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 Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 11:17 am
[Backlog Rp] The sun was near to it's zenith, throwing light down upon the edge of the pridelands, insufferable heat waves sinking into every crevice they could invade. With the heat of summer, there were very few clouds lingering in the sky to offer any sort of shade for the party as they traveled. With a juvenile, not much older than a cub, stalking along at their sides, Syeira and Taabu had decided it necessary to find a watering hole before entering the Pridelands entirely. Taabu left to go search for one, while Syeira took refuge with her grandson beneath the overhanging lip of a cliff - it gave a small amount of shade and comfort against the midday sun. That, however, had been a mistake that she was about to regret.
Syeira stood outside with her back to the little nook, her mocha body arched in a defensive stance, and those blue eyes so cold that they would have made ice look warm. Her teeth were bared, the blond mask on her face crinkled to make her seem more than threatening. A growl was rumbling deep in her throat, feral and daring.
As soon as Taabu had left the two in comfort and disappeared on the horizon, a large rogue had popped out from the shadows. He was bigger than Syeira, as most males were, but not abnormally large like her son. Though Taabu would have been more than ample protection, he was gone, and she was sure that was what this brute had been waiting for. The eyes of the male were feral, half-crazed, as if he had gone crazy with the lack of shade and rain in the southlands during the depth of summer. She knew he wouldn't think twice about attacking her and her grandson, especially if he thought they looked particularly tasty.
As the male took a sudden leap, Syeira surged forward, meeting him head on. With both reared onto their hind legs, it was the swipes of deft claws that began. Syeira took a hard blow, thrown down into the dirt, head in pain and her thoughts coming in a cluttered rush. Knowing that her grandson's life depended, however, on fending off this lion - she leapt again, much to the same result. She would do this, she knew, until her son came back - or until she was down for good.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 11:30 am
Back to his usual days, teh dark colored prince woul lounge around in the hot days of summer. With barely just enough shade to cover his adult body, he would take long catnaps, usually next to Rehani (a prideland's princess), until dusk approached. At least in the dark of the night, his charcoal pelt would only attract the silver shimmer of the moon's glow, instead of the full on attack of the sun's rays.
But today, Rehani was no wear in sight. So, instead of being near a boulder which provided enough shade for two lions, he was near a watering hole, enjoying the rather cool much squishing beneath his paws. He let out in abrupt sigh, his thoughts getting the best of him. He remembered the face of his father. Oh, a terrible face only one who has done a terrible deed could have seen. But Nahi wasn't the culprit. He dcouldn't prove that to his father though, nor the rest of his old pride.
It was only then, the feeble roar of what sounded like a cub, could muster up enough to bring him out of his trance. The blue eye male was curious. Aren't all cats not? Deciding to invesigate, Denahi rose from his feet, his ears perked, listening for each sound that would hint the distress's location.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 11:46 am
As Syeira was thrown down for the fourth or fifth time, her body aching with the effort to put down the larger lion, she found her strength nearly sapped from her body. Her eyes were half-lidded, cuts pouring trickles of blood over her battered body, bruises already burrowing knots into the depths of her muscles. Her breath was coming hard, her mind clouded. How much longer could she take this?
As she opened her eyes again, she glanced up long enough to see the male's sadistic little smile, his deep black eyes shifting away from her to lock onto her grandson instead. With a roar, angry and deafening, she threw her body at the black form once more. Her strength was nearly gone, and her only hope was to make Njozi run. As she managed to throw the lion backwards with sheer force and a swipe to his eyes that trickled blood down from his cheek, she let out a yell, "Njozi, run!" Then she was back into the routine of swiping, falling backwards to avoid him, and swiping again. If she went down once more, she was unsure she could get up again.
Njozi had shrunk back against the rock as the male had come nearer to him, crimson eyes frozen open, locked onto what would inevitably be his doom. However, as he was sure the male was about to launch at him - his Bibi had come to the rescue once more. As she yelled at him, his feet froze. Could he leave her here? That's when the thought hit him; she was trying to die for him. He stood up, proud and strong, and made the decision: he was going to have to find help. Making a mad dash in the direction if his unknown uncle, he ran as hard as his paws could carry him, screaming to the top of his aching little lungs, "help! HELP, PLEASE!" He was unaware of the tears billowing up in his crimson eyes, unaware of the fear for his grandmother. Would no one be here?
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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 3:51 pm
With his massive paws carrying the large body forward, the charcoal male gazed around alertly for the caller. One spotted, his ears flickered back a few times, catching sight of the ivory male with the creamish markings. He looked to be older than a cub, perhaps in the stage of life just after it. Starlight blue eyes blinked as he answered the younger one's distress call. "What is wrong?" He said, his body not use to the movement after just lounging about for a few hours.
