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 Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 6:55 pm
He couldn’t believe this was happening. Why was everything going from bad to worse so quickly? The young Tama lion stared at his reflection in a small pool of water, his entire posture slumped with misery and defeat. If anyone but Indira had asked such a thing of him, he would have given up long ago. The title of Ligi came with too much of a reputation for the young adult, and it was not the sort of reputation he would have chosen. If he even wanted a reputation. He liked being just himself… but mother needed him to follow the plan she had chosen. She had raised them for this, he could not let her down.
Even if it meant becoming a Ligi. Even if it meant people like Kafei would hate him upon sight. Even if it meant his time to sneak away to play with his friend had grown more and more limited. And…now…now he’d probably never see Kafele again. Not that the Atmaja would want anything to do with him. Kafe had accidentally let slip exactly what his family thought of the Shatkona. He would be disgusted to learn that Kayin was one of Sahen’s bully-boys. He’d…hate him. And somehow, somehow the idea of the young red lion being upset with him was worse, far worse, than the glares of all the others who hated the Ligi. Kafele…would he ever understand? Perhaps after everything was over, he could try to explain. Maybe Kafele would forgive him then.
But now he had to hurry. Blinking, the young Tama shook his head, then blew the white fluff of mane back from his blue eyes. It had grown in a lot more it seemed, and was often getting in his face, covering his eyes, tickling his nose… But it was hardly the worst problem he had. There would probably be real trouble if he didn’t get down to the mouth in a proper manner. The Shatkona wanted him to guard one of his heirs, and as much as Kayin had been avoiding the cubs he could hardly not report for duty. So that was the end of his free time, he supposed. Apparently this cub was forever ditching his escort, and Sahen had decided to put one of Indira’s children to the task. Maybe he thought first blood would do a better job of it or something.
His head was held upright, his posture recovered from the slump he’d been hunched in moments before as he’d lingered in the eye. And if his ears were slightly laid back, well, perhaps it was out of respect. Nodding at the Ligi who’d been on patrol, Kayin glanced up at the sky. Not quite noon. He’d arrived a bit early after all. But he’d be introduced to the cub soon enough, he expected. Well…perhaps it wouldn’t be all bad, the young Tama tried to reason with himself. If he were responsible for the cub, perhaps he could teach the young heir to be…kinder…than his father…or…er…grandfather, wasn’t it? Maybe the chance to be a positive influence would be a good thing. If the next ruler, and he did believe some of the stories of the chosen one, but if the Shatkona passed his power down to his grandson…and Kayin had taught that grandson to be respectful of life and the balance… perhaps it could be worth never seeing Kafele again, never spending time with Ireatu… He might be a bit miserable, sure, but it could mean something for the pride. It would mean something to his mother. Trying to cheer himself out of at least looking upset, Kayin settled onto his haunches to wait for this red grandson of the Shatkona that he was now to be responsible for.
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 3:48 pm
Very rarely did he find lions that were willing to talk to him and while most found his little escapades somewhat amusing, they were far from friendly. Most lions – even those he’d once known – still seemed wary around the young red lion and often showed some resentment towards his obvious good condition. And, of course, no one really wanted to be around someone who often had Ligi searching for him.
And to top it all off, Kafele had recently been told he’d be getting his own personal Ligi escort. For his own safety, of course. The young lion snorted, looking rather annoyed. As if he needed someone to guard him… this had to be a way for his grandfather to keep an eye on him at all times and to prevent Kafe from running off on his own – now he’d never be able to see Kay again! Apparently his “new best friend” was one of the Mwanasheria’s kids and about his age as well, something that most seemed to think would help Kafele warm up to him – or at the very least diminish the natural animosity that was sure to occur. Pff! So the wimpy little Ligi was still barely grown and already up to no good. Probably just some spoiled brat who was being passed as the next Mwanasheria and wanted more power than that of a simple Lord. Kafele hated him already.
The red lion was feeling positively rebellious and while he’d previously agreed to meet this… Ligi, he’d never really intended to go all the way to the meeting place. That’s right, he’d lied. He still didn’t have the strength to refuse his fierce but oddly charismatic grandfather but if he was to have a guard dogging his every step, Kafele wasn’t going to make things easy if he could help it. If this oh-so-fierce Ligi wanted to go around babysitting him… well, he better come and find him first. The young lion growled under his breath, lying on the ground in a sphinx position with his back turned to the place from where he expected the Ligi would come. He was closer to Kayin than he thought but he still couldn’t hear or smell the cream-colored lion. (sorry for the delay, I can't seem to stare at the screen without my eyes getting all watery xD)
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 11:17 pm
Okay.
So now.
