Taban:
Now that the squires of the troupe had grown to guards and warriors, the troupe was once again free to travel away from the boarder of the Mistweaver valley. It was for the best really, the pride had become...different. The alliance formed between the troupe and the true pride had faded with the shift of power. Good riddence. The only true loss to the troupe was that they would be denied the oppertunity to learn a written language.
Lucia was put in charge of seeing the troupe to their next checkpoint. The hyenas were determined to test themselves against the large pack within the graveyard. Taban had promised to make a visit to the troupe of Minstrels once they were mobile again.
Shaha:
Shaha sat on a small rise overlooking the place where he had chosen for the troupe to camp until Matawi's young cubs were old enough to start traveling. So many children. He smiled as he sighed over that. It seemed almost like yesterday that it had been just himself and 'Tawi and Kiji. Now there was the three of them, plus his sister's mate Kucha, their three young leopard cubs and Shaha's own growing brood of five. They had all agreed to become a part of Taban's Chokwe Troupe, traveling somewhat near to the Mercenaries when they could, but staying away from battle. The blood in the large lion's veins sang to the tune of the fight, but he had locked that away, just as his father had. He would be a protector, but never a warrior, the danger to his love and children and family was too great.
Taban had told him once the young hyenas were finished with their training, they would be moving out once again. The leader of the artisans' branch of the Troupe had not yet told the younger male that he couldn't leave just yet. They would need to figure out some sort of communication over the distance, perhaps a bird.
Taban:
Taban's ears rolled forward as he loped forward. Thankfully, the troupe of musicians hadn't been too increadibly mobile as of late. They too had young ones to think of. It made tracking them that much easier.
He slowed his pace, sighting the troupe's leader sitting tall on a tall boulder. The cheetah took a few deep breaths to slow his breathing and relax his body once more. It had been a bit of a jog, though a welcome one.
"A good day to enjoy the sun." Taban stepped closer and offered the large male a dip of his head.
Shaha:
Shaha turned as the cheetah approached, smiled, and chuckled as he returned the nod in greeting.
"Aye, it is. And it's a pleasant sun. Have you ever felt the desert sun? I always thought it felt more harsh and hot and hateful, personally," he replied good-naturedly. He knew his heritage came from those sands, distantly, but that didn't mean he liked them. He preferred green things.
He flicked his mane from his eyes and gave Taban a mildly curious look as he continued, "I take it the troupe is moving out, then?"
Taban:
"I have." Taban chuckled, "I was barely into my mantle at the time." He remembered the long hike... it had been dangerously hot. Though ironically...the desert nights were just as cold as their days were hot.
He smiled a bit more, "We are, yes. The hyenas have nearly grown into their manes. Lucia has expanded her unit. We plan to execute a minor raid on the graveyard."
Shaha:
This was the first Shaha had heard of the whole plan, so it was no surprise that he bristled and his eyes narrowed a bit at the mentioned of the place. It was near there that Kiji... He shook his head, letting his temper cool before speaking again.
"Then I wish you the best in that, Taban," he replied and let his humor return in a small snort of a laugh. "Though I don't imagine you'll need my wishes."
Taban:
"...", he hadn't missed the discomfort that the male had displayed. Taban offered a soft, gentle smile, "The graveyard pack is...cruel to its members. They believe themselves invincible, and while they're a large force- their defense is far from perfect. A small raid would provide us with bones that we can use as supplies. Amor for our warriors and decorations for our minsterels. Not only that, but it'll make the pack aware that...with the right tools, they could be invaded. Perhaps a wake up call. A strong force is composed of the faithful, not the fearful.'
Shaha:
Shaha smiled in return. Taban was once again reminding him of his intelligence belied by his young eyes.
"In truth I know little about them. It's the place that I have an old grudge over, though it is nothing action should be taken over. Your plans are sound, Taban, and I agree with the intentions," he replied with a nod. He wouldn't explain into anymore detail, for it was his mate's past and he would never break her trust. He loved her too much for that.
"On a lighter note, how are things on the wind? You were stopped near the Mistweavers, yes?"
Taban:
He settled himself down to a sit and rolled his shoulders back. "Well...I make it my buisness to learn everything I can about the prides, packs, and clans that inhabbit the grasslands. Knowlege is power, my friend."
The second question brought a sigh out of the young cheetah. "...well...I have only met my lady twice. I have earned a token from her wing, her name from her sweet breath...the third time I capture the wind I seek to ask her to bear my children." He chuckled a bit, "And we have relocated...the valley of the mistweavers is no long the noble pride it once was."
Shaha:
Shaha nodded at Taban's first comment and outright laughed at the second.
"I'm afraid I've forgotten. That was an old saying of my mother's. She would ask how things were upon the wind when she was questioning if there was any important news going around. Though, I wish you luck in your endeavors with Lady Wind," he explained, chuckling a bit. Oh, what a story that would make. He'd have to work on that one, and get more details from Taban. He wasn't the type to really fabricate parts of real stories.
"And, is that so? I'm saddened to hear that..."
Taban:
"Children of the wind..could you imagine? A goddess' blood in a cheetah's body. The purpose of every generation is to lay the foundation for the generation after them. Stronger, brighter futures." He flicked the end of his tail.
"Well...everything has a life cycle. Even water dries up into a muddy river bed." He chuckled a bit. Ironic...considering the typical coloration of the pride.
Shaha:
"Actually, I'm getting quite a clear picture of it. You'll have to tell me the full story one of these days. It would make a wonderful ballad," Shaha replied with a nod and a smile. He watched his own younglings playing with their cousins, knowing exactly what Taban meant. The future was looking pretty bright in his eyes.
Taban:
"How fares your troupe?" He turned his head to watch the youngesters play, a thin smile slowly playing across his maw. "They're quite a handsome bunch."
Shaha:
Shaha nodded slowly.
"We're doing well. Some of the children have shown interests in various artistic forms, though others are taking their time. I think we'll be ready to start moving again soon. They just need to be a bit older," he replied and bent to one side to scratch an itch behind his ear.
Taban:
"Perhaps they can teach me to sing and dance." He chuckled, "I must admit that's one area of study that I never dipped my paws into- though it's interesting to watch. The moves in a dance...are very similar to those in combat. One in the same."
Shaha:
Shaha nodded slowly at that.
"My mother said my father once told her that. He wouldn't let his only son go without some form of combat training, so I know what you mean, though I've never been the dancer, nor very graceful in my fighting," he explained with a shrug. He didn't fight much anyways.
"Little Safi would be better off teaching you to dance, though I can teach you some songs to try. I learned some marching and war songs when I was younger from some of the more warrior-owned places my family traveled to."
Taban:
Taban chuckled, "The secret to anything is aknowleging your own strengths and weaknesses. You, a lion, are a master of power, not of agility. One blow from one of your paws can snap a leg in two. One bite from your jaws can seperate a small head from its body." He shook his head, "But enough of combat, I would love to learn some of the songs and stories you tell. I came from the Anasi, and while they too have faded into a dry riverbed, their culture lives in some of my troupe. Stories were a small obsession."
