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convexicalcrow · 1 year ago

Text

(Safe) Under Bast's Paw

This'll go up on AO3 when I have the time/patience/brain power to get the tags etc sorted out, but have some Lost Prince AU backstory and the introduction of Jellie! <3 This is set about a month or so after they left Egypt; Cub's around 13 years old, and Scar's around 15. They're just friends at this point. Inspired by The Old Prospector by sixteenthdays, which has been lodged in my brain ever since I read it nearly a year ago. (I'm not okay /hj)

Cub held onto Scar's waist as he drove the camel across the sand towards a quarry-like pit that looked like it would be a good place to shelter. Or perhaps be cornered, it was hard to tell how close their pursuers were and whether they'd managed to slip away from them. He didn't dare look back. Just gazed at the darkening sky, praying to Ra that He would once again rise in the morning. He had to, right? He just had to. He balled his fists in Scar's robes, clinging to the two certainties he had in life: the rising sun, and Scar.

"Come on, in here! We can wait out the night here in the caves," Scar said as he led the camel up the path to where an open cave waited for them. It was out of sight from where they'd come from, and looked like it had flat enough ground for a camp.

"But what if there's others in the caves? How do you know it's safe?" Cub said, walking beside him.

"We don't, but we can't stay outside another night, it's getting too cold," Scar said.

"Fiiiiine," Cub said, though he didn't quite believe him.

Scar stopped then and grabbed his shoulders, forcing Cub to look at him. He raised his right hand and showed him the scarab ring. "You remember the ring. You remember the promise I made to your father to keep you safe, alright? I won't let anyone hurt you, okay?"

"You can't even fight! How are you going to do that?" Cub said, both indignant and scared. "At least I can use a sword!"

"There's more than one way to fight than just with swords, I'll have you know. And you're in no way capable of taking on a soldier, let alone a group of them. Now, come on, let's get inside before anyone sees us, alright?"

Cub shoved him away, letting the fear get the better of him. "No! Take me home! I want to go home! Take me home! I order it! I demand it! Take me home!"

"Demand all you like, but there's no home to go back to, and you and I both know that. We saw it. We saw the temples fall. We know who didn't make it out. Home doesn't exist anymore. It's just you and me and this stupid camel, alright? Do you think I like this any more than you do? No! I'd love to be back in Per-Bast serving in the temple, but that won't happen now. Your father told me to take you and run, and that's what I did. I kept you safe. That's why you're alive. Now, come on, get inside the cave. We don't know how far behind us they are. You can yell at me all you like once we're safe and out of sight, okay?" Scar said.

"Okay. Fine." Cub scowled, but nevertheless followed him up the path and into the cave, anxiety pooling in his stomach as he half-heartedly kicked a little sand over the camel's tracks to disguise them.

"No fire. Too risky. At least we still have the last of the rabbit to eat. Then we'll sleep and try to get away before dawn, okay?" Scar said as he saw Cub begin to gather sticks from the edge of the cave.

"No fire?! Come on, man, just a little one. It's so cold, Scar," Cub said, dropping the sticks.

"No, we sleep next to the camel for warmth. Hopefully we run into some traders soon enough so I can haggle us some extra blankets. And some more food, too. We're running low on everything right now," Scar said as he unpacked the saddle bags.

"Well, you were the one who packed! You could've brought more food!" Cub said.

Scar sighed. He couldn't be mad at him, not really. "Sure, and maybe if I'd had more than a few hours' notice, maybe I would have. Just- now's not the time, okay? Let's get some food and clear air between us and those chasing us before we start tearing each other to pieces, alright?"

"Fine." Cub sat down petulantly beside the camel, staring at the ground, arms crossed over his chest.

Scar grabbed some bread, a flask of water, and the last of the rabbit they'd cooked up last time they'd been able to have a fire and served them both. Cub reluctantly took his dinner and ate sullenly as Scar sat beside him.

Scar didn't like to imagine the turmoil Cub was going through. The events that led to their fleeing had been… Scar closed his eyes, trying to push the sight of the temples burning out of his mind. The sound of huge metal things crushing anything and everything in their way. The look on Cub's father's face as he gave him the ring and told him to flee with his son…

Scar wrapped an arm around him, and pulled him close. Cub didn't resist; he moved in close and pressed against him. Neither spoke as they ate; Scar was sure that if he did start talking, he'd never stop, and all the grief in the world would pour out of him and they'd never make it. He had to be strong. For Cub. He promised. He promised!

"I am Hetmetnedjes, son of-"

"Silence!" Scar hissed, pressing a hand over Cub's mouth. "Do not speak those names. Wait. I hear someone. Something."

