mine all mine

One after the other, their mistress bestowed upon them a wet kiss to the cheek. Each man's ears pulled back in turn, though the movement it was the only similarity to exist in their nonverbal response. Sol flinched as her muzzle neared, fear drawing the small muscles in his cheeks to twitch in panic as they were touched. It was a brief reaction, as no pain followed. His relieved exhale filled the space she had created as Yarra pulled away, moving to his brother. Khonsu remained stoic, his sharp gaze unflinching. "Yes, mistress." He dipped his head as she pulled away, concealing the scornful curl of his lip.

The twins turned, the hourglass necklace around their neck swaying gently as they moved. It was clear to both men that in any other captivity situation, the request would have been a blessing. A perfect opportunity to run, hide, and break the chains that bound them. Sol's head ducked, looking beneath his brother's back toward Yarra's, wishing desperately that it could be as simple as just... not coming back.

The wintry taiga offered little in terms of material to construct any sort of shelter with, but it did have the unique feature of a towering cliff bordering both sides of the valley. Khonsu's gaze swept the sheer rock face, searching carefully for a suitable slope of stone that could serve as a windbreak. There were plenty to choose from, but they decided eventually upon the closest outcropping to their seated mistress. The last thing they needed was to be accused of trying to tire her further. "If you'll come with us." Khonsu requested.

A fire would be the first priority - a tool for cooking, and an offer of warmth - one the twins were well equipped to provide. With nimble paws they manipulated the hourglass pendant that hung between them, revealing a hidden compartment from which they carefully extracted a small, dried bird's nest. The fire-revering wolves always kept the means for ignition close at paw. Skillfully, they sculpted a base from scavenged twigs, nestling the nest within as a bed for the soon-to-be kindled warmth.

The Fresnel lens upon the hourglass was the key to igniting the fire. Positioning themselves so that the lens could catch sunlight at the right angle, they focused the intense beam of light onto the pile to be lit. The lens amplified the sun's rays slowly, creating a small but growing point of heat at the heart of the tinder. "What meal does our m-m-mistress crave?" Sol inquired, breaking the silence. Khonsu, focused on the task, flicked an ear at his twin's query, but kept his gaze fixed on the lens's work. Patience and precision finally paid off as the nest caught, bringing forth a lively dance of warmth and light.


Sol & Khonsu