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 Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:39 pm
Noyana didn't have many days that she didn't spend with Chaka, but the few she'd had recently had been very... pivotal. Chaka, today, was home sick with a bad cough. She was surprised, the little jackal wasn't ever sick, but today was just a really bad day for her.
Noyana's viewpoint had changed dramatically, from believing the Pridelands were being managed properly, to thinking that they were being ruined by that slop of a queen they had running it.
Of course, these were heavy thoughts for one so young, and Noyana tried not to let them stress her out too much. She was getting older, bigger, stronger, and soon enough her word would be taken into consideration, if not made law. She got up from her shade cast by a rock and decided to see if she could run into anyone interesting, anyone who shared her viewpoint.
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Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 10:56 am
The scars were still fresh and they itched a little. This was the only part about being wounded that Sarafina didn't like--the annoying itch of healing cuts. Oh, their mother had been furious when she'd found them both with blood running down their faces and deep, angry gashes across their eyes. More than a little disturbed, too, Sarafina would have to say. That had been amusing, she had to admit, as she lounged across the crest of a boulder near the waterhole. It was a good spot for sunning, which was what she was up to now. Her eyes glittered as she thought over the things she and Tahka had discussed. This would be hard; it would take time and planning.. but it was a good course of action. It was time for Taka to be avenged, and his grandchildren were perfect to do it.
She stretched herself along the rock, considering where to start. Tahka wasn't around today but she knew he, too, would be looking for those that would wish to join them on their crusade. There may not be many, but they would need a few. Sarafina had considered going to Shou and speaking with him of the idea. It was a good plan, but she would have to wait until the male caught up to her, he was as liable to stay close to the den as she was.
These sorts of plans couldn't just be flung about to random people, of course. It would be a trial of the tact she'd been trying to learn from her brother. Such a thing riled her, but once more she reminded herself to think of it has hunting--patience was a virtue.
Speaking of hunting, there was something yellow as the sun moving in the grass nearby her. Oh, she'd noted the other lioness out here today, but hadn't thought too much of her. This one couldn't be much older than her, from the size of her, but that wasn't always much of an indicator.
Sara's first instinct was to ignore her, of course. She wasn't of any consequence and hadn't spoken first, therefor there was no need to acknowledge her at all. Yet, hadn't she just been thinking about their plans? They would need others for those, and in order to get others Sara would have to be.... sociable. It was a strange thought as she'd always let others approach her first, never caring much to interact with anyone else. Yet... "To hot there?" She asked as the female strolled by, narrowed eyes trained upon the other. It was a strange question, perhaps, but the best she could come up with. Conversation was not one of her strong points.
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Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 3:04 pm
Perfect! Noyana thought to herself when she saw the owner of the voice. She looked kinda like Tufah, kinda like Mat. The color and the socks gave away the females identity- a descendant of Taka. Noyana loved meeting the various siblings, she was rather unhealthily obsessed with the rightful heirs of the Pridelands.
"You must be Sarafina," she said, knowing that this was the only other female sibling that she hadn't yet met. Only Tahka and Ru to meet and she could honestly say she'd met all of their family; save for their mother, anyway. She smiled, "Yes, it is hot," she said as she plopped into the dirt, making a rather dramatic bow of her head. "I'm Noyana," she said. She always treated Taka's family like royalty... Except her and Tufah were closer and less formal, same with Haiba. "How is your day going?" She asked, happy to have met another of the family.
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Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:51 pm
Sarafina couldn't help but lift a brow at that. This yellow thing knew who she was? That was interesting, certainly--if Sara found out who was talking about her to others she'd be sure to give them a good talking to. Of course, one should always assume that Sara's "talks" had less to do with words and more to do with bloodshed not necessarily her own. Oh no, she wasn't an easy one to get along with in the least.
