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 Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 5:27 pm
It had been a choice between taking the evening patrol on into the night or helping Nitanya put the twins to sleep for the night and he, like any good warrior (or smart male) had chosen to watch the borders. The borders were quiet, unlike twin girls...
He paced his particular section of the border now, slowly making his way closer to the end that touched the great lake. It was peaceful out here; something that he had come to appreciate, along with the colors that seared across the sky as the sun began to set.
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 5:46 pm
Without his 'mother' he had come to realize how much comfort and protection the company of another provided. It hadn't been all that long ago, and he was learning swiftly how to avoid danger, but he knew he was not fit to live alone. Sooner or later, he'd have to find that same comfort and protection again.
Little did Anjelius know, the opportunity was closer at paw than he'd ever have thought.
He stopped, partway to the great lake, and her ears wiveled around as he listened to the still coming of night. He knew water often meant that there were other residence - a potential risk he didn't feel like running head-long into.
Petite paws once again crosed the ground, much slower than before. Soon, there he was - staring at his reflection in the water. Shelter, for now, was at hand.
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 5:55 pm
He paused for a moment as something on the wind caused his senses to tingle. It was that same intuition that had guided him to Mwindaji and her cubs, the very same thing that had kept him out of trouble before; generally getting him in trouble if he ignored it.
"Fortune guides us." He muttered beneath his breath, fully resisting the urge to roll his eyes as he shifted his course ever so slightly. It was a damn good thing that no one else was around to hear him muttering to himself, or to question why he was straying ever so slightly from the well-worn path of the border patrol.
He paused several long strides away from the lake, squinting as he tried to make out the shape, eyes drifting to the sky as if questioning the Gods themselves. "A cheetah? I came all the way out here... For a cheetah?"
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 6:07 pm
Anjelius satisfied his thirst, before jumping up on a nearby rock, and taking in his surroundings. It was then that he caught sight of the lion. He stiffened, and felt a few hairs along his spine rise, along with his ears. He became somewhat wary, but did not move.
On his way here Anjelius had wondered if he might have crossed into the land of another - a little thought that had randomly poped up for no reason what-so-ever. He'd also worried about predators. Why he was not worried now was lost to him. He should have been worried.
Anjelius figured, then, that perhaps it would be best to call out to this lion, instead of sitting there having a long-distance staring match. So he let out a chettah-roar - a civil greeting...or what he hoped would be seen as civil. When traveling into the lands of another, it had always been 'mother' who had done the talking.
Not to say he didn't learn a thing or two.
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 6:23 pm
He blinked once as he heard the cheetah's 'roar' and would have gladly matched it with one of his own if such a sound wouldn't bring others running to the boarders. Not wanting that sort of chastisement for making the monarchs or the other guards worry he found himself pondering laughter instead. Was this cheetah attempting to scare him off of his own lands?
Shaking his head he took some steps in an attempt to close a bit of the distance between them. "It's been some time since we've seen a cheetah around here. Are you lost?"
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 6:34 pm
So these lands did belong to another. Anjelius really should trust that little sixth sense.
"No," He shook his head, and continued, "Meerly wondering with no true destination.
The dark stormy-blue eyes of the Cheetah looked over the lion, as he tried to figure if this was meerly a patroling member, or royalty. Hm...
'When in doubt, treat them like a king!' he heard his mother's voice chime through his head.
"My name is Anjelius. No harm was meant by my trespass." He dipped his head slightly, finally moving from his rigid sitting posion of the rock, down to the ground.
He had learned long ago that it was disrespectful to stand above one of power and respectability, and since he was going with that assumption...
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 6:45 pm
His brow quirked slightly as the cheetah eyed him, tail flickering back and forth as he waited for the twiggy feline to finish his assessment, waiting to see whether or not the cheetah was going to bolt. When the other male hopped down from his perch he relaxed a bit himself, stance seeming much the same outwardly despite that.
"My name is Jabari'aushi, and you've yet to actually trespass. The border to the Mzawa'kondo lands is but a few paces behind me. I came out here because..." He had his reasons and saw no need to out himself or draw suspicion if the tale was ever passed around. "... I thought I heard something. You must not be so light on those little feet of yours."
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 7:08 pm
"Is that so?" Anjelius said, in reponce to the feet comment. He stopped himself from making the comment he wanted to, and so, he gave a small chuckle instead.
"Perhaps. It's a quiet night. Even the lightest of sounds could be heard for miles, I bet." Oh wait, then how does that explain how you never heard his appreach? Damn!
"Or~ perhaps not. Maybe it was something else.." Anjelius looked off to the side slightly.
A silence passed. "Mzawa'kondo..." He finally repeated alloud. He didn't remember ever coming here with Mother..but thie Jabari had said that they had not seen a cheetah for some time...
