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 Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 11:53 am
Strolling across the open plains watching pride members carry out their daily activities at a leisurely pace, at least for the most part, the pale lioness wondered where she would fit into this perfectly synchronized land. Upon her initial induction she'd been given the rank of a huntress with a number of others just joining. It made sense that, with so many hungry mouths to feed, they would be partial to assigning plenty of willing participants with collecting food. Just because it made sense didn't mean Asali'kama Chai particularly agreed with it.
She'd tried to smile and accept the role gracefully, all the while feeling her stomach knot with dread, but now that she'd had a pretty good look at the size of her new home and the amount of elders, adults and cubs relying on her to provide for them the milky rogue felt like running away again. Maybe there was no place where she fit, if she couldn't prove her worth at such a rudimentary and essential station, how would they ever believe she could be anything else?
But, I don't want to leave...! Chai bleated in dismay, pausing in the tall grass. Though she'd spoken to no one in particular she'd half expected her companion, Rin, to loudly scold her--as was the bird's way. It was strange not having the hawk close by after being attached to one another for so long. At least one of them could enjoy their new home.
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Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 12:09 pm
Rekhet was new to this land, and he was surprised by how welcoming it had been so far. He had traveled here with someone he had met in the rogue lands, who also had lost her home in some way. Her story was different to his, those, as her pride was still there, somewhere, she just couldn't go back to it.
For him, there was no home to go back to.
So he had come out here, looking for a new start and a new home. These lands had opened up to them, and he was more than happy to find his place here. He would do anything he could: he wanted to serve them to earn the welcome he had received when he came here. They already called him one of them: the least he could do was serve them fittingly.
He heard a voice nearby and turned, looking toward the source. A pale, pretty lioness was close and she looked a little vexed. He couldn't help but pad toward her, to see if she needed help.
"Are you okay, miss?" he asked humbly, his head low and his posture submissive, respectful even. Everyone deserved respect, and he was not the one to go against that simple grace he could offer each lion he met. It did not hurt him to be polite, after all.
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Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 2:54 pm
It wasn't necessarily that Chai was a terrible hunter, she was her mother's daughter and as such had the makings of an excellent killer flowing through her veins. It was only a lack of, of self confidence, perhaps? The proof was there in her reaction, making a sharp, round-about turn at the sound of approaching footsteps she hadn't even realized she'd been aware of. Ears twitching anxiously, alert but uncertain of exactly what stirred the grass, posture rigid with the impending decision to fight or flee.
There was a lion close on the horizon, but not recognizing him--well, she was certain she probably seen him at the gathering earlier when the new heir was announced, but amongst so many who could remember for sure?--her expression softened with confusion. Turning a quick look to her left and right to be sure she was the one being addressed. No one that would have heard him from so far a distance. That meant he had to be speaking to her right?
His reverent carriage confused Chai even further and, despite everything she already knew of the situation, she had to look around once more to be absolutely certain she was the one he meant to address. I.. I... no. Imeanyes! I-I mean.. I mean, I think so.
Ducking her own head with embarrassment causing her forelock to fall across her eyes, the awkward lioness shifted her weight on her forepaws nervously. Staring down at buff colored toes. I don't.. really know.
OOC: You don't have to quote me.. I don't think I have them on anyway. ^^;
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Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 3:12 pm
Neon Fly (it's kinda just part of how I RP these days!)
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
He sat down next to her, looking very worried about what she was acting and not sure how to respond. he'd never really spent much time around other lions, but he was sure that he was the type of lion that just wanted to help others out. And if he could do something for her, he most definitely would.
"You're not hurt are you? Or... lost... maybe?" he blinked and then smiled and tried to look reassuring, because she looked so worried. He was a serious looking lion some times, so he didn't want to intimidate her further. Smiles went a long way to help with that.
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Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 3:45 pm
When she happened to take a quick peek up through the veil of her bangs, the expression on the handsome stranger's face--and heavens he was unnervingly attractive--only made her squirm more adamantly. She hadn't meant to distress him and that look of worry wasn't make her feel any better! Even his kind words only made her feel guilty, purposely avoiding his gaze as she opened her mouth to speak, shut it, then opened it again with more hesitance all the while wishing Rin was close by. She'd gotten far too comfortable with letting the hawk speak for her. I don't--
But the thought was interrupted by his unexpected nearness, innocent though it was, she felt shame heat her cheeks when he chose to sit at her scarred shoulder. More than once she had gotten between a lion or lioness and their prey, her body told the story of her betrayal. Betrayal was the only way it could be described. It was the only way her mother would have seen it. Unconsciously curling away from him, Chai shook her head, ears dropped. N-no.. it's not.. it's not anything l-like that..
