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 Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:23 am
Altair slept but he did not sleep peacefully. His body lay draped in the shade, his back pressed against the flat of a large rock that jutted out from the barren land he had found himself in. His paws twitched, dark claws flexing as if he were bracing himself. The muscles in his jaw twitched, fangs revealed in his broad, flat muzzle. Eyes jerked beneath eyelids as if he were looking for a danger that he could not see.
---
The trees of the jungle danced all around him, dancing so that their leaves roared like the crash of a wave. The dark lion paced between them, keeping his eyes from their swaying forms, afraid that he’d be enticed too close. He was aware of hundreds of eyes watching him, watching him so intently that it were as if his soul was laid out before them. He shuddered, pulled away from the reaching branches of the seductive trees and slipped into another unseen pathway.
He stumbled, fell, cracked his jaw on the uneven, rocky ground beneath him. Blood filled his mouth from where he had bitten his tongue, sharp fangs piercing into tender flesh. He grunted, clamped his jaws to hold back a cry of pain.
Altair…
He spun around, sides heaving from his panicked breaths. That voice. He knew that voice! But he did not answer, he could not. He turned and fled, trying to escape from the vicious vines that tried to snare him, tried to hang him in their deathly embrace. He tore through them, breaking vines that now hung draped loosely around his neck. The vines turned into snakes, spat at his face but he paid them no heed. He shook himself, trampled them beneath his great paws and crashed through a wall of undergrowth.
He bowled forwards through thorns and roots, scrabbling madly to catch himself—
—Too late, he tumbled fell and span through the air, falling down towards the river that was stretched out before him like a mighty serpent. But then he was no longer falling. He was hovering, looking down at that serpent coiled between the trees as if it were merely asleep. And then the water began to change.
Where once it had been as blue-green as the sky and trees combined, it was shifting, becoming muddy-crimson. A horrible scent caught him in the face, filling his nostrils with such a vile smell that he thought he would die. He gasped, choked, fought to find oxygen but could not.
He was falling again, towards that blood-river, landing with an almighty crash into its ruddy depths.
“He-lp!” He spluttered, coughing on water as he surfaced, paddling with all of his might to the edge. He could taste blood in his mouth again but it was not his blood. It was the blood of a kin, a friend. He blinked, opened his eyes and saw – much to his amazement – a lioness standing on the riverbank.
“S-Samar!” He called to her, knowing her, loving her. Water – or maybe it was tears – blurred his vision.
The lioness raised her head, her eyes were sad, longing. She turned to face him fully, puffing out a chest that was covered in blood. A hole gaped in the centre of her chest, a hole that was as black and endless as oblivion.
“SAMAR!”
---
Startled from his sleep, the name of his love fresh on his lips, Altair’s green eyes shot open, his chest heaving as he fought to breathe – relieved to find the air pure and fresh. “W-where…?” His question was halted by the weight of another body pressed close against him. His panting was replaced with a fearful growl and he shifted, trying to find whose body was intertwined with his own.
The growl died in his chest.
“S-Samar…!?” He blinked his sleep-blurred eyes, which were pinched with tears from his nightmare.
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:51 am
Another new, lovely place. Another new, lovely night. Makhi was seeing this world for the first time after being imprisoned so long by humans, and she was very much enjoying it. Well, aside from the face it had been quite some time since she had last eaten. To go from receiving meat every day on a platter to trying to catch her own meal was difficult. But in her mind it was worth it for the freedom she now felt. Were it not for her wild young friend who had come and gone from the Preserve, she never would have known how trapped she was...
Smiling, she took off at a run through the night, enjoying the wind rushing past her through the limitless unfenced world. That is, until she caught sight of another lion. It was a lion, right..? She had been the only one there, and had yet to meet one. Smiling, she changed her course to move up to the large figure pressed into a lone rock.
Though, the smile was quick to leave her when she notice his restlessness. He didn't seem well at all, and instantly her happiness was replaced with worry. Should she wake him..? No! That wouldn't be right, he probably needed his sleep. Slowly, she moved closer to him, thinking a long moment before doing what her mother had done for her when she was unwell. That is, before her mother had vanished from the Preserve.
