The Nekura Valley Guide

[Skips]

The sun was a red disk in the sky, or at least it was becoming one. It wasn't quite that late yet anyway. There was plenty of light left in the day, even if the shadows were getting longer and the clouds were gaining their amber hue of evening. Yet, the fact remained that the sun was going down, as it always has and always will do. It was the heartbeat of the world, bringing warmth and life to all the lands as it rose and fell. How many times it's done so, Dorado didn't know. He doubted anyone would know, not even the great spirits above in their eternal wisdom.

The cheetah stood on the edge of the Nekura and stared out into the vast emptiness. What if the whole world beyond the horizon was just as empty and dead as the desert in front of him, he thought. He knew that wasn't true. There were other kingdoms and clans and communities out there, but that was just some trivial knowledge kept in the back of his mind. Yes there were other kingdoms out there. The sky was also blue. He looked west, and he saw the great life bringer. And the sun also sets, he thought. What did it matter to him if there were other kingdoms? The Nekura was in the middle of nowhere. A sole island afloat in an empty sea of sand and stone. He knew the whole world beyond what he could see could die, and he would never know. A clan of warriors focused solely on the Nekura's own destruction could grow and train to decimate the valley, and he wouldn't know either. Not until the moment they came running down the valley walls. Nikolai taught him that.

Dorado always ended up thinking about his friend whenever he went there in the evenings. It was become of him that that he did stand there. Part of the reason was his shattered sense of security that his home was no longer safe. The other part was because he missed his friend. Nikolai was gone, and each day it sunk in more and more. He had told himself that Nikolai needed time to heal from his ordeal with his brother. Nikolai needed to be away from everything for a while. But he never did say he'd be back, the cheetah realized. There was nothing against leaving the valley. No one was forced to stay in the Nekura. But why did it always have to be his best friend that left? It wasn't the first time. He wished it was the last.

Dorado stared into the horizon, and nothing came. No army. No friend. Soon he would begin his rounds, making sure the Nekura was secure. He couldn't stay there at the edge of nothing forever. Life moved on. The sun was falling. The cheetah sighed. How many times the sun fell, no one knew, but it had been two months since Dorado lost a friend.

[Embyr_Somm]

While there were barely any physical alterations to it, the atmosphere of the valley had changed in the past months. A thickened humidity due to recent rains was an obvious difference, but the noticeable depletion of the clan's numbers was undoubtedly a greater cause of this transformation. It was enough to create a tensity in the air, one that tasted like bitterness with sour side helpings of pity and reflection.

Unlike those who remained, Nasari stayed mostly the same during this time. She felt no guilt about the losses they had gained, but, as a leader and general thinker, had to contemplate their meaning. Choices were made and that was that, but why and what did that mean for their future? These thoughts didn't appear out of remorse, but from questioning what was best for everyone. Only the great guardians above knew that answer, but she also wished she knew sometimes.

The Nekuran way of life was in jeopardy. Ideally, it was supposed to be a step forward, a way to help the species thrive and continue on for more generations. However, with a good many choosing to venture beyond the walls, the clan was slipping away. If this was allowed continue, then it would cease to exist at all, especially since the possibility of return was uncertain.

At the moment, Nasari had no goal. It was still too early to patrol and she had recently finished a brief check-in with the bulk of the group. There was slience mostly, though polite nods were exchanged, but she, even more than usual, felt unwelcome. They probably blamed her for the leopard majordomo's departure. Typical.

Nose up and scenting the air, she spotted her mate, standing by the borders. She sighed then turned to keep on with her walk, thinking it would be better to leave Dorado alone with his thoughts. Hopefully, he would reveal them to her, but, if not, there was nothing she could do about it.

[Skips]

El Dorado took a few more moments to look at the horizon, and he decided it was time for him to leave, and he might as well start making his rounds soon. He turned, and he saw Nasari. If there was one thing that could cheer him up from his thoughts, it was seeing Nasari. Nikolai may be gone, Nekurans may be leaving, an unknown enemy might be out there somewhere, but Nasari was still there. That was reason enough to be happy.

The cheetah hopped off of the edge of nothing and made his way towards his mate. As he caught up with her, he gently nuzzled her affectionately. He then walked along with her, not saying a word. Nothing needed to be said right then. He just liked being there, enjoying her company in the quiet evening. In truth though, some of his worries still haunted his mind. Part of him didn't want to worry Nasari with his concerns, but at the same time he didn't want to hide it from her. For now though, the silence remained as he contemplated his thoughts.

[Embyr_Somm]

She hadn't walked too far along when the pattern of footsteps behind her landed in her earsdrums. Recognizing the sound of the stride, the cheetahess calmly waited for her mate to catch up, accepting his affections with a small, but gentle and genuine smile. The pair then continued on, together as usual, down a worn dirt path.

This route had been traveled down many times. Those who used it for scouting weren't so foolish as go the same way daily, but there weren't many other directions to choose from. In any case, enemies could come from anywhere, even if they saw them. Being reliable and vigilant on their rounds and with their general responsibilities wouldn't spare them from the uncertainty that lay beyond the wall. There'd be no such thing as 'in time' then, only 'too late". Staying here would only do so much and here, the Nekura Valley, was a small place.

Being rarely vocal in general, Nasari often found it difficult realizing when it was okay to speak or show concern. This made her seem colder and, in a sense, heartless, which was quite the opposite. She knew that something was bothering him, something that shouldn't be kept inside.
"Any changes out there?" As usual, her expression remained unreadable for the most part, maybe slightly focused on the task of being alert for other signs. In fact, the question was awkward to say, feeling like an uncomfortable start to a conversation between them. Nasari had actually wanted to make a joke to break the ice, but grew nervous about it and chickened out.