Further surprise was to be had, however. Not only did this girl somehow know who she was, she also was acting rather different towards her than most others did. It was... respectful, yes, certainly. Courteous, actually; as if Sara were the royalty she should have rightfully been. Perhaps she wouldn't be so harsh on whomever had tipped this little girl off. That was yet to be seen, though. Though vain towards her lineage, Sarafina wasn't a fool. Impetuous, yes, but no fool--and only a fool would see someone treating them this way for no apparent reason and let it pass unquestioned.
"I'm Noyana, how is your day going?"
"Are you?" She asked, chin lifting as she gazed down her nose at the blazingly yellow lioness below her. The corners of her mouth lifted but it wasn't anything like a pleasant expression. No, that smile was calculative in a way that made her elders cringe many a time from seeing such an expression on a mere cub. "Well, it certainly isn't full of excitement and adventure, for starters."
No, once again, conversation wasn't her strong point. Tahka would be the better one to talk to, but she wasn't about to say as much. Not without finding out what this girl knew, or thought she knew, first. Sarafina's green orbs narrowed again, brows knitting together despite the still-stinging gash on one side of her face. That would bother her for quite some time yet, and the pain sent gorgeous shivers down her spine. Hell, she'd poke at it just for that rush. If only it would stop itching!
"As you introduced yourself to me, I'll wager that I don't know you." Sara leaned down over the edge of the rock, face drawing closer to Noyana's. "No, I'd remember something as... bright... as you are. Who are you, then, to already know my name?"
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Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 6:04 am
No, Noyana hadn't seen it before in their family, at least not like this. This must be the intelligence Taka held while he was alive; the infamous calculating mind. What Sara was thinking as she sized Noyana up, the bright lioness did not know, but she couldn't help but smile at it. This is the kind of leadership we need up on that rock, she thought gleefully to herself, proud to see she wasn't insane or anything along those lines. In fact, she simply thought now that those who didn't see the obvious truth were absolutely crazy. As Mat called them, the "gold-coats" didn't have much in their heads.
At Sara's last question, Noyana chuckled. Not at the lioness, but at herself. "I believe you and your family need to be up on the Rocks. You are the rightful heirs. I was first told about your family by my mother; she told me to watch out for you, not to hang around. I was young, and of course, disobedient. At the very least, anything forbidden was bound to be an adventure. I met Tufah and wanted the straight story of the past; of Taka. All I knew about him was that 'he was dirt,' and I'm not much of one to belive in such tales. Certainly there was more to him than that, and I learned of what happened to him, how everything was stolen from him and his offspring." Noyana said. She looked hurt as if the account had happened to her, though it clearly hadn't. "So I want to help right a wrong. Your family should be up there, I'm all game for a regime change," Noyana said.
She paused before quickly adding, "Mind you, it wasn't Tufah who told me about you; she didn't. I heard rumors, and over time, I heard all of your names and I just took a lucky guess." She said with a smile, wondering how Sara would take her tale.
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Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 7:25 am
Oh yes, more interesting by the minute. Others of the pride spoke about them? Sarafina was of the impression that they were but a mere litter to the other Pridelanders, yet another drop in the huge cub pool that surrounded them. To hear them spoken about with such distaste, though... was the most interesting indeed. Had any of the cubs done anything, publicly or privately, to get such a warning set against them? Sarafina couldn't think of anything. Except for the loud-mouthed Mat, no one in the family was overly outspoken about their ideas, especially the two "ringleaders." No one could deny that Sara was at the head of the family, second only to Tiah herself, and backed by Tahka; she would have known had one of her siblings been shooting their mouth off.
Probably Mat. The juvenile stopped herself from rolling her eyes, though the urge was a hard one to fight. That boy seriously needed to learn what he was and was not supposed to speak about. More amusing yet, she and Tahka had only just decided about pushing their claim to the throne two days ago--how on earth had this female any idea about it?
Sarafina couldn't help but smell a trap of some sort. No, she was never going to trust this one--not in a million years. But then again, only a fool would truly trust anyone offering their assistance like this. Who knows, if they took this "Noyana" into the fold, it was possible she'd never turn on them. Still, she would have to be watched at all times.