"I lost my mother not too long ago. she wasn't my real mother, but a lioness who had lost her own litter, and ended up adopting me. We traveled from pride to pride, as nomads. I've not been really looking for any particular place to settle, but..." Anjelius paused for a moment and thought. "I wouldn't mind comrodery. Would the pride have any room for a cheetah? Noisy feet aside?" He ended with a small bit of humor.
Anjelius really didn't want to let on just how much he missed company. In truth, even he had no clue. He tried to deny the feeling that his mother's spirit worried over him wondering alone like that. He tried to explain to himself that he liked what he had seen here, thus far. Aesthetically he was pleased, not that he'd seen much.
Anjelius, though, doubted it would be as easy as just asking. Time to come up with an on-the-fly resume`.
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 7:29 pm
He seemed to listen patiently through the story. As short as it was he still seemed to take something out of it; a bit about how the cheetah was raised. It was as one of their own would have done if they were on the outside, making sure that the young were cared for even when they were not their own.
His seriousness at the contemplation faded away to a smirk at the mention of noisy feet. "I have no use for a cheetah with noisy feet, but that doesn't say that someone else in the pride won't be able to find a reason to keep you around. You're lucky, in that case, that I'm not the one you have to convince." He turned his back to the cheetah as he made to return to the pride's borders, obviously expecting him to follow. "The Mzawa'kondo is governed by two kings; Mfalme Imara'shujaa and Mfalme Hodari'rasi. It's up to the two of them whether you stay or go."
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 7:39 pm
"Psh, I was totally joking about the feet. I'm not that noisey~" Anjelius said, following along, dropping a bit into more of a casual air, since this guy wasn't one of the pride's kings.
"So what is it that you do have use for?"
So he was right in asuming it wasn't as easy as asking. Might as well go fishing for information then, while he could. Not that he expected to get much.
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 7:54 pm
"Me, personally? Or the pride itself?" His brow lofted as he glanced over his shoulder at the cheetah for a moment before setting his gaze ahead of him again, ears catching the various sounds of the settling evening as they moved. "If you're asking about me... Females; strong, beautiful ones that give birth to healthy cubs." He nodded once, smirking as he spared a brief thought for his mate and their little ones.
"Now, if you're asking about the pride, which I'm sure you were... Warriors to replace those who have fallen, although you're a bit on the scrawny side for that. Messengers, intelligence... Babysitters." Again he was smirking and amusement could be heard clearly in his voice. "How are you with bratty lion cubs?"
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 8:03 pm
Anjelius rolled his eyes a bit as he talked of beautiful females.
"Yes, the pride itself. Cause I am soooo not female." He flicked his tail.
He listened, and agreed that he wouldn't be much of a warrior. He'd recieved what scars he did have defending his mother in her dieing days from hyenas. It was passion and heart that won that. It did pique his curiosity though. Messanger and intelligence, now that sounded more likely.
"Babysitting? You kidding? I never got the chance. Mother's kiddoes died before she even found me. She never had any after that. They really that bad?" He lifted an amused brow.
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 9:33 am
"They might let you hang out with the cubs one day then just to build a bit of character." His smirk turned into a bit of a grin as his own tail ticked behind him. "As to whether or not they're that bad? Most of the boys are born to bickering and boasting... And the girls? I have twin girls who think they're every bit as tough as their brother and his friends."
That was just the way things worked though and the pride itself was used to that. Outsiders, on the other hand, often took a bit of time to accustom themselves to dealing with tiny tyrants. In the end it was amazing what one large paw or a startling roar could break up.
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 9:39 am
Anjel made a tiny 'pft' noise and then, "So long as I don't end up being their next chew toy."
He had a feeling, however, that he would end up being just that the moment he was left alone with them. No doubt there would be bickering-induced headaches, and trying to preach some sort of common-since logic into those simple little cub minds,... For that was what he would do when it came to facing argumenative adults. Surely it would be easier to get through a cubs skull than a biggoted adult.
if nothing else it was sure to be...entertaining.
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:48 am
"We generally teach our young to respect those whose care they are left in." He nodded slowly as he stepped forward, head high as he held himself with a strong, proud stance for a moment before approaching the warrior... And the cheetah.
"Welcome to the Mzawa'kondo."
His gaze lifted to the other lion at the sound of his voice. He'd caught scent of him nearby but he hadn't expected to happen upon him so soon. "Mfalme Imara'Shujaa." He bowed his head, more out of respect in front of the outsider than because he felt the need for such formality when generally speaking with the king. "I found this cheetah by the borders. He's looking for a place to stay. I told him that would be up to you, and Mfalme Rasi."
"Mm." He nodded slowly, turning his gaze towards the cheetah for a moment before glancing back at Jabari. "I will escort him from here. You should return to your border." He watched as the other male nodded and walked off before setting his attention back on their guest.
"So. You are looking for a home? What all did Jabari tell you of the Mzawa'kondo?"
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