Emil - Das Tor
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Tanwyn, Treize Khushrenada, Arden Yuy - NovaCracker
Emil had NOT been in a good mood. At all. The black and white male laid on a large, flat-topped rock, tail swishing behind him in a reflection of his foul mood. The expression on his face and the glare his blue eyes sent ahead of him were rather good indications as well. Why was Emil in such a bad mood? Simple.
His mother was dead. DEAD. And the last ones to see her alive weren't even family! They were outsiders, refugees of sorts who didn't even know his mother anywhere near as well as he and his family had! He growled and swatted at a bug that flew by. This was one of those times where he was glad he tended to be a solitary creature.
Tanwyn just wanted to see him. She'd seen a black and white male from the borders all of her life but never knew what to say. She tried to just play once, but something warned her away. But seeing him today, something made her decide to approach, and the small girl moved forward, staying on her side of the pond, and she looked up.
"Are you OK?"
Tanwyn wasn't the only lion out that day. Arden had tugged Treize into a walk, and was dancing at his paws, chasing bugs, pouncing, and generally acting like a cub. Treize purred at his mate affectionately, his smile warm. He always felt so light when she was happy...
Emil looked to the white and goldenrod female, startled. He frowned and went back to his prior position. "Whether or not I am is none of your concern." He recognized her markings, though. Vaguely. His grandmother's friend from the pride they were allied with had similar ones. The golden color on the young female was the same, too. "What are you here for." It wasn't so much a question as a demand to know.
He'd come out here for some peace, AWAY from others. Instead, he found himself with a nosey girl.
Tanwyn looked wounded immediately, ears pinning back.
"I.. I like looking around oiut here. The borders are nice, and you looked sad.... I was just asking... I'm sorry!" Her ears went back and she huddled down a bit. "I can go if you want."
Arden spotted Emil first, and blinked, motioning to Treize. The larger male nodded, and slowly followed her to the younger male. Tanwen saw Arden coming, and immediately huddled lower, slinking to run away. Not fair! He had a nice friend....
Emil immediately felt a bit guilty, sighing. "I apologize. I've...not had a good time lately. I should not have snapped at you." He was going to hear it from someone, he just knew it. Enough seers in the pride that SOMEONE was bound to See that. He caught the scent of Treize and Arden, frown returning as he looked to them. Great...the outsiders.
Tanwyn stopped,. but huddled up, watching. "Okay...."
"Are you alright, Emil?" Arden tilted her head, speaking gently. Treize came behind her, sitting, visibly concerned as well. Tanwyn watched in fascination, blinking and looking... Fairly confused, though wary of the dark male.
"Bleh, demon..." She muttered, eying Treize.
Emil looked back to Tanwyn, chuckling slightly, despite his bad mood. "He's not one of those 'demons' the Mwako'bi'Giza hunts." He looked back to Treize and Arden, raising a brow.
"Alright? Would YOU be 'alright' if your mother died and the last creatures to see her weren't family or friends? If your own mother didn't even bother saying 'goodbye'?" He didn't care that the Mwako-girl (as she'd confirmed by her bit about Treize) was there. Arden had opened the ant nest.
Tanwyn pinned her ears back, but Arden spoke with a sigh.
"Noone can time their death. I'm sorry if your angry... I'm sure hthere's a reason." Arden frowned. Treize nodded.
"And I doubt moping wouild help."
Tanwyn kept her ears back, creeping close, approaching Emil softly.
"I'm sorry your mommy died. At least you know she loved you. My Daddy never came or seemed to want me." She remained huddled, subbmissibve. She didn't want him hating her!
Sorry he was angry?! Of COURSE there was a reason he was angry! They probably didn't know the sort of hole loosing a family member left. He was about to growl when Tanwyn's voice interrupted him. He blinked and looked down to her. And sighed.
"My father hasn't exactly been around often himself." He lowered himself from the rock, starting to feel worse now. Not only did he have the two who had brought his mother back preaching at him, he was making a girl who had nothing to do with it feel bad.
Arden sighed, trying to follow.
"Please... I'm sorry it happened without you there...."
"I know your pain. But that gives you no right to judge others." Treize spoke quietly.
"My mother died after we adopted my sister."
Treize frowned, sitting neatly. Tanwen huddled against Emil, as soon as he was close, putting a paw around him. She wanted to help, and all she could do was try purring and being reassuring. Arden blinked.
Emil was thrown for a bit of a loop with that bit of information. His ears went back and he closed his eyes. "I am sorry. And I am not judging anyone." For some reason, the female beside him calmed him a bit. Perhaps it was because her actions at the moment reminded him a bit of one of his cousins.
"Since her death, I have been surrounded by family, or run across you two. I've not had a moment to myself. Even DUO has had time to himself since he returned to this, for Mkodi's sake!" And Duo was almost always glued to Shinigami or Kyouko or badgered by that damned cheetah who went by 'G'!
"Understandable." Treize nodded calmly. "Sometimes everyone needs peace. But that doesn't mean you shut others out entirely. And Arden's a worrier."
Arden's eyebrow shot up and she looked at him.
"Bleh!"
Tanwyn eyed both, then nuzled Emil kindly, trying to help him feel better.
"You could always hide. That's what I do. Like now. Mama doesn't know I'm out here~" She grinned and puffed. Treize facepawed.
Emil looked to Treize and Arden warily, frowning again...then sighed once more. They didn't really understand than. He'd been the one looking after his mother, knowing how weak she was. He'd failed her by not being there in her final moments.
He tried to think of something to say, then looked to Tanwyn. That...that was actually a brilliant idea. Hell, that'd probably been how Duo had gotten time alone. Mkodi knew his uncle couldn't be found when he got it in him to hide.
"You may not want to be out too long, than. If your mother is who I think she is...when it comes to her children, she's as bad as our Chief Healer missing a patient." He looked to Treize and Arden. "I'm going to accompany her back." Her pride was allied with his...it wouldn't do for the daughter of a leader to go missing traveling between the two. "If you could inform my grandmother I am accompanying a member of the Mwako'bi'Giza back home, it would be appreciated."
Arden smiled.
"I can do that." She nodded. Treize bowed his head as well.
"When you feel need, we can talk later, if you wish." Treize spoke gently before following Arden cvalmly. Tanwyn waited until they had gone, and rolled her eyes.
"Mama worries too much. I'm practically a teenager. I don't need to act like a cub." She pouted, then got an idea.
"Want to catch bunnies before we go home? It'll be yummy and fun!"
Emil nodded to Treize, feeling a bit calmer now that he would have some time alone. After he got the girl home, he could take his time getting back...sort things out. He was certain his grandmother would understand if he dawdled. With the two outsiders gone, he looked to Tanwyn. "Your mother will likely worry all her life. I've noticed it's what mothers do." He smiled slightly. "We can. We've a long trip ahead of us, after all. Our prides may be near one another, but it still takes some time to travel between them."
Tanwyn beamed, and impulsively licked his cheeck, running for her favorite place gayly.
"Well, come on, then! KI know the best spot!"
With that, she was off. Maybe this was a good day after all!