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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:21 pm
Syeira only had the time to watch her grandson run away, relief spreading through her mind as she realized that he might actually get away from this horror unscathed. If Taabu returned, at least she could save him the grief of losing both a son and a mother at one time. All she need do now was occupy the male long enough to be sure that Njozi had gotten far enough away that the rogue wouldn’t easily be able to find him. She was sure she had that much left in her aching, bruised and bleeding form. If Syeira was anything, it was a good mother, a good grandmother. Her family was the most important thing to her and she would die (literally) to protect any of them.
With a roar, perhaps the last roar of a beating heart, she launched herself at the crazed, larger male. His dark fur was coated with blood over his face, the drag across his neck only adding. However, the last attack seemed to enrage him more than anything else, and a hard blow to her head sent her whirling back down into the dust. She groaned, feebly trying to push herself up onto her paws once more, though her legs buckled beneath her in the confusion that had now set her head into a whirl. She couldn’t think straight and her head ached fiercely. She saw the shadow as the male blocked the sun, leaving her body in a shady darkness. This would be the end – but she had died for something, at least.
The tears that had billowed up in the young cub’s eyes spilled down over his pale cheeks at the site of the other male, half from relief and half from that fear that he still could be too late. He heard his grandmother’s roar in the distance, his eyes frantically glancing back in that direction before he turned back to this new male. As dark as he was, he could be a rogue too – but he was also Njozi’s last hope. Dangerous or not, he had to plead his case. He had to do something for the selfless lioness that was so ready to give her life for his.
“I, please, my Bibi,” he began, stuttering and rushing through his words. He took a few steps in the direction he had come, eyes pleading with Denahi to follow him. “A rogue attacked us, she’s.. he’ll kill her,” he said slowly, his eyes brimming and pouring with hot tears he barely even noticed. “Please, help her? She.. she can’t die. Please?” He knew she only had minutes, perhaps even less than he imagined now. If this male wouldn’t help.. he wouldn’t be able to find anyone else in time.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:44 pm
Bibi? Wasn't that a term for grandmother or something? He thought that is what his kids called Rehani's parents or something...right? Denahi, however, was not the herioc type. He was actually more of a just let it happen sort of way, but the way Njozi looked at him it was worth while just to go check it out. He hadn't seen any bloodshed since he left the firekin lands.
"lead the way kid." He said gruffily, following the juvenille to the attacker. The scent of metallic hit his nose in an instant they were close, as well as a more familiar scent. "Sye?" He questioned to himself, the blood filtering through his senses, causing them to become dysfunctional.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:26 pm
In her battered state of being, Syeira had been fading towards unconsciousness, her thoughts muddled and too hard to grasp onto. A familiar scent, however, came to her across the air and for a moment she wondered if her impending death had caused her to go momentarily insane. She smelt her grandson, returned for whatever reason, and though that was enough to cause her distress – a second scent lingered with it. It had been ages since she had last seen her brother, the great black beast of a male that had left the Kusini permanently some time ago, and she almost questioned whether she really sensed him now or if she truly was going insane. If she were dying – she was sure the last creature she would think of would be her brother. Shouldn’t her family be upon her mind, her mate and children?
It was the pause of the male above her that gave her the answer. No, she was not insane, for she saw those horrible eyes shift towards the direction she was sure her brother’s scent had lingered. In his lack of attention, she struggled to push herself to her feet, her chest pained as it fought for breath. She set herself into another attacking stance, tears streaming down her face, turning to face the rogue once more. He paid her little mind – unafraid of a beaten down female. She shook her head slowly, waiting for the inevitable, though she prayed for help in the back of her mind. “Nahi, I need you..” she said lowly, her form shaking as she fought to remain standing.
The younger male’s eyes widened slightly as he was urged to lead the way, his little form scrambling to find the way back to the area he had left his grandmother. He slowed behind some scrubs, red eyes staring out at the scene before him. He saw enough to know that his grandmother was nearly done in – the brave lioness, the matriarch of his family, was almost finished. The tears sprung anew, those eyes swiveling back towards the male he didn’t know. “Please.. she..” he shook his head, tufts of a growing mane wavering. His eyes narrowed, even in his fear, as the other looked somewhat confused. “Sye is my Bibi, she.. she needs your help. I can’t..” he shook his head again and glanced back out at the scene, finishing the sentence in his mind.
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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:14 pm
"Sye?" So, this little kid was related to the female he had grown up with. His sister, to be more correct. The charcoal male almost wanted to turn heads and walk away, after all, when others of his home pride had thought he killed his own mother, he shouldn't be the one to help. But the sight of leaving his younger sister from the same litter as himself was just...not in his vocabulary at the moment. He might be a cold hearted b*****d to most everyone, including the female that lay dying at the paws of the insane rogue. A snarl rose to his lip, his scarred face gleaming along side his bright blue demonic glare. He had battled scars from the firekin lands, this male had learned how to fight. "Stay here kid." If the male had given Denahi his name, the charcoal lion had not remembered it, or would have just rather called this one kid.
