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 Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 9:31 pm
Stormclaw
Stormclaw waited patiently, making sure that nothing happened to his king while he met with the females and by the time the meeting was over the Patron was growing mildly frustrated at the length of time. He finally glanced through the trees and found that the females had finally left his king. In theory, it meant he could go back to his own duties, but... In truth he was somewhat concerned over what had been said, so rather than leaving, he stood and walked towards Riddle Mouth.
His gait was slow, ready to turn away if the king wished for his privacy.
He had warned the lionesses, hadn't he? Yes, he had, he had told the younger one it would be best not to flirt with the king. She could be pleasant, but Stormclaw didn't think it would have been right for her to act as she had when she had met him. He actually sighed again, she had told him she would visit him. He might not have minded her sister's presence so much, but the flirtatious one? He'd rather spend a full moon's cycle taking care of Baris and Percy.
Riddlemouth
The females had been interesting. The one bearing blue swirls along her pelt... Siren was it? She had caught the king's approving eye and he'd not made any attempt to hide it. The pride could do with more ladies about and the better looking they were, the happier the other males would be. Perhaps it was shallow but pretty faces did a number on morale that no ammount of clever words or shining trinkets would. The pride was booming with new cubs and new life. The grumbling and whimpering of the dim-witted members still clinging to their old ways was slowly fading into the happy laughter of the next generation.
..Frankly Shandor couldn't wait for them to grow old so he'd have more reasonable company and more compitent thieves lurking in the shadows absorbing new information.
Ame was already bearing a new litter and he'd had an earfull from her just a few nights prior about him dragging out his own line. The pride was full of royals from her side and a lady-heir had been decided by her paw. Shandor, however, had only just begun courting a lovely young thing he'd happened upon recently. Courting, however, was slow-going and the lioness still retained her slender belly.
As the patron stepped in closer he raised his head and a slender brow with it. "Stormpaw. Greetings."
Stormclaw
Stormclaw bowed his head, not bothering to correct his king. It wasn't that Riddle Mouth had gotten his name wrong on accident, rather on purpose. A subtle reminder that he was in the pridelands, not the roguelands and that they lived in a more or less peaceful pride. An open paw was just as effective here as a clawed one. Regardless, the blood-colored lion generally refused to correct him on anything. It just didn't seem his place.
"Greetings," he replied when he rose his head and sat down a pace or two away from the other lion. A glance around him told him the females were most certainly gone. Had the king accepted them and sent them on their way to find... whatever needs they might have? He had a feeling that if they hadn't been satisfactory he would have been asked to escort them from the pride, so they must have. He wondered what names they would choose for themselves, in turn telling himself to respectfully forget their given names. The younger one wasn't difficult, in fact though he had caught her name, he had likely forgot it as soon as he heard it. In his mind she was the "little one," who needed a lesson in humility he might add. Livya was a different story. He couldn't remember her name completely, but it would take him some effort to detach the shortened version from her visage.
"I take it the sisters are off finding their place in the pride, then?" He really wasn't much for idle talk, but he was curious about them. And even a little bit concerned about what they might have said about him. It hadn't occurred to him, but they might have said something about his manners towards them. Much as he didn't understand what he might have done to upset them, he knew he had because of the way Livya had snapped at him and he would much rather take any criticism head on rather than waiting for someone to track him down.
Riddlemouth
"And to cool their heads." Shandor added with a wry smirk. "I appreciate your strength but we must be as welcoming as we are dangerous, my friend. We can always use the numbers, especially if we can include sharp minds among the count."
He flicked his tail and casually crossed his paws in front of him. He seemed at all times completely at ease with himself and those around him. Even around strangers, he would speak to them as he would an old friend or a kinsman. It was a deceptive enough warmth but it had always managed to loosen lips and relax tensed shoulders.
"A lovely pair, wouldn't you say? More females for the pride, more slender bodies dancing to the sunset. At least until one of our brothers finds them fetching."
Stormclaw
Stormclaw sighed.
"I merely told the younger of the pair that I didn't appreciate her advances," he replied with a frown and a shake of his head. Well, that was the short of it. Of course, he had also told her to get a better past time, which her sister took offense to, and swore rather fiercely in front of them at Percival.
But he wasn't going to say anything about that.
"If you say so. I have to wonder how much trouble the little one will cause beforehand." A lot, if that was how she greeted every male she met. He did not look forward to any squabbles among the males over her. Her sister, prettier though she might be, did not seem to be the kind to allow for such a thing. He could almost see her calling such behavior nonsense and demanding it to stop. His maw twitched ever so slightly, but he didn't smile.
"Seems to me only one of them will be dancing, though."
