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 Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 7:38 pm
She was known to him as a lion killer, someone who offed a friend of his. Or so what he thought was a friend of his. She didn't know if for sure that was the lion she was up against. But against her own will she had been given a herb that day long ago and the large brute had went on the offensive against her. She had acted out of self defense.
Except her apology was hollow then. This time, Chokwe seemed like a home to her now. She had a wish to join their ranks, to prove herself worthy of Taban's forgiveness.
If he wouldn't agree to this she would let him do with her whatever he wanted. Revenge, or to run her out and make her live life alone once again. Like water and fire, the two were distinctly opposites. But in some way; the same.
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Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 9:44 pm
 
Fire was the perfect way to describe what he was feeling. Anger, revenge, resent, and disgust were so easy to fall into. For the longest time, he had been their slave. Anger burned in the pit of his gut, mingled with grief when he had heard that Nyak was gone. A part of him didn't want to believe it, and so he had searched until his paws had swollen up and his legs ached. Returning to his troupe, he had isolated himself for some time, sparring with Feng to release the anger within. He was warned, time and time again, not to go out looking for revenge. Looking for death would often bring it about- and most often for the one that was looking to deliver it rather than the hopeful recipient.
Still, he had hoped that his faithful friend would return. Nothing would keep him away, nothing...he had proven his loyalty and companionship time and time again. As days became weeks, and weeks fell into months the truth settled over the troupe. Nyak was gone.
His killer now stood on the border, wanting an audience with the troupe's leader. He had gone with his companion, Fubar, but no one else. He didn't want to appear weak to this female. He was young, certainly, but not weak and far from inexperienced. She might have been the silver maiden but he was the firebringer. Those flames blazed in his eyes and filled his gut as the cheetah walked in long, purposeful strides to the border. His sleek back caught the setting sun and almost seemed to blaze.
He slowed as he came within speaking distance- but left quite a few yards between himself and the silver maiden. For a long while he stood there, his head held high and his broad chest swollen outwards. A muscular frame that told of actual, hardened combat rather than mindless training against immobile foes and sparring partners replaced the young cheetah that the female had once known. The anger was there but the fear had faded. He now met her eyes and held them with the authority of a leader.
He wouldn't be the first to speak, he couldn't trust himself to do so, so instead he gave a short nod to the female.Post Word count: 379
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Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 10:53 am
Her usual calm face looked hurt for a moment in contemplation. But then she saw his familiar colours hit the horizon. Instead of the hurt young slave she saw someone with power. A small smile would bless her face a softer look but just for a moment. He had become a good leader, strong and hopefully understanding towards the once fighter of a sister pride.
Taking a step forward into the sunlight her silver nape and mane tuft glistened like water in the sunny morning. Or like the metal from a warrior goddess' plating. Either or, she was that silver maiden.
Accepting the nod she lifted her head so he could hear her from the distance. Her stance was always prideful when she stood like this. Her muscles rolled with her as her body shifted a little. She sighed for a moment though and then shook her head.
"Taban.." She glanced away for a moment and then looked at his body again. Not daring to give him a glance into his eyes. "When I came to you to apologize the first time my mind was hollow from the thought of killing a lion.." She glanced at her silver paws and shuffled uneasily. "I had been given a drug and pushed into the pen. Be it as it may sound. It was what happened...." The weight on her chest hardened as she glanced to the side. "He was an elder and when I was told what I did, why so much blood was everywhere after waking up with a lion at my side. I couldn't comprehend any sort of apology when I faced you about your friend." But still she gave him whatever hollow apology she could. The silver maiden allowed herself to step down from her warrior rank of a sister pride and allow the slave to belittle her. She never let herself get hot headed for the fact that she did kill Nyak. If it was him.
Either way she wouldn't have done it on her own accord. "I had to defend myself against him. Either he was drugged as well or there was something he disliked about me. He had gone after me to kill, not to just teach me a lesson." She shook her head and then looked the firebringer in the eye. "What I did was wrong... But I can't change the past. Taban, I came here to request to join your ranks.." She let out a small sigh. "Or do what you wish to me to at least allow my soul to stop suffering the injustice I have done in the past."
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Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 1:26 pm
The cheetah's claws tightened on the soil under his paws as his hackles rose up. He listened and watched, seething as the female continued. She gave plenty of reasons but no excuses. What kind of a pride drugged their members to such a state that they went into a blind frenzy? What kind of beast would put his or herself in such a situation? There was a choice to be had, regardless of anyone's situation. If she served under a pride that allowed such things to happen, she should have had the honor to walk out...but she didn't. How many more had died? How many more that were innocent? Nyak must have caught wind of vile practices. Slavery was among one of the many grievances that the Chokwe had against some of the outside prides. If he had heard of it...he must have gone investigating. It had cost him his life...
Taban closed his eyes and took a deep breath, swallowing the fire in his gut. He left a mate behind...Gin would want to know what happened. She would demand it. His children, those that hadn't deserted for another pride, would be devastated.
