The large lion was currently knee deep in water. Not the lake, of course, since it was forbidden to bathe in the god's waters... But in a small stream not too far away, one that branched out and helped feed the blessed lake. He'd been patroling much of the day, and right now a good, long soak was in order... Plus he was rather dirty, and the Caesar liked to keep himself mostly neat and clean. As much as possible, anyway. A true citizen needed to be dignified.
He let out a soft sigh and flopped over onto his side, letting the water cover his back. Only his shaggy mane and head was dry now, and for a while he just sat there, quite comfortable on the smooth rocks that lined the stream's floor.
Nyao had had a similar idea, she had been working hard all day crushing ingreediants, mixing herbs and brushing out dust fromher den. Sort of a spring clean really, she could feel the dust on her fur and she desperately needed a bath. So absorbed was she in her dreams of the cool babblign stream, the fresh water and the soap root she carried in hersatchel at all times she didn't notice maximus until she had slipped her robe over her head and put a toe in tot he cool water.
She flushed deepy which in the pale sunlight was glareingly obvious. She made a great effort to make sure noone ever saw her without her cape and otter skin satchel, they were the signs of her office, yet she had managed to de-robe right in front of maximus, the very same lion she was seeking to avoid due to some confusing thoughts.
Well she was stuffed now he was bound to see her, bowing her head she waited for him to address her, if he didn't move within the next few moments she would retreat back to her den and hide until later in the evening.
It took a moment, but he did notice her. And of course... he didn't realize there was anything wrong. Pala had not mentioned what she had said to make the lioness so shy. His eyes opened and turned towards her, a polite smile spreading across his lips. But when it became obvious she was uncomfortable in her current state, he turned his gaze away, allowing her to be modest. "Good evening, Nyao."
"Good evening my lord." She whispers her tones their usual quiet lovely muurr. " i hope I'm not disturbing you, I was busy all daya nd I needed a clean." She whispers, feeling her cheeks grow even more rosey as he felt his eyes on her even for that breifest of moments.
She would never turn and run, that would have been most undignified but she felt her legs wobble a little, whatw as she to do in this situation? Should she ust ak him what he had said about her?
He kept his gaze away, nodding politely. "That is fine, of course... And no, you're not disturbing me. Come, there is plenty of room for us both... And I will be sure not to look, if it would make you more comfortable."
He hadn't noticed her uncomfort yet, since he wasn't looking at her. He was better are reading body language, and her voice seemed normal enough... With a sharp intake of breath he dunked himself down, letting his man and face soak through with water before he surface, all of his fur now dripping wet.
She couldn't help bust smile, seeing him dunk under, he came up so soggy, she stifled a giggle and moved towards the center of the stream laying down on the bottom so her head and shoulders peered above the waterline. She hoped the cool water would make her cheeks cool down but with Maximus laying there, barely meters away from ehr it only made her cheeks burn brighter.
"I'm not usually this shy." She whispers clearing her throat of the lump which caught there, turing her head away incase he should looka nd see the rosey pink hue around her muzzle.
He kept his gaze away the whole time, so he didn't notice her blush. He didn't really notice anything at all. He only sat with his back turned to her, smiling to himself and enjoying the evening's bath. Even more so now that he had nice company.
"Shy?" He asks, ears twitching towards her. But he still didn't look, afraid of making her uncomfortable. "Ah, it's alright... Women should be modest. If it makes you uncomfortable, I can leave."
She opened her mouth only to shut it again and duck her head under the water, maybe if she just cooled her whole body the blush would go away. Raising back up she looked at Maximus with bleary eyes for a moment and any coolness that may have been derived from her dunk swiftly left as she felt her ears burn.
She could never ask him to leave! She never would. "I..no..I just.." She trailed, feeling half desperate for him to look at her. "I spoke to your slave today." She managed in a moment of clarity, perhaps speaking of the pregnant wild dog would cool her rosey glow. Though she doubted it.
Maximus's ears twitched again, and now his smile turned into a bit of a frown. She sounded so... odd. He wasn't used to her being so timid sounding. He was used to her strength and confidence.. It worried him.