Cub froze, listening intently. Scar had definitely hear something moving. Was it a person? Or just some animal taking shelter? No, those were definitely footsteps. Someone was coming.

Scar grabbed the front of Cub's tunic, pulling him to his feet as he stood up. "Come on, time to go. We're not alone here," he said as quietly as he could.

"But the camel-!" Cub protested as Scar yanked on his arm.

"Leave him, there's no saving him now," Scar said.

Cub pulled away, and Scar turned to see him grabbing the camel's lead, both of them refusing to move.

"I'm not leaving him," Cub said, clutching the lead close to his chest. "We'll die without the camel!"

"We'll die if we're in hostile territory anyway, or had you forgotten that?" Scar said, hearing the footsteps growing louder.

"No!" Cub stamped his foot. "No. I'm not leaving anyone else behind. Please."

As Scar grabbed his arm, knowing that leaving was absolutely the safest thing to do, he saw a light followed by the face of an old man come into view. So he pulled Cub into his arms and put himself in the way as a shield, preparing to talk his way out of this if he had to, camel or no camel. Cub held onto him tightly; Scar could feel his fingers digging into his back. He was scared. They both were. Scar was just better at hiding it.

"What's all this commotion, hey? Have we got visitors?" the man said as he approached them.

Scar was relieved he spoke their language. Perhaps he would be kind, after all. "We just needed somewhere to stay the night. We'll be off by dawn, I promise!"

"You seem rather young to be out here on your own. Anyone travelling with you?" the man said.

"Just us, sir! Had to leave, well. There's no home to go back to, not anymore," Scar said.

"Hmm, yes, I heard about that from some travellers who came by a while back. Pity. Come on, no need for you to sleep on the ground. I'll take you back to my home," the man said. "You both look like you need a good meal and a good sleep."

"How do we know we can trust you? We've been- there's a lot of danger out there, that's all I'll say," Scar said.

The man looked straight at him, and Scar flinched, recognising something in those eyes that he knew. "Bast? Did She send you?" he asked in hushed tones.

"She might have whispered something in my ear while I was prospecting. Not often I get company out here. You're safe with me, don't worry," the man said.

"Alright. But give us a minute to get the camel moving. We're not leaving him behind," Scar said.

"I wouldn't dream of it," the man said.

It took maybe ten minutes to get to the man's house once they'd got the camel up and moving. By then it was properly dark, and the man's torch was their only guide. Cub had said nothing the entire time, only gripping Scar's hand tightly as he followed beside him. Scar understood. They'd rarely had any reason to trust anyone they met out on the road, and Scar was still cautious.

The house itself was stone-built, situated in what seemed to be the smallest oasis they'd ever seen, situated on the outskirts of the quarry. It had a few scruffy palm trees, a small lake, and enough land to sustain a small but productive farm and a couple of goats. The camel was tied up near the animal pen and given some food and water before the old man led the boys inside.

The man set the torch into a bracket on the wall, and proceeded to rekindle the hearthfire. Scar and Cub kept by the door, not wanting to get in the way. It was a small house, after all. And then, Scar heard a small mewl, and from somewhere Scar couldn't identify, out came a cat leading a small group of kittens.

"Oh, you have cats! That's so sweet!" Scar said. He'd always loved them, but his old cat hadn't made it out of the Two Lands.

The man sat down on a chair by the fire and picked up the kittens one by one. The mother followed, patrolling around the back of the chair, watching them closely.

"Yeah, she came in with some traders some years back. Gods know where the tom came from, but caravans will come through here from time to time. It's possible one strayed from there. They keep the mice out of the crops, so I don't mind them being around," the man said. "Does your silent friend want to cuddle one? I always find them great company when things get sad."

Scar nudged Cub. "Go on, they're just kittens, I promise."

Cub shook his head and stepped back, hiding behind Scar. Scar sighed, but he did understand. Cub could get like this from time to time, and he just needed to feel safe long enough to open up again.

"Seems like a no, sorry. He's a little shaken up, don't mind him," Scar said. "Anyway! Is there anything we can do to repay your kindness, sir? For letting us sleep here overnight? We don't want to intrude any more than necessary."

"Oh, I might have a few chores you could help with in the morning, but not for now. Here, take care of the kittens while I make us some dinner. You must be hungry," the man said, getting to his feet.

"Of course! We can do that, can't we?" Scar said, turning to Cub.

Cub nodded mutely, but did follow Scar over to the kittens, and grudgingly accepted one that Scar handed him. It mewled a little and Cub held it to his chest as he sat down by the fire.

Scar took a seat where the old man had been. He watched Cub, half an eye on the man pottering around on the other side of the room, preparing some food for them. The mother cat didn't seem to object to them holding the kittens, and a small grey one climbed up into Scar's arms, purring contentedly. Bast was definitely blessing them tonight. He'd have to make some extra offerings before they left, just to say thanks.

