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 Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:27 pm
 The sky rolled with dark clouds that had finally begun to clear as the rain passed and left the air damp with water. The landscape remained in shades of gray and dulled hues of other colors, waiting for the sunlight to return. The watering hole near by was full to the brim, letting happy grazers and hunters alike come for relief.
Bathsheba sat under a tall, widely branched tree, her white and gray coat sparkling in the coming sunlight as it held small drops of water. Her wings lay folded at her side, having kept most of the feathers dry. Flying in the rain was no joy, though she could have flown above she supposed. But watching the savanna after a storm was always a comforting feeling for some reason. A smile twitched at the corners of her stiff, composed mouth as she let her violet eyes take in the sights with appreciation.
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:48 pm
Now, Banji was not one to complain. Which is why he was trudging along silently.
But anyone with brains could tell the poor lion clearly hadn't been one of those many creatures who appreciated the rain. More like 'sudden downpour', in his opinion. And wouldn't you know it? He'd finally found some shelter and then some lioness and her cub had come by.
There wasn't enough room for three, but since the mother/child duo fit just fine, Banji left with a kind word and was on his way.
When the rain was finally in passing, he sighed in relief and shook his coat off, his soaked form quivering without his notice. Cold, cold, cold. As always, he wasn't sure where he was exactly. And, as always, he didn't seemed to phased by it, plopping down and shaking his mane out for a second time.
"I wonder if I did something to anger the sky."
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:02 pm
"Mm...you know some places think the rain is a blessing," Sheba murmured from her spot beneath the tree. She had seen the other lion draw near and had not moved, not even to turn her head, though her violet eyes did turn to gaze sideways at him. He looked terribly soaked. She was wet, to be truthful, but only from what few raindrops slipped through the sheltering branches. "Perhaps you should ask the god of the sky. Though I've heard he's rather on the indifferent side of things," Her comments were rather simple, practical, and her face like a cool mask that did not shift nor change.
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:13 pm
There were a lot of terms one could use to label Banji with. Descriptively, he was a lion who, until recently, had kept to himself and lived a peaceful and quiet life. He rarely spoke to anyone simple because there was rarely anyone around where he had stayed for so long.
When he did, it was quick, casual conversations. He had no idea of the going-ons in prides, with other lions and things like that. Not until recently, anyway, when he'd finally hauled himself up and started wandering like this.
Banji had also never seen a God, or Goddess, though once his sister had spoken of a lion with wings and he'd brushed her tale off, being slightly self-abosrbed in his younger days.
There were a lot of reactions one in his position could understandly display. Banji? He just looked startled, just for a spilt second, then smiled warmly. "Ah, I'm sure it's really for the best that it rains," he agreed. It was indeed a blessing. "Perhaps some small cub somewhere asked for it."
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:36 pm
Sheba was not surprised by his reaction. There were many mortals who had never seen a god nor goddess before, and reactions varied. Some were afraid, others in awe. But calm responses were just as frequent and she appreciated them. Just because she chose not to hide what she was did not mean she wanted a fuss every time she was in the mortal realms. "Mm...yes. Perhaps some child who wished for mud to splash their siblings in," she mused, the corner of her mouth twitching in a smile again. It was almost invisable to the casual observer, for she held herself in such control. It was a shame. She was probably one with a lovely smile if she gave a true one.
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:44 pm
Banji laughed. It was deep, as his voice was, but it was kind and easy on the ears. If Santa Claus had ever exsisted in the world of lions, Banji would be the perfect fit to play the role. "I suppose that's possible, but I was actually thinking more in terms of needing water for thirsts sake."
Playfulness didn't him suit him, so his first thoughts were usually logical, just like he was. It wasn't that he was uptight, it was just he found bounding around merrily rather awkward. He prefered to just watch others in their games, especially cubs.
A calm lion indeed, Banji, and straight-to-the-point to.
"May I see your wings?" he asked, bluntly but very politely as well. She seemed keen enough to have guessed he hadn't ever seen one like her before.
Nothing in this world would surprise him these days.
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:50 pm
Sheba was quite the opposite. She wasn't reasonable by nature. Oh no, she had been a wild thing in her youth and her composure was only learned. It was not perfect, and fit like a ill formed shell. Often it made her appear disconnected from others and perhaps even the world around her. But she had learned that she needed control, support for her role. It was her duty and she had to abide by it.
