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 Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 10:44 am
To say the lioness was happy was... so far beyond an understatement. She was ecstatic. When Altair had walked away... She had honestly believed that she would never see the male again. Yet... Not even a day later, he had come running back, leaving her speechless with his desire to remain in the Tuait'Tekem... with her...
Quickly tugging the last of the tail-rings onto her tail, the lioness shook out her fur, ready for the day ahead. Both of the 'Guardian' rank, Altair would now be her partner in her patrols and duty of protecting their pride. So today, she would show him the ropes, point out their borders and any trouble-spot to keep an eye on...
A slow smile stretched across her lips as she slowly, and silently padded over to where the large male slept in her den, sitting slowly in front of him. She was tempted to sit, and to watch him for a while, but they had duty to fulfill. There would be time enough for that later...
Leaning herself down, she felt rather embarrassed as she flicked her tongue out, licking his cheek softly. " A-... Altair... It's dawn. " She purred into his ear softly to wake him. " It's time to get up... "
There was still a little time before they were expected to go out, but she wanted him fed before then. In her opinion he was still much too thin. so she'd slipped out already before dawn to haul in an unfortunate Gazelle.
Once the male began to stir, she moved toward the mouth of the cave, taking a firm hold on a leg in her teeth to drag the catch into the cool shade.
He had always been one to stir at the lightest of touches and, hearing her movement, he was both surprised and somewhat joyful that she chose to wake him. He had been happy to hear that she wanted to help teach him the ropes, show him how things were done so that he could do the best possible job for his new pride.
His new pride!! To think that he would be in a pride and one so different from the place of his birth. The thought brought him an incredible sense of belonging, one in which he had not felt in the longest of times.
He stood, stretched and moved out after her, breathing in that sweet scent of early morning. Morning was a good time of day and though he had always found comfort in darkness, this time of light calm before everyone began to stir was becoming a fast preference for the lion who no longer had reason to hide in shadows.
"Seems only a moment ago that I shut my eyes to sleep." And he had slept well, too. Safe and sound with walls to protect him from danger. "But it's a god job its early. I feel there is a lot to learn."
She chuckled out softly at his eagerness to learn, moving around his side to gently nudge him toward the food with a shake of her head. " Your not learning anything on an empty stomach. The desert sun can be hard on your body. especially if you're unused to it... You'll need to take care to keep yourself well fed and watered. " She said in a stern tone, one she was likely to use with cubs, though that happy smile refused to leave her lips.
"I don't want to have to drag you home because you collapsed on the job. " That said, she stepped away from his side, moving to stretch herself out slowly with a wide yawn, claws flexing into the sand. " Mmmm! I'm pleased you slept well, Altair..."
Done with her stretching, she shifted a bit uncomfortably from foot to foot. " While we're out... I could... Help you find your own den if you like. But, you're more than welcome to remain here.. if you prefer it. "
He grinned. She fussed like a mother over it's cub. But, that's what made Makhi, Makhi. And, if he was going to be honest, he liked being taken care of like this. "You don't need to tell me twice. I feel ravenous." All the stress of the decision making and embarking on this new venture. It had left him somewhat light-headed.
"The sun is hot." He agreed, moving over to the kill with an appreciative look on his face. "I hope I'll be able to get used to it. I wouldn't want to be a failure, here." Failure was his one fear. Altair was used to being respected for his skill, not for not being able to meet expectations.
He paused to eat a moment and only lifted his head when she questioned about the den. He felt safer here and she kept the bad dreams away, but it probably wasn't right, was it? Would others think something of it if he stayed here? He didn't want her the subject of gossip... "Perhaps I should find my own place to stay." He answered carefully. "I don't want to be any trouble to you."
Her ears dropped a bit at his words, shaking her head as she offered him a smile. " You're no trouble to me at all! I enjoy your company, Altair. But, if you do prefer to have your own den, I will help you find an empty one. "
She said, watching him with a slow smile. " Don't let yourself over think things. Do what you believe is best for you, not for others. " She told him firmly. The male always seemed to spend far too much time fretting over things. She'd have to teach him how to relax here.
Really, she regretting even asking a bit. If he foudn his own den she may just have to spend every night fretting on if he'd still be in the lands in the morning, or if he'd find a female to share it with him.... No.. She didn't just think that did she? She quickly shook her head to get rid of the thought, eyes a bit wide.
He smiled apologetically at her. "I'm sorry. I do think a lot. Would it be a pain if I asked for a little more time? I'll think on it today and let you know the answer before the day is out. You have my word." He bowed his head towards her and went back to feasting, unaware of her troubled thoughts.
Then, when he was done, he licked his maw clean and nodded towards her.
"I'm ready when you are." The truth was, that he wanted to stay here. He felt safe here. He felt happy. But, he knew that two adults sharing a den like this might raise suspicion, and though he had not been in the pride long he knew enough to know that they had high morals in the way of relationships. There was no way he wanted to overstep the mark there. He hoped that, if he decided it best to get a den of his own, that she would understand that it was not because he did not want to be here with her.
" Of course.. " She said, offering him a bit of a bewildered smile as she managed to crush down her troubled thoughts. She didn't exatly have a claim on the male... If that turned out to be what he wanted, all she would be able to do was support her friend. There were many elligible femals in the land after all... Him having his own den.. that thought really did not trouble her. Everyone needed their space sometimes... But the thoughts that creapt in after that.. THOSE most certainly troubled her!
Taking a slow breath to push it from her mind, sha smiled brightly to the male, moving to lead him out into the sands, away from her own den. " Of course. There's no need to rush on the decision. When we're done with work today, I can show you a few spare dens I know of, if that's what you decide. " She said easily as she moved off, looking back to the male.