"That's a singular sort of statement," Sara chuckled, "not many would dare say such a thing, or too loudly." It was hard to tell whether or not Sarafina was impressed. One could run with it however they chose, in the end. Noyana's statement that Taka "was dirt," however, riled her as she pondered it. The other cubs indignation towards the past was something that Sara felt triple fold, but to see it in an unrelated being was... strange, though not entirely unwelcome. "I would be more silent about such opinions, were I you."
Still watching her carefully, Sarafina slid from the rock to pad a slow circle around her elder. It honestly didn't look as if Sara even considered that there was a size difference between them, she still looked Noyana over as if she were a rather confusing piece of scenery, not a lion at all. It was entirely questionable if Sara even considered her on the same plane of existence as herself and her family.
"Not that I mind them, of course," Sara continued on, a more welcoming smile stretching across her face. "One might even venture to say that I agree with you... but such thoughts get back to people, you see, and there appears to already be... rumors about us."
Sara chose a spot to sit at after she'd made a good circle about the other female. "Now, here is where I'm a little confused. You see, I don't understand why there are rumors about us. Perhaps you would be so kind as to fill me in." That wasn't a question or request, however gentle it was; that was an order.
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Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 7:38 am
The lioness knew she should keep quiet about what she wanted to do; about her opinions. Someone overhearing such could be enough to get her evicted from the Pride, and that was not her goal.
She watched Sara begin her circling a little until she went out of sight, before answering her question. "The rumors started before you were born. They had nothing to do with your actions, but with your blood," Noyana said simply. She glanced around to make sure nobody was overhearing them before continuing, "I think the general population of this Pride fear Taka, or his remains of him; you and your family. I can't understand why; if anything they should want to 'pay him back.' That... Mufasa..." she spat that filthy name, it was unworthy of the movements of her tongue, "stole everything from the rightful king. But for some reason, I have a feeling the Pride in general secretly fears you. Just a gut feeling," Noyana said. No, she hadn't heard anyone openly admit to such fear, but her instincts had told her from day one that there was something to be feared about Sara's family; that they were an enemy. Noyana, though, didn't believe such things. She waited to see what Sara thought of that bit of information.
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Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 7:57 am
"Fears us..." The words were distant, mulled, though her eyes didn't lose their sharpness. This was certainly a development. From what Tiah had told them, there were few in the pride that remembered or bothered with Taka's line. Indeed, he'd never given anyone much cause for worry, though he might have had the plague not extinguished him so early. He should have been named Mufasa's rightful heir, not that weak little b***h on the throne now. Actually, Mufasa should never have been on the throne at all.
In a moment of sheer irony, Sara pondered how such a complete brute could have been given the throne at all. The girl wasn't completely unaware of her own faults, actually. No, she had been told about them several times at great lengths from her twin and from the female that had born them, but Sara simply didn't care to change herself. As far as she was concerned there was nothing "Negative" about herself that Tahka couldn't foil back. He was her completion, her better half... and with them together, they would make far better rulers than that wishy-washy, brute-based line that sat on pride rock right now. How HAD the gold-coats taken over the Pridelands, anyway?
That matter was always one of much speculation on her part. It had been luck, sheer and utter luck that Mufasa hadn't died after both the attack on the pride and in reclaiming the pride for themselves. If he hadn't taken out one of the two usurpers by total surprise away from the others, he never would have won. It was sheer, dumb luck that had gotten him through--and what had happened to the idiot? He had been ambushed and mauled in his own home lands by an outsider that had slipped in and out completely unnoticed, taking a cub with him.
Moron.
And now the child of that moron sat on the throne, planning to split the pride between heirs for some unfathomable reason as soon as they'd grown up. Sara hadn't met the heirs, couldn't even imagine their personalities, but the split-rulership plan was one that was fairly well known among the pride by now. She'd overheard bits of it in the past, but that was enough to make her roll her eyes. Two heirs, and two consorts with some power attached to the throne. Mufasa's clan just LOVED to make things complex, didn't they? When they won the throne, Sara knew it would be either her or Tahka that took the seat. Though the other would have power, as would always happen between the two of them, only one would have an heir pass down. It was just much more simple that way.
