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 Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 6:50 pm
Uzulu paced his rockface, his eyes scanning the land below with a heated gaze. He'd made the trip along the top many a time now, checking nearly every day since a full moon had passed since the 'slave' had come here to deliver the message from Finar-si.
He'd expected her much sooner, but it was obviously not to be. Still, he'd kept Mpaji busy with tasks, and the slave seemed to be glad of it. Any excuse to be away from the master was a good one, he supposed.
Plus, during one of his outings, Uzulu had discovered Mpaji's method of 'fetching' water. There was sandstone around these parts, and with careful precision, one good groove in the stone to make a very heavy receptacle for carrying liquids of any kind.
It meant that they didn't have to go up for whatever everyday, but had a small catch of it to drink for a few days before he sent the slave off for more.
Lost in thought, the lion almost didn't notice the yellow lioness and the slave to be arriving far below. He gave a call to let them know where he was and then sat down to wait.
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 7:34 pm
"That's the one?" Ohahira asked. Her stomach turned and she could feel the rage bubbling inside her already. Just wait, Tara, a voice in her mind she wasn't completely controlling rambled on. Just wait.
Mwokoti said nothing, and the mortal beside her found nothing odd about that. The Goddess wasn't all that thoughtful, opting to listen every other time. Why would this be different?
However, as they got closer, she didn't her sister... "Where is she? Mwokoti--" And suddenly, the far larger lioness had knocked into her, sending her crashing to the ground not far from Uzulu. "What are you DOING?!"
"This is it," Mwokoti said in monotone, looking away. For her son, she kept reminding herself. For Nishan she would do anything. Any horrible thing. "Do what you want with her."
"What?! What the hell does that mean?! Mwokoti!" And when the Goddess turned to go, Ohahira tried to follow. "Mwokoti!"
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 7:54 pm
Uzulu watched them talk back and forth. The young lioness seemed serene, as if she didn't know what was about to befall her. Perhaps her fate was already evident? Uzlulu smiled. It was the kind of slave he liked.
Ones that obeyed. They all did, sooner or later.
Uzulu was dismounting from the rocky faces quickly, travelling down to meet them below. Just in case the slave decided to make a run for it. Sure enough, it turned out it had just been a trick of the mind on the other. For a second, Uzulu felt a little bit of remorse, such cruel intuition. It had to be someone Finar-si had sent, but it was gone as quickly as it had come.
"Oh, you're not going anywhere, my dear," Uzulu hissed, lunging forwards to land on Ohahira's shoulders so she would slide forwards into the sand and be pinned there. She looked strong and violent. He could take no risks.
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:00 pm
Ohahira was violent. If you were Tara. And she was strong, well built. Perhaps more than any of her siblings. This weight was pointless, though, because she had no idea how to throw it around. It was almost a complete fluke that she managed to knock Uzulu off her.
"What are you doing?!" she snapped. And never mind the fact she didn't know this guy. Sure, she knew who he was, Mwokoti had told her all about him---Wait.
It hit Ohahira then just what was going on, and the lioness stumbled back to her feet and roared with a viciousness that would likely impress even the Firekin. If she wasn't a slave.
"MWOKOTI!" she snarled, watching the sight of the flying lioness get farther and farther away. "I'LL KILL YOUR SON FOR THIS! DO YOU HEAR ME? I'LL KILL HIM, MWOKOTI!"
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:08 pm
Uzulu watched the scene unfold, stretching his shoulders which had been bent in a very odd fashion by Ohahira's attempt to throw him off - which had succeeded. But it appeared she wasn't going anywhere, which was all the better for her.
The other Firekin wouldn't have hesitated in a hunt for an escaped slave. It would be a nice game to play.
His ears pinned at her protests back at the servant of Finar-si. He growled lightly as she finished. There was no time to have her threatening to kill things.
"You'll be good to shut your trap and start walking, slave. I'll be doing the only killing where you're going."
If Mpaji had acted this way, he would have silenced him with a mere swipe of the paw, but Mpaji hadn't ever acted in this fashion. However, she was new to this, and one couldn't expect perfection right away.
If she did as told, she'd be alright, otherwise. Well, she'd just have to suffer the consequences of scars marking her pretty skin.
