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 Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:14 pm
Panya slunk along the dry ground, cracked pawpads making her wince with pain every step she took. She squinted up at the sky. Why did they make her go hunt at midday? It was impossible to find any food then anyway, as the prey animals were all off hiding somewhere, resting in the shade until the sun set enough so they could roam freely.
Idly she gazed around the terrain, panting slightly. Perhaps there would be some gazelles around a waterhole? Even if there weren't, if she didn't find water soon, she might be vulture food herself. The sandy lioness began dragging her scarred form towards a nearby oasis, looking forward to soaking her battered paws in the cool waters.
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Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:23 pm
The Oasis was just as Muroki remembered from his adolescent journey. He'd even found the scrape-den he and Hisani had rested in, after a bit of exploring once everyone as settled. It had been a long journey and this was it's end for now. There was water, some food, and plenty of shade - a good place to rest and make base. The pools and vegetation were a lush green string of jewels on the gold of the desert, a crucial place.
But one the vultures didn't seem to frequent, he mused, as he explored some more. They'd be safe enough here since there were enough lions. Still...he wish he knew what those accursed birds were up to in their Temple...
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Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:28 pm
Panya pulled herself to the water's edge, too thirsty to admire the beauty of the oasis like she might otherwise have done. Slipping her burning paws into the shallows, she exhaled in relief at the cool water lapping around her ankles.
Easing herself back onto the shore, she dipped her head down for a drink, letting the water run down her parched throat slowly. Drinking too fast would cause her to get sick, she knew this from experience.
Having hunted all day under the hot sun seemed to have dulled her senses, however, because she didn't notice Muroki, or, indeed, anything other than the pool of water before her.
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Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:39 pm
 Oh, it had been such a long journey. Hot and dry, too, especially the last few days. Or had it been weeks? Safiya couldn't remember anymore. It hadn't been a horrible journey, no - the white lioness had enjoyed the company of friends profusely. Still, she welcomed the sight of shade and water, as the rest of the group surely did as well.
At first, all she could do was flop down in a shady spot and rest a bit. But Safiya had an excess of energy, and as soon as she had gotten the moment of repose she needed, she was ready to explore this new land. She decided to stick close to Muroki or Moyenda, should either of the two wander off somewhere - she didn't want to get lost in this sandy place.
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Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:49 pm
Muroki, paused - waiting for Safiya to catch up since he knew she'd eventually follow - then started to wade across the water. Since the smaller pools weren't too deep and he'd already looked over most of this little oasis' land based attractions. A nice tree there, a rock that could have a den scraped into it's lee, some berry bushes Kainda might like.... It was the last oasis and nearest to the Temple.
He was about to say something to Safi, a joke to make his friend laugh, when he spotted the sandy lioness. Insantly Muroki stopped and called over, in a friendly tone. Really though he was curious and wary.
"Hello?"
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Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:53 pm
The greeting pulled Panya back to reality sharply, and she gasped, choking as the water went into her airpipe. Coughing and splashing water, she backed out of the pool hastily, eyes wide and fearful at the sight of the other lions. How long had it been since she had last seen another lion? She couldn't remember. Perhaps if she hadn't been so consumed by fear, she would have noticed that Muroki looked a bit familiar...
The sandy lioness gasped stilted apologies as she retreated, fairly tripping over her own paws as she did so. The shock, fear, and exhaustion all combined to make her apparently incapable of making any sense at all, and her body trembled wildly as she stared, wide-eyed, at the other two lions.
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Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 3:02 pm
Safiya did follow Muroki's lead - this was his home and so he knew his way around better than anyone else. She was looking forward to learning the ins and outs of this pretty place. Safiya was in fact so distracted with looking all around her that she didn't notice a stranger until Muroki spoke.
Turning abruptly, already with a smile on her face, Safiya spotted the pale lioness. Poor thing, she looked dazed! Safi's big heart went out the the lioness and she padded forward enthusiastically. "Are you alright? What happened? Poor thing, you look sick. Muroki, we should help her!" To the lioness, she said in a gentle voice, "It's okay, we'll take care of you."
Safiya went to the side of the sandy lioness to try and support her the way Muroki had when she had felt weak - she was trembling and didn't look very stable. It was then that Safiya got a strange shock of recognition; something seemed familiar about this lioness or this situation....but she shrugged it off for now.
