|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:37 pm
Where on -earth- did he keep it all? If there had been any cause to keep Ashling in shape, it had been taking a child under her 'theorhetical' wings. She constantly had to get up, go out, bring back food, rinse. Lather. Repeat. Even she didn't eat as much as the little body that was.. well, he was still cute enough.
And she didn't have to drag him around by the scruff of the neck anymore (which, to say the least, had gone over rather well.), but she still felt the need to constantly check and make sure he hadn't gone off and gotten himself stepped or sat on by some creature larger than even herself. While something in her knew he -really- wouldn't complain if he -was- sat on, she still had to take the extra precaution.
However, while she'd been out hunting, she hadn't been able to actually take the quadruple checking every three minutes she normally did, probably annoying at that. Instead, she just had to presume the little white bugger was still under the same tree she'd left him, dragging the dead body of some 'innocent' little herd-beast that had just been living its life until she'd gotten her paws on it by the neck, her stomach protesting at the taste of the blood in her mouth. She was, by no means, hungry.
So as soon as she'd reached the point of 'YOU STAY HERE', she dumped the very unwanted (for her) body down in the shade and sat back, giving a brief look-around now that she wasn't focusing on actually finding where she was going, just to make sure he was there.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:22 pm
 The gold of a tufted tail flicked, green eyes narrowed, glaring through the scars of a lifetime past. It was an odd relationship, if one could call it that, though wary toleration might have been a better term. He had no idea what act of lunacy had possess the lioness to 'adopt' him, whatever cruel twist of fate had caused them to cross paths that day, he'd made a note to shred whatever being had been mocking him that day. And yet, the situations did have its advantages, a sort of symbiotic relation, she brought him food, and he let her live, for now.
Had she thought to look on the ground for the 'cub', the lioness would not have found him. Irritable as he always was, his temper short as ever, Tanaka had taken his frustrations out on the tree, talons lashing in vengeance at the branches as he climbed. Not that the command of 'STAY" had ever improved his mood, oh she would come to regret that someday.
The scent of blood filled his nose, a grim smirk spreading across his maw. Talons unleashed, the lion lept, lunging talons first at the hapless beast who had lived only moments before, tearing into hide in all his vicious fury.
It was far from satisfying, how he loathed his cubbish form. Though born a warrior, a deadly beast in any lifetime, as a cub he like the massive size that had been so great an advantage, forced to rely on another for the meat he craved. It was infuriating, enraging, but for now it would have to do. What, after all, was time to an immortal, time that surely would have passed much more quickly were it not for the INFERNAL BURNING PAIN IN HIS WINGS!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:44 pm
The sudden leap from the branches above her received a light squeak of reply, her head jerking up to watch the 'GERONIMO!' onto the dead beast she'd dragged back for the irritible cub's 'dining pleasure'. Or something like that. Dining displeasure? Displeasure. Grouchy eater to say the least. However, she'd at least learned to sit back, allowing the cub to freely maul his meal.
She knew well enough she'd get mauled too if she got too close. He wasn't really the friendly 'I'll share' type.
In fact, she seemed to totally ignore the existance of the entire area he was taking up to eat, instead looking up the tree he'd lept from, before she too scaled it, carefully setting her paws on one of the branches to investigate the 'clawing to hell and back' the bark had received. His little talons were quite impressive, earning a nod of approval from the docile lioness, before she too dug her claws into the bark and slowly dug them down it's surface to match his marks.
Instead she found herself frowning a bit. The difference in size was almost adorable! Such little paws in comparison. "Hmm.... I wonder if my paws were the small once.." she pondered out loud, before turning to lounge on the branch in a -very- uncomfortably way, her front limbs laying on the branch while her hind two just sort of dangled. Ashling watched with a sort of twisted fondness as her 'child' went about his bloody massacre, taking care to make no comment towards him while he was eating, just smiling and laughing a bit.
It was like she was trying to unsettle him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:11 pm
Had the beast any spark of life left in its hapless form, surely the god would have rent its soul from the depths of its body as he spilled it's blood on the earth, talons lashing at hide, fangs tearing into flesh. Oh how he longed to hear it scream, to feel the life ebb away beneath his paws as he inflicted the greatest pain and torment.
A furious snarl, a chunk of flesh torn from the beast with a snap of his head, grimly satisfied with the red that stained his pure white hide, or at least less angry than he had been a moment before. Pausing, green eyes narrowed, his gazed turned toward the tree and the lioness reclining on the branch he had maimed moments before. He snorted, stupid creature, why did he put up with her?
Swallowing the meat in his mouth, he licked one paw, tail flicking against the best.
'Aren't you going to have any?"
