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 Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 6:15 pm
Naheed's paws danced across the dust of the clearing, landing with precision between the boundaries of a number of pebble circles. She seemed to be counting off, her eyes shut tight, though her counting had no clear tempo about it. Far from her usual level of decoration she wore only a small gold bracelet on her back right paw, clinking in time with its steps. It was a dance her mother had taught her, one which was supposed to bring luck to her family and perhaps even the attention of a male who could provide a suitable life for her. Her father and the group had been talking lately about moving on but the thought frightened her. She was more than old enough now to settle down and find a mate, but no male in the group appealed to her. They all pandered to her as if she was their own daughter, though admittedly many were old enough that she could have been. The thought made her laugh, falling slightly off her rhythm as she stumbled on one of the markers. It was an easy recovery, but a mistake she cursed herself for.
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:48 am
 Night came sweeping down across the savanna grasses, lending a brief pause for a night's worth of sleep for the travelling group. The two lionesses had gone into a nearby den, but the dark male had come out restless. Korofi-uzulu had been curiously obliging in tagging along for the journey; his visions at first had him think that she would be the one that could perhaps be named beybanu. However, upon his actual meeting, he learned that there would be much more work to be done on her part if she was actually going to be proper. She was big and strong - that was an indicator of value, but her mind... He snorted, telling himself that he was skillful enough to temper her behavior and flaws.
The other female, on the other hand... He knew she wasn't to be part of his den. Her mouth was something he had wanted to crush upon hearing the first things that came out of it. Worse, she thought herself to be smart when she had done no such thing worthy of anything near that title. He didn't even know her name, but had no care to acknowledge its existence.
These reflections almost disturbed him on what should have been an important walk. He would have had half a mind to abandon the two females he just left if they hadn't had their uses in the Ukuucha'Wafalme. But the rogue lands were filled with so much... dirt. It was a wonder many of the pads in the Ukuucha'Wafalme took on banu from within the pride as their beybanu. Would there be any diamond in the sea of rocks worthy enough?
But then he thought about what Mirsajadi had said about taming females, letting the challenge come so that it could be conquered. Had this been his challenge? His visions no doubt led him to females that had the most semblance to being deserving of his grace, but they weren't quite there...
He was chasing after perfection, but he knew no one could reach a state as high as himself. That was the problem.
The dark young lion breathed out a sigh once more. This other vision... perhaps would lead to something he could by pleased by without hesitance. Thus, his paws continued on...
He was certain this would be the night. He was also certain that he was near. The scene came to him in a dream...
And he saw her, almost white fur brightly contrasting against the dimming night sky. Dancing. He felt as if he was in the Ukuucha'Wafalme again, watching some of the pride's most beautiful banu dancing, but he knew he was not yet home. He lingered still for a while longer before thinking to interrupt her dance. After observing for a while more, he saw the inconsistencies. He saw the errors and lack of flow during some parts of the dance even though he did not know it, and felt less entranced by the scene. Suddenly, it was as if the dream broke: she faltered, quite obtusely this time, the jerk in her step making the lioness look quite clumsy. At this signal, he stepped towards her...
"One should not dance if she stumbles upon her own paws, for she may find ill favor from her audience," he said as his stride took him near the female.
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 6:29 am
She startled, the fur on her back raising to a ridge as her eyes popped open. When she noticed it was a stranger, a strange male at that, her muscles tightened. Father would be in shouting distance, but she didn't seem to be in any immediate danger. Deciding she'd like to meet this male she smiled to him, eyes half lidded as she looked him over. "A river is made drop by drop," she said softly, "I haven't practiced this enough to warrant an audience, so you must be in the area for something else." What exactly, she couldn't fathom. Her father did little trading outside the group, except to provide bits of jewelry for her. She realized she was staring and blushed, averting her eyes to her paw as she pushed one of the borders around. If she'd known he was watching she might have been more careful. "My name is Naheed," she added, glancing up at him for a moment to gauge his reaction.