She wrapped her body around that of the large male's, letting him user her as a pillow as she soothingly nuzzled his back. It didn't seem to help, but hopefully it would! She would remain there as long as he needed her. That was her decision. It didn't even cross her mind that he could be a threat.
It was many hours before her eyes went wide in surprise as he so suddenly jerked awake, beginning to growl at her before looking as if he would cry. She frowned in worry leaning up to gently butt at his throat with her maw. " Samar..? I don't know that name. But.. Are you alright? " She asked in a soft, almost musical voice that seemed as if it should belong to a bird, yet fit her so well.
" You seemed to be having a nightmare... " She gave him a soft smile, glad he was awake and no longer suffering his troubled dreams.
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:01 am
It wasn't...Samar? No, no, he thought bitterly, it wasn't her. Why would she of all lionesses come looking for him? After all she had seen and witnessed. No, she wouldn't have embraced him whilst he slept, she would have slit his throat.
Probably for the best, then, that it wasn't Samar after all. Her presence would mean the end of him. But then, who was this female and why was she curled around him in such a fashion? Had he...had he done something that he couldn't remember? No. Altair never forgot anything, much less a female like this one.
But then how, and why?
It worried him that she had been able to sneak up on him and lay beside him without him even noticing. How long had he slept with this stranger watching over him? He cursed himself for his lack of awareness and then he remembered the dream and withdrew from the memories as if he'd been stung from a wasp.
He struggled to find his limbs and untangle them from the lioness, struggled, momentarily to get them to work correctly. It was as if he had been a puppet held by strings, and now those strings had been dropped, leaving him flopping like a fish out of water.
"E-excuse me." He muttered gruffly as he tried desperately to organise himself. But the nightmare had left hmi shaken and his paws were numb. "No, I...I..." He swallowed. A nightmare. Was it evident even from a watcher? Had he cried out? His ears drooped.
"You shouldn't be here." How long had he been laying here, prone? The assassins would be coming for him. They'd kill him and they'd certainly be closer since this little mishap with his sleep. He'd only meant to nap for an hour or so. From the positioning of the sun it had been far longer than that. "You should, go." He tried again to free himself, being careful not to hit her in the process.
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:14 am
She frowned again in worry, shaking her head lightly as she shifted back slightly to help him stand since that seemed to be what he wanted to do. " Not really anywhere to go. " She said, giving him another smile. " And I'd feel better if I knew you would be alright first. " She said to the stranger, resisting the urge to give him another nuzzle. He just seemed so sad she couldn't help but want to cheer him up...
" It's always better to have company after a bad dream anyway, right? " She asked, cocking her head to the side as if she wasn't quite sure of the answer. " Talking to someone can keep your mind off of it! " With a new found energy that bordered on sudden hyper-ness despite having not eaten in days, she circled around to his other side, tail lashing around behind her playfully. " My name is Madhu-Makhi. My friend had been calling me Makhi. What's your name? "
Oh yes, it would already be obvious that she was not your normal lioness. Far from it indeed. Only one with a completely sheltered life could reach the playful innocence she seemed to be in, despite her age. Wide gray-blue eyes shone up to him with a cheerful sparkle, waiting for his answer, and obvious intending to stay with him until she could make him feel better.
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:25 am
Stumbling to his feet with an uncharacteristic stagger, Altair straightened, feeling suddenly cold now that the closeness of her body had left him. It had reminded him of being a cub again, cuddled against his mother without a care in the world. A safe, comforting warmth where no one could ever harm him.
He missed his parents dearly, missed the proud spark in their eyes as they looked down at their son. He missed their sound words of advice, their encouragement and their worried warnings. He missed travelling alongside them to the gatherings and listening to the words of the Abdul Aalee (The lion equivalent to a King in ranking).
He raised his eyes, sad eyes, to the honey coloured female. She was so alike to Samar that they could have been sisters. She had that same golden pelt that shone with such warmth. It brought tears to Altair’s eyes. For whether the girl had meant to or not, she had brought back memories of heartache. His eyes found her own, surprised to realise that they were not the same colour. Samar’s eyes had been the deepest, warmest of browns. Her eyes were grey- blue, like the sky on a rainy day.
