tembovu

The thing about deer trails is just that: they are meant for deer. Even the cloven hooves of equids cannot manage the trail with the same silence, the same ease, as their slender, antlered ungulate cousins. And so it was the carefully covert crunch of snow interspersed with a sly snap of dormant branches that cocked the Elephant’s ear. His rest (a rarity, truly) in the sunlight that illuminated the small clearing he stood in was interrupted by such noises— and his head slowly lifted from its wither-level lounging.

Languidly, his large skull swung in the direction of the intermittent, surreptitious sounds, black-dotted ears sweeping forward as navy eyes probed the shadows between coarse trunks. But he saw nothing in the late Frostfall light. The laze left his features, relaxation creasing into alert attention. Deep, slow breaths scented the air, leaving clouds of vapor around his face but he only scented—

Raeden and Tin? Another deep inhale expanded his slabbed ribs— and another he did not recognize. A stranger? So deep in the Edge? Did Raeden bring them (him, Mbwene’s long trunk scented testosterone… plenty of it) as a new herd member? But it was not the practice to bring them past the border…Perplexed, the King’s massive strides began to carry his great bulk through the trunks, following his flared black nostrils to a scene that raised both of his onyx brows.

He had known Raeden only as the beautiful, dispirited mare who sought a place and purpose. Now, seeing her with her horn aimed at a dark, muscled stallion. Though his first instinct is to intervene (the soldier in him wishes to protect both the Edge and Raeden), he simply stops and casts his gaze between the mahogany man and gilded woman.

Mbwene hovers at his side silently, though her trunk is raised and ears are out in silent warning to the intruder. Though she does not know Raeden, the connection to her that she felt from Tembovu made her trust the pale palomino. So her bright blue eyes narrow on the interloper, not yet distracted by the bright beauty of Tin.

A pale ear swivels towards Raeden to hear her words— words that were so different than her lilting melody at the beach. These held a bite, backed by the pinned ears and barred teeth. She was vicious in her beauty, and the King had to pull stunned gaze away from her to inspect the man.

Youth was relinquishing its last hold on the coffee-colored man. A stallion’s muscles layered his frame, but time and testosterone had not given him the thick jowls or crest, yet. Gleaming gold leapt handsomely from his face, mane, and horn— stark against his the rich dark tones. Despite his youth and intrusion, the Elephant could not deny the man his handsomeness. Though, the gleam in his gilded eyes…

A breath blew out harder than he intended— resulting in an intrusive snort. “Thank you for watching our borders, Raeden,” his low voice rumbled to the sleuth, before shifting to address the stranger, “Do you have a good reason for me to call her off?” Only now does the smallest amount of annoyed humor creep into his timbre and navy eyes.

the elephant king