yael

She can feel the eyes on her as she works her not-so-subtle magic, transforming from a demure, relatively unthreatening figure to one that could cause quite a large amount of destruction – even at her smallish size. Tembovu’s introduction does not go unnoticed, however, and she gives a little wince, lowering her head in a sheepish grin, revealing a line of pearly white, sharp incisors. Her head swings towards the twins, then back to the Elephant -  who is now in the midst of his own shift. “Ssssorry. Guessssss I ruined zat lessssson… “ and yet, she cannot help but chuckle, because the former King and his brood tower hands over her, built for strength and other things like that. Their version of working the land is probably far more productive and efficient than Yael’s version. “To be fair, I am not asssss sssssstrong as you and your kin. Een vich casssssse, eesssssss not mageec occasssssssionally appropriate? Accordeeng to each ssssssseetuation?” Work smarter, not harder. Surely even the ancient Dorobians used whatever tools were at their disposal to make the workload easier.

She is momentarily distracted by Zani as he goes through his own little kitten version of an emotional battle. Natural fear of a predator faces off with curiosity and the feline urge to pounce on things – namely, the hyena’s tail. He watches the appendage intently, trying to feign some sort of nonchalance, but we all know the kit isn’t as cool and disinterested as he appears to be – he’s simply too young. His body finally betrays him as he tries to slink forward, crouched low the ground, head and eyes hungry for every twitch the hyena’s tail offers.

Show-off or not, as Yael listens to the former King and his children, she is keenly aware that she has indeed interrupted something. Shuffling back, scaled  tail swishes against the dirt and rock, until she can maneuver around the trio and head towards the edge of an area which still needs to be cleared. Tembovu asks her a question, and she replies quite cheerfully over one shoulder, as if to make up for whatever rumbles travel between the other three. “Oh, jusssssst fine, T’ank you. Ze Goddesssss eesssss…. Vell, you know. Eenteressssssteeng. And not kite full of ‘neksssssst sssstepssss.’ I am afraid I’m playeeng eet all by ear!” She manages not to be too distraught about divisive affections or literally having never done this kind of job before. No sense in letting anyone other than her bosses worry, you know? Even one who may have some insight into the workings of the divine.

Dragon-Yael then settles in to work, trying to make her silver-white body inconspicuous as powerful jaws wrap around bushes and pull, while taloned hands dig, and one ear is trained on the family that isn’t too far away.

No one ever said Yael isn’t nosy.