Primitus - NovaCracker
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Kipofu - Das Tor
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Nasiha - Das Tor
Primitus would be dead if Gods required food, the male's appetite gone, the male mostly listless. He felt no call to move, to roam as he did-- nothing but emptiness. He failed once more, and the fact weighed on his mind. A fact that if not for his divinity, would kill him.
Kipofu had been trying to gather more to their cause. But so few saw fit to join. And returning to the Matembezi seemed nothing more than a faint wish with the current goings-on within the pride. Combine that with her own conflicted feelings, and the poor lioness was...well, miserable inside. Of course, she tried keeping up a smile, tried staying her usual, sweet, adventurous self. But one could only do so much for so long. And finding Prim listless when she returned from her latest failure to recruit, Nasiha at her side, broke her heart. While Kipofu only caught the smells and the little non-visual things, Nasiha saw it all. And kept his muzzle shut. He didn't think a god could get so....down. Kipofu took a tentative step toward Prim again, ears low and tail slightly between her legs, worried.
"Mister Primitus? Are...are you alright?"
Prim was surprised anyone came back, still sounded faithful after his failures, and he blinked, tense.
"Kipofu..? I'm fine." His tone was surprised, however... Surprised she was back.
Kipofu blinked, her ears going up just a little, her tail relaxing just a little. "You don't smell fine, Mister Primitus." Nasiha snorted.
"Y'don't look fine either. And why do you sound surprised?"
"It's nothing." The male briskly moved over, fussing over both protectively, worried as he groomed at both.
"Are you alright? Unharmed?"
Kipofu frowned. It didn't seem like nothing. Not if it affected Primitus so much. "We're fine, Mister Primitus. Just..." She drooped. "I am afraid we return empty-pawed once more." She was a terrible Diplomat if she couldn't gather aid they needed! Nasiha protested the grooming, then placed a paw on one of Kipofu's. The poor girl took it harder than she should...
"The fact you both returned means more than you think, Kipofu." e nuzzled her softly, sighing.
Kipofu took a careful sniff, then frowned. "Are...are we the only ones left, Mister Primitus?" Nasiha didn't like the sound of that thought. There was no sign of anyone else being around recently...
He sighed.
"Yes. Unless I join father, and I cannot."
Nasiha made an indignant sound. "That just ain't right!" He snorted. "Leavin' you in such a state." Kipofu looked more hurt.
"Even your goddess-friend?" And...and if they had no one, then...they couldn't rescue Miss Bokoboko. And that meant...No. She squished the evil little part of her that wanted to take Bokoboko's place.
Primitus looked down lower.
"She took my dughter and left me alone." His ears went back some, looking away. "I don't know where they are."
Kipofu made a pathetic noise and moved closer, trying to place a paw on Prim's. "I'm sorry." She hated hearing him so...so downtrodden, so heartbroken. "I'm still here, Mister Primitus. I'm not leaving your side again." Nasiha nodded. He knew how his charge felt...it wasn't hard to notice, for him. And where Kipofu stayed, Nasiha did. He was her eyes, after all.
Primitus blinked, smiling weakly before burying his face in her fur, nuzzling in to cry.
"Thank you... It... Means more than you know."
Kipofu let him nuzzle, let him cry. "I'm glad I can do something for you, Mister Primitus. Something to make up for the horrible job I've done." If she'd been better, she'd have found more help. And...maybe her own feelings had started holding her back? She didn't want to think like that...but maybe it was all her fault?
Nasiha moved to go find a nearby water source. At the least...Kipofu would need it later.
"It isn't your fault." He sniffed softly, nuzzling her warmly, still sad.
"Many gods think poorly of me."
Kipofu shook her head. "I could have done better, found more loyal creatures. But..." She couldn't say it. But her own feelings HAD to be why she'd failed him!
Prim rest his head on her shoulders, sighing.
"You did your best. Nobody asked more of you."
Kipofu shook her head. "But how could I have done my best? I...I was jealous of Miss Bokoboko sometimes. Not before this all started but...I want her rescued, but that jealousy is still there. Feelings like that hold someone back, right?" It was obvious the mere thought of it being true made her feel guilty.
"If you didn't care about her well being, you wouldn't have tried." He smiled, nuzzling her gently.
Kipofu nodded, still down. "Mister Primitus...is...is love wrong, sometimes?" The way she talked, she was talking love...not lust or anything people tried passing off as 'love'.
"No, of course not." Primitus blinked, nuzzling her.
"What if the person you love is already mated?" It might have seemed random...but she couldn't keep it in anymore. She had to let it out SOMEHOW.
Prim sighed, curling around her protectively. "There is no shame as long as you do not impede their joy." He smiled, grooming her ear.
Kipofu felt horrible suddenly, making a pathetic noise as she leaned into his grooming. She couldn't help it! "Iloveyou." It was fast and barely audible.
Prim blinked, freezing then seemed to get it, sighing and draping a wing around her.
"Kipofu...." Audibly... He cared.. Yet.. There was year. Fear she'd be hurt or taken too.
Kipofu couldn't raise her head to 'look' towards him. She felt so bad. "I didn't mean to fall in love with you! And...and...I still want Miss Bokoboko safe. I just..."
"You did nothing wring." Primitus groomed her gently. "One cannot help whom they love."
Kipofu's ears went back as she raised her head a bit. "You...you aren't mad at me? Or...or anything?" No one had ever thought to teach her about 'love' beyond the severe basics and familial love.
"No. I'm not. It merely gives me more to think about. Which is not bad, small one." He groomed her again.
Kipofu 'looked' up further, blind eyes not quite meeting his. "You're sure?" She hoped not. She...she didn't want him to feel bad, or to feel like she'd meant to fail just so she might take Bokoboko's place...
"I'm sure." He licked her nose, nuzzling her to rest at his side.
"Sleep for now. You need it."
Kipofu nodded, feeling tired. She'd been holding it inside for so long that...letting out had tired her. "Thank you...for not looking down on me."
"Your welcome." He smiled, grooming her gently before settling himself. He had... A lot to think about.
Kipofu drifted to sleep as Nasiha returned, the ratel blinking and raising a brow. Whatever this was...he hoped it was something he wasn't going to have to chew Prim's ankels for.
