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 Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:58 pm
Dusk was settling around the African savannah, but the crimson feline hardly noticed. Her eyes glittered in the growing darkness, peering ahead for any sign of the zebra heard she'd scented earlier that evening. The herd was bedding down for the night; definately not a prime time for a hunt, as the lead stallion would likely be on the lookout for an unwelcome intrusion from the hungry lioness.
It wasn't Motomilia's intention to hunt tonight, anyway. She was constantly on guard for an unwelcome intrusion as well; the life of a rogue was a difficult one. The zebras would provide adequate warning if anything bigger than a cub, say a stray leopard or lion, intruded during the night.
She found a small outcropping of rock where a collection of weeds grew against. Scenting the air confirmed that the zebra herd was a safe distance away, but close enough for her needs, and she lay down against the makeshift bed. This'd do. For now.
Until tomorrow, when she would continue to make her way back to the pride she'd abandoned as a cub.
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 10:09 pm
Upendo'Mpaji's feet were sore and his mind was tired. He was unaware of the time or where he was travelling, his only link to life the scents and sounds that slowly hovered in his mind. His eyes flicked upward, looking for a sign of anything, but could find nothing. This land was strange, it was hotter during the day and colder during the night, a change that was strange to Upen for as long as he could remember.
Then again he could remember little. He had no iea of the workings of the land, nor did he know where his parents were. He made the mistake often of thinking that every lion he came across was his parent, and this day was no different. Off in the distance he thought he saw a streak of black, though it was truly a red lion, but the setting sun eluded this fact.
Overcome with joy at this discovery, light jumped back into the eyes of the small cup and Mpaji jumped high into the air, landing, ears flicking for other sounds. Finding nothing else interesting, he broke into a steady trot towards this flash that he had seen in the setting world. The darkness frightened him and he wasn't looking forward to another night alone. He was quite the social creature, Upen. Though, for some reason he could never find anyone to be with. He let out a sigh and as he grew closer he could see that this was another lion indeed, a female!
He let out an attempt at a roar, though this was rather sour indeed, and then broke into a lope, the small figure steadily getting bigger, and his legs getting more and more tired. As he neared, he slowed his pace, taking up a very respectful stance towards the much older lioness.
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 10:24 pm
Moto had almost made it asleep; her muzzle was buried in a large forepaw and her mind drifted fuzzily in that wierd state between sleep and wakefulness....
...until a yowl startled her awake.
She jerked her head up, eyes slanted, searching for the source of the intruder. And spotted him; a small cub was running her way.
Ah, Finar-si. Not a cub. She couldn't handle a child.
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 10:28 pm
Upen paddled his way all the way up to Moto's side. "Mom?" was his resounding question that seemed to echo into the night. Could this indeed be his mother, at long last? His eyes were really bright and he considered the risk of pulling on her tail.
Instead, he simply made an attempt to jump up and lick her face. She seemed so homely in the light, but he hadn't seen another lion in ages, so all of them would seem homely to him.
His little eyes scanned her happily, and he curled up by her side, gazing up longingly, hoping maybe that she was his mother. . .
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 10:55 pm
((XDDD This is too cute. And interesting. Moto'll flip... <3))
For a moment the red lioness was at a loss for words. She'd always been under the assumption that a creature like her should never be able to breed. Apparently the same rule should've applied to this one's idiot mother as well. What kind of mother lost track of her cubs so early in life that they didn't even remember what she looked like?
She made an effort to dodge his lick, but it landed on her muzzle and she grimaced, wiping the area clean with a paw.
"Stop -- stop," she snapped, a slight snarl to her tone. "I'm not your mom; will you get off me?"
She rose to her feet, shaking herself like an animal who has just gone for a swim to dislodge the creature.
"Gotten yourself lost, eh? Poor kid. But you'll have to find someone else to heckle; I'm slightly busy you see.."
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 1:01 pm
(( Indeed it will be! XD What does PRP stand for? ))
Upen was contented with this lion, or at least he was until she got angry with him. Having little experience with older lions Mpaji simply put his ears back and tried to look as pathetic and worthless as possible. She did not seem to like him one bit and it was rahter confusing. So he still hadn't found his mother. . . He let out a sigh and dropped his head to the ground.
His ears perked at the sound of her more friendly words. She felt sorry for him! A smile inched at the edge of his lips and he shifted his weight from foot to foot out of nervousness. Mpaji did not know what heckle meant, but he thought it might mean to bug. He shrugged it off and made a quick circle after his tail.
"You don't look busy!" he chirped up. "You look like you were sleeping to me!" His ears dropped again, and his voice became sad. "Besides, there aren't any more lions anywhere. I travel a long way to get here, your the first person I saw! You aren't just going to leave me for dead are you?" He held up a battered paw, it had grown crusty from all the walking he had done on the injured soles.
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 1:50 pm
((Private Roleplay. :3))
The young adult rolled her eyes. "Exactly. I was busy. Sleeping."
She snorted in responce to the cub's plea, narrowing her eyes. "Leave you for dead, pah. I doubt I'd be that lucky. I survived alone, you can too. And besides," she added, eyeing his small form critically, "you look healthy to me." She began to move away, abandoning the bedding place to find another... more private place to bed down. "I work alone, kid. Where I'm headed, they would eat you alive."
The last word was cut short by the hint of a snarl.
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 3:46 pm
Mpaji didn't understand this lion. She was nasty, cranky, and hormonal it seemed. "If you need to put effort into sleeping then you need help." Mpaji was done being nice, he didn't care if those lions did eat him alive, he was going to get through to this pig headed thing some way or another.
