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 Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 7:36 pm
Asikari lumbered across the Kusini lands with a slight sense of unease. Oh what these lands had become... nothing happening, no old ways really retained. He'd thought long and hard, and had often dreamed of Ari in the night. Something needed to change, the ways of old needed to be embraced. Still, it was hard on the lands with the rulers changing so quickly. A king did not come and go as often as they did in the Kusini lands, he was sure of that.
Ot had taken Asikari a long time to accept responsibility and be active toward the lands, but finally it had happened. Sort of, at least he was willing to do things now, think of problems. Still, of all the problems he thought of he still never got around to fixing them. Tonight he would seek out the company of his oldest daughter though; his princess. He smiled at the thought, shaking his head slowly. Syeira had grown into such a confident... wonderful lioness. She was an amazing mother and an amazing part of the pride.. it was too bad she'd mated to that dunderhead of a lion. He wasn't physically fit, he was cranky and not agreeable with anyone... he was a prat and Asi would never understand what she saw in Uumi.
Still, finally he was able to respect her choice. He had for a long time grudgingly put up with it, but he still often daydreamed that she'd kick the moron out and find someone new, someone better for her. It'd never happened, and now he was beginning to think it was time to just let it be. He grunted slightly as he stopped near the watering holes, feeling tired. "Oy... yer ge'in old." He spoke softly, almost in an amused way. His gaze tilted toward the sky even though only the first few stars were appearing. "Soon we be back tagether an' I 'ope yeh can forgive me.." He said, still quietly.
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 7:57 pm
The very lioness that the older male had been thinking of was sharing those same, restless thoughts over the pride and the future that stretched out precariously before them. She had been there to see it develop and grow, having been there since the day her mother founded it with her father in the name of the old pride. She had poured her heart and soul into its well-being after a time, once she was old enough to understand how much she was truly needed. The curse of her blood-line, the endless flow of the throne from one king to the next - the pride needed some form of stability. It seemed like nothing had stayed together for long after her mother's death. A sour grimace crossed her maw at that thought, and she pushed the ideas away, shoving them into the back of her mind.
She was trying, desperately, to be all that she could be for her pride. It was causing problems between her and her mate, her and her family, but she could only balance things so well. She had promised Uumi they would work things out, that now that their youngest litter was grown, she would spend more time with him. He was not happy here - he had never been happy here. In a way, even if he never admitted it, that was a self-sacrifice on his part - staying here for her. She laughed softly to herself and shook her head, wondering just what her father thought of that. Uumi had sacrificed one small portion of happiness to keep her happy, here with her family, where she wanted to be most of all. He would probably think nothing of it, as he thought nothing of Uumi - their grudge against one another seemed as if it would be prove to be as old as time itself. They would probably die with loathing for one another still burning in their eyes, not that she could fault either of them for their feelings. To be stuck between those two stones, though, hadn't always been the easiest feeling.
She let out a soft, bitter laugh as she stalked beneath the twilight canopy overhead, all the thoughts of the past and future that swirled in her head souring her mood. She wasn't sure where she'd been headed when she started her walk, but distantly, she realized that she had recognized her father's scent at some point and was now following the path that led her to him. There was comfort in the old brute, as always. He would forever be her king, even if he had long lost that title, forever her knight in shining armor. She picked up her pace, loping along towards him, though she knew that if he was this close to her home (her den was not far from here, after all) then he was probably looking for her as well. She broke through the underbrush around her, her mocha body finding one that matched it to near perfection, and the bitterness in her smile washed away.
"It's good to see you out here, dad," she said softly, crossing the space between them swiftly, until she could butt her head against his shoulder, nuzzling him softly.
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:21 pm
Asi blinked in surprise as he heard his daughter's voice and he turned slightly with an easy smile coming into place. As she nuzzled into his shoulder he rubbed his head into her own to nuzzle back. "Syeira! I was lookin' fer yeh.." He said, his voice pleasant as he shifted and moved to take a drink, chuckling gruffly. "Seems yer ol' da needs a bit uh a rest every now an' then though.." He grinned at her and winked, sitting slowly.
He let his chocolate eyes take in her form, making sure she seemed healthy. He had not heard from her from a long time, but he had heard some disturbing rumors that only made him hate that mate of hers more. Still, he had to play nice. She'd been with that lanky, sorry excuse for a male since before she was even adult. Maybe before that, if he took the time to think over just how young the two were when Syeira had given birth to Taabu. Still, he couldn't help but want Uumi to drop dead every time he did hear such terrible things, rumors of betrayal and such. That boy better hope they were just rumors, because if Asi ever found out different...
