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 Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 12:52 am
As Ling and Pastel spoke, Nuri hung back, ears drooping a little. For some reason he felt embarassed before the king; perhaps it was the more intimate setting of the cave with the newborn cubs resting against their mother, or perhaps it was in the wording Ling used. Perhaps it was the way the darkness muted colors, fading his own coat to that color of midnight skies and the pastel hues on the cubs and their mother... black could have been purple in the gloom. "Yes, they're beautiful Pastel," he said softly.
But something else Ling said faded the smile on his face and Nuri glanced back at Xia further up in the cave. She had her own litter that was about the same age. And about the time of their conception, she would have gone into her first heat... "Ling... there's something else I have to tell you, when you're ready to hear it. Off subject."
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 1:13 am
Ling sighed and looked to Nuri. He was tired, but it was better now than later. "Tell me..." He started t move away from the lioness and her new cubs, letting Nuri have some private space with him for now. He knew there would come a time he would have to deal with the rest of the pride, but for now things were all falling on his personal plate. "What is it now Nuri? You do not look any more relieved after telling me about Pastel..." HE sighed, if Nuri was still worried, there had to be more bad news waiting.
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 2:05 am
"No... actually, it's about what you said, and keeping things from you...I have a confession to make..." Nuri sighed, hanging his head and curling his tail around his feet. "As you know, you were away when Xia went into her first heat, though when you came back she still was... I... know you never claimed her before that, but it was obvious, to everyone I think... I..." It's not my fault, I couldn't help it, she was frantic... He looked up at Xia and knew there was no way he could blame her for anything. "I took advantage of her," he sighed, feeling miserable but sitting up straight to look Ling straight in the eye.
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 2:12 am
Ling had been waiting for something bad, something terrible even, but this...? He starred at Nuri as if he had two heads, his stomach feeling queezy, and his head spinning. What had his advisor just admitted to? He felt the hairs on his back bristle, a soft growl on his lips. "Go....just....go Nuri, now!" He motioned behind him to Pastel and the cubs. "Tend to Pastel and her cubs, and so help me if you leave them you will not like the results..." His voice was a near whisper around the dangerous growl. He would not hurt Nuri, but he had to admit, he felt betrayed. He had no room to talk, having had Pastel as well, but pain was pain. He moved off through the cave to the opening, passing his mate, eyeing the cubs that lay with her. He sighed and fell into a heap near the opening. This was not the end of it either, there was still Leanna. Leanna and her King.
The young prince Kuan-yin, feeling his father's anger, moved closer to him, nuzzling his small face against the adult male's large paw. He let out a soft mew before crawling up onto the paw and curling up, starring at his father.
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 2:26 am
If flesh and bone could turn to jelly, or deflate, Nuri would have just then. He wanted to, wanted to turn to water and be absorbed into the floor. Or, if only Ling had completely lost it and torn out his throat... But at least he did not seem to blame Xia. That was the important thing, right? With a wimper, he slunk back to Pastel with his belly nearly brushing the floor, tail tucked between his legs. He nearly collapsed to the floor, but managed to simply lay down. "If there's anything you or the cubs need, Pastel," he said softly, face ashen, "please don't hesitate to ask."
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 2:54 am
Pastel was diligantly cleaning her cubs, each one getting a bath before she looked up at Nuri. She had heard what had been said between the two and felt bad for what had happened to Nuri. She leaned her head over slightly, nuzzling her face against him. "Ling was wrong to be angry with you..." She sighed and moved back to her cubs. "Had you not been there...The queen would have surely have had someone else. It is better that it was you than so rogue male"
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 3:11 am
Pastel's touch did much to warm the chill that was working its way along his spine and down his limbs, but again many 'if only' thoughts came to mind. If only I had made her wait, if only Ling had been faster, if only... what? If only instinct had not ruled absolutely over intellect? He sighed. "This pride is Ling's...that includes all the lionesses within it. He has a right to be angry, and had every right to - and probably should have - struck me down."
