Alouette
It was hot, and if there was one thing that Alouette despised it was the heat. With a sour look on her young face, the cub made her way from the stifling inner den in search of shade and perhaps even a bit of cool water to dip her toes into. Mama would probably kill her if she got muddy or overly dirty, but Alouette did not care. At this moment in time she was far too hot to care.Besides, if Alouette went outside she might be able to find her dearest friend, Parmelia. And where there was Parmelia there would assuredly be Sakhr. Excited now, the pretty cub made her way to the shade of the nearest tree and peered around in hopes of sighting her best friends.
Parmelia
Alouette wouldn't have to look far. Parmelia was shoulder-deep in a wide hole -- in fact, all that was visible would be her rump high in the air, tail lashing around in excitement.Parmelia had discovered that it was cooler underground.
Now, being underground wasn't quite where lions of her pride tended to find themselves, but in the unbearable heat, Parmelia was searching for respite against the heat. She couldn't help it if the heat didn't permeate the sand! All she wanted to do was dig a hole big enough for herself. If Sakhr wanted a hole, he could dig his own!
Sakhr
Sakhr watched Parmelia with a pained look on his face. Yes, it was hot, but he wasn't complaining -- and he even had a darker coat than Parmelia did! Shaking his head in silence, Sakhr glanced up and caught sight of Alouette. Though she was a bit younger than both Parmelia and himself, the younger cub had clicked together with he and Parmelia and the three were nigh inseparable now."Alouette!" Sakhr called out to the silvery female with the pretty purple and pink markings. A grin was on his face as he rose to his feet in hopes of catching her attention.
Alouette
A huge grin spread over Alouette's muzzle when she spotted Sakhr. As she trotted closer, she shook her head at the sight of Parmelia's butt poking up out of the sand. She side-stepped in order to miss the spray of sand that was caused by Parmelia's shoveling paws.
Seating herself daintily next to Sakhr, she glanced up at him with soft golden eyes.
"What's 'lia doin'?" Alouette didn't really like to get dirty where Parmelia didn't seem to mind it a bit -- and Alouette wasn't old enough to show disdain, though such emotions might come with time.
Seating herself daintily next to Sakhr, she glanced up at him with soft golden eyes.
"What's 'lia doin'?" Alouette didn't really like to get dirty where Parmelia didn't seem to mind it a bit -- and Alouette wasn't old enough to show disdain, though such emotions might come with time.
Parmelia
"It's cooler down here," Parmelia grunted from within the hole she was creating. Her hips were half-in the hole now, and loud grunts of exertion were wrenched from her throat with each pawful of dirt she sent flying. "You guys are gonna be roasting up there while I'm down here in the cool sand." Her voice was matter-of-fact, highly-opinionated and strong.
Parmelia knew that her lot in life was going to be that of taking care of her future Pad (whoever he might be), hunting for him and probably even giving him stupid babies -- but for now, she didn't have to deal with it. Her parents were both overtly interested in their studies which left Parmelia to do as she pleased, which she often did.
Parmelia knew that her lot in life was going to be that of taking care of her future Pad (whoever he might be), hunting for him and probably even giving him stupid babies -- but for now, she didn't have to deal with it. Her parents were both overtly interested in their studies which left Parmelia to do as she pleased, which she often did.
Sakhr
Sakhr shook his head.
"A proper banu would never dig holes," he said in an aside to Alouette before saying louder, "and your mother is going to be so mad that you've gotten yourself so dirty! If not your mother, then one of your harem-mothers!"
He knew she wouldn't care, and likely wouldn't pay heed to his words, but he felt better for saying it. "Digging holes like some tomboy," he said quietly to Alouette with another shake of his head. "No pad is going to want her if she keeps acting like that."
"A proper banu would never dig holes," he said in an aside to Alouette before saying louder, "and your mother is going to be so mad that you've gotten yourself so dirty! If not your mother, then one of your harem-mothers!"
