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 Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 7:16 am
Blood flooded from his body as he croached in the river. His chest tender after the shredding it had taken from the warriors claws -but he had taken the blow knowing he had done something terrible, something unforgivable.
An inner storm brewed as he saw images of his 'deed' flash before his eyes, he knew there were some members of the Dhati that would roar with joy at the 'blow' the Mizimu'Tungika would recieve, a message that they were willing to do ANYTHING for their cause. Yet it was ripping at his insides, even now he did not recognise the creature that had sprung forth and mauled the children, destroyed the face of a young cub forever. He regretted not knowing their names but then monsters didn't deserve such rights. He held his head low as he finally ventured from the water. It did nothing to wash away the shame and agony he felt.
Slowly he walked back towards the 'pride', he had taken a very long and rough path back in order to hide his trail, no more blood could be shed this night.
Heart racing within his chest he looked around to find several lions sleeping in groups, that had never been his style he much prefered solitude since Kato's death, he didn't want to get close to someone else incase he lost them -or as he saw today an even greater evil fell upon them. No friends. No family. No compassion. That was the path Kondo had chosen as a warrior for the Dhati.
He was their tool, and their were his route to vengence, a route he now questioned. But his word would stand, he never did go back on such binding contracts.
Finding a quiet spot to one side of the others he started licking his wounds and examining the damage. His chest was pretty bad, the wounds so deep that the soft flow of blood could still be felt trickling to the ground. His shoulder, paws and face had minor wounds, but some of the cuts were pretty deep. He would live he was sure.... but just as he said that he let out a low whimper as he moved his shoulder to sit on the ground, it protested sending sharp attacks of pain dashing through him. Great. He would have to sleep standing up if he couldn't sit.
He deserved worst.
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 7:44 am
 -Priyasha shifted from her light sleep, turning to another position as she tried to will away the faint dream images that stained her mind. She streched her paws out lazily, enjoying the cool of the night, body only tensing when she caught the metallic scent of blood.
As of yet... she didn't feel quite at par to fight, though she'd been training she'd still shyed away from the borders. But it didn't make her useless, she helped in the hunt now and then... soothed the wounds of great warriors when they'd allowed her.
Now that she'd smelled it there was no way she could sleep... not until she checked on the source. Lifting herself gently, Priyasha shook the dust and dirt from her dark pelt, before tiptoeing throught the group. No need to awaken them.
Following the scent she peered through the darkness for movement, pausing when she thought she'd found her mark. Lifting her voice in a questioning little purr, she whispered softly.- "Are you hurt warrior?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 8:10 am
Oblivious to the females presence until it was too late Kondo continued to lick his wounds and try to move his shoulder to a comfortable position, it was always the way with injuries as soon as you tried to rest you felt the true pain of them.
Yet as words were spoken to him he looked up through darkned eyes to see a dark pelted female, her colours would have fitted in well with the Mizimu'Tungika just as his own did, sproating forth the question -why was she here?
He merely grunted at her and lowered his head once more, company was not something he needed in his current frame of mind -too afraid of injuring anyone else. Slowly he attempted to lower himself to ground once more only to let out another low wimper that he was sure she heard, a flash of agony leaped onto his face, but as quickly as it arrived it disappeared, ashamed to show anything unbecoming of a warrior. To them pain was just a frame of mind, something the lived with, blood was an every day accessory. It didn't change the fact that he would rather be uninjured.
"Damn it" he cursed under his breath as he started to walk in a circle, if only he could stretch the muscles enough to allow him to rest. The night would surely do his wounds some good?
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 8:20 am
-He bristled, and she paused softly, debating in her head whether or not she should continue. Warriors could often be gruff... could often want nothing to do with woman or 'help'. But at the same time... Often they only tried to hide their true feelings behind a gruff exterior.
Once again Priyasha drew forward, putting herself in danger that she should have known better than to do. They were compatriots though? Another soft purr rose, a sound in attempt to sooth the situation, one she'd often used when her children were fussy with sickness and refused to sleep.