“Nowhere to go, huh?” It saddened him that he was in the same situation. No target, no mission, no place to get to. He was just walking…no, running. He was running from a fate that he should not fear, for really he had lived his whole life using his claws to bring justice. His old pride were just doing what they had been born to do.
Bringing down a sinner.
Though it hadn’t seemed a sin at the time. No, he had thought it perfectly reasonable to defend a female he had marked with his interest. He had meant to court Samar! He had drawn blood for her. Then, as if that had meant nothing, she had turned her gaze to Hala. He had meant to draw it back to him. But the gaze he had wanted was not granted.
There had been no love in her eyes for him, only horror.
“Altair.” He replied with a grunt. “My name is Altair.” He found himself feeling better just by looking at her. “Madhu-Makhi, I thank you for your assistance but I really must insist that you go on your way.” He was concerned for her now. She was probably smothered with his scent. If they came across her, who knew what might happen. He swallowed back a lump in her throat. “It’s probably best if you pretend you haven’t seen me.” His eyes darted nervously in the direction he had come from. If he realised how hard she would be to shake he probably would have stopped wasting his breath. However, he wasn’t used to having lions disobey him, wasn’t used to speaking on lions and lionesses on the same level as him. He wasn’t an honoured and revered member of the Abdul Muntaqim anymore.
He was a rogue, worse, a hunted rogue.
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:50 am
" Yes.. I've escaped my cage with the two-legged creatures..." She answered to his comment, watching the various and breif emotions wash over him.
She frowned at him, concern once more flickering in those stormy depths, even as confusion took over. Why would he be so insistent on her leaving? He didn't seem to mind her presence...
" Altair... I like that name. Why do you insist that I leave, Altair? Why pretend we have not met? " She watched him closely, easily picking up on what he seemed to feel, despite her clueless appearance. After all, this was something she could recognize. She too had been acting in such a way a month ago. Even now the fear sometimes struck her. Her voice was soft when she spoke next, eyes lowering thoughtfully to the ground. " Are you being hunted as well..? I don't know if they're still after me... " She shifted her weight a bit nervously between her two front paws, slowly looking back up to him. " But the fear is there... That they may still be coming, to bing me back to the cage... Are they after you too? "
But no, he seemed wild like her young friend had been... " Or is it something else hunting you? " She asked her question while keeping her eyes on him, almost as if afraid he would vanish from her if she dared to look away. And perhaps he might? He seemed to want her to go.
Somehow, she couldn't. He seemed to need someone. Even if it had been only for a moment, that sadness had left his eyes. Even if what replaced it had been concern, he still looked much more alive.
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:06 am
He did not know of these two-leggers that she spoke about. Where he had been raised there had been hardly any life at all, let alone human life. Still, the name sounded dangerous, especially if they dealt in trapping lions. He danced away from that subject, shying back like a spooked horse. No, he wanted nothing to do with odd creatures like those.
Then, at her question, Altair diverted his gaze, looked once again to the horizon. There was nothing, no movement, no sound. Maybe they had given up. Maybe they would leave him alone to fend for himself. Being thrown from the pride was, in a way, a punishment in itself. Yes, he had taken it upon himself to leave, but he could never return. He was an exile. He smiled at the compliment to his name, however. He loved his name too, loved its meaning.
The flyer.
He had flown once, but now his wings had been clipped and he had tumbled back to earth with a terrible thud.
“No two-legger hunts me.” He replied darkly. “Come, let’s keep moving. It’s too open here.” He hadn’t meant to fall asleep for so long in such a wide expanse of open land, it was a miracle someone hadn’t killed him. He cursed himself again, wishing that he had not walked himself to such exhaustion. He’d have to take it easy from now on, move in steps and take regular rests. He didn’t like the idea of stopping frequently, but if it saved him from a long, deep sleep then he would do it.
“Because if they smell my scent on you I don’t know what they’ll do.” It seemed, however, that he had realised Makhi was not going anywhere, at least not until she was sure he was okay. He doubted he’d ever be okay again.
“You don’t want to know what hunts me.” It was more the fact that Altair didn’t want her to know that he had been a part of the lions hunting him now. It wasn’t shame, but he knew what outsiders thought of death and those that dealt it. They feared it, did not understand why an assassin would kill. How could they? They had not been brought up in the way he had been. He didn’t want to scare her away from him.
