. For everyone. for myself. for my sister!" he looked to Kaym. "I thank you. You are all knowing. I appreciateit greatly." He nodded. "I should head back. i appreiacte all you have said to me... I hope someday I will be before you as king and you can call me those titles truely." And with that, he turned on his heel and began his trek back to home tree.


Kaym'itan chuckled after the young heir, shaking his mane out of his eyes. All knowing, no, not even close. Well tried, yes. Well tried and barring all the scars for it. The scout closed his eyes and sent a silent prayer to Eywa to guide and guard the prince, and allow him to grow into the King he could be. Watching until he no longer could see the pale form against the jungle's shadows, Kaym'itan added one more thing to the prayer, that Pietr would feel comfortable to seek him out should he ever need a ear, or a broad back to lean on.

“ I will keep your promise father...” he whispered into the darkness, “ I will keep the People safe.”
Fin