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 Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2005 6:04 pm
// Tafari // [A RP with Guine] It was already past sunrise when Tisha found herself stirring awake, her eyes drowsily opening a few times before she raised her head fully from her paws. Her body ached all over as she tried to move, and deciding to just stay where she was, she glanced around the small waterhole that she had made her resting place for the night. Yawning, a small purr filled the air as she felt the warmth of the sun dance across her fur, and she glanced down to her paws almost in afterthought, the weight catching her attention. All at once, she felt her heart lighten and speed, her eyes taking in the fluffy form of the small cub, the newborn that sat in her hold. Moving down slowly, she moved to lick the cub, knowing full well any moment he would be demanding for some attention as well as some food.
The little cub stirred from his sleep, realizing his mother was now moving some. Great... He let out a little yawn, sniffing blindly at the morning air. The air around him seemed a lot warmer than the last time he could remember being awake. And... He was hungry again. The cub mewled up at his mother, in hopes of some attention. What did he have to do to get a decent meal around here, anyway?
Shifting lightly, she just let the sun warm them as she waited for him to get his fill, wondering what else would happen. It was under 24 hours since she became a mother, and she had no idea just how to deal with it. Her eyes looking to his, she could only think to herself at what color his eyes would be, how strong he would end up, and if he would ever meet his father. Yet, all these thoughts were running through her mind, one seemed to just jump to her, before she grinned to herself and spoke softly, purring as well since he seemed to like it.
"Tafari..." Looking at him, the name rolled off of her tongue, perfect in her ears, "I shall call you Tafari...my Tafari..." heat filled her cheeks as she picked the name, and hoped it was right, not knowing what to do.
"Tafari." The cub's ear twitched at that word or sound or whatever it was his mother insisted upon saying several times. Why she insisted upon saying it, he didn't know. But for some reason, he liked it. In fact, he liked it almost as much as his mother's voice itself.
He yawned once he was full, and reached a paw back to find his fluffy toy to chew on. His tail had no choice but to be caught by the little cub to be gnawed upon. Poor tail.
Watching him this time as he started to work on his tail once more, Tisha shook her head before her paw moved out and gently cupped his small form towards her paws. When she finally was able to settle him in her grasp, she just let out a deep chuckle and gazed for a second at his playful antics before working on cleaning him up, though his fur was spotless. She did not know why she seemed so intrested in keeping him clean, maybe it was motherly instincts, but still she kept at it, purring all the while, another action she did a lot lately.
"Nyao??" Tafari squeaked as his mother pulled him towards her... Fine... He didn't have to sit where he was. She could move him if she wanted to. BUT! The line stopped at her trying to clean him! Again!! Arugh! What was with this? He was -trying- to play with his tail here! He frowned to himself as her tongue brushed his fur the wrong way. He squeaked, squirming in order to get away. Sheesh, mothers!
It seemed so strange, but as he let out what she assumed was an annoyed cry, she pulled back and let him be. If he wished to be on his own, she would let him, for she still had him in her arms and knew he would always be in her arms and unable to get away. Giggling to herself, she glanced up at the watering hole before sighing and thinking of the future. What was to happen now?
"...Things will only move fast I am sure..." She said softly to herself, unsure why she felt that way, but only time would tell.
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 8:31 pm
// Follow the leader // [An RP with Iris Virus] For once in his life, Ta'Ziyan felt utterly content with how he was managing the day ahead. For hours he had hunted across the lands around him, searching through the high grasses and only resting to get some water as he found his paws leading him closer and closer to the large formation ahead. It was a tall rock, or so he could make out, one that seemed to reach up to the sky above as the clouds were the only things that the peak did not touch. When he had first caught sight of it, it seemed to mean nothing as it crossed his mind, but a few hours later it questioned once again.
With every step he took, it seemed to just stay the same distance away, but for every hour that passed it had grown bigger, and it fuled his intrest. He had no idea about the lands, or where he was, only that this rock was large and he wanted to see just how large it was. No other thought crossed his mind, no other fear except the idea that he would never make it, and now as the day grew old, he found that had to rest. Paws falling from his weight, his tongue seemed to cry for water as he felt his clouded eyes lid over. It never was apparant until that moment that he was in need of water, and as he panted to himself, he tried to remember his goal. He was searching for a friend, a friend he always saw in that area but had no idea where she was. He had searched for hours for Kami, and now he only wanted to rest.
"Maybe..." He panted out with light breaths, though shallow from his day-long travels, "...maybe I can search for her after I take a nap...the sun is so warm..." Smiling, he just stretched right there, and let out a content purr, before his eyes fell shut.
-Kami's wet tail gave another little contented twitch, as she padded along down the trail, kept as low to the ground as her stubby young legs would allow her. She'd escaped succesfully! Down the rock and through the waterhole. Slinking quietly along the trail, her golden pelt blending finely with the golden colored grasses that surrounded it.
She had nothing to escape from of course, except perhaps a few more lessons with her father, but the soft bit of pride was apparent in her for her job well done. Noone had followed, or so she thought, and as she drew further and further away from her home a very faint smile touched her maw. She wasn't sure why.. but for some reason it felt as if something would happen today.-
Shifting lightly as his nose twitched, Ta'Ziyan was strangly content in these new lands. Instead of feel the eyes gazing upon his hide, he instead felt the warm wind brush through his fur, the sun shining down upon him and the clouds occassionally casting a shadow for a cool moment. Letting out a sigh, he just slid his tail back and forth slowly as he felt the heat fill his mind, causing a yawn to escape his maw. For a moment, all he could do was feel the drowzy state cross his body, but soon he was stirred awake, and his eyes blinked open after a long moment. Unsure of what to think, his form protested to the sudden movement and he felt his tired state causing him to become disorintated.
Looking around for what might of awakened him, he shook his head and tried taking a few steps, catching himself after a second before keeping his path, he had to keep moving. For some reason, sleep didnt seem as appealing as it did moments before.
-The dry air was doing it's best to lick up the bits of moisture that clung to Kami's pelt, but try as it might, as she padded her golden pelt still held tight to some of the moisture, darkening her golden fur, and dripping small drops of water from her tail every few bounces she made. When she finally came to a stop, she lifted her paw up letting her tongue run against her darkened forepaw, becoming amused and intrugied with the bit of water she managed to gain in the process.
What an interesting little trick to pick up out of nowhere. Glancing around, she almost wished she had someone to show it to, but the savannah seemed quiet, so she picked up the pace again, padding down the trail. Should she head off into the grass to play? Or perhaps head down the trail as far as her little legs would carry her? Unsure she took up a strange action, trying to peek over the grass for something exciting. Jump, jump, step, step, step, jump. Like a misplaced golden rabbit she hopped along the path.-
The dry winds in turn played with Ta'Ziyan's sense of direction as he just followed towards the large rock, still wishing he could fully see what such a structure could be. Keeping his pace up, he pushed through the grasses like a lion on the prowl, though he had never really hunted. All of his cub life, he had always just scavenged off of others, eating what they left behind. It was a weird way to live, but it did just that, and he was happy he could survive.
Shivering, he suddenly got a feeling as he blindly moved, but with one last step, his paw did not meet the dry grounds that were there before, but instead feel upon soft mossy rocks, and he felt a yelp escape his maw as he slid down them and towards waters that seemed to just push on. Unlike the many waterholes he usually encountered, he felt the liquid that encased him as something that was moving, trying to drag him along, and he quickly stood, holding his ground. This new place was long, never ending from where the water travled to and from. He had no idea he had just fallen into the Tamu'maji, the large river in the Pridelands.
-Though Ta was still a nice distance from Kami, the loud slosh of water halted her hopping immediately, and her ears instinctively flew forward, twitching ever so lightly, as she stood tense, waiting for another sound. The sloshing continued, but she heard no grunt or growl of a dangerous beast.. so perhaps it was a herd animal of some sort?
Deciding to take a peek Kami slipped into the grasses, taking care to walk very slowly and keep from rustling about the grasses that encased her. Peeking through the glasses as she neared the small clearing that surrounded the river, the bright copper pelt of the adolecent caught her eyes.
Ta? It looked... like him except.. Maybe not? He was so big and.. Without thinking she began to creep out of the grass, creeping as if she actually had something to hide behind, trying to get nearer to the seemingly familiar lion.-
Feeling the waters drip from every strand of fur on his body, his copper coat had grown somewhat darker from the new weight that it held. His hair fell heavily against his forehead and his tail was dragging in the waters as he just stood there. Wondering how he could have completly missed the fact that there was a river here, he just tried to collect what dignity he had left, completly missing the fact that another was nearing his possition.
"It figures I would fall into a watering hole like this..." He said softly, eyes turning to trail up the rock in the distance once more. Stiffening suddenly, he darted his vision downwards and let it land right on Kami, his heart racing as he realized she was very close. Not getting to reconize her at the beginning as surprise seemed to cloud his judgement, he tensed but soon relaxed as he studied her slightly smaller form. It had been quite a few weeks, but he felt joy pour through his system as he took a step and had to catch his balance, looking to his feet and wondering if she reconized him.
-When he looked straight at her, she finally noticed her folly. That.. despite the fact that she'd crept, the grasses hadn't followed her, and she froze for a moment, feeling a soft nibbling of embarassment upon her.
However curiousity at the moment got the best of her, and she cocked her head lightly to the side, studying the larger lion. Body still tense, she looked ready to spring back at any moment, but her wavering little voice called softly out.- "Ta...?"
With a flash, his eyes were back on her form and brightened lightly from before, surprised evident as he heard her soft voice. Slowly a smile crossed his features as he took another step towards the other side of the river, noticing it grew deeper now to where his knees were. Pausing once more as the current seemed to tug harder, he just stopped altogether on his path and just looked to her.
"Kami..." He called out to her, over the water's slight roar with the current moving past him, "...Yeah, it is me..." Feeling a little down suddenly at the fact that she seemed to question who he was, he suddenly realized just how long it had been, and he took note that she seemed bigger as well, or in his opinion at least. She looked near to a growth spurt just like the one he had, or so he hoped. He wanted her to grow as well, somehow it seemed wrong for her to be younger when they were so close in age.
-Seemingly elated that her guess was confirmed, she hopped forward towards her edge of the river, stopping at the banks, little golden ears flicking forward to try to listen to him ove the gentle roar of the river.- "Are you swimming? I thought you didn't play?"
-A hint of a smile played on her maw at her subtle 'teasing' and she dipped her forepaw into the smoothly running river, seeming to gain an energy and excitement uncharacteristic of the little cub.- "It's been a very long time. Where have you been hiding?"
Seeing her smile, he just couldn't help as one raised strongly across his features as well. Shaking his head, he was in much deeper than where she was on the banks, and just called out in responce, "I am not really swimming..." Pawing at the water and sending a splash that hit his face, he blinked before shaking the droplets into the air, and chose not to respond to her teasing, for he could not think of one at the moment.
Moving a few more steps after he caught himself, he just looked at her form, "It has been quite a long time, and I see that it has moved us along despite our seperation, you have grown quite a bit Kami." He responded warmly to the cub, eyes shining through their clouded veil, "I have not been hiding, mearly looking again for you through the lands that I know you live in...I am glad to have found out, my search is over for now." Jumping suddenly, he bounded across the rest of the river as splashes sounded over the roar, and just grinned seepishly to her as he was now drenched.
-She listened gently, as he spoke his notoriously longwinded answers, nodding some in happy agreement at his story of looking. If she'd have known she'd certainly been around more often, tromping loudly through the savannah. But there was much she could do about that now, and the task had been completed anyway.
-Lifting a paw lighting to shade her eyes as splatterings of water erupted from the river, she gave a soft little shake of her body, before stepping nearer to Ta, having to look up to see him now. He certainly wasn't as big as alot of the large lions that'd been roaming the Pridelands these days, but he was big.- "Do you.. really think I've grown?"
-Perhaps she had.. but if so it was just a little, the kind of growth that happened so slowly that one didn't even notice it was happening. But it was alright, she didn't mind. In the words of her father, she'd grow when she was ready. She'd rule when she was ready, etc etc. Looking up again gently, her eyes soon followed there normal path to the ground.- "I'm glad you have been looking. I've always wanted someone.. to play with."
