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 Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 7:16 pm
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Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 7:22 pm
Finally Tenoch found a source of water. He'd been wandering the desert for so long now that he'd thought he would simply drop from the heat. Ever since the blasted sandstorm had lifted him as an infant and plopped him on his head he'd been scattered. He was very smart. But to remember things was difficult sometimes. And he did tend to drift off.
Panting a bit, he lowered his head and took a long drink, then sat down and soaked his burned paws. The hot sand was brutal after a while of walking on it.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:21 pm
Like a mirage, Ethel Rowena came into sight. This heat was nothing, she had been to worse.
As a young cub Rowena had always been part of a large family with three older brother. Now she had FOUR brothers as well as four sisters. As always with big families, she felt like the odd one out. Her older brothers all had loving mates, even some children. Now came the babysitting. She couldn't stand being in such a big family at times and had started wandering out on her own. With her family being so big, it was easy to forget her.
She knew where the oasis was in the desert, she traveled here many times. That wasn't what caught her off guard. It was the lion soaking his paws in her drinking water was what caught her. She paused for a moment, just a short distance away. Wiping the confused look off her face as quickly as it had come she pulled her mask in place. Her features were set in a casual manner, as if running into a male lion in the middle of a desert wasn't odd.
Coming up to the pool of water she bent her head and began lapping at the cool liquid... even if it did disgust her that his feet had just contaminated it.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 7:50 pm
It wasn't a noise or scent that alerted Tenoch to a stranger, but the fact that her fur made her stick out like a sore thumb. He simply sat watching this new lioness for a moment, intrigued by her fur coloring. When she lowered her head to drink though, he pulled away from the water a tad embarressed. It certainly stung still when his raw padding touched the sand, but he did his best to ignore it.
"My my my! I am sorry Miss. Please pardon me." He sighed softly and turned, about to walk off. But then...he sat down totally spacing on which way he'd come, or where he was supposed to go. "Oh boy...not again...Don't tell me I'm lost again!"
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:03 pm
At least he took his feet out of the water. She thought the second her pulled them out but her guilt hit her when he winced as his feet touched the hot sand. Hurrying over to the other side of the small watering hole she nosed his shoulder. "Please don't let my presence hurt you." She said softly as she pushed him back towards the water.
She noticed that he seemed relatively nice, besides his forgetfullness. "I am Ethel Rowena. But please, choose one that fits you. I don't fance being called that all the time. So either Ethel, or Rowena, it is up to you." She said softly as she finally managed to turn him around and edge him to the water. "I can lead you out after your feet have healed." She was taking on a nursing mode, then again she did have four younger siblings, it was almost natural for her to take care of a complete stranger.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:09 pm
When she rushed over and started nudging him back over to the water he became confused. Not a new feeling to him of course. One moment she seemed irritated with him, now she wanted to help heal his paws. "Oh my. Thank you Ethel. I am Tenoch."
He hesitated a moment, then put his burning paws back into the water, instantly relaxing, the pain gone once again. "The sand is still hard on my paws...even after traveling on the sand for so long. I was born tender-footed I suppose." He looked over at the dark-furred lioness and offered a sweet smile. "Thank you very much. I am sorry to dirty your water..."
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:21 pm
She stored his name in her memory, she didn't think she'd be leaving any time soon. Not with how turned around this lion seemed to be. She was sitting contently at his side, watching his feet when he mentioned the water. She winced a little, did she really look that disgusted when she had arrived? Quickly covering the hole in her emotional mask she shook her head a small smile pulling at the corners on her mouth.
"Don't worry about the water. I'll survive. You on the other hand, if I hadn't shown up, you would probably half-way to dead by now." She said as she pulled one of his paws out with her own. Clicking her tounge in disapproval she returned it to the water. "You're very lucky, Sir Tenoch."
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:38 pm
All he could really do as Ethel doted on him like a Mother hen on her baby chick, was simply nod and smile. It was such a new feeling to be cared for in any way. Once he was dropped on his head he was left behind. "I am very greatful for your help. Your so kind." He smiled warmly to her as she inspected one of his paws.
While she was quiet, he scanned the area trying to remember exactly which way he needed to go. And now...why he needed to go. The purpouse had completally slipped his mind.
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 5:59 pm
"I'm sorry to say, but you're going to have to stay here for the night, and that's the minimal for your burns." She said in a matter-of-fact way before venturing down a little ways to get a drink from what she thought was the cleanest area.
"Now, Sir Tenoch, where were you going before you lost your way here? Or can you even remember where you were going?" She said as she took in his look. Sighing softly she shook her head and sat under the little shade provided by a small tree.
As she sat there she mentally ran her analysis of him. "Definitly male... not exactly... smart. Seems sweet..." She closed her eyes and nodded ever so slightly. "I think father would like him..." She thought again then opened her eyes to watch him again, hoping her wasn't doing anything to hurt his feet.
