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The heavily scarred Captain took a deep breath as he stepped out of the thick forest and into the heart of his pride. His last Viking had been rough, but possibly something he should have seen coming. That damned Sith leopard had obviously taken exception to his having rescued the poor lioness that the leopard was in the middle of abducting. That raid had gone well, having as he had, a full compliment of Reavers behind him as well as the brave young Svana. But this time it had just been himself, Lennart and the female. He had wanted to show her about a little and she had persuaded him to let her look at her old home one last time.

That had proven to be a mistake.

The damned Sith had brought a veritable army of his pride-mates and the band had set upon Lucivar and Lennart with vengeance in their minds and hatred in their hearts. He had managed to fend them off and get the female back into the safety of the prides forest, but he hadn't escaped unscathed. Pain throbbed through his shoulder and down his front leg with every stride he took, and his breathing was uneven and laboured. Fresh wounds weeped as he walked but those he ignored for they were nothing serious.

Rounding the corner he started along the path. Not going in any particular direction, but just needing to move. As laying down had made his joints stiffen uncomfortably.

It wasn't long before he spotted someone resting under a tree. And since they were right beside the pathway he was following, he figured it would only be polite to say hello. So once he got closer a minute or so later he drew himself to a limping halt and smiled at the female. For she was indeed a lioness, and a very pretty one too. He was honestly a little surprised to find a lady like her as the pride didn't seem to possess that many lions who were of purely neutral colouring. Many had at least touches of more colourful hues and a great deal sported the colours or markings of the former Warlord, Aesir.

Smiling as he looked down to her he bowed his head carefully, trying to avoid putting too much weight on his bad foreleg. "Greatings M'Lady." On closer inspection he noticed that her gaze was... milky, and misdirected as she looked out at the pride. It seemed as if she was blind. Conscious of the fact that she likely had no idea who he was without the benefit of recognising his markings, he added, "Captain Lucivar, at your service." His tone easy and polite with just a hint of, if not playfulness, a humour that was as close as a seasoned warrior usually got.

He saw her start when he spoke and made a mental note to be careful next time. He had never met a blind lion before and didn't really know what might upset her. The only thing he thought was a fairly sure bet was the fact that she was probably sick and tired of others treating her different over it. His old friend Erlendr had been an Outlander, and had fought long andhard to be accepted by the pride at large. Yet he never seemed to fit in and Lucivar used to get angry on his behalf for the way he was treated.

He suspected she may very well be in the same boat, only wiht the oppersit effect. It was a guess, but it made him pause.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Mbali." Straightening, he shifted his weight backwards, trying to lessen the constant throbbing. But otherwise he ignored his injuries. "I am just out for a stroll." He replied with a rueful smile. "Unless you would like to accompany me...? I find walking is always more agreeable with a companion."

He smiled as she agreed to accompany him, and he hop-stepped so he wasn't I her way as she rose up.

"I didn't have a particular destination in mind so... Was there anywhere you wished to go?" He offered, since he had indeed been wandering aimlessly. But now that he had someone to walk with he wondered where might be nice for her to visit, and where would be safe for her. He loved to walk along the beach, but the path to get there was steep and littered with jagged rocks. He assumed she was freeborn, as a blind Reaver simply wouldn't work and a blind thrall wouldn't be left alone. Maybe she would like to visit the edge of them pride's forest? She may not ever have gone so far from the main pride area.

"Not at all, feel free to tell me if I am doing it wrong." His tone was warm and easy, honest in a way that was rare amoung males. It was a voice you could trust in and indeed many had over the years. And the Captai had rarely let any of them down.

Moving so her shoulder touched his own he waited for her to get her bearings then slowly shifted round so they faced the right direction. "I thought we could take a walk through the forest, it is a good walk, but not so far as to weary me." He assumed she would be able to tell her was injured when they actually set off, since he could no more disguise his present limp tho she could hide her blindness.

Though honestly it wasn't his own stamina he worried about, but if she was not used to walking far he didn't want to over tax her. He would however use his own injured state to keep their walk short if she needed to rest. He would never embarrass her by doing otherwise,

He smiled at her agreement, glad his suggestion had been accepted. He wasn't experienced enough with the blind to be able to predict her needs, he could only hope she spoke up about it when required.