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 1:47 pm
A brow raised and head tilted upon hearing the female's first words. A river is made drop by drop? What kind of a proper greeting was that? He supposed it wasn't exactly disrespectful, but... It made him curious, yet it did not make sense. However, as he observed her features, he noted the softened voice, the semblance of a respectable expression... This could very well be the best rogue lioness in the lands, he jested, even if she couldn't dance.
What more - she knew not to look straight at a pad so boldly, instead humbling her eyes to the ground. A smile curved on his face, widening as he continued observing the sweet little creature named Naheed.
"I am Akram'raja of the Ukuucha'Wafalme," he said, puffing his chest subconsciously at his introduction, "I am merely passing by on my way home. I have only just ventured into the rogue lands a few days ago, and haven't been impressed by many... Until now, I have to say..."
His scarlet eyes continuously roamed over her, almost as if she was prey, and his smile persisted.
"What are those stones laid on the ground used for?" he asked his first question as his gaze swept through the scenery, scanning for signs of any other presence; it seemed the female had more company somewhere near enough, but he couldn't tell where exactly.
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 6:13 pm
The hint of a smile played on her lips at the compliment, one which she quickly hid with a little turn of her head. The stones? They had been an idea of her father's, to better her accuracy at repeating steps. Many of the dancers she had seen in their travels had moved wildly, she disliked the style. "They're guides, so I can train my paws to land in the same place," she said, trying her best not to sound condescending. To most they were only stones after all. She lifted her head for a moment, a bright look in her eyes, "My father has told me about the Ukuucha, strong males who rule over their families. Is it true?" She might not have a chance to meet one again, she didn't think they tended to travel much. At least she hadn't met any before now.
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:32 am
Guides... So that every step, every movement, every action... was precise. He could not deny the slight astonishment this information gave him. It not only indicated the lioness's dance training, but it told him about part of her temper, as well. It told of the hunt for perfection, the ability to understand and carry out each order exactly as it should be.
He began losing concentration on the actual moment, eyes staying eerily still on the lioness even though she did not return the gaze. He didn't notice the sudden change of expression, either, when she lifted her head. But at the words "Ukuucha"? He blinked out of his faze and stared at her, finding her question rather too good to be true. There had to be some catch, and so he raised a guard, though his tail flicked behind him in anxious curiosity.
"Your father... Was he a pad from the Ukuucha'Wafalme?" he questioned.
"It is true, however..." he said right after, hoping the answer would not threaten his present willingness to answer, "I am the son of Vizier Tariq'ra'd, a powerful force within our pride who has gained much influence and recognition. A place I shall be in one day. We have a large family, but when I return home, I will find a den to start my own."
After his explanation, he blinked curiously, finding his description a little less than fitting... It was a strange feeling. Some part of him felt like he needed to display some sort of appeal to the lioness before him, but had never done for lionesses previously. Throughout his encounters, he subconsciously assumed his mere presence would instill awe in banu, perhaps partially influenced by that exact reality in the pride. But who could he possibly be to this lioness? What impression was he giving? Was it... possibly bad that he was coming from the Ukuucha'Wafalme? Akram'raja tried to diffuse these thoughts, but the fact that this female was the only rogue lioness who seemed to have a one-up on his background was... throwing him off.
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 5:05 pm
"No, not my father, but many generations ago," Naheed explained, "My mother used to tell the stories when I was a cub." She left out the part where her mother often tried to use the stories as scare tactics to keep her close by. The concept of such a pride didn't frighten her. What could be wrong with a male, a pad as he was saying, taking care of his family? She had been told her love was not to be shared but then, she wouldn't be the one sharing it. It was a logical observation, and this male was making the thought rather appealing. "Do you have many sisters?" she asked softly, peering at him out of the corner of her eye. A little smile played on her lips as she pushed the marking stones around, rearranging them into a different pattern, "You seem like the sort who's been raised to appreciate a beautiful lioness, you must have sisters."
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Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 4:47 am
So Naheed was a descendant from an old lion from the Ukuucha'Wafalme...
