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 Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 8:22 am
RP outside the den, in the Mteo'nyungu lands.
Desc soon.
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 6:26 am
It had become an increasingly common, and worrying sight, that young leader traversing his increasingly empty lands, pondering the fate of his once great pride.
His forefathers had proudly shunned outsiders, training the Shujaa to keep them away at all costs. At least one of the few to remain wished to keep this belief alive. And yet, what kind of life was he bringing his heir into if their ways died out after he was carried away by Kita'mauti? No. They would have to take in those they would once have run out. They would have to change more than they ever had, in the name of rebuilding.
He had not set foot in the Shadow's Hearth since the death of his sainted father. Not until his heir was born would he go to that place of communion with those who had come before, he would not taint it with his worries, his sadness.
Instead, he left his cub-heavy mate in the cool of the den, and wandered.
A sigh parted his jaws, eyes boring holes in the surrounding scrub.
"And am I now to fail you, father?" he spoke aloud, "now when I wish to make you most proud?"
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 6:38 am
Nugula Atadiusti was approaching that scrub from the other side, very much considering hunkering his large, thick-maned form amongst it for a bit of a nap. Breaking into a massive yawn, displaying a row of yellowing teeth, he noted to his brother, "'s ho'."
"It's hot," he amended when he'd finished yawning, and began pawing around the scrub, testing for a good spot to sprawl out. But then he froze, catching the sound of a voice, close by. Very close. His feather-hung ear swept forward, and he glanced Kanuga's way, head tipped to the side just slightly.
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 6:51 am
Smile toying on the large male's maw at his brother's lack of clarity whilst mid-yawn, a reply froze in his throat as he, too, caught wind of the stranger's voice.
His eyes skipped to those of his twin, before narrowing slightly. Who was this? Friend or foe?
Thoughts skipped through his mind, before a mixture of instinct and training drove him slowly, ever so slowly forward. One paw lifted, paused, then was returned to the earth as the scarred figure lowered himself and crept forward. Survey first.
Whether merely distracted, or rather upwind from the pair, Warithi continued unaware of their presence, lost in his own thoughts, his own fears.
"Our heroes have fallen, father," he softly exclaimed. "None are left to protect us save myself. None to protect my love, my little ones. We are lost."
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 7:03 am
After a moment longer, Nugula did the same as his brother, creeping forward beside his reverse image. But, skilled warrior though he might be, the large male was somewhat lacking in the stealth department...and stealth through scrub?
Hah, yeah right. His mane caught in the brush with a crackling of dry plantlife, effectively spoiling their intentions of being quiet observers for the moment. So, rather than continuing to sneak, Nugu straightened himself and cleared his throat, looking nonchalant.
Nothing to worry about, nothing at all...besides, the voice was alone; he and Kanuga could always handle it if they had to. But for the moment, a somewhat smooth cover-up, "Speaking of lost heroes," he rumbled, "I don't suppose you could tell these two where they've found themselves?"
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 9:40 am
Kanuga, phased for a moment by the sudden change of tactic in his brother, lapsed behind that male's confident approach, his own words lost to the four winds.
Instead of echoing his twin's words, he merely nodded, attempting to compose himself in some manner that would disguise the rathe obvious fact he had just been crouched, observing.
Warithi, meanwhile, spun to meet this strange voice, eyes widening partially with fear, partially in shock at the figures to stand before him.
Even in the ranks of the Msaka in the pride's height he had not seen such delicate tattoo work as graced their pelts, nor such bright colours of it.
The thought occured that he was sadly unguarded, a lone male against a pair scarred from encounters he knew not, able to approach him without the least knowledge.
The situation seemed to call for a bluff, and thus he delivered.
"You are in my lands," he exclaimed. "I am Akida of this place."
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Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 8:00 am
"Akida," Nugula rumbled, repeating and testing the new word. Must be leader, ruler...something to that effect, since he did call the lands his. "Our apologies for trespassing, but as I said, we are lost."