Chancing another peek, his smile stung inexplicably as she turned her gaze away again. I just... don't know if I should...can--she changed the stream of her words mid-sentence purposefully--stay here. B-but I don't want to go..!
Chai's voice trembled, threatening to break with the pressure of living up to some inexplicably challenging standards her own mind had built up. A thousand self-sabotaging thoughts to threaten her potential happiness. I like having a home..
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Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2013 11:38 am
Rekhet blinked in confusion, but he was surprised and, of course, still worried. He shook his head and did not draw back from her, though he saw the way she was curling away from him and the scars she was shying away from on her shoulder.
He did not mind scars: he had been there before. He had his own, though his fur covered most of them and they had never been huge or crippling in any way. Still, he knew what it was like to be damaged, even if it was in a small scale.
Her words made him tilt his head.
"Why would you have to leave if you don't want to? I'm new here, but I've learned that this place is nice and I like it a lot. I think it is very accepting and kind and I can't think... I don't know. I don't know your situation, but if you wanted to live here... I think you should? Everyone deserves to have a home."
He knew that, since he'd lost his first one. He was determined to keep this one.
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Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2013 12:34 pm
They want me to hunt for the pride and--and I don't think I can! Chai suddenly blurted with no small amount of regret, tears in her already watery blue eyes as she stared up at him. It was an important rank, she realized as much. Without hunters keeping the pride fed everyone went hungry, but how could they expect her to do something.. something she couldn't even imagine herself being able to do. Not successfully. Not without causing the suffering she tried so desperately to avoid.
More importantly, she wasn't sure she could stop herself from getting in the way of a hunt that she disapproved of. Sniffing, Chai lowered her eyes again bleakly. Even if those words felt comforting she still didn't feel like she belonged. I... I want to help! I want to be useful to you.. because, well, because I'm so grateful that you took someone like me in.
The words were slow to sink in, but eventually, the blonde lioness lifted her head rather abruptly to peer up at him in surprise. Wait. He wasn't from the Pride Lands either? A blush of embarrassment was quickly filtered through her pale fur as she tried to correct the awkward statement. You're new..... too? Oh! Well, I-I didn't mean you! I.. I meant the pride, but I thought you were from the pride so I meant.. when I said you.. I meant..! NOT that I wouldn't say those things to you, but it's just, and I thought...
After a long period of rambled mumbling, Chai finally gave up, tucking her chin against her chest with mortification. If she could have disappeared, she would have. But hey.. at least she was too embarrassed to feel sad!
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Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 1:30 pm
Rekhet felt his heart sinking as he watched her. He did not like seeing her cry, he realized, though he had never seen anyone crying before. Young creatures, maybe, but that was always different. They were always crying for something, and they were usually easy to cheer up.
But this was different. She seemed very sad and legitimately upset about something, and that was never fun to see. he wanted to help her, he knew that immediately.
"Maybe there is something else you can do? You don't have to be a hunter, do you? And if you do, I could help you with it, if you wanted? It's not a hard skill, I was taught when I was young but I know it's not the same for everyone and it can be difficult for some... if you don't know how, I can show you?"
He didn't understand why hunting upset her so much but if he could teach her how that would solve her problem, wouldn't it? It would make her happier, too, which she seemed to need. But now she was stammering over his being new, which he mostly just glanced over because he didn't mind the mistake, and he still felt he could help even if he hadn't been here that long.
Newbies had to stick together and all that?
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Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 9:25 pm
He certainly made the solution sound simple, but then if he made it sound simple--maybe it was? Bobbing her head enthusiastically, Chai nodded in agreement. I-I can do lots of things! Then gave pause with uncertainty, But. I don't know... if they'll let me.
For a minute she considered his offer, tempted to watch his techniques, but at the last moment the ex-rouge changed her mind. It seemed too much to hope that he might be able to kill larger game in a swift and painless fashion. Chai hadn't seen anyone capable of it yet besides maybe her mother. Instead, wrinkling her nose, the pale lioness smiled awkwardly to hide her indignation. I know how to hunt.. sorta. I just... I just don't like to hurt prey needlessly!
The words came out on a huff. Saying such things often got her plenty of raised eyebrows and had resulted in more than a few scrapes. The tension that filled her now seemed to suggest that she was expecting something similar and was prepared to escape on the defensive in a hurry if the situation called for it. Maybe she was asking to be beaten up and picked on for possessing such a mentality, but Chai couldn't help but add with clear conviction, There's no reason to make them suffer.. a hunter shouldn't take on any prey they can't kill mercifully.Lithia_Brandon Sorry for the delay on this!