It was well past noon, and still no sign of the heir he was to be watching. He couldn't have gotten the time wrong? The place? There had to be some mistake, but he wasn't sure what. Kayin had been very careful to pay extrememly close attention to every detail. He'd even been early, just in case. But what if it had gotten it wrong? Now what was he supposed to do? He couldn't just...just sit here if the heir was somewhere else. And he didn't dare leave in case the heir was merely late. Another glance at the sky, the sun past it zenith, and his tail twitched in anxious anticipation. He had to do something. He couldn't just sit.
Maybe he should take a short look around. Just really quick. Just in case. He'd still be in earshot of anyone in the clearing, and the smooth patch of grass and dirt where he'd been sitting was proof that he had been there. Hopefully his family wouldn't be in any sort of trouble over this. But he couldn't just sit here any longer.
Timidly, he started in the direction he was assuming the heir would have come from, heading back towards the weeping lion. If something had gone wrong, maybe the cub would still be at the mouth or something...wait was that red? Kayin froze, studying the patch of fur he could just see through the brush. Red indeed. Much like Sahen. Maybe he had got the meeting place wrong after all. But who would leave a cub, especially one of the heirs, all alone like that? Well, the cub wasn't supposed to be alone, Kay was supposed to be with him!
"Sorry, I thought-" he was apologizing as he bounded over the bush seperating him from the patch of red only to stop short and stare. "Kafele?" the cream lion squeaked, his ears flattening with sudden shock. Oh no. Oh no. This was bad. This could be very, very bad. Kafe and his family, the red lion had let slip when they first met exactly how he felt about the Shatkona and his...his Ligi.
"Kafe, you can't be here right now!" his hissed anxiously, looking around as though expecting someone to come waltzing in. What on earth was his Atmaja friend doing so close to the weeping lion? It was like Kafele was just begging for trouble!
((Aw, it's fine. I love these two so much though XD I hope you feel better soon!))
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 9:28 am
When Kafele finally heard the rustling behind him, he allowed a small smirk to grace his features but he did not turn to face the newcomer. Come now, little Ligi, that’s right. His growling grew louder as he caught the start of an apology – in a friendlier tone than he had expected, Kafele had to admit – but it wasn’t until his name was called that the red lion finally moved, jumping and turning on the spot as rapidly as if he’d just been hit by a lightning.
“K-Kay…?” Oh, no no no... Oh, this was bad on so many levels. This was an awful way for Kayin to find out about Kafele’s heritage. Had he tried following him here? Had he asked the pride members where he could find his red friend? Kafele was fairly confident that his status would most likely be enough to protect Kayin should they get caught by Ligi… probably. He had to get Kayin out of this place just in case.
“Kay! I AM supposed to be here. I… have to meet someone here.” There, that wasn’t a lie. Not that Kafele was above lying to protect his friend but he’d rather avoid it if he could. “What are YOU doing here?! You can’t be this close to the weeping lion, are you crazy? What if get caught by the Ligi? Get out of here, quickly!”
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 6:12 pm
Meet someone here? What on earth was Kafele playing at, meeting someone here? He wasn't...he hadn't actually been looking for trouble, had he? No way...Kafele was smarter than that, right? He'd been so sick with worry when he'd first heard that a lioness had been exiled, and so grateful to find it hadn't been his friend and his mother. And now...now... now this? Kafele, he wouldn't...right?
"B-but," Kay choked, his tail curling nervously around his hind legs as he fought to find a fair answer. "But Kafele, you... you could get caught too! You could get into so much trouble, why are you meeting here?" And what could he be planning to do? "I...I've done nothing that I need to worry about," he assured his friend, biting his lip as he struggled to find some other reason... "I'm just here to...do a...a favor for my mother."
There. It was true, wasn't it? Oh Kafele...he couldn't just leave his friend! Surely if there were trouble, having a Ligi on his side would help him? But then Kafele would know he was a Ligi...he didn't want to lie to his friend, but he didn't want anything to change between them. He couldn't bare to lose the Atmaja he'd grown so close to!
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 8:09 pm
Oh, this was going from bad to worse. Kayin looked positively worried now, Kafele would never be able to get his friend out of here if he thought the red lion was in trouble. Kafele’s gaze searched for Kay’s, blue meeting blue in a much colder and composed way that usual. Today he had to reign himself in and do things properly… all for the slight chance that his secrets could still be maintained and his friendship spared.
“It’s here because… I’m meeting a Ligi.” The red lion finally admitted before adding a few quick light words to reassure his friend before he moved on to change the subject. Meeting a Ligi. It was the truth but it still wasn’t an easy thing for Kafele to say. “Don’t worry, I’m not in trouble.”
“Your mother…?” Now that he thought about it – and it did seem a bit silly that he had never really paid much attention to it – Kayin did have an admirable constitution considering the pride’s situation. To this day, his friend had always appeared well-fed and content. Perhaps he was the son of a noble couple though Kafele couldn’t recall any Lord or Lady that bared a strong resemblance to the cream-colored adolescent and the red lion was beginning to know a few. “Are you here to see a Ligi or one of the First Blood?”
