Kafele found her, at long last, relaxing against the trunk of a fallen tree - turned to a husk beneath days and days of beating sun and biting wind. It had been pure luck that the dry air had carried her scent else he might have been wandering for far longer, worrying all the while.

Displeased, he reared up to set both forepaws on the trunk of the tree and took slight pleasure from the sharp crack and splinter of dead wood beneath his claws. Shoving hard against it rewarded him with an even louder sound that had Mawasii leaping from her paws and turning to look at him with a confused and accusing glare.

"What's the big idea, 'Fele?" Her tail swished behind her and he wrinkled his snout at the other smell that clung to her. He'd never come across anything quite like it. The tang of it had his hackles up. Where had she been to leave smelling like that?

"I could ask you the same thing. Where have you been all this time? You know you shouldn't go wandering off like that alone. This land is an unknown and the seers have warned of danger...or had you forgotten?"

"You didn't see that danger," she reminded, "I put more faith in your visions than any of theirs." She was not as superstitious as all that, though she had heeded their warning a little. She'd been cautious...well, perhaps... "You know I can take care of myself. See? Not a scratch on me, so don't worry yourself."

"I promised that I'd take care of you," he added, "besides, even if I didn't specifically foresee danger, this place unnerves me. There was a pride here once. Flourishing and brimming with culture. Now it's all turned to dust. It feels like we're stepping on graves of the dead."

"Only memories," Mawasii said gently.

"Just as powerful," Kafele reasoned, taking a seat next to the crumbling tree. "So, are you going to tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"What your disappearing act was all about? I know you, Mawasii. You're a glory hunter if I ever knew one and you'd only disappear for this long if you were on some sort of mission. Remember that time you decided to track that old bull across the Savannah? How you thought you could bring back a trophy to prove the might of your skill? I see no trophy but there's a glint in your eye, all the same." He paused and set her with a steady look, "so, I ask again, what was it about?"

The pair of siblings stared at one another for a long time, trying to garner the thoughts of the other. They had been inseperable as cubs and their bond had grown when they had struck out as rogues together. They were odd candidates for the Nergui in many ways. Neither of them were cruel or aggressive but Mawasii was skilled in battle and Kafele - though he would never admit to it - was a rather well-trained seer. Though neither of them completely approved of the Nergui's brutish ways, they had found themselves living a rather interesting lifestyle. The pair of them held few secrets from one another and it was their togetherness that gave them much of their strength.

Mawasii's hesitation was for show alone. A little fake defiance to tease her brother - even though he knew she'd eventually give in.

"I thought I found that danger, actually,"

His brows lifted into his mane.

"I was at the border, relaxing, and without any warning at all, some dark rogue comes striding by. Big male. Strong. He looked dangerous...something about him that just seemed a little...off. So, against my better judgement, I tried to get his attention and he ignored me."

"No," Kafele's response dripped with teasing sarcasm.

"I know. Unbelievable." She waved a paw dismissively and continued, "well, anyway. I eventually got his attention, tried to question him, but he refused to answer anything and eventually threatened me. He could have been jesting, of course, buuuut, I rather think that if I had asked even one more question I would have been in serious trouble."

"Mawasii..." Kafele looked pained, "you can't just do things like that. Look, I know you can fight and defend yourself, but you put yourself in a really dangerous situation."

She gave her brother a deadpan look, "another lecture? Really?"

"I worry," the gentle giant replied, looking at her in earnest. "Is that so hard to understand? You're all I have, sis. There's no other family here now. I have no idea where Kreia went and Mother could be anywhere."

Mawasii reached over to set a paw over his, "I'm sorry. I know. It was stupid and I was worried for a moment, but it all ended okay. I'm fine."

"So how did you get away safely?"

Mawasii gave him a sheepish smile then, folding her legs in against her chest.

Kafele, for a long moment, just blinked at her. Blink. Blink. Blink. And then, after some time, realisation dawned on him like the slowly encroaching desert sun.

"No."

Mawasii's sheepish grin widened.

"No."

Her grin looked set to break her face in half. "Yep."

"But...how could you be so stupid? How could you put yourself in such a vulnerable position? He could have killed you, Mawasii. Why didn't you just stop talking and leave? That's what any normal person would have done."

"Sometimes in life, it's worth taking a risk," Mawasii argued and, when he opened his mouth to respond, she leapt in to cut him off, "okay, so maybe I could have chosen a safer option, but I don't want safe. I want cubs, 'Fele. I want to be a mother and raise strong children. If I fall pregnant with his cubs, they'll carry some of him, too. His markings. His size. His strength. He was everything a Nergui female could ever want and more."

Kafele's ears dropped, "but you could have found someone who would have stuck by you. Loved you."

Mawasii sobered, "love is a hard thing to come by, 'Fele. It's dangerous, too. This way, there can never be any broken hearts." Certainly, she would not be brokenhearted over this, though she did feel disappointed that she'd not had the chance to find out more about him. He had intrigued her. Drawn her in with his aura. Captivated her with his silence and his aggressive attitude. Sure, he had also been rather insulting, but she was not exactly a sensitive female who would go sobbing because she'd been called a few rude names. In fact, you might even go so far as to say his attitude had only attracted her. He had been rude, yes, but there was honesty. No manipulation. No pretending to be something he wasn't. She could respect that. Trust it, even.

It had been a risky play, on her part, but when they had parted ways, she had felt the tiniest bit of disappointment.

Her brother sighed loudly, breaking her from her reverie.

"So...another question, if I may?"

"Hm?"

"What is that horrible stench?"

Mawasii blinked, then laughed - her sides shaking from the effort. The smell of that rogue had taken her by surprise, too, and she'd quite forgotten how much of a slap to the face it was. Her nose was growing accustomed to it now, and she doubted she smelt as strongly as the strange rogue had, but it wasn't something you came across everyday.

"Honestly, I have no idea. He smelt like he hadn't groomed in years."

"And you let him get close to you?" Kafele made a disgusted face.

"More than that," Mawasii reminded, pulling her hind legs up beneath her and leaping at her brother.

He jolted upright and away from her. "The Nergui aren't exactly the most groomed bunch of characters I've ever had the joy of hanging around with, but that is on a whole new level. You should wash...just...make sure you avoid the murky pool near the rock face."

"Why?"

"There's a monster in there."



[fin - 1344 words]