Seepish, his smile lighten as he watched her shake her pelt, and he felt a small heat raise to his cheeks as he quickly apoligized, moreso with his eyes than his shy words. She seemed smaller than him, he could tell easily now, but he would not go back on his word as she just stepped closer. He caught her gaze as she looked to him, and when she spoke her quesiton, he felt a tug in his mind, as if he knew his answer seemed to be more important than how it felt.
"Of course you have grown, you seem as if you are about to become my size soon, and even though I have gotten larger, you are catching up quite fast." He grinned to her, something that seemed to easily cross his features as he reassured her, "If you keep up that pace...you might just outgrow me and I will be the smaller one..." His smile teasing, he returned the soft manner that she had directed towards him moments before. Padding away from the deep waters, his pelt was a dark copper color as he moved out and onto the land near her, resisting the calling to shake the water droplets out as he just let his tail swing lazly. Catching sight of her looking away, he let his ears perk at her last statement, and couldn't help but look away as well.
"...I..." He paused, trying to find the words as his longwinded responces seemed to flee him when he really wanted to speak, and he tried to continue with his voice soft, "I missed you Kami...you are my closest and one of my only friends...and I like to play with you, because..." Swallowing, he trailed off, seeing if she had heard him and unsure if he had even said it. It was all true, out of all the lions, she was the only one who seemed to put up with him. He didn't want to give up that friendship, because he knew it was something he might not find again if he lost it. And he did not want to go back to the darkness of running away from things unseen.
-She laughed a little softly, something that almost seemed to surprise her before that smile worked across her face again.- "Perhaps I'll catch up. But girls don't grow bigger then boys."
-She mused happily on the thought thinking of her massive father aside her smaller mother. It'd be kind of strange to look at if it were the other way around. Her voice falling soft again, she added gently.- "Besides, I don't mind being small so much." -It was true. She minded not being socialible, not being strong, not being of beautiful colorings, not being proud and fierce, not being.. well the leader she was supposed to be. But being small was one thing she could live with. The longer you were small, the longer you could hold onto irresponsibility.
Hopping forward a couple steps, she looked back at him gently, letting her eyes touch his face breifly again after the trailing.- "Let's play then? I'll teach you...."
-From within the surrounding grasses the large beast of a lion crouch delicately in the golden hued blades. He'd tracked Kami easily enough both by water trail and sound, and as Mufasa found his daughter's voice once again he was surprised to see that for once, she wasn't simply talking to herself.
Settling in soft silence, trying to keep his richly clay colored mane from giving him away, he watched the encounter and waited.-
Hearing her laughter, his ears perked as he looked across her features. Her laughter alone was something nice, and he always loved it when other laughed, and soon enough he found himself mumbling, "I like it when you laugh," and he let his smile bloom across his features as he boyishly just stated that fact, a childish comment that did not pass away from his growth and travels.
"...I am sure you will catch up soon, and though girls don't grow bigger than boys overall, I know some older girls that are bigger than me...but I am just an overgrown cub right now..." Trailing off with a thoughtful look, he just shook his head in a conferming nod and smiled at her comment of her size. He thought she was fine the size she was as well, if she didn't mind it herself. Shaken out of his thoughts, he saw her hop foward towards where he had moved out of the water, and he tilted his head as she asked him something he wasn't ready to hear. Blinking in silence, he wondered just what she thought about playing, before catching the fact that she had asked him to play, meaning she enjoyed his company. Feeling the friendship warm his body, he just nodded and let his eyes light excitedly.
"Sure! But..." Trailing off, he looked away to the waters, "...well you said it yourself...I never have played with others before...but if you are willing to teach me, I am willing to learn!" Grinning, he found himself on edge as he waited for his friend to tell him just how to play games, something he never learned in his solitude at such a young age.
-Ta's statement was strange, and it caused another soft swelling of self conciousness to run through her. It sounded like something her father would say actually. But she nodded a little softly at it, before mulling over his words about growing.
Stopping the few steps ahead of him she awaited his joining her, little golden tail flipping gently back and forth.- "Of course I'll teach you Ta. I'll teach you any game I know."
-Most of the games she played were solitary games.. but she'd been dragged into a game or two with her siblings in the past. She wondered suddenly what kinds he'd like. Games of pretend like she did.. Or the rougher games like some of her siblings. Cocking her head a little to the side, she asked curiously.- "Do you like running, or wrestling? Or do you prefer things a little more calm?"
Not looking to catch the self conciousness that filtered across her features, Ta'Ziyan had distracted himself with the waters after his strange statement. Silently, he questioned why he had said such a thing, and while he thought it over, he felt his ears perk as the breeze picked up, and her words made way to his senses. It was strange, to hear her say she would teach him how to play, something that all children knew how to do, or so he figured in his mind. However, when he slowly moved his gaze back to her form, she was already a few steps ahead and all he could do was pad after her, unable to say aloud the question.
When he made it to her side, only taking a few steps though it seemed like it was longer, he just sent her a shy whisp of a smile and looked to the grass that was at his paws. It seemed, as she asked the question, he could only glance quickly to her and than away in thought, his eyes darkening just slightly as he let his mind race to answer the question. Finding it hard to do so, he shifted his weight and put himself in the paws of another as he pictured how each was done. Running and Wrestling, before he could even find a fun idea of how to do it, he felt his eyes snap closed, and his ear start to throb. It was from running and wrestling that had gotten him injured by that other lion cub a few weeks before. Swallowing, he opened his eyes slowly, shaking his head and getting the bad images away.
"I don't like wrestling..." He said softly, his face calm though his eyes shining with a slight pang of regret, and slowly he sat down to pull up his paw as if he were to itch his ear. His concious seemed to play with him at that moment, and he qucikly looked to his paw as if he expected to find his blood before, his eyes just starring at the color though there was no red. Realizing he had gotten lost in a memory, he forced a smile and looked to Kami, "...I guess I like things more calm, it prevents from getting hurt...though I guess if people did wrestle and were playing...it might not be as bad...but..." Trailing off, he just finished his statement with a small shake of his head and an even smaller smile, "...Calm is better in my opinion...why do you ask?"
-She watched him with a soft sense of worry as he seemed to drift away, but when he finally answered the question, Kami offered another of her soft smiles.- "So I'd know what game to show you first."
"I don't like rough games so much either really.." -Pondering for a long moment, she let her eyes scan the savannah, taking in each bit of scenery as she tried to decide what they should do first. Listing them thoughtfully allowed, she pointed gently in directions as they came up.-
"We could play pretend I suppose. Pretend to be crocadiles in the river.. Or birds in the trees. Or even elephants. Or...."
-Pausing she glanced upward towards the azure sky and the soft puffy clouds that hung low in the hot weather.- "We could watch the clouds, and find shapes."
"Or maybe... Follow the leader. That's a good mix of calm and still exciting." -Her ears perked curiously to see which if any he'd choose to know more about.-
Nodding at her answer, he just looked to her and waited with perked ears as she slowly spoke of her ideas, of what games she wished to play. His eyes following closely to the trail that hers went on, he felt the urge to move closer to catch her soft words with each idea that she voiced.
Looking to the river, remembering his fall earlier all the while, he just nodded slowly, wondering what crocadiles were but not fully saying anything. Besides, he mused softly to himself, he had a good idea that they were thoes awful green things that seemed to snap at him near the south. Letting that topic fall, he picked up the next one, about birds and tress. More appealing than the last option, he let out a soft sound of intrest, and the elephants one seemed even better. Though, he had to admit, he had no idea just how well he was at pretending, but it did sound like Kami was very good and maybe he could learn.
Her next idea surprised him, and he looked up to see the coulds fall by, "Watch clouds?" He asked softly to himself, eying the one that seemed to cast a light shadow across the lands for a few moments before letting the sun show once more. It sounded like fun, but than again, her next idea was the one he could not help but jump to agreement before she could even finish.
"Follow the leader!" He said with a happy grin, "That sounds like a fun game, and it might help me see just more of these lands...you do know a lot about it, as I do not, so hopefully maybe you can show me around as well, right?" Sadly, he had no idea just how much she knew. It seemed weird, but the idea that she was the heiress seemed to slip his mind, along with the idea of her father being the kind. He had no idea he was talking to the princess, or was on the Pridelands, actually, Ta'Ziyan had to admit he didnt know much at all.
"So...shall I follow you first?" He asked to be certin.
-Kami seemed delighted in the fact that Ta seemed interested in the few things she'd rattled off, it's good when friends had things in common after all. So that was probably the best way to start one's first friendship.
When he agreed with follow the leader she smiled a little more, nodding.- "Yes, you follow. But it's more then just that. You have to follow exactly the same as I do."
"I could do..." -Her voice trailed before she leaped forward, once, twice, and upon hopping over a small rock, stopped and pivoted, calling back to him.- "And then you'd have to follow the same, with two jumps, and a hop over the rock."
-Slipping back around the red rock, she settled in front of him again.- "Understand? It's easy. And if you want, later I'll be the follower."
Watching her movements, he seemed to just smile before he stilled, stiffened and looked around. It had been so long since the last time he felt that, but suddenly, he got the feeling once more. His stomach dropping, the hairs on his neck stood on end as he looked around with a wild gaze, just making sure nothing was there. It seemed different this time, not his usual feeling of 'being watched'. This time it felt more solid, and as he sat there, he turned to look at Kami and put on a fake, boyish grin, though he hoped she could not tell.
"Alright, I think I understand, this sounds like fun." Nodding, his cheer was stretched as suddenly, his paranoia grew. Who was watching them, and was anyone really watching them. Deciding not to voice his ideas to his friend, for he knew it would mostly scare her or so he believed, he just moved slightly closer, waiting for her first move.
-The large figure in the grasses lay oblivious to the young male's correct paranoia, watching with soft fatherly eyes. When he'd first set out after his eldest child his intentions had been to draw her off and teach her. Show her the regalities and duties that went along with what he was, with what she would one day be. But the surprise of actually finding his unsocial daughter actually socializing he stalled him. And now he watched and waited protectively. Socialization was a good thing, and if that male had any plans other then that, it was his duty to put him in his place.
For now though he rest comfortably, awaiting their movement before he'd try to get up.-
"Okay!" -Indeed she also was oblivious to his worries, so caught up in the happy thoughts of having someone to play with that she didn't even notice the strained smile.
Turning back around, she took a few steps, looking to make sure he followed before the game began. Instead of walking straight she weaved gently through the grasses, taking a wide flowing path, much like a river. At one point, she even walked them in a circle, before she checked on her companion again, ready to pick up the pace if he seemed comfortable so far.-
Following after her once his moment of fear seemed to pass, nothing settled at all with him and once again he was found in the darkness, glancing at the shadows and making sure that none would jump out at him or Kami. Sure it was weird, but whenever she looked, he just smiled, his eyes still on her as well as he followed her movements. It was strange, following the weird path, but soon enough he found himself into it so much that each step was a mimic of where hers were, placement and all.
Akward was also another way to put it as he was a little bigger and the steps were a little more contained, but he still kept with it. Following closly in her circle, he made a slight face of getting dizzy when she looked back, feeling a little stupid but having some fun doing it. Looking to her now, he just watched and waited for her next move, enjoying the silence and the occasional laughter that flowed from him.
-Another very soft laugh touched her at his silly face, and her tail began to lash more excitedly then before, very much enjoying the little romp. It was far more fun to look back and see another smiling face, then to play alone.
Leaping forward again, she ran for several long strides and as she reached the top of the tiny hint of a decline, she carefully tucked her head between her paws, rolling rather ungracefully down the tiny hint of a hill.-
-Lifting himself carefully from the grasses, he followed slowly behind, staying crouched and creeping silently. Concentrating on not rustling the grass so, Mufasa didn't notice the small thorny weeds until he stepped upon them, and with surprise he jumped sideways, shaking out the soft stinging. It had cost him though, as now he stood in full view of the little ones should they look back, and with the loud rustling they more then likely would.-
Listening to her laughter, Ta'Ziyan felt at ease once more as he just played, something he could feel fueling his body. It seemed weird, not knowing what playing was, but now that she had shown him, he knew he missed out. Sure he was bigger now, but in the end, everyone loved to play some games, it helped them relax, or at least it did for him. Watching her tail as it caught his attention, he paused as she took the strides, and moved to follow only to paused a second before she fell, letting out a gasp before looking down to where she rolled. Trying not to laugh at the comical scene, he glanced over to figure out how he could do the same, but suddenly something else caused his ears to perk and his eyes to stray.
