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 Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 11:31 am
She pulled herself up out of the den with some difficulty. She'd slept on her bad leg and it was stiff and painful. After a moment of clawing she managed to get herself up and moved slowly across the sand that was just beginning to warm under the morning sun.
She wasn't sure what had woken her so early but she felt unsettled. She paused beneath the sun and squared off her paws so she could lift her head and glance up across the lightening sky.
"Day break." She whispered.
She turned to glance back at her slightly swollen belly and smiled. "Oh, little ones, the desert will soon be beneath your paws."
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Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 6:14 am
As the first rays of sunlight reached into the den, the male stirred. His dreams had been filled with days long gone, of him at an oasis, far from this desert. Playing in the water with his two sisters, while his mother watched over. Then there was the jungle, where they'd played happily, until... He woke up, unable to think of the tragedy his sisters had faced.
A look around, and he realized Ripuka wasn't in the den. Slowly he rose, then headed out. Relief washed through the orange lion as he found her, not too far, watching the sunrise. As he stood next to her, he raised his face into the warming light. Soon...
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Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 6:20 am
She smiled as Danzi stepped up beside her, but made no move to look at him. "I'll never tire of the sunrise." She whispered, her voice hoarse and thick with emotion. "The desert sunrise...a rare gift seen only by the Firekin."
"Sorry if I woke you Makaa." And now she did turn to face him, smiling softly. She had changed so much since her youth. She'd been a hot-headed rambunctious youth who did all she could to please her parents and ignore the thrill of rebellion. Then, out in the wilds, she'd grown mad, a madness that was only soothed when she returned to her homeland. Now, now she had a mate and children. So why did she feel so solemn?
"My heart aches with worry, Makaa. Am I being foolish?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 7:54 am
"Yes... It's a wonderful feeling..." A chuckle escaped as he glanced towards the sleeping lioness near by. "Slaves should feel honored to see such a thing."
Tilting his head, he looked at Ripuka. "Worry for what? I don't think there's anything to worry about." He nuzzled her, letting out a rumble. "They'll all be beautiful cubs, in reds, and oranges... And who knows, maybe more black cubs..."
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Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 8:07 am
Ripuka was silent a moment longer, finding comfort and yet apprehension as she listened to Makaa's words. Reds...oranges...blacks...
But what about...?
She shook her head and turned to lean her head against his shoulder, sighing deeply. "But what if they aren't all firekin colours, Makaa?" She whispered hoarsely. "We can't forget Azarax..." She closed her eyes and willed away her fear, afraid that if she thought it, she'd bring it into being.
"I don't know what I'd do if I bore another sandy cub. I don't think my heart could take it..."
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Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 8:32 am
Looking once again to the rising sun, Makaa sighed. "We won't forget Azarax..." His ears went back, almost vanishing into his mane. It was just beginning to show the odd gray hair here and there. "I still blame myself for that... But we shouldn't worry. They'll all be fine.. They'll be normal Traditional Firekin."
As the sun climbed and the sky turned the pale blue-white of the daylight hours, he took a deep breath of the hot desert air. "Nothing to worry about..."
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Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 10:04 am
She nodded slowly. "Never. I'll never forget him. Its sinful to say it, I know. But its sinful to love him too, and I do. But who can blame me, Makaa? How could a mother not love her own son? Even if he isn't a typical Firekin. He may not have the pelt but he has the heart."
Which was a tad too close to admitting that others deemed 'inferior' could be considered their equals. But she wasn't thinking straight.
She blinked her good, golden-eye and drew up her head. "I've not really thought about it before, Makaa, but I'm quite the sinner. People respect me here. I'm renowned for being a loyal follower. But am I really? I made mistakes as a youth and left the lands in shame. Then I return and birth an unnatural son..."
She paused. "I think...I think Finar-Si is trying to punish me for past mistakes. I thought I'd proved myself by abandoning Azarax. But even if he was out of sight he was never out of mind. I couldn't lose my love for him. Was that really purging myself of sin or was I trying to fool myself and - in turn - fool the Goddess, herself?"
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Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 8:09 am
Looking to her, he rubbed her shoulder. "Some things we will never forget, Ripuka... It's the way of the world. We remember, to learn.." Licking her ears, he smiled. "Besides... Feel pride... Despite how he grew up, he still has the heart and spirit and the very fire of the Blood."
The orange lion frowned, nuzzling his mate. "You did everything you could... There's really nobody to blame for it, any of it." He lifted his head, looking to the sky and the sun above. "Your time away... It helped to solidify your beliefs, to keep your heart pure..."
If she could fool the Goddess, he certainly could. Ears moving back, Makaa was quiet. IN his mind, though, Danzi demanded he tell the truth, to be out, to be... An inner growl, in his mind, and Makaa suppressed Danzi once again. "We can't help who we love..." He looked back to Ripuka, smiling. "I can't help loving you, can I?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:54 am
She was on a roll now.
