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 Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 10:53 pm
Cold... that was all he could feel. His paws hurt incredibly and what more was now there was another cub around. Like he did not have his own problems and thoughts to think about, there was another cub here to mess with him. He had an order to keep. He had things to keep in line and if this one messed them up, she was going to get a mouthful. Hashmal, known only outside the pride, walked down the mountain path from the frigid path from the snow pride higher up on the mountain. His paws were cold from the earth and sharp rocks did not help, he pushed through the pain like his father who walked as casual as ever. He should no motions of flinching or pain, he walked tall and proud. He was the Lord of the Zhi Ming of Tianxia and he was the Duke, his son. Why his father took him on a little scouting trip was beyond him, but he was quite glad that he did, but at the same time he was not.
"Father, what are we going to tell mother? I suppose Emperor Ahali and Empress Afu would not care too much about her, but I am certain mother will," he spoke in his own noble tone.
"Your mother will understand, this is the good for the pride. Besides, another mouth to feed is nothing compared to have a bad reputation with a pride. This one will be a good friend for you and your siblings. As a member of our House, I hope you do treat her with respect," the noble Lord spoke. His inky black mane and large form was not hard to miss. He was quite large and bulky for that matter. Sheng Kou had nothing to hide and he did not plan to. The rolling growl in his body was slightly allivated because of what had just went on.
The Lord thought it would be nice to take his son with him on a patrol to give him the idea of what his duty as the head of the House entailed. Upon patrol, he crossed the wrong path and up the wrong mountain and bumped into a guard from another pride. Upon the guard's request, he was to speak to the king of the pride. He assumed it was only proper pride behavior to do so, he was not going to give Ahali to mock him and give Mwana and Afu a reason to scold him. The King was quick to the point, at least in his mind. Take his daughter and form an alliance. The bickering took quite a long while, being the hesitant male he was, it was only until near sun set that they finally agreed to the terms and took the cub with them.
"What is your name again?"
Xun'lin, as the Duke's name was in pride territory, looked around to the cub in question and watched for the response.
"I would suggest you do not have my father speak twice. Your father was lucky mine did not take his head off with his persistence."
And that was the truth.
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:06 pm
The cub that paced along behind the pair was as dainty and delicate as the snowflakes that her pride was often named for. Though she was as white as Hashmal, her features had a blue cast, darkening towards her little paws.
Unlike the other cub, she had no qualms about walking through the snow and did so happily, seeming not to notice the cold. If anything, it was getting warmer the farther they went down the mountain she'd spent her whole life on, passing into an area of no snow, despite the season. Even the air felt... heavier to her, but she kept her facade of lovely snow princes, her head high and her ears back. They swivled forward though, when she found herself addressed by the males before her.
"I told you before. Its Baridi'moyo. Remember? Cold Heart, it means, 'cause I look just like the snow!" She smiled sweetly as she bounced up to walk between the males, taking what she felt was her rightful place, as a female.
"I remember -your- names. You're Lord Moto'vianzio, and your son there is Hashmal." She showed off her memory with pride, positively beaming up at the larger male. She was all sweetness and obedience with him, as she would ever be with the lord around.
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:16 pm
"Well, Baridi'moyo, why are you so willing to come with us to our pride. We live up on a mountain but no snow falls. You will be living without your snow," he spoke aloud to her with his deep, bass voice. He spoke the truth... at least as far as he knew. He had no idea if the snow fell at Tianxia, but if he was correct, it was a rare occurrence. Green eyes glanced down at her, giving off a slight scoff. To know that he was rather forced to take this female with him because it was the only way for them to get out of the mountain and Xun was complaining about the cold. Sheng had no issue with it, it was a brisk feeling and quite relaxing.
"Where we live, it is dirt, grass, and water. There is hardly any snow. If you are looking for a place to cool off, I suggest going to the waterfall that is nearby, but you will have to have someone with you. Like my royal guard, he takes care of the Dukes and Duchesses. But for you, I dunno if he'll take you, his job is to take care of us," Xun boasted about his position in the House and about what he had that many others did not. However, after saying that, his father gave a growl that immediately made him silence himself.
When she spoke their names, both gave a soft smirk and chuckled.
"It is Sheng Kou, now."
"It's Xun lin for me."
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:24 pm
"Oh, I don't care that there isn't any snow. I might miss it a little, but you have food, don't you? Its so cold up there that there isn't a lot to eat and its hard to get. I can live without all the cold and snow if it means being able to sleep comfortably and eat as much as I want." Her little chest puffed out as she paced along, brushing off leaving the only home she knew for some strange, new place with strange, new creatures she knew nothing about. Secretly, in her ice-locked little heart, she was scared to death and had to force herself to take every step... but she would never let these strangers know that. She had the pride of her homeland to uphold, after all.
She frowned a little as Hashmal boasted about all the things -they- had in their home and the guard that was so special that only the royals got to have him around. She was about to tout out all the things that were special about -her- home, but Moto's voice stopped her short as she turned to look up at him.
