[SRP] A Tale of Two Thralls [Skare x Yorshka]

[Vashtya]

Making a face, Skare made his way, laboriously, down to where the herd-beasts were kept. Breathing was still...uncomfortable, but he'd started pushing himself to do more than lay on his side in Hila's den, rasping painfully, often alone, in the rather small den. The chill air seemed to help, but he still moved gingerly, his gait that of a much older lion.

He'd also started doing minor tasks around the den, and while Hila had watched him suspiciously at first, as if concerned he was going trigger a relapse (or, he thought rebelliously, stage a mutiny), she had stopped narrowing her eyes at him when he went to straighten up the sleeping furs, or organize the trinkets she occasionally brought back. It wasn't so much that he was embracing his current status - he resented the hell out of it...it was more a fear of punishment, intermingling with a lingering sense of gratitude that refused to die.

And so today, since Hila had yet to actually assign tasks to him (although he suspected that to begin soon, since he was now firmly on the mend), he had decided to come down here, to see if he could collect some small odds and ends of bones to carve, needing something to distract himself from the dark mood that threatened to overwhelm him.

He was careful to avoid drawing unnecessary attention to himself, barely controlling a flinch at the aggression that seemed to be a major part of daily interaction among the pride - the last thing he wanted was to be on the receiving end of it, since he had no way of knowing if Hila would even care, and he was in no physical shape to defend himself.
 

[Pandorus Sphinx]

Yorshka had been a thrall for sometime now, and though she was lucky enough to be protected by Aldan, who was both her lover and keeper, the lioness had not gone unmolested during her time here. She had endured abuse at the hands of another male off and on for months, and it wasn't until her lover came home from a Viiking and put an end to the never ending stream of assaults that she really been able to sleep well at night. The red-maned demon had not been successful in his attempts to... ravage her, but his constant persistence had made the pale lioness fearful of strange males.

So much so in fact that she often would head home at the first sight of one, though today her confidence felt high and she was able to step outside without the worry of assault. Yorshka wore his feather on her ear to indicate her belonging to a reaver in hopes of it helping keep her invisible to other males in the pride. She hoped that this in combination with her timid exterior would keep prying eyes away.

Though, lately she felt safe mostly due to Aldan, who had just kicked her stalkers a**. It helped keep her relaxed on days where she needed to gather items for the den and hunt for small game. Aldan was resting after his long venture outside of the pride, so the lioness wanted surprise him with dinner and fresh flowers.

Tiny tokens to show her affection and gratitude.

Slowly the masked female moved into the sunlight before her pale blue eyes settled on the figure of a unfamiliar face. "Mmm..." The lioness muttered to herself as she lowered her ears back defensively.

Oddly though, this male hadn't seemed to notice her. He seemed busy with chores himself. Was he a thrall too?

"Hello." Yorshka called out with a soft smile. He looked a lot like her actually, he was very pale and soft on the eyes. Maybe he could help her find the flowers she was looking for? If he was a thrall too of course.

"Sorry to intrude." The lioness nodded as she moved a littler closer to the newcomer. "-but I was looking for yellow flowers. Have you seen any?" She kept herself at a safe distance still, just in case he was a reaver himself. For some reason though... he didn't seem like the type.  

[Vashtya]

Skare started painfully at the voice, although both the tone and and the words were unthreatening. In fact...inhaling deeply, he hid the wince that the action prompted, suspecting, even as he began to turn to look at the speaker, that she was not one of the stormborn. Softness and gentility, along with courtesy, were not highly prized, if any of his interactions with his 'owner', or what he had observed in passing were accurate.

He turned slowly...violet eyes blinking twice as he looked at the lioness standing a short distance away. She was as pale as he was in color, and the...not exactly wary, but cautiousness in her expression had him suspecting that her situation might be a similar one to his own.

"Hello." His voice was scratchy with disuse - Hila ws not inclined to converse with him much, usually opting to throw words at him without any expectation of a response...and truthfully, he had had little desire to talk extensively to his captor, even if she had also saved his life.

At her apologetic words, he gave her a tentative smile - she was definitely not freeborn, he felt safe in presuming now. His shoulders hunched slightly, and he looked around cautiously, as if concerned they might be drawing attention to themselves, he relaxed slightly to see no one else nearby. Clearing his throat roughly, he spoke again, his voice emerging much more smoothly this time, although his posture remained somewhat tentative. "You aren't intruding." His voice was naturally soft and inviting; something that had contributed to his skills as a storyteller, when the situation called for it.

Looking around at her question, he shook his head slowly, blinking. "I am..new around here, and until now haven't been well enough to leave the den." The words came out a little bit rough, bitterness at his new status bleeding through, if only slightly. He hesitated slightly, reluctant to end this conversation with the first somewhat-friendly face he'd come across since...before his capture. "If you would like some help looking, though...I don't have any pressing tasks." Other than avoiding reinjuring himself, anyway.

Pandorus Sphinx