She paced a moment, trying to take note of his injuries, which turned out to be harder then she thought because of his dark pelt. She did however notice his pain in laying.- "Perhaps if you lay on your side it, so no pressure is on that shoulder...?"
"I know it looks a little silly to lay such a way..." -The soft tone made it apparent that a smile rested on her maw despite the darkness that concealed it.- "But healing quickly is more important, no?"
"I'm Priyasha" -She offered after a moment, as if he'd asked.-
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 8:33 am
Kondo felt a fleeting admiration for her determination as she tried again, making the same low purring noise his mother had made to him and Kato as children, she always told him he was over reacting and that things weren't as bad as they seemed. But this time... he was no so sure. He would have nightmares about those children, of that he was certain, but right now lying down was his greatest concern.
As her soft words danced like a melody on the wind towards him he found himself contemplating the notion, it was not a bad idea, and Kondo had never been one to care about the opinions of others -but there was still a problem. His shoulder had already begun stiffening and so getting down low enough to roll onto his side to sleep without causing more harm would pose an issue. Sighing he looked at her and nodded his respect, he knew she was trying to help but with his current temper it took all his self-control not to scream and shout at her.
Counting to ten in his head to calm himself he offered his name in return, "Kondo."
Before he could stop himself he found more words escaping his lips with a ruff raspy tone, almost commanding in nature; "Distract me for a while as the pain mellows." Had he really just admited there was pain? Why? Yet still he continued, "Why are you part of the Dhati?" Perhaps a part of him simply did just want distracting from the terrible crime he had committed on the cubs, or maybe he was looking for an excuse to keep telling himself that what he did was all in the name of the Dhati course? Either way he forced himself to try and sit once more, his shoulder buckling and shooting more pain through his body as he tried to ignore it and force his way though. Stubborn a creature as he was he would not allow something so pathetic as pain get the better of him.
Eventually he made it to the ground into a lopesided position with all his weight on his good half. His shoulder still throbbing, but his face revealing none of it. He would not show more weakness tonight.
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 9:11 am
-She was the sort to do as she was told, in fact... it was part of the reason why things had gone so wrong for her in the end. But she saw no harm in his request, and also no irritation at the tone in which it was demanded. She could do as he asked.
Settling her bottom to the ground, watching cautious should her help be needed to brace him in some way before he made his way completely down, but her voice lifted softly, trying to speak low enough as to not wake the others, but not low enough that he'd have to strain to hear.-
"Haki, a scryr told me of the group. But I suppose it didn't take a whole lot of swaying."
"I was born in the Mimizu, lived there my entire life. I thought I was happy for a long time... indeed I'm quite certain I was. But things began to turn when the new queen took her place." -Her tone had been that of chattering, speaking just for the point of speaking and keeping his attention, drawing the words longer then she might have usually as she watched him draw nearer to the ground. But as she got closer to the end, her words grew a little more distant.. more hesitant.-
"Unfortunately I only noticed to late the signs.. As a haruspex.. I imagine others would say I've done many bad things, and perhaps I have done a few. Taken a few too many lives that should have been at the request of the queen. But then I did something beyond terrible. That's why I'm here. To try and make up for it.."
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 10:04 am
He listened intently as he focused his attention away from the pain he felt, away from the agony of everything around him. As her words reached him he found himself curious about her, no longer looking for a mere distraction. He knew very little about the new Queen his attentions had always been limited to those of Kato and fighting for the pride, doing simply as was expected of him, at the time he had needed nothing else. But he could feel the sorrow laced in her words, feel the pain of the burden she bore. His stone heart actually cracked a little as it took pity upon her, and for the first time he looked her up and down as if to 'examine her', pelt of black with flickers of purple, the colour of wisdom. No wonder she had once been an Haruspex. All that his pelt told about him was that he had courage, but how strange to think now that yellow mixes so easily to green -the colour of a coward.