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:13 pm
This situation had yet to sink in for Ohahira. That wasn't to say she didn't know what was happening. In the past few seconds she'd become acutely aware of all the lies and plans and just how much she hated. The only thing she could hate more than Tara was the one who'd keep her from Tara.
She would kill that lion. It didn't matter if he was mother's life-long friend. It didn't matter who's son he was. It didn't matter what this a** in front of her said.
And that's where the 'not sinking in' part came into play. Ohahira was positive she could just leave, later, when he wasn't paying attention. She'd been told of this group, but had always felt they'd been greatly exagerated.
"Start walking where?" she growled.
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:22 pm
Uzulu's own growl came to head, and he flicked his tail in warning, one more outburst and he'd have to punish her, as little as he'd like to. If she got injured too badly she could not hunt, and that's what he needed her for.
"Follow those rock faces, up, up. Careful not to small and smash your prety head below. Now move."
He roared harshly and nipped at her tail, to enforce the fact he wanted it done quickly. Training started now.
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:25 pm
Ohahira's cletched teeth bared in aggravation, but she did as was told and began on the path he demanded of her. Her thoughts were still clouded with the face of her sibling. Always her. Always Tara. This was her fault.
Ohahira still wasn't convinced Tara wasn't here. Mwokoti could have been telling the truth about that. And if Tara was here, she could get her now, and after that, they could do whatever they wanted, including enslaving her.
She no longer had a purpose besides that.
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:33 pm
Well, she caught on rather quick, if Uzulu said so himself. Finar-si's servant had done well indeed. Though, he would have hated to be the son of that individual. Death was not a pretty thing, regardless of who's side it was on.
It was much better that they weren't Firekin. No son of that was a Firekin.
"Slave!" he called, though it wasn't towards Ohahira, it was much to hard for that. He might have to find a name for one of them. Just in case. There would be several soon. Very soon.
A few moments later a large yellow lion was hopping down the sides of the mountain, his eyes scanning rabidly for Uzulu. It didn't take him long to spot those green eyes, glaring as though something had gone wrong. Mpaji stopped dead and waited, his eyes flicking over the newcommer.
"Slave, take this here someplace. Anyplace. I need peace." With a jerk of his head and a glare towards the white and black lioness he sprinted the rest of the way up the cliff and out the other side.
Upendo'Mpaji watched him leave and waited a good long moment before breaking out into laughter. "You better run, b***h!" he snapped after it, quite sure Uzulu was out of hearing range.
"They're all afraid of me," he said with a wink in her direction. A chuckle on his lips he pattered down the side carefully towards Ohahira, stopping just short to keep her space.
"So where'd they drag your unlucky soul in from, hmmm?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:38 pm
Ohahira's mouth open fell open. --No, it had, she just hadn't realized it. Was he... was he serious? There was an instant dislike for this lion, who she didn't find at all surprised to know was a slave. Maybe hate was a better word. She hated so easily now.
When he winked at her, she bared her teeth again. Even for a lioness, they were sharp, and in good condition. If Uzulu wanted a huntress, Mwokoti had given him one of amazing quality.
"I was brought here," she replied shortly. "Is there another? One like a zebra?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:52 pm
If it was one thing Mpaji was, it wasn't serious. Perhaps he listened to Uzulu, but underneath it all he was still completely and utterly a child. Loving to tease, play, tackle, whatever. Ohahira, it seemed, was somebody he could finally laugh with. Somebody he was allowed to laugh with.
However, it didn't appear that she liked to laugh. She seemed rather short (of course everyone was in his eyes, including the Firekin), and to be truthful, a bit to motivated. She needed to chill.
"The only things that look like a zebra here have been eaten by Uzulu," he grunted, working his way behind her. "Nevermind him, he's terribly agitated. Must have the crawls. Kaanga's nice," he finished, looking back at her wryly.
"You coming? I've got some things to show you."
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:57 pm
Ohahira wanted to scream. Tara wasn't here. Of COURSE she wasn't here! Mwokoti had lied about everything else, why would she be telling the truth about that? Maybe she'd even lied about Nishan.
Ohahira had no plans to take him off her hitlist, just in case. Not that she would go out of her way in her quest for Tara's head on a plater to get his, but, if she happened across him...
Who was Kaanga, anyway?
"I'm coming," she grumbled.
This would be...an experience, if nothing else.
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