"I hadn't realized that our bloodline was so infamous," She stated truthfully. Her thoughts had flow by in an instant so that there was little break between Noyana's explanation and Sara's reply. "No one says much to us, you see, though I suppose I finally found the reason as to why. Perhaps you are right; they feel guilty... as they should."
Sara shook her head. There wasn't anyone about them, no one within hearing distance, anyway, she'd made certain of that when she'd been circling Noyana before. "To think--first they steal our grandfather's rightful place, then shove his daughter off to the side as a Nanny. Oh, yes, they say its a position of honor... but is it really to be loaded down with other lions' cubs all day? So much of an honor, that."
Her tone was actually friendly, for once, earnest to indicate that she really meant what she said. That actually wasn't a lie--she did mean it, just not so innocently at one might originally thing. "Granted, I wouldn't be saying or thinking any of this if there were actually some good about the current rulers, but.. well its really rather pathetic isn't it?" A little laugh interjected itself, "Their 'brilliant' Mufasa gets killed in his own homeland, right under everyone elses noses, and they can't see how weak and ill-guided they've become. Grandfather never would have allowed that to happen, I'm certain. He was much too careful for that sort of thing."
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Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 8:10 am
Noyana nodded to Sara's opinions; she agreed with every single one of them. She, it seemed, was growing farther from her twin and closer to this family; farther from her own. She still loved them, but... Well, they'd just have to see the light. She'd never brought the topic up, once again, fear of being booted without having been able to do any good. Unable to right any wrongs.
As if she had read Sara's mind, Noyana added on to the complaints of the royal family. "And that whole split-rulers thing? That'll definitely ruin this Pride. Just because they're twins doesn't mean they should both rule, trust me," she said, thinking of Chane. No no no, even though they got along pretty well, Noyana was certain that it was a bad idea. "It'll split the Pride is what it'll do. How the hell are they going to pick an heir, even if the Pride continues on that long?" She crinkled her nose in dismay. "That Kami..." she spat that name out too, it was just as unworthy as her father's name... "will ruin everything, and she doesn't even see it! She needs a good dose of logic and feasiblilty." And that was her conclusion. "I'm sure that if Taka had been king, there wouldn't be any outsiders with any sort of shady pasts." Noyana said, agreeing with Sara. How she would've liked to meet the lion... Stupid plague, she thought to herself spitefully. Yes, Taka would have been amazing to meet.
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Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 5:51 pm
"Precisely. The pride is out of control--you'll notice that anyone can claim membership here, whether or not they actually contribute to the pride. They come here, take our resources, and lay about claiming loyalty to the ghost of a lion I doubt they've even met. True, my grandmother came from the Outlands, but my mother and we were raised in this land. Even grandmother, from the tales, took to this land for a good time, becoming loyal to it for the sake of Taka and the great good that he was."
So most of that was complete bull--it sounded good, and as far as Sarafina was concerned, that could only be a positive thing. There wasn't anyone that could contradict her for she'd put enough truth into it to keep to the reality of what was... only elaborated on. For all Sara knew, it might have even been the entire truth by some stroke of luck. So long as she knew she was fabricating a little of the story, she was fine.
"Strong leadership; a single mind, a single rule, a single vision. Someone that knows whats best and doesn't need to shove the pride off on four, unprepared individuals." The pridal split was possibly the worst of Kami's offenses to Sara's mind. Even if she hadn't considered the pride her family's rightful property she still would have been annoyed, at least, by that foolish concept. How exactly could a group of rulers be better than a single or dual ruler ship? A mated couple she could understand, if they'd both proven themselves to be of one mind and body.. but multiple rulers made for arguments and headaches and bickering over the smallest details, rather than quick, clear cut decisions.
Her fur puffed a little as she contemplated these idiotic notions. Giving herself a slight shake to snap herself out of it, then juvenile turned her head to smooth her shoulders and side back down with her tongue. This left her open for examination from the other lioness for the first time; a seemingly unguarded moment. What was found wasn't exactly inviting, though.
