|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 5:39 pm
For whatever reason may be, Johari found this morning earlier than most, and so she'd chosen to take the opportunity to visit the jungle lands outside of their pride's protective border. She wandered until finding a pool to lounge by. She laid now on her back, paws sprawled, tail rustling the ferns as the female purred. Her eyes closed, she took in the soothing sounds of the babbling brook, her thoughts idling contently between thoughts of Muroki and her family that was away. Her sister, Moyo, in particular. How she missed that girl!
Maybe someday she'd brave the world to visit her... she couldn't honestly expect Muroki to follow her advice when she didn't follow her own. The thought just hadn't crossed her mind before, but she supposed she was old enough now.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 5:46 pm
After the vulture attack, Kainda had been able to get up. A few nasty scratches was all she ha to show for the ordeal thanks to the timely rescue from the sandy lion. But until they could get permission for her to enter the pride's inner lands, Muroki had suggested they stay in the jungle for a couple of days. Let the young wolf rest up and give them more time to get used to each other. To their odd bond. After all they didn't have older family members or Temple priests to explain it. It just was and they had to deal.
This morning however, she'd been the one to wake up first. Observing her bonded's deep sleep, Kainda trotted out from where they'd stayed the night in search of a drink. No sense in waking Muroki yet...Besides, she knew he'd been troubled and sleep would do him good.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:13 pm
Johari's ears perked as the sounds of another making their approach. She used the momentum of turning onto her side to sit up, she looked for sight of the creature approaching. Her bright green eyes seemed to blend in with the flora, but stood out otherwise on her golden pelt.
"Whose there...?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:17 pm
Instantly, the wolf was tempted to run back to her lion friend's side. Most of the lions she'd met had been friendly but enough had been dangerous...no. Muroki had said that they were good here. So the brown wolf stepped out of cover, her white-black markings easy to see against the green.
"I am. Just after a drink." She offered a small hopeful smile. Don't try to eat me?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:24 pm
Well now... this was a creature that she'd not seen the likes of before. Johari couldn't help but be curious, sitting up more so that she could make some room for the nervous dear. "Oh! Of course. I apologize if I frightened or startled you, I just didn't expect to run into anyone else out here."
Her tail swayed once, the lioness making sure she kept distance enough to make the other comfortable, or so she hoped. Her parents had cautioned her that smaller creatures might be easily intimidated by her size and species without it being intentional on either side. She was, of course, not interested in eating the other, or hurting her at all, in fact. She did notice, however, that the canine bore several uncomfortable looking scratches already.
"Are you alright...? Those aren't fresh, are they?" Johari asked with a soft frown, brow drawing lower gently with concern. If another had been attacked near the safety of their home, they needed to look into it right away. It wouldn't do having outsiders injured by hostile presences near the pridelands, though, then again, perhaps something had happened to warrant it. Johari didn't rule out that possibility, but didn't assume it to be true either. The wolf's scent had yet to reach her nose in this dense jungle, but soon enough she'd recognize Muroki's scent.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:31 pm
"Thankyou." She made a small gesture of gratitude and padded forward to lap up some water. Kainda managed not to skitter to one side as she neared the great cat she was proud to say. Getting used to her presence already though still wary enough. She'd been kind so far, this golden queen-cat.
"A few days old now and healing well, luckily." After a moment, she raised her head once more to speak the reply. A few more laps, savouring the shade cooled water then she sat down so they could talk properly. Was only manners.
"I'm called Kainda."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:39 pm
"Not at all, these lands are free to any travelers needing shelter or a place to call home." She smiled softly again before her whiskers flared slightly. Ahh, Muroki's scent had finally caught up with her nose it seemed, Kainda's naturally coming with it, more noticeable. This wolf had spent time with Muroki, then?
Johari took the cue as Kainda did, sitting as well when the other female did in a show of returning the same manners she'd been taught as a child.
"Ah, that is a relief, Kainda." Another smile, a small nod of introduction. "I am Johari, I live with the pride in these lands... if you don't mind my asking, I can't help but notice you carry Muroki's scent. Are you two acquaintances?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 4:04 am
"He's my companion" - in his life, and the next, she mentally added, wondering how this lioness knew her partner. Having only just found him, Kainda wasn't sure she wanted to share him yet. Like a pup whose got to spend all day with it's father and now doesn't want to rejoin the whole litter...becoming just one of many.
"I'm pleased to meet you, Johari, I've heard of you from him. Muroki told me that we'd have to ask the pride's leaders if I'm to stay with him here...but thank you for your concern." She smiled, her tone polite.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 12:30 pm
"The pleasure is mine... I'm sure that Queen Kauta and Mteuli will be happy to give you shelter here. I've heard about another not unlike yourself that used to live here with one of the lion members as well, though they disbanded long before I was born. I'm glad that you've found one another again then, Kainda, are you also from the same pride then...? The one he's told me about?"
