[SRP] Can't Stop - Meera x Kardas

[bipolar bee]

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Meera walked along purposefully. She rarely dallied, rarely made any move that wasted time. Every word she spoke was filled with thought and meaning. She was a quiet thrall, and always did what was asked of her - just as she always had, really. This day, she'd been asked by Badoura to show a new thrall around the pride, and so Meera had. The lion was named Kardas, and he was really quite stunning to look at; it was sad, then, thought Meera, that he was an utter buffoon when it came to his personality.

"This way."

Meera didn't stop to see if he followed. He would, or he wouldn't. Either way, she would do her job.

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Kardas followed along behind the lioness, not because he was driven by any particular curiosity, but because he really had nothing better to do. He had been introduced to Badoura, and from there he'd been introduced to Meera. He couldn't tell if the lioness that led him through the pride was a dullard or just quiet, and in truth Kardas didn't really care either way.

When she told him to follow, he did, and warred with himself for a moment whether or not he should make some sort of snide remark. So far he hadn't made friends anywhere in the pride, not that it usually bothered him - but he wasn't feeling particularly malicious at the moment, so he kept his mouth shut.

For now.

 

[bipolar bee]

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Truthfully, Meera half expected the lion to pop off at her. He had been a little snide towards Badoura and without reason; Badoura was one of the sweetest lionesses that Meera knew, and because of his attitude Meera made no effort to engage with him.

When she was forced to speak, she kept her tone clipped.

"These dens are where the thralls who have no keeper stay. Some thralls are wed, and they tend to share a den with their family. Since you are single and have no cubs, you'll share a den with other thralls of your age and gender."

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"Fantastic," his voice was rife with sarcasm. Kardas made no attempt to tone it down, either. He had no plans on being a thrall for long; eventually he would work his way up in the ranks, and he'd push himself farther than his brother had gone. Being a thrall for a short time allowed him to watch the pride from within; he could be a little wallflower and just watch, learn, and wait.

Information was a brutal, brutal weapon, and Kardas knew that well.

"And where do you sleep, Meera?"

His tone had changed; a little insulting, a little intimate, a little suggestive.

 

[bipolar bee]

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"As far from you as possible," was Meera's succinct reply as she continued walking. She had no interest in his lewd behavior, just as she had no interest in the lewd behavior of any given lion that might approach her in hopes of a tumble.

"The sands for sparring are that way," she lifted a paw, "and some thralls are in charge of keeping them free of debris so that our Reavers are not wounded when they fight one another. It might be a duty that suits you."

They passed a den filled with bumbling cubs, and Meera deftly sidestepped one that stumbled too close.

"Be careful of the babes."

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Kardas grunted at her reply and glanced where she'd pointed, nearly tripping over a small cub that tangled itself up in his paws. He bit back a curse as he glanced around; the mother of the cub gave him a rather pointed look, and Kardas flashed her a stiff smile before continuing after Meera.

"I have no interest in frolicking in sand day in and day out," he snapped softly. "I will find another duty. What is another suggestion?"

He couldn't wait to hear it. It probably had to do with watching cubs or something equally demeaning. Kardas rolled his eyes.

 

[bipolar bee]

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Meera glanced back at Kardas mildly as they continued walking.

"We have many freeborn who practice varying trades. We have gardeners. Paint makers. Dye crafters. Jewelers. Mint tenders. Berry brewers. I'm sure any one of them could find a use for you," disbelief tinted her usually staid tone, but Meera didn't truly care. It was obvious she didn't think much of the sky-colored lion.

"The priestesses have need of gatherers, as well. I heard talk of a bee tender, as well, who harvests honey for fermented berries and the like."

Meera fell silent as they continued walking. A lioness of few words.

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It irked Kardas, in all honesty, that he'd be forced to tend to the whims of other lions. However, if there was trade to learn, Kardas wanted to learn it. He'd never suspected that the Stormborn were as cultured as they were. As Meera led him through the pride, he was rather shocked by the self-sufficiency of the pride.

It was fascinating, not that he'd ever admit to it.

"And if I decide to assist none of them? What comes of thralls who choose to remain unbound to any lion in particular?"

He wasn't sure it was an option, but if it was, Kardas wanted to pursue it.

 

[bipolar bee]

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Meera laughed, a rough and sudden sound, at the suggestion that there might be a choice in certain things.

"A thrall does not choose. A thrall is told, and a thrall is expected to listen. We have much to be thankful for, in all honesty. We are kept safe from outside harm, and we are kept fed. We need only make ourselves available to those of higher station than ours, and tend to our duties, and keep quiet."

It was pretty simple to Meera. She didn't understand what Kardas was having difficulty with.

"If you have questions, direct them to Badoura. I have other duties to attend to."

That being said, Meera left Kardas where he stood.

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Safe and fed, bah. Make himself available? Kardas had a feeling that he didn't want to really dwell on that thought for too long. He watched Meera walk away, a thoughtful expression on his face. There was solace in the fact that his brother was a part of the pride, and Freeborn at that. If anyone could help him rise from the rank of thrall, it was Skydas.

When he could no longer see Meera, Kardas made his way back to Badoura. The dark lioness would be a good place to start, he supposed, in finding something to occupy his time.