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 Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 10:18 am
Arathien walked silently down the tunnel, his paws not making a sound, even over terrain that normally echoed any steps. The Pard he and his lover had fled from had been militaristic, training had started practically at birth, so the touch of pad to rock was as silent as death.
Not that the leopard had that in mind at the moment, far heavier things weighed on him, and the normal devil-my-care smirk he wore was replaced with a rare contemplative look, that normally only Arancion ever saw. His mask set aside as he pondered how much danger their young King's position was in, and if and when his enemies would move against him.
When he had agreed to move from the old King's Elite Guard, to the new one's council, he'd never imagined the type of headaches he would have. War was simple, politics was deadly.
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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 10:32 am
 Busy day, busy day, very busy day, Hikaru thought to himself. He as head catcher, a title he put upon himself, was busy catching fireflies. One of the main tunnels had a sudden lack of lights because the fireflies ended up expiring earlier than expected. Now it was up to him to fix the problem. He always had the tough responsibilities.
He walked through the tunnels with his bag filled with fireflies in his mouth. His catch was larger than normal. Everything around him lite up, though it caused a menacing shadow on his face. He already frightened a couple young ones as he entered the tunnels. It was odd behavior he thought, not thinking about the shadows on his face.
It wouldn't be long till he would be to the tunnel, he thought, and than he could go back to the fireflies and catch them all. He grinned foolishly at the thought, being careful to keep the bag in his mouth. Hikaru would give anything to do his job all day. It was the easiest way to run free and let his energy out.
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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 10:50 am
Arathien was deep in thought when he saw the light approaching him, the face of Hikaru lit up like some sort of boggie feline told to the little ones to scare them away from certain tunnels. It actually pulled a smile to his muzzle, but it was one that did not stay there.
Stepping to the side of the well worn path, the black leopard sat down, tail curling over his paws, his expression still closed down, his mind still mulling over the problems he could see coming, could see forming. He and his lover had discussed it at length that morning, and each had decided to think through them, before jumping to any wrong conclusions.
For once, Arathien was ready to lie in wait...patience not his finest trait. Sitting as he was, deep in the shadows of the cave trail, his expression as hard as it was, he looked more like Arancion. For the two could almost be twins, though you could say that of many in the Pard they had fled from.
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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:09 am
As he walked he saw one of the council members. It was either Arancion or Arathien. He could never tell the two of them apart. The leopard looked troubled, causing Hikaru to be curious. He stopped next to the leopard and set his bag down. It was seldom that he saw a council member around, normally he was out doing his duty outside the maze, but this was one of those rare incidents that he was required to be in the tunnels.
He removed the bag from his mouth, and kept it shut with his paw. There was no way he would let all his precious fireflies escape now. As much fun as it would be to hunt them down again, he knew the pride needed the light. "Sir is something troubling you?" he asked speaking quickly as he normally did. He say down, despite knowing he would be twitching with impatience any moment. He was not the type who could just sit down, though if he wanted to help someone he could find the patience to do so.
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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:28 am
Arathien's muzzle gave a twitch, an almost smile as he watched the normally hyper Hikaru actually sit down for a moment, his paw even holding his precious bag of fireflies down and not wiggling his toes.
The question brought out a low chuckle, again indistinguishable from his lover's, for his own laugh was usually more warm and open, " A small matter Hikaru, one of the ones that comes with the daily ins and outs of Pride business, but thank you for your concern, it is truly appreciated." The leopard's voice was a purring rumble, silky almost.
" What brings you into the deeper tunnels? While it is good to see you, it is also very rare."
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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:42 am
He smiled proudly at the question. "Aw well, as head catcher it is my duty to make sure that there is light in the tunnels. In one of the eastern most tunnels the fireflies turned off and I need to replace them." He said, making sure to boast a little about his title that really didn't exists. "Someone has to make sure the pride has light and I'm the cheetah for the job!"