It was his job to take lives to protect the pride, just as the haruspex decided when a life needed to be sacrificed to please the spirits. Anger wriggled within him with that thought, someone like this female had decided Kato's death, they had placed the death sentence upon her delicate head and all he could do was watch..... he wanted to roar in agony but after tonight he felt he had no right to such things.
Instead he looked at her, now a little disbelieving of her claim as a soft anger played behind the eyes -surely she was exaggerating about having done anything 'beyond terrible' when he found the very idea of sacrificing THEIR pride members, the members that he fought to protect with each breath in battle to be beyond terrible. Coward was the word that flashed into his mind.
"What?" He asked, his voice a little dry, "what did a great haruspex do that was so terrible?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 5:13 pm
-There was anger in his voice, that was certain, and she could only wonder if he too hadn't lost someone he cared for. Why only a week or so before she'd been pretty aggressively approached by a brother who's fury flew only at the idea that his sister might have been sacrificed. Didn't he understand that there were better things to do... that he need cherish what gift he still had.. instead of spend all his time raging at the possibilities?
Had the male been unharmed, Priyasha might have taken the hint and left in fear of his repraisal. But she highly doubted he'd hurt himself to lift and try to swat at her now... and since he had given so much of himself to the cause, didn't he deserve to know the truth?-
"I listened to the queen when she told me my daughter would be the next sacrificed."
"I put aside my mothering and slit her throat... without even a question." -Her eyes pulled shut, frusterated at the watering that was beginning to occur, though it didn't really surprise her. She awaited the nasty words that she expected to come. She'd killed an innocent.. many of them in fact. But worst of all... she'd killed her own innocent. It was no wonder the spirits remained silent to the old haruspex now. Certainly she deserved it.-
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Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:13 am
Kondo watched her curiously and as she spoke he found his hatred towards her fade, perhaps she was the one who had picked Kato -his Kato- but it seemed she had also paid a steep price, one that she couldn't bare with either.
A part of him wanted to roar, shout do something but instead of shouting or showing her even more anger he sat and watched her for a moment before looking up at the stars. If his movements had not been restricted he knew that he would have impulsively tried to sooth her, to lend his body heat to her while she cried on his shoulder. He hated to see a woman cry. He had always strived to keep those he cared for happy, and although he didn't know Priyasha very well he still didn't want to see her tears. So he thought of a way to sooth her without physical contact -Kato always seemed to like it when he spoke kindly to her perhaps this female would also?
"I am sure your child forgives you and is watching you from the stars right now." He wounded if Kato would forgive him? Afterall after tonight he knew out of everyone he could not claim to be 'above' her, he may not have killed the two innocent cubs but he had certainly injured them in more ways that one. A true monster. Yet he felt that she was of the same kind -in that fleeting moment at least. Similar.
He gave her a half smile before looking back to the stars, "I hope my Kato is up there," and in his mind he added -and that she turned a blind eye to tonight or finds a way to forgive me. The sadness of his loss and what he done finally loomed in his eyes like a badge for the whole world to see, he couldn't hide it any longer tonight.
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Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 4:59 am
-She was surprised by his response, though not at all displeased. Having fully expected to be chided... justifiably villianized.. to hear the anger fade from his voice and to hear words of comfort instead.. it did go away to make her feel a little better, her eyes openning softly, following his gaze to the sky.-
"I hope she does... even if not now, soon. Everything I do now is for her and them. I pray we succeed. Even if I don't.. agree.. with all the tactics." -Her mind drifted to the hunting strategy she'd helped breifly with. It was effective yes.. a good strategy.. but it hurt the children and the sacrifices as much as the 'enemies' of the Mimizu. Her heart ached at the worry that there might be young bellies crying out for food in her old home.
Ears lifting softly at his words, she shifted, paws rubbing at the moisture on her cheeks, urging him onward. She'd like to hear a nice story now... if he'd be willing to tell it.- "What was she like?"
