Ma'tanza chuckled as she reached over and put her free hand on Tzirret's shoulder. As she had many times before, she attempted to look encouraging towards him. "Tzirret, you're always thinking that you're embarrassing yourself. Even when you don't admit it, she can see you retreating back onto yourself. Or hear you stammering and having a hard time thinking. Ma'tanza knows when you start getting nervous, but she doesn't care, Tzirret. You don't have to be embarrassed around this one. We're together, aren't we? We can talk to each other openly and honestly, and everything."

Pausing briefly, Ma'tanza looked back out over the sands. The sun was getting rather low in the sky by this point, and it would not be too long before nightfall. "Now Bheja, [i]he's[/i] the one that should be embarrassed. Unfortunately, he has no shame. At all. None. You heard the things he said to us; Ma'tanza would just die if someone told other people those kinds of things about her."

Ri'vashi was silent for an almost uncomfortably long amount of time a she stared ahead in thought. The tip of her practice blade was resting on the ground as she leaned lightly onto the weapon. Eventually, she let out a sigh and turned her eyes towards Gallus. "Two years. It has been two years since father died. It wasn't a surprise, or anything. He was an old man in failing health, so Ri'vashi and the clan had time to prepare. It's just...everyone assumed Dro'cahi would be his successor. He was his most trusted adviser, and a good friend. Dro'cahi had been with this one's father almost as long as Ri'vashi has. He was a part of his sleuth up in High Rock, and stuck together with us no matter what. Everyone was expecting him to pass his title onto Dro'cahi; Ri'vashi was expecting it, and would have been happy with it. This one did not ask to be made leader, but...that was his word. It was a surprise to everyone. He had never given Ri'vashi special treatment for anything like that before. This one had been refused leadership of a pride twice until he thought she was ready. Then, on his deathbed...he just gave Ri'vashi everything."