Other than the two large gashes over her left eye, Sarafina was marked a million times over. Scars that were fading beneath her fur, scabs that were still healing over from tiny cuts made by the stars-knew-what. There probably wasn't a single area on her body that hadn't been nicked, scraped, gashed or bruised. The rebellious, strangely foreboding manner that she spoke with seemed to be echoed by her body--rough, uninviting, even, perhaps, dangerous. Most of it was hidden by her fur, of course, but when one was close enough they could catch the sight of it when her fur was ruffled or blown against the grain. Needless to say, it wasn't a pretty sight.
Sara lifted her head then, cutting any inspection short with a glance. "Interesting to find a youth such as yourself." She ignored the irony.
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Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 8:02 pm
Noyana again nodded in agreement. She loved finding those that agreed with her opinions, though, normally it was only this family. She had yet to find one outside her ranks, but there were many simple-minded lions in this Pride, it would be easy to sway a few more minds.
She agreed also with the single-rulership. "It'd take too long between two heirs. Might as well have the whole Pride throw their opinions in on everything, it'd be about as effective." She said with a roll of the eyes. Yes, it was a rediculous idea. It would kill the Pride, she was sure of it.
To Sara's comment, Noyana couldn't help but lighten the mood. "Because of my opinions, or because of the brightness of my coat?" She asked with a smile. Many had commented on her bright pelt, but surprisingly, Noyana was an extremely talented huntress. Noyana wasn't gorgeous under the pelt either, though she probably was in better shape than Sara. Noy's wounds all came from her younger days when she tried to catch something a touch too big for her size.
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Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:41 am
Sara snorted with amusement, a smile cracking across her face. The girl had a sense of humor... and a good one at that. Despite her somewhat loud mouth Sara actually was beginning to like this girl--though trust was still out of the question. It usually was with Sara, however. Still, intelligence and humor, as well as a good amount of gumption, were working in favor of the lemon-lime lioness. "Perhaps a little of both," Sara chuckled.
Around them the sky was still blazing, but it had begun its descent towards the horizon, and the noon-time respite of buzzing insects had ended. She could hear them again, zipping among the grass and burrowing in the earth now that the worst of the days' heat was over. Sara wished there were a really safe watering hole about but the wet-season was long over and what water there was that was deep enough for a swim was deep enough to house crocodiles. Not that she was afraid to cross them--she'd stolen eggs many a time as a child, for the mere fun of it--but it was just downright foolish to get into the water with one.
Still her eyes ranged over the glisten to the horizon where she knew the water was. A drink would do her good. "I'm thirsty," Was all she said when she got to her feet and strode off towards the pool of water. She continued, though, so it seemed Noyana was meant to follow her, "So you know my sister. I'm afraid I haven't been able to spend too much time with Tufah; I didn't realize she shared these ... ideals."
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Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:54 pm
"A drink sounds good," she said in agreement as she got to her feet and followed Sara. Overjoyed that she'd gotten the younger lioness to crack a bit of a smile. "I'm not sure Tufah's as... Extreme as me," she admitted, "But I do believe she thinks of the Pridelands as hers, as she well should." Yes, these lands were their lands. She padded along keeping just a bit behind Sara, but being mostly at her side. She was, after all, royalty, and one of the rightful heirs. She didn't know the order in which these cubs were born, so she didn't know which to think of as a king or queen, but they were all heirs.
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Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:25 am
Yes, Sara thought this girl had some potential. The differential placement wasn't lost upon her in the least, and in fact seemed to warm the younger girl up a little more. She nodded to the assessment of her sister; that seemed about right, really, and Sara wasn't inclined to hear more of her own sibling from a stranger. At least, not when it was a sibling she could easily keep tabs on herself. Tufah and Sarafina had a fairly good record with one another, after all.
So, Sara lead the way down to the waterhole for a drink, fully content to spend the rest of the day thinking on this... and milking the other girl's knowledge of the lands surrounding them, whatever it was. Life, it seemed, was beginning to favour them.
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