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 Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2012 12:26 pm
An accident. That's all this was. An accident that he had no control over, that he had nothing to do with, that...oh, who was he kidding. This was all his fault. Completely his fault. He had only meant for it to be a joke...and a good one! That was what he was the best at now, wasn't it? No one was supposed to...well, okay, getting a bit hurt could be funny. If someone fell down or bonked their head. This was not funny. This was terrifying. Ufisadi stood at the edge of the large watering hole, eyes wide, jaw slack, his whole body trembling. The water at his feet was slowly turning red, the ripples from the center finally stopping, and the other alligators on the banks slowly slid in to feast below the now murky surface. A few bubbles rose to pop where the young lioness had just been dragged under, but other than that, there was no sign of life. Blood continued to stain the water of the watering hole, and as it grew darker in the very center, Ufisadi had to turn and run. Tears blinded him so badly that he ran into a few trees in his attempt to get away from the horrific scene. He had never meant to kill someone! It was just supposed to be a prank! The bank wasn't supposed to collapse under her weight, there weren't supposed to be alligators, it was supposed to be funny! She was supposed to laugh! He wasn't sure how long he ran for, but he only stopped when he tripped over a rock and fell flat on his face. He lay on the ground heaving as he tried to catch his breath, his paws covering his face. "Gods...this wasn't supposed to happen," he groaned, the image of the young lioness' face when the alligator clamped down on her foot engraved forever in his mind. "It was a joke! Just a joke..." He lay there for quite some time, mumbling about how it wasn't fair, how it wasn't his fault, how the gods must be playing a trick on him. He wasn't sure what he said after a point, but he continued to mumble to himself. Surely that goddess wouldn't come back...there were better things to do with her time than to keep an eye on one measly little lion, right? She wouldn't know he had broken the agreement.
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2012 1:25 pm
Let the mortals run willy-nilly breaking contracts? That would be nice. She could hand out powers like candy and then all the lions would be able to fly, their bellies would all be fat, and they would cover every inch of the savannah with their ill-conceived multi-gendered offspring.
And she'd have to deal with every single one. No. Thanks.
"I'm sure that lioness would agree with you."
Uuni's words were spoken quietly and fell slowly and carefully from the end of her tongue. There had been no rumbling sound to announce her arrival. No shift in the atmosphere. For all Ufisadi would know, she appeared from the air itself.
"The crocodiles certainly seem pleased." It was dry, humorless, unimpressed. Her eyes moved to the water and her lip raised in disgust.
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2012 1:43 pm
Ufisadi barely registered that someone was there. His senses told him that another lion was nearby, but he didn't pay attention to them. He was too worked up, too nervous, too upset. It wasn't until the goddess spoke that he realized he wasn't alone any longer.
"Oh no," he groaned, the voice all too familiar. He was sure she would be gone for good. He lifted one paw and sure enough, there were the large, pristine-white paws of Uuni. He slowly lifted his head, looking up at the large lioness with fear on his face. What was she going to do to him?
"It was an accident," he said weakly, ears pressing against his head submissively. "I just wanted her to get a bit wet. I swear I wasn't trying to get her k-...to...have that happen." He had no idea if that would help, or if his soul was punished to eternal damnation. What happened when you broke a pact with a god, anyway?
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2012 2:02 pm
"Killed," Uuni finished for him.
In the large scheme of things, it was hardly a loss. Lions died all the time. Fires, wars, battles, infections, disease: even gods succumbed to a few of these ailments. The odds of a long life were against every lion. But, some lions were more important than others.
This one had been important to someone.
"You've landed yourself in a real pile of elephant s**t." Metaphorically speaking, of course. The goddess shook out her mane from where it had begun to itch at the base of her horns.
"I suppose I don't have to tell you that you'll no longer be the King of Trickery." Not that he ever was. Clearly, this was a good thing. He may have killed half of the pridelands by now if she'd given him any real power of manipulation.
Not that his intentions seemed malicious. There was entirely different sort of punishment for that. No, his sobbing, unhappy form spoke of someone guilt-ridden and looking for forgiveness.
"You may want to have a clear head for this." She gestured to the left of her with a nod of her head. "Walking helps. I think you know you can't outrun me." In case, you know, he suddenly decided that was a good idea.
"I'll be here, thinking of your punishment." Sadly, telling him to write 'I am a bad lion' in the sand one hundred times was probably not the proper method of judgement. But it would be so much easier. "Let me know when you're ready to hear it." If he took too long, he was going to hear it anyway.
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2012 2:30 pm
As Uuni spoke, Ufisadi could only lower his head back to the dirt and appear to be as innocent as possible. His tricks did hurt people in the past, but it had always been something small. Tripping over a root, hitting their head, biting their tongue..never anything lasting or as finite as death.
As she motioned out into the open savanna, the smaller lion rose to his feet. He didn't need to be told twice to leave. He'd be back, certainly, after he walked and tried to clear his mind. He just hoped it would work. A nod of his head to show he understood and he was off, ears, tail and head drooped down far lower than any normal lion would ever carry himself.
