Thalion
Andranis
Yoska ||
Dawn was just beginning to break over the sea grass-covered dunes. The golden blades danced in the wind like a hundred-thousand swords, each catching the sunlight in the beads of dew that dotted over their thin, slender frames. Wave upon wave of grass stood between the twins and the sandy beaches below. Just beyond, the sea roared, filling the otherwise peaceful morning with its commanding voice. He could taste salt on the wind, feel it settling in his mane, and along his lips. He licked his maw, appreciating the odd flavor.
"Some say those here are wrapped in insanity." He commented, casual in his tone but genuinely interested. "Others say they live by their own code-" He glanced over to his bright-pelted twin. This was his time- daybreak. Yoska was more at ease with the dusk, the time of day that he carried on his own pelt. The cool blues, fading golds, and the whispy touches of white still clinging to the warmth of the sun always filled him with peace. A day done, and soon the stars would emerge in the endless sea of darkness above them.
Emilian ||
Ever the early riser, Emilian stretched and admired the view. The sunrise had always pleased him, ever since he'd been a cub. Their mother was much the same way, but their uncle, much like Yoska, preferred the darkness. Emilian couldn't much stand it, but that was only because he'd rather be sleeping. When the sun slept, he slept, that was how he lived. He looked to the dew on the sea grass blades, smiling a bit at it. They sparkled like little stars, soon to be gone from the grass like the stars from the sky with the rising heat of day. Sure, he loved the warmth and heat and such, but he also loved the things he saw only in the early morning when the world was still waking up.
"I would say at least some of those are right, brother." He looked to Yoska, one eyebrow up. "Met a lioness a few weeks ago, running around some trees north of here... There were buffalo everywhere. When it calmed down, she said she came from a pride south of where the buffalo were." He let out a sound of amusement, "Very brash lady she was. And then she somehow stole that one bone I was keeping in my mane..." He had no idea how she even knew it was THERE.
Yoska ||
He snorted and rolled his eyes. So he had run off when he'd been asleep. Yoska was all for a little misadventure here and there, but he rather liked it when said adventure included himself. He would have liked to meet a lioness... a sane one though. This one sounded like a case of sticky-paws if anything. Snatching bones from manes...then again, the pride they faced was apparently known for having sticky paws.
"Well- seems we have a chance to observe." He jerked his head into a nod. Down below, weaving through the grass, was a young adolecent just coming into the beginnings of an adult's mane. He was tall with long, stringy legs and a lean body. The confidence of the thief, however, was departed from him. He moved uncertainly, glancing from one patch of grass to the next.
"...mad? Or terribly clever?"
Emilian ||
If Yoska had voiced his opinion, Emilian would have agreed. The lioness had very sticky paws, and he hadn't been pleased by it. Still... It was a bit fascinating, in concept. He just hoped she wasn't entirely mad, taking his carefully-hoarded bone as she had. What purpose could she even HAVE for it?
His gaze flickered over to the indicated lion, eyebrows rising up. "Well cuirousity of curiosities!" He watched the young lion move, all gangly limbs and some uncertainties, as Emilian could observe. "I wonder what he's up to..." He tilted his head, then looked at Yoska. "Perhaps some are mad, but others are probably very clever beasts indeed." He then nodded with his head toward the young lion, "Do we wish to sneak up on him?"
Yoska ||
"Come now." Yoska rolled a critical gaze over towards his sibling and eyed him. "This is a new pride. One of mad-lions and dangerous theives. There's rumors that they even speak their own language and the rocks have eyes. Far fetched perhaps-" He jerked his chin towards the nearby cliffs. "But every rumor has a nugget of truth to it..."
He shook his head. "If we approach, we do so openly. The last thing we need is to anger our new...hosts."
Emilian ||
One eyebrow went up as he regarded his brother. "I almost wonder what sort of truth is behind that rumor..." His gaze returned to the young lion, before he squared his shoulders. "Might as well get this over with. No time like the present, right?" He didn't care what their uncle thought, the life of a rogue was NOT one that appealed to him. He was willing to give life in a pride a try, even if it was with lions who were potentially insane, tricky, had sticky paws... Or all of the above. It couldn't be worse than seeing what wasn't actually there, could it? "Let's go say hello."