To prove himself he jumped up in a ready position. As he did so he accidentally put his paw off the bag he was holding that was filled with fireflies. His eyes went big when he realized what had happened. "I'm sorry sir! Let me catch them again!" He grabbed his bag and was ready to catch them again. He couldn't believe that he was making such a fool of himself infront of a council member. He wanted to show that he was much more than a hyper catcher and more like a head catcher, who was reliable in any situation.
The fireflies scattered through the tunnel they were currently in. Hikaru was able to grab a few of them that was around him, but it wasn't nearly as many as he had.
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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:02 pm
Arathien did laugh this time, his normal warm one and he shook his head. The laughter was not mocking in the slightest, it was filled with acceptance and no little relief, as if he had needed that moment of laughter badly.
The council member watched Hikaru for a few moments, then tilted his head to the side, " Shall we try catching the escapees that have moved further away? I can hold the bag shut and watch your skill as you hunt your prey." His purring rumble was filled with certain eagerness. This was something he had never done before. It could be fun, and enlightening all at once.
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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:52 pm
Hikaru nodded his head and handed over his bag, making sure it kept close. "Thank you sir. Normally this sort of thing doesn't happen to me. It normally happens to a novice, which I am not of course. Sometimes these things happen to even a master of their art." He explained. Than he darted down the tunnel quickly, to where some of the fireflies rest on the cave walls.
"Sir, over here. There are a group. When I say so open the bag and I'll chase them inside." he spoke in an urgent whisper. He was determined to catch all the fireflies. Thankfully Arathien was there to help him out. Without it the task would probably take longer.
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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:46 pm
The council leopard nodded seriously and took the bag carefully in his mouth, making sure his long canines did not puncture it as he followed the always moving Head firefly catcher, as he so called himself. Arathien wondered if he should bring that up in council, that perhaps they needed one.
Watching intensely as Hikaru stalked his prey, his own aqua eyes narrowing in anticipation as his tail swept quietly back an forth, his body in a half crouch as he waited for the word to open the bag, logic dictating that he only open it part way, giving Hikaru just the right amount of room to chase the fireflies in, but not enough to let the others out.
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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 10:56 am
Hikaru pounced, scaring the fireflies. He chased them around until they swooped into the bag. He grinned with triumph. "That should be good. There is plenty in there for the dark tunnel. When I get there no one has to be scared of the dark anymore. Good thing I'm around!" He said proudly. "Oh and thank you Arathien for helping me! I'll be sure to tell everyone about how you helped me save the pride from darkness!"
Maybe they would have a day of celebration to honor him, he thought joyfully, thinking about all the events they could do on his day of celebration. He would make sure Arathien got plenty of credit too, after all Hikaru was a fair cheetah and wasn't a hog of the spotlight. Hikaru knew that Arathien did a lot for the pride and probably deserved plenty of days of celebration or at least a break once in a while.
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Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 8:27 pm
Arathien raised a dark eyebrow at the fire spun cheetah, thinking that with all his movement and energy that if flame had been given form, if a tiny spark had been given life, it would be exactly like Hikaru.
Laughing softly as the bag was taken from him, the council leopard bowed in his elegant way, " I know that the pride will never fear the dark with you ever diligent at your task Hikaru. I shall have to speak to the Council and see if we have need of a 'Head Firefly Catcher'."
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Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 11:26 am
He gave him a bow. "I would proudly take the position. Now if you do not mind I must go off and continue my job. It was an honor to have help from a council member. I hope that, if the need arrises, that you could assist me once again." He spoke with pride and arrogance. He knew the pride needed him just as much as he needed the pride. It made him feel even more special than he was. He would be sure to brag to the other catchers about the days experience. It would be good fun to see their faces when they find out he got help from a council member.
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Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 10:10 pm
Arathaian watched him go, a slight smile on his face. The fiery male had done much to lift his heart and it made him feel as if he could now face the heavy weight that rested on his shoulders once again.
It was for the Brothers such as Hikaru that he must not let their young king lose the throne. They most hold it for him with their strong paws. Lift his lip in a soft growl, he flicked his tail and slipped back into the shadows of the caves.
It was time to speak to his beloved, and the loyal guards of the king.
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