[PRP] Scars (Ragnvard & Isobana)

[In Good Faith]

The world was much brighter recently. The winds were cooler, more comfortable. The grass softer. And best of all, her belly fuller. Now that she was seeing Finch every so often, and with him came food, Isobana began to feel her body regain some of the health it lost over the last several moon cycles due to the drought. Because of her expectation of his visits, Isobana found herself pretending to take guard duty for the territory. In reality, she was relaxing every several days in the hopes of getting another chance to see him. And, well, food. She didn't feel bad about expecting him to bring her nourishment. She hadn't asked him. He simply did it. And... she admitted to herself, he was funny. A small smile grew on her maw at the memory of his laugh.

The problem, though, was he hadn't pursued her in anyway. The smile slipped. He seemed completely uninterested in affection, which felt almost the same as a rejection when she placed herself in a way that screamed 'love me, cuddle me, show me any sort of affection for heaven's sake!' When he'd failed to do so after their third meeting, she'd resigned herself to the idea that he simply wasn't interested in more than her conversation. Shouldn't she be...? Well not happy, but not disappointed someone wanted to talk to her for more than just... an ungentlemanly reason? She sighed, a frown now deepening on her lips from her thoughts.

While she'd been warring internally, getting lost in her thoughts, Isobana's senses had stayed ever vigilant. The frown sunk even deeper when she noticed a figure on the horizon. She knew immediately from the color it wasn't Finch. She ignored the sad pang of disappointment that curled in her stomach. Wind that had felt so nice moments ago now brought an unfamiliar scent... or was it? The smell that drifted her way was only slightly familiar. Very different, but still... a hint of the same smell that drifted off Finch. When the gust of wind picked up more, she was certain there was a similarity.

Standing, she was no longer pretending to be a guard. She was guarding her territory that housed her sisters and their children. The Abholi could defend themselves, she thought spitefully as she watched the figure progressively grow closer.

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

The rust-red Captain provided a powerful image as he strode along, confident and relaxed despite being all alone out in the roguelands. With his deep red fur and thick, black mane he was in his prime. His body muscular and littered with the scars of a lifetime spent fighting. He moved with an easy casualness that spoke of both his prowess and his status, for only a lion of rank held himself in such a way.

Ragnvard grinned as he padded along. It had been a good Viking. His band were well fed and content with their gains, even Ragnvard had to agree that two new thralls and four hyena skins was a good haul. Never mind the free kill they had dicovered. Running off the three lionesses who had been clearly just killed it had been too easy and barely needed even a roar of challenge.

Yet Ragnvard had a reason for coming all this way on a Viking, as indeed the Bonelands were not one of the typical places for a Stormborn to visit. But Ragnvard had found this land last season when his sister had wandered away from the band and very nearly got herself into trouble with the local King. Rolling his eyes at the memory he chuckled to himself. He had brought his sister back and they had left, but Ragnvard hadn't forgotten this land and had done some research into the Bonelands. As his sister had at least managed to get the name of the pride before being run off by the male. What he had learned had fasinated him and he had been determined to come back here ever since. A whole pride of females! And only two or three males to protect and provide for them. Ragnvard had absolutly no interest in taking this place over, it was way too much work to protect an entire pride, and not even a fighting pride at that. But no red blooded lion could pass up such an oppertunity. Surely with only a few males around, the lionesses would be more than interested in a new face....

Grinning to himself he felt sure that this trip would be a far more pleasent visit than his last. He had thralls and food and his reavers were content. All he desired now was a little personal pleasure for himself before they set off on the long trail back home.

Eventually he caught a scent on the breeze. One that was unfamiliar but clearly that of a pride lion. Maybe he would be lucky and it would be one of the females this time, and not their grumpy protector. Continueing along the path he soon came within sight of a long figure. Most certainly a female. Altering his course just slightly he made his way towards her, remaining casual and relaxed as he drew near.

In Good Faith

 

[In Good Faith]

As the male approached, Iso surveyed his appearance. He gave off a very dangerous air, one that frightened her just as much as it interested her. He was scarred head to toe, but wasn't disfigured because of it it. Instead he looked all the more... attractive. Of course, appearances could be deceiving, and attractive or not, he was a stranger that somehow seemed to be up to no good. Walking tall and confident, the male had gotten into ear shot. Isobana took a step forward, head high, and held her ground. "You're not welcome here Stranger." He voice rang out in the air between them, a space that grew smaller as the male approached.

Iso thought back to Finch. If this stranger and he were from the same territory⏤which she believed they were based on the subtle smell of salt⏤then she was out of luck. She knew very little about the pride he'd recently joined. Finch wasn't open about their customs, or even their name, and she'd assumed it was because discussing his pride meant discussing hers. She was obligated to stay here in the Bonelands, to stay with the lions who took her in when she was nearly starved. But she resented the structure, mostly because she wanted babies. Babies she couldn't readily have. It was a lonely life, mostly because Iso didn't have the people skills necessary to make an abundance of friends. She really only needed the company of one or two and she would be pleased.

