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 Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 8:57 pm
Jinaki blinked as the cool mists of morning tickled her nose. Where . . . ..where was she? Blue eyes took a moment to investigate her surroundings - the strange pains of hunger had subsided and for once she felt full. Blood stained her paws, her face, her body . . . but it felt strangely pleasant, was comforting. Her sleep had been unhindered by nightmares or worry, the anxiety she often felt about her future completely gone.
Still, there was something she was missing. . .something she was . . .
Oh. Wait.
Oseye!
Blue eyes went wide as she suddenly sat up, seeking out the figure of the gypsy lioness she had met just the night before. The one whom had fed her, had offered to bring her to the waters edge this morning. The female hoped she hadn't been abandoned, though the antelope she had rested upon remained untouched.
Thankfully, the black and white figure was sitting still as a statue not quite twenty feet away. She was standing tall and proud, though her eyes were closed, and part of Jinaki wondered exactly who this stranger was. In reality, there was very little she knew about the brown eyed female. . . But then, there was very little Jinaki understood about the world in which she lived.
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Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:11 pm
Oseye knew when Jinaki rose. The way her breathing hitched, the way her muscles suddenly tensed. Movement followed shortly thereafter, a rustling of the ground beneath her. Ever so slowly, brown eyes opened and she watched through slits as Jinaki seemed to surprise herself. . . .
Proof that she was insecure, anxious, unsure.
It was almost sad. A pretty lioness such as Jinaki should be strong and full of self-confidence. To see one half-spooked by their own shadow was a shame. . . . But it also made Oseye extremely curious about her. Where had she come from? What ailed her front paws to keep her claws hidden?
Mystery's she would wonder about, certainly, but might even find the answer to. Oseye didn't often poke and pry, she often didn't need to, but she might in this case. The spirits would reveal to her what she needed to know all in due time. . .
"Did you sleep well?" She questioned, opening her eyes fully to study the blue pair that stared at her.
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Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:19 pm
Oseye almost jerked back when the black and white female opened her eyes to stare at her. She hoped the other female wasn't insulted or offended. . . she'd only meant to see if the lioness truly slept while sitting up!
Odd.
"Er. . . I d-did, actually," she added, feeling her cheeks flush a bit with embarrassment. Dipping her head, she sat down and began grooming some of coat. She felt better that Oseye was awake, that the stars were beginning to fade and daylight dance upon the horizon. While she appreciated the cool air of evening, there was something a little frightening about shadows and darkness. It reminded her too much of the tribe . . . they had kept their fires burning all hours. Complete darkness was something she'd only learned of after they'd kicked her out, after they drove her away. It was something she probably would never grow fully accustomed to.
Pausing in her grooming, the white furred female looked up and gave a small smile. "I'm sorry, I just . . . was unsure whether or not you were asleep. I didn't mean to stare."
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Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:42 pm
The black and white female chuckled as the pale figure apologized. Clucking her tongue lightly, she gave her head a small shake and dismissed the apology entirely. "It's quite all right. . . I didn't sleep this evening, instead I focused on prayers to the evening spirits and read my future in the stars." Honestly, though, she didn't expect Jinaki to entirely understand.
Very few actually did. . . Most called her crazy, a witch doctor or some sort of heathen. While she knew gods and goddesses roamed the world, she often tapped in to a more natural sort of magic: the art of deception and disillusion.
Yes, she often had no idea what she spoke of, but sometimes even she tricked herself in to believing her tales. A life of a gypsy was to bring entertainment and pleasure out; a hedonist in a way, while some of her fortunes were made up or her paw readings nothing more than illusion, so long as no one knew than no one could be harmed.
But every now and then she found a facet of truth. . .
"I hope you don't mind, but I could read your future if you wish. The spirits and stars already told me change was in the works for both of us . . . but then I had known of your arrival long before you showed. This meeting wasn't just coincidence you realize, but fate."
