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 Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 10:14 am
 As Azhar carried a large gazelle back to the makeshift den where Asha had been resting for a couple of days, the young lion had to admit he was feeling rather… at ease lately. He felt remarkably comfortable around the dark lioness and talking to her about his pride had been considerably easier than his previous attempts with passing strangers. He still wasn’t sure what she truly thought about the Ukuucha’Wafalme but now that she wasn’t feeling well, the topic had become a little more difficult to breach. The young lion’s paw was almost completely healed and Azhar was more than a little grateful for Asha’s skills and kindness. It made sense to him to stay with her until she was feeling better as a way of repaying her kind help. Of course… that wasn’t the only reason he was staying behind but for the second time in his life, the dark lion was feeling rather lost and unsure on how to proceed. The simple fact was that there was too much at stake for him to ruin it all with the wrong kind of words or actions.
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Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 12:57 pm
 Asha rested in the shade of the trees, the makeshift den that Azhar found sat behind her. As another bought of coughing struck Asha could feel her breath rattling within her chest and her bones ache as her body tensed. Finally she was able to take a deep breath and the dark lioness remained in her prone, laying down, position doing her best to control her gasping breath. Too deep a breath or too shallow could cause another bought of coughing.
As she lay there controlling her breathing she thought of everything that had currently led up to that moment.
After only a day Azhar's paw was at the point that walking on it wouldn't cause any real harm but still Asha hesitated to call him 'healed' so when she said that he could continue on his travels and he suggested that she join him her internal reason for saying yes was to keep an eye on his paw. This of course was just an excuse. After all Azhar interested her and that just gave her a reason to stay around him.
The first day of travel was a bit slow since they spent a lot of time talking, mainly Azhar talking about his pride some more and Asha asking questions. Who would have thought a pride of one male to three or more females really worked. It was during the fourth day of travel that the cough started.
At first she was able to explain it away, the dust, all the walking, the heat. It didn't take long before it became clear that it wasn't from the mundane reasons and Asha felt that she had to explain. Azhar was kinda about it and insisted they stop, he even found the makeshift den that she was currently laying in front of. When the next day dawned and the cough got worse even Asha agreed that she would remain there until the cough passed.
Since the plant that she needed grew near by Asha didn't worry too much at first but after a little while the plant didn't seem to affect her the way it normally would. It would help stop the cough but it seemed to return shortly there after. Asha knew this day would come... her body had built up an immunity to the plant and it was not as effective as it once was.
She was debating on explain this to Azhar when he returned when she began to cough once more and all such thoughts fled her mind.
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Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 3:22 pm
In an instant, Azhar had materialized at Asha’s side.
“Are you alright?” He asked with obvious concern, lowering his head until he was at eye-level. Then he was silent but with a million questions going through his head. What should I do? How can I help? Why doesn’t this afflictive cough go away? Is there something really wrong with her? “Can I get you something? Just say it and I’ll find it.” He’d go to the ends of the rogue lands and back if he had to. This cough made him nervous and filled him with a sense of dread. A very clear memory of Tsubame popped into his mind without mercy, making his heart skip a beat. The spunky and petite beybanu had died right after giving birth to her children even though she’d appeared to be perfectly healthy. Azhar wasn’t sure he could handle something happening to Asha, right now. She was definitely not a stranger to him anymore and the fact that she resembled the banu he’d once admired (one of the few the young Azhar had actually noticed) only made him all the more nervous.
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:53 am
 Val had been heading home the mortal way when a sound caught her ears. It didn't take her long to come upon a two figured in the shade of a paw full of trees. The dark male hovered over the coughing female. With luck Val could do something to help out these two mortals.
With no hello or other form of greeting Val stepped up and spoke to the male "Get her to the water. If she is able, get her to drink." Since the closest water was only a short walk away Val didn't expect that it would take to long and turned away. The plants that grew around here would work for quelling the cough, add a few items from her bag and everything should settle down. I hope, she mentally added as she went about her work gathering the herbs she needed. Asha very nearly had her cough under control when a strange voice made her open her eyes and gasp, triggering another lighter coughing fit. Even preoccupied Asha, in that moment of sight, knew who had stumbled upon her and Azhar.
