As Long As the Sun Doesn't Set

Bunaa and Dijaj

Bakari woke up to the sun shining directly in his face. Odd. He didn't have any windows that allowed the sun to reach his bed. It wasn't as blinding as the sun either. Sitting up, Bakari rubbed his face and yawned, trying to steady his sleep-heavy mind. His vision was still blurry from sleep and he rubbed his eyes.

Then, he yelped and fell back in surprise. It was a person standing there, reflecting the light. It wasn't the sunshine. Julian was sitting on the floor, armor on, a wide grin on his face.

"Oh good. You finally noticed that I'm here," he laughed. "Sorry to startle you like that."

"You're not sorry at all," Bakari muttered as he stood up. "How long have you been sitting there?"

Julian shrugged. "I'm not sure, honestly. It was still dark, though. Aren't you uncomfortable sleeping in that?"

Looking down at himself, Bakari realized that he had never changed into anything more comfortable. He was still in his fancy blue-and-orange outfit, the heavy sheath digging itself into the side of his neck.

"I'm uncomfortable now that you've pointed it out, but I guess that sleep was more important than comfort to me yesterday." Bakari shrugged. "Aren't you uncomfortable in that armor?"

"Always," Julian confirmed. "You never quite get used to it."

At that moment, Kasuf started to rouse, arching her back and opening her massive maw in a loud yawn. Each of the bones in her spine popped impressively before she stood up. She shook her mane of feathers, a few flying loose, blinking slowly.

"What did I miss?" she muttered.

"Some bodyguard you are," Bakari laughed. "Julian has been in here for hours. If he was an assassin, I'd be long dead."

"Oh. Well, I didn't sense any malevolent souls around, so I didn't worry about anything," Kasuf explained. "What are we having for breakfast? I'm famished."

"You rid the Nile of fish last night and you're hungry again? At this rate, the entirety of Egypt is going to have to go without meat to ensure you get fed," Bakari snorted.

Kasuf snorted. "Before you scold me about my eating habits, lay off the honeycomb. You're an addict. I'm going to find SOMETHING to eat. Best hope it isn't your goats, Bakari."

"Touch my goats and I'll banish you," Bakari threatened.

"You have goats?" Julian asked, standing up. "Can I see them?"

Bakari nodded, removing a few layers of his outfit so that the fabric wouldn't drag on the dirt outside. "Follow me."

As Kasuf flew off, Bakari led Julian to the stables. They had many, many animals, but, other than Kasuf, Bakari's favorites were two runts that he had begged his father to let him keep three years ago. They were just so small and helpless that Bakari just couldn't let them die. Besides, they sort of reminded him of himself. How they were the odd ones. Especially Bunaa, who, like Bakari, had a limp. Kasuf would never actually admit it, but she liked them too. She was just too prideful to admit she cared for two little goats.

Opening their pen, Bakari was immediately headbutted by Bunaa. She was small and dirt-brown, with white ears. Even though she couldn't fight properly with her leg, she still tried and attacked everything. Then there was Dijaj. She, per usual, was sitting in her corner, terrified of Julian. She didn't like strangers in the least bit and was scared by a lot of things. Hence the name Dijaj.

"Bunaa likes you," Bakari laughed as the little goat immediately rammed into Julian, almost knocking him over.

"She's a spritely little one, isn't she?" Julian then fell over as Bunaa ran into him again and then sat right in his lap, causing Julian to bark out a laugh. "I've never seen a goat act like this! Where did you get her?"