It was a soft noise, though as he slowly glanced over his shoulder, his tail stopped moving and his muscles tightened. A deep inhale brought his mind to a cold halt, and all he could do was just stare as a large lion, let alone a male one that even he had never encountered before, jumped from the grasses, from the shadows.
"No..." He whispered, as if everything seemed to suddenly unroll in front of him, and with a quick decision he moved to step back, his paw slipping as he rolled though not as Kami did. Landing near her, he just stumbled to move, to get up as fast as he could as he looked at his friend.
"Kami!" He gasped out, his voice slightly frantic as he tried to figure it out, "Kami, something followed us, something big and...and with a lot of hair!" Had he seen himself, it would have been quite a scene, him discribing a male lion with his wide eyes and his breath coming out in short heaves, "We-we need to get away..." His eyes pleaded with his friend, and he wished maybe she could have seen the other, so maybe she would know how surprised he was to see something so big just appear from the grasses.
-As Ta' landed near her, Kami smiled a little softly.- "No silly, I didn't roll t.." -She paused abruptly as she saw the fear in his eyes, and the scared words began to tumble from him. Glancing back up the hill she felt her heart began to flutter with nervousness, before she pushed her small head gently against his side.- "Run then!"
-Taking her own advice she began to run through the grasses, however as her eyes glanced back to make sure Ta was following and was safe, she froze, skidding a foot or so before she stared unblinking back at the creature that persue them. Her pelt might be boring.. but it WAS almost an exact replica of her father's, and she stay frozen between wondering why her father was chasing, and trying to tell her frightened friend that he had nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, her voice caught in her throat and she stood like a little rabbit, frozen.-
-Mufasa was probably as startled by the child's reaction as they were of him, and he quickly began to follow after, large strides quickly bringing him nearer and nearer the to the two cubs.- "Ka.. Kamilika." He certainly hadn't meant to scare them.. and they were going to end up hurt running off without paying attention.-
Seeing her get up quickly, he felt a little proud of the fact, but soon it was covered with fear and the urge to protect himself and his friend. Nudged away, he looked around before running a pace or two behind her, gasping as she slid to a stop and he moved a few steps before turning.
"Kami!" He called to her, before he took notice of her posture. Seeing the freeze, he quickly bounded back to slide in front of her, lowering his head and letting out a weak growl, mentally shaking though trying to stay solid in front of her. He knew it was a little weird, he knew he would get distroyed in one swipe, but he had to protect his friend. In his mind, someone as nice as her shouldn't be killed like this by such a large creature.
"Leave us alone!" He called, voice cracking lightly when he heard the being speak out Kami's full name, a flash of confusion covering his eyes as he glanced to her, and slowly he seemed to just step back and look to her. She was frozen in place, and when he glanced between the two, things seemed to suddenly click.
"...Kami...do you...know him?" His voice was quite, hopefully only loud enough for her to hear as he whispered in the wind, eyes still locked on the adult's form, what was going on?"
-She finally seemed to gain life again as Ta bravely pushed himself in front of her, and when he asked, a soft squeak finally escaped her.- "It's... my dad."
-She stood still for another long moment, before finally taking his place, stepping up and standing protectively in front of her companion. Her mind drifted back to the fear he'd shown the first time she mentioned her family to him, and she suddenly began to worry he'd bolt again.-
-A soft huff of tiredness touched Mufasa as he slowed to a stop himself, staying a couple yards from the two little ones. Seemingly as confused as the others, he finally fell into a fatherly tone, scolding the princess gently.- "You can't just go running off blindly into the savannah Kami. Don't you know how dangerous that is? Without forethought you're looking for nothing but trouble."
-His soft frown soon changed however, and he stood his ground, peering curiously at the unfamilar youth.- "I really didn't mean to scare you children though.." -He wasn't going to admit he was following.. oh no.-
Narrowing his eyes, Ta'Ziyan was more than surprised at the confession, but just gaped with wide eyes now as Kami moved in front of him. It took a few seconds for him to realize what was going on, and by than, the strange lion suddenly was towering over them, and he just tried to look up, but found himself turning away. Ears swiving to perk at his voice, he just listened before mumbling and letting out a snort.
"...We would have only headed to where she knew it was safe...right Kami?" He asked the smaller one softly, "...you live around here, you know where the safest places are...we would have gone there first, I am sure..." He had no idea why, but suddenly he glared to the ground, as if the king was scolding him for just being friends with Kamilika. Though his eyes were drawn upwards at the seeming apoligy, and he just looked at the king with a sort of wonder, not quite awed, but not quite disrespectful. Letting his eyes slowly narrow, he took a deep breath, put on a smile, and turned towards Kami as if trying to reassure her.
"Kami, I take it you won since I was unable to follow you down the hill, though I did try...I guess I was just not made to roll down hills." Grinning now, he tried to ignore the presence of the king just so he could assure his friend that he had fun in their game, and in truth, he was sad that it had to end so soon.
-Kami's ears hung gently at the scolding. And as Ta began to defend her, she very much wished he had been right. But she couldn't really guarentee that. She was just running.. and if they'd be continually persued she ver well might have left the safety and familiarity of the pridelands.-
"Huh?" -Her eyes gazed briefly over to Ta as he quickly changed the subject, and she shook her head a little gently, whispering.- "It's okay.. there is always time to try again."
-But her worried glance went between the two boys, and finally she stepped between them again, knowing exactly what it was her father wanted. Why he still sat there silently.- "This is Ta dad... he's my friend."
-Turning her gaze back to the copper male, she replied with unwarrented guilt.- "And this is my dad Mufasa, he's the king of the pridelands."
-As his daughter spoke so staticly, he gently reached a golden paw to her, scooping her little body close to his, long enough to nudge an affectionate little nuzzle against her cheek, before releasing her again.- "I'm glad to hear that then." -His eyes turned to inspect the stranger curiously. He seemed nice enough after all, for the time being. Smiling a little he added.- "Just watch where you're going alright. You're mother would worry herself sick if you got yourself lost."
Shifting lightly on his paws, Ta'Ziyan just starred at the large lion before he took a step back, Kami cutting in front of him. With a sligh exhale of breath, he just shook his head and waited to see what the older lion would say. However, he was not even close to prepaired for what she said next.
"K-king?" He asked hoarsly, suddenly remembering what she had told him months before. Shaking his head, he showed no fear for the king, but did not bow or lower himself in respect. All he could do was look from Kami to Mufasa and than back again. He was mearly confused, not angry with his friend, for she did tell him something along thoes lines before. Finally leveling his gaze to the ground, he kept deep in thought as he let the silence fill the air around him.
The lion stood there staring and Ta'Ziyan grew irritated, though he resisted the sudden urge to snap at the king in question. For some reason he wanted the king to look at him not with suspision, but with a slight respect and maybe, though he still had to think it over, with respect. Hearing his final words, Ta'Ziyan just moved his gaze up to Kami, before he knew what to say.
"...I am sure that your father came looking for you...maybe I should just leave..." He told her softly, his words expressing the slight discomfert of being studied, as if the king was taking him appart trait by trait and searching for some imperfection, "...I can easily find some place to rest too." He added with an afterthought, not wishing for her to worry over him.
-The disrespect oozing from the male, caught Mufasa a little off guard, but he said nothing, gazing back to his daughter gently. She could play with him for now. As long as she didn't pick up that nasty habit.
Turning from the cubs, he called lightly over his shoulder.- "In anycase. Be home by nightfall, alright Kami? It's dangerous out here after that."
-Uncomfortable was too light of a word for what the young cub was feeling coming between the two, and she nearly sighed with relief as her father turned.- "Ah huh"
-Her eyes quickly turned to her friend however, and almost seemed to plead with him as she debated his words.- "But... I'd still like to play Ta.."
-Letting her eyes fall once again, she dropped her voice to a soft whisper.- "He doesn't mean to be mean.. He just worries alot. He's already lost 2 of his children... and since I'm the 'queen in training'" -She seemed almost pained by these words.- "Well.. he just checks on me more often.. makes sure I'm okay.."
As Ta'Ziyan watched the other lion move away slightly, he let out a breath he had no idea he was holding. For some reason, he just felt as if Kami's father seemed to want him to stay away, but alas he soon let it just brush off as paranoia. Maybe soon he would be able to make it up to the king, but at the moment all he wanted to do was look to Kami and just play follow the leader once more.
Stilling when she all but pleaded to him, he felt his ears flatten and his eyes widen, just looking at her with the deep coppery debths as he tried to think to himself. What could he do, and soon enough, when Kami spoke her small tale about her father, he found himself stepping closer, trying to ignore the queen in training. He had to admit, he knew little about the pridelander in front of him, but he wouldn't let a little fatherly pride get in the way, and as he thought of that, he suddenly realized that Mufasa was just protecting his daughter, and he felt even worse than before.
"...I...didn't mean to come off that way..." He whispered hoarsly back, trying to plead in his own way with his eyes, he seemed to forget the king was still there.
-As his ears dropped, and it became apparent that he was uncomfortable as she was, she did something inexplicible, without thinking. Nuzzling her cheek against his leg, in the way that her mother often did to her, to comfort her worries and fears, Kami was still for a long moment. Until the realization finally hit her what she'd done, and she backed up a little, ignoring the dissapearing figure in the distance.-
"It's... okay. We can play.. yes?"
Seeing her step closer, he just let out a breath as he felt something soft rub against his fur, his eyes darting to where Kami suddenly stepped back. It took only a moment for the action to happen, but he felt it, and it the moment seemed to still as his heart beat wildly from the contact. Such a calming gesture, one he knew she was trying to help him by doing, it was all so foreign, and he found himself moving a step after her as his head lowered to level with hers. Searching, he tried to catch her eyes before he pulled back, looking to the sky when she spoke.
"...If you wish, I would still enjoy some time playing, I am learning a lot about these games from you Kami. I guess I am also having more fun than expected...I never knew playing games could be so..." He trailed off meekly, eyes darting across the shadows in an instinct movement before turning back to look to her, his words seeming to be sputtered out like when he was a small cub.
"Okay then." -Kami tried to press past the words rather quickly, her eyes touching the grass instead of him. The words were confusing.. and emotion filled on both sides. And at the moment all she really wanted was to be laughing again, and playing like they had before.-
"Follow the leader again then? I'll let you be the leader if you want.."
"Follow the leader again?" He mimiced softly, confused as he shifted lightly after being caught in his thoughts. Looking around at the grasses, his eyes trailed up to the rock once more before he smiled and nodded, "Sure...but I dont knjow if I will be as good as you were..." He said with a small laugh, before moving his paws lightly as if waking them back up.
"...erm..." He added on softly after a moment, "...where are we not alowed...I dont want you to get in trouble..." He asked meekly, looking around as if there would be bright boundries, but he saw none.
"Yay!" -Giving a little hop, she moved behind him gently, waiting for him to start up.-
"Ohh ummm.." -Kami thought for a long moment.. trying to come up with a way to describe it well.- "Well.. when the grasses dissappear and the ground becomes dry and rocky.. that's too far. Or when the grasses touch against lots and lots of trees.. but I've never been that far yet."
"When the sun starts to get low though I'm going to need to head back home. If you walk with your back to the sun as it's setting, that leads straight home. And before too long you see the big big rocks."
Nodding, Ta'Ziyan looked up to the sky and shifted, his paws brushing lightly as he curled around to face away from the sun. Looking to her, he just nodded and slowly started to walk, tail dragging lightly against the ground as he looked around. He knew he wasn't really doing much, but he could not think of anything yet. Heat filling his cheeks, he just glanced over his shoulder before picking up the pace lightly by taking longer steps until he was hopping, slowly pausing between each one as he jumped from grass pile to grass pile.
Stilling at a small rock, he looked over before jumping to the top and jumping down, spinning and looking back up to see if she would be able to do the same, hoping he did not make it too hard even though his movements were slow and simple. Bowing his head, he felt a small heat rise, he had no idea what he was doing at all.
-A look of seriousness feel across her features, as she tried to replicate the movements after him. Solving puzzles, figuring out things, and doing things correctly were a secret passion of the little cub, and even something as simple and silly as the little game brought it bubbling through her.
She hopped, hopped, hopped, before hopping up onto the rock. Almost losing her balance for a moment, she caught herself before hopping down, spinning around, and bowing her head just as he had. Smile working a way onto her maw, her tail swayed contentedly as she waited.-
It seemed to fill his courage as she did the little bow, the action tickling his mood as he grinned to her, before walking around her in a circle and than moving back onto the patch that led towards the rock. The grasses tickled his paws as he lowered his head in a prowl-like bow, shoulders raised slightly as his tail lifted about an inch above the ground. Stilling, he pretended he was at a hunt, and than did a large pounce out into a clearing, sliding to a halt as he looked at a small waterhole.