Impossible. She is a myth told to the young herbalist. A lioness to look up too. Her mind raced with any other possibility other then the one that she knew couldn't be. As a cub she listened to stories of the gods and goddesses. She was told about the two gods of healing and herb lore. She was told that if one was smart, kind, and lucky that one day she would meet them and maybe even learn something from them. She was also told that even gods change their occurrences so she might never be able to tell if the lion she meets is a god or not so being polite is always a good idea. Annoying a god is never smart.
Gasping Asha tried to warn Azhar to be polite but she could only get one word to be clear, "God". Even if she was wrong and this green lioness was not a god it was still a good idea to be polite.
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 4:52 am
Azhar took one instinctive step back when he heard the voice of the green lioness and then one forward when she moved towards Asha as if he were trying to place himself between them. It was just something he did without thinking and not because he found Val’s appearance or actions particularly threatening. He was just about to realize that the fluttering structures on the green lioness’ sides were not some sort of adornments made out of leaves but actually little – tiny even – wings when Asha’s strained word reached his ears. His head tilted to the side as his ears were pulled forward almost instantly. Despite the somewhat tense situation, Azhar couldn’t help but to feel rather curious about the stranger. As far as he could remember, this was the first Goddess he had ever seen – he’d be surprised to know that wasn’t true – and he had to wonder… did all Goddesses have wings this small…? Could they really fly with those?
Azhar had lived his entire life in the Ukuucha’Wafalme where one God lived like any other regular Pad, more respected for the fact he had once saved one of the Sultan’s sons from drowning than because of his size, wings or abnormally long mane. He was not one who intimidated or demanded any kind of deference and one of Azhar’s aunts had actually been given to his harem and seemed to be happier than she’d been in her own harem – or so the gossip went.
Despite the relative good impression that Azhar had of the God of Manes, he had been told many times of how terrible a godly curse could be and how unwise it was to upset one of the great winged lions. And because her advice (command?) had been a sane one, he had no trouble bowing his head to this particular female and following her instructions, though secretly he couldn’t help but to wonder with great amusement how strangely reversed the roles he’d learned in his pride seemed to be in this case.
“As you say.” He said quietly, moving closer to Asha to help stand up and walk towards the water.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 11:47 am
Asha was glad when Azhar did nothing more then agree with the goddess. She didn't know exactly was going on but it was with an internal sigh that she leaned on Azhar as he helped her to the water. With luck the water would help and with even more luck the green goddess could even fix this problem for her permanently.
Val watched silently as the dark lion helped his, mate?, to the water. As her paws were busy she mentally speculated about their relationship. Siblings were unlikely since the lion struck her as more then brotherly concerned for the lioness. It was possible that something more then just like was growing there so Val kept out of their way, after all it was always so sweet to see two fall in love.
It didn't take long before she was as ready as she could be, add a bit of water and it was good to go. With that in mind Val got up carefully and moved her mixing bowl, a half gourd, to the side of the water. She nodded to the male and focused on the female, who's coughing seemed to fade a bit. "Now as soon as I finish this I want you to drink it all. It should stop the cough but I also want to ask a few questions to see if there is a larger problem here that needs fixing after you rest for a few minutes." As she waited to see if the lioness understood Val carefully dipped the edge of the bowl into the water, with drew it and mixed the resulting liquid. Once that was done she looked over at the lion and asked, "Can you tell me how this started?"
Asha nodded in understanding and when the bowl was given to her she only hesitated a moment before drinking it down. Gods that is fowl she mentally gagged over the taste. It was a odd mix of several plants she could name and even more she had never tasted before.
After a moment the coughing really did quiet and stop. For the first time in days Asha could breath without fearing another coughing fit, the fluttering in her chest had died and it showed on her face. With a hoarse voice she thanked Val, "Thank you very much Goddess." She didn't want to add that she was beginning to lose hope when it came to the cough.
(edited val's post a bit ^^')
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Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2012 1:06 pm
Azhar almost moved to stop Asha from drinking the strange brew for it did strike him as unwise but her obvious confidence on the Goddess held him in place. He nearly missed the Goddess’ question completely but somehow managed to answer it with only a slight delay.
