Since the birth of Sutala’s pups, life had gotten easier. Not quite normal, but easier. Sutala had only Pumzi to thank for the easy transition from single hermit to single mother, but Sutala was doing the best she could, even if it wasn’t that good. Sometimes she couldn’t even remember the names of her pups. Right now was one of those times. They were pretty, she supposed, but they were pups and they’d come out of her body and that really freaked Sutala out. Thankfully Pumzi had helped raise them, and between the two of them all of Pumzi’s cubs and all of Sutala’s pups had been almost normal. Sutala didn’t think about it much. She wasn’t the most capable mother, nor was she the most attentive mother. They overwhelmed her so, and Sutala couldn’t handle them for long periods of time. Pumzi recognized this, or so it seemed, and she was far better at keeping the children occupied than Sutala was.
“Hey. HEY. Snap out of it. Ain’t you s’posed ta be the keeper of this shrine or somethin’?”
Sutala blinked as she was roughly shaken free from her reverie and turned her pale eyes towards the interloper. It was a small ratel, white in color, with golden eyes that stared briskly in Sutala’s direction. Piercing eyes, they were, and it made Sutala a little uncomfortable to be under such direct scrutiny.
“Y-yes,” Sutala whispered, dipping her head in the affirmative, “Shrine of Souls,” she continued, taking a few steps away from the burly little ratel.
“S’what I thought. So, eh,” the ratel sniffed before clearing her throat. She jerked her head towards the large stone that marked the shrine. “What all do I do if I want to pay my respects and,” she lifted a broad paw and waved it airily, “all that stuff.”
Sutala cleared her throat as well, trying to come up with a way of saying what she wanted to say in as few words as possible. Why was talking to strangers so painful for her? Sometimes she thought she wasn’t cut out for this duty, but then, what else could she do? She wasn’t a fast runner or knowledgeable or strong. She did feel an affinity towards her shrine that calmed her, though, and perhaps that’s why she persevered through all the uncomfortable things.
“Whatever,” Sutala breathed, hoping that would suffice. She was going to keep talking, but the ratel drew closer with narrowed eyes, looking more than slightly annoyed with the situation.
“What? Speak up, okay; I don’t want to have to climb in yer mouth to hear what yer sayin’.” Seriously, Ukuta thought to herself, claws digging into the dirt beneath her feet. All she’d wanted to do was visit the shrine of souls to pay her respects to her ancestors before heading out on yet another useless travel. The life of the rogue wasn’t something that the little ratel enjoyed, but she’d yet to find someone she could freely boss around, someone who obviously needed her protection.
“Whateveryouwant,” Sutala swiftly whispered, her voice shaking with nervous energy. The ratel was small but she was fierce, and Sutala didn’t want the little creature climbing in her mouth, either. She doubted that it would even fit, but she didn’t want to take that chance.
There was a long silence while Ukuta watched Sutala; a long, long silence that drew out over a few long minutes. When Ukuta finally spoke, she spoke with a slightly lowered tone, much of the sting left out of her words.
“You ain’t too good at this are you?” She gave Sutala a long look before offhandedly inhaling through her nose. “Name’s Ukuta. I’m just a wanderin’ soul lookin’ for a place to call home. This place nice?” Maybe she’d come to the shrines for a reason. Ukuta didn’t really believe in ~fate~ or whatever, but she did believe that she was always where she was meant to be.
Sutala nodded briefly before clearing her through. It was a nervous habit, the throat clearing, and something that she’d probably never stop doing. “Quiet,” she said softly, but her expression said everything that the ratel needed to know. Ukuta could see on the wild dog’s face that the quiet offered by the pride was of utmost importance to the wild dog. “I’m Sutala,” she continued, her voice still that hushed whisper.
“Nice name,” Ukuta said, watching Sutala carefully. “I might just call this place home, then, I like some quiet times. Everyone here nice?” Sutala nodded swiftly before Ukuta continued, “That’s good. Important to me that others are nice. I don’t like mean.” Ukuta’s gaze sharpened. “Might just move in right here,” the ratel indicated with a long claw, “if you don’t mind.”
There was something about the scrappy ratel that Sutala liked. She was a little protector, and Gods knew she and Pumzi needed all the protecting they could get; from their pups and cubs, from visitors that took advantage of either of them… Life had dealt the two friends a strange hand and they were coping with it as best they could. “You like pups? Cubs?” Sutala asked the question, shocking herself.
Ukuta shrugged, “Used’ta watch after my little brothers n’ sisters a long time ago,” she said gruffly, “Don’t have nothin’ against little ones. I know how to keep ‘em in check. You got some?” Ukuta found that hard to believe. Sutala didn’t seem like motherhood would come easy to her, or the whole… getting there. Ukuta frowned as she debated the circumstances that could’ve made Sutala a mother, and she didn’t like them one bit. Ukuta was feeling more and more certain that she was meant to be here, to protect this wild dog from whatever came their way.
“Three,” Sutala forced out, “Can’t remember their names,” Did that make her a bad mother? Probably, but Sutala couldn’t be bothered by it. “My friend Pumzi helps me look after them. She has cubs.”
Ukuta snorted. Just as she’d thought. Well, no matter. Ukuta was here and she wasn’t planning on going anywhere. It was obvious that Sutala needed someone to watch over her, and Ukuta was going to do just that.
“Well, I’ll help ya. Don’t you worry. Now,” she paused, looking around with interest, “Just show me where to sleep.”
MSWord WC: 1,055