The cubs eyes narrowed, eyebrows stern. "I'm not you, therefore you can't judge me that way. I only look healthy because I've been eating lizards, but my supply is runnning low! I can't eat lizards forever, and I need someone to teach me how to hunt. Not everyone his all high and mighty like you!" Mpaji set off after her, not allowing her to leave his sight, no matter how much his feet hurt. "Not if you stopped them, they wouldn't," he mumbled under his breath, hoping she could hear him anyway.
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 12:02 pm
She'd been ignoring his petty and childish comments. This was a cub, nothing more nothing less, and not one of the Blood. Not one to care about.
At his last statement, which was mumbled under his breath -- but loudly -- she turned, shoving her muzzle very close to his face, her blue eyes narrowed.
"And why should I stop them, mm? Should you come before my family, my blood?"
She paused a moment, considering.
"Follow me, then. I'll take you to the Firekin, and there your fate will be decided. But don't ever say I didn't warn you."
Motomilia turned to walk on, leaving the cub to decide for himself whether to follow or not.
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 7:29 pm
Mpaji trotted along behind at his leasurely pace muttering things, when she turned on him. He reeled backwards onto his hind legs, front paw poised defensively, as he half closed his eyes, awaiting a strike. Instead, he just got her hot breath thick on his face. Realizing he was not threatened he lowered his eyebrows and glared.
"Because, your a snitty rat and that's all you've got going for you. Some day I'll be bigger than you, besides isn't it lonely all by yourself? I'll be good, kind, help hunt! What's with this about the blood, why does it matter? I can do just as much as you when I get big!"
He stuck his nose to hers, attempting to show his great bravery. It seemed to work, for she relented. His ears perked forward and a large grin spread across his face.
"You will!" he said, absolutely exhalted, and apparently oblivious to the danger of Firekin. "My fate? I don't believe in fate. You are what you set out to be, there are just people who decide to jump in your way. What are the Firekin anyway? Why did you leave, did they hurt you?"
Upendo may have been naive, but he wasn't stupid. He had learned of death and suffering, and did his best to use a c**k grin to cover the pain.
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 11:05 am
The Firekin are my family, my pride and Blood. I left on my own as a juvenile, she reponded calmly. I had my reasons.
She never once stopped walking, nor looked back, but she continued talking, expecting Upendo to follow. I've warned you, cubling, but I can't stop you from coming. All I can do is offer you advice. If you want to survive where I am going, you must do everything you are told.
Her tail twitched in annoyance, but she remained almost stoic. This was one of her strengths -- she very rarely, if ever, lost her head.
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 6:01 pm
Mpaji quickly followed, trotting to keep pace, his ears perked forwards, not wanting to miss anything the important Firekin said. "So your ROYALTY!!??" he gasped, his eyes wide. He had heard of prides, and there were Kings and Queens, and they made lots of choices. It sounded exciting and he imagined you were very important if you were royalty.
"Don't call me cubling. My name is Upendo'Mpaji and I . . . " he changed his tone to a more respectful one. "I would appreciate it if you would call me that." He nodded vigourously, he would do exactly as he was told by this lioness. They were going on an exciting adventure to meet kings and queens and huge pride lands.
Though, the lioness seemed angry with him. "Are you mad at me?" he asked, hanging his head low. "What's your name anyway?" He asked, dragging his feet and nearly tripping over them, his head still low to the ground.
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Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 9:18 pm
Her eyebrow rose, looking back at the cub. "I'm a Lady," she replied in explanation. "I was born daughter to the heir of the throne. I believe my brother rules the pride now... if he still lives."
Moto was caught by surprise when his attitude suddenly changed, and she slowed so that they walked side-by-side. She would never admit it to herself... but she was starting to like this fiery cub.
"Very well, Upendo'Mpaji," she said in a gentler tone of voice, and even graced him with a small smile. "I'm Motomilia. And no, I'm not mad at you."
She realized -- with a slight pang of guilt? -- that she didn't want to see this one be forced into slavery. Yet if he continued to follow her into her pridelands, that would be the fate that awaited him.
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Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:05 pm
Upendo yawned, realizing he was quite tired, dusk had completely fallen over them now, darkness setting in over the landscape. Upendo'Mpaji could see just fine, being a lion, but it didn't help the fact that he was triwtching whilst trying to stay awake. Her voice sounded loud and sharp in his ears, and it kept him snapped back into awarness. "Does that mean if the heir died, you would rule?" he asked, forcing back a yawn.
He was deeply thankful for her slowing of pace, he was able to keep up much easier now, and he could pay a little more attention for he wasn't as weary with worry. He gave her a grin in return, glad that he had finally found someone to talk to. Upendo was a cub that gave trust, and he had given Motmilia trust the moment he had met her. He felt proud to know this member of royalty, lady or not, she seemed extra special.
A thought sprang into his mind, enticed by the throbbing of his feat. "Is your pride large? Very far away?" His eyes were wide with wonder, images of huge prides danced in his head, teeming with lions born of fire, like Motomilia. "Motomilia. . . " he echoed the voice on his tongue. "It sounds so full of pride and flame." His eyes flicked upward to look at Moto, wondering just how large this familiy of hers was . . . and whether they would accept him. She had said that there were horrors where she was going, but what horrors he couldn't start to imagine for Moto seemed so . . . Well the word wasn't necessarily kind, but then not many fit that description. Understanding. Yes, that was the word for it, she was understanding.
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Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:27 pm
"Not necessarily; I doubt it. I have other siblings who are more than capable." Silently she thought of Kwana; her elder sister had since birth shown more pride and ambition than all of them put together except Kimeti.
"The Pride is small and well out of the way, hidden in the desert. Many of us were taken down by plague; more left of their own volition."
She halted a moment, finding a place where they could rest for the night. "We can rest a bit here, and continue on tomorrow."
((Wanna consider this finished? I want to have them meet up with Kwana sometime before making it to the Firekin.))
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