She was right, having company did help. “Do you know the lay of the land here?” It was all new to him and he had no idea where they could go to be more sheltered from any spying eyes. “Somewhere we can be out of the glare of the sun would be good.” A curse of his dark pelt was that he felt the heat more than most.
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:52 am
Oh she was very curious, but she did not want to watch that deep sadness return to him again. She asked no more about what he ran from, accepting it was different from her own hunters. Slowly, a thoughtful humm left her as she thought of what she'd passed trough in her wandering. " Well... Oh! " Her eyes lit up and she nods, turning back the way she had come. " There were alot of rocks, and a few caves. "
She moved forward a bit looking back to him with a cheerful expression. " It shouldn't take us long to get to them, they're only a few shifts of the sun away. Though... " She blinked a bit, nearly pouting as her head tilts. " Hopefully nothing is already living there or they may not be too happy if we just go in... Well, we'll see, hm? " Another smile before she turned to head in that direction, waiting for him. Hopefully, for his own sake, he would not try to rush. He still seemed a bit unstable and tired...
Shaking off the worry for now, she began moving when he did, keeping close in case something should happen to him, such as stumbling or becoming too tired. She wouldn't be very helpful if she wasn't there to help, after all!
" Altair? Do you think there are many lions out there? " She asked, referring, in general, to every where, not just there area. " Your the first I've ever met since my mother, and I hardly remember her. Actually... You're the first of anything I met since I escaped.. Aside from that bunny I couldn't manage to catch. "
A pout came to her as she recalled her first, and only, attempt at hunting. It had not gone well, her attack on that demon bunny. Her head still hurt from where it's long feet had thumped her!
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:32 am
“That sounds perfect.” He couldn’t help but give a small sigh of relief. To hide in the dark, to hide from everything and everyone, that would be pure bliss right now when his nerves were torn. He glanced the golden female out of the corner’s of his eyes and could not help but think of Samar. They were so alike. So very much alike. This girl, however, had markings that Samar had lacked, markings that ultimately made them very different. Besides, the real difference was in their eyes.
Assassin eyes were dark, sharp, calculating, much like his own. This girl’s eyes sparkled as if they were made from moonbeams. It was true what they said, you could tell a lot about a person from a glance in their eyes. He was suddenly overcome with the ridiculous urge to shut his own eyes, realising just before he did so, how silly the notion was. He smirked at the thought and shook his head, ridding himself of such thoughts.
“Don’t worry, anything living in those caves can’t be strong enough to take on the both of us.” Though in actual fact, Altair had never been in a brutish fight ever. Assassins were trained to end things quickly, to sneak up and take them by surprise. If it came to it and he faced a lion one on one, he’d most likely emerge the loser. Sneaky, sneaky was his way and it always would be.
“Probably more than you know.” He replied. “To be honest I haven’t seen many on my travels, though I usually make sure to keep out of sight.” Normally…except when I’m sleeping, he groaned. “I expect other rogues keep out of sight too. There’s no protection out here, no pride to…to.” His voice cracked and he cleared his throat roughly. “To keep them safe.”
Then after a momentary pause, “it’s hard to hunt alone.” He remembered watching his mother and the other mated lionesses hunting for his family group. Oh how he missed them. His chest clenched, his heart pressing into the cold void of his despair. “It’s hard to live alone.”
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:36 am
She frowned as his mood slowly slipped darker and darker, not at all liking the change in him. She thought a moment before shifted to nudge into him playfully, running ahead a bit, before turning back to him. Her tail flicked out behind her as she watched him with those kind, playful hues. " But... You're never really alone, are you? "
Smiling, she shifted a bit shyly from paw to paw, looking down to the ground beneath her. " It doesn't apply to me much.. Before you I've only really known my mother, and one friend. But, no matter where I am, I know I'm not alone. My hearts are connected to theirs. Through life, or death, they always will be. No matter if we love, hate, or have forgotten each other, the connection is still there. "
Her eyes moved back up to him, head cocking slightly to the side. " You feel it, don't you? Friends, Family, Enemies. Even when they're gone, can't you still feel them? " She asked softly. Perhaps a bit un-surely. Maybe other could not feel such a ting as keenly as she did? She would never doubt the connection was there for everyone, but maybe some would never be able to feel it... That was a very sad thought.