"...Kami..." He looked to her as he waited for her to slide to his side, "...does this mean we are closer to the rock?" He asked softly, ready to get back to the game after the answer was given.
-Ohhh this one was tough! She walked around in the circle, a bit slower then he had before she attempted that foreign stance. She'd yet to ever go hunting before, being so little and having so many well equipped lioness' about. But she replicated it the best she could, before poucing, landing of course a foot or so behind him with her tinier legs.
Wiggling her legs alittle, to rid them of the strange sensation that the pounce had caused, she looked up to Ta curiously, before looking over the watering hole.- "Ohh! Yes, this is one of the places I swim. There is another right alongside the rocks too."
Looking to her, he watched her wiggle her legs before smiling in congratulations, his eyes smiling as well as he just nodded. Looking back up, he noted the rock was really close now, just as the sun was sinking faster than before or so it seemed. Time was moving too fast, the rock was getting too close, and slowly he realized she would be going home and he would be alone once more, open for becoming a victum of thoes nightmares that walked in the shadows always.
"Well, would that explain why you were wet at the river?" He asked curiously, before he moved to walk towards the edge of the waters, paws sloshing through as the water brushed his fur, but he got no farther as he circled to the other side.
"Mhmm." -She nodded softly, padding after him, dipping her own feet in the water.- "I was playing here and then I went out to play in the grasses and found you."
-She paused as a thought hit her, biting her tongue before the words slipped out. Last time they'd caused him to run away.. but now.. maybe it'd be different this time?- "Ta...."
"Will you come home with me tonight? Orr... do you have somewhere else to go?" -She really wanted to play with him in the morning.. and the next day.. and the next.-
Moving out of the waters, he simply shook his legs out wildly, overdoing the action to get off water as he glanced over his shoulder. Just smiling at the comment of meeting up with eachother, he was quite happy he found his friend, and it still seemed to keep the warmth bubbling inside as he took another step before casually stretching his back and yawning, both overdone actions as well until he moved to stand and spin around to look at her.
As he turned, he felt his ears perk, listening as she softly called out his name, eyes studying her when she seemed to paused to find the words.
"Yes...?" He encouraged softly to his friend, nodding and waiting for her to go on before listening as she did. With her first sentence, his heart seemed to stop, eyes widening as he felt his knees wish to buckle. The second sentence caused his voice to become lost, and soon he just blinked and took a deep breath.
"You-" He croaked out, before clearing his voice and debating if he wanted to brush it smooth with the waters, "-You want me to...go home with you?" He couldn't comprehend what she was asking, with thoes seven words he didn't know what she meant. Did she just want to offer him a place to sleep, or was she asking for him to try and join the pride, the offer she held before when they first met. Catching himself, his paws dug slightly into the ground before he just smiled lightly and turned around, forcing a boyish grin on his features.
"...We already are heading to your home, Kami." He said with a chuckle, and moved towards the grasses and in a trotting mannor, like the Zebra he had seen one day.
-She braced herself for the answer. Be it a yelling.. or him turning and running as he had that time before. But the answer she did get was even more puzzling.
She opened her mouth to talk, to try and convince him as his voice seemed to crack, and his words filled with uncertainity. But as soon as her own words had formed, he was already around, leading the way.
Staying still for another moment she stared after him carefully. He certain was the grand puzzle of all these days. Trying to catch up, she replicated his quickly, before trotting after him, calling out lamely.- "O... okay!"
When she had first asked that questing, for him to say, Ta'Ziyan knew he was being an idiot with how he acted. She was his friend, and he knew that he trusted her, but in the end his paranoia could only leave him shaking, frozen. Now, as they reached the grass and he slowly weaved in a zig-zag motion in which he figured would give more time, he could easily think up the wole situation fully. His mind seemed to relax and he felt laughter fill his heart as he just felt warm inside. She wanted him to spend the night, he slowly decided, and he liked the idea.
With no home and no place to stay, spending time with his only friend seemed to be the best solution, though strangly his mind seemed to forget his fears and hauntings, just like they always seemed to disappear when he spent time with his friend. Slowly, he made his paws still as he looked to her.
"I hope your father will not mind...I mean...we dont seem to get along, though I did not mean to act that way...I guess it was just..." Sputtering out once more, he shook his head before grinning and changing the subject, "Maybe we can just walk now, since we are close...I really would love to hear about the lands..." In all honesty, he really felt as if he was doing a poor job on the game, but he did have intrest in the grasses around them, in Kami's home.
-Her ears perked a little at the strange insinuation. Mufasa of course wasn't perfect, but in the eyes of her daughter he was seen as just about that. And since she hadn't seen anything against that, or ever heard anyone say otherwise she was sure it was the truth. Smiling a little gently, she called out reassuringly.- "Don't worry! He'll like you once he gets to know you, I think."
-Quickening her step, to join him at his side upon the request she nodded her little golden head, glancing at the land spreading around them, and the looming Priderocks.- "What would you like to know?"
Turning to look at her as she moved to his side, he just mutly looked to his paws, unsure if he could really feel secure about her father's thoughts of him. Sighing lightly he looked back up slowly before trying to figure out just what he wished to see.
"...Erm..." He said softly, before he made a face of deep thought, "I don't know much anything about the lands, since I didn't even know they were pridelands...so maybe you could show me just what makes these lands so...amazing." Smiling lightly, it was this time a bit forced while he continued to walk at her side, hoping that that made a bit of sense, "Anything you feel that needs explaining, I would love to hear." He finished, nodding.
"Why it's so amazing..?" -She pondered over the statement for a long moment, her steps suffering in the process, slowing as she churned the information trying best to think of what to say.
Finally she fell back upon the one thing she did know. Her father's little speech. Returning to a normal pace, she glanced lightly around.- "Well... the pridelands is a wide range of mainly savannah. It feeds lots of the grass eating animals well, so that leaves lots of food for us meat eaters too. Quite a few different water holes are scattered around as well.. and the river.. so even when it gets really dry you can usually find some water. We're pretty far in.. so before we were born.. when a bad plague hit all of the lands, the pridelands survived it the best that we've heard so far."
"But... according to me daddy, the best thing about the Pridelands is that we are all 'family'. Everyone is the same and everyone is let in unless they do something really horrible. Our pride is what makes the land. It's sooooo big that umm.." -She pondered for a moment, before finally nodding knowingly.- "That I can't even count them all. Lots of babies, and lots of mommies to catch us food, and my daddy to keep everyone safe. It's really nice."
His face seemed to just relax as his ears perked, listening softly to what she had to say. Nodding every so oftin, he did not quite keep his gaze on her as she spoke, but instead took in all that he could see, trying to picture just how the lands looked from the way that she explained. Letting his nose lightly sniff the air, he could admit that it did seemed very peaceful, a strange scent compaired to the southlands where he had lived most of his life, and in the end he just smiled lightly and turned to gaze back to his friend.
"It does sound really nice, to have such a big family like that so that when you are hurt or you need someone as a friend you can always find family." Saying that aloud warmly, he whole-heartedly believed that fact for it was hard not to. He had been told by a few others and had seen it first hand that family seemed to always be there for you, though he could never say he expirenced it. His family was never there, and when he thought of that he quickly tried to brush the thought away, looking at the rock that seemed close enough that he had to crane his head back just a bit to see the peak.
-She nodded a little to him. She wouldn't consider very many of the young ones around friends. But some of the adults were okay. But still everyone was always there when she needed them, so Ta was correct.
When they reached the rocks, she cast her eyes about, trying to see if any others had spotted them as they neared the home. Seeing noone however she hopped up two small rocks with effort, before turning to her friend.- "Come on up. We all live up on the ledge, in the den."
Walking in silence with her the rest of the way, it gave Ta'Ziyan time to reflect on the day. He never imagined he would run into the younger pridelander princess, but here he was, as the sun set behind them. Shifting lightly through the grasses, he glanced towards Kami, who had taken the lead, and smiled lightly. Even though she was a princess, she still was his friend, and he suddenly felt a strange urge. Watching her nod, he though of staying in her lands, to always be there, just like she had asked earler. She wanted him to stay overnight, but what if he staied forever.
Swallowing thoes thoughts for the moment, he let his gaze flicker to the rock, and paused as he realized that they made it, his head craning back farther and farther.
"It is so big...I thought it would be, but this is so much bigger than I expected..." He said in a longwinded awe, before she hopped up the small rocks, "...Up?" He raised a feline brow than, and sniffed lightly, looking back towards the said ledge before placing his slightly larger paw on the first rock.
-She laughed a little again, as he spoke, turning her gaze back up the rocks as she spoke.- "Because it's so high my daddy can see far far across the land. And it also makes it hard for other things to come along and try to take all the cubs."
-Hopping up another ledge she looked back down to him curiously.- "My daddy says that in some other places sometimes cubs are stolen to be eaten or.. umm do work for other lions and animals. That would be awful..."
-Remaining paused for a long thoughtful moment, she finally continued her hopping up again, pulling herself to the large ledgea at last.-
Shifting lightly, he kept the pace she set, hopping up each ledge right in her paw-prints. Keeping his tail out for balance, his larger form made it akward, though he had no idea he was keeping up with the game they had finished not too long before. Glancing over his shoulder, his eyes widened as he could see the shadow grow larger as well.
"It is quite high, higher than anything I have ever been upon before...Kami..." He trailed off as she jumped the final rush, her words spining across his mind. Mind reeling, he could only wonder what could happen if Kami got taken. Blood suddenly running cold, he made the final hop and landed at her side, looking to her with clouded eyes as he dared not voice his sudden paranoia.
"...Kami...are you really sure it is alright for me to be here...your Father..." He reminded softly, looking away and feeling a slight bout of shame pass over him once again as his eyes trailed back towards the dens.
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 10:28 am
// Welcoming Committee // [An RP with Remove] It was growing well into the afternoon hours on the firekin lands as the sun slowly streaked across the sky. Like any other day, the heat filtered down upon the sands, and as always it was hard to tell if the sand was hotter than the air, or if the sun was hotter than the ground. For months, a young lioness always question the concept, keeping her mind on determining the difference as she walked from dune to dune. It was quite a repetitive life, but she had no choice, because in the end she could either wander, or become someone's afternoon meal.
And there was no way she was going to become someone's meal.
Talking a moment to pause, Nuri let the winds ruffle through her dark fur, the red and black pelt always brought her extra attention from the sun, so she was always greatful her fur was light and thin. The dusty breeze at least brought a cooling effect upon her form, and when traveling, it helped keep one away from going crazy with the heat. She had always been traveling of course, so by now she was used to the heat, but it still was nice, and today was quite a breezy day, if not a dry one.
Letting the breeze push her scent downwind, she could care less if another caught it, for never had she run into another lion. It caused her to believe that of course, the pride had shrunk, if not died off completly. But she always wanted to check to make sure. So thus, she let her paws carry her onward, her youth long gone as her leith adult form made way down yet another dune. Maybe today she would finally run into another firekin. That thought alone brought a slight smirk across her features.
The male lion was happy, content and somewhat pleased with himself, why he was he wouldn't tell anyone not yet anyway, he wanted to see what would happen. He was just wandering, his mane making him way too hot so naturally he headed towards the water, where he could be happy and rest. Water, rest, bath and anything else he wanted apart from food that was scarce in these lands and he found it better to hunt elsewhere, more likely to catch something.
As he reached the water he laid down under the small amount of shade there was moving occasionally to sooth his throat with a trickle of water. He was happy and unsuspecting of another wandering around the lands, then again that was Kimeti's buisness but not for long, Kwana would rule, then maybe Teleka would have a duty in these lands.
Nuri had yet to find herself a waterhole, though she could care less. Traveling taught her how to keep her head even when she was suffering from thirst. So thus, she never did search for them, they mearly appeared when it was time for her to drink. It was easier to not search and find them instead of searching and going to wrong direction.
Instead, she continued down the dune and started to pad up towards another peak, her paws taking in most of the warmth of the sands as the thick pads helped prevent any burning that could have happened. The sharp black markings that went across her shoulderblades and down her forearms caused slight uncomfort before she pushed it out of her mind, going to a stop as a new issue appeared before her. Of course she ran across the small oasis, but that was not what she found intrest in.