Mentally shaking herself, she returned from her thoughts to the here and now. She refused to blink and kept her face passive despite her interest in this Stranger. The smell that wafted off him was... a lot more interesting than she'd initially observed. There was salt, sweat... and definitely blood. To her relief, it didn't smell of lions blood, maybe that of a fresh kill... Hopefully, at least... And testosterone. Oh, the smell of a man whose seen a pretty lioness. She got that a lot, despite her own scars. Her snout that her own mother marred did not lessen her beauty or self esteem. It made her braver, more confident if she were being honest. It also made her less likely to be challenged.

Tanakako

8'3 I renamed the RP to something less corny... hope that's okay!

 

[Tanakako]

Her call made him grin. So she had seen him, just as he had thought from the way she had stood and stared in his direction. And indeed, it was a female, and not one of the pride's meddling males or one of their adolescents. Ragnvard had even heard that some males elected to stay in the pride by promising never to sire cubs. Such an idea was so utterly foreign and hideous to him that he physically shuddered just remembering it. How could any true male agree to such a thing? Unless of course he was flower-blooded. To stay with a pride and never get laid as opposed to simply leaving and finding all the females one could wish for. Ragnvard simply couldn't see why anyone would even consider it.

Shaking his head to dislodge the unpleasant nightmare of a thought, he continued his easy pace, narrowing the distance between himself and the pretty lioness. Once close enough he stopped and stood still, his tail curling lazily behind him. Golden eyes intent upon the stranger. "That is no way to greet a lonely wanderer, now is it?" He rumbled with a charming and slightly amused grin. "My name is Ragnvard. What may I call you?"

In Good Faith

XD I don't mind. I liked the old title lol

 

[In Good Faith]

A low growl rumbled in her chest, threatening, when the lion continued to make his way towards her. Her lips curled upward slightly, emphasizing her growl as her ears turned down. She noticed the visible shudder that went through the lion but somehow didn't expect it was her display of hostility that had done so. He seemed to have barely noticed her but at the same time... had been staring at her with interest. Where he was leisure, she was stiff and wired. Her tail lashed behind her once or twice in her agitation.

The lion finally stopped only so many feet from her. It was easy conversation distance and she hadn't the slightest difficulty hearing him. Her growl faded once she believed he would come no closer. She was too keyed up to really take in his scent now, though in passing she noticed everything she had before... only stronger. His scars were also more defined. He'd been through hell and back it seemed. Where her scars meant something, Isobana doubted this lion before her could recall where even one of his scars originated from and why. So why did she feel a pull in her stomach? As if he were still attractive despite herself?

Still agitated, her fur stood in places and her ears remained pinned to back of her head. "Stranger is fine." She should have chased him off by now, or called for her sisters' backup. She did neither... what did that say about curiosity and cats? She wanted to know is she was right and that this lion was from the same pride as Finch... maybe even find out more about the lion she had been seeing on occasion.

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

Now that he was closer he could study her properly. The aggression was obvious and -for a Stormborn- pretty normal. He knew she was agitated but as she had not yet attacked him he figured she wasn't truly about to. At least not without him giving her a damn good reason to do so. Sitting back on his haunches to make himself seem less threatening, he chuckled in his deep and husky voice. "Very well Stranger." He replied, accepting the insult easily. It was hardly worth worrying over if she didn't wish to share her name with him. It certainly didn't mean that he still couldn't get her to settle down and relax some. "I take it this is the Ithambo boarder?" He asked, glancing around. While he knew the pride was migratory, he figured they still had some kind of regular pride land they claimed as their's, since he could scent the much faded traces of lion all over this area. It was, at the very least, not part of the untamed roguelands.

In Good Faith

 

[In Good Faith]

Iso was too defensive to allow herself to sit and remained rigged where she stood. Her twitching tail and flattened ears remained the only signs of her agitation, as her hair slowly lowered itself. She was uncertain as to whether she should answer the lion... this Ragnvard's questions. Staying motionless as she mulled over any possible threat answering his immediate question would pose... she decided she could think of none. "Yes. This is the Bonelands." She preferred the unofficial nickname, mostly because it sounded more threatening to outsiders.

Giving the lion a suspicious, side-eyed look, Isobana couldn't help the question that followed her answer. "And where is it you are from?" She tried her best to not appear overly curious or suggest that she needs the information from the lion. Her pride was large, especially with interactions she was uncomfortable with. Guilt nagged her stomach again, her inner voice quietly reminding her she should have at least alerted others to the presence of this outsider... and yet she hadn't. Why?

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

He was content to wait and let the lioness calm down. After all, he was here for pleasure, not business. And if he could coax her into seeing him as, if not a friendly face, then at least not the enemy, he may be able to persuade her to join him for the afternoon. And if not her, then hopefully he could find another lioness who would be interested in broadening her horizons.

