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 Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 2:59 pm
 Peaceful, quiet, sunny, some might say the perfect day, or at least the perfect day for a nap. Ah, a nap, a nap was a very good idea as clearly evidenced by the sound of gentle snoring rustling in the grass.
He was stretched out on his back, paws tucked against his chest, the sun warming his belly, tail twitching with his dreams. Yes, it was a beautiful perfectly lazy day...
A sudden grunt, the lion twitched, half waking up to squirm on his back in the grass. Arrgg, he had an itch, one of those particularly evil itches that you can never quite reach no matter how hard you try, the one that you -think- you have found only to have it move on it, that itch that is so irritating it will wake you even from the soundest of sleeps.
His forepaws twitched uncomfortably, eyes closing tighter as he shift, trying to satisfy that itch on the ground. No, don't wake up, no, he was having such a peaceful dream!
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 3:14 pm
Wilwarin had been keeping to himself lately. Some of it was his slow-by-necessity recovering from the journey here. Some of it was that he was still getting used to being blind in one eye. But he was managing and even though his parents seemed to want to coddle and fuss over him, he'd ignored it and done his best to prove that he wouldn't be a burden to anyone.
But today, he was simply enjoying the sun and the warm, though he couldn't quite relax enough to nap. There was too much to see and do here. And that was when he saw his brother fidgeting about in the grass. Grinning as he saw the determinedly shut eyes, Wilwarin decided to stop and tease his brother a little.
"My my, don't you look comfortable. What's got you so twitchy? Insect making a home in your fur?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 3:40 pm
Another grunt, louder than the first, a single hard twitch against the ground, as if it were an act of desperation. He didn't want to wake up, didn't want to surrender his dream, paws reaching to hold onto the last images even as they slipped away. No...
And then it was gone, sigh. It had been such a wonderful dream too, though now he couldn't even remember what it was. Stupid itch.
His nap cruelly cut short, Lanthir rolled over, scratching frantically at that itch with one hind paw. Rrrrrrr...there, no there, stop moving! It seemed an eternity before he finally caught it, scratching hard to satisfy it before finally sighing in relief. Ahh...
It was not until he had beaten that itch that he he took his own sweet time to look up at his brother. What, him turn the teasing back on his brother and make him wait that much longer? Pffft...oh yes.
"As a matter of fact it was, though I'm sure you know more about bugs in your fur than I do."
A little friendly brotherly ribbing, no harm in that.
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 3:49 pm
Wilwarin simply grinned and swiped a friendly paw out in a mimed cuff. He was well used to his brother's sense of humor and rarely let the counter-teasing ruffle his calm.
"Of course I do, little Princeling," he jibed. "But you see, I also know how to bathe and the waters around here are lovely, warm and harbor plenty of tasty fish."
It seemed that Wilwarin had inherited his father's love of water and fish as well as his looks. Stretching luxuriously, he sighed and flopped down next to his brother and tugged on one bright blue ear. Then, appropo of nothing, he yawned and turned a pink eye onto Lanthir.
"Mother and Dad asked me to check on you and see if you'd decided to accept the role of Mother's Heir. They felt it wouldn't feel as pushy coming from me and they do not want you to feel pressured. It would be a good opportunity for you, I think. You're sensible like Dad even if you are lazy."
Wilwarin grinned to take any sting from his words. Privately, he thought that with a bit of work, Lanthir would make a good king. But he agreed with his parents that such things should be rushed or pressured. His big brother needed to make the choice in his own time.
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 4:30 pm
He had opened his mouth to retort but stopped. HEY! He took bathes thank you very much! Just because he wasn't a neat freak and could appreciate a nice cool sandy spot on a hot day. Hmph!
"Wash your fur too often and it'll fall out."
A paw raised to swat at his brother, a playful growl as he shook his head against the grip on his ear. The game might have turned into a wrestling match right there had the conversation not suddenly taken a turn for the serious.
Lanthir snorted, head turned to look away from his brother. Why had his parents chosen him? He wasn't a prince, he never had been, why hadn't they chosen mr hero over there? He was better suited to the job wasn't he?
A shrug of his shoulders had been the only answer he had intended, until he blurted out exactly what he was thinking.
"I still don't understand why they asked me."
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 4:41 pm
The black lion gave his brother's ear a swipe with his tongue before answering.
"If I understand what I've heard correctly, you're the oldest. They pick the oldest surviving child. You are also whole," Wilwarin replied drily as he tapped his paw along side his blinded eye. "The creatures around here may be rather enlightened on some matters, but they still prefer someone who's whole in body."
He went silent for a moment. Considering things from his brother's point of view in so far as he knew it.
"Look at it this way, Mother didn't exactly have much more training or preparation than you. She's still reeling, you know. But she wants to do the right thing, so she tries. They won't force you, but I stand by what I said. You'd do well. And it's not like you'd ever be left alone you know. You'd always have someone to talk to and figure things out with."
And now Wilwarin grinned, the urge to tease rising.
"And by the time you had to take over, there'd be a new Wise One, probably closer to your age. The Wise One IS supposed to always be female, you know. And the Ruler's closest confidant. I'm sure you'd find a way to pass a few pleasant hours 'discussing' policy and politics!"
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 4:56 pm
Lanthir shot his brother a quizzical glance. Oldest, by all of a few minutes. What did that have to do with anything anyways?