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Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 5:38 am
He cringed a little at her mention of tactics, he knew well the intention of the hunters -destroy their food supply; while the warriors destroyed those who ventured too far. He had done that to the children, he had wanted to send a message to the Mizimu'Tungika but what kind of message did such things really send? That they where monsters? He felt like one at least.
Happy for the change of subject despite the topic being a sensative area to him, "Kato...." he spoke her name almost dreamily, as if a part of him was with her now in the dream realm. He wondered what words would do her justice, but he had to admit it was nice to think of the wonder of her rather than the tragic string of events that left him here with the Dhati now.
He looked towards Priyasha with a smile, soft and gentle, almost warming. His words were slow and filled with the love he felt for Kato, he was sure it would be a long time until he ever felt something so strong about another creature again. "....she was enchanting, with fur the colour of the sun and soft orange stripes around her paws that led to spots of purple and blue." He paused for a moment remembering her, they had always been so different but it was those difference that had made them whole together. Continuing he looked back up at the stars, "she always paused to appreciate the world around her, which is probably why I enjoy the stars so much..." He forced a small tear bak as a lump formed in his throat, he couldn't continue, the memories came flooding back from cubs to her death and they overwhelmed him. "Sorry." He muttered the words as a mere whisper, before he lowered his head towards the ground and rested it on his right paw.
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Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 6:02 am
-She listened softly, smiling as he spoke so fondly of her.- "She sounds very lovely, I'm sure it makes he happy to hear you speak of her so fondly."
"So few get to experience a true and pure love of their own. So even if it was for a fleeting time... I'm happy that you got to have that." -Her words were soft, both for him and herself. When she felt the worst about being without her children, she often tried to think back to the memories with them. A small treasure she had from them all even though they were gone.
Realizing that the subject was difficult, she gave another soft purr, words drifting to a new topic.- "Can you reach all your wounds Kondo?"
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Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 6:19 am
He nodded at her words while trying to supress his emotions with the rest of his self-control, he wanted to roar out in agony once again but resisted and buried his nose softy under his paw, a soft sting to his eyes as he brushed some of the tender cuts upon his face.
Her words, and potential offer of assistance took him by suprise, so much so he couldn't stop himself from looking up at her with a soft disblief in his eyes while asking, "Why would you help me?" Recieving help from near strangers was not something he was acustomed to, infact no one had ever offered in the past or even showed any signs of concern who didn't know him.
The fact is that he wounds still stung, especially the one on his chest that he couldn't reach but it would heal. They always did.
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Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 6:33 am
"We are compatriots in a goal... and ideal." -She offered softly. It was a good answer.. a logical one, for it was true anyone who thought about it long enough would realize that helping each other helped themselves and the cause.
But that was not simply it for Priyasha, the constant mother.- "But we are also just creatures. Ones who bleed and breathe all the same. Who feel pain and comfort."
"I've always felt it.. but even more so now I feel I should offer as much comfort and help to those around me as possible. To offer kindness and comfort... i'd like to give that much more than pain or suffering."
-Goodness she sounded about as old as she was... silly old bat. There was nonetheless, geniune sincerity in her tone and eyes.-
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Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 6:41 am
"Well...." he hesitated, taking in her words. They did make sense but he still found it a hard concept to comprehend. "...thank you, for the offer." Although he understood why she wanted to help him Kondo was too proud a creature to accept, instead he would suffer with his wounds, and likely soak them in the river again tomorrow since some where deep and out of his reach.
As he thought more about her words he realised that the purple suited her, she was wise indeed.
Willing the conversation away from his wounds and therefore away from any curiousity about how he had recieved them; he spoke in a low almost dull voice, "so how is your training going?" Although he didn't know the exact details of it he knew that all those who had once been other things had to retrain to become useful for the Dhati, which would mean the skills of a haruspex would be useless to a pride who cared not for the spirits needing sacrifices. Therefore she was either learning to hunt, fight or maybe even both. "Is it what you expected?" The second question was more out of curiousity, he knew from training cubs and young lions that what they actually had to deal with in battle was far from their fantasties, nothing but experience could prepare them for the wickedness of the world.
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