Yoska ||
"Wonderful mentality you have." He bumped his shoulder against his twin's as he passed him by. He hated introductions. It was akward. Always. "Hi, how are you." "Good." "So what's your name?" "So and so." "That's nice. I'm this and that." "Great."
Great.
Yoska sighed. Well...getting it over with was one way of putting it. Getting into the easy comfort of a familiar conversation took...time. And effort. And now the stranger noticed them.
Farce ||
Farce froze as two rather larger, rather strange, lions began his way. He glanced one way in each direction before swelling up his shoulders, bony and pointed things, and locked eyes with the brighter of the two. Damn. He knew he shouldn't have come this far...
Emilian ||
As they drew closer, Emilian found himself able to get a better look at the other lion. "Hello, good morning, and all that titter-tatter banter stuff. I am Emilian, this is my brother Yoska, and we're curious about these lands we're in and the pride we've found ourselves in the presence of. What can you tell inquiring minds?" Heavens above, he hoped they didn't have to worry about a secret pride. There was just enough known that it wasn't a grandly huge secret of their presence, but he really didn't want to know JUST rumors. This lion looked like a local, at least. Maybe he had some answers for them, some information they could use.
Farce ||
The young lion backed up a few paces, frowning as his ears flipped back to lay against his skull. He didn't know these lions, and it seemed that they certainly had a mouthful of pleasantries to spew his way. They were certainly curious..
Riddlemouth's stern gaze filled the back of his mind. The way of the Kizis belonged to the Kizis. Gypsy ways were gypsy ways and those that came to snatch anything, including information, were not to be met with flapping gums and warm smiles.
Still. Smiling was in his blood. Laughing, more specifically. So before he could answer, a smirk cracked followed by an uncomfortable laugh. "You think it's just that easy?" He straightened up. The key to being bold was't actually being bold. He was two steps from bolting the way he came and crying for his mother- but that would likely get him more attention than he wanted.
"Information is our currency around here, guy. It isn't just tossed around."
Yoska ||
The darker male snorted. "So it's like that, eh?"
Emilian ||
One eyebrow went up in a quick motion, almost seeming to vanish into his maneline. Emilian looked at Yoska curiously, then turned back to the pale-maned lion. "And what information might you want in exchange, friend?" Well, friend being a LOOSE term. He couldn't actually think of many friends they HAD at that point in their lives. That thought present, he knew from interacting with their uncle that nothing in life came free, not even the very air one breathed.
Farce ||
Farce continued to back up. There were others nearby, this was a popular gathering area- for what reason he'd yet to discover for himself -and some were at least imposing enough to pass as some sort of security. Wizard, the oddly quiet fortune-teller, often came here at night to star-gaze. Again. He had no idea why that was. Stars were pretty but it was a little arrogant to think that beings as small as lions would be able to unravel their mysteries. Still. He was a massive lion, and he was quiet enough to seem imposing.
He laughed again. "It's not for the outside ears to know. Sorry."
Yoska ||
The other lion stepped between his brother and the pale-maned youngster and cleared his throat. "Perhaps we might meet with..whatever authority figure you answer to? King? Queen? Commander? ....someone of significant standing?"
Emilian ||
Backing away at his brother's presence, Emilian glanced between Yoska and the stranger. His other eyebrow went up for a moment, before he bumped his shoulder against Yoska's. "You have a good point, brother!" He turned to the other lion, giving as charming a smile as he could muster. "That DOES seem a good plan! Would you be willing to take us to meet whoever's in charge, friend? Ah," he paused, "We don't appear to know your name, though. What might we call you?"
Farce ||
The young lion's face scrunched up. That wasn't a bad idea acutallly... he would leave and grab Shandor.. or Mikael. Perhaps Nico? Any royal would be good. THey'd know how to handle the strangers, and he'd look like he knew what he was doing...
"Uh- er. Yes." He perked up. "But you'll have to wait here- if you go any further, the others will find you. They aren't kindly to tresspassers."
He took a few steps back, never turning his back on the strangers. The request earned another snort. "...well. My name to you is Farce."
Yoska ||
He nudged his brother. "To us! We're special."
Emilian ||
"Thank you, Farce, we'll be waiting here patiently!" He sank down into the grass, before simply flopping and stretching out. "Perhaps we're special, yes... But you know what Mother said - Our father's a god, that DOES make us special." He crossed one front paw over the other, minutely smug in such knowledge. Surely there weren't many others like them, were there?