[PRP] Someone save me... (Aoife x Tendaji)

[Tanakako]

The slender, pale lioness crept along the pathway, on her way back from the shoreline where her Master had ordered her to catch a fish. Her pale coat sparkled with water droplets, giving her a shimmering appearance but the dampness left her chilled to the bone and every step was made shaky with the strong shivers running along her length.

Ragnvard had been in a foul mood for days now and his anger had been taken out on the closest victim he had. Her. Long, deep claw marks raked across her rump and side, and blood dotted the pale fur. There was a deep bruise over one dark eye, rivalling the colour of her muzzle. She was still a stunningly beautiful lioness, her royal breeding obvious even with her nervous and beaten posture. Once a Queen-in-waiting, she had been betrayed by her own and then captured and dragged to this foreign land by the lion who now owned her.

Trembling she leaned against the sharp rocks, needing to rest for a moment. She hadn't been able to catch anything. Hunting not being a skill she had learned with any success as a Princess, far too delicate of body for the strength and stamina it required. Ever after escaping the coo her Maidservant and best friend had hunted for the both of them. Now she failed more often than not and wore the badges of Ragnvard's displeasure for it.  

[Zosie]

Tanakako

Tendaji's exploration for today had extended along the shore. It was a different place, and it seemed to have a colder, fiercer air about it in a sense. Perhaps it was just because it was new.

Along the rocks he saw something at first he assumed was a ghost, and stopped in his tracks. She was the same colour as him, pure white, but with dark markings, and seemed to sparkle with the water that obviously clung to her coat.

A sharp intake of breath rendered him speechless as he approached her. She was beautiful. He eyed the cuts and bruises on her body that became more obvious as he moved closer.

She was a thrall.  

[Tanakako]

Only belatedly did she spot the large male coming towards her. Dark eyes widened, her slender, battered body shrinking back against the sharp rocks. It was clear she was scared, though from the wounds she sported, she had plenty of reason to fear the males of the pride.

Trembling she stared up at him as he approched, through despite her fear she did notice that he was an exceptionally handsome male, and while he didn;t sport the wing-markings of her pride, he was in every other way exactly what she would have looked for in her Prince. His coat was beautifully pure with the most delicate of markings stripped across his back. Silver eyes watched her, drawing her in as if mesmerised.

Swallowing against both the effect of his beauty, the longing for a home that was no longer hers, and the fresh emotion of fear that had become her daily reality since her capture, she remained frozen against the rocks. Unaware that their jagged edges were now tipped with her blood from the wieght of her too-thin body pressed against them.

Zosie

Sorry for the delay!

 

[Zosie]

He didn't quite know how to approach her, or why, or even if he should, but he found himself doing it anyway, pressing on until he was within speaking distance.

Although he was used to the brutish nature of some of the pride members, her battered physique saddened him, and he found his eyes both drawn towards, and trying to avoid her injuries.

There was blood on the rocks and blood on her white body. Without so much as a plan than an impulse he called out to her gently. "It's okay..."

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

The closer the male came, the harder the battered female pressed herself into the rocks behind her, as if thinking that he intended to pass her. Though the path was narrow, two lions could have passed each other quite easily, yet her fear was so intense that she seemed incapable of recognising that fact.

When his voice suddenly broke the stillness, a tremor slid through the lioness, from nose to tail. Dark eyes gazed up at him, unconsciously pleading for help. Yet the despair and pain was thick about her. As if she knew no one could interfere on her behalf with her master.

"I am sorry...." She whispered, her voice once so gentle and soft, now broken and raw, trembling with fatigue.

Zosie

 

[Zosie]

Tanakako

His eyes widened. Her voice sounded so full of pain, and for a moment he wondered what exactly her master did to her. He knew that some thralls were just designated jobs to do, things that Reavers didn't really like doing. Then there were Thralls like this poor female, who ended up beaten and bruised, and probably didn't do much to deserve it.

Tendaji liked a fight as much as the next lion, he liked the idea of battles and glory, but some violence was unnecessary. It may be a shallow thought, but a lioness this beautiful didn't deserve such wounds. There was something about her that had wholly captured his attention, and now, his sympathy.

"There is no need to be sorry, nor is there any reason to be afraid of me."

He looked at her body, shaking.

"We are not all the same."  

[Tanakako]

She gazed up at him, dark eyes both fearful and exhausted, the kind of weariness caused by constantly being beaten down both physically and psychologicall. But gradually, as he made no move to either rebuke her nor frighten her, she slowly started to settle. the tightly held muscles smoothing out, though they continued to tremble every so often, as she was too exhausted and battered to control the tremors.

Finally, after what appeared to be a mental battle, she bobbed her head, the movement unconsciously graceful. "Thank you.... I..." His words seemed to confuse her, as tired as she was. And the longer they stood there, the heavier she sagged against the bloodied rocks behind her. Now that she was no longer held ridgid with fear, her weakness was ever more obvious.

Zosie

 

[Zosie]

Tanakako

He didn't know what to do, he didn't know what to say, and for the first time in his life the male was rendered useless. He couldn't find any words. He stared at the female with a pain wrenching at his heart. Stormborn didn't feel like this did they?

He thought about what some of the others had told him when he had joined, especially the females, that some of the males didn't seem to care about others, that thralls were beaten so badly by some. He didn't really want to believe that was the case, but here was the evidence.

Tendaji moved towards her quickly, and a determined look washed over his face.

"I'm going to carry you somewhere now. if that's okay? Not back to the rest of the pride. Not yet. We will get you fixed up."

He looked at her frightened face with all the sincerity he could muster.

"I'm not going to hurt you."

He motioned to pull Aoife onto his back, gently, hoping her could take her away and just...look after her for awhile.  

[Tanakako]

While he stood watching her, locked in a battle of his own, she slowly sagged, already strained by weeks of too little food, almost no sleep and chores far beyond her capabilities, she was just about dead on her paws, her head dipping as her body fought to rest, a hazy of unconsciousness held at bay purely by will alone.

before she could even register the fact that he had moved, he was stood right next to her, a frighteningly intense look on his features though he didn't seem angry it was hard to tell through the exhausted haze that clouded her vision. Her entire body locked up, and yet she could form no words to refuse him, could not even collect her thoughts enough to try.She could only stare at him in bewilderment as he bent and carefully maneuvered her battered body onto his back.

Why was he doing this? Where was he taking her? Had she upset him? Was he taking her back to Ragnvard? Her mind spun with questions but she was too weak to fight him, or even to ask. So she lay passive and bleeding across his back, more like a dead carcass than a living, breathing lioness.

Zosie

 

[Zosie]

Tendaji felt anxiety grip his stomach as he hoisted the lioness over his shoulders. Most would understand why he was doing this, but if he was to be caught by her master. He shuddered to think of the results. Anyone capable in doing this to their Thrall would certainly give him the same treatment. He looked around wildly and decided to head to a more secluded part of the cliff.

He may come looking for her, he may not, but even so, wouldn't he be grateful his Thrall was still alive? He would spin in that way, he supposed. It could be a lot of hassle for him to find another Thrall, and this one was so pretty. Yes, that was how he would put it.

He was a strong lion, and the stranger was so thin she was easy to carry. He leapt across the rocks carefully, making sure he was a good distance away from the edge. He'd set her down somewhere safe, somewhere drier.

He'd find her food, and then he would reassure her. She had no reason to be afraid, at least, not for now. Not whilst he had her.

((End))