Endless Waltz
For several nights since bringing Treize and Arden to the Matembezi for safety, Shinigami was plagued by nightmares, nightmares she couldn't explain. The female found herself Seeing night and day, as if something was warning her, speaking to her. But there was nothing to fear for the Reaper, and every day brought the same; peace; prosperity; normalcy... But she couldn't shake the feeling something bad was going to happen before she left with G to go to their ancestral home.
Today was to be different.
The black pelted lioness moved through unfamiliar lands, leaving behind Tanwyn, Tanwen, to her, Nanashi. Tanwen would be a fine member of the pride, and Meiah wanted a friend to go home with. But for now... No, now, her father would pay. Meiah's claws flexed as he moved, growling softly, tensing. Someone was close. A guard? A soldier? She didn't know, but her fangs were bared.
Shinigami Saw her before the other's scent came, or her figure can into view. The Nightmare, a bane, an enemy. Shinigami growled, speaking.
"I can See you. Come out."
"See?" Meiah rose, snorting, then blinked.
The female was clearly marked as Deathscythe. A God reborn. She didn't expect to see this in person.
"Deathscythe..."
"No. The Goddess of Death, Shinigami Makkeseweru."
"Makkeseweru..."
Meiah suddenly bared her fangs, snarling.
"The Makkeseweru clan betrayed our pride when G copulated with a female outside of the pride and sent her away. Your clan is DEAD to the Colonies!"
"Not dead." Shinigami sneered, fangs baring.
"Regrouping to fight."
"Traitors. Unless you intend to serve me as the Queen."
Shinigami's eyes flickered. Death. Weeping. Cubs without a mother, a father... But this lioness wasn't the ruler. She was a pawn to an older lion. And he fit the description of a traitor she learned of long ago.
"I don't plan to put myself in power, and you'll never rule the Ardhi."
"Then I will kill you, Gundam Spirit."
Meiah unleashed a battle roar, and lunged for the female, claws bared. Shinigami snarled, roaring back and dove away, Rapidly, the black and white lioness spin on Meiah, slashing with her claws furiously, fangs bared. Meiah roared, and danced aside, before tackling Shinigami, biting the female's shoulder before being thrown off, Shinigami twirling to face her, lunging to strike again, snarling. Meiah fought as feircely, green eyes wild as they bit and clawed at one another, rolling, tossing, tumbling in the grass and mud. How dare the whelp deny her right to rule? How dare she strike her? She failed the legacy of Deathscythe, of her ancestors. And somehow, she fought like a demon, sinking her claws in to Meiah's forlegs, clawing. Meiah bit her forleg, and was thrown again. The older female pulled herself up, snarling, fangs bared. She would not give. And Shinigami didn't seem ready to do so eithedr. The two launched simultaniously, snarling and roaring violently as they did, colliding in midair, fight born anew as the rolled some more, each trying to best the other.
Shinigami had a small edge, her Sight let her anticipate Meiah's manuvers and she easily outpaced the female, claws barfed as she aimed for the jugular, and stopped, having a vision.
A cub huddled against her mother's dying form, clinging to her brothers and sisters, crying. A want for food, the young group taking to the world, barely weaned, making a sad, small crying noise before the older lion and another approached them, and gave a dark smile, hearing his words as he spoke to them wordlessly. The hope on each cub's face at his words... Hope to survive....
Meiah seized the chance to swipe, knocking Shinigami back, hard, the female landing roughly, however Shinigami only saw more, and her lack of response made Meiah stare, confused.
Shinigami saw the other adult male training the litter to fight, to attack others. The mainland. All the time there was talk of a new order. When the cubs were dispersed, the old male came, speaking mutely. A cub was useful. And slowly favor fell to Meiah. Not for strength or speed, but she followed them, trusted them most. Blindly, the cub, with her siblings, were raised to believe the two males' lies.
Shinigami came to, shaking her head, and stared at Meiah, squaring her shoulders.
Meiah watched as the Child of Deathscythe rose, bleeding, but didn't attack again. Meiah sneered, preparing to speak, but the other looked sad. Heartbroken.
"You poor female."
"Poor? I'm the future Queen." Meiia snapped. Shinigami looked sad.
"You could never be Queen. Just a puppet to an old man who doesn't care for you, except what you can do for him." Shinigami turned to move away.
"And I'm not Deathscythe. Merely of his blood. His spirit... Can never come back. And only we descendants of the Warrior-Gods can help the pride survive. Someday... I hope you understand."
And silently, Shinigami pad away, limping. Meiah narrowed her eyes unhappily, and hissed. What did that female know? She was wrong....
Wasn't she?
Mah'Rie'Meiah sighed, turning and moving away herself, looking down, and found herself questioning herself as she returned to her den. Was this really worth it?
Meiah sighed, crossing the distance, thinking. It was a lot to swallow. The Nameless ones.... The pride....
And some part of her felt out of place, like she didn't belong in any of it at all. She didn't know what she wanted, and Meiah closed her eyes, focusing on her mother.... Her mother had always known what to do. Meiah sighed, watching the water near her temporary den reflect the night sky above her, and Meiah looked up.
Her mother. Meiah missed her so. Meiah felt herself begin to cry, and hung her head, moving into the den, forcing herself to remember all the good things about her mother and what her mother did. Her scent, her touch, and her smile. Her warmth as the cubs huddled to her body, and her love. Meiah wondered where her siblings were now, looking down and licking her paws several moments. The lioness soon lay her head down and closed her eyes. As she fell asleep, she could hear her mother's lullaby in her thoughts once more.