He pushed the thoughts away and his gaze met that of his daughters, his smile turning into something a bit less happy. "An'ow 'ave yeh been, an' yer cubs? I do no' see many o'em aroun' and I notice they be gettin' big." He smiled fondly and shook his head softly. It was hard to keep track of how many grandcubs he had, and now greatgrandcubs and further. It was amazing, seeing so many generations that had spawned from he and Ari. It was... nice.
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:32 pm
"Well, that's what happens when you old timers try to exert yourself too much," she teased softly, though she sank down into a graceful sit at his side, her tail curling and uncurling behind her. She didn't like to think of him like that - old - because it implied that he was getting older and older by the day. It was inevitable, surely, but she had already lost one of her parents (far before her time, admittedly) and she wanted the old brute before her to stay with her as long as she could selfishly hang onto him. Not that she saw him kicking the bucket any time soon - he was always such a stubborn fool, she was sure she could show him a few more generations of grandcubs before his soul finally left to join her mother's.
Her eyes passed swiftly over his form, assessing him in much the same way he had her, to make sure he was healthy. Assured that he was not deteriorating yet, she let her gaze flicker back up towards his face just in time to take in that angry glimmer. She wondered idly what it was over, her eyes narrowed and her jaw set tightly as she pondered. Of course, the words that followed his scrutiny of her, asking about her family, gave her mind just the answer she needed. It, no doubt, had something to do with Uumi. She had no idea the thoughts of rumors he was entertaining, for most lions were wise to keep their mouths shut around her so far. It would have been clear in her face now, if she had known. She almost smiled in cold amusement as she simply assumed it was that stupid grudge between them, before she pushed it back into her mind and answered him.
"They are all doing fairly well," she said, a pleased, happy smile on her face. Syeira loved her family, dearly, and though her dad was not so pleased with her choice of mate, she knew he loved her children unconditionally. "The younger ones are almost grown now," a wistful tone came to her voice, "Taabu had another litter, of course, and his family is just as well as ever." She frowned, slightly, ignoring the topic of her lost sons entirely - Damu, Azima, Tikiti. "Haba had a litter to, so did little Njozi - not that he's very little anymore", she added the last with a little laugh. It was all idle chatter, talking about all her grandcubs, his grandcubs. The Kusini was such a family-bound land.
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:51 pm
Asi chuckled at her teasing and playfully leaned close to bump her shoulder with his own. He felt much older than he was, admittedly. He had not led the hardest life, but he had led a life of struggle from the very moment of his abandonment of by his mother when he was very young. Still, good and bad sat side by side in his memories and he thanked the gods for every moment they'd blessed him with, which mostly came from his family around him and the few friends he'd managed to gather. His tail flicked and his gaze floated back toward the sky. "Oy, watch it miss, yeh jus' migh' find yerself in' the same perdicimen' sometime soon." He teased back, though he knew it was far from true. Syeira was in her prime, after all.
He listened calmly to what she was saying about her family, eyes on still on the sky. Each moment brought out more stars in the big expanse, and sometimes he would sit and try and pick out which one he believed to be Ari. Oh, he missed his mate. Still, he did not regret anything he'd done since she'd been forced to leave him... he had been lonely, depressed. The cubs his dear friend had given to him were as much a blessing as they were a sin, because though Ari was gone he still believed very much that she was his mate, his only mate, and in a way he'd cheated on her. Still, the four darlings had done him a world of good.
"Ah, yeh do no' say?" He said in surprise, looking to Syeira. Taabu, more cubs! He laughed slightly, thinking of the boy's feisty mate. She was a small thing... he was surprised she gave birth as much as she did. And more greatgrandcubs, it seemed. "Yeh think I be on the o'er side o' the lands teh be able teh miss knowin' all o'this.." He said, glancing to her with a hearty laugh. Still, it was good to find these things out and good to be filled in by his daughter. He was glad she didn't mention her mate, but he was also curious as to why she hadn't mentioned some of her other children. Damu was an easy guess, but the others were not. Perhaps nothing interesting had been going on in their lives?
"A... any'ow... like I said... I was ou'ere lookin' fer yeh.." He said softly, figuring they should get down to the serious matters. He was tired, he didn't want to spend all night with the pleasantries as much as he enjoyed them. "The kusini be in ba' shape my dear.." Of course, the lands were still thriving and lions were happy, but how long would that last with the on and offs of kings, no god but in myth (not that Asi believed in them) and none of the old ways being practiced?