Not that he had left room to share, perched as he was atop the creature, like a king claiming his mountaintop. Though the words had not truly been an invitation to share, not had they contained any trace of concern for her well-being. It was a selfish motivation, after all, if she did not eat as she needed to, she would not be healthy enough to catch him large game to sharpen his talons on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:31 pm
His innocent inquiry earned a rather intrigued eyebrow lift. Well, that was an almost new thought from the cub. Aside from the curious stare, it also earned a moments worth of a purr and some claws into the tree. The last a habit she was -slowly- developing, almost as though she was learning new 'stress relieving' programs.
"I've eaten."
It was a flatly said statement. In and of itself, it was a true fact as well. Her older body required her to feed herself quite a bit less than she needed to feed him. Which was fine, but it also meant that no matter what she was hunting at -least- once a day. Goodness, 'motherhood' was full of trials for her. But it was good for the soul too.
Ashling was also oblivious to his 'alternate' intentions as well. She was just being a 'good mother' and watching out for him. He was secretly plotting her untimely (or very timely, dependant) demise. All the better for him. Maybe.
"So go ahead, enjoy yourself... unless you're finished?" she asked curiously, standing up before she too jumped out of the tree to land, not quite throwing herself on the lump of meat, but close enough by it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:14 am
He hadn't waited for an answer, his attention turned to the beast once more, another chuck of flesh in his jaws, devoured with hellish glee. Glaring from the corner of his eye, a low growl at the lioness, talons sinking into the hide of the beast as if to remind her of his claim, a claim he was not interested in sharing.
Another snort, the moment of aggression faded, redirected to a vicious mauling of the beast, a last bite of flesh torn from its lifeless body to be devoured mercilessly by the jaws of the demon. His stomach satisfied, a smirk on his maw, he settled to sit on his perch, licking the blood from a paw before hoping from his prey to land four paws on the blood-stained earth.
Oh how deliciously messy his meal had been, and how his white hide had been stained red. And yet satisfying though mauling the poor lifeless beast had been, it was not enough, far from enough to quell his eternally foul mood, perhaps nothing ever would. But at least for the moment, his fury was satisfied.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:29 am
The growl was mostly uneffective on the lioness, who instead of being threatened, though she -did- keep her distance, just purred more. Oh the joys of being -very- oblivious. Maybe she was purposely turning a blind eye to the possible -evil- she was raising (or rather attempting to, anyways..). Possible, but the world would really never know. Kind of like a Tootsie Pop. Only with less possible innuendo.
Ashling really was spoiling the darn bugger rotten. But she'd wait a little while before she forced herself to assert more authority. Might have been a bad choice on her part, though.
Once he was finished eating, though, the lioness rose to her paws, making her way around the dead animal and walking out of the shade of the tree and into the sunlit grass of the savannah. This was, in other words, her leaving. She paused once, glancing back behind her with a sort of thoughtfull expression.
Which had the underlying threat of 'Don't make me have to carry you'. Because then nobody would be happy. She'd grown out of saying 'Come', to him, as all it did was act counter-productively, but she did keep staring for a minute, before resuming.
Round and round they go, where the hell they're going, nobody knows.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:08 am
He had nearly finished cleaning one paw, savoring the taste of each drop as he licked the blood from his hide. A twitch of his tail, he watched her from the corner of his eye, testing the limits of her patience, a constant game of pushing just far enough. Annoying though the creature was, she had at least proven useful, and somewhat entertaining, or at least she would until the day he destroyed her.
A wicked smirk, at last deciding he had pushed far enough, casually, infuriately calm, the lion rose to his paws to follow after his 'mother'. He might have waited longer, he did not fear her, but he did want her to continue hunting for him, and he did NOT especially care for the idea of her trying to carry him by the scruff again. Stupid lioness, he'd claw her eyes out if she tried.
He followed a distance behind, close enough that wary eyes could watch the other, yet far enough to be out of her immediate reach, and far enough to avoid any semblance of closeness. He tolerated her, found her useful, nothing m ore.
"I'm thirsty."
Translation: I'm going to the water, now, I -dare- you to try to stop me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 10:49 am
And tested was her patience. Not very far, as she seemed to be boundless in it (though she was trying at the earth with her claws after several minutes). In fact, part of her even seemed to grow bored of waiting for him to finish, her body moving to go and pick up the god before he moved of his own volition. It saved her the trouble.
Ashling resumed her walking, glancing back now and then to make sure he hadn't gone and run off on her like she spent all day expecting to (oh lord, she was like a slave driver. He had to do whatever or she'd chase him down and make him. She'd never thought of it like that before). Though she did frown a little inside that he was distancing himself from her so much.