He knew she wouldn't care, and likely wouldn't pay heed to his words, but he felt better for saying it. "Digging holes like some tomboy," he said quietly to Alouette with another shake of his head. "No pad is going to want her if she keeps acting like that."
Alouette
Alouette, being the youngest of the trio, wasn't yet familiar with the traditions and beliefs of their pride yet. She had a vague idea that when she was old enough her papa would send her and her sisters away to males that would look after them and protect them. That was all fine and well -- after all, she deserved protection and all that stuff, right?
Wrapping her tail around her forepaws and glancing over at Parmelia's slowly disappearing body, Alouette shook her head.
"Tch," she huffed, playing the part of the disgruntled princess, "and she keeps kicking sand all over my feet." That being said, Alouette rose and moved to the other side of Sakhr.
Wrapping her tail around her forepaws and glancing over at Parmelia's slowly disappearing body, Alouette shook her head.
"Tch," she huffed, playing the part of the disgruntled princess, "and she keeps kicking sand all over my feet." That being said, Alouette rose and moved to the other side of Sakhr.
Parmelia
"Oh, hush," came the muffled voice from within the dark hole. "You're just jealous that you didn't dig a hole and I," she paused, her entire body disappearing deep within the cool hole, "am sitting," a grunt and shuffling sounds wafted up, "in this nice cool hole," she finished, peeping her head out and glancing towards the naysayers.
It had been a lot of hard work but her hole was done. It was refreshing deep in the ground and though she was dirty she couldn't bring herself to care. She knew that her mother would be too busy to care, as well.
"If you guys were smart you'd dig a hole too," she finished, blissfully resting her chin on her paws as the coolness from the surrounding sand sank into her body.
It had been a lot of hard work but her hole was done. It was refreshing deep in the ground and though she was dirty she couldn't bring herself to care. She knew that her mother would be too busy to care, as well.
"If you guys were smart you'd dig a hole too," she finished, blissfully resting her chin on her paws as the coolness from the surrounding sand sank into her body.
Sakhr
More head-shaking ensued.
"There are other ways to stay cool," Sakhr fussed, shaking errant grains of sand from his paws. "Going for a swim or sitting still in the shade. Less work, less dirt," he glanced at Alouette's paws, "and less getting in trouble." Not like Sakhr would get in trouble -- he was a boy, after all, and boys were supposed to get down and dirty -- but Alouette could, and Parmelia might. Well, maybe not Parmelia. Things seemed to be pretty laid back in that harem.
"If you were my Banu, I wouldn't let you be running around digging holes." Okay, he probably would, but it sounded good to say it.
"There are other ways to stay cool," Sakhr fussed, shaking errant grains of sand from his paws. "Going for a swim or sitting still in the shade. Less work, less dirt," he glanced at Alouette's paws, "and less getting in trouble." Not like Sakhr would get in trouble -- he was a boy, after all, and boys were supposed to get down and dirty -- but Alouette could, and Parmelia might. Well, maybe not Parmelia. Things seemed to be pretty laid back in that harem.
"If you were my Banu, I wouldn't let you be running around digging holes." Okay, he probably would, but it sounded good to say it.
Alouette
"Banu shouldn't dig holes," Alouette piped up, fighting the urge to pant in the stifling midday heat. Banu shouldn't pant, either, as far as Alouette was concerned. It wasn't very ladylike, that was for certain. Like Sakhr said, and he was going to be a Pad when he grew up so he would know, right?
However, Alouette's curiosity was getting the best of her.
"Is it really cool in there, 'lia?" Clearing her throat, she glanced askance at Sakhr and offered him a shrug. Hey, if it was cooler than sitting around in the heat, maybe Parmelia did have the right idea.
However, Alouette's curiosity was getting the best of her.
