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 Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:13 pm
Laini went off on her own sometimes. It was mainly for the sake of herself. She liked to think about things and contemplate. There were many things that she thought about and turned over in her mind, even though sometimes it was the same thing over again. She thought about Muroki, about Johari and her special secret, and she thought about her child who she was sure was dead ...and it could only be her fault. But some people might think that her thoughts were idle thoughts, not worth contemplating over. What happens happens. Which only leads to the belief that an idle mind only led to mischievousness. Thinking about nothing too important possibly led to the same thing.
She kicked a rock with her foot and sent it tumbling. There was a cry from somewhere near her and she looked up alarmed. She was afraid that maybe her rock had hit someone, hurt someone. But there was no one in the distance. A shadow fell over her, stilling her in her tracks. Quickly, she whirled around and stood back. Only naturally now it seemed, she looked up. Vultures. She screamed in alarm and cringed backwards in reflex. Oh how brave she was turning out to be.
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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:26 pm
His trek had taken him through one desert already, and being one that adapted quickly to new environments it was only natural that by coming by the second now he was sure of his footing, yet he did face another delimma. Matifu did not have the first clue about where he could find water in this place. He had made it this far either by sheer stubborn will, or an uncanny sense of dumb luck, but both were bound to run out sooner or later if water didn't present itself soon.
One thing that did surprise him though was a lack of buzzards.... Back in the other desert lands they had been all too eager to track him as if suspecting that he would die any moment, and he knew why after meeting the injured firekin. Did this land not have them? Or perhaps they were feasting elsewhere...
Sure enough, his ears perked abruptly as a screech broke the arid desert silence. His head swiveled simultaneously and as he scanned the dunes he spotted the familiar birds diving in for an attack on some creature. He would have gone over regardless, thinking he could at least extract some information from one of the beasts in return for sparing their lives, perhaps earning it out of gratitude if he rescued whatever beast they intended to devour, but imagine his shock as he crested the dune and saw not an injured prey-beast, but a healthy looking lioness. Right away Matifu's blood began to simmer, not at a breaking point just yet, but certainly lacking all mirth and his usual good spirits. He was not one to take lightly to a lady in plight, but especially not one of his own.
He filled his lungs with a quick, deep breath and bellowed both a warning and a challenge in the form of a roar that made the very sand beneath his paws quake and shift. With fangs bared he charged, claws extended. (Most would probably say that he was surprisingly agile for one of his size, but years and years of experience had gifted him as such.)
He came down on the first bird with no restraint, smacking it away with one massive paw, snapping his jaws at the next, attempting to herd them away from the lioness.
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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:36 pm
Laini had been shocked and scared at first. But now she was angry. How dare they attack her? Not like she posed a thread, especially not out here away from the Temple. They were asking for a war, the more they tried this dirty business. They thought they could take her? Well, they'd see. They'd most certainly see. She'd give them a piece of it.
Laini slapped away a beak targeting her cheek and paused just after the slap, her paw dangling limp in the air. A roar had filled the air and it wasn't one she could quite place. As a matter of fact, the only lion she could think of who would come to her rescue was Moyenda ...but he was too much of a chicken to roar. This lion was also tan but more of a beige and his frame was more filled out, that of a successful hunter, a lion who could take care of himself. And not one that she recognized.
Even his battle skills were impressive. But she wasn't just about to let some stranger outdo her - despite the fact that he probably would anyway - she did her best to fight them off on her end. This day was full of surprises.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:14 am
He wasn't unaware when the female began to fight as well, and made sure to give her the needed space. Only when the last buzzard fell and the rest took to retreat did his heavy growling cease. Turning now and ignoring his few cuts and scratches, he eyed the female for signs of injury, concern at the forefront of his mind at the moment.
"Are you alright, miss?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:23 am
The attack was over almost as quickly as it began. They seemed to know that they were beat. An injured comrade of their's had fallen and gotten trampled by the two lions in their attempts to fight the vultures off. She nodded her head in their retreating direction as though to say "yea, that's right!"
As to whether or not she had cuts and scratches - which one could only assume she did - she paid no attention. She turned to the mysterious lion and eyed him as though examining more than just his physical appearance. "I'm alright," she said almost dismissively. "I haven't seen you around here..." she was very hesitant in her question, observing him and looking for a response in body language that might give her a helpful answer. "Why are you - well, let me say thank you first for helping me." Not that her pride would let her admit she needed any. "But what brings you so... far out here? In the desert no less."
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Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:52 pm
He noted the injuries but as she seemed a bit the independent sort, he didn't dare try helping her with cleaning them, not without invitation.
"I'm from the Unity Walkers... originally... I'm looking for a new purpose, I suppose."
He gave a small smile. He didn't go into detail about his mate's departure with their son, or the feud between the two boys that had remained, leading to the disappearance of their oldest. He had been wandering now for months, and wouldn't even be aware of the birth of his first grandchildren, but if he found his new aim in life before old age took him, he'd be able to die happy.