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Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 3:08 pm
Before Muroki could say anything about having a little caution and going slow approaching the stranger to help - in case they scared her more - Safiya had moved. After all, he'd made sure the white lioness wasn't going to attack him back when they'd first met. Still, he hoped for the best as he quickly followed Safi, stopped a bit short so they didn't crowd Panya. He made a head gesture to Safi - get back here! Come on.
"Don't worry, we won't hurt you. I'm Muroki, and this is Safiya, of the Dawnwalk Clan." The big lion inclined his head, concerned. The stammered apologies didn't make much sense but this female seemed more scared than anything else. And there was something familiar here...
"Sorry to startle you."
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Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 3:15 pm
Panya stared in horror as Safiya approached her, but was apparently unable to make her paws move to flee. She shook, leaning away from the other lioness, her eyes filling with tears. The situation was simply overwhelming. To see not lions at all for so long, and then suddenly encounter two at once.. and they were talking to her! No one had spoken to her but her masters in years...
The sandy lioness collapsed against Safiya, fear-rounded eyes still staring at Muroki as he spoke.
"N...no..." she stammered, struggling briefly to stand up before giving up once more and leaning her weight against the other lioness.
"Th-the Dawnwalkers?" She managed to choke out finally, eying him as if he was a ghost. She shook her head violently. "No, no, they're gone! All gone!"
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Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 3:22 pm
Safiya knew she wasn't the best at speaking, but she believed herself fairly good at taking care of others. It was pretty much the only thing she was good at, and that was due to her empathy more than anything else. Not wanting to contradict the obviously very upset girl, Safiya stayed quiet and did what she could to help her and make her comfortable.
Silently, she realized this was matter was more serious than she had originally believed, and decided to let Muroki do the talking. He was better at that sort of thing than she.
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Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 4:52 pm
"Like the sun we watch, the Clan is reborn." Muroki said softly, stealing the words from who knew where. It wasn't phrased how he'd say it, his tone was taken from some memory of his uncle, the last king. The real king, who died so long ago. In his head he had an odd flash of nostalgia and a sense of agelessness. Then it was gone and he explained in a rush.
"You were one of the old pride? I am too. Some of us are still alive and we're gained new friends and allies to help us rebuild our home. So the Clan was never really gone, just lost for a time...you've been alone out here?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 4:48 pm
Panya gaped at Muroki, still in shock. "Reborn?" she repeated. It took a moment for what he had said to sink in, and the sandy lioness began shaking again, tears tracing dusty tracks down her cheeks.
"N-not alone," she choked, and suddenly remembered why she was out at such a hot time of day. Her eyes flew to the sky, searching it for any signs of movement. If one of her masters flew over and saw her resting instead of hunting...
She struggled to her feet. "I, I.. I have to go, I'm supposed to be hunting.."
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 5:59 pm
Safiya looked at the lioness beside her, aghast. "Hunting? In your condition? No, you must rest first, drink some water. How can you go back out there? You'll die!" Afraid for her, Safiya shot nervous eyes at Muroki. "She can't go back into the desert like this, can she Muroki? There's not even any prey out in this heat. You don't need to go hunting right now," she said, directing her words back at Panya.
Safiya wanted Muroki to make the lioness stay. Feeling helpless and unsure, Safiya flicked her eyes back and forth from Muroki to Panya.
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 6:16 pm
"...who're you afraid of? Us, or someone else?" He frowned, taing in for the first time the scars she had. He'd noticed that Panya seemed to be terrified, tired and everything. But those scars. She couldn't be one of the rumored vulture-slaves?
"And Safiya is right. Everything should be sheltering from the heat at this time of day. So your hunt would most likely be a waste of time."
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 2:12 pm
Panya laid her ears back and lowered her eyes, crouching low and dipping her muzzle into the water to take a few cautious laps. Getting some of the cool liquid into her system seemed to calm her down a bit, she she looked back up at the other two lions hesitantly.
"I know, I t-told them, I never catch anything when the sun is high, but they..." She trailed off, shaking her head at Muroki's inquiry. "No, n-not you. My masters." She paused, looking up fearfully into the sky for any signs of them, and then, seeing none, lowered her voice. "The birds."
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