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 Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 12:46 pm
It seemed that, after so long with barely a peep from their aggressive neighbours, things had set into motion once again. Kidondo had not been so foolish to think they had heard the last of the savages from the north, but he had been surprised by the length of their absence. He'd heard the rumours, of course. So many of them flitted through the pride that it was impossible not to.
They were planning another attack. They had run away in fear. They were still there, hungering in the shadows, waiting for them to drop their guard.
And then Niu had offered to help and slipped away unnoticed...
Kidondo hoped that this bizarre sighting Azar'bijan and Shula had reported was not somehow linked to her. If anything had happened to her--no, he could not afford to think like that. Niu could hold her own and she had known what she was heading into - or as much as one could, anyway. She was fine and, with the scouting party heading out now, they would hopefully gain an answer or two to some of the questions that had been plaguing them.
"I'm not sure what would be worse," he spoke at last, realising he had sat pondering for far too long. "That they find nothing at all out there, or that they discover some new Nergui tactic." Once, he might have headed out with them, but he knew his place was here. Once word spread - and it would - the regents would be needed to ensure the whole pride didn't move out in response; especially when it came to the more aggressive and vengeful ones living amongst them.
"Still, no matter what happens, lets hope they get away before the words starts spreading."
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Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 1:07 pm
At the sound of her mate's words, No raised her head quietly. It was almost a month since she had broken her leg, and while it often pained her, these days it was little more than a nagging discomfort. A discomfort that still managed to set her on edge, particularly with these rumors of nergui forces on the move.
She took her time before responding, watching Kidondo pace about. "Finding nothing would be the worse of the two options," she spoke, her voice thick. "After all their grumblings, I don't doubt that they are working on some manner of plan. Whether it involves us or not."
The black cat arched her back as she pulled herself upright. Around Kidondo she did not hide the limp that staggered her steps. Outside of their domain, however, such a sign of weakness was rare. "If we turn up nothing then it can only be assumed that their spy network is greater than ours."
Perhaps ill fitting of the situation, she pulled her lips back into a toothy grin. "Or perhaps this 'Gragos Omar' truly does work in their favor. We should think about discovering our own religion."
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Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 1:25 pm
He nodded. If they found nothing, he couldn't imagine that many of them would be content to just march back home with nothing but tired paws and frustration to show for it. His nose wrinkled as if he didn't quite like the taste of the thoughts that had begun to filter through his head. Then No was moving and his eyes turned to regard her, blinking slowly. Talk of spies made him think of Niu again...and then of Azar'bijan; who was out there now. Perhaps it had been unwise to let the corporal go with the group. He was a difficult individual and for all he knew, the Nergui were the cause of his friend's disappearance.
Still, he could not help but give a crooked grin at the mention of religion; a thought that sparked vibrant memories of their past. They had been hard times, but glorious all the same. "Let us hope, for our sake, that their god is as useful as the one the long lost Firekin used to worship. If that's the case, we need not worry all too much." An absent god or goddess was of little use when it came to things such as this.
"Do you know who else went with Azar'bijan?" He didn't say it outright, but the idea of the lion out there without some good, stable minds around him was a little concerning. "I don't think he took Niu's disappearance all too well."
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Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2014 10:54 am
No nodded, looking off to the distance. It wouldn't have been the first time the firekin had to overthrow a god. If it even was a god. She knew that there was a working theory amongst their intelligence workers that this Graos Oma could simply be a method of exerting control over their horde.
While No rejected religion and gods, she often wondered if there really was a strange underworking of fate in all of this.
"Shula-Azar went," she said after a moment of thought. Their grand daughter had shown more than enough promise in recent months to warrant the position. "As did Hraga. Both should be able to keep Azar'bijan under control. Although there's always a tipping point when even sensible words won't reach an enraged lion."
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Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2014 11:07 am
He nodded at that, both Shula and Hraga were trustworthy sorts. If they were a good representation of all those who had signed up to go, then there would be no reason to worry. Unless, of course, No was right and things spiraled out of control a little too quickly. "Well, this is as good a test as any to see how they handle this. Such things as these separate potential leaders from the crowd and we could do with a few of those going forwards." Young, enthusiastic blood was always needed to take up ranks to keep their ever growing army in control - as well as replacing the positions of those who had served their time.
"I have high hopes for Hraga, too. He's a sturdy fellow."
The footsteps approaching were loud and angry and Kidondo turned just as the dark form of his eldest daughter came tramping through the dust. She was short of breath and her eyes were barely containing her fury. Kidondo frowned. If there was an example of a Firekin not suitable for this very situation, she was now standing there right before them.
"Is it true?" Fia asked, "have they gone to fight Nergui?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2014 11:19 am
No couldn't help but feel a small flurry of pride at her son's mention.
While she and Kidondo had many cubs, and she admired and loved them all equally, Hraga's repeated success was always a source of pride for her. He had been a rough cub, and never would she have suspected he would mature so evenly. "As do I. Azar might be something of a thorn at times, but he did do a good job as Hraga's mentor."