So he sat and waited, his friendly if self assured smile remaining while he waited for her to sort herself out. When she eventually replied he was pleased that he had got the right pride. Her continued suspiscion amused him greatly, even if he had to admit that she was wise to be wary of him. On another day she may have been in danger, after all she was just one lioness and he was a Stormborn Captain. However he could see something other than his pressence was eating at her and so he stayed quiet, and was rewarded a moment later as she asked him about his own homeland.

"I'm from the Myrsky Syntynyt." He answered, wondering if she had heard of his pride,

In Good Faith

 

[In Good Faith]

Disappointment caused Isobana to slump her shoulders. Surely she was wrong. She'd heard of the pride in passing. She knew of them as reaving thieves that wrecked mayhem and violence on other prides. She must have been wrong about the stranger's scent because she knew surely that Finch would not join in a pride that practiced such... 'customs.'

"Oh." whispered from her maw, momentarily forgetting to be on guard. Quickly remembering what she had just been told, Isobana eye'd the lion with renewed suspicion. "You're alone... I assume that means you're not here to hurt us?" She could hold off the lion, she was relatively sure. In the scuffle she would alert her pride members and all would be well.

Now that her question was answered... shouldn't she sound the alarm?

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

He watched her closely as she reacted to the name of his homeland. Ahhh so she had heard of them. If the slump to her shoulders was any indication. Yet he was curious as to why she reacted that way. As far as he knew no Stormborn reaver had ever captured a Bondlands lioness. Such a feet would surely have been bragged about for weeks after all.

Tilting his head he shook his head. "Just out for a walk. We aren't all heartless murderers you know." He informed her, conveniently forgetting some of the activities the pride indulged in on occassion. And to be fair, it was always murder for a purpose, so he didn't think it counted.

"Why did you wish to know?" he asked, intrigued now by her reaction and hoping still to encourage her out of her agressive shell.

In Good Faith

Fixed some typos

 

[In Good Faith]

The expression that crossed Isobana's face showed that she was not convinced about the heartless murders part. Iso wondered how many of those scars were from victims of this lion's way of life? Why she was discussing anything with him was a better question to wonder on, she noted. But the loneliness she had been feeling moments ago reached up and silenced that voice once again. Male company was rare for her... and, well, frankly, she missed it. Especially when they were curious to know more about her. Everyone in this pride knew all there was to know. She'd been a Bonelander long enough that her stories were told (mostly) and otherwise, nothing much went on. Other than the occasional hunt, at least.

His question, again, made her suspicious all the same. She went through the process of examining the harm that could come from answering him. This was more dangerous a question than her home's name... this was a name of a stranger. If word got around he was hanging out at the Bonelands, that could pose problems for them both. So she left out the name. "You... well. I thought you were from the same pride as a friend of mine. That's all." She didn't make eye contact with Ragnvard, and instead suddenly was interested in the horizon to the left (or rather conveniently).

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

He frowned slightly when she answered, trying to think of anyone who may know the Bonelands well enough to be friends with them. His sister Renata for sure, that little piece of trouble seemed to go out of her way to be as un-stormborn like as she could possibly be. He didn't trust her at all, family member or not. But he doubted she was who this lioness was thinking of. There was a distinct ... longing in the reply she gave that made him suspect it was a male she missed.

Interesting...

After watching her squirm a moment longer Ragnvard stood up. "Well, if you don't want to tell me your name, or who this friend of yours is, why don't we go hunting? And you can choose something you are willing to talk to me about.. How does that sound? I can promise I mean no harm to you or your pride, I just would like a little company and some conversation before I have to head on the long journey back home." He smiled in a friendly manner, looking completely sincere.

In Good Faith

 

[In Good Faith]

While her belly had seemed full moments earlier, the idea of a hunt made Isobana feel a longing. She was a good huntress, but the problem was a strange male that she would be doing the hunting with. Giving the male a side long look (she was doing a lot of that this afternoon, she noted), Isobana hesitated. "Food is scarce here. Draught and all." She said it as if it had been obvious.

Her rudeness was mitigated by her next words, though. They surprised even her. "But there is a watering hole near by." She bit her lip for a second and promptly stopped. She would have to work on her poker face evidently. "It's near the Firekin Outpost, though." Her small smile that played on her maw said that she doubted the lion was interested in veering near such a well trained cropping of lions. She would be safe of course, being a Bonelander.

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

At the mention of the firekin, the male grinned widely, his eyes lighting with interest. he certainly didn't seem to take offence at her previously abrupt tone and instead moved towards her slightly in an inviting move. "That sunds like the perfect place. Why don't you lead the way?" he hknew who the firekin where, he had met (and slept with) enough of their outcastes to have a good idea of the pride, its location, and its temperment. Another warlike pride who fought and trained daily? It sounded like a challenge to him! He would have liked to test one of their warriors, but right now, this day, he already had a project. This lioness.

If he got into a fight with the firekin at the watering hole? Well, then it was simply fate and he would enjoy it greatly. But hopefully, he would mange to pry open this reluctant beauty instead. She intrigued him and he was more in the mood for love than war this time around.

In Good Faith

Gah, I didn't realise you had tagged!!! So sorry!

 

[In Good Faith]

[Consider this fading to black!]