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 Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:08 am
So, the search was to begin.
No corner of the savannah would be left unturned, not when Mchawi and her brother, Msiba, were on the case. Any potential seer cub would be observed and, if they showed promise, would be caught up in a web of revenge. Any potential warrior would be recruited too.
It was a big task, one that could take many lifetimes, but Mchawi was set in her determination.
Those who had hurt her and her family would suffer. She would see to that and she would carry out that desire until she had breathed her very last breath.
The lioness had slipped only a few meters from her brother. She hadn’t left his side since leaving the Aka’mleli and she didn’t plan on ever being too far away from him. The reason for her leaving of him was not too far away: a white lion, new into his adolescence. She was crouched in the long, dry grass; her eyes sharp as she watched him. He seemed agitated though she couldn’t understand why.
Every now and then he would stop and swipe at a rock or a twig and send it flying through the air. It was as if he were venting his frustration on the land around him.
Mchawi smiled to herself. The boy was obviously tormented.
However, she was even more surprised when she stood, fully intending on being noticed, and was completely overlooked. The male didn’t even seem to see the movement in the corner of his eye – not good practice for a rogue, really. In fact, he only became aware of her presence when she let out a rumbling growl; loud enough for his ears to pick out on.
--
Cassian was searching too.
Not for seers, not for warriors nor friends or allies. He was searching for a God or Goddess to heal him. He’d heard of them through a random encounter and now he was desperate to find the one who could give him back his sight.
Cassian wasn’t completely blind. No. He was just extremely short-sighted, which meant he couldn’t see things in any detail a couple of paces from his nose. What was increasingly worrying was the fact that it seemed to be getting worse with age. His recent rise into adolescence should have been something to celebrate about. Instead a veil of misery hung over him.
As such, he was venting his anger and frustration on anything he could find. There was a dead mouse, some snapped twigs and many rocks that had felt the force of his claws.
And because of the issues with his eyes he did not see the female stand nor move towards him, not until it was too late and her growl rumbled free.
He whipped around, squinting to try and focus on her. She was much the same colour as her surroundings and through blurred eyes he could barely see her if she stood still.
He growled in return. “What do you want, eh?”
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Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 5:29 am
Being overprotective had never been a strong suit of his, which he supposed was just as well, because he doubted either his sister nor Mach would have been extremely thrilled had he been that way. But the events that had transpired in both their lives such a short time before meant that he had little choice but to feel more on edge than ever, more watchful, more protective. Because he was not about to lose his sister, and the next creature who so much as breathed at her the wrong was putting themselves at risk of a lashing from the lion, be it verbal or physical.
Msiba stepped up beside Mchawi as she rose into view of the young adolescent, his sapphire eyes focused curiously on the youngster. Already the lion sent such a strange vibe toward him that Msiba could not help but wonder. Perhaps he simply hadn't noticed. But that didn't make any sense. They were in unclaimed territory, so he could only assume the white lion was a rogue, and rogues were not given to such unattentiveness.
He tilted his head as the youngster finally noticed them, seeing at once the narrowed eyes, and what seemed to be a look on confusion on his face. "Well, what are you doing there, now?" Msiba asked the younger lion at length, watching him warily, as he eyed most strangers now. Still, no matter what was wrong with the lion, Msiba knew it wasn't worth possibly missing the chance of finding their first seer. He doubted they were this lucky, but it never hurt to investigate further. And if the young lion was one of the seers they were seeking, then thatw as great.
And if not, then it had been a waste of his time. And he didn't particularly enjoy the thought of wasted time.
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Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 6:39 am
She turned to glance at her brother fondly as he joined her in the grasses, swinging her tail to brush it against his flank. He was the only lion who would ever receive such a tender, loving look. He was the only other she would show affection to.
Then, with a small huff she turned back to regard the white lion, his body marked with bands of orange-brown. He was an odd creature indeed; in looks and mannerisms.
“I was merely amusing myself.” She replied curtly, leaning against her brother for a moment.