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Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:39 pm
She let the teasing fade away and simply shook her head, knowing that he didn't mean any of it, the smile on her face unable to fade with the closeness of her father. She had always been his little girl, even when she had grown closer to her mother after the birth of Taabu, in the time she had needed her. She had been his daughter from the very beginning, and she wouldn't doubt that she still had him wrapped around her not-so-little paw even now. Instead of teasing him any longer, she leaned into his shoulder, and let her eyes drift up to the stars like his own. She knew what he was looking for up there in the sky, and probably what was on his mind. She hadn't judged her father for his loneliness in the long months after her mother's passing. She had accepted her new, younger siblings - though with how much her family was growing, she hadn't really had the time to spend with any of them.
She was drawn from her thoughts when her father brought her back to the more immediate reason that the two of them were sitting here. She had other duties to get back to (her family, her daily reports with Taabu and Njozi, a million other miscellaneous things) and she was sure he didn't want to be out all night either, so there was little time to be left for small talk. They were really neither one creatures of that sort, to be honest. She simply listened to him as he began to work his way into the conversation he wanted to have, patient and calm. She watched him through her icy eyes, her mother's eyes, stock-still and observant. Once his topic was clear, an obvious sigh rippled from her chest.
"You're right," she said softly, like a broken whisper, as she stared out across the lands she had come to love. It was hard to believe she had been so opposed to coming here when she was a cub, to leaving behind the southlands that she had once, so long ago, called home. "The Kusini is suffering, terribly, ripping down the middle. I'm not sure how we've managed to hold on this long.." The pride was typically peaceful, and she'd done all she could with her small little troupe of Usare'Wasii, but without a stable King, the lands could be challenged and taken at any time. She knew this. "Something has to change," she said, turning her eyes back towards him, watching him carefully. He had once been king, but he was no longer - now he spoke as one of four. "I suppose you and the elders have come to some decision, or there's some decision you're willing to consider?" She couldn't read his mind, but if he was here to ask for her advice, she would willingly give it. Anything to save the lands she loved and fought to keep together now.
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Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 5:40 pm
Asi's smile slowly faded as he stared up at the sky, listening to his eldest daughter's words. He did not think that the lands were actually ripping down the middle, but he'd noticed differences and the distance that had been created between families and friends. He was well aware of the threat the Kusini held, how open it was to the potential enemies that seemed to be springing up around their lands and he knew full well that even if they held a stratigic land, with almost impassible features on three sides, their leadership was poor at best at this point and very unstable. Even within the lands there could be those who would wish to gain the power of owning the pride.
"I 'ave no' spoken with tha o'er elders bu' I 'ave been thinkin' long. I do think I be comin' up with a goo' result bu' I needed yer input." His gaze moved away from the sky and landed on his daughter, searching out her own gace. He was not sure she was willing to take on the responsibility, but he knew she loved this pride very much. He also had considered the fact of her mate, but the new rules he would try and persuade the other elders to establish would make it so the moron had less power. "I wan'a put yeh on the throne Syeira." He said, trying to get to the point.
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Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 7:52 pm
She supposed she considered things a little more seriously than most members of the pride did. As long as there was no danger, then there was nothing that was too wrong just yet - or at least that was the general consensus. She had felt so restless for so long, however, as if she was just waiting for the last thing to go wrong and break down what little what holding them together. She could only assume the closeness between the families and the advantages of their pride's layout had given them this long - but when would be too long? When would they be out of time? She knew something had to change, and she supposed that was why her father was here to talk to her. As she heard the words rolling off his tongue, however, she wasn't quite ready for what he said.
"Me?" she said, a flash of surprise making itself quite obvious on her mask before she schooled it back to calm, letting it roll around inside the confines of her mind instead. Her eyes steadied on him, watching his chocolate gaze with her icy one, in silence, as she considered the weight of his words. "You would change traditions to put me on the throne?" Her voice was steady, though it carried a tone to it that made it obvious she was struggling to keep it so. She had been prepared to hear many things from him, but to hear him say he wanted her to be Queen was not one of them. She'd not been quite this shocked in.. a long time.
She turned her eyes away, looking up at the stars, perhaps seeking some sort of confidence out from the last great Queen she had known in their land - her mother. This would hurt Uumi, who had wanted nothing more than to leave these lands, nothing more than to spend more time with her. This position would beg more time of her, especially in the aftermath, because the Kusini needed to heal. She let out a long, slow breath, as if she truly were much older than a lioness in the prime of her life, and let her eyes flash back towards her father. "The land needs me, and if you and the other elders think that I'm the one that can do this, then I will take the the throne." Her stance was a little straighter, her voice a little harder, but only because she knew the storm that would await her when she got home to her mate with this news. She wouldn't abandon her lands, especially now that she had a chance to take the throne out of the dangerous paws of the tainted male blood of her family.