"Is it really cool in there, 'lia?" Clearing her throat, she glanced askance at Sakhr and offered him a shrug. Hey, if it was cooler than sitting around in the heat, maybe Parmelia did have the right idea.
Parmelia
"I wouldn't lie to you, Al," Parmelia yawned, rolling around to rest on her back. She knew Alouette hated the nickname. It was why Parmelia used it, after all. Snuggling down into the silky sand, Parmelia yawned again.
"Might have to take a nap in here," she said smugly, her mismatched gaze catching Alouette's attempt to stifle a pant. "So nice and cool. Perfect place for a nap." Sprawling out, Parmelia closed her eyes and exhaled softly. She would probably have to dig another hole tomorrow unless this one kept cool. She hoped it kept cool because digging holes wasn't as fun as it might look.
"Might have to take a nap in here," she said smugly, her mismatched gaze catching Alouette's attempt to stifle a pant. "So nice and cool. Perfect place for a nap." Sprawling out, Parmelia closed her eyes and exhaled softly. She would probably have to dig another hole tomorrow unless this one kept cool. She hoped it kept cool because digging holes wasn't as fun as it might look.
Sakhr
Sakhr glanced between Alouette and Parmelia before shaking his head. Females. Alouette looked like she was about to faint from the heat and Parmelia was looking far too pleased with herself. Grunting, Sakhr turned and marched a few feet away before starting in on his own hole. "If you want a hole you better start digging, Alouette," he huffed, ignoring the laughter that burst from Parmelia's throat.
If he dug fast enough, he should have a hole big enough to fit him in no time -- and if Alouette needed help, he'd help her once he finished.
If he dug fast enough, he should have a hole big enough to fit him in no time -- and if Alouette needed help, he'd help her once he finished.
Alouette
Alouette stomped her feet in the sand a few times in excitement before bouncing to her paws and situating herself between Parmelia's current hole in the ground and Sakhr's intended hole position. With relish she started digging in the sand -- hot on the surface and yet blissfully cool just a few inches beneath. The desire to be cool and comfortable had overpowered the need to stay clean and presentable.
"I can't wait to take a nap in my hole," she said breathlessly. "You're so smart, 'lia." It didn't take long for Alouette to be shoulder deep in the sand.
"I can't wait to take a nap in my hole," she said breathlessly. "You're so smart, 'lia." It didn't take long for Alouette to be shoulder deep in the sand.
Parmelia
Parmelia giggled loudly, rolling over onto her belly so that she could watch them dig their individual holes. "I told you, Al. We're going to be cool and comfortable while everyone else is walking around like they're gonna die." She grinned impishly at Alouette before turning her attention to Sakhr.
"Don't get dirty or else your mom is going to get mad," she trilled teasingly, shaking her head as he just dug faster. He was so stuffy sometimes, it was good to see him relax once in a while. Stuffy Sakhr. She should start calling him that.
"Don't get dirty or else your mom is going to get mad," she trilled teasingly, shaking her head as he just dug faster. He was so stuffy sometimes, it was good to see him relax once in a while. Stuffy Sakhr. She should start calling him that.
Sakhr
Sakhr ignored Parmelia, fighting the urge to laugh. She was so bratty but it was one of the things he liked about her, just like Alouette's dainty nature was one of the things he liked. They were so opposite, and he couldn't imagine not being friends with them.
"I'm not going to tell you that you're right," Sakhr said, finishing up his hole, "but Parmelia, you are pretty smart," he finished, grinning as he watched Alouette slide into her cool sandy reprieve from the sun.
There would be time to be serious when they were adults. But for now, Sakhr was going to enjoy his cool hideaway with his two best friends.
"I'm not going to tell you that you're right," Sakhr said, finishing up his hole, "but Parmelia, you are pretty smart," he finished, grinning as he watched Alouette slide into her cool sandy reprieve from the sun.
There would be time to be serious when they were adults. But for now, Sakhr was going to enjoy his cool hideaway with his two best friends.