She stayed silent then, slipping into character. Her eyes were narrowed and a lip was curled to reveal an ivory fang. She took a step forward then and sneered as her brother asked the strange male a question.
What had he been doing, exactly?
“Look at his eyes, brother.” She cackled. “Someone’s put a curse on him. Odd, I didn’t know there were any other witches in the area.”
--
The young male bristled. He didn’t like this. He didn’t like this one little bit. These cats clearly had an attitude problem and as far as he was concerned, he was the only one allowed to have a problem in the lands. How dare they!? What did they have to complain about? Nothing, that’s what.
.
“Go amuse yourself somewhere else, witch.” He spat coldly, snapping his eyes to the other male. He didn’t like the look of him either. Who did this pretty boy think he was?
Cassian was many things, but handsome he was not. He was stocky and barrel-chested, built powerful but small. He had white fur that was usually covered in dust, a scruffy black mane that contrasted vividly with his pelt. He had dark eyes, a heavy set brow that was almost always frowning and a crooked smile that gave him a roguish, thuggish appearance.
And Cassian was a thug.
Filled with self-loathing, self-pity, he had no time for others. He was afraid his secret would be discovered, afraid he’d have to be dependant on another to survive. So he scared people off with his brutish behaviour and picked on others because they had what he didn’t.
Keen eyes.
Was it too much to ask for?
“It ain’t none of yer damn business what I’m doing, so get lost, right?” He thrashed his tail and narrowed his eyes a little more. Stupid felines. He didn’t have time for this.
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Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:27 am
"And just when I thought I'd seen it all," Msiba said wryly in answer to Mchawi's words. For certainly, he had never before seen a lion who had to squint to see, and even then seemed not to be able to notice things.
He felt amusement wash over him, which Msiba had to admit was a first since they had left the valley. "Listen," He said with a small bemused smile, both at the young lion and at his sister. "He says witch as if it were an insult. Such a word does nothing but draw smiles on faces, right, sister?" He returned his attention to the brutish build of the young lion. Barely into adolescence, and already it was painfully obvious that a lion like him had not been given the gift of refinement. Though he supposed that much would have been obvious, even when the lion had been a cub. The way a lion was built couldn't alter that much in growth, after all.
He raised an eyebrow at the white lion's apparent outburst. Perhaps that was just the way he was. It wasn't up to Msiba to judge. But judge he did, and there was little to be done to stop him. After all, if he didn't, who would? In any case, that was his rationale.
"Shame about the eyes, though, kid," He said with a small shrug. "You almost remind me of something we need." Their little army. For sure, a lion of this one's stature would have been beneficial to an army. He would likely grow to seem at least intimidating, after all.
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Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:04 am
“More of a compliment than an insult.” She agreed with a wily smile.
It was good to see Msiba getting up to his old tricks again. That charming attitude, that smile that seemed so friendly yet held a poison worse than any snake bite. He could probably melt the coldest of hearts with such a charming and handsome look.
Her brother could certainly be infuriating when he spoke just so.
“Almost.’ She added with a nod. “Except he’s terribly ugly. And what a temper!” She tutted and left her brother’s side to circle behind the male, hoping to intimidate him by moving out of his line of sight. There was nothing more unnerving than being surrounded by predators. “We’d have to beat him into submission first and that would take more effort than he’s worth.” Oh she was spiteful when she wanted to be.
--
Cassian growled deep in his chest. He was smaller than this male, outnumbered and put at a disadvantage because of his eyes. However, he tended to act before thinking and right now his instinct was to attack.
Why should he let them get away with insulting him?
“You think I’m afraid of you, Witch?” He bristled. “I fought creatures a hundred times stronger than you are.” He snapped a glare at Msiba. “And your brother.”
Then the jibe about his eyes.
Anger was mixed with a sense of despair. It was becoming obvious? So obvious that soon the whole world would know that his sight was failing him? Anger swelled in his chest, anger mixed with desperation. He leapt forwards, snarling like a mad thing. He barely even noticed Mchawi slinking up behind him.
