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 Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:29 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:35 pm
Taiga followed the lioness, this thoughts focused on what had just happened. The feeling that something was coming, following him had come true. He had hoped it was just a bad feeling and nothing else. As the sounds of howling died away he saw Mana come to a halt, and he himself slowed down until he came to a stop near her. No sooner had he when the lioness was spitting out questions towards him. He waited until she had finished speaking, and then for moments after as he mulled over how to answer in his head. With a sigh he spoke, voice weary. “I do not know who they were, but I do think I know why she called me such.”
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:40 pm
“Well she obviously knew who you were!” Mana replied so quickly as to almost not even give him time to finish his own words before giving him hers. She wasn’t angry, just scared and when anyone got scared, they got defensive, skittish and easily riled. She had never been attacked in such a way and in such a sudden way either. That had been an ambush, prepared almost and with the howling that had followed them, the lioness was worried there would be more of them. “Taiga, is there something you haven’t told me?”
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:45 pm
Taiga took her first words silently. He understood she was afraid, and did not blame her for it. This was why he had not wanted her to come with him, and now his past was coming back and she was mixed in with it. He let out a heavy sigh, and despite the feeling he should keep moving, find somewhere better to hide, he sat down. He was weary now, and she was wanting answers. “i was in a pride before. I and a group of others were sent to scout out an area that was reported to have thieves hiding out in it. We were not to confront them, but simply to watch and see if these rumours were true. Well I found out they were.” He fell in to a silence, eyes closed and brow furrowing as he continued. “They knew we were there though, whether from fault of my own or otherwise. We were ambushed. I saw good lions die, and likely many of the thieves did as well."
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:52 pm
“And obviously someone close to her was mixed up in that?” Mana sat as well, though several feet away from the other lion. She just didn’t feel comfortable or safe enough around him at this point to really be any closer to him then she already was. Eyes turned downward, looking at the ground for a moment before raising her head once more to look Taiga in the eye. “Why didn’t you tell me?” The question was simple, as Mana kept her gaze on the large lion. After what they had been through that night, she had every right to be asking questions.
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:01 pm
“Yes, it is quite possible.” Taiga fell once more in to silence, his own gaze drifting down towards the ground before rising again to the lioness as she spoke. Why. “I did not expect this to happen. I had a feeling, a bad one, but after so long of nothing happening I had thought it nothing. Maybe guilt, if anything.” another heavy sigh escaped the lion as he looked up at the darkened sky. “This is why I had not wanted you to come, in case something were to happen, but as I have enjoyed travelling with you I guess I sort of forgot. Forgot why exactly I was walking, and it was nice.”
Taiga moved his gaze back to the lioness." I am sorry that you have gotten pulled in to this, that the ghosts of my own past have seen fit to do harm to you as well. Had I known this would happen.." He fell silent, unsure what else to say.
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:07 pm
"There's nothing you could have done differently if you had known." As her body calmed from the excitement, Mana's words became much softer, kinder as she learned more about the lion she had been traveling with for some time now. Much to even her own surprise, Mana rose onto her paws and made her way over, sitting herself down beside him, her head turned to the side to look up at him. “Then I suppose if she’s out to get you, you’ll need to find somewhere safe to be and staying by ourselves would not be wise.” After what they had done to her and her tail, Mana was more inclined to just leave and be on her way, but there was no way the lioness could ever bring herself to actually do that. “Perhaps instead of mindless wandering, we should search for a pride. Some place to call home. Maybe she would leave you alone if there were more lions.”
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:14 pm
Her words were true. Even if he had known, what would he have done? He could have tried to leave her sooner, or perhaps even leave during their travels together, but the thought of trying seemed harder to do after spending so much time with her. Taiga was not quite one for running from a fight, but with Mana at his side he feared for her safety. He didn’t know if he would be capable of defending her and himself. In a fight with her in the midst he would be distracted, more likely to get hurt himself, so at this point he felt no other option. “That might not be a bad idea. In a larger group I am sure they would be less inclined to follow. However I do not know this area or if there are any prides nearby, do you?”
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:34 pm
Mana shook her head, “No, sadly I don’t know any in the area, though we could try and find others, maybe ask. I’m sure some lion around here must know of a place that we could go to...if not I could always consult my teacher. She may know of a place.” She smiled despite the pain coming from her tail. Though she would be likely to tend to that once Taiga was asleep. “We should best keep moving though, they may still be pursuing you.” As Mana suggested that, she stood, wincing slightly as a tinge of pain made it’s way through her nerves.
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:52 pm
“Well we should try and find somewhere near to rest for the night at least, so you can tend to your wounds.” Taiga stood, stretching his weary muscles. “We can see about finding a pride nearby after we have rested ourselves.” He started away after he had finished speaking, keen to find somewhere they could rest for the night.
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