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 10:51 am
Mother. Yes, he’d never much discussed her or her position with Kafele. He wasn’t sure why not exactly, it never really occurred to him probably. He was proud to have her to call mother, and he would do as she asked, even in this…this… babysitting task. For the Shatkona. Kay repressed a shudder. He was scared of the red male and the power he had to hurt others, and somewhat repulsed by the fact that someone with power would use it to hurt others. But just because he was Ligi now did not mean he too had to do such things.
But would Kafele think he did? Others certainly felt as much. Like the Tama Lord he’d met… no. No, he couldn’t tell Kafele. But…he couldn’t lie to him. One lie would ruin everything, would taint the friendship they’d created. Even more than Kafele learning the truth. He’d probably find out someday anyway…and then he wouldn’t be able to trust Kayin anymore because of a lie. So no, he wouldn’t lie. But he was running out of excuses to get his friend away. And if Kafele was meeting a Ligi…why?? If he really was not in trouble…he hated the Ligi. The Shatkona. He’d told Kayin as much when they’d first met. Why would he be meeting one?
Hesitantly, afraid he might wind up in trouble but more worried for his friend, Kayin shifted to settle on his haunches near Kafele. ”I am meeting someone near here too,” he explained nervously. ”Another of the First Blood. Maybe we can wait together.” And then if there were to be trouble for his friend, Kayin might be able to help mend it.
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Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 3:54 pm
“Ah, you too?” Kafele said distractedly, trying to ignore how terrified he was of letting a Ligi find one of biggest weaknesses. Well, he could always play it cool, act colder with his friend as soon as the unpleasant company arrived. Kayin was supposed to be here anyway so… it was alright. At least that was what he was desperately trying to convince himself.
“Wait, what do you mean “another one”? Another one of the First Blood...?” Kafele jumped eyeing Kayin with obvious surprise. At first he’d thought Kayin was talking about himself but it was clear what was going on… he knew. He knew. He knew Kafele was one of the First Blood, one of the possible heirs to Sahen violent throne. And yet, here he was, still talking to Kafele as if nothing had changed. Kafele was… touched. “Kay…”
Perhaps he should've given him more credit. He should've trusted his best friend with the secret a long time ago. So much worry... and for what? Kayin didn't seem to mind the fact that Kafele was related to the vicious Sahen. He should've trusted him more.
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Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 4:18 pm
((I spit coffee onto myself XD They’re so…dense right now, rofl))
Kayin swallowed, suddenly realizing the mistake he’d made with his wording. Oh no, now what could he do? He hadn’t meant to admit…but then again he didn’t want to lie. Maybe Kafele would understand. Maybe he could explain. Somehow he had to explain. But what could he say? What should he say? What should he do? So many secrets, he hated secrets!
”I…I’m sorry, I should have told you but…” he hesitated, swallowing hard as he lifted his soft blue eyes to glance anxiously at his friend. ”I just didn’t want anything to change.” Kafele…didn’t seem mad. He didn’t seem upset. Surprised a little maybe? But not mad or upset. Maybe he’d known somehow all along and just been waiting for Kay to tell him the truth? He had noticed that he’d been more filled out than the other cubs, though he’d merely assumed it was from training with his mother for a while. But maybe Kafele had figured him out. His friend was clever after all…
”You’re not…upset?” he tried tentatively. Kafele didn’t look upset right now. Just nervous. But maybe he was trying to play nice and not hurt Kayin’s feelings. He didn’t want to do anything that would make Kafele not be happy. He just wanted to have his best friend not hate him. Surely it wasn’t too much to ask?
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Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 5:25 pm
(Omg, they are! I thought this was going to be a super serious dramatic meeting but they took a while to get it. xD)
“Well, of course I’m upset.” Kafele said with a cheerful laugh. “We should’ve talked about this ages ago. It was eating me up.”
He chuckled and then laughed some more until a sudden realization suddenly hit him, instantly killing his joy. His expression was frozen in a strange sort of grin and Kafele was suddenly very, very still.
Kayin was… from Tama. Not that Kafele minded that much but it meant he wasn’t related to the Zahama, the Atmaja representative. And he was certainly not related to Sahen. So… this meant… it meant that… Kayin was related to the Mwanasheria, the Tama representative. But, but… Indira was green. GREEN! Kayin looked nothing like her! And if it was Kayin that the red lion was supposed to be meeting here, well… he didn’t even wanted to think about it.
“Kay… are you… one of Indira’s chidren?” Kafele’s tone was strangely neutral, completely devoid of emotion. He remained unnaturally still.