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Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 10:04 am
Neon Fly ( I've almost got his RPs together! I just need to do a couple more solos! )
"Oh, I see," he said with a nod, as she explained she did not want to hurt her prey. He did not understand it, exactly. She was of a type he had not seen before: he had never known a lion that did not want to hurt the food it ate to survive. Rekhet never thought about it, if it was painful or quick or kind.
Though now, he imagined, he would start thinking about it.
"I've never thought to try it that way. Maybe I should try to be a little more careful with my prey... I mean, I know they're just going to die and we're going to eat them but.... I do not want to cause suffering, either. Perhaps you can show me how to be more careful." He smiled at her, looking peaceful and not judging her for her choice. He certainly wasn't going to fight her about it, anyway.
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Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 4:33 pm
I'm not weird! I just...! Without allowing his words to sink in, Chai was already preparing to defend her convictions, her shoulders stiff and ears pinned back. This was the part where they laughed at her mockingly or scorned her. This was the part where they looked at her as if she were something foul they had just stepped in. His words though, his expression, was nothing like what she had known in the past. Surprise falling across her visage in in disbelief. W-wait, what? R-really?
Without realizing her guard had fallen, Chai melted into a vision of relaxation, slithering in a circle around the lion so close that her fur pickled as it rubbed against the grain while gliding along the smooth, short hair of his handsome pelt. Pausing when she came full circle to butt her forehead beneath his chin cheerfully. I think.. I think maybe if there are lions like you here, I won't have to worry so much about fitting in.
Scooting backwards on her butt to peer up at him, a sheepish laugh bubbled from her milky pale muzzle, ducking her head with a raw smile of embarrassment. I'm really glad I met you.. and I don't even know your name..
Lithia_Brandon Awesome! I just have to finish one more rp for Chai and she's ready!
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Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 11:09 am
Neon Fly ( Awesome! I will get you his reqs as soon as I can! )
It did not really work for him, as it did some others.
He did see that he had helped her to relax a bit, at least, and he smiled more easily. He was still awkward in his own right, used to being stoic and stalwart, but this place was really bringing out the softie in him. It turned out, he was a caring and concerned young lion, even if he was quiet most of the time.
His claws dug into the earth when she came over to him, and he stood very tensely as she rubbed him, though he smiled at her dumbly when she sat in front of him. He was not too familiar with nuzzles.
"M-my name is Rekhet. I'm glad I could help, though I haven't done anything yet. I'm going to, though. It's really nice to meet you, too."
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Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 8:04 pm
Was it discomfort that made him so tense beneath her affection, or simply inexperience? Whatever the reason, Chai seemed only vaguely aware that there was any change in the young male as her head tipped to one shoulder wryly. His name seemed foreign, perhaps not surprising considering he was a new comer to the Pride lands as well, but more then that he seemed to be from a different area of the continent all together. Re..khet..? Rekhet!
Testing it out, she purred with delight at the way it rolled off her tongue so pleasantly, offering him a satisfied nod. I like it very much!
Drawing her haunches out from under her, Chai dipped into a bowing stretch, rolling up to shift her weight to her fore paws to apply the same effort to her hind quarters. Even if she wasn't much cut out for hunting, it was still hard for her to remain stationary for too long. In the distance other pride members wandered in the opposite direction of the one she'd seen them heading in earlier. Patrols, maybe? Chai didn't dwell on it long, smiling at Rekhet invitingly. I'm not used to having so much water readily available.. will you come with me to get a drink?
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Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 9:44 am
Neon Fly Consider this an end post from me?
She was nice.
"I came from a far off pride, and all of our names were like that. It is actually pretty interesting for me to be here... with names that sounds nothing like the native ones I've grown used to. But water, I think, must have been the same for both of us. There wasn't much in my home before, either."
He smiled and nodded, padding toward her to join her toward the water. He would be happy to spend as much time with her as he could, if he were honest, and he was. She seemed like a very nice lioness, and he just wanted to get to know her a bit more. Help her, and maybe figure some things about himself out in the process.
It was looking like it would be a good day.
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Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 6:42 pm
For a long moment Chai considered Rekhet's words, it made sense that he would see their names as the unique ones if he came from a pride where they were all named like him. It made her wonder what had caused him to decide to leave his pride to join this one instead. Of course, she wasn't so sure that wasn't a private question, some didn't always enjoy talking about their pasts. Even the ex-rogue wasn't particularly thrilled about discussing certain periods of her own life that had been less than pleasant.
No, instead, they'd both look forward to the future and the exciting new lives they had ahead of them. It could only get better from here, that much Chai promised herself. Bubbling happily when her companion accepted her offer and, together, they made their way to the nearest watering hole for a cool drink.
[ END ]
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