Walking didn't really help. Ufisadi just kept replaying the scene over and over. The lioness couldn't have been more than a few weeks into her adolescence, still a bit naive but hungry to prove herself to older lions. She was so vibrant and full of life and had such a sweet face...which had quickly changed into a terrifying one once she realized what was happening, why she was in pain, why she was being dragged under the water...
She had fought as best she could. Ufisadi was sure the croc would have scars for this particular meal. He couldn't help but wonder if he had gone in after her, if they would have been able to fight the brute off together. But no. He had frozen to the ground, only able to stare in disbelief and fear as teeth sank into her flank, her leg was torn from her body, the gator came back for more...
He bumped into a tree again and looked up, realizing a bit belatedly that he had been walking straight for far too long. Not wanting to anger Uuni further, he quickly turned and headed back. He was no longer crying or shaking, but he had a very blank look on his face. Void of expression, life, everything. He was made to walk for the moment, so that was what he did. Shock did terrible things to lions. Hopefully the goddess would be able to give him some direction until he snapped out of it.
Ufisadi approached the goddess a while later, stopping a few paces away. He didn't lift his head but turned his ears forward towards her, indicating he was ready to listen.
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2012 2:45 pm
Knowing he would take a long time, Uuni laid down to wait. The offensive crocodiles hissed at her from the edge of the murky pool. She was interrupting their sunbathing location, but they were not about to investigate how hard spiraling horns could hit.
"The victim of your prank has a family," Uuni explained as ears flicked forwards. Not that she, herself, knew much of a mortal's idea of family.
"One that recently, reluctantly, let their growing daughter leave." Their first one, she didn't add. Her first son had died eons ago, but she remembered the reluctance to let him out of her sight, the initial excitement and terror of motherhood. Fortunately, he had a long life. She'd made sure of it.
"Seeing as you took their daughter's life, I think you owe them a part of yours." And by 'think' she meant 'you do'.
"Are you ready to travel?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2012 6:08 pm
A family. Of course. As Uuni went on, Ufisadi's ears lowered to match the rest of his posture. A part of his life. What...was he to play the part of their cub for them? Sire more children? Or perhaps just be a slave for the rest of his days? The punishment remained to be seen, he supposed.
"Yes," he said quietly, grey eyes dull as he stared at the dusty ground. The water behind them had settled back to its normal murky brown, but he knew that just below there were bits of skin and fur and tendon floating, while bones and any remains lay at the bottom. A rather gruesome grave, indeed, with reptiles for guardians.
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2012 7:47 pm
It took them no less than two days. Catching prey was easy for the lioness, who could simply become a gazelle until she needed to spring, or she could telport and snag one by the neck before it was able to react. By the morning of the third day, they had left the murky, blood-tainted waters far behind them.
It had rained the night before, and the wet ground overpowered whatever lingering scents had been left in the area.
She led him through a collection of trees and shrubs, before they peaked a small hill. It took around an hour of waiting before the pair in question could bee seen at a distance. Uuni had since taken on her sleek, rune-less mortal form.
"Time to listen." Again. It was amazing her tongue was not sore from the speeches, explanations, punishments, and rewards.
"You will go to them," she motioned with an outstretched leg, one claw extended to point. "And you will tell them that their daughter is dead." She clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. "And if they should ask, you will tell them why, and how."
But that was too easy. He could get out the guilt, get the weight off his chest and flee. "And then you will ask their forgiveness, and you will tell them you owe them a debt." Because he did. "And you will stay there, until you feel your debt has been paid or until they send you away."
And, if she had watched them closely enough, they would eventually send him away. The anger and helplessness of losing a child would lessen, and they would no longer seek to burden others with their anguish.
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Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2012 4:10 pm
Through their journey, Ufisadi remained mostly quiet. The presence of the goddess was only further reminder of what he had done. By the second day, though, the numbness was finally starting to leave him. He could walk with his head a bit higher, could eat without feeling sick, and could think about what had happened without wanting to cry. He wasn't a terribly emotional lion, so it was draining to be so distraught constantly. Waiting on the hilltop made him nervous. They were looking for someone specific, he knew. Would this be his punishment? Finally two lions appeared in the distance, and his heart sank. The young lioness had looked almost exactly the female... Ufisadi turned to look at Uuni, ears back in defeat. This was a horrible sentence but he was ready to face it. He nodded very slightly and, after taking a deep breath, he made his way down the hill. He kept his posture low and unsuspecting, not wanting to make the two think that he was a threat. Not dangerous, no, just the bringer of very, very bad news. Once he was within hearing range, he paused and lifted his head. "Afternoon," he murmured by way of greeting. "Are you two able to stop for a few moments?"
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:22 am
Uuni remained silent. His only physical support from the goddess was a quiet bob of her head. She settled down in the tall grass to watch, quietly. An illusion of grass covered her body, so when he looked back, it would be as though she were gone.
