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 Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2017 10:33 am
He was grateful for what they had given him, they hadn't had to have helped him and yet they did. Granted this might have been in part due to his colouring and he had repaid them somewhat, but his time in the pride had caused him to come to several conclusions that even surprised him. For a start, they were all very 'adult' of him, and exceedingly responsible...suffice it to say that there was a time when he hadn't given it much food for thought.
However...now that he had, he felt the need to make his stance on this clear.
There was a distinct possibility that he might very well have sired a cub or two in this particular region, maybe more, and so long as they were female they would be safe and well tended to. Nevertheless if they were born male and happened to exhibit undesirable traits then they were at risk... This wasn't something he was prepared to accept, and at the very least he wanted to have something in place to avoid any unnecessary suffering...
Somewhere out there, his family would be proud of him.
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2017 12:02 pm
Were the last words she spoke to her Mother, Sabia, as she walked away to complete some menial task. Yet another day in her small paradise that she'd happily give up for just about any conversation. Being daughter to the Icala`phatha meant she was aware of the going ons in the pride. Which meant the white male wandering about and meeting with the prides healers. Rumor had it that he was nearly well enough to depart from their area and move on - she wondered where he was headed'.
Once in the area she had been specifically told to avoid she discovered that there was one issue to her rebellious actions - she hadn't thought to ask for more description or a more specific location. Though he had been healing rapidly she figured he'd have to be somewhere to rest.
Being a hunter, a skilled one (or so she told herself), she decided to pretend this was the same thing and began to seek out the lion as though he was prey. "Where are you?" She asked out loud, quiet enough that the words would be whispers, but not entirely inaudible.
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2017 12:32 pm
He was above her.
"Does that work?" he asked curiously. "Because the last few times I've used that strategy it's never really gone the way I planned it," he continued. If he hadn't been where he was he probably never would have heard her, but the stars had aligned on this occasion and had allowed the prey to alert the huntress to his presence almost immediately. Really, the manner in which some of these pride members wandered about was entertaining.
To avoid any further confusion he shuffled a little closer to the edge of the ledge her had been lying on and rested his chin in his paws. He certainly seemed comfortable up there, but his eyes were bright with an impish curiosity. She'd caught his attention and given this was going to be his last opportunity to meet another of these oddballs, he was going to take advantage of it.
"First sign of madness is talking to yourself," he mused. "Just as well you're female or that would end badly for you, no?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2017 2:08 pm
"Obviously not."
The amused lioness rotated herself and peered up to be greeted with exactly the lion she was anticipating to find. White, dark mane and a keen eye. Precisely matching the rumors she had heard. "It could end badly - only if as a male I presented the symptoms to a pride member. But as you said, it's a good thing that I'm female." She gave a wary smile and sat herself down.
"Why do you ask?"
She queried him, curious as to his spontaneous question. Muhuri was intrigued that a male who only happened upon the pride had even taken the time to pay attention to their traditions and beliefs.
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2017 2:29 pm
"Curiosity," Tethys replied truthfully and slithered down from his perch so that she wasn't so far below him. Though it was highly tempting to show his superiority, it wasn't going to benefit him at this particular moment in time.
"Disgust, offence," he continued to list off a variety of options that she could elect to choose from. He strode towards her and then circled, taking a moment or two to regard her. She might have been intrigued, but he wasn't entirely receptive at the moment, not when he had a rather considerable cause for concern.
"You see I am exactly what your pride really doesn't like," he pointed out and lifted a claw. "My mother is a deity so I have inherited what you so desperately want, regardless of how many charletons might claim they have it," he began, then flicked up another of his claws. "Fortunately my sight isn't particularly strong but my brother's is extremely strong..."
Another claw flicked up.
"We're not insane," he added. "And yet because we exhibit something and we are male we are subject to execution; yet you are more than happy to seduce me because I have been 'touched' by the gods," he motioned to his coat. "I'm white right, you love white, its special... at least in that respect we males have a use."
"Just as well your females are relatively decent when they do seduce us or I would have reason to complain about that as well," he stated bluntly. Nevertheless he swept away again and maintained his distance. With his identity confirmed it was highly likely he would be escorted out or simply attacked at this rate.
"So explain to me why you think it is right to kill a male cub, when a female cub is capable of just as much damage? Truly you're going to have to educate me on how this is appropriate because I'm fairly confident a large portion of the general populace might have something to say when they find the corpses of their own children."
"And I can assure you I will not be receptive if they are mine."
Throughout his answer he hadn't raised his voice, nor had he sounded angry or bitter. For all intents and purposes he had been incredibly calm, but their was an underlying coldness in his final words that seemed to indicate that the final phrases had been of particular importance.
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2017 2:51 pm
The lioness remained still and silent - she had asked the question, that was her fault and clearly their beliefs were a bit much for the touchy male.
"Firstly." Muhuri paused - the male, though cold, was being entirely reasonable and she hoped not to change that. Sure she was trained to defend herself and especially against the likes of an injured lion, but still it wasn't the right way to handle this. "I am no historian, but from what I can recall from stories as a cub that males who are born with the sight, such as yourself, are effected in different ways. Either not at all or irritated to the point of violence." She paused, briefly to exhale and calm her nerves.
"It is only upon presentation of those violent ways that make us have to make such a horrific decision. It is the necessary decision for the sake of the pride, for the sake of our safety." She pleaded. "If you're so worried about cubs you've decided to leave behind here then perhaps you ought to take a responsibility." That calm attitude had faded for a moment to lace that statement with a touch of annoyance. "In the cases we have seen females do not respond to the stimulation of sight the same way males have. It does not cause an irritation or lead to violence - in most cases we are able to save the pride from violence in having the females with sight predict such a thing."