She nodded her head curtly and shifted slightly, letting her white wings unfold and stretch out to reveal long, silky feathers. They were quite beautiful, like a dove's or cockatu's. Simple, yet elegent, fitting her very well. "There you are."
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:57 pm
"Very lovely," Banji told her charmingly.
He was one to give compliments, but that wasn't why the few he had spoken with usually got along with him. It was because he only said what he meant, and meant what he said. If you had scars all over and he told you he thought you looked nice, then he truly thought you did.
Of course, his eyes saw past the fur and flesh of his fellow lions and to what was beyond. In their eyes and souls. Looking like something one of his kind would normally eat had been a big contributor in teaching him appearences were far from everything.
Even so, he could appreciate outward beauty when he saw it, and it seemed the wings of a Goddess deserved such admiration.
"I'm Banji." The introduce was like most things he'd said so far, simple and polite.
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:05 pm
It was a little strange, talking to someone who seemed so naturally composed as he. It made her feel ever so false and ever so off in her own control and composure. She did not show her discomfort or surprise, but continued as she normally did without loosing face. "Why, thank you," she murmured, folding her wings back again since they had little use spread apart.
"I am Bathsheba," she answered in equal politeness, "It is a pleasure." Though hers lacked the natural charm he seemed to hold in doing so. It was a sad contrast.
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:12 pm
Banji's curiousity could be controlled. If he wanted to know what was below a cliff edge, but looking over risked him falling, he could sleep well at night not knowing, thank you. But this lioness, this Goddess, didn't seem like she'd up and maul him any time soon.
As long as curiousity didn't lead to harm, he saw no problem with it.
"What is it you do, Goddess Bathsheba, if you don't mind?" Did Gods use titles like that? Did anyone? He didn't know, really, but some cub had called him 'sir' once, so he could only assume.
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 3:05 pm
It was a common question really. Many asked what her job was, what she reigned over, or many similar things. All in all they were the same and easy to respond to. "No, I do not mind at all," she murmured simply with a small nod of her head. After all, as a goddess she was meant to serve mortals if you looked at it right. Questions didn't hurt anyone...or rarely did so. "I am the Goddess of Duty. I work in all areas dealing with my domain and seek to aid in those that seem in dire need of it. Right now I'm simply making my rounds of the land, seeing if there is anything that requires my attention."
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:54 pm
"You lead a busy life, it sounds," said Banji thoughtfully.
As a cub, he'd mused over wanting a life like that, especially because his sister had always swore up and down she wanted an exciting exsistance. Raising six girls probably counted, though Banji didn't know of them yet. His sister having cubs was something he'd need to see to believe.
But him? He did nothing of important. A bit dissapointing, when he thought about it. Shame he couldn't do any good in this world. "Are there many of you? My sister spoke of one of you once."
Absently, he frowned. Hasana...
He missed her, but where was she?
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:09 pm
Sheba rolled her shoulders ever so slightly in an elegent shrug, "Sometimes. I have found few things that need my attention of late, to tell the truth." If that meant mortals were taking better care of their own affairs that was good, but it left her constantly on the move in search of ways of applying herself and making sure she didn't miss anyone. She shifted her gaze to peer at him carefully. She saw whisps of ribbons of his duty, but they were feint with age and seemed to be family related. She continued with the conversation, saying nothing of what she saw, "Yes...very many. For once we are born we do not fade from existance, we are simply reborn if we die."
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:40 pm
Banji 'hm'ed, sounding content with the response. Few things? So there weren't that many problems around these lands. He'd been slightly concerned things were very chaotic, and being a sort of 'shut-in', he was just blissfully unaware of it.
"That's interesting," he said, sounding more thoughtful than ever. After a long moment of silence he added, "And sad, too."
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 5:59 pm
"Mm...I wouldn't say so. The less I have to do the more you mortals seem to be handling things well, and that's good. Though...it does make my life a little more boring," She rolled her shoulders in a delicate, elegent shrug. A smile threatened to appear on her face, though she kept it back. Somehow the idea of having her attention unoccupied she found amusing. She wans't sure what it was, though.
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