"Get the hell away from her!" The lion roared, lunging at the male that stood just above the female. If his sister died in front of him, he would not forgive himself. After all, he still didn't forgive himself for his mother's death. Partially, the lion thought it was his responsibility. He should have killed his manical brother when they were cubs. After all the other scuffles they had gotten into, he probably would've if it wasn't for the mettlesome Syeira or his parents.
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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:39 pm
It only took seconds for the crazed rogue to assess the situation. Syeira saw his face change from maniacal triumph to utter terror as he saw the same sight she did - her brother, as huge and ferocious as ever, leaping from the underbrush. As much as they had disagreed, she knew he had a heart, and she had known he wouldn't walk away from her. She hadn't been there when he was confronted, forced out of the lands, but she knew who was responsible for their mother's death - she knew it wasn't him. A broken sigh of relief escaped her as she saw the male inch backwards and then suddenly bolt, her body and mind both thanking the gods (and her brilliant, quick-thinking grandson) for finding her brother.
"Nahi," she whispered, loud enough that she knew he would hear, but only as loud as she could manage. She dropped back as gracefully as she could manage (which wasn't truly gracefully at all) onto her stomach, her beaten form aching terribly, blood pouring onto the dusty ground beneath her. She didn't think she had any serious injuries, just quite a few all over that were taking a toll on her body. It was what he had been aiming for - weakening her until she couldn't move. She drew in deep, ragged breaths, her blue eyes searching for the dark shape of her brother. "Thank you, Nahi," she whispered again, fighting back the urge to cry. As weak as she was, it was hard, considering she had just been on the verge of accepting death at the price of saving her grandson.
Njozi felt a fluttering twist of hope in his gut as the male at his side sprang forward, though it still puzzled him deeply as to how he knew his grandmother. His ears pinned back against his head at the roar of words, the anger, but the hope still burned bright and strong. As the rogue ran off, he drew in a sharp breath, hardly able to believe it - afraid to trust his eyes for fear that they were lying. Still, the male had told him to stay where he was, and though he was dying to make sure his Bibi was alright, he always did what he was told. The most he managed was a whine of concern, nudging his face through the bush before him to get a better look.
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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:47 pm
He lip never lowered as the male turned heels and ran off. It was only until he was out of the blue eyes sight, the eyes of rage turned into the look of worry, gazing over the situation. At her whisper, the same blue eyes she held on her face gaze right into her own eyes. "Syei..Syeira." He murmured out. There was a lot of blood. s**t. This wasn't good! When the female laid on the ground, he shook his head, "Oh no no no you don't." He managed, nipping at the female for her to get up. "Don't rest out here, let's get you home," By home, he wasn't returning to the Kusini lands, but to the den he and his mate shared. Conviently, that located near one of the main watering holes, where he could help get his sister cleaned up, and at least a safe place to rest.
"Kid, come help get her up." Nahi said to the boy in the underbrush. "Unless you want your Bibi," Yeah, he couldn't get use to that saying, "to die, hurry your a** up." If Nahi was entirely nice to everyone now, then that wouldn't be the charcoal male everyone knew and hated.
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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:00 pm
"Pushy," she muttered under her breath, still managing to sound irritated with him, though it was more mocking and amused than anything. She was tired, it was easy to tell, and even as she tried to push herself up onto her paws, her movements were shaky and struggling at best. She had only managed to stand up before because of the adrenaline and that was fading out of her system fast with the rogue gone - now her body just wanted to sleep. She just wanted to lay down in the summer sun and rest, was that too much to ask for?
"How far is it?" she asked weakly, her throat dry as she turned her eyes to stare up at the matching ones looking back down at her face. She knew he was doing the right thing by getting her up, though she did grimace a bit as he yelled over at her grandson. She frowned at him with narrowed eyes, even as she shifted her weight to lean against his dark shoulder. "Njozi, come on." Her voice was stern, if still shaky, but that would encourage the pale boy more than yelling - he wasn't used to temperamental lions like Denahi.
Njozi winced at the dark male's yell, though the fear in him was ebbing away. His Bibi knew him, and knew him well. Should he have known him, remembered him from some story she had told? He edged out nervously towards them, though seemed to pick up the courage as his grandmother's stern but more normal voice urged him onward. "Yes, Bibi," he murmured as he went around behind her, nudging her still half-bent legs and pushing with his shoulder against her hind-quarters. Once she was up, he hovered there, knowing she could fall from weakness at any moment. She was up on her paws now, though - he had helped.