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 7:13 pm
Oseye had been right- the blue eyed female didn't understand. She'd never met someone who could read someone's paw or predict the future. It was a fascinating art, really, and something that both intimidated her and made her curious. She wanted to know more about this future . . . this possible fortune ahead of her.
"Can you . . . . can you do that?" She whispered, forgetting about the dead remains next to her as well as her grooming. Why worry about a bloody coat when she was sitting next to a female who could tell her what her future held!
"I didn't realize that was possible," she started, before quickly adding, "But there's much in this world I don't know. I just didn't realize you held such an ability." She didn't want to insult the lioness, of course, and feared there was some way of knowing who could read the future and who couldn't.
As far as Jinaki could see, Oseye was completely normal. There was nothing different about her save for a few trinkets she carried. She didn't glow, she didn't have wings, and she certainly didn't look like she could reature futures or talk to spirits. . . .
But what did she know? She couldn't even properly hunt. "If . . . if you've the time I'd . . .I'd like to know what my future holds."
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 7:47 pm
Oseye chuckled, her brown eyes lighting with mirth. The pale lioness before her would certainly be in quite a shock if she allowed Oseye to spin her tales and find truth within bone, blood and grass. "I can indeed, I was taught by the very best in our troupe," she stated quite proudly. Her chest puffed out a bit as she took a moment to think back on the old, grey lioness that often predicted the future and fortunes of the pride. She had foreseen Oseye's departure, as well as her fate. . . .
Strangely enough, she'd been almost dead on in her predictions. Though Oseye took her own fortunes with a grain of salt, there truly was something mystic about the old grey spinster that she'd left behind. Everyone listened to the wise woman. .
"As for your future, come closer then. Give yourself a good stretch, then come and sit down before me. Loosen your muscles, open your heart, and close your eyes. . . . I'm going to get a few runes from our kill, cast a little magic to prepare for your future." Smoke and mirrors might be all she was doing, but the first way to truly predict someone's future was for them to truly believe. At that point you could say no wrong. Thankfully Jinaki looked as if she might need a spot of good luck to come her way.
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 7:56 pm
Her future. . . A small part of Jinaki wondered if the lioness before her could really predict such a thing. Wouldn't it be easy just to make something up, to spin a tale? But . . .then again . . . who was she to doubt the stranger? She'd been so kind as to share her kill at this point Jinaki would have followed her anywhere.
Meddling with the spirits might not be safe, but it was too late to back out now. Besides, what if she insulted the female and she cast a curse on her or something just as strange? Or worse. . what if she could somehow manipulate her fate and cause bad things to happen!? Not knowing anything about this sort of 'magic' or religion, at this point the female decided to just get on with it.
It might give her a little hope, after all.
Taking a deep breath, the female made sure to give herself a good stretch. Her front legs first, followed by her hind legs and tail. She yawned and cleared her throat, giving her coat a little shake as she settled in the appropriate spot. Ok . . .relaxing. . . relaxing. . . . Jinaki closed her eyes though her ears did stay alert. she didn't want Oseye to pull something weird or strange while her defenses were down. But that wasn't relaxing, was it? No no . . now she was just thinking. . . . no thinking. Future. Fortune. Relaxing. Wait. . was she still thinking? Yes. . Yes she was because seh'd have to think to wonder and ponder and pondering therefore meant she was thinking.
Relax Jinaki . .relax. Mybe some good would come of this.
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 8:07 pm
As Jinaki followed her instructions, Oseye slowly walked past. All the while, her brown gazed studied every movement on the female - especially her front paws! Sure enough, the moment the white and orange kissed female stretched her hypothesis became true - Jinaki surely had no claws!
None!
They were either ripped from her fingers or born without. Either way, Oseye was absolutely stunned! She'd never encountered a claw-less lioness before, and it was no wonder she was half-starved! If the poor female couldn't hunt for herself than she couldn't eat. . . . Hmmm. Interesting.