The rest of the evening was uneventful, which was a nice change. The man told them stories, fun stories, as they ate their dinner. Cub even managed a laugh! That's what Scar wanted to see. Yeah! Sure, Cub might have been silent the rest of the time, but Scar would take any win he could.

The man didn't keep them up, though. He would be back to the mines soon enough in the morning to continue looking for gold, lapis, amethyst, whatever raw materials he could find to trade to the smiths and other artisans who wanted to buy. It's how he sustained himself. Scar thought that was fair enough. He left them to sleep in the main room, where the fire had died down to coals, and bid them goodnight.

Cub lay in his bedroll, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. It was too loud, too loud. All the crunching, the metallic objects flung at temples and homes and other things, screaming, fire, burning, the awful smoke in the air-

Where were the gods in all of that? How was this safe? They'd abandoned him; he'd abandoned the Two Lands.

Abandoned means you made a choice to leave us behind. You have done no such thing, came Djehuty's soft voice.

Cub rolled onto his side, scrunching his eyes closed. He missed everything. Everyone. His father. His mother. His brother. His friends. His teachers. His- He wanted to go home. If he still clung to that, then-

"Cub? You awake?" Scar's voice slipped through the quiet night.

"Yeah." It was all Cub trusted himself to say.

"I never miss them as much as I do in the middle of the night," Scar said.

Cub turned to face him, shifting close. He understood that feeling very well. Scar pulled him into his arms. Cub rested his head on his chest. He could find no words adequate enough to articulate how he was feeling. He looked up as one of the kittens climbed over Scar's chest to come and sniff Cub's face.

"Hey, I think they like you!" Scar said, giving the kitten a few little scritches.

Cub managed a smile as the kitten licked him tentatively before settling down on his shoulder, curling into the space as if they were made for it. "Damn, guess I'm not moving now, hey?"

"Yeah, that one's been all over me. I think they like me! Maybe we'll see if the old man's willing to part with them. It'd be nice to have another companion. They could catch mice for us!" Scar said.

"Maybe, maybe," Cub said, unconvinced.

The kitten moved, curling up on Scar's chest. Cub gave them some little scritches, envying the small animal's ability to sleep at all. Did he sleep? No, he did not. He lay there, trying to silence his thoughts, trying to pull himself together. He couldn't just fall apart. He wasn't a baby! He wasn't! He just had to be strong. Strong enough that Scar didn't worry about him so much maybe. He could do that, right?

"Seems she's taken a liking to you," the old man said he served breakfast.

"Indeed she has! She was on my bed all night!" Scar said with a laugh. The kitten was still attached to Scar, curling around his shoulder to sleep. It distracted Scar from how tired he was, and not just because he felt so happy to have a cat again.

Cub was still quiet, Scar noticed, but perhaps a little less morose than he was yesterday. He might cheer up once they get going again and he begins to feel a little safer.

"You reckon you can care for a cat, boy?" the man asked.

"Oh, yes! I've had plenty of cats before! I love them!" Scar said. "Please, let me take her? I'll take very good care of her, I promise!"

"Hmm. Very well. Bast did send me to find you, after all. She might be sending you off with a guardian," the man said.

"Maybe, yeah! Thank you!" Scar said, containing his excitement. "I'll make extra offerings to Bast tonight. She really has been looking after us well."

"Of course She has. Cats don't slack when their kittens are in harm's way," the man said. "Now, get that food into you and I'll get you all provisioned up as best I can before you go. Now, where are you heading? I might be able to steer you clear of any danger."

"Just-, well. Away, really! We have no plan, we just want to be safe," Scar said. "Any help will be greatly appreciated."

"Hmm. Okay. I'll think on it. There's a few places I can think of," the man said.

Cub clung on tight to Scar's waist as they set off again, only this time, a small kitten had nestled herself in his lap, finding whatever shade was available. Bast wasn't his goddess, though of course he was thankful for Her protection. His devotions lay elsewhere.

But as the sun rose and the heat in the air increased, and Scar began singing silly songs to distract him, Cub felt a larger cat snuggle up next to him, pressing against his back, and soon enough, Cub was asleep, and this time, his mind was blissfully silent. Thanks, Bast, Cub thought, as he drifted off, the kitten sleeping on.

#hermitcraft #fanfic #convex #the lost prince au #cubfan135 #gtwscar #jellie the cat #bast #djehuty #have some backstory about their escape from egypt :D #watch as I dump all the trauma onto cub bc i love him <3 #tw war trauma #but it's only brief mentions #also for a shower thought scene #this got way way longer than i anticipated sorry not sorry lol

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