To say Osiris was not also paying attention for the paddle of others approaching the island would be a lie, but he didn't look forward to a tussle like Nakhtmin did. He hoped nobody dared approach the party at all, would've been happy, even, to not share the wisteria forest with others. The urge to protect her still lay strong against his shoulders; he'd fallen into his new job with ready gusto, and he thrived doing it, but it was hard to erase everything he'd grown up having beaten into his head. It wasn't pleasant at all to go against every expectation, every moment of training, every dream of his Fathers laying broken on the floor. He could still hear his sire asking, begging, what the point of taking a woman's job was after all he'd been trained. That disappointment echoed into each quiet moment like this one, staining it with shadow until some brief light came to chase them away again.

This foggy night, it was a true guard. A companion.
A friend.

Osiris heard the slow, heavy whump of each step he'd come to associate with larger hooved animals, and frankly, didn't know who else it could be. Sure, there were a great variety of beasts in Neferseba's court but.... well, who else would be out still working at this point in the night? Who else approached a lion with such boldness or ease of mind, the proof of his massive appetite scattered in the bones surrounding him? The feline smiled as his suspicions were confirmed from the corner of his eye, finishing his grooming as his fellow desert dweller approached on more confident limbs. Must've finally spotted him - over time he'd come to learn that while Nakhtmin's night sight was not quite as good as his, but good enough especially given movement. Sometimes he harassed the bovid about it, other times, like tonight, he just made sure his movements were a bit more exaggerated so as to be spotted.

An intruder, he said -- Osiris chuffed a soft laugh.

There is time yet in the night for you to save us from a snacking suspect, minmin.

He flashed a grin at his former teammate, still coworker as he finally let his paw fall back to the sand. All jokes aside, he was glad the oryx found more purpose in protecting them all than Osiris ever had, and he hoped his friend knew if the alarm was rallied he would be there to have his back. It wasn't cowardice that kept him from his job, just the need to do something else. A lion who didn't enjoy the fight -- the failure of his family, 'sitting pretty in the palace like some whore' as Father put it.

I caught the first unawares, he purred, The rest, unfortunately for me, gave quite the chase. Pesky things, but I respect the spirit. I only wish they were more than a mouthful.