"Are you sure you're alright?" He almost glanced at her, but then turned away, his honor winning out over his curuousity. He didn't want to offend a lady of her status. "Ah.... Did you? I hope it was a good visit?"
She rolled her shoulders uncomfortably. "Probably just tired." She muttered trying to sound nonechalant. "It seems I have another paitent in your little dog." She smiled wistfully, what would it be like to see a slave give birth? She wondered if the young dog would feel proud of her accomplishment or afraisd of whatw ould become of her pups.
"It was an interesting visit." She felt her flush grow stronger, what the wild dog had said to her as she left. Should she voice what she had said? Clearing her throat roughly she knew she had to ask, her own deep curiosity welling up like a volcano to her tongue. "She said how much you care..for me.." She trailed and coughed, fidgeting in the cool clean waters. "I told her you cared for the whole pride.." She recovered, though her second comment sounded less convincing.
"Oh?" He tilted his head a bit, smiling broadly. He knew what it meant, considering the wild dog had voiced her yearnings for children to him many times. It was a good sign. "She'll be a good mother, I think." He muses, chuckling. "Hopefully there will be some good slaves to come of it... perhaps an assistant for you too, hmm? It'll be hard looking after children, for a while... But in the long run they can help us hunt and work until we have more citizens."
Then he went stiff, the fur on his back bristling slightly, though he was glad the water hid it from view. For several moments he was silent, unsure what to say or do. The damn slave was too clever for her own good... He'd have to scold her later for butting her nose into things. Though he was sure she had good intentions... Finally he spoke, still turned away from her, though his voice was forced into a calm, casual tone. "Of course." He chuckles softly. "I care for everyone, and you have done your duties well the past months. Why would I not feel graditude towards you?"
She felt a moment of dissapointment, was it dissapointment or something else? She fidgeted for a momentwondering if she had spotted a change in the way he was laying, no, it was probably just the way the water was reflecting.
"Oh..yes thats what I said to her." She turned her lips in to a quick, rather fake smile then, just incase he looked towards her, she couldn't hide the odd feeling which had welled in ehr chest and now shimmered in her bright pink eyes. She had perfected hiding bad news from paitents, but she couldn't hide this acheing feeling with caused her heart to pound blood in to her already rather blush coloured ears. "I should uhm, get going, it's getting late and I don't want to sleep damp." She faltered getting to her paws on what felt like legs made of jelly.
Stepping towards the shore she stumbled on a large slippery rock and landed in the surf with an audible splosh as well as a quiet eek. as she tried to clamber back to her paws she quietly preyed that maximus hadn't just seen that.
Maximus didn't see the fall, but he certainly heard the splash. He blinked and pushed himself up, watter running over him quickly as he turned his head towards her. "Nyao?" He blinked, taking a couple steps closer to her anxiously. "You're not hurt at you?" When he was a bit closer he remembered her modest and frowned, looking away again. "Sorry."
She looked up at him her lips parted in a half gasp, not because of feeling modest, but because she felt embarressed. "No, no I'm fine." She mumbles taking a step forwards and lifting her paw quickly with a little grimace of pain. She had made a fool of herself and possibly twisted her ancle in the process. "I should have been watching wheer I was going instead of walking around with my head in the clouds." She flushed looking to hima nd noticing he was turned away again.
He must think her such a fool for acting like some dumb struck cub instead of the seasoned healer that she was but she couldn't deny the ache which was sorer than her paw, she was just another citezen, one he was proud of but still just another citezen, it almost hurt to hear it.
He frowned deeper, now very worried about the lioness... But he only nodded a little, glancing away as she moved off. He didn't want to make her even more uncomfortable, or... whatever it was that was wrong. So he let her go.
Besides... now his mind was swimming with worries and anxieties. Why would Pala say such a thing... And why had Nyao brought it up? He glanced over at her retreating form, still frowning a little. "...Goodnight, Nyao."
She glanced back at the big male and signed, she had braught more worry upon him it seemed. she didn't mean to but she noticed the worry on his face.
"Good night my lord" She whispers. "may apollo protect you through the night." She chuurrs padding off back towards her den with a slight limp, though the limp was the worst of her worries.