“There ain’t nothing wrong with my eyes, yeah? I see you just fine, well enough to teach you a lesson in any case.”
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Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:34 am
"Mm," Msiba nodded his agreement, his smile spreading further as his sister slunk out of the young lion's line of sight. Oh, it was undoubtedly unfair, and unreasonable for the two of them to be fooling about with such a seemingly helpless little lion, but then, what other purpose would the youngster serve if not to be taunted?
"Oh, hoh," The handsome lion chuckled once more, shaking his head. "Is that so, little one?" He lifted a shoulder carelessly. "I'm thinking mayhaps someone in your predicament might htink twice before making such sensationalist claims."
For a moment, the sudden shift into almost full out rage caught the lion by surprise. Was it really that big of a deal? Undoubtedly, it was a reaction to what he had said about the kid's eyes. He had been bluffing more than anything, for how in the world was he really supposed to know what was wrong with the youngster? He supposed, though, that his words had hit a sore spot. It was a shame, he mused even as the barrel-chested lion charged toward him, that creatures in general nowadays seemed so incapable of keeping their emotions shut tight. Emotion meant vulnerability, and vulnerability was something that could hardly be afforded in the eat-or-be-eaten world in which they resided. And now, Msiba knew the kid's weakness. His eyes.
"Well, if you're so sure, have at me," Msiba said with a laugh as Cassian barreled toward him. It was all in the breathing. It slowed down time. He stood where he was, until almost the last moment, and then sidled out of the path of the oncoming charge. Chances were, the kid would notice it too late to react. Msiba was banking on that, not being particularly fond of the idea of such a powerfully built creature plowing directly into him. "Oh. Whoops."
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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 9:00 am
She needed this. She needed someone to entertain her, to prove that she was still capable of manipulation, still capable of pushing others to the edge. She saw Cassian as nothing more than a thing to be teased. She almost wanted him angry, almost wanted to urge him into a fight so she could join the fray and release some of that cooped up frustration.
She lifted her eyes to glance at her brother and could not hide a smile.
The rogue was getting angry and it appeared that it was going to be an easy task to provoke him. Did the youth no what he was getting himself into? Probably not.
Then the male was charging and in her the anger flared. This was what she had wanted – undoubtedly – but it didn’t mean she was going to stand back and let him get close to her brother. Besides, she didn’t want Msiba having all the fun.
With a bark of laughter she leapt towards the bulky young male, intent on sinking claws and teeth into vulnerable flesh.
--
Cassian snorted like an enraged bull.
“I’m gonna scratch up yer face, right?” And he truly seemed as if he meant it. He wasn’t going to stand by and let some strange rogue tell the world about his poor eyesight. (He didn’t stop to think why Msiba would waste his time doing that, though clearly he thought himself so odd and important that the news would spread like wildfire.)
He was small, not exceptionally fast but he would probably have given Msiba a hefty knock had he made contact with the older rogue. However, Msiba’s dodge was a good one and Cassian had no chance to recover himself. He ploughed past the green male and dug his claws into the earth to try and stop himself.
He skidded to a halt a few strides further than intended and swung to face the male, desperate not to let him get away.
It was then that he saw a flicker of movement and remembered the female. He gave an angry roar and lashed out, but his paw missed and Mchawi’s weight crashed into his side, knocking him momentarily off-balance.
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Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 6:36 am
A bark of laughter escaped from Msiba's muzzle as he shook his head in amusement. "You're going to scratch up my face?" He echoed with a dazzling grin. "Uh... Can you even see it, huh?"
He stood, watching with a smug look befitting his triumph over the younger lion dancing upon his face, as Cassian barreled past and, at least in Msiba's eyes, clumsily applied the brakes.
"Going a little too far, aren't we?" He goaded, feeling the built up tension within him beginning to ebb with each little comment. Anyone else might have felt guilt at taking out their pent up energy on the youngster with poor eyesight. But then again, Msiba belonged in a whole other world, as indeed his sister did too.