"Stories, hmm..." Akram'raja purred lowly, not having grown up with stories himself; but that was the childhood of most Ukuucha'Wafalme young, as many of the banu were captured and thus unable to produce stories concerning the pride's history.
Before he could ask anything, Naheed posed a question to him first; he wondered why she sought the answer to that, finding it rather peculiar. While some families in the pride had many daughters, Akram'raja found himself to be rather burdened with three other brothers, not including the many half-brothers he found to be even more unworthy than Mirsajadi, Rayhan, and Omaran.
"I have only but one..." he answered, finding his eyes attached to the sudden movement of paws and stones, "Unless you count half-siblings... I find myself troubled with three directly related brothers."
He offered a chuckle, his composure lessening because of Naheed's distraction, "My vizier of a father has fathered many of his own, so I am surrounded by many others when I return to his den."
"But I do appreciate beauty when I see it," he offered, "As I am certain you likewise praise a reputable lion when you see one."
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Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:14 am
"Of course," she said softly, pondering what it would be like to have brothers. For as long as she could remember she had been her father's only charge. "I have no siblings," she said after a moment, "At least none that I know of. My mother was a dancer too, and she had only me." She wasn't sure whether he really cared to learn about her, but at the moment she had no real connection to him to spark a conversation otherwise. "Why did you leave your home?" she added, glancing off at the horizon as if she could see the pridelands beyond.
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Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:42 am
A self-satisfied smile imprinted itself on Akram'raja's face; even he was still glad for the recognition of others when they gave it so willingly. It was only better that this compliment came from a beautiful female who acted so fitting for his taste already, before they had even met. He liked the fact that if she were to stay in the Ukuucha'Wafalme, she wouldn't need much training before being an example of transcendence within the pride. As a bonus, she would know how to entertain a pad well!
"Ah, you are lucky, then," he said, vaguely shrugging off this idle chatter, "To not know the rivalry that runs through my brothers and myself... I pity them, seeing their errs in their ways and only wish that if we were not of the same blood, they would not be blinded by brotherly competition."
Akram'raja did indeed come to the situation lacking an interest to learn about Naheed, instead hoping to just perform the "grab and go" deal he had done with Korofi-uzulu and the kajira. However, upon arrival, a conflict arose; actually meeting her outside of his visions made him aware that this lioness was valuable from the start, and that was a good surprise. It was one that made him more cautious in this endeavor to get her to the Ukuucha'Wafalme, but as his own.
But that problem was perhaps going to be solved right now; her question was simple, but led to dangerous territories in its answer. He stalled momentarily, pondering what words would seduce her into the journey, for she was definitely not the female he would drag by the scruff of the neck back home. He thought... Naheed possibly deserved better than that. But if it had to come down to it...
"It is a tradition..." he began explaining, puffing his chest confidently, "Lions who hit the peak of their adolescence in the Ukuucha'Wafalme venture out to find a lioness who wishes to return with him to our lands. These lionesses... wish to be with a strong male, and learn to work with the other lionesses in the Ukuucha'Wafalme to hunt and become praised as the most beautiful in the lands. You must have heard these stories if you have heard of the Ukuucha'Wafalme, did you not? If we do not find a lioness who is fitting... We are not allowed to return home."
His eyes hovered on her form warily, gauging every part of Naheed for her response.
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:03 pm
Naheed seemed to tighten in on herself, though it was more a bashful act than one of fear. So he had intentions, that made their encounter all the more intriguing. If it were true that this was a tradition then she might be able to find a mate yet, she'd just need to convince her father to move the group closer. Then again, she might not have to. Giving her head a little bob she turned her eyes up to him, a faint smile in her eyes. "And you? Have you found yours?" she asked with a singsong tone, "Surely your journey wouldn't be as long as say, your brothers'." She laughed a bit at the end of it, watching him for a reaction.
