|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 12:04 pm
The desert winds were starting to kick up again. She always liked the way they drifted across the desert like fog might over the savannah. Not windy enough yet to divert the black lioness’s travels however- and so, the small black dot of a cat slowly continued her climb across the shifting back of a towering sand dune. It was hard to think that there had ever been a time when sand had not been beneath her feet. Her days of masquerading as a slave had left her with a kind of boldness as she moved. It would take a bit more then a dusting in the air to change her steady pace.
Where she was going, No wasn’t sure. This was quite a bit longer then a walk. And if she were hunting, she’d have to head down to the lowland, as prey beasts rarely wandered the moving sands during the daylight hours. That said, even the thought of food brought a slight growl to her stomach. ‘Uff,’ She thought bitterly. How could she possibly even think of food again?
Something was wrong with her, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Luckily no one seemed to notice it yet and she wasn’t about to start dropping hints. It was a good thing then that as regent, No pretty much managed her time around patrolling, checking in with her mate, and keeping tabs on the pride’s day to day dramas. The former, she was doing much more lately.
At least all the walking was a good excuse for her almost unquenchable appetite she’d been having. She'd been crabbier too. Hopefully not a side effect of over working. She couldn't imagine herself ever sitting around at home.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 1:19 pm
 Desert winds indeed. Lakeisha had been rather enjoying her little morning jaunt, even with the sand that so loved her paws sticking to her legs and showing off against the white of her fur. A little casualty to all things, considering the heat and the winds which were thankfully more tame.
Not enough to only cause a small shift of sand, but it was enough for her to not be needing shelter from a dust-storm. Any beast of the savannah were foolish to not know how much such a thing should be feared. Rough fur or not, sand moving at the right speed would have been enough to pull fur and skin off and leave one with a few choice wounds.
Frankly the only mark she wished to bear were the clawed scars across her face, a wound left by a male who boasted himself of the same blood as the sand she currently walked across, holding her head high, a sort of pride that only a female as self-assured as she was with herself, could be. Or at least from her experience.
Sands shifted under paw, but they were navigated easily, allowing her to keep her wits about her as she looked over the sands which devoured everything in the scenery. But it seemed, like herself, there were those who were navigating the sands out in the yonder.
Black, perhaps a young male or an older female from her judgement of physique, and definitely one as familiar with the scenery as she had become over her own life in it.
Who needed an Oasis when there were birds to be found elsewhere?
But certainly experience on the sand didn't make her any more 'trusting' of the stranger. In fact, it made her more on edge, Lake looking them over while she had the opportunity with the space between them, to start a measure of 'to trust, or not to trust'.
The evils of the desert were ingrained in her trust well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 7:55 pm
It took No a few moments longer then she would have liked to notice the other lioness in the distance. It seemed like everything about her was off- and it didn't put the regentess in a particularly pleasant mood. With the sand blowing just to the east, she kept silent until the creature stalked a bit closer. She did not seem to willing to concede just yet, and the caution warned the black cat to do the same.
But she was not afraid either. These were her lands; at least as much as anyone could own the constant shift in the sand. She would not allow the distortion of her usual habits to give her the appearance of being hesitant. Once the white shape stopped moving, the black continued towards it until she stood just below her on another slope of sand.
Not a familiar face; neither simo or safi. But here she was traveling amidst the sands. If she wasn't either, she certainly was no stranger to the motoujamii.
"Not many would travel on such a day," The black cat thrummed. "Where is it you are headed?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 8:27 pm
It seemed as though her 'suspicion' had approached her instead of beakoning her to it. Which allowed her a few more seconds to look the dark lioness over, appraising her physical ability. Or rather just how many scars this female had.
Certainly a lack of them could mean one of two things: either she was more peaceful than to start fights.... or that she was strong enough to simply remain unharmed. In this case she appraised as the latter to keep herself on her toes.
No need for her to needlessly be taken by surprise.
"The same could be said of yourself." she replied, holding her head up high. She had no reason to concede to this female of whatever unmentioned rank, but she did take care not to come off as too prideful.
No reason to start a fight for no reason.
"To give a 'where' in a place of the moving sands would be pointless, as any landmark has changed, footprints have been smoothed over, the sands have eaten any scent, and the winds have blown away the ability to move properly without the right knowledge."
To say that Lakeisha knew how to travel the sands would be an understatement. She'd exchanged her life at the oasis for the harder life of her mother, and for that she'd been blessed with the ability, rather than learned it.