Defending her home was easy, her beliefs were sound to her. Besides - who was he having cubs with? The question poked at her briefly.
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2017 3:01 pm
Now he did laugh.
"I never did like charletons, they cause wars," he pointed out. Had his sister been here, he would have set her off on a tirade. Her sight was strong, not as strong as Solomon's, but certainly there. To imply that females were able to 'see the future' would have been so utterly absurd to her that she would have set about a fair amount of weeks to shatter that illusion.
"They also spin webs of lies," he lowered his head and smirked at the lioness. "For example, that all males with sight can't handle it, that we're violent," he lifted his paw to brush it against her chin. "Do you know exactly how many males in my pride, or in my brother's pride, who have exhibited violence despite being sired by gods or possessing such sight?" he asked curiously.
"Exactly zero," he answered for her.
"Now, what I can tell you, being half-mortal myself, is that we 'blessed' children are highly influenced by the disposition of our immortal parent," he stated. "If you are the offspring of a deity who might be particularly violent or cruel, you are likely to have a sight that compliments it," he paced for a while and then turned to look at the lioness again.
"So that says more about your corrupt lineage and the charleton females, who have simply decided only females are allowed to display such 'violence'," he widened his eyes just a touch and then chuckled.
"So here's how we are going to do this and I assure you if you attempt to refuse me I will bring my warband here and crush you myself," he continued in much the same calm tone. "Your females have been very accommodating, more than happy to spread their legs because of my desirable and god-touched coat," he stated, making it abundantly clear as to why he might have brought the topic up.
"Consequently it is highly likely a number of them will have my children," he paused to let that sink in.
"So I will have a number of my allies check regularly; if this is the case, and I am destined to become a father, you will surrender those cubs to me immediately," he stated. His tone made it clear there would be no discussion in this, he would absolutely take them by force if necessary... but he refrained from mentioning that he would permit his Reavers to take anything they might want in the process.
"They will be raised correctly, and safely, away from charleton cowards who have an irrational hatred for males that can only be justified by quack science. Cowards, who are so weak, they need to kill them before they are old enough to defend themselves." He stepped away again.
"I'm sure you will be more than happy to agree to my terms."
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2017 4:12 pm
The shock she felt in the moments following as he spoke was like nothing she could describe. Of course the reality of it all was that he couldn't be wrong - the pride lived and breathed for the chance at a pelt white as their snow peaked mountains, but the harsh way he'd put it was what had gotten under her skin.
"Yes."
The word was almost hushed - never had she been spoken to like that and never would she like to again. Was her prides beliefs this brutal or unrealistic that he'd allow the male cubs to be free and release them to the world without instruction on what they may become? Had the shock not been so severe she'd have likely fought back, demanded he back off and get back into line as a guest on the prides lands, but instead she stood there.
"I believe it's time you leave."
She responded hastily, not considering he may not know which way to head. "But not before you tell me when you will begin your harassment of allies?" Was he going to be immediately prowling at the base of their mountain home? Would he bother the patrols and make the defense commander take action?
Her concerns were begin to flare and yet her instincts told her to participate in the actions that other pride members had already done. He was what they were looking for after all.
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2017 4:19 pm
"It usually takes several months for your gender to show their pregnancies, for that reason you can be safe in the knowledge that you will not expect any visitors until then," he stated. He could be diplomatic when he wanted to be, and this was a perfect example of one of those moments. Hell, he even understood her concerns, if he sent the wrong type of individual to keep an eye on the progress of those he had lain with, then it could set off a series of events that he really didn't have time to deal with.
...He was all for storming an area if he had to, but he had some rather more concerning enemies to deal with.
"But you may settle your nerves," he said as he noted the tension in the air and shook his head. She seemed to have accepted his intentions, and for now he was going to give her the benefit of the doubt. So long as she released any sons into his care they would have no further issues and he really had no reason to be inconsiderate.
"I will ensure that my forward scouts do not disturb your day to day life," his tone was reassuring and he closed his eyes for a moment, a deep sigh escaping through his nose. "Hawks do have their advantages," he clarified with a half smile, an attempt to point out that for now, there would be no rise in tensions and their own patrols wouldn't be harmed.
"And while I might agree that it is the appropriate time for me to part, you may have to show me the door so that I can leave by the preferred route," he paused, a streak of humour returning to his demeanour. "Though I would prefer if you did not suggest any cliffs, unfortunately I didn't inherit my mother's ability to fly...useful as such a trait might have been."
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2017 4:58 pm
Though her worry was still high, simply for the fact of future concerns she did find a way to calm herself down enough to listen and retain. "Hawks would be ideal." Muhuri admitted. This would be happening regardless if she put a paw down or not and in reality it would save a number of young, potential lives.
"Oh."
She stated at his pointing out that he would need direction and even managed a small laugh at his joke.
Muhuri finally lifted a paw and pointed towards a path. "Take that path, leave and unless you have a truly good reason to return here I'd suggest against it." Her last words were a promise, not a threat.
"Until then I will watch over the pride members you've taken advantage of and send any males produced your way."
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2017 5:12 pm
"Don't make threats you can't back up," he advised. After all, they had only met him and he was injured, they had no idea what a full warband would be capable of and how unforgiving they could be. He'd let her have her pride on this occasion, but it would be advantageous for her to reconsider it in the distant future.
"And I believe it was your lovely ladies who seduced me, I merely received them with open paws," he corrected. However, rather than let her argue the point, he turned round and began to follow the path she had directed.
"A pleasure to speak with you, enjoy the rest of your day."
His gait was still clumsy, but it was reasonably swift and she could be safe in the knowledge he would be able to make good time in exiting their land.
...Now where he would go would remain a mystery, even as his hawks began to descend upon this particular region. Or rather they would once he was able to explain where said region was.
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