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 6:35 pm
"Well thank you for your help then. I'll do as you say so my paws will heal." He nodded, smiling a bit. He was certainly thankful he'd met such a sweet lioness. She really seemed to care that his paws were hurt.
"Just Tenoch please." He watched her as she moved. "Well...I'm not exactly sure anymore. You see, when I was a cub a huge sandstorm lifted me then dropped me on my head. It has affected my memory, sadly." His smile became more sad as he remembered that.
Keeping his paws in the water, he moved to his side, getting a cramp from sitting up on his spine for so long.
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Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:41 pm
Ethel smiled again, a light reaching her eyes. "Tenoch then." She said sweetly. "If you be careful you can come join me in the shade, it is rather hot today. You should be fine as long as you don't move much." Scooting over she tapped the ground next to her with her tail.
"I help everybody... I have a rather extensive family and someone is always getting hurt." She had been smiling until she realized she might have hit a sensitive spot. Her voice became softer as she asked, "Do you remember your family?" Her heart was going out to him. To not remember was one thing, but if he couldn't remember his family...
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 3:25 pm
Tenoch lifted his paws again and looked at them before padding over to her, wincing a bit. Feeling the shade helped quite a bit. He smiled once more as he sat down, then moved to his side and stretched a little. "It's much better in the shade...today is hot." Nods in agreement.
His smile was only slightly affected, though his eyes seemed like a storm. Such horrid memories were brought up that he had to close his eyes. Her sudden question caused him to look at her again. "I do remember bits and pieces. I just don't know where they are now."
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Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:31 am
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Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:31 am
Tenoch's paws were feeling better, though they were a tad rougher now than he liked. But that was sure to go away sooner or later as well. The lioness that had sat by him and helped him was forever in his debt. As he and Ethel walked along together, he could not help but offer a smile to her. She sure stuck out in the desert, but really in a beautiful way. Her fur reminded him of the night sky. "So where are we heading exactly again? Or do we have a real destination at all?"
Ethel Rowena walked quietly next to her patient, or previous patient. He seemed to be getting along quite well. She knew his feet must have felt odd with how dry they had become from but she had assured him they would return to normal in a couple days. As they had been walking, she was thinking to herself... she hadn't really told her family she was leaving... perhaps they would just figure it out in time. Mentally shrugging she looked to Tenoch would was giving her a rather large smile, only coaxing one out of herself.
"We are leaving the desert so you don't hurt your feet again. I was thinking we might head to the shade of the forest? Unless you would like to go somewhere else..." She said softly, knowing he would probably forget where they were going anyways.
Tenoch simply smiled more brightly as she answered him. He remembered bits and pieces of different little things...but really...he was a scattered lion. Not dumb...he just forgot things rather easily. When he'd first met Ethel, he'd forgotten why he had even walked there. It was due to bigger things...but mainly to being dropped on his head...hard...when he was an infant. He chuckled lightly as she spoke. "I'm positive you told me we were going to the forest numerous times...my apologies..." His smile gave a more saddened look as he looked at her. "The forest sounds wonderful. Though I've never been out of the desert before."
Again she smiled, softer this time. She knew he hated forgetting, that much she could understand just by watching his face fall every time he had to admit his forgetfullness. "It's quite alright Tenoch." She'd answer softly... again. Although she kept repeating herself, she never really got tired of it.
"You've never left the desert? You must hurt your feet a lot then..." She said with a wide-eyed look. She thought it had been his first time crossing it... "The forest is wonderful, I remember it from when I was a child...." She said in a reminising tone. "I'm sure you'll enjoy it."
Hearing that he was not annoying her he relaxed noticeably. By now he thought she might be used to, or almost used to, how forgetful he was. In all honesty, nobody stayed around him long enough to leave a permanent impression because his repeated questions drove them up the wall. She certainly had the patience of a Saint.
He looked to her once more and shook his head softly. "I have never left the desert. That I can remember. I hurt my paws because I was running from something I chose not to remember. And well...it could take me a very long time for something to trigger a memory of it. But if it caused me to run so hard...I'd rather not recall it."
She watched him with interest, he was definitly a very odd lion, but it seemed that he had something he was afraid of, or something that was bothering him terribly. At least he had the luxury of being able to forget about it. But that only made her want to open up his secretive shell even more, maybe if she stuck around long enough he would confess to her, ease his soul...
Rowena now have a mission. She was going to stay with Tenoch and be his security blanket, but that was it. She would have to return home sometime...
"How aweful..." she said more to herself then to him. "Well, I'm here if you need someone to talk too... although I have been here for a while and we are already talking..." She giggled a little. "But you get the point." She added with a brighter smile.
