Another day and night had gone by- learning, listening, and reviewing the pride's traditions and culture. There was still a lot to learn, but he figured it would come with practice and time. There was no reason to rush anything afterall. If the goddess thought that he was the one for the job, then he was the one for the job.
He was staring down into a small pool of water that had been trapped along the rocks during low tide. His reflection stared back, almost critically, from the still surface.
"So we settle here... we'll never find him you know. What are the odds that he'll wonder back here?"
"Not good." Shandor admitted. "It's been so long. A child has become an adult by now. Perhaps he has his own life."
"Perhaps he's dead."
"Perhaps." He frowned, a stone falling into the pit of his gut. He certainly hoped his brother lived, but the odds in were against them. Afterall- the rest of their siblings had died.
"We'll be safe here."
Ame had taken to her duties like a duck to water. She'd been so busy learning the songs and what her job entailed that she'd not bothered to see hide or hair of Shandor for days. Of course when she realized that she'd effectively abandoned him she felt pretty badly. She'd gone to find him, and find him she had. He was staring at some water (he did that a lot it seemed) and talking to himself of course. Worrying his brother was dead. It occured to her that he probably was worried about his brother. But didn't his brother live in his head? Hmm. Well regardless, he was in need of some support.
She stepped up beside him and sat, leaning gently against him. "Yeah, you'll be safe here."
He was going to get used to her popping in like that... one day. Not today. Definately not today. The touch to his shoulder had him jumping slightly. He jerked his elbow back, as if to protect his sides. He'd not put it past her to have him roaring in laughter again.
He slapped the surface of the water- as if that would hide his 'other self' and turned back to her. "Of course we're safe here. Why wouldn't we be?"
She frowned at him as he slapped the water. He hadn't needed to do that. Poor water. She mumbled a sorry to it and then pawed his side. Not a tickling touch, just a comforting one. "I'm not saying you're not...I'm just trying to be reassuring, that's all. You ARE safe here. And y'know, if your brother shows up he'd be safe here too. He could stay with you...though I thought he was here. With you. I mean. In your head." She glanced at him. "I'm sure he's okay...Or else wouldn't the him in your head be gone too?"
He made a face and shrugged. "He is..but he isn't. The mind is a strange thing. Sometimes we can make ourselves believe that something is real when it's but a dream. I suppose you can call that insanity. But then, I'm in the right place for that." He chuckled.
"We're in the right place for it." The deeper voice cut in.
"Right, of course."
She tilted her head sideways just so. Okay, he was saying things she didn't understand right now. He...knew that his brother wasn't in his head, but he acted like he still was? She didn't get it. But he was her friend and that was more important. This place was plenty crazy, she was raised from birth with raving lunatics. At least he was a nice lion, and fit in well. "I guess...well. I don't understand, but if you're ever feeling down or sad you know you can talk to me. We're kinda partners now in this, huh?"
"I suppose. It's not quite sadness. Just...acceptance." He shrugged again and raised his eyes. They were partners of sorts. Of course, up till recently it had been a one-sided partnership with her teaching him all she knew and him flailing about like a fish out of water.
"I suppose we should gather the pride and break the news. Or is there a ritual for that? I suppose I need to start making my stories."
"Or start making them make sense. That'd be nice."
"They make plenty sense."
"You know, I'm not sure. I don't remember anything like this happening. The old story and song keeper were the bosses my whole life. I think for my parents too. No one ever told me what to do if something like this happened. Hmm. Maybe the goddess knows. Maybe the crickets would know! Hmm. We SHOULD tel them though. And we should spend more time getting all the stories and songs learned. Have you gotten much done with that? I never knew there were so many songs..."
"Well if the goddess picked us out and left us with nothing, I would think she wants us to do things...our way."
"Whatever way that is."
He shrugged again, "I suppose I just need to bring in new stories. I am a rogue- I have heard and seen things that are from beyond the boarder. Tales those here would never have any way to hear otherwise, but... I suppose I should seek out the old story keeper here and learn the history. It wouldn't do to have the old tales die."
She nodded. "That's the idea. You keep the old stories going and add in your own. Who knows! Years from now your grandcubs could be telling the story about how the sky fire turned two brothers into one! I guess if that happens then you and your brother will never really die, right?" She smiled and looked at him. "You should do that! Tell your story so everyone will remember it! Even if they don't remember you exactly, they're remember the story!"