" You remember, when I gave you a tour before, the locations of the temple, and the oasis, yes? Today, we're going to take a long walk through the desert to show you the lines of out border. We'll be walking right along the line the whole time. " She said, starting off along the shadowy cliffsides of the mountains.
He followed after her, unaware still of what was going through her mind. Altair only thought he understood love. Yet love had been trouble for him in the past and he seemed oblivious to it even when it stood before him, all bright and beautiful. Makhi needn't have worried. Right now, the only female he had any trust in was she.
"Yes. I remember it well." He replied, moving up alongside her. "That would be wonderful. I will need to know the boundaries if I am to protect this place to the best of my ability." He pondered on it.
"If, say, an intruder is spotted. What then? Do we move to intercept? Do we give a signal to others?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 7:26 am
" Hmm. It would depend on what they are. Lions are generally allowed to visit the land without much cause for alarm, unless it's a large group, or they look threatening. Then it may be better to be cautious and raise up an alarm... If you see small cubs wandering about, without anyone watching over them, they should be brought to th temple quickly. " She explained as they walked, keeping her eyes on the sands to make sure she didn't lose her way or stray from their border.
" Any other species should be treated with friendly caution. They're allowed to visit and roam the lands for the most part, as long as they don't stay too long, or try taking up permanent residence without permission. And if you see them causing trouble, obviously they've worn out their welcome and need to go." She murmured with a shake of her head.
" And if you see buzzards... You should notify someone immediately... This land has a history with them, and they're most unwelcome of all.. " Taking her eyes off the sands a moment, she looked to her side at the male to make sure he was taking all this in well. " Just trust your instincts... You've always seemed to me like the type who would know instantly when someone was a danger... " She smiled.
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:37 am
He nodded. Yes, she was right. He was pretty good at sussing out whether people were dangerous or not. But it was different making decisions for himself and the entire pride. Then again, was it? What could be a danger to him could be a danger to everyone else. He just had to remember that one lone lion could not do much to a whole pride.
His brother...for instance.
"Cubs to the temple." He repeated. "Suspicious groups, watch with caution. Meet and greet others. Got it." He nodded.
"Ah yes, the familiars." He wanted to ask her about that, too. "I have seen some animals...smaller creatures, like canines. I take it they are allowed to move freely? Could you tell me a little about the non-lions and their places here? Do they follow the same rules as us? Are they treated as equals?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 6:41 am
" Yes, they're treated as equals. " She smiled as she glanced to the male, moving to head back towards the temple now that they'd reached the far edge of the borders. " The same punishments given for crimes. The same respect given for living or passing through here. I've yet to meet a creature that wasn't treated fairly here, canine or otherwise. "
" From what I know, many of the smaller creatures here are loyal to individuals, or families. Though some simply live here like any other member. I've not looked into it much yet myself, but I believe some are given tasks to help around the pride. Keeping an eye on cubs, gathering things... I'm afraid I'm not much help on this subject though... " She murmured, offering him a shy, slightly embarrassed smile. She really hadn't encountered many of them yet, and her knowledge was lacking.
" I can at least say they're as welcome here as we are. " She said, walking a bit closer to the males side to avoid a patch of loose sand on a dune.
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 2:30 pm
He liked the sound of that. Equality amongst species. It was a sign of the pride's outlook. A sign of their ability to see talent and usefulness no matter what form it took. He did not have much experience, either, with talking and being around non-lions but it was not something that particularly bothered him.
He glanced across at her as she stepped closer and leaned his head down to rub it against the top of her shoulders.
"Shall we rest once we reach the temple? The heat of the sun really does get unbearable after a while, doesn't it?"
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Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 9:16 am
Her shoulders relaxed a bit under the weight of his head, the smile easily spreading back over his lips as she glanced back to him before resetting her eyes to the temple up ahead of them.
" The more you're in it, the more used to it you get, but yes, especially around mid-day it can become quite unpleasant to be out and about. Taking a rest is a good idea. " She agreed, nudging her nose against his cheek after slowing a step, before she took off running ahead of him with a playful laugh, obviously intent on racing him there, and already taking the advantage of a head start.
She wasn't sure why. It really was just him that she was so playful towards. She didn't treat anyone else that way that she had met.
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Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 10:18 am
He huffed as she took the lead, laughing playfully, free of worries. She was truly wonderful! "No fair!" He complained, joining in with the play. He quickened hsi step and went bounding after her, his greater bulk much slower than her nimble form.
He would arrive there after her, slowing as he reached the shade, panting and tired but...happy.
So happy.
It had been a long, long time since he had felt so content with life. "You had a head start." He complained, teasing gently.
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Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 10:34 am
She laughed when he finally caught her, out of breath herself from the run as she settled down in the shade. There weren't many around the outer nooks of the temple, the families keeping inside to watch their children, so they could have their shade here while still having a measure of privacy and quite. She didn't want to throw Altair into the middle of the entire pride too early on, and make him uncomfortable, meeting and greeting. They could rest here just as easily.
" You should have been quicker to react to me challenge? " She offered with an innocent grin, scooting closer to the wall to make sure he had plenty of room in the cool, shaded alcove to take a break with her and rest down. " Besides, I went easy on you. My little nieces tripped their brothers into the sand at the start of every race. "
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Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 11:22 am
"I'll be ready next time." He replied, good naturedly. "Tripped?" He blinked, tilting his head as he settled next to her, glad for the rest and the shade. There was so much to learn but he glad he had her there to teach him. "Perhaps I'll try that technique next time."
He grinned, only teasing, but keeping his tone serious.
Then, with a yawn he set his maw upon his paws and glanced out across the sand. "Do you have any plans this afternoon?" He asked, somewhat casually.
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