He had faced ahead, though still listening to her and responding of course. A flicker of...something...had seemed to flash for a nano second before his eyes. It was long gone by now, but it was bugging him. It had looked like a figure of some sort, and now he was straining to remember whatever it was. With a sigh he gave up for the time being and looked to Ethel again.
"That we are. And it is a pleasure talking to such a kind lioness. Most lions don't talk with me for long." With that his smile returned. The sound of her giggling caused him to chuckle a bit himself. "I do indeed."
Her tail swayed back and forth behind her, her eyes searching the horizon for any sign of greenery before returning her gaze to Tenoch. He was about as bizzardly colored as she was, it kept the smile on her face glowing.
"So what are something you do remember Tenoch?" She asked as she looked forward again. Her mind was reeling with questions and that one was the brightest one that was replaying in her mind over and over. "Perhaps it will help you remember more if you recall things you havn't forgotten." She added with a nod.
He nodded and closed his eyes for a moment, until he stumbled over a rock. His eyes shot open as he let out a yelp, but managed to catch himself and chuckle a bit. "Closing my eyes wasn't the smartest thing to do." He focused forward, trying to remember things from before they had met.
"I was born into a loving family. It wasn't exactly a Pride. Not enough members. But i remember it was a happy family. I remember my Mother and Father. I had no siblings that I can think of....no I was an only child...I spent the most time with my Father who taught me to hunt reptiles and other critters that can be found in the desert...we lived deep in the middle of the desert..."
His mouth snapped shut as a grisly image flooded into his mind. Something he could describe full well but could not voice. His legs seemed to give out from beneath him as if he'd been struck by some invisable object.
She watched him for a moment, long enough to watch him trip over the rock. She took a quick step towards him, hoping he wouldn't fall but he caught himself in time. She let out the small breath she had been holding and smiled quickly. "That wouldn't be the brightest of ideas..." She said with a giggle.
Ethel listened to everything he was saying, she wished she knew what it was like with a small family, a mother and a father to focus all their attention on her instead of all her other siblings. with a small sigh she focused back into reality, and looked over to where Tenoch should have been. Her heart thudded hard in her chest as she turned to see him on the ground. "Tenoch!" She gasped as she leaned her head down to nose him in the cheek. Placing a paw on his shoulder she laid down, her eyes focused on him. "Tenoch! Are you alright!?"
When she nuzzled his cheek he lifted his head, his eyes wet with tears. "I saw the most horrible thing...and it really happened...to me...to them..." His voice became ragged as his heart rate rose and more tears threatened to roll down his cheeks. He took several deep breathes to try to steady himself. "I remember...but I want the memory of it to dissapear..."
"I..." His eyes closed tightly as if he was trying to forget everything. It didn't work of course, but he didn't want to face it. Not now...not ever...
As soon as she saw the tears running down his cheeks, Ethel's heart reached out to him. She was always a very kind soul, wanting to keep everyone happy. This almost broke her heart. A lion that wasn't excatly sure of where he was going, a lion who seemed so sweet, a lion who was now crushed with a painful memory absolutely killed her.
"Shh... Tenoch, it's ok. I'm here, Ethel's here..." She cooed, snuggling her heard close to his as she repositioned herself beside him, so he could feel here there, feel the stability beside him. "Let it out, the pressure will go away if you let it out." She instructed gently. She purred ever so softly and continued to rub her head against his.
Her voice reminded him of the new bright friendship he'd gained with Ethel and it helped to calm him. As she spoke of letting it out, he gave in, lowered his head and started to sob. The image would not dissipate to his dismay. His chest heaved as he just sobbed there, still trying to at least ignore the image.
After a little bit the sobs finally stopped, leaving his eyes a tad red. He wiped his eyes, sniffling a little, then just rested his chin on his paws, so very greatful he was not alone right then. The feeling of comfort that she gave him by laying there next to him was the only thing keeping him from running back through the desert.
As she laid there she couldn't help but feel guilty. She was the one that made him remember and it scared him. Her tail flicked against him as she continued to comfort him. Listening to him sob only made her feel worse, she couldn't leave him now... not when she did this to him.
"I'm sorry Tenoch... I'm so sorry I brought up the memory. I won't ask any more I promise... I'm so sorry..." She continued to repeat in a whisper as she set her head against his. He probably wouldn't forget this incident.. not when it had brought him this much pain. "We can stay right here. We arn't in any hurry..." She continued gently. How badly she wanted to just make him feel better...
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Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:40 am
When she spoke again he finally looked up at her, his eyes storming as more tears threatened. "No...I have to face my past...It's just such a..grisly memory..." He lifted his head and gave her a hug. "I'm just...I don't want to upset you..."
He knew she had not meant to bring up such powerful memories. It was all said by the way she held him as he'd sobbed. It just worried him now that his past would be too much to share. He did not want to upset her, and it was likely to.
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