Quote:
Aim rp between Thalion and DarkFireAngel.
Orange - Taban
Green - Ushaufu
Orange - Taban
Green - Ushaufu
Padding along, the male allowed his head to lower, eyes narrowed at the trees and weeds that creeped along the territory; he'd spent so much time there... that he knew the place by heart. In a way, the jungle (or what still remain of it) had seen him grow. He could smell life however, trying to claw its way back into the dried up forest, and for that he was glad, for as minimal as the force was.... life was life. All in all, the large bulk-of-a-lion looked out of place; his wings were missing, but the large spiked collar that wrapped around his neck was there, as was the strange mane, making him resemble more of a huge cougar than a lion. It ran along his back, falling in bangs over his eyes, claws unsheated as he moved along. He'd hunted earlier that day; having taken part of the meal back to Kizuka. It paid to have wings in a place such as this. He licked his maw as he sat down in a patch of sun.
Every tree, every dip, every dry river bed. The cheetah sat up on the crest of a raised boulder, thick, proud shoulders rolled back and head held up high like the prince he fancied himself to be. A collar of black stones shone about his neck and mismatched mantle. For a cheetah, he was a bit small but bulky. His chest and arm muscles were quite thick, more pronounced than an average cheetah. For his life in the underground he'd sacrificed the years of experience in speed for his powerful body. A long shot from a lion, but impressive no less. Still young for an adult, he faced what he fancied to be quite a life. He began taking in the land he was already familar with. How it moved, how it turned...how it could be used. Hiding spots.... passages to the caves. Every twist and turn.
He'd been grooming in the sun, lapping away at the few traces of blood from the mean when his yes narrowed, a paw kept raised in the air; the wind... there was a scent there he'd not noticed before. It was obviously not lion either. Feline, but not lion. Moving with grace that seemed uncapable of such a large body, the made jumped over a fallen log, padding out of some dried up bushes to look. He'd taken the task of scaring away most intruders out of the jungles, for no other reason than the fact rogues would help thin the food supply further; he'd been asked to guard the borders if posible, and tell truth? Ushaufu enjoyed doing so because it meant being able to trick them into running away. Smirk in place, he padded towards the source of the scent, arching a brow when he arrived, only to find a cheetah there. That... was odd. Usualy said creatures prefered the open savvanah, where they could run. The jungle offered resistance to running, "My, my," he drawled as he strepped out fully, aware that he'd probably been heard, or scented at least, ages before his appearence, "You're a strange lil creature; what's a cheetah doing a jungle?" there was no mockery in his tone, but rather, mirth, as if he were rather curious. Oh, he'd know if he were lying. Can't trick THE trickster.
Taban turned an ear slowly towards the direction of the scent but other than that he didn't seem startled at all. In fact, when the lion chose to show himself he was greated by a casual smirk and a slight nod of the cheetah's head.
A patrolmen? He didn't know this one... likely from the 'queen's' ranks. Maji had mentioned that she had support, quite a few. A brute of a lion, even Kisulisuli wouldn't square up to him. No wonder Maji was forced out!
"Hmm..." He tipped his head, glancing back towards the jungle, "Cheetah, hyena, lion, or bird. Every creature has his or her own ambitions and purposes in life. SOme like their place, others seek something else. Perhaps I'm anti-social from my kind or perhaps I simply like the shade." He smirked again.
"Hmmm..." the tilt of the male's head seemed to signal the way the wheels in his head were working, "Hardly," he said suddenly, "It's not a matter of choice or purpose usualy; it's a matter of survival," he motioned towards their surroundings, "You don't look stupid; which was the first thought that crossed my mind when i saw you here. What cheetah in it's right mind would venture into a jungle, where it's at a disadvantage?" still rather amused, he padded closer. The way he moved seemed to make clear he did not wish to attack; there was a sort of aloofness to the movements, making it hard to believe such a large body could move with such fluidity. Surely there was something at work there, "You're not stupid though," his eyes narrowed, "I know one of mine when I see one," it was unsure what he meant, but he did sit down a small distance away, looking towards the trees about. a pause followed before he fixed the cheetah with a gaze again, "So, tell me; you seem smart 'nough. What do you see?" again, hard to tell what he meant.
"Perhaps I see oppertunity for survival." He replied to the first statements.
He watched the lion, studied his movements. Intense aqua eyes moved very slowly, unintimidated over the goliath in front of him. He'd looked lions in the eyes, many of them in fact. A would-be pink-skinned lion seeking slaves for a pride. Pridelanders, even a rogue that had sworn loyalty to him. Ironic...
