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 Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:05 pm
The jungle was Mwokoti's least favorite place. Next to the Firekin lands, of course. She'd been reminded of how much she hated that place. Having been virtually everywhere, it was a high ranking to be the least favored location of such a Goddess.
She would rather explore through the jungle than step foot in those lands again. It was a lucky thing their kin rarely wandered, and so rarely were lost. It had been many years since she'd delt with their kind...
Their kind. Was she really going to do this? Mwokoti shook her head rapidly. No, she HAD to do this.
It was the first time in her life Mwokoti had used her senses as a lion, Godly or not, to track someone down. The lioness was gulping down mouthfuls of water when she found her. "Ohahira..."
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:07 pm
Ohahira, despite what some may think, was not off her rocker. But they were half right. She was getting there. The lioness was going insane, not-so-slowly but most definiatly surely.
She ate only when she had to, and quickly when so. Barely slept. Almost never stopped in general. It was haunting her, that face. Tara. Tara, Tara, Tara.
"Oh, it's you." She'd acknowledge the Goddess's company, but her desire to converse with her was at absolute 0. "I'm not lost."
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:09 pm
They two were more alike than either realized. Or perhaps they did realize, and just didn't think about it. In some ways, they were different. Some of those ways were ones that made them the same.
Mwokoti, too, was plauged by never-ending sights of a single individual. Nishan. She couldn't stop thinking about him. It was a guilt that ate her, one she realized did so more than any exhaustion or aggravation her domain had caused her.
"I know. I'm not here for that. I'm here about Tara. Have you heard of the Firekin?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:16 pm
About Tara? Nevermind 0, she had 120% of Ohahira's attention. It was interesting how much she could focus on one thing as an adult. In cubhood, it was unheard of, deemed impossible even.
Hate did powerful things. "What about Tara?" The question from the Goddess prompted raised eyebrows and an almost suspicious tone. "Yes, my mother told me of them once. Said she had wandered into their territory once by mistake. I know they believe in one God and keep slaves, and that they're cruel."
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:19 pm
Mwokoti was indifferent over the fact she knew so much, more than expected. It wasn't likely to make her plans any easier or more difficult. What it really came down to was her reaction, and so far it all was going as planned. "Tara is in those lands. She's been captured as a slave."
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:21 pm
"Captured?" echoed the lioness. Her brown eyes were wide. Since she was a cub, she'd always felt strongly one way or the other about issues, but this one... She had no idea what to think of that, what to say to it.
Something felt wrong. Then again, their mother had said it was easier than one would think to accidentally stumble somewhere you didn't belong. Still... Captured as a slave?
"Why are you telling me this?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:32 pm
Mwokoti looked hesitant to say anything else, as if she was debating something far in the depths of her own mind. Her wings shifted a little. "She said she wanted to talk to you," admitted the Goddess finally. "Ohahira, it's not my place to meddle in affairs of mortals, but can't you work this out with your family? Trust me, you don't want to do this. I've lost my son. Let me help you. I'll take her to you. You can speak with each other. You can make this work."
Let's see how this worked out...
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:34 pm
Mwokoti was a good actress, as good as Ohahira. Only, unlike when Ohahira had done it as a cub, this was intentionally made to fool someone and not just to get attention. And she was falling for it.
But they had another thing in common. When Ohahira acted now, it was for the same reasons and methods as Mwokoti. She had every intention of acting like she could be civil when meeting Tara again, maybe even forgive her, because otherwise she doubted the Goddess of the Lost would lead her there.
"I'll go and speak with her," she agreed, making sure to sound at least some grudging. "I don't... want it to end this way, either."
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:41 pm
It wasn't within Mwokoti's range of abilities to tell if one was lying. Not in any other-wordly way. It was just common sense and experience that let her know what Ohahira was saying wasn't truthful.
She'd witnessed that sibling squabble. The words, the hate. It wasn't something so easily surrendered or forgotten. One of her own kind had taught her that long ago, and she would never let the memory fade.
"It's this way."
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:44 pm
Ohahira was still suspicious. She was smarter than Mwokoti creditted her for. It was a matter of Tara, and any small chance to get her claws on Tara was worth a risk. The unusual behavior of Mwokoti hadn't escaped her rader, she was just ignoring it.
"How did he die? Your son?" For a Goddess who didn't meddle, supposedly, she... meddled. A lot. Ohahira didn't see any harm in pushing her buttons back.
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:48 pm
How annoying. Still, Mwokoti would play along. On some level, it made her feel better about this to tell Ohahira. As if she would realize her deep love for her son would justify anything she was about to do...
"My son isn't dead," she began. "He is mortal, however. Unable to come with me. He doesn't know who I am, but I would do anything for him. Do you understand?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:51 pm
"I understand." Yes, she understood perfectly. She knew well the willingness to do whatever it took for your family. That's just what she was doing. Tara was no longer her family. She'd intentionally abandoned all of them, broken the rest of them.
For doing that, Ohahira would have her throat ripped out. It was for the good of the family she had left. Tara had to go. "What's his name?" Not that she really cared, but walking in silence was dull.
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:54 pm
What harm would there be in telling her? "Nishan," she answered. If she had known Ohahira knew of him, maybe she'd have withheld the information. As it was, she assumed she had no idea.
Long ago, it wouldn't have mattered either way. She'd have let her known, trusting the Firekin to never let her see the sun outside their pride ever again. These days, the whispers of a 'new era' had not escaped her. Ohahira could be freed one day.
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 9:01 pm
"Nishan?" Ohahira stopped. More correctly, she froze. Why did it shock her so much? It shouldn't have, she realized, and hurried to catch up. It must have been from what Nishan had told her, that his mother was dead... So, Mwokoti had lied to him.
Was she lying to her, too?
--No. No. She couldn't start debating about it. If she was being truthful, this was her chance at the only thing she wanted anymore.
"I know him. He's best friends with mother. We lost him here, in the jungle. Mother was upset. She even tried to find him again when we were older."
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 9:03 pm
His friendship with Hasana Mwokoti had known. She hadn't known about her attempt to find him, all the while her own, blood family fell apart. Nishan had spoken of her so fondly, too.
Her heart felt like someone was smashing it between their paws. How could she be doing this to the daughter of someone like that? So valuable? It was cruely ironic.
There was no choice, she reminded herself again. For Nishan. For Nishan.
She said nothing in reguards to it, nothing to suggest she knew.
It was a long time before she reached the lands of the Firekin, and Uzulu was in view, pacing restlessly. "We're almost there."
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