tembovu

Black nostrils flared, head rising from his cropping of dry, dying grass. The King knew the forage would soon grow even more scarce in Orangemoon than it had been in the dry Tallsun. Thus the gargantuan man had spent much of his time grazing what he could within the Edge. And searching out forage had been a welcome distraction to the sharp loneliness that pierced his ribs. Gone was his firstborn, Hawezi. Absent were his second born twins and their mother from the Edge. He somehow had incurred the dislike of his third born Zubari. Only Katua, his spotted daughter, was a bright light of cheer. And Gawen, with his immediate imprint and bright blue eyes.

So it was with bright interest that his navy gaze turned towards the cliffs and the source of the unfamiliar scent on the briny breeze. With it swirled another smell—Tilney. His head cocked briefly, an ear swiveling sideways in thought; who was with his Moon Doctor? But thoughts were not what the Elephant King needed, for they were dark and lonely things. So his thick legs of ivory and ebony began to slowly move towards the sheer, white cliffs.

Though he paused in his walk, eyes drawn up by the butterflies fluttering in the dry leaves above his head. Their pale wings reflected in his dark blue eyes as he watched them slowly begin to hint at their evening glow as the sun sank towards the sea. But another gentle puff of wind reminded him of the stranger within the Edge.

His perked, black-rimmed ears caught the last notes of conversation from an unnamed voice, “Your mate, Arah, she won’t mind that you’re here with a stranger?” A woman’s voice, melodic and attractive, questioned Tilney. A wry smile crossed his thick, black lips wondering vaguely if Tilney had ever known the initial attraction he had had for Arah. Would Tilney be ascribed the same jealousy this newcomer asked after?

Shaking his head to himself as he breached the trees’ edge (for such thoughts were pointless), his navy eyes first found Tilney’s green, “Hello, my friend.” His brief glance found the Doctor seemingly relaxed and in good spirits, so his attention swept to the source of the sounds and scents that had drawn the Elephant.

“Hello, I am Tembovu,” his great horn’s tip dipped slightly in greeting, though his gaze did not leave the slender woman. She was sharp, leg and hips alike filled with angles. White dusted her skin, roaming out the reddish chestnut. She was an equine, void of horn or wing. A refreshing change to the herd; the Elephant saw few of them.

His gaze flicked between the antlered man and the stranger, before asking, “Tilney has offered you a home in the Edge?” His deep voice rumbled from his chest.

the elephant king