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 Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 10:12 am
 Kafele was in a bit of a foul mood. He was supposed to meet Kayin later in the day but Dada was cheerfully retelling the moments she’d spent with her grandfather and how nice he was and how terrible it was that those Ligi were always around to ruin their fun - she actually whispered that last part as if they and not the ruler were the real threat. She was basically making it impossible to remain quiet in the den and he didn’t want to get into a fight with his sister and not just because there were spies all around them. He had failed her in a way, he believed with a good amount of guilt. They all had. Sahen had captivated her far too long ago, lied to her and brain-washed her into thinking he was something he wasn’t. And now it felt like it was too late, like she’d never be able to see how cruel and deceptive the current Shatkona was.
So he was early, waiting patiently at the base of the Weeping Lion, hoping Kayin wouldn’t take too long to arrive. He could really use a nice run to the borders to release the tension that slowly piled up when he was in his “home”.
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 10:44 am
 Jabari stopped, catching sight of the heir that his brother was guarding just standing there with no guard in sight. He hesitated only for the briefest second before padding forward. "I'm here to fill in for my little brother while he... does something a bit personal." Which made it sound like Kay was out getting laid or something, but he was still irritated with him, so he didn't care. "My name is Jabari. I'll be your guard for the day, my Lord."
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 11:38 am
Kafele’s smile fell quickly when he realized that the voice didn’t belong to Kayin and that apparently his friend wouldn’t be coming today.
“Personal?” that rotten Kay, he better not have a girlfriend. He would tell him if he had… right? Hopefully, he wasn’t out patrolling and being forced to do things he’d later regret. But maybe it had reached Sahen's ears that the two were close and the ruler decided to change his guard for some reason.“Is everything alright with Kayin?”
Had it been any other Ligi and Kafele would make sure to speak as little as possible but apparently this was his friend’s brother so the emotionless mask he had to wear in front of Sahen and his Ligi was not quite so firmly set in place. It was strange finally meeting one of Kayin’s “real” brothers and he had to admit this wasn’t exactly what he’d expected. For one, apart from the splotchy markings, they looked nothing alike. Adding a formal tone and eyes that lacked Kay’s warmth (despite being much warmer in color) and Kafele’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, wondering if this really was his friend’s brother.
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 12:12 pm
"Other than paw-in-mouth disease, he's fine," Jabari said quietly, his irritation showing through, despite himself. He shook his head, forcing it to the back of his mind. "Your name is Kafele, right? I need to thank you for taking care of Kay. He's always been my favorite brother." Even when he irritated him.
"Where would you like to go today, my Lord?" he asked after glancing around. "A run, perhaps a spar? I'm yours to do with as you will." Which somehow seemed to be a lie coming from his lips, even though he looked the other male straight in the eye.
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 2:33 pm
Kafele had a million thoughts and conflicting feelings regarding Jabari. The white lion seemed a bit annoyed at Kayin for some reason but Kafele immediately wanted to take his friend’s side without even knowing what had sparked the half-hidden irritation. He was no Kay, that was for sure but perhaps it only seemed that way because they were meeting for the first time as adults trying to comply with rigid roles. The Heir and his Guardian. It was bit suffocating, really. Kafele hated that sort of formality, still remembering the days when he was Kafele, just Kafele, the son of Amira, the huntress, the “red one”. He recognized a hint of fondness in Jabari’s words as he spoke of his brother, however, and that put the red adult a little more at ease.
“Kafele, yes. I’ve known Kayin for so long, it’s good to finally meet one of his brothers. But I don’t really think I’ve been taking care of Kay… it feels the other way around some times.” Kafele said softly, mentally repeating Jabari’s name in his head so he wouldn’t forget it. The idea of “using” Kayin’s brother was somewhat revolting though. “Let’s just walk for now. No need to be so formal.” he started walking in the direction of the border, avinding the more densely-populated areas.
It was always easy with Kayin. He could be silly and impulsive and Kay would laugh and everything would always be fine, whether they were sparring or avoiding serious discussions. He didn’t really know how to speak with Jabari yet.
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 5:04 pm
"Even though we both live in the Jaw, I don't believe we've ever actually spoken," Jabari said, watching as what few lions that they passed watched him curiously, with hints of fear and defiance in their eyes. "I'd like to think that any friend of my brother's could easily be my friend, too."
That was also probably a lie. He didn't have any friends other than his brother. And even them... did they even like him? He looked at the lion walking next to him, wondering if he even knew how to make a friend. "So you haven't met Tasso yet?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:18 pm
Even if it was a lie, Kafele gladly took it because nothing would make him happier than to have Kayin’s brothers like him. He smiled warmly, slowly lowering his defences. This his best friend’s brother, after all.
“Ah, yes… I’m afraid I’m somewhat to blame for that. I was avoiding Indira’s children before I knew Kayin was one of them.” He smiled, just a little, visibly relaxing. He was probably the one who’d taken the news of his heritage the hardest. “Well, I was avoiding pretty much everyone back then.”
“Tasso? Ah… no, I don’t think I do. Does he look more like you or Kay?” he noticed how some pride members running off at the sight of the well-nourished pair. This was going to give him a terrible reputation..."Look, it's the Ligi friend, run!", oh he could hear already. For a moment, Kafele wondered if that could be the reason he'd been assigned a guard.
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:35 pm
"No... Tasso's big, black, with white spots, blue eyes, white mane," Jabari said. "He's younger than I am, too, but bigger," he complained. "And he's obsessed with females. You're probably better off not talking to him, he'd probably complain that you're not a girl. He does whenever it's me."
