[SRP] Care Less (Tala x Euphyrates)

[Epine de Rose]

Lazy days often made for the best days; or that was how the majority of the pride seemed to feel. He had been one who ascribed to that for the most part, but not so much to be lazy, as to simply enjoy the tranquility of it all. Very little ruffled his feathers and it was in large part due to the fact that he perceived the vast majority of problems to be very small. The world had a way of working things out, on many occasions you didn't need to do anything, or depending on who you spoke to, patience was simply required.

In a manner of speaking it was that relaxed demeanour that existed throughout the pride. Their long standing peace was courtesy of the fact that they worked when they had to, and intervened when they had to, but when it came to the smaller things, they usually let them play out. The tsunami had been the largest, single most important moment in their history and it had binded the pride together. The bonds that had been severed in that tragedy had given birth to new ones and secured peace.

...Granted it had been rocky at the start; but then the world had sent their new 'leader's' father to intervene.

What they had been left with was a home that they could be proud of again; a community that cared for one another and simply enjoyed life. It was for this reason that the lion was now relaxing by the shoreline with his paw drooped into the water. He'd found himself a nice perch, he was fishing of course, but he wasn't actively fishing like some of the other hunters preferred to do.

This way had a way of working out better for him.

Words: 297

 

[Epine de Rose]

She'd come away from her meeting with the Hlare in two minds; on the one hand she had something that seemed to help her, on the other hand she had also received advice that she didn't really understand. Was she supposed to simply find ways to distract herself any time those thoughts or concerns came up? Surely not every male she had encountered was unlucky in that department, all signs pointed towards her as the one with the problem.

Alas, she would attempt to do what she had been advised and this would start with a small walk on the beach. She'd grown to appreciate this land, there was something very special about it. She certainly loved the Pridelands, but out here there was a sense of peace and its source really wasn't something she could put her paw on. Perhaps it was simply the manner in which these lions acted in their day to day life, the fact that they never seemed to be all that unhappy, or if they were they seemed to have methods of addressing it.

...Whatever it was, it put her at ease.

For example, even as she walked she took note of a number of hunters out within the sea. Every now and then she would see them dive and then resurface elsewhere; some functioned in groups while others operated as individuals. Systematically they farmed for what they needed; and yet even on the shore there seemed to be others adopting different techniques. Further observations would show that even as those hunters might work, those not on duty felt comfortably playing and socialising nearby.

Things just seemed to work out here.

Alas, it wasn't long before she decided to pause, taking advantage of one of the outcroppings that a lone fisher was lying upon. It had a good view, the water was gentle here, and she'd even have conversation if she wanted it... But the company would be enough for now.

Words: 327

 

[Epine de Rose]

Aha, he had company! Euphyrates offered a smile as Tala closed the gap between them, though he made no attempt to get up. Once he'd acknowledged her he quickly returned his gaze towards the water beneath him and waited. Far beneath him he could see the more cautious fish loitering, but as they had yet to grow in confidence, they would remain out of reach for the time being. Their size was ideal for the cubs and given the other hunters had plenty of expertise in catching the larger prey, he preferred to specialise in the more difficult sort.

They had a lot of cubs at the moment, they needed enough food. This was his go-to, given that it would be enough to avoid overfeeding them and some of them wouldn't battle over the leftovers. One or two fish each and they were generally on their merry little ways!

"Afternoon," he offered at last and raised his other paw just a touch in a subtle request for her to walk more carefully. Step by step she was disturbing the water, if she did anymore then he might not be able to persuade the fish that it was safe out here. "You picked a good spot, sun is nice and warm but there's a bit of a breeze to avoid overheating," he chuckled.

"No surf though, you'll need to go further out for that today," he added, just in case she wanted to try her hand at something more exciting...

Words: 249
Total Words (Euphyrates): 546

 

[Epine de Rose]

"Oh, no surf for me today," Tala shook her head as she slowed her pace. She hadn't initially understood it but as she'd looked at her own paws she'd realised what he meant. She found herself impressed by just how precise his fishing technique seemed to be. He was engrossed, but not to the point that he couldn't acknowledge his surroundings, and he seemed more than happy to engage in conversation though he might not be able to look directly at her.

"I was mostly just looking for a place to relax," she added. She stepped passed him, albeit carefully, and settled herself nearby. She wanted to give him the distance he needed, and given she wasn't entirely sure how much distance he'd need, she gave him about a lion's length worth of room. Honestly, this was perhaps the perfect place for her to sit, she could watch a variety of activities and maybe even learn a little about them.

...And it would get her mind off the other thing.

"How long does this normally take?" she asked curiously and he glanced briefly towards her, a mere flash of his iris before it shifted back.

"How long is a piece of seaweed?" he responded with a wry smile. "It takes as long as it needs to," he said gently. The reaction he got was probably not something he expectant, but his choice of phrase was certainly well timed in the given circumstances.

"I see," she murmured, lowering her chin to her paws to peer down into the depths where she finally saw what he was pursuing. Ah, no wonder he was waiting so quietly, they hadn't come far enough up and they looked tiny enough to scatter in every direction. The water was their domain and if he leapt in too quickly, he'd lose this challenge...

Words: 308
Total Words (Tala): 635