Riddlemouth
Shandor couldn't help but crack a smile at that. he had the good tact to avoid laughter but his amusement met his eyes regardless. The poor patron.. he was far too serious for his own good. "Take it as a complement." He suggested with a touch of laughter sinking into his voice. "Come now, there are many others who would have basked themselves in the attentions of a young lady. It is unfortunate that young ears were present but try to find some fun in flowered words.
He snorted again. "It only takes one fat belly for a cheeky lioness to learn how to mind. Sometimes just the threat of such. Of course she will have competition around here. Our queen's gone off again and got herself heavy with cubs. Her second litter. I suppose I should be leery next time she asks if she can have border partol."
Stormclaw
He shook his head. He didn't want her flirting with him, especially as empty as it had felt to him. He'd much rather have an honest female, if one at all. Stormclaw didn't really want a female in his life, not in the way Riddle Mouth was referring to. He didn't have need for a mate and he most certainly didn't want one. Mates were trouble. They were distracting and vulnerable. He hadn't heard his demon's voice since he'd stopped hearing the soothing sound of his muse, but he didn't trust it, not completely. He still got his visions, visions of blood and fighting and horrible things he could do or things he had done. His visions had become less like nightmares and more neutral, but that didn't change the ones he had already had.
A severe frown had found its way onto his face while he thought about his own fears, but he banished it with a shake of his head.
"I might have if I didn't have the sneaking suspicion that it was commonly given," he finally said and relaxed, focusing on what else his king was saying.
"Has she now? Is she pleased over this?" He had even less interaction with the queen than with the king, so he had no idea if she was happy to be bearing cubs again, or if she was bothered by it.
Cubs were another issue. He didn't want those, either. Hell, he didn't like training Baris and Percival very much, only because he worried about how safe they were with him.
Riddlemouth
"Beggers can't be choosers." He rose up from his spot on the large, smoothed out boulder and stretched his long silvery back out. The sun would set within an hour's time and soon the mummers would be out on the sands dancing under the last light of the sun. There'd be a fire going too if that strange lion from the outside was baited out of his cave for a change. Strange one that...but if lions could figure out how to muddle themselves without falling gravely ill on spoiled fruit they could figure out how to strike a spark now and then.
"Walk with me. Some fresh air should clear that head of yours. And don't you start with me." He pointed a claw in the other male's direction. The crimson male was far too serious for his own good. He appreciated strength but even the biggest lion had a laugh now and again.
"Ah pleased enough. A handsome bunch the last batch. This one's a mystery to me for now. She'll bite the claws off anyone that tries to get a peek before its time. Of course I'm glad for the respite." He nudged the other male. "She thinks I need to fatten a few bellies myself. To think I have nothing better to do, eh?"
Stormclaw
"Who said I was begging?" Stormclaw asked, unable to hide the smirk from the tone his king took with him. The pointed claw made him feel almost like a cub again, being lectured by his father or uncle on his behavior. He stood and followed along, not minding the walk at all.
"Our queen is a very protective mother, this doesn't really surprise me." It was good to know she was happy about this and that it hadn't been unintended. It would be her own fault if it had been an accident and he would have felt bad thinking less of the queen. In his opinion, you had no right to complain about something that was your fault to begin with. Either get through it or fix it and stop bothering others with your own follies.
He shrugged at the king's last comment, turning to him with a slightly raised eyebrow.
"Maybe she just thinks it's time you had an heir. You don't, after all."
Riddlemouth
"There's that sharp wit. I knew one day with a pair of catty ladies wouldn't dull it." A smug smirk crossed his jaw as he fell into a casual but still brisk walk towards the coastline. He loved the ocean but he wasn't a fan of getting wet. The dampened sand some ways from the froth of the seawater was just perfect. He didn't have to shuffle through dry sand nor did he have to spend the night licking salty water from his mane. It provided enough support for his paws and it was cool to the touch. A pleasant place to walk.
"That she is, she makes a good caretaker for this pride. I was a little skeptical when the goddess named her the queen but I can see her reasoning now... if there was any sanity in that divine head of hers." He snorted. "Of course, she appointed me. That says little."
Riddlemouth rolled his eyes. "Not you too, romani."
Stormclaw
The warrior snorted at the thought that he might have lost his "sharp wit" all over a couple of females that had interrupted his patrol. it would take more than that, in his opinion. He had to think about it for a moment, but he shook his head in an honest response.
"Not catty. Immature would be a better term, at least for the dark one. Her sister..." He paused there, considering how to explain the elder of the pair. She had been polite to him, even when she censured him for the offense he had given her sister. She was a strong-minded one, there was no doubt about that, but shy and timid towards him. It was a distinct flaw in his opinion. As imposing as he was, he would never hurt another lion unless provoked in some significant way. Or... at least he wouldn't while he was in control of himself.