It was the large male adult firekin that was currently resting within.
"Intresting..." She whispered to herself, dark eyes narrowing in thought as she merely starred down towards the other. It was always better to observe and not bring attention than the other way around.
Teleka was unaware of the other lioness, his mind was wrapped up in Kijinga, hoping several different things. He decided he wanted to wash his paws but from previous experiance what was the point of liking your paws when they taste horribly of sand? He had learnt what to do! Grudingly he stood up and shook his mane, darn thing was full of sand again! He stepped into the water and laid down before rolling about, oh how he looked stupid, nothing new there. He was happy though, cool and wet, the way to be!
Seeing as how the other would not notice her any time soon, Nuri slowly made her way down the hill and towards the small oasis, ears perked as she listened to the splashing of the other. As long as he was rolling, she could sneak closer and closer. Slowly the sands turned into thick stones under her paws and she paused a moment, letting her prowl turn into her head being raised a bit. Eyes taking on an emotionless color, she let her tail drag back and forth, wondering how long this lion would take to notice she had just walked up towards him.
It was always fun to use what she learned on her own against others, heck that was the only way to stalk, being completly silent.
Teleka noticed the female but she wasn't important enough to stop washing! When he did indeed finish he looked at her curiously, "You do know your tresspassing don't you?" It was common for him to say this, he knew the firekins here and that consisted of two families, neither she was from! He looked at her curiously, there was no harm in a female, she wasn't like his sister, she was the only femme who could do this male any damage!
Raising a mocking brow, Nuri took a slow gaze over his form, taking in his now flat mane and his less than intresting pelt. Painstakingly slow, her eyes trailed back up towards his, and she just looked right into his gaze in a silent challenge. Her face still was void of any emotion, but just as slow as her run down of his appearance was, a steady, bloodthirsty smirk crossed her form. She would not stand down to a nobody, and she knew this so-called firekin was a nobody.
"So..." She said in a dull tone, as if bored, and she nodded towards him, "...this is what happened to a once great pride..." Her tone was mocking of course, if he could even catch it, for most of her voice was dull, and she let it sit in the air before continuing, "...Pity." With a short laugh, she turned her back, showing he was not worth any more of her time, and as he lost sight of her face, her smirk grew, and she waited.
He watched her turn and laughed, "You better get going, my Queen Kwana will not be pleased with an arrival of a rouge into these lands." He shook his mane making it poofy before it went back to its normal state. Manes were pathetic and so was that female. He rolled his eyes at her, he had no intrest in her. Her pelt may be similar to a firekin pelt but she was and is no more then a rouge and rouges do not belong in lands such as these unless they are slaves, in which case they are no longer rouges. He wasn't going to start anything, he had learnt patience from Kwana.
She felt the cold, soft laughter rise from her form once more, and her eyes looked over towards him in a dismissing manor, "Oh really? Than why are you still here?" She could smell it, he did not have the scent of a Firekin who lived there for his whole life. She knew he felt he was on top of the world, but alas he still was a wanderer, one who just happened to stumble on home once more. Just like her.
"Keep telling yourself that you are worthy...but you still are not a true Firekin." She paded lightly away, and sniffed the air while she moved. His path was still strong, and thus, she decided to follow the trail he had journeyed on, perhaps it would lead to this Kwana.
He laughed, "Ah but what you don't know you can't judge. I know the royals here and trust me they dispise rouges such as you." He laughed again as a smirk crawled upon his face, "That and what use are you anyway, males are what needed to keep the pride going, not females. You will just be in the way, Rouge."
He lapped up a little water, his brown eyes still on the female, who did she think she was? A stupid spoiled brat? Yeah that sounded right. He would have to warn his sister about this thing, if she was going to be staying but as Kwana had said to him before he was accepted, she is a rouge and rouges aren't liked unless they prove themselves and with that attitude? Kwana won't like her, will she? No, too bossy, a threat to Kwana! Kwana better not like her, that thing would stink the place out, oh instant dislike, isn't it lovely!
Nuri held back her laughter, the boy behind her was quite fun indeed. She already was spinning the idea in her head, the so-called queen had him wrapped around her paw. Of course, knowing a Firekin queen, the lion must be brainwashed or the sort. It already was a plot in her mind, and she knew just what tatic would get her to take the advantage. She would meet this Kwana, and see just if all these tales were true. There was no need to prove herself to these firekins, she already had the plan all made up.
And so, walking towards where he was out of ear shot, she called over her shoulder in the same voice, at the top of the dune, knowing that once she was over, he would not be able to answer back unless he chased after her.
"Indeed, I shall go see this trusty Queen, following the trail you left, oh great knight..." Walking past the dune, she knew he couldn't see her mocking smirk, so she left it with her voice, and her cold laughter that followed.
He laughed as he had not came from Kwana but her sister Kijinga and any trail he would have left towards Kwana would be long gone by now. "Idiot!" He laughed before laying back happily on the ground. He yawned as he laid his head back onto his paws, he couldn't wait to hear the reaction of the stupid femme when she saw Kijinga instead of Kwana, oh the humour! He just chuckled, before realising that crazy female may try and attack the princess, well that wasn't allowed, especially Kijinga! He stood up a snarl in his throat. He would go a different way to her, it was faster.
Stretching as she reached the bottom of the hill, Nuri suddenly took a moment to sit, her tail sliding back and forth in the sands as she took a glance up to the bright ball in the sky. She always remebered the stories of the gods that her parents told, even the ones the elders spoke of when she was a part of the pride as a young cub.
"Have I really been gone long enough for the whole pride to change?" She asked towards the sky thoughtfully, her eyes trailing back downwards as she pushed up once more. Though she was thirsty, she was not about to turn back, she could survive a few more days if need be.
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 6:26 am
// By Finar-si // [An RP with Dustfeather and Sirius Dogstar] It had been days since her last encounter with that lion, and already Nuri felt her paitence waring thin. It was one thing for her to be disrespected so by the unpure firekin, but it was another thing all together when no one chased after her. She always remembered firekins to be strong, prideful, and overall protective of their lands, and for them to just sit and let her wander. It had all but blown her mind away.
And yet, as she continued her search, she did not turn her back on the pride just yet. She still had a strong feeling that they were led by the great leaders she remembered as a cub, and knew deep down that they still had to be there. So she continued her search, her treck through the hills and dunes of the desert as the sun rose and fell each day. She ignored the burning on her deep, blood red pelt and the attraction of her even darker markings. Showing no weakness, her form never fell, her features never gave way. For she knew, there was always the chance that another would be over the next dune.
She's seen nothing of her siblings these last moons: it's as if they've dropped off the face of the earth. Which was ridiculous...if they had, she'd know.
Perhaps she can alter her plans after all, with none the wiser. Well, until they figured it out, of course (which they were bound to do eventually: most of them were, after all, quite keen), but until then....Why am I thinking like this? a little persistant whine, remnant of an old past, nags at her. This is not how a god thinks. It's how a mortal thinks.
The trouble is, she's not entirely sure who's side she's on anymore. And that makes doing anything problematic. And the problem with that is that not doing something is generally a problem in and of itself.
Her worried mind touches on something nearby: another mind. Startled, she recoils, before curiousity gets the better of her. Something's out there. Something familiar...or as familiar as it can be, under the circumstances.
The tiny cavern that she resides in couldn't, at the moment, hold a lioness, much less a small antelope. But space has never mattered much, to gods. A dim glow pulses through the darkness as the goddess flickers into a much firmer existance. Crimson fur twitches in the breeze, and two long wings fold back against her back. It's been awhile since she's made the change, and she's pleased to find that it wasn't an effort. On second thought, perhaps the wings were a bit overdoing it. She frowns at them thoughtfully.
A second later, a wingless, otherwise normal-looking Firekin lioness is trotting out into the sands, ears perked as she trots right towards the oncoming Nuri.
The cruel sun beat down on Kijito's light tan pelt. Why he was in the desert? he mearly felt like exploring, though that probably wasn't too wise. Peering about himself, he stared at the endless sand. Wondering if he had already passed this way. He had yet to see any of the feared lions that he had heard about. Climbing up a dune, he cocked his head slightly to one side as he spotted a red shape among the sand. Curiousity filling his eyes, he headed towards it.
As her paws moved up on the rough sands, she ignored the burning that shot up her leg, the desert heat getting to her at last as in the back her mind she knew she needed to find shelter fast. However, that thought was soon out of her mind as she made her way to the top of the dune, and her deep eyes caught sight of another, another female lioness that had soft red fur.
"One of the Blood?" She asked to herself, reverting back to the old words that her mother and father spoke softly about away from her siblings, "...maybe..." her voice was soft, icy and hidden as her eyes widened slightly before narrowing to a thoughtful gaze. She kept her emotions hidden from her features as her head fell slowly to a prowl, and she did not move from her spot. There would be no need for moving, for Nuri knew somehow that the other knew she was there. Sniffing lightly, she shifted her weight as her paws screamed at her, though she did not show it, and kept her stance strong, watching.
The heat doesn't appear to bother Finar-si unduly. She likes it out here in the midst of the sand and the sun, where daily living is a chore. It breeds a tough race of any being that is able to survive out here. It makes her pleased, still, of her pride. She wonders what to say to this newcomer as she nears.
'I am your Goddess' was not particularly appealing. For one thing, they never bothered to believe you unless you did something miraculous. She'd learned that one early on. Mortals were odd things. Give them even a little bit of a reason, and they'd become absolute monsters to their own kind without a twinge of conscience, but they became extremely suspicious when you pointed out an innocent little fact to them. Mortals.
She slows to a walk as she nears, dipping her head cordially. "May Finar-si be with you," She says with relish, to the other female, watching her with idle curiousity. Probably one of the pride. She hasn't kept up with them since Makadari's time. She vaguely recalls that Hestia's brood are probably in power now. That still infuriates her, even as the less godly part of her notes dryly that it shouldn't. Some habits are hard to break.
Oh, dear. Something else is coming this way. Something tan. This could be problematic.
His curiousity grew as another figure appeared. Hoping that his tan colored pelt would allow him to blend into the sand, Kijito continued to approach. He noted that their pelts where much like his brother Uumi's. Stopping not far from the two of them, he eyed them nervously.
Her eyes trailed across the other's pelt darkly, though she merely was judging the other like she always did, trying to figure out just who she was and if she was a threat. Of course, she did it with all of her senses, and her eyes were just the first to scan before moving back to stare into dark lavender eyes. When the goddess finally made way to stop, Nuri was quite caught in the strange colored eyes, one she did not expect from anyone, and it took more than a moment to pull her own away, engrossed in the coloring as if she was caught by magic.
If only she knew who Finar-si really was, and that the goddess she had been taught to praise was currently standing right in front of her, than she might have just understood her sudden intrest in the other female.
Her musings were suddenly broken by the head bow and the greeting, and for the first time in her life she was fully caught into a lapse of silence, though she broke out of it well. Bowing her head in return, it was not quite as far down as her eyes still gazed on the other, showing distrust and uncomfort for a split second.
"You know of our goddess..." She stated evenly, and her ears perked to swivel to where Kijito was currently placed, her head soon following slowly to keep the other in her line of sight still.
"Yes, I know her." The double meaning causes the smallest of smiles to curve on her lips. "My name is Karama," She says slowly, atuning her own self to the name, then breaks gazes with the other to look about the landscape, as if drinking it in.
"I've not been home a long time," She says softly, darkness throwing a thin veil over her voice. Her last time, in which she was a slave of the very creatures she'd created, had not been pleasant. The memory suddenly reminds her of why she's here. This isn't a game. The goddess part of her screams in quiet outrage at the betraying thought. "A long time."
"I assume you're part of the current Blood-pride...?" She questions, lifting an eyebrow at Nuri, as if expecting her to fill in the name.
Uncertain how to act towards Kijito (she knows how any true-blooded Firekin would act, of course), she ignores him for the moment. If Nuri draws attention to the cub, she'll act, but until then, perhaps he'll just...miraculously disappear. Or something.
Kijito watched them for a mometn longer before gathering up his courage and moving to stand next to them. Dispite not being able to speak, he tried to say hello though it only came out as a soft growl. His eyes where open and friendly looking.
