#ajir

Rain clouds had been looming like a threat over the Steppes all day. They were steel dark and heavy over the Dawn Throne without so much as a rumble or flash of lightning to announce their intentions. Eyes skyward the herd had been watching the oncoming bank of clouds approaching even if he was unable to give voice to his concerns. Behind him the karakul grazed under the watchful, if not lightly distracted, gaze of the one he trusted to know his silences.

“If it was going to rain it would have by now, Suji.” Ajirs rumble of a voice was teasing but exasperated. “You’ve been watching the sky for hours now and the storm must be miles away. Relax.” 

‘Relax?’. He pointed up at the bank of clouds that were hovering above them with barely a sliver of blue creeping in from where they met the skyline of the Dawn Throne. Blonde brows knit as he pointed again at the clouds before crossing his arms.

“Listen. We’ve been out here...all day.” He could hear the frustration in Ajirs voice. Minding the herd of sheep had never been the warriors favorite chore, but he tolerated it for Hitsuji. He tolerated a lot of things for Hitsuji.”And those clouds have been up there all day. We haven’t even heard any thun-”

Hitsuji felt the first drops on it land on his bare arms first as a low growl of thunder shook through him into the ground, causing the sheep to all sound out in a chorus of suddenly concerned voices. He turned and arched a brow at Ajir as he raised a hand to cup the right horn on his head. His meaning couldn’t have been clearer even if his expression hadn’t been laced with sarcasm. ‘What was that?’

“Oh come on!”

It did. The curtain of rain fell at the exasperated invitation from the Oronir that covered Xaela and karakul alike. Half slipping and half jumping from the outcrop of rock he had been using for a lookout Hitsuji joined him as they ushered the karakul back towards the looming bowl that was the Dawn Throne. Hooves and wet sandals on stone could barely be heard over the peal of thunder and the hammering of rain around them. Clothes and hair sticking to both xaelas bodies, the dry shelter was a welcome relief. At their legs and all around the karakul were noisily bleating their dislike of the weather and their interrupted hours of grazing, but really, they had little to complain about.

“Hey. Is everyo- pffffft! Hah! Suji!” Exasperation was replaced by amusement in Ajirs voice. Slowly Hitsuji raising hands hands to part the curtain of blonde, sodden bangs that were covering his face to glower at the other xaela. “Y-your hair!” Ajirs broad and white grin was, as usual, contagious. Here too his robes were sticking to his body, and behind his head like a blonde cotton bol his mane of hair stuck out in puffy spikes and cow licks. He lifted one sodden lock of Hitsujis hair between two fingers with another laugh.

‘-My- hair?’ He pointed at himself, to Ajir and then to the largest, fattest, fluffiest karakul of the herd. Blowing up his cheeks like a puffer fish he spread his hands out to either side of his head and splayed his fingers.

“I, what?” Ajir raised his other hand to feel at his by now very frizzy and puffy head of hair. “Aw dammit! Not again!”

Hitusji couldn’t laugh. He had never been able to, but that didn’t stop him from the grin and raised shoulders of amusement. ‘-You- should have been named ‘sheep’.’ It took both hands to make the signs for the words, but his hand found Ajirs wrist immediately after all the same. It was his way of speaking where his voice and hands couldn’t, and through the touch Ajir could feel Hitsujis body shake in silent laughter.