Khaa Se-isi Bakari

Priest of Ma'at

A pleased look passes across Khaa's face as Nuage confirms that he had not had further bad dreams, and appreciates the smile directed at him. A cute little smile that made Khaa silently question why it made his chest feel tight for a brief moment. It was probably just the events of the night before and then the excitement of being somewhere new... Right? Surely. "Ah, I'm glad. " He muses softly.

He didn't really expect the reaction he receives, but then again, he shouldn't expect a stranger to willingly jump straight into an agreement. Yet, somehow, Nuage didn't seem like a total stranger, despite being one. Perhaps that's what spending the night in a strange place does? Khaa refused to admit any confusion, even to himself, and simply pushed it all to the back of his mind to focus on the thoughts at hand.

"Of course, I wouldn't have otherwise," He assures warmly, trying his hardest to not seem as if he was chiding him. He did that so often with Akoren when she was young that as she grew, she teased him for his lack of empathy - it would certainly explain why she ended up with the personality she has, in that case. Oops.

"Well, if a certain someone here," Sati pipes up at Nuage's question of where they should be going, her eyes fixed on Khaa as it seems his head isn't entirely with him just yet (maybe she'd teased him too much? Nah.), "wasn't busy daydreaming, may I suggest that we head to the nearest fresh water source. I think we could all use a drink." Sometimes Khaa wonders about the little caracal and how it is that they put up with each other; though, she isn't normally like this when they're on their own. Certainly she teases him some, but nothing like what she'd been doing since last night. It was unsettling, really, and causes Khaa to frown at her comment before snorting a little, as if huffing that he had to agree with her idea.

"Why don't you go on ahead, then, Sati." It was not a question but nor was it a demand, as Khaa stood as still as a tree whilst watching the feline. She gave her nose a bit of a wriggle and gave a shrug before starting off past them. She would give them some space, at least for a while. If anything, the way the coloured male jumped at her reappearance, he probably needed some time to calm his nerves and it would be easier without her butting in. She would leave Khaa to his own devices for now, though if their chatter warranted her input, she would certainly be giving it.

Khaa's head droops a little as he releases a soft sigh, almost of relief, as she walks off ahead of them, and he offers Nuage an apologetic look. "Don't worry," he assures quietly, "She gets a bit grumpy in the morning before she eats."

Every night the battle between chaos and creation must go on,
otherwise the world will be destroyed.

Speaks | Thinks | Sounds Like | Sati Speaks

♦♦

@Nuage ♥

His insecurity is readable in his eyes when he looks up through his lashes at Khaa, accompanied by the sparkle of hope. He does not fully understand himself, but yes, he would like to accompany the unlikely pair he had only met the day before. Usually Nuage secluded himself from others, ignoring his desire to belong. Yet, something in Khaa – and Sati of course – makes him want to linger around the taller male just a little bit longer. But, he is afraid of becoming a hassle, of suffocating others, and that is what made him ask uncertainly if Khaa and Sati would really want him to join.

Khaa does not disappoint him. Out of habit he had readied himself to get turned down. Often others had taken advantage of the way out he would offer them by asking if they were really sure, but Khaa does not. He assures Nuage with his pleasant voice, and words that encourage the bay and blue male, before they fluster him. Of course he does. Why else would he ask? Sometimes – or rather quite often – he really is a fool. “I.. I’d like to,” he tells the Egyptian man with a shy smile, just before Sati re-enters the clearing.

Why he does keep forgetting Sati has a mind and voice of her own he does keep forgetting, even though her voice had startled him in the first place. Keep it together, Nu, he grumbles at himself. But how can he? His eyes move from Khaa to Sati and back to Khaa. Wait, what? Daydreaming? Blinking his eyes he studies the blonde male, a slight frown upon his features. Nuage does not understand the banter between them, nor their bond, but he does not move from his spot until Sati moves to lead the way, just as Khaa had suggested. “Grumpy..?” he asks confused, glancing up at Khaa before glancing in the way of the caracal ahead of them. He had not thought of her at grumpy. Not that he really knew how he had interpret her words, but at least not grumpy.

It isn’t until she is a little ahead that Nuage moves, taking a few cautious steps as his muscles protest. His ‘swim’ had not done his body any good. Speaking about food – his own belly rumbling softly – “What… what does she.. eat?” She did not look like she ate what they did, but he does not let his thoughts stray to what she might fancy, the idea of eating meat made him somewhat nauseous. 



@Khaa ♥

Khaa Se-isi Bakari

Priest of Ma'at

Khaa glances slightly over his shoulder to look at Nuage, giving his head a slight nod for the other to catch up to him and not worry about walking behind; that said, Khaa also slows his walking to a more relaxed pace. His longer legs and generally long strides often caused him to walk far ahead of others without intending to, so he always had to be mindful to match pace with his company so they didn't feel left behind.