“We haven’t been together for very long but it seems to be getting worse.” He said quietly, still standing firmly by Asha’s side while she drank the contents of the bowl.
As the results of the herbal mix became known almost instantly, Azhar’s eyes widened and he let a long deep sigh as if had been holding an immense tension within him. He let his head rest on top of Asha’s in a silent gesture of affection.
“Thank you.” He added after a few moments. “May I ask your name, Goddess? In my pride lives Nywelle, the God of Manes but this is the first time I’ve seen one of your kind ever since I left.”
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Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:07 am
Val nodded and smiled slightly as she saw the male's gesture. It really was quite cute to see young love flourishing. "God of Manes, hum...." Val had heard of that god before but she couldn't think of it right off of her mind. As she thought about it though she introduced herself, after all now that the true danger had passed there was time for introductions. "As you have realized I am a Goddess. Goddess of herb lore to be exact. Most call me Val but I have been know to go by Valetudo'sero." She nodded and then in a mental flash she knew where she heard the name Nywelle. "Why, you are from the Ukuucha'Wafalme right?" She remembered that one of her apprentices had came and returned to that pride.
Asha didn't realize that Azhar had been aware that the cough was getting worse. As she sat quietly regaining her breath she listened to their conversation.She knows of Azhar's home?. Something more was bothering her though and as soon as she was certain that she would not have any problems she voiced her question."Um, Goddess Val. How?"
"Its just Val, dear. And as to how.... well it was a mix of this a pinch of that and dash of this and that. The plant that you've been using works fairly well but over time one builds up an immunity to it and it stops working so well. What you just drank was a mix of many different plants from far reaching places all meant to work together to stop that cough." Val paused at the look on the lionesses face. "OH, you meant how do I know of the pride? That is simple I taught Namir." She looked back at the lion and asked, "How is he doing considering? I saw him shortly after her death but haven't had the time to stop back again."
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Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 2:45 pm
Goddess of herb lore? Now that was rather interesting as was her knowledge of his pride.
“That is my pride.” He said simply, waiting a few moments to see if the goddess would speak good or ill of it. The opinions of rogues regarding his pride varied tremendously but they tended to be quite negative especially amongst females so he was interested to know how a Goddess would view the Ukuucha’Wafalme’s customs and traditions. Val, however, only mentioned a familiar name.
“I know Pad Naim’Namir. We are not close but I have heard of his skills.” Azhar had never heard of the blue lion’s teacher but he looked up to her with awe now. He paused to consider his words carefully, not one to give information on a “brother”’s state to someone he barely knew. “He is doing well. When I left on my quest he had taken a banu and I they were thinking of starting a family. I do not know if they have succeeded as I’ve been away for a while.”
The initial curiosity overcome, Azhar managed to focus on the bowl of liquid again.
“She is not healed, is she?” he asked, eyes looking down as his head remained firmly set over Asha’s. “It’s not permanent… she will have to keep drinking it and one day it might stop working. Am I correct?”
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 9:24 am
"Its a interesting pride to say the least." Val didn't want to elaborated just in case the male hadn't explained completely, every male of that pride had to find his banu his own way. "I knew he returned to the pride with his banu Rana and then Farrah his beybanu. But I didn't think he would get a third banu this close to his mother's death." Val visited the blue lion every so often to see if he had any questions or requests and inevitably they discus other things such as their respective families. The last time she was able to visit it was shortly after Tsubame's death, it was entirely possible that he had a third banu.
Val was pulled from her thoughts by the lion's question. "Well, sort of." The look on her face was kind but had a sad shadow to it. "This stopped the coughing but without knowing what caused it, it could very well return. It is entirely possible that this was a permanent fix but I have a feeling that this was not the only time the young lady has been plagued by the cough." She looked down at the lioness and raised a eyebrow, when the red eyes looked down and away Val knew she was right. "Now this isn't as dark as it seems, I might be able to make something that will work better and last longer but first I need a few questions answered."
Not knowing how long this would take Val stretched out on the ground directly in front of the lioness but a short distance away. Glancing at the lion Val motioned for him to sit but did not actually say anything instead she turned to the lioness, "Now dear I need you to tell me everything and be truthful, you never know what might be important. First, what is your name?" She then asked the lioness to explain when the cough started, if she remembered how it started each time, and many other questions as well."