All but raising a brow, or a facial action alone, at the words the other had said, Nuri acknowlaged the name and nodded softly, noting lightly that the other seemed slow to put it out, and decided it would be best to give out her own in return, less she wanted to cause an issue before she could figure this Karama out.
When the other finally turned, Nuri turned as well back to where her eyes had strayed, and the single twich of her ear was the sign she heard the other speak of her absence.
"Blood-pride?" She turned her head as her voice cooly repeted the question, letting it roll over her tongue, "...the pride does not accept rogues...even with their...blood..." She hissed out that word, her soft voice mocking as the first strong emotion shone through. Letting it fill the air a moment, she moved on quickly.
"And my name is Nuri..." She did not say anything outside of that, no 'nice meeting yous' or anything of that sort, only just silently gazed back towards the sands until her eyes caught sight of a cub-like lion, one that was no Firekin.
"What in the...!" She hissed as he moved closer, gazing emotionlessly down towards him and blinking as he growled.
Well, some things never change.
"Rest easy, sister," She remarks, a trifle wearily. "I didn't mean to insult our noble heritage. I merely meant if you were part of the pride, and not an outsider. Rogues have wandered these lands before, although never for long." No, they'd find themselves dead or enslaved. Although this didn't seem to be the case recently. The pride's grip on this land seems to be weakening. Perhaps the new King or Queen is weak, or maybe they just need to find that grip. You can't give someone a life and then expect them to behave contrary to it, she thinks, a little sadly. They are what she made them. Trouble is, she's not sure if they really believe in her anymore, or just in themselves. The system needs to be broken...somehow. Her ears flatten a trifle.
Well, so much for hoping Nuri was the unobservant sort, Finar-si thinks glumly. She turns a stern eye to the tan-colored male cub. "Looks like a rogue." Her voice is slightly hollow. Opportunities shouldn't be wasted, however. "You know the penalty for trespassing on these lands, cub?"
Kijito blinked a look of puzzlement crossing his features. Trespassing? he didn't even know that someone owned the land. His father had never said that to them. Shaking his head slightly, he took a step back nervously.
Nuri took one quick glance over the elder cub before turning her eyes away in a dismissive manor. She was not a part of the pride, and thus found no reason to punish the pridelander, besides she was more intrested suddenly in how this female was acting instead, and slowly narrowed her eyes.
"Rumor has it..." She spoke slowly, trying to catch Finar-si's attention, "That the pride has shrunk from the recent pride...many families parished or left the pride from a vast plague that spread through the lands, my family being one of them...and few have come back..." She trailed off, wondering if 'Karama' would take the bait and question more on the pride. Sighing soon after though, she turned back to Kijito as he stepped back.
"Be thankful you only ran into us." She hissed lowly to him, leaving the rest for his mind to wander around in.
'Karama,' as we must probably now call her, quickly darts a glare at Nuri, but it's a glare with no real venom behind it. That's interesting. Maybe I'm missing something.... That wasn't the type of reaction she was planning on. Perhaps the system is crumbling...or perhaps the loyalties of the pride have been stretched thin. Still...That's very interesting.
"He's probably not worth it anyway," She growls. "Too skimpy to be a good slave, and the desert out here is just as capable of killing as we are." Probably more so. Too bad gods can't pray to anyone. She could always ask another god to lead the cub out nicely, but that comes with all sorts of problems on it's own. She looks hard at the light-pelted child. Probably from a southern pride. "You'd best run home to mummy, boy. And tell her to keep her brood away from Firekin territory: next time, your bones will be littering the landscape within a day or two." It's a warning coated in a very real threat.
But her gaze flicks back towards the red lioness, almost automatically. The news sorts itself into the female's mind. Plague...she shivers inwardly. There's a god she's never been fond of. Death she can handle, but there was just something off-putting about Plague. "Indeed," She murmurs, taking the hint. "Who, then, remains loyal?"
Kijito took another step back before turning and running back the way he had come. He didn't like the two lioness and had decided he best be going.
Returning the glare with a cold stare of her own, Nuri found herself being drawn in once more before Karama turned away, and she took a deep breath soon after. Turning to gaze at the pridelander, she watched with idle facination as he turned and ran, the words of the other filling the air to drift around before stilling in silence once more. She just let it beat down upon her just like the sun in a relaxing manor before she moved to sit, a yawn streching her maw.
"Who remains loyal?" She repeated once more, opening an eye for a second before turning both eyes, "Apparently two families have built...a new queen has taken the thrown...and even firekins who left to escape the plague are not welcome, no matter what reasons they traveled upon..." Her smirk grew lightly as she remembered the meeting with Teleka, and she echoed his words, "The royals despise rogues...rogues just like me..." She didn't seem to effected by it, but she still said it as she glanced towards the other, "And since you have been gone quite a long time...they will despise you too..." her voice staied even as she awaited a responce.
A queen...interesting. There's not been a ruling Queen in a long while, especially as the main monarch. This ought to make life interesting. They're worse than the males. They tend to think a lot more, and thinking, especially in a religious individual, is dangerous.
"That's stupidity," She says, shortly. "Even if we have been rogues, we're still pure-blooded. You've said the pride is low in numbers: what'll they do in a generation? There won't be another generation." Besides, if they're Hestia's brood, the lioness thinks darkly, They're more rogues than I or you my friend. "No matter if they despise us, Nuri, they'll need us. It's something I'll be sure to point out at our meeting," she finishes. They sound like puffed-up little royals...they're generally the harmless type, too filled with self-worth, but she needs something to work with, not dim-witted near-sighted fools! Perhaps it's time for a prophet in the pride; she eyes Nuri with a glint of curiousity.
Blinking, she just starred as the other spoke, surprised at the words as a slow smirk came across her face. Right than and there, she knew that the other was just as cautious as she was, and only followed others when they proved themselves. The world seemed a lot simpler now as she continued to listen to the somewhat of a pep talk her goddess-in-disguise gave her.
"Yes...they will need us...it is rumored even moreso that they will inbreed soon...but even than...the families have left as well..." She did not know how much more she could explain, for she only met one other, but it made sense so far. Nodding lightly, she stood once more, before taking a soft breath.
"You know...They say that there is power in numbers..."
"Yes, there is," she replies vaguely. Unfortunately, numbers could also be hard to control. But if there weren't that many of her blood left...they were going to need all the help they could get. "We might as well stop hanging around the outskirts, then, and head into the territory like we mean it." A genuine grin (and a rather wolfish one) spreads across her muzzle. "After all, these are our lands. We shouldn't have to walk into them like two hyenas snuffling on the edge of a kill, sister. Let's go and meet these royals and find out for ourselves if these rumors are true."
Nuri continued to just stare at the other, her dark eyes trimming through the red fur a moment long before the words settled in.
"Alright...it is time anyways." She stated simply, for now it was time for her to do her work. Once more she was following another, going in as a shadow until the advantage arose, her claws extended to strike for the kill. Of course she did not mean to hunt this light red female, for somehow this character had reminded her of herself, catching her respect. Oh no, she meant for her to succeed, no one would know her intentions, not even herself, until they suddenly became clear. For her to observe behind another was easier than it being played out for her to hear.
"We shall travel to the heart...where they say the queen herself slumbers..." Small smirk growing, she decided it was time to see just how far Teleka got on his warnings, she wanted a crowd this time around.
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 6:29 am
// Bath Time at the River // [A RP with Guine] The sun was slowly rising up across the lands as Tisha found herself walking out of her den, her form streaching as a yawn escaped her maw. Though it was hardly noticed by her, she had grown quite a bit, letting go of the last of her cub-fat and gaining more length in her form. If many looked at her, she could not be considered an adult, her strength and power grown completly now. No more sperts would happen, and now she would have to work to build anything.
More content to just walk out into the warmth of the sun than to bother seeing how much different she was, she glanced over her shoulder a moment before she jumped to a rock. Inside the den, she shared a place with her son, who currently was still asleep, or to her knowlage. Every day, he woke up taller and stronger as well, becoming more the cub she always wished for him to be. Almost as if it were yesturday, he seemed to hit his juvenile years, and soon enough he would have to be taught the ways of a pride to learn how to become a part of the pride.
Taking a breath to get away from the thoughts, she curled onto the rock, ready to enjoy the silence.
The tall grass was perfect for the stunt the young lion was about to try and pull. It was still morning, so he would not be caught as easily. Black and white tuffed tail swished in anticipation for the perfect moment.
There she was. His mother slowly made her way over to a rock to lie down on. She was sure taking her time. He had been able to sneak out of the den just after her without her notice. A good lion had to be able to hide where he was. He moved a paw carefully out in front of him so as not to ruffle the grass around him. The time was almost perfect. Wait... Now!
"Morning, mother!" a deeper, more mature voice greeted as he pounced up onto the rock, standing over the now fully grown female. Sure his voice had matured, but it was still that of a younger lion; definitely not how it would be in the years to come. "Being lazy?" he teased, grinning at her. He was such a momma's boy...
Ear flickering, Tisha assumed she heard something for a second, but before she could lift her head, she felt a shadow block her sun. Opening the darker of her two eyes, she looked up to Tafari as he stood over her, smirking and yawning once more.
It took only a second for her to remember that his voice had indeeded deeped, for she always had that light voice of his childhood in her mind when he was just a small one.
"Of course, Honey, there is no reason not to be lazy on a day like today..." Pushing up to sit, her tail hung over the rock as she glanced down to him, "...we are lucky to get these days so oftin...what are you planning anyways?" She knew he would not just jump to her unless he either wanted to follow her around or to just ask a favor.
Tafari frowned slightly, "Always assuming that I want something. Can I not just spend time with my mother for once?" Then he smirked; drat, she knew him too well. "I'm just bored," he mumbled, faking a yawn, "I wish there was something fun to do." If that wasn't blatently hinting at anything, nothing was.
Nodding once, Tisha fully stood up and continued to keep her smirk across her features.
"If you are bored, I am sure you are due for a bath..." Moving closer, she nudged him towards the edge of the rock, "...we can head towards one of the rivers and give you one...or just do it right on the rock?" She took a step closer, the rock not giving much more room before they both would fall off.
"Now, if you want to spend time with me, you could always accompany me on my hunt, though now that you are in a Pride, you dont quite need to know how to hunt on your own..."
Bath? ... Tafari's eyes widened. She wasn't serious, was she?? "Awww, come on!" he whined, "That's a waste of time! I'll just get dirty again," he frowned, but jumped off the rock in the direction his mother was directing him to go. Such a momma's boy... really...
"Hunt?" his ears perked up. That would always be something interesting, but there would be more than just his mother there. He didn't like the idea of having to meet new lions. He frowned, thinking as he headed towards the rivers. It would definitely cure his boredom, and if he didn't like it he could always just leave. "Alright," he finally said, glancing over his shoulder at his mother, "But I still don't need a bath..."
Shaking her head, she jumped down to follow closly after him, eying his not so clean coat that was clearly a darker shade than hers was.
"Tafari, who are you kidding with that coat of yours...you aren't getting out of this, no matter what you say..." Playfully nudging him, she walked next to him, "...it seems like every day you get bigger and bigger...I dont know where the time flies..." Giving off a mock sob at that, she walked a bit faster, the wind brushing through her coat as the sun caught it and let off a silver shine.
"Well, I still don't see the point," he mumbled, frowning even more. And what was her rush? Tafari eyed his mother as she practically pranced out in front of him. He rolled his eyes and continued at the same pace he was going. "Don't start getting mushy on me," he teased, snapping his teeth lightly at her tail as it swished in front of him, "I'm already gonna take the stupid bath, you don't have to guilt trip me any more."
Stopping suddenly, Tisha took a breath before turning, blinking to him as her smile seemed to fade.
"Tafari...do you really think I am trying to guilt trip you through life..." She swallowed lightly for a moment before turning away to shake her head. Picking back up her pace, she didn't quite prance, but still took each stride with her longer legs so he would have to maybe instead.
She wondered suddenly what he thought of her, and as they neared one of the rivers, she couldn't help but repete that question over and over. She was always worried about Tafari, but him thinking she guilt tripped him into everything seemed worse than her just babying him.
Tafari stopped in his tracks as his mother turned around to face him. A light blush crept over his cheeks as she spoke. He ducked down, frowning unhappily at the ground, "Mother, I'm sorry, I was just joking," he mumbled, keeping his head low to the ground as he hurried to keep up with her.