He didn't want to think about his own fears and so drew his mind back to his thoughts.
"Her sister didn't have too much to say. I think I frightened her," he finally said with another shake of his head. He didn't think he scared any of the prideladies anymore. The only one he could recall that was really afraid of him was actually his closest friend. But then she was afraid of everything. His spine crawled at the memory of her calling him a monster when they first met. She'd been right, of course, at least in his way of thinking, but he hadn't wanted her to be afraid so he didn't tell her that. He'd never told anyone about the voices, his father and uncle might have figured out what it was and... And he wasn't sure what the former demon-hunters might have done.
Stormclaw chuckled at Riddlemouth's complaint and found his smirk again.
"All I did was state truths and a possible reason for the queen's pressuring. I never said it was my own opinion."
Riddlemouth
"Ah well then we'll have to see to that right away." Shandor said with all seriousness before his smile lightened his tone once more. "We can't have it being said that we gypsies were rude now can we? Honestly, I'm certain it came from a long trip. I wasn't exactly charming when I came to these lands either. Of course, I had another voice in my head that drove me right up the wall."
Frightened. Shandor glanced out the corner of his eye at the larger male. He was of forgien blood but then again- who wasn't? He was larger than most others and he carried himself like an angry elephant half the time. Rather than comment, he latched onto the more light-hearted comment and smirked. "All in good time. Unlike my other half, I like to take time in my selection. My heir will have to be the firm paw over the pride and it won't do to find myself a fun little fling along the border or touch on a lady here who's too soft a touch. I need someone with a sharp wit and a quick paw."
Stormclaw
Stormclaw snorted again.
"You'll need a strong female to teach the little one to not pout and complain when she doesn't get her way, I wager. Pit a male against her and she'll try and flirt her way out of having to listen. Or worse. And there's no use asking me to do it. It will be an icy day on the savanna without intervention from Godchild's father before I take on that duty." He actually sounded rather appalled at the thought. In truth there was nothing really wrong with the young lioness, but he didn't think he could put up with her cheerful attitude and incessant questions for very long.
He gave the king a sidelong glance and voiced his opinion before he could curb his tongue.
"Sounds to me like you might have someone in mind already," he replied, wondering if his assumption was true or not. He was glad to get the conversation away from himself, before he grew uncomfortable.
Riddlemouth
"Oh strength is over-rated. I think a clever mind would tame that shrew right fast." He smirked a bit and glance dout towards the beach. "Have you met the newest male to our lands? A strange one. Magpie snagged him on an outting and brought him back on the end of a rope. He can talk his way in or out of anything. He's going by the name Rennisance now. He's...not one for subtlety. Perhaps you can have a word with him."
Shandor smiled knowingly and shifted his dark eyes sideways. "Perhaps I do."
Stormclaw
"I meant strong as in her mind. And determination. From the way she acted towards her sister's commands, the little flirt would do anything to anything to avoid altering her ways." He was reminded and couldn't help but smirk a little bit.
"Perhaps I was wrong. I'd forgotten how the bright-eyed one stood up to me when I told the little one to find something to do other than flirting if she was bored. I don't like complaining," Stormclaw explained, adding the last sentence rather quickly. If the girl had been bored, it was her own fault. Even cubs knew how to entertain themselves if they weren't able to do what they would normally.
His interest piqued, however, when Riddlemouth mentioned a new male. He frowned a little over the description and shook his head.
"I hadn't heard. Strange? In what way?" Ah, he hadn't missed the subtle remark. He wasn't one for subtlety either, but at least he could pick up on it. Maybe he would have a word with this new male.
The king hedged about whether or not he had a female in mind and he didn't press the issue. If Riddlemouth didn't want to talk about it, Stormclaw respected him enough not to push the issue any farther than he had already gone. It was good, though, if the king had a lady he favored. The pride needed heirs, just in case something happened to their rulers. And if it made the king happy, then all the better.
Riddlemouth
"It sounds like someone might fancy you." Shandor said as gently as he could manage. "Watch yourself, she may be the sort to believe in love at first sight. If so, I forsee a long few weeks ahead of you... but she sounds like a good one to have around. Sharp minds are in short supply these days. Sadly enough.
Strange how? It was a good question. Just strange didn't seem to be an appropreate answer and he'd not give it. "He... notices things that seem fairly common place. Then he spends days obsessing in his cave. The place is littered with... scribbles. Scratches on paper given color through crushed berries, blood, grasses... he also collects things. It's almost madness but... if madness were sane."