The words spilled from her mouth as if she couldn't stop herself. All these pent up thoughts and emotions had been hidden for her entire life and finally she'd found someone she could trust to tell.
Her love for Makaa had softened her, but it was a good change in her and she wouldn't change it for anything.
"I am very proud of him. Without him I wouldn't be here now. I'd be dead at the paws of a slave. I owe him my life." She leaned into him, taking comfort from their closeness.
"It once made me strong in my beliefs...but since Azarax's birth I've felt it waning. My faith was put up against my love as a mother. My love almost won..."
She lowered her voice. "In the end my love for you and Jua and Wakia...and the Goddess won out. But its left me torn. Part of me wanted to stay with Azarax that day...and I hate myself for it. I'm afraid Kenna can see it, too. Afraid she can see my hesitation though I try my best not to let it show."
"My doubt lingers...and the more it lingers the more fuel it gives Finar-Si to punish me."
"Makaa..." Her voice was a bare whisper now. "If I birth another unnatural cub...I don't know if my faith will hold out."
Ripuka. Storyteller. Loyal Follower.
She was having doubts.
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:00 pm
Listening intently, Makaa tried to think of a reply. After a moment, he gently nuzzled Ripuka's shoulder. "The past is the past... We learn from it, and become stronger from it." He licked her ears, gently running over a scar. "We all doubt ourselves, for one reason or another, as well... I doubt my ability to bond with Jua or Wakia, having never been there for them when they were growing up... But Jua's warmed up, at least."
Behind them, the scarred up slave rose, ready for the day and whatever duties she had. Makaa glanced back, watching her. It was somewhat amusing... How easily she was molded into an obedient slave...
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Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 5:53 am
She smiled but the smile was fake.
"Jua loves you, though she won't say it. I think she appreciates having her father around, more than she knows. Wakia..." And the fake smile faded. "He's grown distant. I worry about him. I think...I think I should find him and speak with him." What could be wrong, she didn't know, but it had been on her mind recently. "I don't know if Jua has told him that he'll soon have little brothers and sisters."
Another pause.
"Love, if I birth an unnatural, I'm going to take it to the Simo." Her voice was a nervous whisper. "Azarax was the same colour as the slaves. He passed as one without much question. Times have changed. Any unnatural son or daughter born to me would be noticed...and killed." She glanced up into Makaa's green eyes. "So I'll take any that aren't firekin colours to Azarax."
She leaned her head against Makaa's great shoulder. "He'll take care of them..."
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Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 10:24 am
Makaa frowned, listening to Ripuka. Indeed, some lions showed love differently. Some didn't even show it at all, but that didn't mean they didn't feel the emotion. But that wasn't what had him worried.
"Ripuka, are you sure that's safe? If an odd cub is born... I can take it. I'd stand more chance of surviving if... If one of them attacked..." He rubbed his forehead into her shoulder, rumbling. "I don't know what we'd do if we lost you, love..."
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Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 10:34 am
She turned to look at him through her one good eye. Even that eye wasn't so 'good' now-a-days. Age had blurred edges that had once been sharp. Yet, at this distance she could see her mate's face perfectly.
She saw the worry there.
"I'm not sure of anything any more..." She replied. "Except that I must do whatever it takes to protect my children." Ripuka fell silent for a moment, then spoke again. "Kidondo would never attack me, not with a cub at my side. I thought of him as a son, once. No, it's best that I go. He knows me and he knows I would not travel to his lands without good reason. If you turn up unannounced there's more of a chance that a fight would break out."
She shook her head. "No, it has to be me. But don't worry, love, I'm Firekin. We don't give up easily." She nuzzled him and stood with the intention of heading back to the den.
"But like you said...it might not even happen."
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Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 10:38 am
As he started to follow her, worry remained on his face. "But what if it's not Kidondo you meet? It could be any number of lions, maybe one of their new-blood lions. Somebody that doesn't know you." He paused, looking at the slave sitting by the den entrance. As his tail curled in thought, he looked to Ripuka. "If you have to go to the Simo, take the slave... To keep you safe." He glanced back, seeing gold eyes watching him. Untrusting eyes... Knowing eyes. He shook the look off, returning his attention to Ripuka. How could he NOT be a worrying mate?
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Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 10:40 am
Ripuka cast a glance at the slave and then set her eyes back on Makaa. She smiled sadly.
Why did something so wonderful have to be overshadowed by something like this? Something that might not even happen. She sighed, moved to brush her side against his, then moved into the den.
"I'm going to take a nap." She murmered, deciding it was probably best to sleep and forget.
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