Now how could she weave a little hope in to her life?
Averting her gaze, she quickly found herself at the mostly eaten kill. She'd leave the meat for Jinaki to keep, but did snap off a few ribs and drag out a small bit of entrails. They were cold, not quite as useful as they would be fresh from the antelopes' gut, but it would serve her purpose at any rate. "Here we are. . ." She murmered, dragging the few pieces back to sit before Jinaki. "That's right, keep your mind open. . . Think about your life, where you've been, where you are now, and where you want to go. Think hard about your desires and we'll see if the spirits are receptive to this offering . . "
Reaching down, she pawed lightly at the entrails, moving them around before reaching out and selecting the first rib. "Ah ha! The cracks in this bone tell me where you've been. . . the rough lot life has thrown you. A disability, a disadvantage others of our species don't suffer. . . Life hasn't been easy for you, Jinaki, has it?" Upon closer inspection of the female she could see faint traces of thinned fur around her neck and scars along her back that weren't entirely familiar. No beast Oseye had seen could cause such a thing. . . .
"But at least you are free of that, aren't you? Though life has yet to be truly kind, don't give up hope entirely."
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 8:13 pm
Jinaki's ears turned to focus fully on Oseye as she listened to her begin. She wanted to open her eyes, but decided not to risk the wrath of the spirits or Oseye. . . Bones. She could read someone's future on bones!?
It was stunning, actually, to hear her speak of her past. To speak of her greatest shame, her disability, her lack of claws. In fact, she tried to hide her paws beneath her curled tail even as Oseye cemented the truth. She was at a great disadvantage and life seemed content to keep things that way.
It really wasn't fair. . . She'd had sisters onces, brothers, a mother and father though their memories were fuzzy and unfamiliar. She remembered snuggling with her litter only one afternoon, chasing butterflies, did she get caught. The creature had appeared out of no where, from the grasses, and had roped her neck. It had hurt. . .but he'd made it so she couldn't cry out to her mother, to her siblings, to anyone. Life had begun its cruelty while she was innocent, and continued to throw surprises at her. But that was her past. . her history. . .she didn't want to think about that. "What about my future? Will I always suffer so . . .?" Oh, she wanted more than anything to hear the good news, to hear of hope. . . .
She just feared the worse.
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:05 pm
Oseye allowed only the briefest of smiles to tickle her expression and shape her features. She almost felt a moments pity of the female before her, so desperate to lap up some sort of good news, some sort of positive wish. And the brown eyed gypsy desperately wanted to give her such a thing!
If only the spirits would prove her right. . .prove truth to her words. Like her mentor in the arts, to actually manipulate the fates and truly see. . . . See the future for what it granted, see the past and its shadows. But Oseye was not like her, and could only hope that somehow her future became an inkling of truth.
"Now . . as for your future. . . Think clearly, open your mind. . . " She cooed encouragingly, reaching down to paw at the entrails. Reaching own, she picked up two different ribs and stares at them for a long while. "Hmm. . . . Change. Change is on the horizon, beginning with what appears this meeting. For awhile your life shall remain the same, an uphill battle, a fight for food but . . . fear not."
Oseye paused, glancing up at Jinaki only to lean over and study the bones with closer inspection. "These trials are only building up to a great event. . . good or bad, they refuse to say for it all depends on you and your response. This Trial of Trials shall peak not too far off in the future. . .
"From there, you will need to choose a path. One road is easy, simpler, but full of dark shadow so beware. Pain and hurt. The other may look bleak at first, but in time will lead to great joy." It was a very generic sort of fortune. For the most part all Oseye spoke of was that "things would happen" . . and to any soul that was truth.