"But if a 'where' would be more desirable than the nonsense, I would say that ultimately I will be finding a place amongst the sands to rest in before I further test myself against the desert."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 4:45 am
No listened to the stranger explain herself. "Ah, but- I'm a bit of a fixture around here." The black cat preened. "A little sand and wind is not enough to trouble my goings. It'll be at least a few more hours before it is a danger." As if in quiet rebellion, the wind kicked up for a few seconds, dancing sand and dust around them. She thrummed pleasantly. Perhaps the motoujamii understood her more then she thought. She liked a home with a temper.
"If it's a test you wish, I'm afraid it won't be against the desert should you travel much further." The black cat admitted. "These lands have fallen to war. It's more likely you will face spatting armies then the sand itself." Simo, safi- it didn't matter. Both sides were valiantly and ferociously guarding their territories these days.
Not that the motoujamii had ever been a safe place to take a stroll in, she supposed. For one who seemed as capable as the female before her, it seemed strange to think that she was looking for a test. But then, here she was looking for answers in it. So far, the sands were silent on that matter.
"You seem familiar with the desert. Perhaps you are familiar with its people?" No questioned.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:54 am
It would have figured that she would be passed a few words of wisdom about the desert from people who inhabited it. Certainly she knew a thing or two about the sands, but certainly not about the current state of affairs as they sat. One could only be so knowledgable about things.
"I am wise enough to tread lightly in sands more unsettled than others, but keeping my head up and ears open for those who would be displeased with my tresspassing is a wise warning for you to have given me."
Certainly as self-sufficient as she was, there was no reason for her to be bullheaded enough to reject such wisdom that would be keeping her safe.
But she wasn't about to admit that thought out loud any further than she already had.
"My mother is of the blood of these lands, so I have spent my life wandering the sands and having her wisdom passed on to me." she answered: a potentially dangerous comment, before she continued on, "Though there are some things which I don't agree with in terms of 'wisdom'."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:10 am
"A warning I wish I could say was a precautionary one. But, I do not doubt you shall meet others if you continue." It was hard to believe that in the motoujamii, a land where the earth and elements all struck out against you from every angle, that the greatest threat to your life might be the people within it. Something No supposed she bore a great deal of responsibility for. Kidondo and she had brought war to this land; but she did not allow herself to believe that it was warrantless.
Someday, the kingdom that stood in their stead would be far greater then any that had come before it. But until that time, No was willing to fight tooth and nail to secure it.
"One of the blood?" The cat questioned. That explained much about the stranger's knowledge of the sands. But how could she not know of the conflict that had broke between them? But, her next comment answered her question. So... she had issues with the firekin memorandum, did she?
"Then, I should be pleased to tell you that much of the old blood's "wisdom" has been purged from these lands. I don't know what it was that you disagreed with- but, you might find we are a very different people. Although, I should say- the safi and the old kingdom still have their stronghold. To the east, there." She explained, shifting her paws once as the sand traveled beneath them.
"To the west, the heart of the firekin lands. Under the revised leadership of Kidondo; son of the last firekin king." She decided it prudent not to mention her own involvement in the state of affairs. At least not yet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 11:20 am
Some issues here and there to say. Such as the state of how difficult it would be for her to join with her 'blood pride' if she couldn't name for them who her father was. No, she had no knowledge of such a thing.
And she had higher aspirations than to be a menial slave to those equal to her.
However, she didn't share such a thing with this stranger when they'd only just met and struck up conversation about such a topic. But she was listening to the lovely history run-down she was getting with a degree (or six) of interest, looking in each direction as it was spoken of.
Hnnn.
Naturally her curiousity drove her to question the one thing that had kept her from the lands of her blood for a good deal of her life: "Would this revision allow those who would not know their father's name, face, or if they were of Firekin blood to enter the lands?" she inquired, seeming oh so very interested.
Yes, if that was something she could bypass when she only knew her mother to be firekin she'd be quite interested to see what happened.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 11:36 am
"That depends," No quirked, her ears swaying. "-on whether or not you believe it is your blood alone that makes you worthy of being firekin. Mother and father aside, blood aside. History aside. Are you a firekin, even if you had none of it?" Maybe too loaded of a question, but then- No had a habit of being capricious when she wanted to be.
"That would be the question," She concluded. She was curious of how the stranger might answer. She did not seem the usual rogue... obviously, her caution about her parentage meant her mother had at least taught her well the old traditions. She wondered what rested in the white lioness... another traditionalist? Whom the old blood would surely reject?
