Dust Motes

Rannoch flinched involuntarily as she leapt down from the massive log. It wasn’t because she was being threatening, but the young stag couldn’t override his instinct. He wasn’t supposed to be here with this cat, he shouldn’t have ever been so close as to count the dark spots over her back. Despite the similarities the differences were far too obvious for the flighty creature. Her smooth voice soothed him a little and he relaxed slightly, not that the great elk every truly relaxed.

Taiga assured him that she would be fine on her own, and really the deer had no reason to not believe her. Still, he couldn’t help but project his own feelings onto her. It was hard to be alone and even harder knowing there was not more of your own kind. She didn’t need a pride to survive no, but would she thrive? He was far too young to offer comment or advice, they were far too different and what was his opinion worth to a lioness?

She turned a ruby eye towards him and offered exactly what she believed that he should do. They both knew he was different, obvious against any other herbivore in Boreas. No matter what herd he made himself a part of he would always stick out, he would always be the target. "I can’t be alone again.” He agreed softly as she went on. Rannoch saw her pull her lips back to reveal deadly teeth, and part of him wondered if she knew the taste of elk flesh.

"I know. Far too well.” Since he lost his herd he was constantly escaping the jaws of death. He’d seen the look in those wolves eyes he saw the glint off Taiga’s teeth. Danger was always around every corner. His ears flicked at the thought, continuing their constant swivel despite the lioness beside him. "Kyren and Oscar are a good substitute for the great elk herd…” There was an unspoken ‘but.’ Yes, they had easily become his herd and his family, but they would never be his kin. What kind of future would he have as the last of his kind? Once his life ran out…Rannoch tried to banish the thought.

"Speech"