Another frown creased her face when they sudden gave different names, her tal swishing behind her. "Did you lie to my daddy, then, and these are your real names? That's not a very nice thing... You are a lord, aren't you? You didn't lie about that, did you?" Oh, dear... had they decieved her father? Anger fizzled inside her chest, but she was too cool to let it show on her face just yet.
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:34 pm
"Xun, you know better!" he roared, the voice echoing about but low enough not to cause any trouble with these mountains; ie. avalanche. He stopped, narrowing at his son who cowered against the ground at his father's words. "Your Royal Guard is also my friend, our fellow pride member, and my advisor. He is not someone whom you and your siblings should boss around because you share my blood. How about I put this bone into your plans. Baridi'moyo will be a High Youth and thus in the upper ranks of our House. You do know what that means, don't you?"
"Y-yes, father. S-she is also watched for b-by Ushu... f-forgive me, father..." he hated it when his father did that. He would growl and snarl, become a fiercesome force that would cause the mightiest of lions become as meek as a lamb. His father let him off with a scoff and continued to walk with the female cub.
"No, in our pride, we use a different name than what we were born with. In our pride, I go by Sheng Kou and I did not lie about my place as Lord of the North House. To us, it is known as the Zhi Ming. It is just a part of the larger pride known as Tianxia. My son goes by Xun lin as the rest of my family uses their names. Ushu, as my son has mentioned has his own name. When in our pride, you use that name. Otherwise, it would be disrespectful," the Lord explained. He was being easy on the cub, this was all new to her. He was giving her time to settle and take in all the information. Watching his son trudge behind them, he reached back, scooped him up with a paw and placed him on his back then starting to walk again.
"You will be safe with us in our pride."
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:42 pm
The roar took even Baridi by surprise and she jumped, spinning around to look back at where 'Sheng' had stopped to scold his son. Her expression blanked to neutral, but inwardly she smiled gleefully. Served him right for trying to one-up her. She'd have to keep in mind that he cowered around his father... It could be useful later.
The young girl turned with a flick of her tail when Sheng came back to her, nodding as she listened to his explaination. So -that's- how it worked. Special, secret names appealed to her and she tilted her head up at the much larger male.
"Does that mean I'm supposed to have a special name, or do I just use my own name?" She said, watching him scoop up his son and place him on his back. Well... at least he wasn't all monster... he could show affection if he wanted to. She never doubted her safety with this behemoth around, but it was nice to know that this guard of theirs was capable.
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:47 pm
"You will have to think of a name for yourself. Though, I must warn you. With an outsider female like you, my mate, our Lady, may get ideas of what to do with you. She is perhaps the only entity in this pride that I fear. Of course I love her, but there are moments that I fear her..."
He chuckled softly and looked back at his son. Xun was glaring at the female who was walking beneath him beside his father. Sheng took a few glances from his son to this new female. Now this would be an interesting relationship, hopefully things settle down between them as they grow. They will be living in the pride so it will be near impossible to leave.
"If you try to leave, do not plan on returning. I am letting you know that know. If you are going to leave, you must have someone with you. At your age, I doubt I will allow it..." Done with what he needed to say as the rest could be explained later, he allowed his son to speak by addressing the issue. "Now, speak your mind, son. We are not in pride territory."
"Why does this girl have to come? What do you mean mother may have plans for her? If you are talking about the customs that our empress put into place, don't you think about it! You better be on my side and say something to mother about it. I am glad that we have a new member and all, but if she is going to stay, she best not be paired with me."
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:56 pm
Blue eyes widened at the mention of a lady that even this big, strong lord feared. She must be a down right monster of a woman, to hold such sway with him. The thought of a new name, though, helped to distract her and she chose to think about that instead.
If she had to choose a name, what would she pick? She could just pick something that ment the same as 'Cold Heart', but what was the fun in that? She'd need something special, something all her own...
She was so lost in thought that it took her a moment to register what the lord was talking about with his son and her head jerked up at that last part. She scowled up at the cub on his father's back, already disliking him for disliking her.
"Hey! I'm standing right here you know!" She called up to him, bouncing on her paws at the uneven-ness of the height difference. "Maybe I don't want to be paired with you, huh? Did you think of that? I don't think I'd want you even if your mother said I was supposed to!" She scowled as she said it, blissfully unaware of what was really ment by 'pairing', though she knew she'd never, ever like it, if it included Xun.
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 12:08 am
Sheng paid no mind and continued to walk on. His ears were opened as he kept his attention to the area around them. He had other things to think about the bickering and the immature topic of the two of these cubs. Cub spat.
Xun laughed as he hung over his father's side.
"I know you are, that was the entire point. You are new to our pride so let me fill you in. I am a Duke, you are an outsider whom my father had agreed to take in. Since you are an outsider, you share no blood relation with me nor my siblings. In our pride, it is customary that cubs are paired off as mates. So if I am paired with you, I am definitely going to have to kill myself, or you, which ever comes first."
Sheng scoffed and looked over his shoulder, looking at the two of them. The information was certain to hit this little girl in the face that she may be paired with a male to be mates with such an age and the possibility that it would be with Xun was probably making her mind squirm. Just for this conversation, he had to bring it up to Mwana's attention to see what she thinks about it. If she favors Xun's wishes, Baridi'moyo may be safe as well as Xun.