"The safi might kill you for not knowing your father. But they have been driven out of their lands. Are they worthy of claiming superiority, then?" She asked again, sitting down carefully on the sand.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 11:45 am
A loaded question indeed. Lakeisha took a while to answer it, looking at her paws and even lifting one to flex her claws - though in as unthreatening a way as possible while she mulled the idea over in her head.
The very slight gap of knowing fully even who she was, from living in the oasis (where she'd been to stubborn to eat what was brought to her and had lived on birds, silly cub), was enough to remind her that she couldn't even be one-hundred percent sure of whom her mother was.
But it was this time to think that allowed her to give the best answer possible.
"The desert runs deeper in me than even my blood does - parentage or not, I am a part of it and it is a part of me. I cannot and will not leave it because of some little fluke with who may or may not be my parents."
Which was a truer statement than anything else given the situation. Even without pride, she was firekin.... so why couldn't that apply to her blood as well? It was a thought well worth having.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:48 pm
The black cat smiled. "An answer like that will surely get you passage into these lands. We are firekin, but because the desert has shaped us- not because of our parents."
Situations like hers were a large part of why they had rebelled. The traditionalist were willing to wantonly sacrifice such able bodied members of their pride simply for not knowing who sired them? It seemed almost impossible that such a situation could arise among a society that favored strength above all others.
"But, here I am tearing up all your inner beliefs, and I have not introduced myself. I am No, the regent of these lands." She confessed, lifting her paw slightly to indicate herself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 2:14 pm
"You can't tear up the inner beliefs of someone if the foundation didn't already have cracks in it." Lake replied - a wise comment of her mother's (or rather a way to force her daughter to not play the 'they made me' card).
But it seemed as though Lakeisha had met quite an interesting female indeed - one of higher status than herself by any means.... though with her current holding as a rogue that meant little more to most.
"It would seem that manners dictate a return of the gesture, Miss No." Ooooh, Polite! "Like my parentage my name is of an ambiguous state: to those outside of the desert I am Lakeisha, but in here I am Uri. Whichever suits your purposes more will work for a title."
Translation: Call me either or.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 2:34 pm
"A wise saying," The cat conceded. In fact, she rather liked it. She'd have to remember that one.
Oh dear, not miss! She wasn't old enough for that! "The name you choose for yourself is fine by me. These lands we honor the firekin ways of naming, but like myself, you are coming to the desert of your own choice. Whatever you want your name to be is how I'll know you." She concluded.
"My name is No- so, clearly I'm not too particular about names." She grinned. Truthfully, No didn't understand the weight names carried for some- like Armada. But she respected the decision for them to re identify themselves as they pleased.
So long as they were firekin.
The sands continued to shift. No turned towards them as they softly buffeted; but with a bit more strength then they had before. "The wind turns..." She breathed. Still no answers, but she could feel the strength in it. Whatever was off with her, she'd find a way to fix. Until then, she was pleased in finding this stranger.
"But, come. You should see the lands that live in you from the inside, not the outside looking in." The black cat remarked, and turned towards the dunes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:06 pm
Hmmm, she wasn't sure which of the names she liked better, frankly. Certainly 'Uri' is what her mother had called her...... but 'Lakeisha' is who she had been when it had only been herself..... Yes. There was more strength with that name.
"Lakeisha then." she decided after a moment of thought. Lord, it was odd to think she was finally deciding on that as her name! Of all things! She'd spent so much time thinking she needed a 'real' name to have finally settled upon the one she'd had all along.
It even earned a light chuckle.
However, Lake too had noticed the change in the sands, rising up all too readily to move. There was no need for her to get rugburn over being stubborn.
And that invitation she was receiving was far too pleasant to her ears, which had been longing to hear such a thing her entire life, to turn it down.
"I would very much like to, No." Awww, she'd even dropped the 'Miss'!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 5:25 pm
Lakeisha it would be then! She was unaware of how much effort Lake had expended in trying to learn a "real" firekin name; but she respected the choice between the two as much as she could.
No herself had wondered once if, as regent, she should adopt a more formal firekin name. But she doubted she could ever learn something new, nor did she believe any other name would amuse her quite as much. She was not ashamed of her heritage. The desert might have been in her blood, but she respected the land that birthed her.
No nodded, leaning into the wind. She smiled; an honest smile this time. "I'm glad then. We're some ways off, but we'll be back before the sands and my mate worries himself gray." Something about her struck a cord in the young regent. She was a cautious creature by nature, but she believed this female might indeed be a boon to have around.
Although for how long the traveler intended to stay was yet to be determined. But if she handled herself around others anything like she handled sand walking- this one might be quite a nice addition to their budding kingdom.
[[ <33 Can be ended after your post if you'd like~ ]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
