username; p i n e a p p l e
name; Neið-Ka [Nay-the-kah]
I took inspiration for the name from a list i found of the ten oldest known names in human history (many of which were Egyptian)prompt;
Aelyx had been studying this river system for the past two weeks, but never had he seen a creature such as this one. It looked like it would be smaller than his german shepherd at home, but most definitely larger than his neighbour’s maine coon. From the opposite bank it was too far away to pick out any finer details but it still cut a striking figure.
From what he could see, the creature resembled those lion dog statues he had seen on a recent trip to Japan. There was a regal ferocity in its countenance, bathing in the speckled sunlight that crept through the thick foliage, front paws folded elegantly before it. The tip of its tail draped into the river, seemingly sprouting water from the end with the way it flowed with the current, only distinguishable due to its color. The coloring of the main body was almost like that of a roan horse… if a horse had stripes and a mane. That mane was a vibrant sunset orange, a stark contrast to the greenery behind it.
It was almost as if he was observing a myth of some sort - surely this could not be real? Surely Aelyx was suffering from some sort of heat stroke to hallucinating such a divine creature. He didn’t believe in fairy tales or legends, he relied on cold hard facts and science. This was breaking him… just a little.
Alex and the creature watched each other from opposite banks of the river, neither moving nor making a sound, just watching each other deeply and intensely until the sun dipped beneath the horizon and both went their separate ways.
Priya dozed on the jungle floor, one lazy eye on her two rambunctious cubs, not really keeping them under any serious observation. Their movements were ungainly, tails wagging desperately in the air in a bid for balance and tripping over paws much too large for their little bodies. They were cubs, and she could hear them plenty fine as she closed both eyes for a light nap. Curious chatter soon drew her more careful attention - whenever cubs are curious trouble is sure to follow.
Her cubs had apparently found and begun to play with an odd looking tiger cub. It seemed to be reticent and rather reluctant to join in on the rough housing that hur cubs were initiating. Quiet whilst her cubs chattered and gave playful growls. It truly was an odd looking tiger cub. It wasn't the same vibrant orange like all of Priya’s kin, instead a soft grey colour like the smooth rock she lay upon. Splashes of the typical vibrant orange wound around its neck, down its back, and on the tip of its tail. Everything about this poor cub seemed to be the wrong color - the eyes were much the wrong colour as well.
Where her two cubs needed to grow into their over large paws, this cub seemed to need to grow into its teeth. Those were very nice teeth, Priya thought. She would like to have such lovely teeth. All the better to grab prey with.
What an odd little babe. So much calmer than her own, and somehow much more like a small miniature adult than the softness of a cub. Still a cub is a cub, and sadly it seems this one has been separated from its mother. No matter, what's one more when she already has two? Chuffing gently at her new ward, not that said ward knew that yet, Priya watched them slowly begin to return the play ventures with her cubs, before she rose and collected her brood. Priya wrapped all three close in her strong embrace, chuffing and grooming them one by one. Her cubs responded with weak chuffs of their own until eventually her new ward gave an odd little reply. It was similar to the chuffs of her cubs, but deeper and much more rumbly in the chest, going on with each breath. It seems the mother had not taught this cub to chuff properly either! Well Priya certainly seemed to have her paws full, but she would teach her new cub to chuff just like all good tigers could.
It was like looking into the past. Neið-Ka had an almost primitive beauty to them, their features somehow intimidating and ferocious looking yet sweet and gentle underneath. It wasn't a typical strength that resided beneath that core, but the strength to be gentle and soft, to hold back and be kind.
Mirin had never met nor seen another fumi who looked like Neið-Ka. But much like the moss on the forest floor there was a depth to them all that could easily be missed. Their words were few and far between, each spoken phrase turned over several times before being deigned worth speaking. Like dough being allowed to rise and grow to rest until ready, words and phrases were given their due time. Their voice was not notably high nor notably deep but they did have a slight lisp and broad oo sounds, most likely caused by their curved canines.
The first time they had conversed Mary had almost been unsettled by Neið-Ka’s intense gaze, fixed on her with unwavering focus. It was surprisingly flattering to have this undivided attention - if only for that moment. From months to come, Mary would think back on that encounter and wonder what more lay beneath those depths. And whether more would ever be gleaned.