She couldn't help it, she felt excitement to be meeting a friend of Muroki's, and one that was quite close by the sound of it, if her word of choice was any clue. What was particularly interesting was the prospect that this wolf might be from the same pride, maybe she could tell her more about it, for Johari's curiosity and wonder for this beautiful but deadly place had been captured fully and completely. She just couldn't bring herself to pester Muroki about it as much as she dwelt on the topic. She respected his wishes... and in doing such, didn't do or say anything that might come across as her being pushy on the matter of him returning home.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 12:53 pm
"Yes, I'm from the Clan - Muroki talks about it still?" Kainda's huge ears perked up, for she had assumed that he'd only spoken with her about it, since he'd joined this new pride. Here was hope! And the way this lioness'd asked was instantly endearing. In fact, looking at her properly now, the wolf's interest sparked...Johari looked like she should know the pride herself. Pale, sandy and golden, with eyes like green oasis. But she came from this pride?
"I was born after the first Downfall, but my mother never forgot them, and I was raised in the ways of the Clan. I was sent to be the young prince's bonded...though he seems settled here."
*
Nearby, Muroki stirred, stretching out his massive paws and raking his claws through the earth and loam sleepily. After blinking away the remainder of sleep he noted that his bonded wasn't curled up alongside him anymore. Unconcerned, he decided to laze for a while before following the young wolf.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:07 pm
"He does," Johari confirmed with a soft grin. That grin only faded into a subtle, but sad expression as she admitted more. "it seems to be with mixed feelings though. I don't like to press the topic too much, it seems like he lost those that were very dear to him the last time he went."
Oh, wait, what?
The young lioness' eyes widened in surprise upon hearing Kainda's story. The word echoed past Johari's own muzzle in a stunned, almost whispered murmur, as if not sure she heard right, or more likely, shocked by the revelation. "Prince...? Muroki is your prince?" He'd never shared that information with her, not that it was truely any of her business, but suddenly it seemed things made more sense. That would be the reason he tried to revive the pride, and was so reluctant to try again, wouldn't it? Or was there more to it? Suddenly Johari wished she knew more, flinching as she imagined what kind of pain he must be going through. Loosing your pride as an ordinary member was one thing, but when you were any part of the royal family, if they were any kind of royalty like the ones she knew-- She tried to imagine how young Upepo, or either of his siblings, Kauta, or either of the twin priests would take such news. She could still see the anguish in her aunt's and uncle's eyes as they recalled the effects that the divide, and then the plague had on their home and family. It must be a terrible burden. She felt as if she might have failed him somehow... "That must be why..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:19 pm
"Yes? He's the last of the royal line, uncle of the late king. His mother was our princess, his father one of those blessed with a bond to us wolves. The god of our pride resides within him, We're all counting on him!" - though she didn't think Muroki has ever awoken the god's power.
She was flabbergasted - she could have listed those things and more, she could've been knocked down by the feather of truth. Muroki's ceremony name, how as the heir he was a reborn god incarnate as a mortal, how he'd failed so valiently but was destined to restart the pride. As his bonded and number one fangirl, Kainda was in an uproar!
"...he hasn't been trying to deny that too?" Her mouth stayed slightly open and she blinked. No way? He hadn't told his new pride??
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:30 pm
"I.... I don't know, I don't think that Muroki is like that..." She'd jut never asked, and he had no reason to volunteer that information. He'd told her more than she could have dared to ask about as it was already. She refrained from saying more, feeling for him, and not wanting to betray his trust. It felt as if she would be talking badly about him behind his back if she admitted that he had said no to her when she asked about him reforming the pride once already.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:37 pm
"But we need him..." She whined, clearly confused and disappointed. He'd seemed so happy to find her, bond with her and talk about the old pride. Now this. Kainda had expected things to be very different when she'd found Muroki, if she ever did. She'd grown to love the gentle lion with his mindful prayers and playful side - much more than she would have liked the warrior-prince she'd been expecting. But this was just...what??
"I had no idea he'd...he's a good lion. Though I never thought I'd hear that he's decided to leave the pride."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:53 pm
"No, no, Kainda, that's not what I meant!" Johari tried to amend quickly, looking worried at having upset the other, but quickly shiftig from the uncertain replies of seconds before to a bolder tone than she usually used, voice ringing with confidence and faith in the one they spoke of. "You should talk to him... he only told me that he was afraid of loosing anyone else. I'm not sure what happened to the others, exactly, but I do know that his hesitation isn't unjustified. I'm sure if we could prove that another try would be successful, he'd agree to try again."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
