Turned out, Andal was actually more comfortable than he'd expected. It was quite different from the expanse of open desert and shifting dunes and occasional stone ground he was accustomed to from traveling with his family. Plenty of shade under the trees that ringed the central water source, and he'd even found himself a comfortable hollow in the rockier area.

At the moment, he was strolling along the bank of the lake, watching the water for signs of life. Didn't seem to be anything actually living in it, and he supposed that made sense. How would fish even get there, right? "Dropped by a bird, maybe?" a mutter, spoken to himself and followed by an amused scoff, "No, that's stupid." Even if such a thing had happened, it couldn't be realistic to expect said hypothetical fish to survive and then...populate an entire lake all on its own. Or that birds were dropping fish with such frequency that they could thrive in a desert lake.

code by corvus || art by drifty

i'll be your slaughterhouse, your killing floor
your morgue and final resting—


it is not often that the winter titan seeks the company of others - even less - the company of strangers. but @Zaahir ♔ proved himself to be an interesting individual, and a curiosity would slowly form in harou's mind. from the youth's easy smile and charming facade, to the gift he had offered them, harou wonders what kind of a life this boy had lived. was it an easy life? was it full of opportunity? even though the leviathan does not see himself as king, harou has gradually leaned into the idea of being more sociable among his pride. he needed to show his presence more often among his members, a reminder of his quiet (but authoritative) nature.

moving across the dunes, the wolf would pace quietly upon the sands, his taloned paws sweeping through the xanthous granules. crimson eyes would remain trained up ahead, honing in upon the dual-toned frame of the boy's. rumbling quietly, the beast would greet the young lad, a wolfish smile pressed against the curve of his obsidian lips. the other would mutter a few words, but harou would approach slowly, not enough to hear the entirety of the boy's mumbling.

"how are you liking it so far?" the hot plume of air would leave his lips, rough words rumbling over the predator's tongue; his red eyes smoothing over zaahir's features. glimpsing once towards the lake, the beast would lower his gaze, feeling the sharp sunlight lance across his angular features.

Soon enough, his attention was diverted from the lake to motion that would turn out to be the arrival of the ruler himself. It was an easy smile that came to his face, Zaahir always glad for company. The expression widened at the elder man's question, "Oh, it's great so far. I don't think I've ever had water or shade so close before coming here." The Oasis, yes, but also Amaryllis as a whole. He was used to going days or more between any true respite from the sun and heat, his family having to carry what food and water they could each time they moved.

Maybe he could have picked one of the greener territories to settle in, but even though the promised comfort was tempting, he found it difficult to entirely leave the familiarity of the desert. Especially now with the knowledge that more fertile lands really were less than a day's trip away at any given moment. Even if the desert failed to provide, he could seek food or water elsewhere and still return home in the same day.

@Harou

code by corvus || art by drifty

i'll be your slaughterhouse, your killing floor
your morgue and final resting—


the sun would blaze ahead, a shimmery veil of light that would bounce along the edges of the lake. each fractured beam of light would slant through harou's eyelashes, making him close his lids slightly as he feels the sharp sting of their golden glare. harou would look away from the sun, from the glittering lake, casting the boy a side-ways glance.

the young male @Zaahir ♔ has a pleasant disposition, one that makes harou feel at ease. there is an air of calm pleasantry about the boy, something that the titan would not entirely understand, but he would seek to keep an open-mind about it. the wolf has many traits about himself, but friendliness is not one of them. harou is the opposite of friendliness; he is icy, he is cold, and completely distrustful of others. despite all of this, he could play the guise of civility, his own lips curling upward slightly into an easy smile.

"that is good to hear." breathes the wolf, his tone calm and even. "in my youth, i never liked the heat, but now? i've grown accustomed to the desert."

Shoulders lifted in a casual shrug, "Before I came here, I never really knew anything different." He was accustomed to the heat in the way of one born and raised in it, and he seemed to have a bit of an advantage in the form of much shorter fur. And no heavy mane to lug around. There'd been a span of time where he'd been upset at the lack of a mane beginning to sprout, but he'd told himself time and again that it would be a good thing. The extra fluff would probably just make him too hot during the day.

Still, there were times where he'd catch his reflection in still water and have to do a double-take because of his bare neck.

Head tilted in curiosity, "So what kind of place do you come from, then?" Zaahir wagered it was somewhere much colder, where all that extra fluff would be more of an advantage than a potential death sentence.

@Harou

code by corvus || art by drifty

i'll be your slaughterhouse, your killing floor
your morgue and final resting—


"ah." it's an easy sound, rumbling past the leviathan's lips, his voice low and even. he doesn't press the young man or indulge any further. this is enough for harou. as the sun continues to dip peacefully, harou would gaze out into the open vastness of the lake, the desert. there was beauty here, within these torrential realms of sand and heat. replying to the man's question, harou would hold the other's gaze, pausing for a moment, before continuing.

"somewhere far from here. harsher. colder." it's a brief response. that's all that he's willing to reveal, for now. harou is then suddenly reminded of the winter winds rushing through his fur, the scent of pine trees and the sharp bite of ice pricking against his flesh. he is reminded of old gods and ancient blood, dark curses and black witchcraft. but perhaps, these are stories for another time.

rising to make his leave, harou would dip his head once, a graceful movement of his skull.

"if you need anything, let me know. for now, i must leave."

exit.