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Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:28 pm
She paused and scrunched her brows. Of course she knew the place he talked of but did not remember him. Clearly, that wasn't anything knew. She hadn't know about Johari until Muroki even bothered to mention her (which of course had been when he was in love with her). "You're... from the Unity Walkers? I lived there once for a short while. Enough to have a son..." she trailed off before she could add "before he went away". Would've maybe made her look like a fool or simply reveal her vulnerability which she wasn't quite ready to do to some stranger who happened to have a similar past home to her.
"You know, there are actually several lions from the Unity Walkers not far from here." The fact that he was a grandfather would probably have made him seem old to her. But as it was, she didn't so while she saw him as a mature man, she didn't see him as any older than her uncle ...who wasn't much older than she was. Still in his prime as he was, she saw that as the age it usually translated to much like one does with a stereotype.
"I... I'm Laini'Ukunga," she offered.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:06 pm
Matifu rumbled gently with surprise as he stared calmly back at the lioness.
"Laini... yes, I remember hearing word of your joining. I'm very sorry for what happened to your son... My sister's first son was taken from her as well, but I'm sure that if the fates--" By which he referred to Kiva. "--will it, you'll see him again. The world isn't as dangerous to wandering children as it once was." And truly it wasn't. Many of those he'd met in his travels had been orphans.
His ghostly blue eyes traveled towards the direction she'd left those faint tracks. Others? That made sense.
"That would explain it... I thought I scented one of my nieces on your fur. Johari is here?"
Wouldn't that be a plesant surprise? He'd not been there when she and Muroki and Laini disperesed, of course, he'd left before then, just a short while after that litter had been born actually.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:23 pm
So he knew about her? Well that wasn't fair because she knew nothing about him. Laini scrunched her brow a fraction. Niece? Well that would make him fairly aged compared to the rest of them. So he was strong, valiant, ...and old. It meant he was old enough to be her father. But on the subject of her son, no she didn't believe she'd see him again. She had already convinced herself that he was dead. She wasn't going to be selfish and try to redeem herself by sheltering the hope that he could be alive.
"Yes, Johari's here," she said with a nod. "She's a friend of mine. Doing quite well for herself, actually." Being queen and all, she thought with an internal chuckle. Johari had wiggled her way into many a person's life with her gentle spirit and loving heart. Mate and so much more to Laini's adopted brother Muroki made her just as important to Laini.
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 6:31 pm
"I see, that's good to hear," He smiled softly, though what he meant he didn't specify. He swept his paw in front of him and ducked his head in a bow, introducing himself. "I'm known as Matifu, though it has no relation to my being here." His name meaning "Fine sand".
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 6:38 pm
She laughed lightly. "And what would be your reason for being here, Matifu? Other than rescuing damsels in distress, of course." Not every day a lion wandered into the desert for fun. If you didn't know what you were doing, you could get lost or even worse, starve. Which reminded her. "You wouldn't happen to need a drink of water would you? I know a watering hole not far from here."
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 6:44 pm
"I've been looking for someone, bit I don't think that I'll manage to find her, so perhaps it's time that I settle down again at least for a while. I have to admit that my paws tire of all this endless walking and searching. I would just so happen to be in such need." He smiled, ready to follow.
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 6:53 pm
She smiled. "Settling down? Well maybe you'll find this place to be what you're looking for. Our many oasis are quite splendid. Come, I'll show you." Turning away and leading, perfect example of female grace, she headed towards the nearest waterhole, a nice tiny oasis. Settling down triggered some very key thoughts in her. The need to be taken care of rather than being strong all the time. The desire to make up for everything she's lost. To make amends for the absence of her son. She squeezed her eyes shut, wiping the thoughts from her mind. She didn't find them very comforting since they didn't feel very realistic.
They came up to the water hole. "Here we are~," she said gesturing with a paw as though she were the Vanna White of the desert.
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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:18 am
"Perhaps I will..." Matifu rumbled yet again as his pale eyes drifted out over the harsh landscape, ignoring the sting he felt. It would take time for these eyes to adjust to this bright atmosphere, compared to the dimmer jungle of his home lands.
He followed the teal lioness through the lands, pondering the slight change in countenance that he'd noticed.
"Thank you, Laini, for leading me here. Before I ran into you I was sure I'd have to turn back or risk passing out. And with those 'friends' of yours hanging about, I'm sure that would be the last mistake I'd make."
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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:32 am
She smiled. "No worries. You made it here just fine with enough energy to fight the vultures off. I'm sure you would have survived just fine. But anyway, you're welcome. Water can sometimes be hard to find." She took a drink herself at the waterhole. "So I suppose you would like me to lead you to Johari, huh?" She remembered then the secret that Johari carried, her pregnancy and had to fight temptation at least she tell him. Johari's surprise would be sweeter if revealed by the queen herself. No, she would keep the queen's secret to herself.
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