His tail twitched and his eyes searched the land around them, catching any sign of movement. This was one of the possible successors of the Shatkona he was walking with, and he was one of the smallest male ligi. This would be the opportunity to take out a possible future tyrant. "Your siblings," he said, "what are they like? Are they like you?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 7:41 pm
“He sounds like fun. And a bit of an idiot… he’d probably get along with my brother Azu.” He chuckled, following Jabari’s gaze from time to time. If it was Kay asking the question, Kafele would’ve blabbed half his life story to the white lion. As it were, he chose to be more concise even though he was still almost just as open.
“Like me? No. Yes… Well. We're all close but.... Azu is a little like me, rough and competitive. A total momma’s boy but you didn’t hear it from me. If there’s trouble, he’ll be right there next to you guarding your back… but then again, he might’ve been the one to start the trouble in the first place.” He laughed again and his wicked grin, so familiar to Kayin, finally took its rightful place. “Dada is the only girl. And Livi… Mmm. He reminds a little of you. And a little of Kay. He’s quiet and clever, never says anything that he doesn’t mean or that he hasn’t considered carefully. And gentle. There’s a strange… warmth about him.”
He purposefully refused to discuss Dada with anyone other than Kay and his family. She was a complicated topic and he’d rather not have rumors circulating the pride that his sister was a pampered princess and Sahen’s most dutiful (and blindest) follower. But that would probably happen without his help.
“When I was younger, I was a little afraid Kay would trade me for Livius if they ever met.” Kafele chuckled again, obviously enjoying talking about his family as if they were normal pride members and not potential Heirs that might one day succeed a tyrant. “I’m the only red one. My brother are mostly white and my sister looks like Kay.”
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 7:51 pm
And he noticed that he didn't say much about his sister. Jabari looked at him for a second before going back to his casing the area. "I'd like to meet them," he said quietly. "My brothers and I grew up insulated. I think Kay's the only one that has a friend outside of the family, but Tasso might be keeping something from me. But I'm betting he'd have bragged about it by now."
He walked silently, in a way that seemed graceful, almost scary with how silent and steady each step was. "Did Kay like your brother better than you?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 10:29 pm
“Oh, they never did meet.” Kafele said lightly, not without a hint of shameless relief. “It was a lot of trouble sneaking off to see Kay and Livi usually behaved.” As opposed to the red lion, of course, that often left the safety of the play area where the hunters sometimes gathered to keep a close eye on the cubs.
“I used to wonder why it was so hard to find him. I guess it makes more sense now.” He chuckled again and took his eyes from the path ahead to look at the lion next to him. He suddenly noticed the way Jabari moved but he wasn’t sure he should mention it, finally recognizing it for what it was. Training. He, too, had experienced it, right up to point when he neared adolescence and his aunt, his invaluable teacher, had been exiled. He could tell his improvement had decreased considerably after that, with only his uncle and his brothers to practice. He wasn’t anywhere near as graceful and silent and Jabari seemed to be. Or Kayin, for that matter, but he didn’t noticed it on his friend anymore. “You move like Kayin. I guess you had training, too.” He was just making up polite conversation and meant nothing by it though if he had better memory, he’d remember Kayin didn’t like to talk about his abilities.
“Mmm. I was thinking of going for a run before I saw you. To the border and back. You up for it?” There was the unmistakable hint of challenge to the red lion’s tone as if Kafele’s trademark grin wasn’t clue enough. He always enjoying pushing Kay’s buttons and testing his reactions because the cream-colored lion always managed to surprise him. Kafele had to admit having some curiosity as what Jabari would do and how he'd react in comparison.
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Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 6:29 am
"Unlike my brothers, I don't have excess, useless bulk to weigh me down," Jabari said wickedly. "I'm sure you and Kay might have a race, but you'll have a hard time keeping up with me," he bragged, crouching down in a starting stance and glancing at the other male. He would have to make sure not to get too far ahead, since technically he was still a guard.
But he was always up for a good race. "I'll even let you say go, what do you say?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 11:40 am
Oh, that was more like it! He should’ve suggested a run right from the start. Nothing like a little friendly competition in order to achieve some quick male bonding! Kafele wiggled his toes in the dirt, he could feel tension leaving him already. And really… did he just call his brothers fat?
“Oooh, that sounds promising. Are you sure you’re up to it?” the red lion’s grin widened as his head slowly lowered. He eyed Jabari out of the corner of his eye, visibly amused. He had a feeling Jabari’s confidence wasn’t unfounded. What kind of training Indira had provided his sons, that was something he’d like to know! “Points taken for tripping or running into someone.”
“Well then… on three.” Kafele lowered his body, getting ready for the sprint. He wasn't planning on wasting all of his energy right at the start but he had a feeling Jabari wasn't going to make it easier to keep up. “1… 2… 3!” And he was off.
(I have no idea how to go from her… xD)
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Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 12:12 pm
Jabari let him run for a brief second, several thoughts crossing his mind. So this was a possible heir? He wouldn't last a moment if the current Shatkona passed away. The rage would have built up so much that he would be slaughtered on the spot just for being the same colors as Sahen.
He couldn't let this one take the Shatkona position. But he couldn't let him die, either. Kay would kill him.
With that decision he started racing, chasing after the heir with a wicked little grin and a super fast body. He wasn't about to let him win easily.
((I say we can call it done^^))
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Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 12:27 pm
Kafele glanced behind for an instant and found Jabari quickly gaining up on him, apparently after taking a moment to appraise the competition. The little bugger was testing him, huh? With a laugh ran at full speed, only slightly worried that he might not have the stamina to make it all the way to the border and back.
He’d probably even lose which while not a pleasant prospect most of the time, wasn’t bothering him as much this time. It was okay. This was fun (The Gods knew he needed it!). And he’d get to tell Kayin all about it later and tell him that he really liked meeting his brother. - FIN! -
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