Antares
[an TAH rez]
✮ sayyida ✮
▻ jyeshtha ♀ (x indira), aminah ♀ ◅
The way in which she maintains a caution with him reassures him, rather than puts him off. She is careful, she isn’t easily bought and sold to whatever ideas are posed. It could be trouble for him later - but for now it reassured him that she would not be easily overturned. He would not, per his own offer, be beholden to her - but he would be reliant on her not simply ‘changing her mind’ at the drop of a hat about letting him live in the dunes with his family.
He was the only one his people would follow, but if he chose to follow the guidelines of another - the vicarious power would be hers. It was a reasonable amount of power without failing them or him being lassoed into the personal troubles of a land and herd that he had nothing to do with. He didn't offer to take on her blood debts, nor would she offer to take his. He would not make allies or enemies that she did not already have. If he wished to make moves out amongst the world - then he would need permissions from the one whose approval he needed in order to thrive with his family.
"Say I agree to your terms. Say I take your words as truth and devotion as absolute." His ears switch in split directions at that, hoping she knew his devotion to his people was exactly as he spoke, "You speak of people as though you wait on masses in the thousands to arrive.." His face softens at that, the concern leaking away to an understanding one - of course she would want to know there wasn’t some hoard heading into her lands. "How many exactly ARE you expecting from your tribe to heed your call?"
"Ah, our number is not in the thousands - although I will not turn away those suited to our family as it would naturally grow..." He looks back at Sayyida in discomfort at the idea that there were people out in the world left to the wilds because of his excursion into trouble. "If I were to number us by how the Dunes once saw my family - I would say around twenty to twenty-five would not be unusual, but perhaps those who have been scattered will not all return?" They had clearly once been very successful and flourishing as a people - and the good news was that posed an even better circumstance for the one who would benefit from them and rule over them.
"We would not use the main and western greater oases, and instead we could take up in the east where the smaller, private oases stretch from the northern border by the desert slot-canyon cave and down to the shoreline. We know that area best and could more easily stay out of your way - if such a situation is amenable to your preferences...." He nods in the direction of the ‘second herd’ oasis that was notoriously more abundant and verdant and well-watered of all the other oases that did not make up the primary one. "I would, could, never take the next best oasis when I am sure you would able to either offer a proper second that as their home or utilize it for your own family, after all." He did not know of the existence of Quinn in her life, nor his place by her side… but they had clearly both earned leadership minds and understood the likely inclinations of one another at least in part.
It felt good to speak to another creature who understood the territorial benefits and mapping of the Dunes. No pandering or groveling needed, but also no exhaustive explaining, when discussing the most beneficial situation between them both if she agreed.
"And that will also prevent you from the worry of the rot-from-within. Less contact with you and your formal herd will keep others from trying to find ways to get to you through our family or the eastern border. Two problems to contend with instead of one by intruding?" It is another positive reason for accepting them she hadn’t posed herself yet and so he offers it.
He cocks one hoof, letting his head lower more casually. "We will not interfere with your business, but we will also offer protection to the weak and young that might need to take refuge if anything for you goes south. If you make enemies and the children or weak of your family seek asylum, we will grant it without hesitation and defend them as if they were our own. We will suffer no cruelty to stand among our people. Those who cannot or will not fight deserve the protection of the strong and able."
OF THE LOST ISLANDS WILDS
▻ eleven years - arabian - mulberry gray with bloodmarks - 15.2 hh ◅