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 12:55 pm
From the corner the elder lioness stepped forth. She had heard the whole thing. She looked calmly at Nuri and Pastel with a small reassuring smile before leaving them to the cubs. She walked out past the others and smiled as she saw her daughter all grown up. She then spotted Ling and went to sit near him. "May I speak with you Ling?"
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 3:42 pm
Ling was startled by Adelle's sudden appearance. He turned his head to face her and slowly nodded. "Yes, please do." He lowered his head onto his free paw then, licking his small son's cheek as the cub looked at him. "Kuan-yin..." He chuckled. "If you are true to your name, show me mercy for my sins..." He smiled as the young cub batted at his nose with a soft little roar.
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 3:56 pm
"Mercy is something hard to gain. It is also something hard to give." Adelle said as she got comfortable. "I heard what happened. In fact...Xia confided in me about part of it long before even Nuri knew." She sat looking at the panda king surprisingly unafraid. "At least you found out by friendly means...and as Nuri said as I came to speak with you...all the females of this pride are yours to do with as you see fit. Technically you had the right to tear him apart..." She paused and then looked out past the waving grasses. "But you proved again that you were a better king then most and did not kill him."
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 4:04 pm
"Does that truely make me a better king?? Some would argue that...many infact. If I were as good a king as you say, then why do so many wish to leave me?" He sighed and licked his son's side, rolling the cub onto his back before pulling the small bundle closer to his body. "I try to not look at all of you as 'mine' I do not keep a harem, but...I grow angered if I am not informed. Perhaps it is the nature of things, my denying my true self, the king I am suppose to be versus the king I am now." He sighed. "I have done kind, caring, and others dislike it, take advantage of it. I have tried cruel, and it has lost me many members. I do not know which path to take."
Kuan-Yin laid there in his father's arms, his eyes on Adelle, one little paw playfully batting at the air.
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 4:12 pm
The lioness smiled down at the young prince and waved her tail at him. "You are a young king Ling. And you have been put in situations that even those far older then you have not been able to handle as gracefully as you have. Also do not forget that while some are leaving there are also new arrivales to fill those places everyday. Some who will propibly never leave your pride for they want you to be their king." She looked into his eyes hoping he would understand. "I hope to die in this pride and I hope the same thing of my daughter and her children after her. I would not want them to be lead under any other." She tilted her head slightly to him. "You are a good king...despite what you may think. You have a good queen and a good adviser. True he made a few mistakes...so have all of us. But sometimes those mistakes lead to the best of things." She turne dher eyes down towards the cub between Ling's paws.
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 4:26 pm
Kuan-Yin batted at the tail feathers offered to him, his little claws catching some of the fine fibers as he growled at them in annoyance.
Ling smiled at his son before looking at Adelle. "Yes..I am young, young and foolish. I am foolish to think I could build a paradise in this land, foolish to think that I could keep peace." He sighed and thought more on what she said. "There are more to replaced those that have left..only because I have created them. Children, not followers." He sighed. "I am thankful for those of you that stay...Akira, Nola, Meribelle, Blaze...all of you.." He closed his eyes with a shake of his head.
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 4:37 pm
Akira smiled Nuzzling Nola,his soft new mane brushing against her flank "i'll come with you if you'll have me" he said smiling. His ear twitched at the sound of his name, he turned to look at Ling and Adelle after hearing the kings words, he sat up next to Nola and nodded to Ling "We'll always be here for you king Ling"
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~girl of black and white~
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 4:51 pm
"If you are a fool then this pride would go into chaos and there would be no children. Also you did not make Akanu nor did you make the others that came to you when this pride first started." She smiled to him like a mother would to her son. She was definately the oldest in this pride. "Dear Ling...You are far too hard on your self. Nuri still wants to be your friend I am sure and Pastel...I can tell she has been hurt in many other ways before. I do not blame her for her fear." She moved her tail again and then twitched it a little. "And as for keeping peace...we have not fought with another pride as of yet...and I have confedence that you will be able to solve this situation with Leanna justly." She looked at him again. "I beleive in you Ling." She looked at Akira and her daughter who seemed to have heard their conversation and smiled at them for their help.
Nola purred at Akira and then looked at Ling to show her respect and support as well. "Yes we will always be here for you."
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