Part of the lioness hoped she wasn't steering the girl down the wrong path, but then again, the likelihood of her fortunes coming true was minimal. And even so, Oseye wouldn't be there to witness her downfall or rise to peace . . . . Jinaki would soon be just a memory, a reminder. Just one of the many, but oh did she ever hope that the spirits treated her much more kindly. "I'm sorry. . .the spirits are quiet today and these runes stale. But that should give you a little hope, shouldn't it?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:12 pm
Jinaki listened to Oseye, as she pushed around the bones and wove a tale of her future. She couldn't possibly believe that this spoke of her fate, but at the same time it felt so true. . . She had pegged her history quite clearly, so surely she wouldn't guide her wrong!
A Trial of Trials? Now what on earth did that mean! Part of the blue eyed female wanted nothing more than to groan, to heave a sigh as yet more tribulation was forecast. It wasn't fair. . . Life was never supposed to be easy but what of this trial? What would it be? "Is there no more information . . .? Nothing more on this trial? " She questioned softly, shoulders collapsing lightly as she leaned forward.
Still, falling quiet Oseye mulled and mediated over the words offered to her. It would be up to her to decide her fate amidst this trial. . . to choose the easy route or the difficult road. . . both of which had endings not entirely the same. One would lead to more hurt, more pain, the other happiness. How was she to know though? How would she know what to do or where to walk? " . . .can I open my eyes now, Oseye? I . . . I'm sorry, there's just a lot to think about. I don't want you or . . the . . the spirits . . . to think I'm ungrateful! I . . . I just don't know what to make of it."
And how could she? Maybe it was better not to know of ones future, not when it meant there would be trials and error . . .not when there was as much negativity surrounding it! Hope seemed minimal . . . and that sacred Jinaki. All she really wanted was a happy ending, but maybe she was wishing for too much.
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:18 pm
Oseye inwardly sighed, noticing the fear and uncertainty that seemed to pain the female. Perhaps she should have been more generous with her rays of hope. . . She'd meant to keep things slightly realistic and vague, but it might have served the young lioness more if she promised a dashing prince and a great family, of protection and future security.
Mmph.
Oseye had to remember that not every lioness was like she, who might have snorted at such an ending. To get ensnared by a male and tangled with cubs was not her idea of fun. But to a soft female like Jinaki . . . . well. . . . Maybe she should have painted such a picture. A smile would have pleased Oseye, not this uncertain and worry. "Ah, yes. . by all means open your eyes. Really though. . . I sensed a great affection from the spirits," she lied softly, brown eyes sincere. "Don't fret over this trial, because ultimately you will over come. There may be shadow down every road walked, but I sense good things to come." Rising, she leaned forward and bumped her head lightly against the white female.
"Come . . . let's continue this talk down by the lake. You'll feel better after a drink, and consider the rest of the kill yours. No one will bother it while we're away." Flicking her tail lightly, Oseye began to guide the female away from the grass lands and over a small ridge. She knew of a small watering hole that would serve their purpose, and hopefully relax the blue eyed female.
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:22 pm
Jinaki sighed, rising slowly to her paws. She opened her eyes and stared down at the black paws that cursed her . . . . They looked so lovely with the lacy design, and yet caused her nothing but misery, hopelessness and grief. It just wasn't fair But nothing was . . . .
Not even Oseye's predictions.
"A drink would be nice," she stated, trying to sound chipper. The blue eyed female hesitated, staring down at the cold entrails and the broken bones. They looked like nothing special, just bones now mixed with dirt and crusted blood. Still. . .she didn't dare disturb their resting spot. Just because she didn't know how to read them didn't mean they had lied to Oseye. . . .
Good times were going to come, one way or another. Even if she had to close her eyes and shut her ears and pretend. But dreaming was so hard when life couldn't afford to be a dream. . . All she had was need, a constant and endless need. She was useless to everyone, including herself, so certainly no pride would ever want her. No one would ever decide she was worth protecting, a female who couldn't even live on her own.
Ah. . . trials. Maybe her trial of trials was learning to deal with herself. "Coming Oseye," she reassured the other, giving her coat a small shake before trotting swiftly after her black and white companion.
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