"Ha, no need to worry," Khaa notices the uncertainty regarding Sati's choice in diet, "She mostly eats fish, but she'll chase small creatures, too, if she can find them. She won't do this in front of us, though." Whilst such things didn't bother him too much, there had been a couple of instances where the kills hadn't been swift and it had really made his stomach churn. After that point, he'd asked her to try her best to feed away from other equines. He was aware there were others out there that did feast upon flesh, but they were few and far between.

It is pleasant to have the company of someone else. It had just been the two of them for quite some time and whilst he appreciated Sati's companionship, he had been feeling more homesick as of late. However, now he had something new to distract himself with, and for that he was rather grateful despite the circumstances.

"Hmm, it's a shame there doesn't seem to be any apple trees around," Khaa notes, sniffing the air but there was only the smell of the grass, flowers, and distant water.

Every night the battle between chaos and creation must go on,
otherwise the world will be destroyed.

Speaks | Thinks | Sounds Like | Sati Speaks

♦♦

@Nuage ♥

Ignoring his protesting muscles, Nuage pushes himself forward to catch up with Khaa. Though the invitation warms him, it flusters him at the same time. Shyly he glances at the taller man out of the corner of his eye, offering a shy smile as sapphire meets ruby. A silent sign of appreciation for the lower pace. Khaa has two pairs of damn long legs to keep up with. Sexy.

However, it does not distract his thoughts enough to not ask about Sati’s diet. All the companions he had met before had been either avian or an herbivore. Khaa does not make fun of his question, instead reassures him with that deep warm voice of him. Nuage is pretty sure he could listen to Khaa speak for hours without getting bored. While getting distracted, you mean. Distracted by his voice. “Ah,” he replies a but stupidly, searching for words as he glances at Khaa for a moment before looking ahead where Sati is somewhere exploring the way. “.. that’s.. good?”

Almost automatically Nuage tilts his head a little and sniffs the air after Khaa’s mention of apple trees. He smells water, and not the salt water from the sea. Thank the lord. A shiver runs down his spine remembering his nightmare and near death experience. “You like them..?” he asks, tilting his head as he looks up at Khaa for a moment. “Eeh.. apples I mean..” Yeah, great way of making a fool out of yourself. What is done, is done. “Perhaps they are.. on the other shore?”

As they near the water, the gentle sound of a running river reaches his ears. Nuage lifts his head ever so slightly, and his ears perk forward. Out of his control, he flickers in and out of visibility a couple of times. It differs from disappearing completely from sight, to becoming vaguely transparent. A fool. Nuage does not dare to look at Khaa. He must think me a child.. “A river.. it should be close..” Which, of course, Khaa knows just as well. His ears – and the exotic man has four of them – clearly must have heard it too.



@Khaa ♥

Khaa Se-isi Bakari

Priest of Ma'at

Khaa really only gives a bit of a nod of his head to Nuage's semi-unsure reaction to Sati's feeding habits, not really feeling the need to go into any more detail on the matter. He does, however, give a little cheeky smile when asked if he likes apples, "Mmhmm, indeed. Though, they are a fairly recent favourite. If I had to pick a single fruit to eat for the rest of my life, it would probably be the fig... or, maybe plums. " There is a small hearty chuckle that escapes him at his indecision, but they were two of the staple fruits of his homeland and he missed them terribly at times; there had been a couple of instances where he'd come across some plums, but it felt like an eternity since he'd last eaten a fresh fig - dried just wasn't the same.

He certainly appreciated Nuage's suggestion of hope, and this did seem like it would be a fairly bountiful place, so, just maybe there would be. And if not, maybe just not in this area. Both middle larger ears perked forward to the sounds ahead, though he hadn't focused particularly on the sound of water but on the quiet sounds Sati was making. She was already beginning her hunt.

He turns to look at Nuage, only to stop in his tracks and look vaguely surprised, mostly wondering if he'd just seen what he thought he had. It was much more obvious in the light than it had been last night, that was for certain. But the other stallion speaks and Khaa nods a little, though he remains still. "Sati found something, we best not spook whatever it is." He speaks barely above a whisper as he waits, large ears still focused in Sati's direction.

Multiple ears were certainly useful, especially when one could control them each fairly individually. Not exactly with the dexterity of a rabbit, but not too far off. He could turn each of his ears as a horse normally would, it was simply that he could do that with all four of them. It was helpful to be able to hear what was both in front and behind at the same time.

Whilst waiting, Khaa turns his gaze upon his new companion once more, "Are you alright? His voice is still low, but it is evident that it holds some level of concern. He didn't exactly know what it was all about, he could only guess, but he assumed it was at least somewhat tied to how Nuage arrived here; like his nightmare. He takes a small step closer, though he doesn't intend to invade the other's space.

Every night the battle between chaos and creation must go on,
otherwise the world will be destroyed.

Speaks | Thinks | Sounds Like | Sati Speaks

♦♦

@Nuage ♥

It is a good change of topic, apples sound much more appetizing than fish or ‘small creatures’. And now the apples have become the topic, Nuage has to agree that he would like some too. “Figs? Plums?” he repeats after Khaa, not really sure what the fruits are the exotic man named as his favourites. Tilting his horned head a little, Nuage glances up at Khaa, curious to hear more. “What.. are they like?” He had not heard about those fruits before, they must be as exotic as the four eared and horned creature walking beside him.

