The Stars of the Sadim
✮ antares ✮ rigel ✮ atair ✮ aldebaran ✮
As a slow addition, Atair crests the far dune at an angle from the galloping Al Hilal.The four of them gathered at last, they look from one to another to another - only Rigel obvious enough to shudder in relief of being together. They do not close the distance, especially towards Antares or Sayyida, but there is a sort of click, an inaudible snap that seems to wake the universe for that moment. Together again. Trials over, losses scarred into their souls, reborn in new forms of who they had once been. "Brothers and family, it is good to see you…." He does spare a look to a couple faces that were not so familiar, "Those who are new, it is good to see you in a whole different way. We are welcoming of those who are bred to resist the eye of Ra and who can survive the shifting nature of the Dune Sea." Nezrine and Guinevere’s particular additions draws the eyes of the brothers, intrigued as they are by new faces after so long.
But it is relatively short lived, Antares nodding to them all, "Let us all bed down for the evening. In the morning, I have promised that we will meet the owner of Salem so that she might see us all." This draws looks from the other three brothers, though, with the most concern written on the long face of Atair. "So soon? It will not be the full breadth of our people… shouldn’t we wait until we have truly settled?"
"Atair, she would obviously want to know the faces of those she ultimately rules. I am sure Antares did not get a full half ownership of our lands..." The blue brother speaks up from the other side of Dhaniya, looking tired but somehow relieved to be talking logistics of this kind after so long. "I would prefer to settle down too - but we are here under the grace of a Queen that has even Antares willing to obey such a personal request. It means we do not have much by way of choice." He looks with a soft touch to Dhaniya’s shoulder, brief and tentative as if he is not certain she welcomes such a thing of him yet.
The toss of Aldebaran’s head as he stops even walking about their circle, it is ultimately all he can do to still even this much. "Well, let’s just take stock of the other side of this deal the same way they’re taking stock of us, right? I mean, isn’t it better that we know what our neighbors are like too? Owner of the land or not, I for one want to meet anyone we might need to recognize while patrolling. Imagine coming upon some royal family member and not even realizing." A fitting fear he doesn’t yet realize is his own dilemma. "I will bed down here for the night, across this oasis nearest the direction of the Dunes central gathering one. If anyone who hasn’t chosen a household wishes to come with me, come along." He spares a glance to Nezrine and Guinevere and then departs as breezily as he’d arrived-- interrupted only when Antares shook his head.
"No, I think it best that we all go to your home, Aldebaran. It is nearest to where she wished to meet… on the beaches to the south of her home oasis. It was reasonable not to want a whole band to be at the heart of her home - whether she shares the eastern reaches or not." He looks to his side where Sayyida lingers, then looks ahead. "We will stay here in case there are those unprepared to travel yet, but the three other households should depart for the southern Oasis of our upstart Prince." His tone is teasing, taunting, but ultimately firm and resolute in undertone.
The other three brothers nod and disperse.
---
Rigel and Atair had agreed easily enough, taking turns with their youngest brother throughout the night. Rigel had arranged with Dhaniya her choice on whether to come or to rest at the caves in the north where his personal oasis lay. Atair had managed to talk to Eness about her chosen preference - sparing only an awkwardly stiff nod to his black son who said he would patrol with Jyeshtha and his twin instead.
When the sun peeked over the horizon, the seashell pink stallion gave a soft whistle for those who would travel in the band to visit the Queen on the southwestern beaches. He knew that his brothers would have been taking the southern paths parallel to the shoreline about the same time as himself. Those who had remained behind with himself and Sayyida and had not followed the other brothers - or who had arrived afterwards - moved out with precious little fuss.
When they arrived, the two separate groups merged just before reaching the meeting place and so the group was rather large already on the horizon for Nyimara and her band to see. "Aldebaran is bringing up the rear. There is a bit of a lag for him." Atair says with a tone that hid a small chuckle. "It would seem that perhaps his brain has enough room for more than the races, Sayyida." The elder twin says with a smile, implying that perhaps she might have some fun playing matchmaker - but with enough nerves in his tone to clearly be unsure of his place in her graces.
When the lot of them all had arrived at last it is Antares who moves forward first. He looks far better than the first time she’d seen him, his head inclining towards her. "Queen Nyimara, this is a majority of my Sadim, my people. We’ve come as promised. The few who stayed behind will come to you on another day - I simply did not feel confident leaving the Eastern Dunes unmanned." His face is softer and more calmed than when he’d begged her leave to remain.
"I am Rigel," The black rabicano sabino says with a well-lowered head, stepping forward to stand beside Antares’ one hip. "And I am Atair," the black birdcatcher stallion adds, sticking beside Eness with a much more keen and focused gaze on the Queen and her companions. "Aldebaran is coming with the others… we will see him with the stragglers..."
OF SALEMS EASTERN DUNES
▻ bloodmarked graying chestnut - black rabicano sabino - black birdcatcher - sooty bay rabicano ◅