The pair, for lack of a better word, seemed happy.
"Ahlasen!" The voice of the pale female was high, and full of laughter. She had broken into a bouncing jog, head turned back to watch her mate. His own content smile perked at the edges of his muzzle, though his worry showed in his eyes.
They'd been together for some time, having met young, and were still young. Their first, only daughter, had left not long ago. It had been almost impossible for Yaariq to see her leave, but Ahlasen had been her foundation.
The laughter was cut short by the sight of a rogue male. Yaariq took in a quick, startled breath and backpedaled towards her black companion. She was no fighter, and she felt safest by Ahlasen's side.
"Greetings, traveler," the male spoke. His voice was calm, but his confusion was evident. "We have a few moments to spare. Do you need help?"
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:27 am
Ufisadi didn't turn his head at all to look back at the goddess. He could feel her gaze upon him, even if he couldn't see it. He knew she'd watch to make sure he went through with his deal. The two lions approached him slowly and, as his call was returned, he swallowed thickly. This was not going to be fun. "I don't need help," he said softly as he lifted his head a bit to meet their gaze. He knew this would hurt them more than him, and he needed to see the pain and anguish on their faces to really drive his deed home. He was never going to do this again and, if the bloody scene he had left behind wasn't reason enough, this would be. "I'm afraid I come bearing bad tidings," he said quietly, not wanting to come across as aggressive. Just a messenger. Don't kill the messenger...that was the saying, right? He hoped the black male wasn't the type to act now and ask questions later. The female seemed docile enough, at least. "Your daughter..." He grimaced and started again. "Your daughter has perished."
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:35 am
Ahlsen's shoulders had squared. The tension was becoming evident in his jaw as he watched the traveller at a distance.
But there was no motion of agression from either party. The male seemed downtrodden, defeated. Ahlsen found it hard to treat them as a threat.
His mate, however, had taken a quiet step forwards. Ears perked, her eyes remained fixed on the messenger of bad tidings. She had heard the word 'daughter' and she had heard 'bad tidings' and that was all a mother needed to know.
"Don't lie to us," she quickly interrupted. Surely, she would have known. Mothers just knew. The female bit her tongue, her worried scowl focused on the splotchy lion.
"I'm sorry," Ahlsen began, the more even and composed of the two. "But how is it that you know this?" It seemed. . . sudden, far-fetched, unlikely.
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 8:52 pm
The dual reactions were what Ufisadi had expected. How would a random lion know about their daughter's death? How did he know that she was her daughter? There was no better way than to just come out with the truth. Or at least, part of it. If they pried for more, he'd tell them. But for now it was on a need to know basis. "I was told by a goddess that she was your daughter," he said solemnly. "And I was given the task to find you and tell you the bad news." There...the truth, but not all of it. They were free to ask more questions, of course, but if they simply wanted to grieve in peace then he would leave them be. The worst that could happen would be that Uuni told him to go back and tell them more. The best? He'd get off from the punishment. Of course, then she might try to find another way to make him pay his penance. "I witnessed her death," he added very quietly. "She was dark like you, sir. With your blue markings, my lady, and your eyes."
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Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 11:18 pm
SilverLutz (( Sorry about the delay on this! ))
Tell them. . .the bad news. The curious face of disbelief was quickly changing to shock. The color was beginning to drain from Yaariq's already pale face. Ahlsen, feeling her begin to shake, stepped closer to her. It was alarming how quickly her body sunk into his.
"You're sure?"
But the bringer of bad news would not get the chance to answer an overly skeptical father. Yaariq had gone into shakes. She bit into her tongue with eyes closed tight and took a strong step forwards.
When she opened her eyes again, they were focused intensely on Ufisadi. "Take me there."
It was Ahlsen's turn to put back his ears. "I don't think tha-"
"No." Yaariq hissed out, her voice frantic. "I need to see. I need to know." There was a plead in her eyes as she stared at the messenger. "Take me to where she died."
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Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:15 am
Ufisadi forced himself to watch as the two parents began to let the news sink in. He could feel himself starting to shake a bit as well, but not from the deep pain and sadness the female probably felt. No, he was shaking because he was positive they'd leap forward and tear him limb from limb, just as their daughter had by the crocs. As the female suddenly stepped foward, Ufisadi's ears turned back and away from her in mild fear. He took a step or two back, pausing as he realized she was simply asking him to take her back to where he had come from. A worried look crossed over his face as he glanced over his shoulder, hoping to spot Uuni. Nothing. "I don't...I mean I really can't remember how I got from there to here," he said weakly. Uuni had been guiding his steps, taking him where he needed to go. He had been walking in a daze. "And even if we did go back there...there's nothing left. To see." Gods, that sounded horrible. "I mean that she...she fell into a crocodile infested pond. Even if there is something...it's probably at the bottom." How was he supposed to say that kindly?
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