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Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:20 am
It was almost refreshing to see such surprise on Syeir'a face; if the circumstances had been different. Instantly he was just worried she would not accept. She had her family, after all (though they were grown, almost adults), and he knew Uumi would be a facotor in her decision. At least, he assumed the infuriating, stuck-up male would be.
His tail flicked and he took a deep breath at her question. "Yeh are aware by now tha' somethin' in mah blood... perhaps yer mothers... do no' be righ' an' that it 'as caused many problems fer the males in our line." He said slowly, finding it hard to point out that something was so wrong with his relatives-- sons, grandsons, all the like. It seemed to only strike in the males of the family, and Asikari could not keep putting males on the throne that might have this sickness. Some might have it and even not know about it, perhaps it had not started in them yet. He had felt so heartbroken for Tamu, who had struggled with it all of his life. Some of his children and relations did not start growing signs of it until they were older, and some seemed to not have anything like the odd voices or extreme anger that other's of Asi and Ari's line had. Kenai, for instance, was one of the sweetest children he had that had stayed around in the lands, unwilling to harm even a fly. His girls, on the other hand, all proved to be worthy hunters, quick learners and for the most part natural leaders. Syeira, above all of them, could keep a cool head and had been around the pride longest. She could command many lions, Asi was sure of this, just as she commanded her family and even him, in ways. Her pressence just held something in it that made other lions aware of her, and he hoped made them want to follow her.
"Aye. So Aye.." He added softly. "I be willin' teh change the traditions... I do' no' think yet mother woul'be upset. It's fer good reasons, an' I think yeh would be the bes' choice fer our queen... I do no' think yeh would come down from the throne fer some reason after only several moons have passed. Yeh are my beloved daughter... bu' yeh be a leader Syeira... always yeh 'ave led, yeh do no' follow." He said fondly, a small smile coming onto his maw.
When Syeira stated she would do it, she would accept, he could only feel relief flood into his heart. This was the first step in changing things, now he would have to get the elders to see the sense in all of it. The throne could not be replaced unless the elders made an unaminous decision, and so Asi's arguement to them would have to be a strong one. Still, if Syeira had seen and known about the pride and it's seat on the edge of the cliff perhaps the elders two were obvious to the things happening in the lands, the threats that the land easily attracted while it sat pretty and unstable. "I will 'ave teh speak teh them aboot it Sye, I did no' wanna pu' yeh in a position where yeh would 'ave to take the responsibility if we all discussed it before lettin' yeh know..." He trailed off and watched her, sighing greatfully. Tomorrow. It could all happen tomorrow, tonight he would get a good sleep.
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Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 3:49 pm
Syeira stiffened slightly as her father mentioned the disease that seemed to strike the male's in their family down, her muscles tightening and her eyes narrowing at nothing in the distance. Her face was a perfect mask of stone, though her voice was strained ice when she finally spoke. "I'm very aware of that, yes," she said, her eyes turning up to look at the darker ones of her father, watching him in silence for a moment. "It always worried me that Tamu had the throne, though I loved him dearly and still do." She shook her head slowly, sending the blond mane tuft atop her head bobbing, and looked away once more as she shifted her forepaws against the earth. She saw the face then, however, of a son - not a brother. A lost son. It would put her at ease to think that the disease could no longer have power on the throne.
She forced the thoughts away, sighing gently, and let her attention travel back to the words of the once-king before her instead. She couldn't help the smile that spread across her maw, even so quickly after her previous mood. "No, I never really have been a follower, but that does run in our blood too, doesn't it?" She thought of Denahi then, the dark demon of a brother, even though she loved him too, in her own way. He was not a follower either, by any definition of the word. She shook her head softly, in amusement, her bright eyes gleaming as she shifted the weight on her paws beneath her. "I think mother would be very happy with the changes. I would never abandon the throne for any reason that I could help." It was hard to think of herself as the Queen, even after having spent so long in positions of power and influence within the pride.
She let out a soft, long breath and leaned her frame into her father's, breathing deeply of his smell. She would have to go home and face Uumi, wait for the final word from her father and the other elders on this matter. "I know you didn't, and I'm glad you think I'm strong enough to do this. Whatever you decide, I will still stay with this pride, no matter what." She smiled at him, lifting her chin up a little prouder.