The black cat turned her head, nodding affectionately at Fia's arrival. Although she knew her daughter's tone was dire, No couldn't help but keep to her own train of thoughts. Hraga wasn't the only child of hers that brought her pride.
"If they were going off to fight nergui, we would have sent a larger force," she said finally. "There is a concern that is being investigated."
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Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2014 12:41 pm
Fia's frown deepened, though for a moment she was quiet, mulling over the information in brooding silence. The regents had some exceptional children between them and all of them so incredibly different. Fia's fire had awakened later than most but it burned with a ferocity that both pleased him and worried him.
At last she said; "but I wanted to go. I'm ready now. I've been training for something like this."
Kidondo held back a sigh - but only just - exchanging a brief look with his mate. "It's all under control."
Fia's lip curled, "so if they're not off fighting Nergui like everyone seems to think, what are they doing?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2014 12:50 pm
The black cat sighed. She could only imagine how an investigation headed by both Fia and Azar would manage. Even chaperoned by the more level-headed Shula and Hraga, that was a volatile combination if there ever was one.
"Anyone suggesting we sent a force of only three lions to engage with nergui troops is a foolish one," No said curtly. Although the fear that some conflict would come of it had been a lingering one. "We sent them out to investigate a sighting on the northern border. A winged lion."
She wouldn't deem them gods.
"We're not ruling out the possibility of it being something more," she amended. "But until we hear back from them, there's no reason to be sounding the alarm just yet. People are antsy enough as it is without giving them shadows to chase after."
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Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2014 1:09 pm
A winged lion...
For a Firekin who denied such things, the concept was unnerving to say the least. He had no trust in those otherworldly forces. In seers or 'gods' who had never seemed to done any good for anyone. They had done well enough without such things and so long as he lived, he would ensure that it stayed that way.
"That's right. We're not marching into full-scale war." Not yet, at least. At one point Fia would have been glad to hear that news, but now she only looked at him, her expression looking only stern.
Eventually their daughter released a breath, "fine. Well, they better be careful out there. If they end up blundering into a trap, Ea will not be happy." Then, anger quenched somewhat, she lowered her head and dropped her eyes. "We will fight them, though, won't we? Avenge the ones they took?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2014 1:28 pm
No couldn't help but crack a smile. It was a weary one, but it still had its mischievous slant. "I don't doubt that Ea will find something to be unhappy about, with or without a trap."
The next question was a bit more weighty. It was one that even she grappled with. It was one thing to plot and scheme, to win a civil war, to lead a pride...and then potentially risk all of that work in another open conflict with a force that, according to all reports, was considerable.
"I don't believe in justice going unserved," she spoke. "The nergui have caused us trouble, and I do not desire for us to appear weak. The nergui aren't the only pride out there amassing armies of their own. Even if the nergui fizzle out into nothing, eventually, a message will need to be sent."
She turned. "But we won't blunder into a trap."
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Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2014 10:54 am
Kidondo sat in silence whilst daughter and mother spoke, mulling over the question and the answer and wishing that everything could so so straight cut. Ultimately, however, No was right. No matter what happened, there would be a demand for justice - a reminder to the savages and to other prides - that they were not to be trifled with. They were Firekin and they did have a reputation to uphold. For all that Kidondo was a fan of being a diplomat, he still had a fierce pride of his heritage and all that it stood for.
His people were strong and if the outside world needed reminding of that, then so be it.
Fia nodded, sated by the response. "That is good. And when that message is sent, I plan to be there." Only then did she finally show a hint of sheepishness at barging in on them.
"I guess I'll speak with Hraga when he returns."
Kidondo dipped his snout, "it pleases me that you no longer sit up alone by those history stones, but do try to quell that fire of yours for a little while longer."
Fia shook her head, "I wasn't alone before--" but she didn't finish. The thought of long-dead companions still raw. "Anyway...I should be off. I'm meeting with a friend."
She was backing up, her eyes casting between both parents until she was out of sight.
"She gets her stubbornness from you, you know," Kidondo blamed; affection cushioning every word.
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Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2014 11:07 am
No bowed her head, watching quietly as her daughter left. Her smile returned at her mate's words. "I don't doubt that," she said, once again feeling that same stirring of pride. "I just hope they got a little of your foresight before they go rushing off into trouble."
She stretched her paw, grimacing as the bones in her wrist ached. But it didn't stop her from walking slowly down from her perch, and sitting beside him. She raised her chin, her eyes scanning over the sloping desert in the distance.
"Whatever happens, it won't be the same as last time," she rumbled. "We'll need to be ready."
Flicking him with the side of her tail, she started down the slope. The further down she got, the less she limped. Masking away any discomfort. "We might as well make the rounds. I doubt Fia is the only one jumping to irrational conclusions."
She just hoped they stayed irrational.
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