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 Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 2:04 pm
Kiongozi had be left behind, fully recovered from the little attack that Amadet had managed, with the promise of figuring out a suitable reward once the lioness was taken care of. Mtima'safi had chosen not to hide her wings, feeling her chances of finding who she was looking for were better if she was very clear with who she was. Or, at least, what she was. Amadet had not been too difficult to bring all this way from the Jini-msemi area, and Mtima was well aware that she intended to try to get away from this place whenever she could. But her hope was that they could keep her here without too much trouble, and that Amadet would learn something, would become better for it. That was the plan, anyway.
And so the goddess had arrived, finally, with the brown lioness trailing shortly behind her. Her eyes were kept open for signs of anyone who might be able to direct them to the queens. She was almost positive they were in the right place, and all they'd need to do was look.
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 2:25 pm
The job of a Queen was to look over her people, to care for them, and to uphold the traditions. They were not strict because they were all she had ever known. They were not harsh because they were perfectly how they were supposed to be. They were just; they were right. Usha stepped carefully beyond the ring of male quarters that surrounding the living situations of the pride. Some might say a Queen should never leave from within it, where she is protected by layers upon layers of lions and lionesses. But she oftentimes found it hard to breath since she was noticed wherever she went in each and every moment.
It was not long before she saw the large wings through the jungle. The jungle was not made for large flying creatures. As it was, birds stuck to the upper levels where they could easily escape the clutter of thick jungle trees. She pressed forward, concerned, alert, and yet calm. It was a winged lioness, a goddess. Usha bowed in respect, clearly visible herself and in that same respect waited to be addressed before speaking.
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 2:35 pm
Alert and aware, Mtima noticed the sounds of an approaching lion almost immediately. She was feeling more formal than usual, taking care of such a serious situation- but she knew that the pride here would be doing her a great favor, they would be putting up with a lot. When the queen made herself known, Mtima'safi immediately turned to her, giving her own small bow of respect. She couldn't be positive it was a queen, but she knew enough about the system to know the colors indicated someone of higher rank.
"Hello," she greeted politely, "I am Mtima'safi, goddess of souls, and I've come here looking for a queen of the Kunanda'Nakhun." She was clear, polite and to the point so that she might avoid any unnecessary awkwardness.
Amadet only noticed something was up with Mtima'safi stopped, and her orange eyes lifted to look where the goddess looked. She hesitated on the respectful bows, and chose only to watch rudely, though she now stood straighter than she had been as she walked. This could be it. She did notice how very colorful the lioness was, and between colorful and attitude.. she really didn't get that bad of an immediate impression.
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:14 pm
She inclined her head this time but still with respect. "You have found one," she replied politely. "How may I be of service?" Her eyes slid over to the rust-brown lioness. By her pride's terms, one such as her was lowly, a sinner in a past life come to repent ...or a male in a past life. But they were always taught to look at it as that they were a sinner as they could have no way of knowing which it was and the more dutiful they were to the pride and their position, the more likely to rise up in ranks for the next life. In leagues with a goddess, she could only imagine such a lioness as a servant of some sort. But her posture was rebellious. It took some effort to keep her face from betraying emotion towards such a thing. She carefully refocused on the goddess who had blessed her with her presence.
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:23 pm
Mtima smiled when Usha indicated that she had found one of the queens, pleased to have come across one so easily without needing to explain her presence to too many of the residents of the pride, though she doubted there would be too much trouble with her passing through. She was not terribly surprised to learn the beautiful lioness was a queen. Her smile wavering a bit, she glanced back at Amadet, who remained rudely silent and huffy looking.
"This is Amadet," she explained, looking back to Usha, "I am in need of a favor, if you would be so kind as to consider it."
Amadet finally looked away when she noticed she too was being looked at, and she tried to hide her distaste at being introduced but she was far from introducing herself. For now her rebellion against the idea went as far as staying silent, she wouldn't say anything if she didn't have to- and she doubted there would be anything she had to say. But now she would learn what exactly was going to happen to her.
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:37 pm
Every lionesses and lion here lived for their souls, or so the belief went. And so their respect for the goddess was great. As a matter of fact, their respect for all goddesses and gods were great ...they just didn't consider any others outside of their traditions to exist. "I would be humbled to take on a task that you would appoint," she said with cordiality. How many had the opportunity to better themselves by performing a task giving to them specifically by a goddess? While indeed she was thinking selfishly in the honor it would bring her, it was the same time her duty. And even so, she wouldn't have found it in her to refuse an immortal being. All the while she politely ignored Amadet past a polite nod of the head in recognition.