He really didn't mean to upset her. He was just playing around. Tafari hated seeing his mother upset for any reason, and him being the reason made it several times worse. Great... Now he was going to have to take a bath without complaining lest he upset her more... Lovely...
Making it to the river, she stilled to let him keep up, realizing as she glanced onto his form that he was feeling just as bad as she was. So, sitting there starring at the waters as the sun continued to rise upon them, she decided she would finally talk to him about everything. Though he had only just matured, it was time for her to explain it than anything else.
"Tafari..." She told him in a soft whisper, knowing he was close enough to hear, keeping her eyes away from his, "...we...are not like other families that live in the pride..." trailing off, she thought out her next words, also giving him a chance to speak for himself if he wanted to.
Ears lightly pinned back against his head, Tafari sulked up next to his mother. Great, this was just great. He not only was making her upset, but now she was probably going to lecture him on what he did wrong or something...
He blinked at her next words. What did she mean by that? They were not like other families? Maybe she was talking about all that royal blood stuff Denahi was trying to tell him about? Either way, he didn't say anything, he just stared at a leaf as it flowed down stream.
Seeing him not saying anything in responce, she just continued on with a deep sigh.
"When you were born...I was quite young...that is why you dont have any siblings, because my body was too young to have any more cubs than just you. Of course, I dont blame you for anything Tafari...you are a blessing from the gods and every day with you is a day that I will always treasure. You will always be my oldest, and my closest..." Trailing off again, it was quite clear that she was having issues with the words.
"A regular family consists of a mother and father, usually bonded by an intense love...and with that love brings cubs, the symbols of the binding...Tafari...our family consists of only us...only myself and you..."
Tafari glanced worriedly up at his mother. What was she trying to explain to him? Listening carefully, he tried to make his young mind piece together what he was being told. His father? What about his father? He had heard whispers about how there was only the two of them late at night sometimes. About how difficult it must be for his mother to talk about something like that. Tafari didn't know what exactly happened to his father, but he figured it was the best that he didn't know. All he wanted was to maybe help ease his mother's pain.
"That's because I'm all you need right now," he said firmly even though he still gazed out onto the water, "If you're worried about being protected, I'll protect you. If you're sad, I'll stay by you. And if you're worried about me being binded to you, just know I'll never leave you," he said, glancing over at his mother's paws. He wasn't sure if he was saying what she wanted to hear, but anything to lessen her troubles.
"If you're worried about my," he suddenly paused, wondering if he should continue. Well, right now he just wanted to get out what he wanted to say. "If you're worried about my father... You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I would never be able to call him my father either way. All I will ever need is you, mother."
Turning her head, she just looked at him sadly before shaking with the same dark gaze, "Tafari...I know that this is hard for you to understand...it is something I shouldn't have talked to you about this early...but understand this. I only the best for you, but sometimes, I can't quite give it. You need a father in your life, without it I fear you might not learn everything that you need for survival."
Moving closer, she nuzzled lovingly into his soft fur, abit dirty, but that was on the back of her mind, "It isn't a matter of me thinking you wont protect me, or keep be happy...or leave..." the last part was cholked out, "It isn't about me....you are my son...and you are the most important thing in my life...now...this was a failure enough..."
Stepping away, she sighed, "We shall try to talk when you are a little older...when I know you are ready..." Turning her head, she smiled to him before padding quickly towards the waters, "...Lets go mister, no more delay, you need a bath."
Frowning, Tafari kept quiet, not wanting to say anything wrong. He didn't need a father. All he needed was his mother and that was all. He would never leave her no matter what.
He frowned a little more as his mother nuzzled into his fur. Failure? What was she talking about? This was getting too confusing for him. All she needed was him, so why was she getting so upset all of a sudden?
Then it came... Of course, there was no escaping it... The bath? "Awwww...." he whined, "Why can't I just take it another time. It'll take too long to dry out and... W-wait for me," he cried, following after her. Yup, momma's boy to the end. Gotta love that in a kid.
Nodding at the fact the conversation had changed, she noted to herself that later she would need to re-think just how she would tell him the whole thing with him needing a father.
"Everyone needs to keep clean, and I am not letting you stay with all that dirt in your pelt...now..." Turning, she paused at the edge, "Either you can clean yourself, or I can clean you...take your pick, honey..." Smiling, she just nodded and tilted her head, waiting for his answer though clearly not minding as she let him have his options.
Tafari frowned and puffed out his cheeks in distaste. He would rather not take a bath all together, but it looked as though those weren't one of his options. "I'll clean myself," he sighed, scooting a bit closer to the water and slowly sticking one paw in.
Was she trying to make him freeze to death?! It was ice cold! Well, not exactly, but in his mind it was freezing. He whimpered, quickly pulling his paw out of the water and rubbing it over his face. "There," he said in a wannabe-convincing tone, "I washed myself, I'm done." He didn't like baths... There was no point to them...
"Tafari..." She said softly, "...Tafari...please honey..." She trailed off at that and moved closer, dipping a paw in the water as well before walking completly in. The water flowed lightly around her paws as she looked back to him, waiting for him to join her though letting him have his space for the moment.
"It isnt too bad, feels just right when the sun is beating down so strongly..." She sent him a soft, motherly smile at that thought, and dipped her head down to lap up some liquid.
Tafari wrinkled his nose at the river water. There had to be a better way of getting clean than going into the river.... Taking a deep breath, he stepped in carefully, one paw at a time. The river bottom was all slimy and gross. He would much rather stay dry, or at least wait for rain. He frowned, looking up over at his mother. Well, if he had to do this...
With one swift motion, he lept into the slightly deeper part of the river, hopefully causing a big enough splash to get his mother wet as well. Ha! He crouched down in the water, his head just above the surface as he smirked. If he was going to have to take a bath he might as well enjoy it.
Turning her head up just as a splash fell across her features, she blinked her bi-colored eyes in surprise before a slow grin spread. Seeing him a few meters away, she turned and with a quick flip, her tail sent a wave of water in his direction. Pouncing out of the river and to safty, she flicked off her paws and started to lick the liquid from her fur, smoothing it down before it could start to dry in mis-shaped formations.
However, her eyes still locked on to where her son was, awaiting for him to retailiate in case she would need to dodge a new wave of waters.
Letting out a small squeak, Tafari tried ducking under the water to avoid getting hit by the wave his mother sent over at him with her tail. He popped back up above the surface just in time to see his mother get out of the water. So now she was trying to get out of taking a bath?
The young male stood up on his hind legs only for a second before coming down, breaking the water with his forepaws, then ducking back under the water. Hey, he might be growing older, but he didn't have to grow up just yet. "Nah!" he stuck his tongue teasingly out at his mother, preparing for a counter attack if needed.
Taking the chance to step away while he went back under the water, she would leave him alone there while she disappeared, her form ducking away from his vision as she hid behind a tree. This would be a challenge, but she decided to stay behind as she listened for his reaction as he would find her gone.
The tree caught her attenion soon after as she just gazed at the bark, before looking both ways and back again to scrape her claws down in one slow motion, making a mark. This would be her memory, so she would never forget what happened today, no matter what happened.
Popping back out from under the water, Tafari shook off some of the water and looked around. Where did his mother go? "M-mother?" he asked nervously to the empty bank. Nothing happened to her, right? Tafari closed his eyes, trying to stay calm. She must have just hidden somewhere and was going to surprise attack him. That had to be it.
But when nothing happened, the young male quickly paddled his way to the river bank, not even bothering to shake off the water. Where could his mother have gone?
He sniffed the air, no longer having to close his eyes to concentrate on a certain being. His nose twitched and he sneezed. He frowned and glanced over at the tree higher up the bank. Well, that's where his mother's scent was coming from... Slowly he made his way over to the tree. What in the world was she doing? Just leaving him like that! Sheesh... "Mother?" he asked again as he got closer.
Ears perked, Tisha forgot about hiding from him as she looked around the tree while he neared, blinking and smiling softly as his coat shined like the stars because of the water droplets. Right away, she knew he was clean enough, and soon padded to nuzzle his cheek and lick off a few droplets.
"See Tafari, I told you it was worth taking a bath..." Her voice was soft and soothing while she seemed oblivious to his confusion, "...ready to go back to the den now?"
Tafari's eyebrows furrowed at how his mother was acting. What was she smiling about now? "Mother," he mumbled in annoyance as she licked him, "You don't have to do that," he said, pulling away from her to shake out his coat.
It was worth taking a bath? He frowned at her; of course it wasn't worth taking a bath. He was only going to get dirty again... "Sure, if you want to," he said, patting his wannabe-mane out of his eyes with a paw.
Nodding and letting him all but push her away as she nudged him while she moved back.
"Lets go..." Moving down their make-shift path, the sun warmed her coat even faster than on the way there, the fur drying soon enough as she walked past the familiar sights. Soon enough, they would arrive home, and she would have to leave him to go on her hunt.
Baths... Ick... Tafari shook what loose water remained on his coat as he followed his mother down the path towards their den. He hurried to catch up to walk beside her. Glancing up, he couldn't help but wonder if she would really be alright. What she was trying to tell him earlier seemed to be getting pretty serious. No, he wouldn't let that bother neither him nor her because he was going to stay by her no matter what.
"What's for dinner?" he grinned up at her, "I'm hungry."
"We shall see when we get there...and it is breakfast...unless I woke up late..." Leaving that in the air, she led the two to their den, her mind on other things as the sun continued to warm the lands which they now called their home.
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 6:30 am
// Speaking with the Queen // [A RP with Bluefire Dragonz] Sarabi lounged on the rocks near the pride's den, the sun warm on her creamy pelt. Crimson eyes were slitted against the bright light and in obvious please at the heat. She felt warmed straight through, and it eased the ache somewhere deep inside that plagued her almost constantly. When she lounged, she didn't feel as weak as she did moving around, and she liked to think it made her look more regal.
The queen of the Pridelands was thin and fragile, though her strong spirit shone just as brightly as ever. Her body might look like a single unwary paw might shatter it, but one look into those bright, clear eyes made one think that this creature could withstand the full force of a tornado with out turning a hair.
While the heat was warming the queen, it was instead giving an unpleasing effect on the climbing juvenile. As he jumped from ledge to ledge in efforts to reach the long clearing that was before the den. Though each jump did take no effort, the heat seemed to push harder than the gravity he fought against. Finally, after a few more leaps, he made it to the top and looked around for Kami, only to have his eyes land on the resting queen.
Stilling, he took a baited breath before padding softly towards her form, head bowed softly and mane falling to cover his copper eyes. Taking a breath right before he made it to her view, he slid in front to look down upon her, blinking before speaking up in a soft, shy voice.
"Erm...I...I am looking for Kami...lika...she had classes with her father today, and usually I go out hunting and searching the borders near the southlands...but today I decided to come back and..." Clearing his throat, he quickly finished, "...and I wanted to play..."
Sarabi opened her eyes and raised her head, looking curiously to the young voice that spoke to her. The queen perked rounded ears, the wooden beads of her necklace clicking as she shifted over into a better position to listen. "I'm afraid I've seen little of my daughter or her father, young one." She smiled soothingly, flicking her tuffed tail. "If you like, you may sit here and wait for her, I certainly don't mind." She studdied the cub before her, looking with a mother's eyes.
Smiling for a split, akward second, Ta let it slide away as he flattened his ears, hearing that Sarabi had no idea where his friend is. Sighing, he looked to the view and felt the wind across his pelt, enjoying it for the first time in weeks. The land was endless.
"Oh?" He asked, turning his head back and feeling his face heat, and not from the sun, "Oh...if you really dont mind...I am sure Kami-lika will return soon...do you know her personally?" His smile returned, soft and friendly, "She...taught me how to play...and welcomed me to spend time here in these lands, though I am not a part of the pride..." He almosted wanted to add 'yet'.
Sarabi chuckled, perking her ears at him. "Know her personally? Child, she is my daughter, of course I know her..." She chuckled heavily, her tail swishing over the rock behind her. "And you are quite welcome to stay, just as Kamilika said. The Pridelands is a peaceful place, and we welcome outsiders here. Though... may I ask how you came to be inside our borders in the first place? Where is your family?"
He let out a cough himself as she said she was her mother, and suddenly he saw Kami in her, or her in Kami, he still had yet to decide. Sitting back fully, he let his legs get a rest as he once more realized he was in the presence of the Queen, someone he figured he wouldn't even get a glimpse of.