They simply didn't have the capacity to feel shame for causing another's misery. It wasn't something that had been instilled in them since birth, as with most lions. And who could blame them?
For the moment, the green lion found content in simply sitting back and watching as the action unfolded before him. He found it in himself to act as a commentator, drawing in a breath with a hiss as his sister collided into the young lion. "He lashes out... Oooh, he misses. Shame that, but none of us are surprised, now are we?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:20 am
She had him pinned, her claws piercing his shoulder as he caught his breathe. The male was clearly quite surprised at what had happened and it showed in his face. Then, as if someone had struck him across the face, his expression grew angry again.
Mchawi leaned close, whiskers puckering with a purr. "Now, now. Don't struggle or you might hurt yourself. Poor child." Her voice dripped with mockery. "How can you expect to win a fight when you cannot see your attacker?" She lifted her head to glance at her brother, amusement twinkling in her eyes.
"He's all bark and no bite, this one." She smiled.
Cassian was shaking.
Not with fear.
With rage.
He could feel it coarsing hot fire through his veins. How dare they! How dare they mock him. That male's mocking tone, that female's confidence. He'd show them both that short-sighted or not, he'd get the upperhand.
He snorted. "You'll regret those words." He hissed, narrowing eyes. Then, with a sudden movement he twisted around, wrenching Mchawi's claws from his shoulder. In a moment he was shoving upwards, cracking his skull sharply against the female's neck to knock her to the ground. The impact jarred the teeth in his skull but he finished the attack and roared as she was knocked onto her side.
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Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 3:05 am
Msiba was not so completely arrogant that he could not see when a lion had been pushed too far. Obviously, "harmless fun" had taken a turn for the worse, and even as the adolescent was twisting to free himself from Mchawi's grip, the green lion was lunging into motion.
"Don't you dare!" A roar ripped from the lion's throat as rage enveloped him. That he was being unfair in his anger didn't cross Msiba's mind. Only that this little p***k was hurting Mchawi, and regardless of why he was doing it, he wasn't going to get away with it.
He charged the young lion, lowering his head and stiffening his shoulders as he neared. His aim was to bull into the stocky youngster at full speed, bury his skull into the other's side and bowl him right over. And if he needed any further action, he would take it without a second thought. Because it was one thing to realize he was attacking a young lion, and another completely to feel remorse for his actions.
"You don't know what the hell you're doing, kid."
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Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 4:34 am
The knock took her off balance and as Cassian wrenched himself free - tearing his own shoulder in the process - Mchawi felt the ground greet her sharply.
"b*****d!" She swore, struggling to regain her paws - though her head was spinning from the unexpected attack. She hadn't thought he would ever have done that. Why fight when you were outnumbered? Why fight when you had bad eyes? Why fight when you knew you couldn't win?
Mchawi twisted onto her stomach just as Msiba entered the fray. Her heart lifted. How could they lose when they had one another to rely on? Maybe this was how it should have always been. Relying on one another instead of widening their circle to accomodate others who couldn't be as trusted.
Then again, if they were going against prides they would need others to help, even if it was to cause a distraction so they could slip unseen behind enemy lines.
"Rip out his throat, Msiba." She hissed.
The blow Msiba rendered on the young lion had him bowled from his feet. The impact had been far stronger than Cassian ever would have imagined, though truly he should have realised that he'd given Msiba the fuel that he had needed.
What would he have done if someone had attacked his brother? Probably the exact same thing.
He followed the motion with a roll, momentarily exposing his belly before staggering to his feet. Panting, he strengthened his posture and growled angrily. Rip out his throat? They were going to kill him? So what, they start the fight, force him into anger and then they retaliate as if he was the perpetrator?
But his anger was being ebbed by his fear, the realisation setting in that they would certainly harm him if he took this any further. His side was awfully saw and the pain in his shoulder was beginning to affect his leg. That, along with his eyesight, had already determined his failure.
He had to get out of here.
"You'll pay for this." He hissed and, momentarily ignoring his shoulder wound, he turned and dashed off as fast as he could, praying that they wouldn't follow after him.
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