"Besides, a female like you who lives in the cold with so little food, I doubt you would be a good hunter. If I were to be mates with anyone, it would bea female who will hunt for my family and take care of the cubs. I'll do my job as looking out for the pride and my family."
"That is if you get the position of heir."
"I will! I know I will, just you wait. I will prove to mother and you that I am capable of becoming the heir of Zhi Ming. Even if it means... you know..."
Sheng simply laughed. His paws touched grass and the uneasiness of the mountains was behind him. With how the sun was setting and the dark coming close, it seemed it was time for them to find a place to sleep. However, he was going to let the female have a few words before offering the idea.
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 12:16 am
Baridi snarled up at Xun in his superior position, both vertically and in the pride she was joining. He was a member and she was new, and that put her at a distinct disadvantage. The more she focused on her ire with Xun, the less she remembered Sheng and let her true feelings show.
Though, at the moment, they were all about disliking the cub on his back.
"I'll be a great hunter when I grow up! I'm gonna learn to hunt where there is food and you'll just see!" She threw up to him, almost walking sideways to keep him in sight. Mates was still a strange concept to her, as young as she was. Her parents were mates, but what did that mean? That they lived together and had cubs and stuff? Well, Xun would the -last- person she'd want to have to spend every day with.
"You couldn't kill me anyway! I'd totally get you first, and then I could be mated to someone a whole lot nicer than you!" She frowned as she fell back into step with Sheng, her ears pushed back grumpily.
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 12:23 am
Sheng laughed as he bucked up his back, sending his son flailing into the air. As smooth as the maneuver, he quickly grabbed his son by the scruff as he fell before him then dropped him on the ground before him, pressing onward onto the grasslands. It was amusing. At their age, none of that was really possible and they definitely were not going to go against his nor his mate's words or they were in deep trouble; new or not.
"Listen you two. You two will be living together regardless, mates or not, you will be living in Zhi Ming. So I suggest you both knock it off or I will just make sure you both are together a lot more than one would normally be. Now come, it is time to get some rest before we move on," Sheng let out a yawn that echoed far into the distance, revealing very sharp and powerful teeth. It was evident that Sheng was not one that anybody should mess with and, furthermore, go against.
"Xun, behave or I shall have to punish you all the way back to the pride and have your mother deal with your manners toward females. I allowed it because I just wanted to get one up on you to make sure you got some punishment. You knew it was going to happen and you still spoke your mind uncensored. Now silence yourself before you deepen your punishment."
To make sure they both got the message...
"Same goes for you, Baridi'moyo. Instead of arguing with my son, think of your name before we reach that tree."
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 12:34 am
Baridi watched the manuver with a softer expression, a little molified that Sheng wasn't going to put up with Xun either. The talk of punishment almost made her smile and she stuck her tongue out at the other cub.
The growl from Sheng, though, made her suck up her tongue with a low murf, her eyes wide and innocent as she side-stepped Xun and followed along.
"Yes, Sir." She murmured as she set to thinking hard. What kind of a name would be best? She didn't want the same sort of name she had now, that would be boring. But she probably couldn't change it later, so it had to be something really good... something feminine and girly, but not too girly for when she grew up.
It was a very hard choice for such a young cub.
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 12:41 am
Sheng came up to the tree, looking up the branches to make sure no lurking predator was up there to ambush them while they slept. Luckily, there was nothing. It was a rather low tree so nothing would benefit from coming out from it. The Lord took many glances around their surrounded, registering everything was there. He was never good with his mind but if he converted it to a battle situation, he would excel. As he did that, Xun came up beside him and stretched, yawning softly, taking after his father and settled himself down, looking out in the grasslands with his father.
"It is safe here. Don't you worry, I got you both."
Sheng laid himself beside his son, throwing him up onto his back again, up against the tree, having him curl up there against his mane. His green eyes watched his son instantly knock out. He was obvious tired from the hike up and down the mountain and the spat he had with Xun. Sheng loved his son dearly and the acts he did were of act of protection and care for him, he may not understand it now, hell, Sheng didn't, but they'll understand it later.
"Come, Baridi'moyo, it is time to rest. You'll have some time later to think of a name for yourself later if you haven't gotten one. Come, you could rest beside me."
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 12:51 am
The girl cub was feeling the long trek herself as she trudged up to the tree, though she probably wasn't as tired as Xun was. He'd had to walk up the mountain too, not just down it, and she had been getting used to running through heavy snow that came to her belly, strengthening her legs beyond what a cub normally needed.
Of course, that was strength, not stamina, and it had been a longer walk that she was used to. The young cub was glad to pad over to Sheng and flop down on her side next to him. She showed a good deal of trust to lay against him like that, though she was quite used to something like that with her family. They tended to sleep all in a pile of fur and limbs, with the cubs in the middle, to share warmth on the cold nights.
"Yes, Sir." She murmured sleepily as her eyes drifted shut, much as she tried to keep them open. Though... she wasn't trying all that hard, either. Tomarrow was soon enough to decide on the name she would care through her life in this pride.
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