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:53 pm
Something seemed to react in Naheed, and Akram'raja found himself peering closer at the lioness to see what she thought of him. It was a rare moment in which there was a small glimmer of him taking another's views into consideration. But it was all still in vain - had Naheed seen from the start that he exuded an aura of might? That he was well cultured, clever, and by far more supreme than most males - especially the rogues that were wandering the land? Of course, for him, it was not hard to see. But this Naheed... Seemed to desire a more gentle intake of his being.
Her bob of the head and look at him indicated slight interest. He paused. Shouldn't there have been more? He grunted arrogantly, the usual impatience indicative of his personality starting to come. But he waited. It was imperative to not mess up this encounter. He would have something to bring home to rub in his brothers' faces. None of them would surely encounter such beauties close to the lioness in front of him.
"Well..." he started, perhaps stalling the silence a bit further to think.
"That is what I intend. You have my word that I am by far a higher caliber than them, exceeding them in all ways. Of course I will return shortly. It has just been a few days," he laughed, beginning a movement around Naheed as if he were a shark encircling its food.
Would Naheed accept the tradition of banu sharing a pad? Of course she would have to, but something about her made him think that he needed to cunningly maneuver his way around her question. He already found a banu, but of course, he was not in the rogue lands to simply meet the minimum requirements. That was simply not up to his expectations.
"Not all," he answered, sly smile coming into his mouth during his circling stride, "I have found some willing to come with me, but I do admit that neither are as... worthy as you are."
In the rare circumstance Akram'raja found himself offering a compliment, his smile skewed, though honestly, and quickly faded away to his next words.
"I expect only the best, and will go to no limits to achieve that result. You are already on your way there, and I imagine I would be pleased with your company to the Ukuucha'Wafalme..."
He added, "As belonging to one of the Ukuucha'Wafalme's finest, I'd say. I'd dare say you likewise have taste as well, and I would tear the throat of one of my own undeserving brothers if they had found you to claim as theirs."
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Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 12:11 pm
Come with him? She blushed, turning her eyes away from him along with her shoulder. Surely he was joking, someone like him would want a lioness that was already perfect. She still had years of training ahead of her. But father would be thrilled, if he would know. She wasn't sure how the process worked. "You would take me with you?" she asked hopefully, wanting to ensure that she hadn't heard him wrong, "Even though you've seen me make mistakes?" He was forgiving, then, for all he talked. It was just a particular way, one which she could appreciate. "And these other females, are they like me?" she added, "Young rogues, I mean." She knew surely they weren't like her in other senses, but she wouldn't want to be the new girl among a group that had already settled into the ways of the pride. She wanted a chance to shine among them.
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Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 12:44 pm
Akram'raja smiled inwardly as he saw the shy response from Naheed. Her voice was bright when she repeated his suggestion, and he gained more confidence that he would have no difficulty in procuring his dreamed desires - literally.
It wasn't as if he was one of the pads that had to be desperate and try hard in the rogue lands. He breathed out a subconscious sigh of relief - of course he had built himself in a way that his physique and presence would be hard to deny.
"Of course, those mistakes will not be taken so lightly in the future," he expressed, "Because we all eventually seek perfection now, hmm?"
He purred, continuing, "You can reach the highest potential with me in the Ukuucha'Wafalme, more so than you would any straggler in these lands."
"And yes. They are... young rogues. None which possess what little skills you already have, I assure you. Not that it says much, but it is something..."
He paused briefly. Was he to just simply take her right now and depart?
"Shall we, then?" he asked, a forceful yet pleasing tone in his command.
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Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 12:50 pm
His comments took her down a beg and for the briefest second a hint of agitation crossed her face. She would have to work harder then, to elicit true unconditional praise from this male. That challenge alone was worth going with him. Knowing her voice would be strained for a minute yet she simply nodded, pausing to push her stones together into a heart. That would be enough of a message for her father, should he even care that she was gone. "I'll follow you wherever you go," she said finally, the calm tone that had punctuated her speech before returning. She would, if only to prove to him that she could reach perfection. There was after all no better way to achieve it than to have it demanded of you.
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