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:50 pm
Like the queen, Mtima decided to ignore Amadet since she was so keen on staying quiet. It would make things easier, and she had no problem talking about the lioness like she wasn't right there. She was pleased to hear Usha agree, realizing this had been quite a fine idea if they were willing to tolerate someone like Amadet on her behalf.
"It shouldn't surprise you to know that Amadet has done a good deal of wrong, especially recently," she explained the situation, "I need her kept out of the way, so she can't cause any more trouble. And I hoped with the guidance of your pride, she might repent and find a way to better herself."
Amadet glared at the ground silently as they talked, only looking up when Mtima'safi finally explained what was going on, what was going to happen. She was being kept out of the way, she was specifically telling this queen that she wasn't supposed to be able to get away so she could 'cause more trouble'! The idea got a small snort of laughter out of Amadet, but she knew better than to start an argument at that moment.
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:11 pm
Usha nodded at the Queen but raised an eyebrow at the noise that came from Amadet. She took in a large breath and looked back to the goddess. "To what means are we to keep her 'out of the way'?" Excessive force might not be necessary but it could be. And she hoped that threats would at least do well enough until - assuming that she would - Amadet took to their ways and repented. There were those out in the world who did wrong and felt no remorse for it unlike the lionesses here, taught to discipline themselves accordingly.
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:26 pm
"She's stubborn, and does foolish things when desperate, even daring to try to attack me," she warned, considering the question and glancing back at Amadet warningly, "She might need surveillance, and sincere reminders of the situation she's in. She has her moments, but I don't doubt that she might come to accept things as they are." The goddess now turned to Amadet, eying her carefully and speaking mostly to her when she continued.
"Her poor decisions have gotten her where she is, she has only to blame herself," she said, "And if she wants to save herself, this is the place to do it."
Amadet knew exactly what was being got at when Usha asked what means would be necessary to keep her out of the way. She rolled her eyes at the mention of the attack, life wasn't going to be made easy for her if the goddess was going to go on and tell stories like that. Her chances of ever getting away seemed to be decreasing by the minute.
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:47 pm
Usha nodded, thinking that it probably made sense. Out there, they did not have the same standards. They were blind and ignorant. Thus lionesses like Amadet came to be. She would be their example to themselves. That their way saved lions and lionesses from a cruel fate.
She calmed herself before she got too carried ahead of herself. "I understand," she replied.
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 5:01 pm
Mtima looked back at Usha with a smile, pleased to see that Amadet did indeed seem to be looking less defiant and more frustrated, though it was subtle. She didn't want to cause trouble, but this would be best in the end for Amadet, and that was a major factor in this decision.
"I am very grateful to you for your help," she said, "I have not explained the pride to her, I'll leave that to you." The goddess nodded to Usha thankfully, and backed up a bit so there was more distance between herself and the Queen, and less between Amadet and the queen. This was it for Amadet.
Amadet watched Mtima and Usha silently now, and when the goddess backed away she also moved- in the direction of Usha, but at the same time backing away from both the goddess and the strange queen. She didn't look like she was about to run for it, but she certainly didn't look at all keen on any of this.
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 5:35 pm
Usha nodded to the Goddess and turned her direction to the natural lioness. "Within our pride you fall under the rank of Shikar-i. In common terms, you are a huntress. By our beliefs, that makes you at the bottom of the female food chain. Only males rank below you. You are plain - natural - because you were dishonorable and bad in a past life. This is your chance to repent, not making it worse. Not unless you wish to be born as a worthless male." Males weren't worthless themselves. Really, she meant the worst of the males. "Or maybe even a plant.
"Your job will be to hunt for others after you have hunted for yourself. Your responsibilities do not extend to the males who must take care of themselves." She nodded confidently and waited, almost expecting a response from the other although not necessarily a positive one.
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 5:51 pm
Mtima smiled and nodded at Usha when she started to explain the system, and took her chance to leave. Amadet needed to goodbye from the goddess, and having already expressed her gratitude, all that was left was to leave the lioness to her new life. She turned around and started to walk away. Now all she had left to worry about before heading off in search of her granddaughter was to properly thank Kiongozi who waited nearer the edge of the Jungle.
Amadet only seemed to half listen to Usha as her attention went to the departing goddess. This was it, now she was stuck here. Frowning again, she looked back at Usha in time to be told that only males ranked below her. She opened her mouth to argue when it was explained why she was so plain, but she closed her mouth. She'd spent a lot of her childhood defending how she looked, this wasn't entirely new to her- it was just based on an entirely different point of view.
Worthless males who took care of themselves, and she was a huntress because she was plain, which meant she'd led a dishonorable past life. Those concepts seemed simple enough to grasp, and her only reaction was to wrinkle her nose in mild distaste and resentment. But she remained silent.
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