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 Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 1:28 pm
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(slightly backlogged to soon after Umoja brought Lomasi back from the mountains)
Blood smeared across his back, Umoja paced just outside of the cave where the healers were. It had been a very difficult terk back to the valley, as Lomasi's body kept slipping every time he took a step downwards. Umoja was not as fit as he was pre-earthquake, since he had been thrust into the King's position, but the trial to bring the strange lioness here had pressed him to areas he hadn't been for a long time. Part of him wanted to go find Mapatano and get into a verbal argument with his cousin. That would just piss Mapa off, but it would help make Umoja feel better. They were good at being snarky at one another without carrying on the negative emotions for too long, but....
Umoja couldn't really see himself just leaving Lomasi here, even if both of the healers they currently had were pretty skilled. She was alone, and though he could still hear her bird chirping away in there, he still felt it wouldn't be enough. Lomasi didn't understand her bonding yet, and her injuries were taking her mind away from the emotional concept of what it meant to be connected to a bird. It was exhausting and exhilirating all in one, but with the way Shikra talked Umoja was thinking exhaustive. Mfalme was standing on the groun, a vulnerable position but Umoja's back was off limits. Too many lions had come rushing, worrying that their king had been attacked. Though Mfalme's large wings could hide most of the blood, Umoja didn't quite seem it proper to hide what had happened from everyone. Soon, he would know what had happened to her, and could share that knowledge with the pride. Heck, all he had to tell was Haja and she'd tell everyone before Umoja could blink again. That female had connections.
The striped lioness peeked her head out of the cave, motioning that Umoja could enter now. It seems like she had stabilized, and thought Umoja could push his way through (and had thought about doing that for a long moment), he didn't want to seem like this aggressive male that just stole whoever he found in the mountains. No, normally they used the birds to guide the strangers out of the mountains, but the injuried Lomasi sustained would have killed her if Umoja hadn't interviened. He wondered what would have occured if Shikra had found someone else to help them.
Lomasi did not look comfortable, but her paws had been rubbed raw from the amount of walking she had done. Her eyes fluttered open, though it was clear that she was still in pain. Whatever the healer had rubbed into her nose had disoriented her enough to not think about the pain, but she could still feel it hovering just outside of her mind. Her blue eyes glanced over to see a dark form approaching her, with a littler one wobbling on the ground. Shikra was perched just above Lomasi's head, her little face looking at every little movement. She was in protective mode, and the only reason she hadn't chased everyone away was because she had gotten quite the smack earlier for trying that.
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Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 8:11 pm
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The black and white lioness was struggling to get her eyes to focus. She knew that someone was approaching her, but Shikra wasn't ready to share her quite yet. "S-shi..." she said, struggling to speak. The little bird hopped around a bit, but calmed herself down shortly after. It was then that Lomasi realized it was the lion that had rescued her. It was still all a blur, but it was hard to forget that face. Strong, caring, but also in a lot of pain. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to make the dizziness stop.
Umoja grew closer, but made sure to leave plenty of space for the lioness. There wasn't much they could do but patch up her paws with herbs and leaves, and it made the cave smell horribly. It was easy enough to ignore when he thought she would prefer a bit of company, and answers to any questions she may have. But first...
"Are you feeling any better?" he asked softly. She shifted her head slowly into a nod, and the two birds glanced at one another in confirmation. Everything was alright at the moment.
"I don't' think you should talk too much right now," Umoja said. "You're safe, I can assure you. You're within a valley that the pride called the Aka'mleli claim. We are all here for you if you need something. Shikra, as chatty as she can be, will be your lifeline as you heal. If you need anything, just send her to me, ok?"
Shikra chirped and bobbed her head, somehow learning that what Lomasi needed at the moment was quiet. It was a miracle, but Umoja wondered if she'd make up for it in the future.
"Just ask for me, Umoja, if you run into any issues. I'm sure you won't, but just in case..." He sighed. "I don't want to press you too hard, but I must ask. Were your running from someone? Were you attacked? We need to know if somehow danger followed you."
Lomasi's eyes opened again, if slowly. Her rick sky blue eyes looked straight at him, and she almost sounded a little embarrassed by her answer. "Lost," she replied as she shook her head. "No...danger..."
Umoja's shoulders instantly relaxed. Well, that was reassuring. Nothing would follow this female, but then...that meant that no one would be missing her. "You don't have a place to return to once you heal, do you?" Lomasi shook her head, but it made Umoja's heard jump. No, no, you idiot. There's no reason to get excited about this. He was a failure when it came to a mate, and was wary of trying to find someone to fill the holes in his heart.
Lomasi could see the relief in him, and she suspected it was more than just the fact she hadn't been in danger from another. She...didn't really know what to think, but she knew that she wouldn't be in trouble here. She would figure out what to do once she was healed. Part of her worried that she may never be able to walk terribly far again, but the healers would be the ones to determine that before she tried.
"Rest," Umoja said, startling Lomasi from her thoughts. "I will check on you later." With a nod to the healer standing guard, he left. Lomasi's stomach curled in as she thought about the fact that she had no idea where she was, she didn't know anyone here, and now she had a bird that would not leave. She closed her eyes, homesickness tearing at her heart as she felt herself succumb to a painful sleep.
(1,143 words)
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