Despite his generally carefree nature, even Lanthir knew it was not a request or a decision to be taken lightly. Not that it wasn't one he had been doing a wonderful job of avoiding until Wilwarin had so kindly brought it up, thanks. He was right though, he couldn't put it off forever, he would have to give his parents and answer.
But what was he supposed to do? He was carefree and (as his brother had put so well) lazy, he enjoyed long naps in the sun, soft grass, watching the clouds, he hadn't been born for this.
"I guess."
He supposed mother hadn't been especially prepared for the task either. Surely it must have been much harder for her than whatever silly childish thoughts were going through his own mind. He didn't want to disappoint his parents.
Wait, what?
The look he gave his brother was both confused and -completely- oblivious. What on earth was he talking about?
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 5:06 pm
Rolling his eyes expressively, Wilwarin aimed a gentle cuff at his brother's thick skull. Didn't he pay attention to anything but napping?
"Haven't you been listening to your lessons in life here, brother?" he admonished. "Jarapatta's been explaining how rank and customs here work. Think a bit. You aren't stupid. She's the current Wise One. The Wise One serves as the Ruler's most trusted friend as confidant, yes? That's why Mother hasn't gone screaming insane yet. Now think you indolent lump!"
Wilwarin pulled himself into a sitting position and mock glared down at his brother. Oh, this was going to be fun!
"Jarapatta won't live forever. She's only a little older than Mother, I think. When she dies, a new Wise One will be selected. And Wise Ones are always female. You'll have a young, and attractive lady whose job will be to keep you sane and functioning and who will make sure that you have someone you can trust at all times to talk to. Are you following yet? Or must I use smaller words?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 5:36 pm
Lanthir gave a lazy yawn, forelimbs stretching in front of him, clearly unimpressed with the 'lesson' his brother was giving him. He -knew- all that (hey, he listened sometimes), he'd heard it all already. What he didn't understand was just what his brother was getting at, what did that have to do with--ooooh.
The light bulb had clicked, finally understanding what his brother had meant. Though he still didn't really see what that had to do with anything. Unlike most lions his age, it seemed Lanthir had not yet taken any real interest in the opposite gender.
"What's your point?"
And why were they even thinking that far into the future anyways? Mom and Dad could just keep right on living forever so far as he was concerned, he liked that idea. Not that he had ever thought there would come a point in his life when they weren't there, it just wasn't in him to even consider it.
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 5:55 pm
Shaking his head, Wilwarin couldn't help but give his brother a pitying look.
"You," he stated with some exasperation, "are hopeless. Utterly hopeless. You need to expand your horizons, brother."
He truly hadn't wanted to pressure his brother, but he understood that an answer was needed soon. And Lanthir didn't seem to have grasped that there was some urgency. Lazy ball of fluff. He would have to shake his brother up a bit.
"You know life is unpredictable, brother. Dad lost his parents when he was a little cub and practically raised himself. Mother lost her parents to a hunting accident and can barely remember them. What would you do if something happened tomorrow? Sit in your sunny patch and pretend that everything is fine? You're smarter and better than that, Lanthir. You and i both know that."
He narrowed his eyes, considering how far he could try and push his brother. He wouldn't for the world hurt Lanthir. But how to make him wake up? Perhaps a dare?
"We both know you're better than that. Mother and Dad and the girls know you're better than that. The rest of this pride doesn't. Prove them wrong, brother."
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 6:16 pm
"You shouldn't say things like that..."
Lanthir looked away, what may have been his first serious look of the conversation on his face. He didn't like to think about things like that, and while in the back of his mind he knew his parents would not be with him forever, he prefered to think that they could be, or at least to have them with him as long as he possibly could. Of course he wouldn't just sit there and pretend nothing had happened, but that didn't mean he wanted to think about the possibility either. What if he thought and then something did happen? He just wouldn't be able to bear it.
He was looking down at his paws, Wilwarin's words sinking in even it didn't seem like they were. He knew better than his brother thought he did that he needed to give answer, that he couldn't keep the pride waiting forever. Sigh...
"You know you're annoying when you're right..."
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 6:23 pm
Victory! Valiantly keeping his grin from splitting his face, he reached out and gently headbutted his brother. He'd won, but there was no reason or need to rub Lanthir's nose in that fact.
"Of course I know that! It's the one thing that keeps me from being right more often. Cheer up, brother and take comfort in the fact that even I can be wrong sometimes."
He winked cheerfully at the blue lion, desperately wanting to lighten his brother's mood.
"Don't be grumpy now. Next time, perhaps you'll win the argument. It gives you something to look forward to in life."
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 6:39 pm
Lanthir shot a glare at his brother, taking a moment to get in a good hard sulk. Hmph! The thought of sticking his tongue out had crossed his mind, but he decided against it.
Instead he went the path of revenge, such as it was. A surprise (but probably not really a surprise) pouncing! A grin had tugged at the corner of his maw, suddenly rearing up to to bat at his brother with both paws, a n** at his ear, and then he was off, running from his brother, daring him to chase him.
That answer he owed his parents? Well, it could wait a few more minutes, right?
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 6:45 pm
Squawking with surprise at the 'attack', Wilwarin found himself on his side fending his brother off laughingly. And then Lanthir was off running with his brother chasing after him and play growling threats of retribution.
He had no fear now that Lanthir would do what was right. But for now? They were young, full of energy and enjoying a game of tag on a beautiful sunny day. Really, life didn't get much better than this.
Wilwarin would wait until tomorrow to exact any revenge. Besides, he would need the time to find a young lady to befuddle his brother!
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