"How can I face his family if you just waltz in here, Silver Maiden?" He asked evenly, "How can I look his mate and children in the eye and justify allowing their father's killer within this troupe. This family."
He opened his eyes and took a step forward. "How can I tell them that my brother gave his life... for no reason. He was killed on accident? He was denied a noble death on the field of battle? How can I look them in the eye!?"Word Count (This post: ) : 279
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Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 2:18 pm
Watching him take in her apology and story of the truth after years of possible questioning Hrist sighed. Listening to him talk to her about his family made her heart dull.
"I'm not waltzing anywhere Firebringer." She retorted. "And you wouldn't have to face his family.." Looking up into his eyes she smirked. "I don't even know if it was truly your friend Nyak, Firebringer.. I don't remember the face of the lion. I just know that he was trying to kill me."
Her heart ached heavily and she winced. Closing her eyes for a moment in retort to his fashions. "I don't know if it was for no reason, he had come after me indefinitely. But you'll never have to look them in the eye for what I have done. If it truly was him, I will be the one with that responsibility." Her eyes opened and looked into his again. Her daring Silver Maiden coming out now. "I have no home to go to.. Out in the rogue lands I just meander. Let me face his family, let me face your family." She was a knight without an army.
Breathing in she looked hurt. "You've never had to kill anyone before.." Her eyes looking haunted, a look not many truly see on her face. Obviously she wasn't playing around.
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Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 3:34 pm
That's right she wasn't. Not without his stern supervision and perhaps the supervision of several other pride members. And now...they had cubs to worry about.
It was a double-edged blade. On one paw, the troupe was suffering in the turmoil of what threatened to be another war. This time, the threat had come directly to their borders, wounded their scout, and stolen away with two of their young. Gremio was beside himself with grief and outrage, demanding that he be allowed to go look for them. His remaining offspring were all that kept the old soldier from storming out and raising hell on anyone he so much as suspected foul play out of... another threat would not sit well with any of them. Gin and her kin least of all... but on the other paw he knew little of the enemy. They needed as many paws on the battlefield as they could find. It wasn't her conflict, not now, not unless he allowed it to become hers.
Gin and her offspring might never forgive him if he let her in... but the code of the Chokwe was that the old was left behind. Whatever they did, whatever they were, whatever they had said or thought was left on the border, never to return. The beast that walked into their territory was cleansed in an unseen fire, reborn to take up a higher calling, turning on fate and grabbing it for themselves to control. To reject her would be to reject the others. Thieves, criminals, former deviants to their bodies... all of them brothers and sisters of fate.
He took a deep breath, filling his chest. "I try not to take a life." He said quietly. "So long as a body has breath in it, a soul can be redeemed."
He opened his eyes. "Even yours."
Fubar made an uncomfortable sound beside him and looked over, not quite believing his companion's statement.
"Very well...but the Silver Maiden dies here. Now. Who she was, what she was, everything she did or said will be put to rest. You'll leave it all behind. If I see her within my borders, I might just take my first life- do you understand?"
Word Count (This post) : 367
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Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 3:48 pm
A small smile raised again as her eyes still sang hollow notes into the air. She moved closer to him. Taking a step with a silver paw. "Even me." She suggested in retort.
"You didn't know me past what happened to Nyak. I can't put to rest who I am. What I did is another story. I am the Silver Maiden. But you are the last of the old times who call me that Firebringer... I look to Chokwe for a future and not of my past." She agreed somewhat calmly. "You need help on your boarders, the Silver Maiden may be of use to you, your pride and other sorts of companions. I am not here to claim innocent blood.." She suggested whole heartedly. "I promise you that you have control over my tactics in battle.. As long as I have a home of course." She bowed her head and then went back into her previous position but then she paused.
Tilting her head just a little she sighed. "And Taban..." She would wait for his attention.
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Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 4:15 pm
"I don't call you that out of flattery." He said sharply, his tone hostile. "You know what I mean...and don't think that I will let anyone turn their backs on you. Not just yet. Trust is earned here, you will have eyes on you until you can prove yourself trustworthy." He pointed a claw down her way to drive the point a little harder. He would have a word with Jowy. The youth was very good at keeping an ear to the ground and just as good at keeping himself in the shadows. It would give him something to focus his attention on until they received word from Kirkis and the other scouts.
He shook his head, turned, and started back towards the borders. It was then that she called his name. Bristling, he turned over a shoulder and stared back at her.
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Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 4:25 pm
She accepted the facts about trustworthyness. She was the only female warrior in her pride. Hrist didn't lack at all in her training. She couldn't, she slipped once and took a herb. She was kicked out afterwards for letting a slave belittle her infront of many others.
"Thank you." She said to him. Moving towards him, if he picked up his pace there would be a good gap between them.
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Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 5:57 pm
Taban grunted and looked ahead once more, moving at a purposeful lope with his maned wolf companion loping along at his side. They walked in silence for nearly a mile before the cheetah paused and regarded the female cheetah one last time. "You report to my son, Jowy. Flik and Kennison will be your enforcers. One toe out of line, and I'll know."
He flicked his tail and prowled forward once more.
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