[PRP] An Unprecedented Request [Niu and Kidondo]

[Kimaria]

Kidondo was not one to sit idly by and watch his people do all the hard work. He never had been and he never would, even if he wasn't as young as he once was. The teasing about grey fur in his mane, by his mate, was now no longer a joke, and - though he would not admit it - the long patrol was beginning to take its tole on him. His body ached and he longed for nothing more than to bask in the shade and sleep.

Annoyingly, a lithe black cobra had come to bombard him with questions, faltering his progress to his den and delaying him being reunited with his beloved No. He'd never liked the damned beast; sly and untrustworthy, but he knew some of his children liked to keep them around.

This one belonged to Fia.

He had no defining mark on him at all. Just black with green eyes, sharp and cruel. The lion did not know how any of his kind could find comfort in the companionship of such creatures.

"I've told you once before, snake."

"Itzcoatl."

"What?"

"My name."

Kidondo frowned, laying back his ears. "That particular daughter is as stubborn as her mother, but without the sense. If she wants to train, let her train. I can't say I blame her for growing tired of being a scholar." He was proud of all of his children, but he hated to see potential wasted and Fia had been such a little fighter as a cub. "Besides, from what I hear, she has good teachers - her brother included. She'll do well."

The hooded snake gave a puffing hiss.

Kidondo moved on.  

[Hopefolly]

IC Timeline: Roughly a month after The Observers.

Niu patiently awaited the right time to approach Kidondo with her plan, but it seemed she had only the wrong time on her paws. Reasons were plenty, albeit varied: She had guard duty. The king was away ( they said he wasn't a king, but for simplicity's sake she kept to the title). On and on it went, until Niu couldn't be sure if it was life hindering her efforts or self-sabotage at work.

Thoughts festered, enthusiasm waned, and when Niu approached Kidondo that day, she had already spent plenty of quality time with reality. It wasn't impulse that led her or the prospect of glory that moved her when each step began to feel heavier than the last. Niu approached him with only duty as her intent.

"Kidondo," she greeted him, bowing her head in a manner she was likely more accustomed to than the Regent himself. Due respect paid to the king. "My name is Niu," and it spoke of her modesty she didn't assume him to know her. "I was wondering if you had a moment."  

[Kimaria]

Hopefolly

Once Kidondo had known each and every one of the Firekin members as one would have known family. Back in the mutinous days when he had led a force against his own father for the sake of their future. Now, with so many cubs and so many new faces, it was easy to lose track of names. Still, it may have surprised Niu that he had heard of her - if only in passing. A guard who was often seen patrolling with Azar'bijan and other well known faces of the rank did not go unnoticed for long.

He dipped his head in acknowledgement and moved to stand before her, glad to have some respite from the cobra. Said creature had hung back to watch, hissing quietly, as if waiting for his next chance to make a move.

"Of course. How can I help, Niu?" He couldn't help but feel this was going to be something of importance. Would she have sought him out otherwise? If it were simple guards issues, she would surely have discussed them with Azar.  

[Hopefolly]

Kimaria

Niu knew it was vital to keep professional. She didn't dare showcase the relief that threatened to make her at the very least sigh when Kidondo heard her name and didn't look at her that way. Those rumors concerning her carrying Azar's litter — and him abandoning the lot of them — had finally died down. Hopefully.

Then she had her contempt for the snake to contend with. Niu abhorred those wretched creatures, full of venom in every way. She was still under the impression they were all toxic. If in the future someone corrected her, she'd find her fondness for the slithering beasts increased all of none.

Her eyes shifted quickly away from It and back to Kidondo.

"It's about the Nergui," Niu began, quietly so as not to allow the snake to pry (in theory). She'd never decided whether or not she'd keep going or if she'd pause so as to allow him time to respond. In the heat of the moment, she continued. "They're too quiet lately. I believe they're staging an attack — and I'm not the only one. I'm proposing that we send someone in to investigate and report back here with any suspicious activity. We should surprise them before they surprise us."  

[Kimaria]

Hopefolly

It appeared she did not want to keep him musing for very long, for which he was grateful. He could always appreciate one who wasn't afraid of getting straight to the point without any unnecessary dithering.

He nodded, shifting his weight so that it was evenly spread across his paws. She was right, of course. "From what little we know of the Nergui, it seems out of character for them to give up without so much of a fight. On that we can both agree." Still, sending someone out to investigate could be a risk. Who knew what they were up to out there? They still knew so little about them and it made them an unpredictable force to reckon with.