He led her slowly along the pathway, as much for his own benefit as hers, since the pain in his leg was still sharp and pulsing. But certainly not enough to curtail his enthusiasm for the morning, and the company. Her question teased a warm chuckle from him, his body shifting a little firmer against her own as he looked over briefly.

"You guessed right. Though it was more of a revenge attack for an earlier conquest." He admitted. "Several moons ago I took a band out and we rescued a lioness. She was in the process of being taken prisoner by a male from the Nguvu Tamaa. They are a pride that believe in some kind of evil spirit thing.... " He paused, feeling again the anger of the moment as the Sith Lord had jumped him, tearing open his hide with those poison tipped claws.

"Anyway, we beat the leopard off and took the female. She is here in the pride now, recuperating." He paused, evidently pleased with that resolution. Even though the female probably wouldn't have chosen to join the Stormborn given the choice, she was grateful to have been rescued and seemed to be settling in well.

After a moment he continued, explaining his current state. "But of course the leopard wasn't too happy about it and yesterday he attacked me with a group of his own pride while I was out on patrol with Lennart and Svana.." Lucivar huffed softly, thinking of the battle, for it had been brutal and fierce. He and his two companions had been very lucky that no one had died. The Sith may not be Stormborn, but they were skilled and not afraid to fight dirty.

"Anyway, we survived, but the red male left me with this limp. But I'll heal in a day or so." He sounded nonchalant about it, despite the pain, and didn't seem at all concerned.

As they had been walking, he had been careful to keep her against his side, guiding her round dips in the pathway and the odd sharp rock that had rolled off the nearby cliffs. Now they weaved their way through the start of the ancient pines, and Lucivar would smoothly interrupt his sentences to alert her when to duck or when to step high over an exposed root.

He smiled at her answer. He wasn't sure how many would be bothered if he gave up reaving... his band of course, and perhapse the youngsters he was training up. Since their best hope of finding their first Viking was to go with their trainer and his own reavers. Lucivar, being a Captain, was highly sought after for both training bouts and those young stormborn hoping to make a name for themselves and graduate up to Reavers.

"Not really... Though of course no one wants to be wounded. But we are Reavers, injury is always a possibility. As is death, but so long as our deeds are remembered, so shall we be remembered." He looked over at her, head tilted as he wondered, for the first time, who would sing of his deads after he died. He had as yet produced very few offspring, there being only one litter born out in the roguelands. And of that litter, only two cubs had returned to the pride. He supposed Fenrir would continue his line and keep his memory alive, but he wasn't sure all of a sudden, if that would be enough. Not that he desired a huge passel of cubs, but a litter or two would ensure his bloodline survived.

And then there was the question of a mother for these cubs. A Stormborn lioness, so they would be born within the pride...

I think I have been reaving too long... He mused silently to himself, since this was the first time he had even thought of such things.

Recalling himself he checked Mbali was alright and that he had answered her question to her satisfaction.

Feeling her lean more heavily into him he continued walking but turned to look at her, his own gaze concerned. Nodding at her words he carefully slowed down, guiding her around a particularly large bolder. "Then let us head back. We are nearly at a path that will cut back across the pride."

Keeping their pace steady he slowly escorted her back to the tree where he had found her. Once there he drew them both to a halt, though kept his place, enjoying the warmth of her pressed against his side. Perhaps even it was selfish, but he had enjoyed the afternoon, walking and talking with her. She may be blind, but she had a lovely voice and a kindness that made him want to protect her.

Finally, with great reluctance, he shifted away just a fraction. "Here you go. This is where we started." Pausing he glanced around, unsure if he should say anything further, but then figured the worse that could happen was for her to laugh at him. "I have enjoyed visiting with you. Might I come and see you again?"

A broad smile curled across his muzzle, his voice warm with pleasure at her answer as he replied. "Then I shall come visit again soon. Will I find you here again?" He wasn't sure if she usually stayed under this tree or if it was just for today. He didn't want to loose her in the large pride straight after meeting her, after all.

He didn't understand it, but the urge to stay, even now, was strong in him. He knew he would visit sooner than was perhaps even wise but honestly he didn't care, there was something about her, an innocence and yet a quiet strength that drew him to her. To live without sight and yet to still be so gentle and warm... It was a wonder to him.