When Tanaka made his announcement/demand, the lioness pushed the thoughts of her melting-pool of a brain away from her. "Well, do -you- know where to nearest water-hole is?" she asked with a cool expression, simply challenging him. While she herself, due to having roamed the same lands for so long, was -very- self-assured of the location of said source of water, she'd like to see if he could remember it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:19 pm
The lion paused in his steps, tail flicking with a snap, eyes narrowed as he shot an indignant glare at the lioness. Annoying creature, how she tested his patience. He was NOT the stupidly naive and innocent cub she insisted on believing he was. He was a GOD, he had roamed this land long before her or any trace of whatever backward family she had come from.
"Of course I do!"
He spoke with a growl, spitting the words at her as a petulant child. What a stupid question, how dare she insult his intelligence.
With a snort and an irritated swipe of his paw, he batted the tall grass from his eyes. The irritations never ended! Irritations he would be certain to inflict on his brother the next time their paths crossed, oh the rage that boiled inside him at the thought of that infernal blue demon that continued to haunt him.
Ears twitched, nose raised to the air, searching for the faintest trickle, the scent of the coveted water. Ah, there it was, a smirk on his maw, a sideways glance at the lioness, he turned, following the scent that had touched his nose.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:11 pm
She reacted cooly to his outburst, just laughing a bit and allowing him to sort of do as he pleased, sitting down while he sorted out his destination, then following along after him once he took the lead. If she was entertaining to him, the opposite was also true.
Tanaka added, to say the least, a spontaneous element to her day.
Once they reached the water-hole, Ashling gave the boy some distance, walking around the border of the life-giving spot and settling down several yards from the violent youth. If he wanted to try and maul the water too, she'd just stay safely away from him.
It was one of the few repetitive habits of the lioness. Sit, drink, look up, repeat.
After a minute or so, a rather suspicious look formed on Ashling's face, before she reached out with a paw and shoved it through the water, aiming to splash the little cub who was minding his own business, before laughing a bit and getting ready to romp away from him in case of emergency.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 5:07 pm
He didn't look back, didn't care or bother to see if she had followed him, though from the sound of paw steps behind him, he knew that she had. And as he had proclaimed, there was the water, challenge answered. Maybe next time she would think better before asking such a pointless question, yet somehow he doubted it.
He afforded her but a passing glance as he stepped to the water's edge, ignoring the reflection that glared at him as he lowered his head to drink. The water was cool, refreshing, chilling as it washed the blood from his hide, carrying the streams of red into its depths like woven strands.
A snarl, eyes raised to glare through his suddenly drenched mane, water streaming through his fur to fall to the pool below. His head shook, flinging the water from his hide, a furious snort to clear his nose. Talons flexed, green eyes fixed on the lioness as if he could burn a hole into her soul with only a glance.
"You'll regret that."
Lunging, Tanaka charged after the lioness, chasing around the shore of the pool. Fierce though he may have appeared (or perhaps more likely -cute- to the lioness), it was a half-hearted charge. Damn his full belly, and damn his need to keep her around a while longer!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:06 pm
The 'unhappy' level was slowly sinking down to a 'totally pissed' level according to her mental 'state of being' chart she'd made for Tanaka in her mind. Which, of course, was confirmed by the threat that he uttered. Regret it? Well, she'd just see about that. As cute as he looked, charging her in what seemed to be a very possible attempt to maul her, the white lioness turned tail and took a couple bounds away from him, as if she'd initiated some game.
Then she waited until he was within a striking range, before bounding one step away from him and then into the pool of water, prancing about before settling into the deepest part of the water he'd still be able to stand in without having to put too much effort into holding his head above the water.
Ashling laughed a bit, before again sending a splash in the cub's direction.
"I never thought I'd see a kid who didn't want to play and have fun!" she teased, assuming a fake 'pouncing' position and wiggling her butt in the air, a challenge for her 'son' to come and play with her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 10:23 pm
Maw parted, growling through his fangs, he chased after the lioness, snarling in frustration as his each time his talons met only earth, finally skidding to a halt at the water's edge. She was smarter than she looked, for now she held the advantage in the water.
"I am -not- a kid!"
Oh he was not amused, tail lashing as he stalked back and forth on the bank, gaze leveled on her in a burning glare as a new wave of water soaked his hide. Furious, he shook again, he was not interested in some stupid childish water game.
"Stop that!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 9:58 am
She sat calmly in the water as he announced his protests to her once again calling him a kid, frowning a bit at him. "Well, what else would you call that body, then?" Ashling inquired, pulling one of her paws out of the water and shaking it to get the water off it, a waste of her time as she simply put it -right- back into the water, before giving Tanaka another cool stare.
"Because if you're not a kid, you have no reason to rely on me to feed you."
Following this statement, she rose to her paws and waded out of the deeper water to take a perch on a rather sizable rock to watch the cub further, asuming a position similar to the one she'd had when she was sitting up in the tree earlier that same day.
"And I've never met an adult who couldn't handle a little bit of water, hm?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