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Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 11:43 pm
When the laughter died Kayin rather thought some part of him had as well. So... so he was upset then. The lion's ears flattened against his skull, his shoulder hunching as though, in spite of his large size, he could shrink and disappear. Kafele was upset. And not just in the way that he could laugh about it now, but...for real. But why?
What was wrong with his being the Mwanasheria's son?
He swallowed hard, trying to erase the dry feeling like he'd licked sand before he dared attempt to speak. Mother was something he refused to be ashamed of. Even to appease his best friend. Kafele should be able to except his mother, Kayin prayed it wouldn't somehow make his friend hate him to know that Kay had been of the First Blood, in a manner of speaking. If Kafele wanted to hate him for being a Ligi...well. That was different. He...he could accept that if he had to. Swallowing again, the young Tama lifted his eyes, a faintly proud tilt angling his chin.
"Yes. Mwanasheria Indira is my mother," he said clearly and calmly. They might not share the same blood, but there was no other lioness whom he could give the name. She had raised them. Trained them. Protected them. Loved them. Indira, blood or not, was his mother. And he would do anything for her. Anything. "I suppose you should also know that I am a Ligi now. But...Kafele..." his tone softened, the hurt and dread he was trying to hide creeping into his voice as he whispered the next words. Would they be the last he ever spoke to his friend? "I would never betray your secret to them." He had promised, all those days ago. When they were little cubs playing for the first time.
When there had still be right in the world.
((Well, it looks like it's coming now.))
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Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 9:03 am
Ligi. Ligi. Ligi.
The word echoed inside his head. It seemed impossible that Kay, his kind and friendly best friend, would ever join Sahen’s bullies. It made no sense and yet Kafele managed to contain the outburst that threatened to come out – though credit should be given to his uncle whose diplomatic ways the red lion had slowly tried to learn. Kay’s revelation left him somewhat numb and he was trying very hard not to say anything until he could place his thoughts in order.
“Secret? What secret?” Kafele spoke distractedly in an undertone, subdued by what his cream-colored friend had said. He had forgotten about his little “I hate Sahen and so does my family” outburst as a cub. He had trusted his friend then so the faux pas had never really worried him. Kayin was his blood brother, he trusted him. And he was also a Ligi now. And Kafele didn’t really know what to make of it.
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Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 10:15 am
As much as he loved his friend, Kayin very fervently wished that he had not seen him here today. Everything was ruined now. Kafele knew for sure what he'd agreed to become, and he knew Kafele hated them. It was over now, it was all over...
"Wh-when we were little...a...about your f-family..." he reminded his friend meekly. He remembered well, though it was probably because he didn't have many other memories of friends to occupy his mind. Just Kafele. "I swore I'd never t-tell anyone what you said. I...just wanted you to not worry because...because I...I'm..." He didn't want to be. He didn't want to be a Ligi. He hated the idea! Hated it! But he couldn't tell, didn't dare tell. It wasn't his secret to share. He hated secrets, if it were only him he'd have told Kafele in a heartbeat. But his mother, his brothers, it was their secret too. He couldn't give it away. No matter that he wanted to, wanted to explain.
"I don't want to see you hurt," he added softly. "Or anyone else either. But..." But what else could he do? Anything his mother asked of him, that was what.
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Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 10:27 am
Even after Kayin explained it, Kafele still took a considerable amount of time to remember what had happed the day he’d first met his friend. He laughed quietly but it was a sad laugh. It was his turn to make the confession, he could tell. But he didn’t want to. It was the same as admitting evil ran in his veins. Except he couldn’t lie anymore and Kayin would figure it out pretty soon even if he wasn’t the one to tell him.
“It doesn’t matter anymore. I’ll never be in trouble.” It felt good that Kayin still cared about him and was still his friend at heart but knowing he was a Ligi made everything strange and confusing. It took all his bravery to keep his blue eyes on the cream-colored lion. Kafele took one deep breath. “Sahen is my grandfather. You were supposed to be meeting me here.”
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Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 9:00 am
Kayin could only stare in shock at Kafele's confession. But...how was that possible? Sahen's grandson, when his family had hated the Shatkona? His acknowledged offspring? Just because they shared the same blood didn't have to mean anything, but that Kafele would be the one Kayin was supposed to be guarding...
"Are...are you...serious?" the young Ligi choked, his eyes still huge with surprise. "Kafele...I...I'm s-sorry but..." It was impossible to hide the smile now, and seeing as his friend seemed upset he was trying to! "But I... I thought I'd never see you again. I...I thought I'd be looking after some spoiled power-hungry hateful First Blood and...and...and it's you!" Perhaps he should have thought better of how Kafele might not wish to be touched by him now that he was a Ligi, but Kayin didn't consider that before pouncing to tackle him eagerly to the ground. His best friend didn't hate him, his best friend wasn't in trouble, it was his job to hang out with his best friend all the time. The depression couldn't stick around when he was feeling so utterly relieved.
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