Asha listened as the conversation brushed on the topic of Azhar's pride. He had explained it in detail but Asha wasn't completely sold on the idea yet. She had always thought that if and when she found a mate he would be the only one for her. She would be his and he would be her's with none to interfere. In Azhar's pride thought there would be other females to vie for his attention.
It came almost as a surprise when the conversation turned towards herself and the cough. When the goddess said that she thought that Asha was quite familiar with the cough Asha couldn't help but look away, she hadn't even told Azhar about her problem which might very well make the whole returning question a moot point. She looked back up when Val got comfortable right in front of her. "OH, I am sorry Godde.... Val. My name is Asha and this is Azhar, Azhar'Hitel." She then went on to explain that her cough had manifested at such a young age that she doesn't even know when it started only that her foster mother was able to quell it with a herb. She did her best to answer each question that Val asked and to give as much detail as possible. The full picture was not as bleak as it seemed. The cough surfaced as many as twice a month to as few as once a year. Asha still didn't know exactly what that meant but she did know that if anyone could fix her Val could.
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Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 6:25 am
It might not show in his expression but Azhar was actually quite surprise with the lione- Goddess’ knowledge of Pad Namir’s harem. Apparently the bond of teacher and student was stronger than he had previously considered. Still, he was much more interested in Asha’s cough to care about such things for too long. He nodded as the blue (purple? Gods, he never knew…) lioness spoke his name and waiting patiently for the string of questions and answers to end.
“If the cough returns… would… Namir be able to help her as you did?” This time, his question was slow and hesitant. He was aware of what he was implying. He knew Val wouldn’t be able – or wish to, probably – to follow a mortal lioness around to help her when needed. So the closest thing he had to a solution was if Asha stayed close to the Goddess’s apprentice. If she joined the Ukuucha’Wafalme. If she became… well, his. He didn’t meet Asha’s eyes this time and he removed his head from hers as if not to pressure her in any way but he was still leaning against the lioness, finding her body heat comforting.
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Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 6:44 pm
Once Asha finished answering all her questions Val fell silent to contemplate just what was causing this debilitating cough. When Azhar asked if Namir could help she knew that the young, Pad right?, was feeling slightly torn. From what the goddess could remember of the pride rules when Namir told her about them, no lioness could be touched by another lion except for her Pad or the Sultan. To rely on another male for the heath of his lady would grate on any good Pad. "Right now? No. Namir has the knowledge of making such a concoction but he doesn't have the ingredients. I can, however, easily provide him with such plants but if I'm right a bit of caution would greatly decrease the occurrence of the coughs."
Val looked back at Asha and smiled softly. "My dear I believe your problem stems from having an allergy. To what sadly I don't know nor am I willing to risk your heath right now to find out. I am guessing that this time the cough was not quelled by the plant because you were still in general proximity to that which causes the cough." The goddess glanced around trying to think of something that was fairly common but was not everywhere that would be a likely culprit for this situation. Sadly without more testing Val just couldn't point at any one thing and say 'ahah there is the problem'. But it did give her an idea for a possibly more permeant preventive solution.
She glanced at Azhar then at Asha and asked softly, "Would you two be willing to take a little 'adventure'? I might be able to create something that you could use only in times of emergency, that I hope can keep for a while, that you could easily carry with you. But, and sadly its a pretty big but, I neither have everything I need right here nor can make it in just a few moments. It will take me a few days, a week at the most. That should give you plenty of time to travel to my home area, the hot springs. The springs should also help a bit with any residual issues from the cough like stiff muscles or achy bones." She waited quietly, her face open and yet blank. She didn't want to pressure these two in any way, but she had a slight alternative motive. A pre-longed trip would make theses two get to know each other in a even more intimate nature... she hoped.
Asha felt oddly sad when Azhar removed his head from her's, only his comforting bulk still next to her prevented her from asking what she did wrong. As it was she still felt a bit guilty over not telling him the extent of her illness.