Stormclaw
Stormclaw had no idea which of the females Riddlemouth was talking about.
"Gods, I hope not," he replied before he could really think it through or to qualify his opinion. The little one... he'd already forgotten her name, she was at best an annoyance. Even when he had made it clear he wasn't interested in her advances she was still a bother. She asked so many questions and insisted on talking. She had even asked him if Percival was his son. He almost laughed then. Percival, his son? They were as different as a sea-shell and a toad, how could anyone possibly think they were related? But when he thought further on the matter... He wasn't sure how he felt about the idea of her sister fancying him. No, he qualified, he wasn't happy about it, at least not entirely. It was better for females to just keep themselves, and their hearts, away from him. With his father and sisters gone, he had to wonder why he even stayed, as worried he was over the threat he might cause. Perhaps it was just him clinging to this place. It had been his home, his uncle was still there. He had no where else to go and deep down he knew that despite his gruff attitude if he ever left the pride he would probably grow so lonely it would kill him.
A frown had found its way onto his face as he considered the sisters. And it stayed there as his mind wandered back to Riddlemouth's description of the new lion.
"That does... sound strange. Maybe it's a different sort of madness?" The suggestion sounded like a question and he just shrugged. Maybe he would
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Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 2:47 pm
Stormclaw
"It could be worse. You could be like my uncle and still not be able to tell the difference." Stormclaw's reply was joined by a bit of a smirk. It was no secret, at least not to family or the rulers of the pride, that the head fortuneteller, while a prime seer, had his faults. His visions had been affected by the goddess' influence, to the point where he actually knew what was going on in what he Saw. But everything came at a price. The Godchild couldn't tell the difference between a vision and reality. He never knew if what he had Seen had happened yet or if he'd even actually been there.
His visions, on the other hand, were just that. Visions. It didn't matter that they centered around him, he knew what they were and they were gone in mere seconds. And his uncle's visions seemed so... harmless.
"If you think it best I talk to the new member, I will," he finally said, returning to the topic of Renaissance. In truth, he was of the mind that if the other male did not want to be bothered, he wouldn't do so. It wasn't like he really enjoyed conversation. And when it all came down to it, he'd probably just end up accidentally insulting the new member.
Shandor
Shandor snorted and gave a good natured smile at that. "Come now, at least he's somewhat sane in his insanity. A clever lion would be leery of that. He might be feinting his madness to keep his real nature well hidden. A good ruse to outside eyes if you ask me."
Regarding the newcomer he simply shrugged. "It won't hurt. This pride needs to strengthen its backbone a bit. Getting to know the strengths and weaknesses of our kinsmen can only help."
Stormclaw
Stormclaw snorted.
"Oh, I've no doubt he's sane. Just confused some of the time. Unless you count his incessant need to meddle in my life," he paused there to cast a raised eyebrow to his king. "But then, you seem to fall into that category as well."
He doubted he would get any strengths or weaknesses out of the newcomer, he wasn't really subtle or sneaky enough for that. But he could at least get a bit of the lion's character if he tried. Yes, he thought with a small nod, he would go see what this new member was like.
Shandor
"Oh come now. I at least mean well for it. If not for my meddling, you'd spend your days sitting on your paws and watching the border." He nudged the other male's shoulder then took a few paces away.
"I think you can use a day off to get yourself sorted. I'll take a day at the border. Call it a day off."
Stormclaw
Stormclaw rolled his eyes heavenward at the king's remark.
"Someone has to," he replied without a second thought. But that wasn't really it, now was it? He knew he worked far more than he needed to. He didn't want down-time, he wanted to occupy as much of his time as he possibly could, to avoid everything that could come from having free time.
He stopped walking when Riddlemouth nudged him and moved away.
And frowned when he said that he would be taking time on the border. He didn't like that idea. It was his duty, after all, and he didn't want anyone taking over for him. But how could he argue?
With a frustrated sigh, he dipped his head.
"Fine. But you'll give the queen expectations if you take over my duties too much," he finally said with a bit of a smirk, reminding the king of his earlier comments about the queen and taking border-patrol.
Shandor
"She's got a litter of whelps suckling off her. I don't think she's going to know that I'm bullying the patrons off the border so they can rest their paws for a day or two." He threw a smirk over his shoulders. "Now get out of my sight. Make some bellies fat around here or make a friend. And for the love of Mkodi, lighten up."
With a flick of his tail and a toss of his mane, the gypsy king broke into a brisk lope. It was a little petty to throw a verbal jab like that and retreat but poor Stormclaw would drag his paws forever if he could manage it.
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