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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:08 pm
"It doesn't matter how far it is, you aren't lying down until you are cleaned up." Was all her said for the time being, allowing the coffee colored female to lean against the male as long as she needed too. "If you even think about going down, I swear I will drag you across the Pridelands." Nahi wasn't too keen on him actually doing it, after all, it would ruin his reputation in these pride lands. His blue eyes narrowed, the den wasn't to far ahead. When they past the large boulder that was just to the left, the cozy little cave would be right in sight, along with the watering hole in which reflected the downing sun above.
"There is it." He mentioned, nodding towards the now in sight home. "Rehani is traveling with the cubs, so you and your...thing can rest in peace there." When they arrived at the water, he stepped away from the female, going into the den. "You wash up. Kid, help her wash." He grunted, going inside the cave, making sure things were comfortable. There was a pile of leaves and dried grass she could sleep on, whether or not she wanted too was up to her. He could care less, but she wasn't leaving his sight until the wounds were somewhat healed!
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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:02 pm
"I was simply asking, Nahi," she snapped back, her eyes narrowing, though the bite in her words was severely lacking with how much energy she had lost at this point. Each step she was forced to take made it worse and sent stabs of pain through her entire body, sapping away her strength in great strides. She scoffed at his threat though, sneering a little as she walked along, grumpy as everything was beginning to settle over her. The pain, the soreness, the exhaustion.
"He is my grandson," she muttered, throwing a sideways glance in his direction. She probably didn't have to tell him whose he was - she only had one son old enough to have cubs himself. As her eyes looked out at the watering hole, a deep sigh of relief passed her maw. As he moved towards the den, she let herself walk slowly into the shallow waters of the water hole, cringing a bit as the water washed into her wounds.
Njozi didn't hesitate to follow the orders that were barked at him, even if he wasn't used to that tone of voice from anyone. He knew his Bibi was hurt and he was still afraid of what might happen to her. He walked into the waters after her as she stood there, moving around her and helping wash out the drying blood and dirt from her fur.
"Bibi, dad is going to come looking for us soon.." he said, trailing off as he saw her nod. He supposed he might just follow their scent here, but he knew that he would see the blood before he ever got here.
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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:17 pm
The brother was going to reply sarcasically to that, but he would rather his sister save her energy. After all, overexerting herself at this moment would mean he would probably have to watch the juvenile and watching children was something not on his list to do today. After all, Rehani had taken his own kids on a trip to...well hell he didn't know where she was taking them, just that they weren't here. It was, however, nice to see a familiar face though. Though, he really wished the way it had ended last time could have been different, but that's fate probably. Denahi was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Emerging from the den, the male slowly made his way over to the waterhole, sitting right at the edge. "There's a nice bed you and your...grandson," he shuddered. That made him a...uncle/grandpa too? Oh who knew with this family anymore. The male gave a small grimmace, did his children even have children? After all, Bari, Baakir and Ez were the same age as Taabu, or close to it at least. "to sleep on." He continued. "I'll stay out here, I am sure you still don't want me near you after what I did to mother." His voice almost dripped with venom, standing after a moment before walking away from the two lions, and plopping next to a tree. The sooner Syeira healed, the sooner he could go on living his boring life in the pridelands.
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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:43 pm
As Syeira got the dried blood and the dirt washed from her toffee fur, she slowly began to drag herself back out of the watering hole. It was a long, hard process, but the cool water had helped soothe the pain in her wounds and work the knots that were forming in her joints. "Thank you," she said, as pleasant as she could manage, though she had to grit her teeth as a jolt of pain shot through her paw. She shook her body out as much as she dared, her face turning towards the den as he offered her the bed of leaves.
Just as she was about to turn that way and make her tedious walk towards teh den, his venomous words stopped her. She jerked, gritting her teeth with regret at the motion as it caused a jolt of pain, but turned her eyes in a flash back towards him. "You know just as well as I do that that statement is false," she said with a frown on her maw, bringing her head up a bit and steeling her stance. "We might not get along as well as some siblings, but I know you better than that, and I know him better than that." She shook her head, her weary eyes slipping away from him as she started to turn her way back towards his den. It was a slow, painful walk.
It was in that moment, as that conversation passed between them, that Njozi realized who this other lion was. 'Nahi' was actually Denahi, the run-away prince of the Kusini, and his Bibi's older brother. He knew his dad wasn't very fond of him, but he knew that the rumors were false about what had.. happened. Or at least that was what his Bibi had told him, and so his father also believed, despite whatever problems his father had with the darker male. He shook his head, catching up to his Bibi's side and nudging her along carefully. It wasn't his place to say anything here, he knew that, but he wanted her to go lay down and rest.
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