Fuck. Khaa is actually walking beside him. Invited him along and even slowing down for Nuage to keep up. The thought flusters the bay and blue male, making him cast his gaze down, however, he cannot stop the shy smile that tugs on the corners of his lips. In just a few seconds he had gotten lost in his own thoughts, so when Khaa stops, it actually surprises. He had been ready to sprint to the river to avoid this flustered state, except that he had not actually dared too.

“Oh,” is the not very intelligent whispered sound that leaves his lips. The thought of Sati hunting makes him turn invisible for a short moment. His ears perk and he tries to pick up the sounds Khaa had heard. Only to then realise that he does not want to hear them. Instead he looks up at the taller male, studying the pale stallion for a short moment. The turning and twisting of his ears tells Nuage that Khaa is listening, and suddenly he feels like he is intruding. His gaze lowers to the ground and he wants to shift his weight around to handle the sudden awkwardness that overcomes him, but Nuage does not dare to lift a foot. He doesn’t want to disturb the caracal’s hunt. Not after what she had done for him last night. The purring had been very reassuring.

Remembering the purring is remembering last night, and remembering his ‘adventure’ in the sea. A shiver runs down Nuage’s spine and he struggles to stay still. Think of more pleasant things, think of more pleasant things. But what? Khaa? Fuck. Yes, thinking of the tall man is much more pleasant, but probably not the way to go right now. Khaa’s low, deep voice breaks the silence. Having to swallow a lump in his throat Nuage drops his head in a nod. “I.. the water, bad memories,” he whispers back, his voice somewhat stuttering. “I’m..” Physically he was okay, aside from his very sore muscles. Mentally, Nuage does not know. Was he alright? Probably not. Another shiver teases his spine and without really noticing it he shifts his weight in Khaa’s direction, moving closer on instinct.

“I will be.. I think..” One day. Hopefully soon. It all feels like a bad dream, but his body tells him that it isn’t. And that is what scares him. He could’ve been dead. A part of him wants to continue, to the water to lessen is thirst, but a part of him doesn’t. Suddenly he is glad Khaa is with him, as he does not know if he is brave enough to approach the water on his own. He takes a small step in Khaa’s direction, seeking comfort. “I.. I don’t know how.. I ended up there..” In the sea. That part of his memory has not returned. Only the feeling of water everywhere and the panic that had consumed him. Nuage is pretty sure he can still hear the rushing of his own blood, his heart had beat fast and loud.



@Khaa ♥
I think I had muse...

Khaa Se-isi Bakari

Priest of Ma'at

Khaa cocks his head a little as Nuage questions what the fruits were. He'd never been asked that before, so he didn't really know how to even describe them. "Oh, um... Plums are a stone fruit, they have a few different coloured skins, usually red or sort of like a dark reddish blue-black, purple... If that makes sense," He actually has to wrack his brain for this, with it having been so long since he'd had one or even seen one, but it certainly makes him wish he could sink his teeth into one right about now and share the delicious fruits with Nuage.

"Kind of like a really large cherry." He chuckles, not knowing what else he could accurately associate it with. Hopefully Nuage knew what a cherry was, though. But before he can go on to explain what a fig is - which in all honesty isn't exactly an attractive looking fruit - Khaa steps a little closer so they're almost touching shoulders, just in case Nuage needed support, or if he might collapse.

He listens to what the other says and nods his head a little in understanding. "If it helps, the memories will fade over time," behind him, Khaa's mummified tail lightly swishes back and forth, "It might hurt for a while, more so when you remember; if you do, but," He pauses for a moment to look at the bay and blue stallion with a warm expression, "You're welcome to stay with me - and Sati, of course - for as long as you like."

The offer is sincere and genuine, Khaa's tone is low but soft as he gives Nuage a small smile in hopes of reassuring him. Being alone after a traumatic experience was horrible. he'd seen the fear in others so many times - but closer to home was his sister, and himself, in a way. His tail moves slowly back and forth in slow almost snake-like motions; he hadn't been alone when it had happened, but it hadn't been very long at all after it that he had been, left to suffer in silence and solitude away from his homeland and all that he knew and loved.

Sati had helped with some of those feelings when she had bonded with him and decided to tag along, of which he was immensely grateful for. Nuage didn't seem to have that, though, and it just made something in Khaa decide that he needed to offer that support and friendship to the other in hopes that perhaps he could help, even if only in a small way.

"Afterall, I'll have to find you some plums and figs to try." A gentle chuckle follows his words as he then nods his head a little in motion to go forward, Sati having dashed off down stream.

Every night the battle between chaos and creation must go on,
otherwise the world will be destroyed.

Speaks | Thinks | Sounds Like | Sati Speaks

♦♦

@Nuage ♥