"It...is something that has been considered," he replied at last. "And I do not doubt that we would have plenty of volunteers." Indeed, he thought it would be the opposite. The Firekin did not cower away from such challenges. He imagined the queue to investigate would involve at least half of the pride. Glory hunters. Impatient warriors. Vengeance seekers. That was part of the problem. Finding the right lion or lioness for the job.

"The Sentinels have attempted to gather information on their forays but without much success. Getting closer risks capture," or worse... "However, I do agree that something must need to be done. Inaction is likely to be as dangerous as action the longer it drags on."

He looked at her carefully, "has Corporal Azar'bijan sent you here to tell me this?"  

[Hopefolly]

Kimaria

Niu listened in silence and tried to keep the contempt off her face at the mention of the Sentinels. The voice in her head that sounded suspiciously like Azar's assured her it was no surprise Moto'Seide's lot hadn't managed to succeed. Competition wasn't the meaning of this —

— and the Corporal wasn't the reason for it.

"No, I'm here on my own." Niu's determined visage explained her reasons before her words had the chance. "I'd like to volunteer," she said, and any doubts she had were hers alone, not to be heard or seen by Kidondo or the snake, if she happened to underestimate its hearing. "I would die for the Corporal, but my duty is to the pride. I know that any Firekin will give their life, but if need be, I'm willing to give my reputation."  

[Kimaria]

Hopefolly

Kidondo gave a slow nod and took another step forwards, closing the gap between them, before taking a seat upon the sand. Behind him the snake seemed to realise that this conversation was going to be more than just a quick 'how are you?' and slunk off between the rocks, puffing with irritation.

A stray wind snatched long strands of mane and pulled them roughly into the Regent's eyes.

"It sounds like you have been thinking of this for some time. Still, I am sure you understand we cannot simply throw you to the crocodiles and hope you can out-swim them? If we are to do this it will take preparation. It has never been my way to simply disregard a life. If you do this, I fully intend to see you back in these lands in one piece someday."  

[Hopefolly]

Kimaria

Niu stood her ground when Kidondo was suddenly Right Here instead of Over There. It wasn't easy. Her chest felt tight, her breath ran short, and for just a second her gaze faltered and saw only sand. The wind stirred the grainy specks and her courage. She met his eyes, nodded.

Not his way to disregard life? Niu believed it. She'd have trusted in most anything he said, as unusual as that was for her. History, like actions, spoke louder than mere words. Yet that his words, too, were so humble and wise was...

A more passionate lioness would have persuaded him with a heartfelt speech.

One with more wit might have said she didn't need to out swim the crocodiles, only out smart them.

"I can do this," was Niu's method, eye-to-eye stare and all.  

[Kimaria]

"I believe you," he said, simple and true. There was something about her open honesty and determination. A self-belief but without the ego that so often accompanied such a thing. The Firekin needed the likes of Niu. They could not afford to lose her but neither could they allow her to stand by and waste talents that could aid them in their cause.

"The fewer people that know about this, the better. Still, what is the use of having specialists within the pride when they are not involved in such matters? I would suggest you speak with the Legate on this. Tell her I sent you. Ask her for all she knows of the current Nergui situation. Her sentinels will keep her updated on their movements - from what little we have garnered."

Then a thought occurred; "The corporal may not have sent you but does he know of your intentions? He is an asset to us but not a lion known for his subtlety." Likely he would not be happy about a guard taking on such a dangerous role, particularly one he patrolled with on a regular basis.  

[Hopefolly]

Speak to Moto'Seide. Could do. "I will," Niu said. She had started to turn, as anxious to go as she was to leave, when Kidondo asked a perfectly reasonable question she'd hoped would slip his mind.

"I haven't told him." She turned back to her king. "I'll find a way that won't... ruffle his mane."

In other words, she'd find a way to keep him in the dark, and that was made very clear not by what she said, but how she said it.  

[Kimaria]

"Yes," he nodded with some regret, "I think that might be for the best."

Niu seemed anxious to get on her way but there was still at least one thing left for him to say before she went about her business.

"When you feel you are ready, report back to me. I'd like to be part of the final preparations." He wasn't exactly sure what they might be, nevertheless, he wanted to watch her set off. To wish her luck. Still, he hoped that the sentinels might have passed on knowledge to which she could safely approach and integrate herself without too much trouble.

They still knew so little about their enemy. Still, they took on new members when they could. There was no reason they would turn away an able-bodied lioness if she offered to be of help.

"Now you may go," he replied, allowing a small smile to show through.  

[Hopefolly]

Niu bowed her head, smiling a little. An exhaustion effort. Maybe the muscles it took were out of shape from years of living as a ball of tension and control freak in lion form. "Thank you, sir, I'll do that."

First, time to see which of her reputations this Moto'Seide lived up to.