"Her mother...wow...I had no idea, I am um...I am Ta'Ziyan..." Bowing his head and adverting his eyes, his ears perked just to catch her question, and her welcome, and he slowly lifted his eyes to peer through a veil of overgrown bangs.
"Family?" He echoed, something he always did to stall, "I...don't have family...I only have my friend, Kami..." Trialing off, he looked to his paws, "She was the one who brought me here...she said...you and her father could help me...from...Them..." It was than he visably let out a soft shudder.
An orphan? There were far too many of those among the rogues, for her taste. Children needed to be taken care of, and with no family, there was no one to make sure they were raised right. Poor thing... Sarabi felt her heart squeeze in her chest as she thought of all the love a family could give that this cub had missed out on. Her voice was soft, a purr rumbling in her chest. "Its very nice to meet you, Ta'ziyan. As Kami's friend, you are doubly welcome here, for as long as you wish to stay." The queen frowned at the way he acted when he said 'them'. "The king and I would be willing to help you in anyway we can... why don't you tell what's wrong, hmm?"
He completly avoided her eyes now as she moved to ask him just who they were, and slowly he tried to find words to describe who they were. It seemed so much easier when he was just a small cub and had been telling Kami, for now that he was older, he knew just how much it sounded like some big joke.
"I...they...well..." Swallowing again he tried to focus on something in the distance, "They...are always in the shadows...always watching and waiting for me to make the wrong move so they can attack and..." letting that slide, he tried another approach, "...they give me nightmares...make the shadows hard to go into...and yet, they always leave when Kami is gone...because when they are around, I get this funny feeling in my neck, and when they are gone, everything is warm...calm..." He looked up than, his eyes cloudy and heat raising to his cheeks.
"...they still follow me when she is gone though...they haunt me...like...what did that cub call them...oh yes..." He shook his hair from his eyes in a nervous manor, "They haunt me like ghosts..."
The queen's face softened, a realization coming to her. "The Pridelands is a place of sunlight and warmth, little one. There are very few shadows here. Maybe that's why Kami chases the shadows away when she's near you... Her spirit is very bright." She spoke soothingly, her face and voice serious, but comforting.
"She is very bright..." He echoed, nodding slowly and smiling brighter this time himself, "...though they still could haunt me at night...Kami helps...I just hope not to lose her friendship for my stupidity...but that is besides the point...I can see why you are the queen, your highness. You are really easy to talk to...like...a mother." Standing at that, he nodded to her respectfully again, the smile still across his maw.
The queen smiled back, tilting her head. "That's because I am one, child. I have five cubs... though I'm afraid they won't be cubs for long." She sighed, studying her paws. Her family was growing so fast... she just couldn't keep up with it. Soon they'd all be grown, no longer the soft little balls of fluff she'd birthed. With a small sigh, she brought herself back to reality, giving the young lion a comforting smile.
Ta watched her stare off before she smiled to him and he nodded slowly, "It is what they called the 'Circle of life' right...everyone grows through their stages...no matter what. If I had a mother, I would treasure her because of all she had done...so I am sure even as they grow older, you will still be their mother." In his mind, it was a helpful responce for the one she gave him, and it symbolized the knowlage he had. On the brim of adolesence, the world was growing around him and it would be only a matter of time until he took his step as well.
"Are you alright?" It was a soft question, because though she did not show signs, he had noticed she was slightly thinner than most.
The queen laughed, her sides heaving as she huffed. "Yes, little one, as fine as I might be. Birthing cubs... is a tiring buisness. I guess I just gave them so much when I gave them life, that I didn't have much left over for myself. And I'm not so young as you. As one gets older, their bodies get weaker and don't work as well. That's the other half of the circle of life." Rising up, she settled back on her haunches, looking around the den area. "Well, yours is the most company I've had in a while. Mostly, I tend to just sleep in the sun. I enjoyed talking with you."
He looked away with a shy smile, nodding mutly for a moment before looking sharply back towards her as she sat up. Nodding a moment, he took a breath and agreed.
"I enjoyed talking with you too, your highness...Kami was right, you did help." Letting out a soft, uncharacteristic laugh, he turned and rushed down towards the path, about to search for Kami. Looking over his shoulder, he grinned and lept off.
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 6:31 am
// Another Dog in the Lions' Den // [An RP with Remove] It had been weeks since she had come out from the cave, her eyes wary as her form was sleek and still. She still could not believe it, all of her children were gone. Letting out a shuttering breath, she had to simply shake her head to keep on moving, for it was not healty for her to brood and waste away. So with that thought in mind, Miremba walked through the lands, searching for a satisfying meal or simply a drink, eyes haunted and ears flat against her head as nightmares played before her eyes.
Dhati had been wandering for days, he had heard tales of his old pack being around these area's or at least his fathers pack. He had taken on teh duty of finding them when his father died and though he was only a juvinille he was an old one, very close to adolescence.
He had found these lands at last, avoiding all lions and eating what scraps he could find. He had not found any other wild dogs and in some ways it annoyed him, maybe if he found one they would know of his pack, his father had been an heir, so would he have been? He classed himself as important for that is what he had been told but for now, he had to find some others.
Turing towards some tall grasses, Miremba took a moment to just stare before she padded lightly towards them, her nose catching a fresh scent that was of course water. The grasses brushing around her, she finally emerged and just smiled, rushing to the liquid and lapping it up quickly with a satisfied smile. She had needed a drink for a while now.
He looked around and saw no one, the sound of flowing water caught his ear and he soon trotted off in that direction. There was no point looking for his distant family if he was dieing of dehidration or something like it.
As he reached the water he looked around, no sign of any lions, good. He lowered his hear, his ears still accute listening to any sounds around them. He lowered his maw into the water and lapped up some of the cool liquid. His head shot up at one point but he soon lowered it again to finish drinking.
Pulling away, the adolescent wild dog looked around once more before turning away, tail swinging lightly back and forth as she let her mind become blank and her eyes shift down cast. Just standing there under the sun, she let everything sink in with little attempt to push it away, and sighed heavily against the dry breeze.
He finished his drink and laid down, he was fully aware that someone else was around but not knowing who or what made him cautious. He laid down in the grasses listening. He wanted to know who it was but he had never been good at creeping like lions so he knew moving would make a noise. He laid down, his head on his paws while listening, his breathing was heavy but silent. Someone was there, but who?
Ears slowly perking, Miremba looked quickly around with a light sniff, eyes searching as a scent filled the air, and the strange laping left them in silence.
"Who is there?" She called out in a soft, tired voice, more annoyed with the idea of being stalked. She didn't think twise of bringing attention to herself, in fact, dying seemed to be not so bad of an idea as she second guessed herself. It would bring her back with her mate and children.
"Show yourself!"
He raised his head alittle to see the strangely coloured wild dog. "Sorry there miss, I was scared you may have been a lion." He bowed his head to her polietly, his father had always toldhim to show females respect more then males as they were more useful as males were lazy or something. He had respected his father greatly and that was why he was here, to fulfill his fathers death wish. "I am Dhati, sorry if I freaked you out or anything like that."
She just sat there as he emerged from the grasses, stunned by the fact that he was a wild dog, like herself. Taking a deep breath, she let it out in a soft huff as she pulled her gaze away from his form. He seemed to be polite enough, but than again, she was still unsure of others at the moment.
"It is quite alright..." She said again in that soft, motherly voice, and she tried to smile towards him. However, it came out as a light lift of the corner of her lips and only lasted a moment, before she was back to her unexpressive mask, "...and I am Miremba..." she said in almost an afterthought.
He looked over her form and tilted his head slightly, "Nice to meet you." He smiled at her again and then the smile faded, "Is something wrong? Excuse me for asking, you just seem a little down." He was maybe a little more polite then normal, but something about her, just seemed sad. He was curious about this girl wondering about what was wrong though he didn't say anything more, not yet anyway.
Blinking, she took a step back and shook her head, not smiling but making sure to not appear surprised. He had caught her on that question, and so she just blinked.
"I am alright, just a little worn from traveling...I haven't been able to rest for a few days now..." She said tiredly, trying to make sure he bought it.
He had also been travelling but then he didn't seem to have a sad feeling about him did he? He would let it drop for now though, he wouldn't press it in case it annoyed her at all. "May I ask where you have travelled from?" He casually changed the subjct away from her being sad hoping that this wouldn't be a bad question to ask.
She shifted her weight from one paw to another, and just looked back to him once more, trying to think of what to say while she brushed the dirt with her tail.
"I...came from...my den in the south..." She cholked out, "...near the trees, I believe by some pridelands of lions..." Smiling once more she took a deep breath, "It was nice south, not as hot up here and not as...dry..."
Ok wrong question to ask. "I came from far away, a forest, where we use to play under the safety of the trees, the cats found it hard to move quickly so we got away if they tried to attack. I miss my family.. but.. I have things I have to get done now." He lowered his head a little before looking back at her, forcing a smile back on his face. He really did miss his siblings and his mother.
Shifting, she looked to the sky, "Seems as if...we are in the same boat..." She left that thought in the air before standing, and looming slightly over him, "..You seem young...why are you traveling around at such an age?"
Tilting her head, her eyes took on a soft, warm glow as she smiled fully, feeling at peace talking about something other than her family.
He looked up at her, slightly offended about being called but he didn't mind too much. He was use to being called young. He looked it after all though he may not have been far off adolescence he was still looking like a youngster, annoying!
He then thought of her question, he was probably too young to be going off on his own with all the troubles and dangers but at the same time it needed to happen, he was suppose to do this wasn't he? Yes. He was.
"I am searching for my fathers pack, the Hamiji. You haven't heard of them have you? A great pack they once were, lions tore them apart and few survived. Father escaped and is certain his sister did, I am looking for her and any family she may have. It was fathers dieing wish." He smiled and sounded quite proud of himself, going off like he was.
She watched his face twist, and mentally cringed, feeling as if it was the wrong thing to say. Watching and waiting, she was sure he would turn and stalk off, offended by what she called him and insisting that they never meet again. She would have done that as a pup, it was always easier to fake being old than get babied as one. Perking her ears as he spoke, she went away from her memories and just watched him as he spoke, listening to the whole pack movement he was talking about.
"I am sorry...I have'nt heard of many other packs, my mate and I were not the types to go out and search for a group...we liked it the way we were..." She looked to the ground a moment, "Though I heard from many prey beasts that there was a pack trying to form..." Unsure if it was true, she didnt quite trust rumors, but this juvenile seemed intent on searching, so she might as well offer help.
His ears perked up from what she said, "Really? You have heard of a pack forming?" He was now fully alert, doubting that it was anything to do with his father's pride he couldn't help but hope. He really wanted to find them or create the pack once more, he was pure of the blood from the pack and could recreate the pack with others, somehow, maybe? He hoped so and maybe this femme knew something of them, he could only hope.
Nodding slowly, she smiled afterwards at his boyish perking and stood once more, stretching her leith form, "Indeed I have...maybe a rumor...But I heard they are trying to form with what is left of the wild dogs...after the plague not many survived...and all of us were young..." She explained softly, "But it was strange, I heard of the pride from a passing bird, said that the leader had an earring on her ear..." She thought it over as well, before scrapping at the dirt and moving to look over her shoulder.
"Is it your pack?"
He sighed, "I don't know, the pack didn't die from a plauge, it was an attack by lions. Maybe though, maybe thats what it meant. A ring in their ear? Sounds weird but maybe thats fathers sister. Oh thank you so much!" His tail was wagging behind him now at a silly speed. "Maybe I can fulfill fathers wish, oh thank you so much!!" He was definatly happy now and quite optimistic.
Just starring at him as he grew excited, she slowly let out a warm grin, before moving to step a few feet away, "It is not a problem, but maybe we will cross paths again..." Her tone was sad, and she didn't really need to say that she had to leave, but just incase...
"I must go now...I need to get back to the den..." She never called it her den, because it wasn't hers, it was always random.
He looked up at her and sighed, "Oh, won't you come with me?" He looked a little worried for the femme. She still had some sort of sadness lingering around her and he was worried for her. She knew she would look after herself, but... he didn't know. Something seemed so sad and lost.
She paused in her steps and looked to the sky, a sigh leaving her lips before she turned around fully to look to him, "I am sorry..." She whispered softly, as if she was letting him down, "...It just wont work for me now...joining a pack..." Her mind wandered slowly as she thought back to her old pack, the one she had made with her family, "...maybe we can meet another time, when I am ready for change..."
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Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2006 2:02 pm
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