"What do I see?" He repeated, turning his head to look at the jungle, "I see a land that a god has abandoned... a land where barbaric beasts have taken advantage of..." He chuckled a bit, eyes narrowing, "I see ....great opportunity."
"Smart guy," he smirked then, chuckling, "I see a plyground of a place," he said then, "Abandoned for anyone to take; there's belief here, faith," his head lifted then, towards the clouds, red eyes narrowing, "I see a challenge, and I see intelligent creatures, driven to a limit in this land; hardly barbarians," he turned his head then, looking down at the cheetah, "And I see a lil trickster having as much fun as I am."
Taban couldn't help but chuckle, "For the taking...whomever plays the game best. It's all a dance... keep in step with your enemy, learn your own step. A constant waltz of wits..."
Trixter? An amusing word considering his background. "Trixter perhaps... I like to fancy myself a tactition. One in the same, but one name's more deceptive than the other. A vialed truth is still a truth."
He chuckled then, "I know Truth well enough; likes to stick her head into others' affairs often times," arching a brow down at the cheetah, he tilted his head, "Not a waltz... a game. Always ben a game. I was born into that game, I'll die in it eventualy when my time comes, but another'll always rise to take my place," waving a paw, he seemed to dismiss the thought, then tapped his chin, then after a moment's though he snorted, "You're no cheetah, are you?" it came out of nowhere, but seemed to make sense all the same, "Your body doesn't fit with what I've seen, an your eyes.... those are eyes I've not seen in a long while; ever since there's been no clear water about my surroundings to watch my eyes reflected upon. What little's left of it is muddy." A long pause followed, during which he narrowed his eyes, "Who are you? I get the feeling I know you."
Taban raised a brow slowly though the look of amusement remained. Well certainly not a cheetah. He'd had the oppertunity to meet a few. Bai Feng, one of his escorts, was a cheetah. A proud cheetah, but dedicated to his existance as just that. The other? A green abomination to the cheetah name... climbing trees with mutated paws.
"I fancy myself to be what I was raised to be. The prince of the Anansi, adopted son of lions. I grew weary of the underground. I came to these lands often... there is something here that peaks my interest greatly...something that is of value to one with ambion."
He dipped his head a bit, "My name is Taban. And which of my trixter brothers do I have the pleasure of meeting?"
He snorted then, "Not the brother, mate. You've just been aquaintanced with the Father of them all," he seeme to pause, "Well, one of the fathers," he rectified then, for there were others; Confussion, Trickery.... he was Deception, which was close enough and yet not the same, "Ushaufu," he said then, a brow arching; he didn't quite expect the small cheetah to know the meaning of the name or to even understand just whom he was talking to, alas, he'd given hints enough, and if the smaller creature had met a god, perhaps he'd catch on. Perhaps, perhaps not. It was an intersting game to play, at least, one which he seemed to be enjoying, "The fact you're lounging 'round and 'bout and the fact you're not stupid like the morons I've chased out of here makes me think you have permission to be here. Whose, if I may ask? Other than your own," he smirked then, "No trickster would venture into land not their own without covering their hide. Specialy if he has not wings."
At that Taban's smirk only grew. Oh he'd met a god...rather a goddess. It was something he prided himself on. Ever sicne he had been a cub, his 'father' had called him his 'windchaising son'. In his mind, he'd graduated to a wind catcher. "Ah my pardons then... and might I thank you for the game you provide then. It truely divides the population into pawns and kings."
At the second question the cheetah glanced towards the cliffs, a casual but confident turn of his head, "Ah now now... a good tactition never reveals on whose orders they're on. That would take the fun out of the game....though perhaps you've gathered enough from my clues to understand why it is I come to this valley. There are plenty of oppertunities in the land. Why here?"
"Ah," he nodded then, "Maji then," he nodded again, almost as if he were amused, "Not much to back you up then. For now, I'm staying out of that particular game; it is of no real concern to me whom takes the throne. No one Rules me," he glanced behind him, "I'm partial to mine, no one else, and mine are partial to Masika, so thus by association, so am I. I shall stay out of it though," he paused then, "Indeed, but this place was interesting," another pause, "It ah.... held a change of heart for me, and that made the diference," he smirked down at the cheetah then, "I like it here; I've watched this place change. I'm eager to see how much more it'll change. When it's over, I'll still be here and will remember it. In a way it's immortality."
