Li Wei:There was very little rest for the weary. While traveling itself was as easy as anything could get, the actual tasks between pleasant dashes over the African terrian were enough to tire even the most experienced god. Preperation was another thing. Prior to entering any marked territory, Li would scout the boarders, leaving his scent as a quiet, subtle announcement of his coming. Gods had their own scents and his was often described as one of the more...enjoyable ones. His entire form smelled like the finest sandle wood and had a tendancy to linger long after he'd brushed against a tree or another individual. It was a calm, relaxing smell. Bold but at the same time, none invasive.
He had arrived at the boarders of what he had discovered to be a wild dog pack just three days prior. Marking the boarder with the gentle scent from his shoulders, the god observed the boarder quietly.
There had been different reactions to his announcement- the firekin for instance had been puzzled at first. When he'd finally enoucountered one of the members, he was told to run far as he could. There was another pride that apparently sacrificed its own members. The air surrounding it ran thick with blood. He'd been ill for weeks following that arrival... he'd not even managed to step foot into the territory.
There were others- prides where females relentlessly drove males away and fled into the paws of other females, a pride that was so inbred that they believed themselves to be demons, another pride equally as inbred that believed to be the hunters of said demons, and of course- a pride that drank the blood of eachother.
He shuddered at the reminder, his fur standing on edge.
He prayed to Mkodi that this pack would be a welcome relief. An oasis in a desert of insanity and violence. He wasn't certain how much more his nerves could take.
With a deep breath, the small god shifted into his even smaller mortal form. A plain, simple, brown-coated lion with a pair of bright blue eyes, a cream belly, and a half-mane coating only his head, neck, and shoulders. It flowed outwards, as long as a normal lion's mane was thick, shimmering a faint gold in the dim moonlight.
Kairi:It was mostly ironic that his first encounter would be with the goddess of the pack, rather than an actual member. With her features and her mask she certainly needn't use a mortal disguise to blend, not completely at least. As Instinct ran in the direction that she'd sensed the other she still looked like a lioness, but her ears were pointed, white fur-- adept at catching and holding the moonlight as well with a ghostly sort of glow --was thicker about the neck and chest, her tail was bushy, fine, and lacking in the tufted end so pronounced on her kind.
Her demeanor was cautious, but relaxed. This land was her territory as well as the pack's, and she knew how to defend it if need be, but judging by the scent markers that the stranger before her eyes had left she didn't expect she'd need to.
Instinct slowed to a stop gradually, tail swaying at an even level with her spine, nearly. She didn't know what he was here for, who he was, only that he was likely not what he appeared. For a moment there was silence as she regarded him from underneath the mask, golden eyes wild and sharp, curious though.
"... What brings you to the Peke Na, stranger?" She asked, her voice sounding nearly friendly, but playfully feral.
Li Wei:
At first, the young god tensed, his eyes going wide as a massive line of white made its way, unwavering, his way. A charge was never a good thing. His own instincts screamed for him to turn and flee on the east wind, but the female stopped short just a few paces away. She was far too large to be a mortal though she wasn't shaped like any god he'd met. She, like him, wore no wings on her back. Like him, she wore minimal decorations, and like him- her ears were much longer and pointed.
Almost forgetting his place, the young lion swallowed and drew up enough courage to correct his posture. Non aggressive, but not entirely submissive either. "My travels have been long... I seek somewhere peaceful to rest."
Kairi:
She probably would have had that same effect even when the greeting was friendly. Kairi was a lot of things, and an energetic girl was amongst the list of adjectives. She lifted a paw to push the mask away from her face, revealing her true one, one that didn't look at all suited to anger . As soon as the mask reached the top of her head it vanished, leaving just her necklace as the only remaining ornament on her.
"I hope you don't think me too forward, friend, but the group that dwells here are like family, but these lands are not mine to lead. I must know who it is I'm bringing before the chief before you can draw closer... You don't seem to mean them any harm..." She trailed, regarding him curiously again, tilting her head one way, and then the other, more like a cub than an adult.
Li Wei:
The lion's eyes went wide. She could make her mask disappear? For one- that must have been very handy. If he wanted to remove his beads he had to find somewhere safe to stash them. Secondly- she looked so much friendlier without it on. Sighing a breath of relief, the lion shook his head.
"I mean no harm. I only seek a peaceful place to rest. My name is Li. Would you...perhaps be able to show me to someone in authority here?"
Kairi:
Just as some gods could hide their wings, really. The mask was always with her, as much a part of her as any appendages for flight would be to any other god. She simply chose to hide it away for now.
"I certainly can."
She was there if something should go wrong, but she sensed no harmful instincts, only the one a moment ago that told him to flee. He must be one of the more peaceful domains then.
With a twitch of her bushy tail Kairi turned to lead him, looking over her shoulder.
"I'm Kairi, just follow me this way, Li."
Li Wei:
Sadly unaware that the goddess had seen through his disguise, Li followed after her, his mortal paws heavy as he moved along. As a god, he could run on the winds, calling small whisps of clouds to appear under his hooves. As a mortal, the weight of the world seemed to crush down on him. Even so- he barely bent the grass as he moved. Every step was almost practiced, leery, but somehow graceful.
"It's good to meet you, Kairi. Can you tell me about this place? I'm a bit of a nomad, I like to know my way around."
Kairi:
"These lands belong to a pack known as the Peke Na. They're a nocturnal group, since these lands are too harsh to survive in the day." She paused after a ways, lifting her head back to call out to Wisdomchaser using her own voice. These parts knew her kind. She wasn't the first goddess the leader met. In fact, it was the goddess of Duty that opened a path for Kairi to reveal some of the truth. "Hm, she should be here soon. We might as well wait here."
The female settled down on her stomach to do just that, tail wagging in a relaxed manner. She was intrigued by his visit and the nature of it. Was he simply passing? Had business here? Trouble, maybe?
Li Wei:
Li jumped as the goddess tossed back her head and made a sound completely alien to his ears. His eyes went wide and his ears rolled forward. Once her head had returned to a resting position he gaped.
"That...was a pretty sound. I've never heard anyone sing like that. Do you think...you could teach me?"
'Heve would love to hear him make a sound like that. His own cry was far from a lion's roar, and 'Heve described it as beautiful but for him- it was common place. He'd like to learn a new way to call out. If he could.