She completely missed the implication that if she returned with Azhar she would next to nearly free from the cough. Instead she focused on the possible cause to her predicament. "An allergy? I'm allergic to something that is making my body act like this?" They were all rhetorical questions and so didn't really expect an answer. Instead Asha mentally turned inwards and tried to remember exactly when she began coughing during each fit and what was around her at the time. This was much harder then she thought and she was quickly distracted by Val's next proposition. A nearly permeant solution to her cough? She would just have to travel to the goddess's den? She almost opened her mouth right then to adamantly agree when she remembered Azhar and his wish to return home.
Asha looked over her shoulder to him and said, "I know you want to head home. We don't have to go if you don't want to. We can figure out something else eventually."
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Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:23 pm
Azhar listened closely to the Goddess. He didn’t quite understand most of what was being said but whatever Asha had, it didn’t sound too serious. And it seemed a potential cure was on the horizon so he had every reason to feel hopeful. The idea of going on a little quest was intriguing but it was the prospect of finding a permanent cure that drove him to nod his acceptance.
“I would like nothing more than to bring you back with me to my pride.” He looked down at Asha, his eyes suddenly soft. She seemed to be leaving him in charge of the decision which surprised him and the way she talked about the two of them as a couple caused another surge of affection to deposit his head into its rightful place…. Hers. “But we should do this now. We should go. Together.” An opportunity like this would most likely never appear before them ever again. There was no way they could miss it.
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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:05 am
Val nodded, her mind already on the plants and other materials that she would need. "Good. I shall see you in a week give or take." She got up to go when she realized that she forgot two very important things, "Oh and Asha, Azhar, do not stay here. The reason your original plant was not working was in part because what ever you are allergic to is still in the area or was in the area enough to cause a reaction." She then glanced at the sun, which was in the general direction of her home and added, "I also nearly forgot to give you two directions to the hot springs. The sun should be in back of you in the morning, in front of you in the afternoon for," She paused to mentally calculate a slower pace for the two lions then she would take, "about five days. You want to continue in this direction but you need to veer to the right just a little bit. By the end of the sixth day you should smell the hot springs. Really if you get lost just ask anyone in the area, they should be able to direct you to springs. Now it might not take you that long, I just figured that for a slow and leisurely pace." Val looked right at Asha when she said, "I don't want you rushing, you will still be feeling the affects of the extended allergy attack for a little while yet."
With those two things said it was time for Val to go and with a nod and a quick good bye Val disappeared as only gods could. A slight inrush of air and a soft popping sound the only true marks of her leaving.
Asha was a bit surprised when Azhar said that he would like nothing more then for her to come back with him. She didn't think that was what she said or at least what she meant but the more she though about it the more she realized that was what she real did mean. The pride concept still made her hesitate but she felt that she could deal with that if she had Azhar there. And she really didn't want to just lose Azhar just because she wasn't completely comfortable with the pride yet. But she did feel like she had to voice her worry as well as her actual vocal consent.
She was just about speak when Azhar agreed to go to Val's hot springs. That gave her a chance to work out her problems with the pride. It gave her more then a week to figure out everything and she took that reprieve silently. Instead she turned to Val and focused on her directions as well as her instructions. She was only mildly surprised when the goddess just disappeared from sight. Asha turned to Azhar and smiled, "Well I guess I'm ready when you are. I can't say as I've ever been given a quest before."
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Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 4:12 pm
Five days. Alright, he could do it. The sooner the better if Val was right and this place was making Asha feel worse. The young lion was taken over by a sudden fear: what if Asha was also allergic to his home pride? The dusty lands of the Ukuucha’Wafalme might be challenging to her health should Asha decide to return with him to his pride. He couldn’t in good conscience keep her there if the place made her sick… so what could he possibly do if the worst case scenario occurred?
His eyes widened when the Goddess disappeared right in front of him. Nywelle wasn’t the type of God that liked to show off his powers so Azhar had never really seen him as much more than a regular Pad. It was somewhat humbling to be shown the difference between mortals and Gods so obviously. He smiled back at Asha when he regained his composure. He had expected her to take his words more like an official proposal but she either hadn’t understood him or she was still considering it.
“Let’s go then.” Her comment regarding the quest actually made him chuckle as this was the second quest he had been given. If he was lucky enough, both would end at the same time. - FIN -
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