Akuseru had been fast asleep...and then Shumusi had startled beside him, and the darker of the brothers was very much awake, claws slightly out.

“All well?” It was routine for them. Akuseru knew the visions that plagued his brother, one of the many reasons he was glad his own visions weren’t strong at all. Sometimes his brother saw trouble coming. Sometimes he saw trouble long past. It varied.

“All is well. With us, at least.” Shumusi shook himself a bit, yawning as was...well, normal for him. The poor fiery male was tired more often than not. “Father may be another story.” That gave the darker brother a reason to frown, though his claws sheathed.

“Father? What’s wrong with Father?” The god who had sired them, who had raised them, was large and strong, and trouble was hard to come by for a god like that. His brother shook his head, looking confused and uncertain.

“I...I am not sure. He seemed distraught in my vision. Distraught and angry, and it wasn’t...it wasn’t a vision of the past. He wasn’t injured like Mother described him being when he lost his first mate. Perhaps we should put my journey on pause and seek him out?” There was worry in Shumusi’s voice, and Akuseru felt that same worry deep in his gut.

“Yeah. Yeah, we can do that. Probably best to start in the pride his god-lady is in. What was it called again?”

“The Aegnor’hini. Mmm, that would be best, yes. At the least, she may know where he’s gone. And if it comes down to it...well, certainly he wouldn’t mind us using our tokens?” Shifting, Shumusi nudged the starry feather hanging from around his brother’s neck, a similar one woven into his mane. They’d wanted to save them, but if it came to it...their father meant the world to them. To know whether he was safe or if something ailed him was important. Their mother certainly wouldn’t forgive them if they knew something might be wrong and they didn’t investigate!

“How far away do you think we are from here to there?” Shumusi looked thoughtful, going over their travels and landmarks in his head.

“One or two moon phases, I think. Not far. Hopefully he’s there rather than elsewhere.” And the fiery male rather hoped their ‘Mama Atefeh’ was there with him. The white and purple lioness had some of the best stories and always managed to hunt out the sweetest meats. He loved his brother, but Akuseru went for size to ensure both had their fill, and he himself was a horrible hunter because of his constant exhaustion.

Ah, he was grateful for his family. So very grateful.

“I hate saying it, but let’s start that way when the sun rises. You’re still tired, and waking up in the middle of your sleep can’t have helped your tiredness at all.” Shumusi sighed, nodding.
“You’re right. May your sleep be untroubled, Seru.” The darker lion smiled.

“Same to you, Musi.” The two settled back down, letting sleep claim them. When morning came, they set about erasing the traces of their presence before making their way in the direction Shumusi noted the Aegnor’hini would be from their den-of-the-night. It wasn’t a tough journey, per say, but everything was more difficult when one brother was prone to exhaustion and falling asleep as they moved. More than once, Akuseru caught his brother nodding off and kept him from stumbling into the ground, gently waking him so they could continue on. It was a routine they were, sadly, used to. And Akuseru honestly couldn’t wait until Shumusi’s ‘mission’ was finished and the fiery male back in the Kitwana with his mate. He loved his brother dearly, but the rogue lands was no place for a gentle male who was prone to falling asleep at any moment. And he knew Gadi’dogo would take care of Shumusi. The clay-colored female was absolutely smitten with his brother, and his brother was with her, and Akuseru hadn’t seen a pair of lions so saccharine since their PARENTS.

Along the way, Shumusi made sure to ask questions of those they passed, both to see if they could find their father sooner and to ensure they were still on the right path. Of course, he never mentioned the Aegnor’hini outright. He knew the pride of his father’s goddess-mate was not one with a shining reputation. And not many would understand ‘demon’ did not mean ‘evil’. Their mother had taught them that, even considering the pride she was born to.

But Shumusi knew the lands around it. They’d been there before. And it wasn’t hard to describe the great mountain near it. So it was a relief when they saw it looming in the distance, another day’s travel away. But it would be early in the day when they arrived, if they kept going, and they knew who they would need to speak to wouldn’t be awake until the night. So they settled for the time being, well away from the borders and any that might mistake them as trespassers.

“Do you think Father will be there when we arrive?” Shumusi’s voice was uncertain, and a bit scared. He’d had more visions, of starry pelts and storms and their anguished father. Akuseru placed a paw on his, giving him a soft smile.

“If he’s not, we’ll still find him. We’ll make sure he’s okay, and do whatever we can to help. We’ll be there for him, as he was for us. I promise.” Shumusi gave Akuseru a small smile back, nudging his cheek.

“I know. I just...I worry.” Gods be good, did he worry.

He only hoped that the father they saw next was still the father they knew and loved. Anguish like what he had seen in his visions changed creatures, and often not for the better. The pair of brothers settled in for the day, Shumusi falling asleep almost instantly as Akuseru remained vigilant a while longer.