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Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 10:37 am
Asi began to feel a little uncomfortable as the conversation continued on about their linage, he did not like hearing such an icy tone in his daughter's voice. He was well aware she could turn that ice flow on very quickly, but for a long time it had not been directed to him. Now, even though it wasn't really directed at him, he was still unsettled by it. "Aye, aye." He said softly, nodding his head. "I do love 'em too, i's no' really..." He trailed off and sighed though, it was often hard for him to speak of Tamu now, even though he'd forgiven him of what he'd done. His gaze flicked up toward the stars, wondering what Ari thought of it all. "I love 'im." He repeated, making his words final on the whole topic of those matters.
Asi chuckled slightly at Sye's conclusion that the family blood did not support the personality traits of a follow. He agreed, mostly, but knew some of his family, while not followers, still would not chose to be leaders. "Aye, we do be a rather rambunctious group.." He stated with a slight smirk.
As his daughter leaned into his frame and pressed lightly against her, comforted by the closeness of one of his family members. "Yeh be strong enough teh do anythin' yer heart wan's Sye, yeh an' I 'ave both known this fer a long time." He laughed at this, nodding at his own words. He finally turned his head toward her and nuzzled against the side of her face, sighing slightly. "I am gla' we've discussed this, an' prou' of yer choice... I do think tha' I shoul' be 'eadin off teh sleep though." He grinned at his daughter and made a show of yawning and stretching slightly. "Yer ol' man needs 'is sleep these days..."
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Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 10:53 am
She let all the talk of their family die, the words between them trailing off into silence so that there was no need to open old wounds. Between her siblings there were enough heart aches to fill a hundred nights if they wanted, but it was better that she let all of that rest at peace, if not for her sake, at least for her father's. She simply let her icy tone fade, the smile on her face returning at his comical remark on their family. She nodded with a gentle, fleeting laugh, knowing that there were stubborn genes that flowed in the veins of the royal lines here. That would not change with her rule, she was sure, but perhaps she could give the Kusini a line of Queens that would be a little more stable if nothing else.
"You're very right," she whispered softly, nodding as she let the distant memories flow over her for a moment. Anything she had ever truly set her mind to, anything that had been reasonably within her power, she had obtained. Uumi was hers, after all, and if anyone could tame such an unreasonable, surly b*****d, the Kusini should be no problem after that, right? the thought put a smirk on her maw.
"Yes, you better get on home and catch up on that beauty sleep," she purred out in a delighted little tease, pushing herself up onto her paws and giving her lithe frame a well-deserved stretch. Her eyes flashed with amusement and adoration and she stared into the chocolate eyes of her father, her tail curling and uncurling behind her in a content motion. Though, the smile on her maw did seem to waver a fraction as she realized that she wouldn't be seeing the peace of sleep for quite some time. "I should probably head home too, I have a long talk ahead of me." There was no need to say names, her father would know, and it was probably best that she didn't sour his mood by directly mentioning him anyway.
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Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:06 am
Asi snorted t her light tease and leaned forward to lightly n** her ear. "Yeh do know yeh take af'er me in looks, so yeah shoul' well be thinkin' I be beautiful." He joked along with her, winking.
He made a face anyhow, shaking his had softly. "If 'e misbe'aves lemme know, I can give 'im 'ell fer yeh sweet'eart." He said, then laughed after words, but it was obvious he was only half joking. Still, he was trying to behave and trying to finally support her choice of mate. Even if he would never see what his daughter saw in that bratty pridelands prince he knew there must have been something; his princess was not just going to chose some random b*****d and be with him for so long, he knew that and he damned well hoped the red git knew it as well.
"Nigh' Sye, try an' ge' some res' within; the comin' days... af'er tha' it will be a long and tired path." He stated softly as he began to move away, taking a deep breath. Hopefully it would not take too long to track down some of the elders tomorrow.
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Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:41 am
"Beautiful indeed," she said with a soft peal of laughter, quirking a solitary brow at him. She knew that she looked quite a bit like her father, though she had a reasonable amount of her mother in her too - but bringing that up, well, wouldn't necessarily be the best thing for his good mood.
She simply smiled at his mild threat, but said nothing mean to him on the subject. He had been good lately, and that was more a joke than anything else, she knew. Uumi wasn't quite so forgiving, even if she didn't really know what he had left to forgive. Her smile faded to a smirk, and she let her head raise a bit. "I don't need you to give him hell for me, I can give him that all on my own. You underestimate me," she purred, eyes dancing with amusement. As joking as she was, it was probably true - Uumi would probably be more afraid of her than he would be anyone else. She knew just how to twist him.
"I'll try," she said finally, softly, as her father turned away and headed off. She spared one last, soft glance for the stars that now shone bright and brilliant above them before she too turned and headed towards her den. It would be a long night for her yet, she knew, but that didn't mean she regretted her decision. She would make her mother and the whole pride proud.
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Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 2:01 pm
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