"Kanuga," here he looked to his brother to indicate him, "And Nugula Atadiusti, of Mantis. Pleased to meet you, Akida of This Place." He chuckled, his smile good-humored.
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Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 3:20 am
Having at last settled on the pose he found most likely to give the idea of a calm, ordered mind, Kanuga allowed his gaze to settle on the stranger, eyes drinking in every inch of his form, each strand of his mane, each hair of his pelt.
When his thirst for knowledge was satiated, he at last languidly allowed that pink tongue to roll into action, addressing the male.
"And I, as my brother, offer my pleasure of greeting."
Warithi, allowing each male to offer their words before thinking on either, was silent a moment before turning to the first of the two to speak, words poised and ready to escape.
"And a pleasure to meet you, Nugula and Kanuga Atadiusti. What is this 'Mantis' of which you speak?"
Their manners, as they spoke, had betrayed no ill-will, and as such he echoed their tones. He could not afford to offend where he chose, to drive strangers out as his forefathers had done.
No. Warithi's task was to rebuild, and suspicion spoke to his mind that he may have found two exceedingly adequate bricks.
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Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 3:49 am
"Our clan," Nugu answered simply, paws shuffling for a moment as he tested the ground beneath him and sat. Having decided this Akida character wasn't someone to necessarily be worried about, the tattooed lion saw no harm in getting himself comfortable. And besides, he also figured he looked less threatening this way, and he had no reason to care to threaten the grey male.
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Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 4:10 am
At these words some sense of threat bristled at the back of Warithi's mind. Did a full clan approach? A multitude of strangers to invade the secret lands of his pride?
Attempting to quell the appearance of these sudden and unquiet thoughts, the male again addressed the strangely tattooed other.
"Your clan? And do- do they follow?"
His eyes here skipped to the horizon before he could regain control of them, searching for figures lumbering towards him.
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Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 4:25 am
As his pale-tufted tail swished behind him, Nugula shook his head. When he spoke, there was a hint of sadness in his voice, and he shared a look with his brother. "Wherever they are, and whatever is left of them, they are not here, but far."
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Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 4:36 am
Meeting the eyes of his sibling, Kunuga nodded mutely, his attention lost then to memories strange to these lands, held in the vibrant realm of the past.
Nugula's speech brought with it pangs of relief, guilt, and sympathy to the young Akida's mind.
He was glad there was no invading force, and yet at once guilty for the suspicion of such. And finally, the friendly eye of similarity of circumstance lent gloss to this pair. Of fallen family and comrades he had many. He had watched his family fall one by one, knew the pain of such.
"I fear we bear similar tales, Nugula Atadisti. You have entered lands tainted with mourning past."
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Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 6:40 am
Nugula nodded slowly in acknowledgement, the feather clipped to his ear shivering with the movement. Suspicion tickled at the back of his mind. "Sickness drove us from our home," - with a certain amount of help from their uncle, wherever he now was - "Is it now in front of us as well as behind?"
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 4:48 am
The question sent Warithi's mane alive as his head shook to and fro, though a glint of sadness existed in his eye.
"All bodies are healthy as you find us, it is only our numbers that bear the toil of illness now.
The sickness may have claimed it's last victim, but the memories linger on."
His gaze flickered for just a moment in the direction of the Shadow's Hearth. Memories welled like a tide in his mind, of promises made, secrets told.
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 8:11 pm
((Finally posting! Er, pothting, >D))
It wasn't long before the great protector also found himself wandering; his senses keen to detect any potential threats to him or his pride. Mkingaji's mind was not so weary as that of his Akida, but the same worries haunted him still. Though respectful of the old traditions, he wasn't certain how long he could protect the Mteo'nyungu after so many Shujaa had fallen.
His toned muscles rippled in motion as he stepped along the grasses, poised in his gait as if ready to strike at any moment and in any given direction. It took a few minutes for him discover his old friend's scent. At first, he had decided it best to leave Warithi alone during his time of reflection, but soon another smell wafted into his nostrils, one that sent his brow furrowing in alert.
"Outhiderth.." He whispered as he made his way quickly towards the scents, his muscles tensed.
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