But, no, anyone could feel it if they wanted... She padded back to him, smiling. " Just close your eyes... I know you'll feel it. You'll never be alone Altair. "
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:46 am
Stumbling a little as she moved ahead of him, Altair slowed to a stop, raising his head to look at her. Such kindness in her eyes. Such innocence. He should never have stopped and spoken to her. What if they came after her? He'd never forgive himself. Yet, his attempts at getting her away had been futile and he didn't much feel like trying again.
It was good to have company.
His face was visibly confused at her first statement. He would never be alone? But that didn't make sense! And then she continued and understanding lit his green eyes. To his surprise, he found a smile at his maw.
"You mean like...memories? We carry the memories of those we care about in our heads, our hearts?" He pondered on this. Yes, his pride would always be in his heart and mind. He could never forget them. Never. Though sometimes he wished he could forget. There was so much pain in his memories.
He flinched at the word 'enemy' and seemed to withdraw, though only for a moment. Then, smiling again, he closed his eyes and pictured the lay of the land, his parents looking over him when he was a cub. Yes, there were good memories too, ones that he would love and cherish.
"Madhu-Makhi, you are wise beyond your years." And he contiued towards the caves, eager to reach them, eager to hide away.
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 9:42 am
Her fur ruffled a bit at the compliment, and her eyes met the ground to hid the blush darkening under her fur. She quickly fell into step with Altair as they moved for the cave, smiling when it finally came into view. " Ah! There it is.. " Came here cheerful voice and she broke into a run the rest of the way to the cave, finally skidding to a halt in front of the entrance.
Her pale eyes peered curiously into the darkness in front of them, head tilting slowly. Yeah, she was definitely not going to be the first to go in there! She looked back to Altair, giving him a bit of a nervous smile.
Truly, Makhi and dark places didn't go together well.
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 9:51 am
He paused outside of the cave and peered in. Why this nervous feeling? He was used to the dark, used to the shadows. He should have found comfort in such dark depths. But he couldn't. He felt the fur on his shoulders prickle up despite the fact that no sound emanated from within.
He swallowed and his ears fell back.
"I'll check it out." He muttered and summoning his courage he crept towards the entrance. Shadows engulfed him.
A rat ran out from under his paws, squeaking in fright. Altair jumped, knocked his head sharply on the ceiling and stumbled forwards, heart thumping.
"It's okay." He called back, voice echoing. "Just a rat." As an after thought he added. "Watch the low ceiling." Glad that his mane helped soften the blow he moved right to the back of the cave and flopped down, his back pressed against cool rock.
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:36 am
She couldn't help but let out a soft string of giggles, slowly beginning to follow him into the cave. " Are you alright Altair? " She asked softly, quick to move closer to him in the darkness, definitely not wanting to be left alone since she wasn't sure how large the place was. She stumbled over him when she reached the cave, falling across him.
" Oof.... Sorry. " She winced, more from embarrassment at her own clumsiness than from pain, rolling to drop to the ground, and asking again since this time it could have been her hurting him. " Are you alright? "
As she asked, she shifted herself again, hoping he would complain as she curled herself around him, much as she had when first seeing him in the grip of his nightmare. Her head tilted to watch his upside down form, to her eyes atleast considering his head would be rested against her middle, giving him a bright smile.
" You should get more rest.. I'm not really tired so I can listen for anything coming close to the cave. " She assured him, hoping he would agree. She had no doubt he needed it.
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 12:15 am
He laughed as she stumbled over him, ducking his head in case of any flailing paws. "It's okay, just don't knock yourself out." He joked lightly, shifting as she began to settle herself down on the cave's floor.
"I'm fine, nothing a good sleep won't cure. Just a good job I have a lot of fuzz on my skull." He smiled and allowed her to curl herself around him. Warm. Warm and safe.
He smiled, settled himself so his head was pillowed against her and released a long breath.
"You remind me of my mother." He continued, glad suddenly for the darkness and the closeness between them. He felt like a cub in its den, protected by its mother and the walls of its den. He had felt untouchable then and he felt like that now.
"Thank you Madhu-Makhi."
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