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 Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 10:31 am
After meeting the large male lion, Liza had started to make his way once again away from the pride lands. He was pretty sure he had directions to the mistweavers territory now. He had certaibnly not enjoyed being lost. His mother had told him to go to the mistweavers. It was the home of his father and he would be welcome there.
The prospect still scared him. He fully expected to walk in to the territory and be mobbed by giant females whom would fight over his posession. His mother had alywas treated him thus, like an item to be used and forced in to tasks. The truth was, taht was his life and he accepted it.
His main worry was that he would find himself in the posess of a lioness before he entered the mistweavers lands! If a female told himt o do something, he could not dissobay, it was carved in to his skull, engraved that he must do as they wish, and although his mothers memory burned brightly in his mind and he still feared her wrath even beyond the grave, he knew if a female told him to do soemthing else, he would obay.
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Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 11:00 am
 It seemed the farther the young lioness got from the pridelands', the more quickly her small paws continued on. Only when she was certain the two she had left behind could no longer see her, did she pause and take gasping breaths of air. The female was in no shape to run long distances, though often had no choice. Her form was thin and her ribs she increasingly visible as the days went on. Her hunting had been greatly affected by her lack of food. Panting almost painfully, she looked around, glad to see no one around her. Where she was, she could not be certain, but at the moment she needed to think.
When her breathing had begun to calm down, Shiri's small golden ears perked up at the sound of someone nearing. With a grimace, the small femme lowered her form in the tall grass and tried to keep herself hidden. Lucky for her, her pelt matched the golden rods perfectly and besides her more dramatic stripes, she blended in pretty well. As she watched this new stranger, she noticed he too was a large lion, though by his build and mane, she could tell he was not a pridelander. The pridelanders had a sort of air about them that distinquished them from the other prides.
As he walked about, he seemed to be in the search of something. A minor curiosity perked in Shiri, though it was nothing to bring herself out into the open for.
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Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 11:14 am
 Liza was a 'large' lion indeed though taht was only because of his age. He was not large in build. He was sleek and obviously cared a great deal about his soft yellow fur. His mane black as pitch except for the tips which faded to a silvery white. He wasn't a very old male it was clear his mucles though well formed had the spring of youth in them.
Deep orange eyes searched around for a moment. Oh lords was he lost again? Grumbling he wondered how far away the mistweavers lands were? He was heading in the right direction now right?
Noticing some long grass near by he looked up at the heavens, it was getting hot and although his coat was afairly neutral colour his mane always became very hot in the sun. Heading for the long strands, he entered in to the bristly grass without a moments hesitatioon almost standing on the poor cub whom was hiding there.
Liza, very nearlly jumped out of his skin when he saw her. "I..I..I..uhm" he blinked his dark eyes wide and surprised, he hadn't expected anyone to be theer let alone a female. The instinct to be afraid of all females even ones smaller than him, was ingrauined in to his skull.
Bowing his head quickly to the female, his eyes fixed on the ground "uhm..du..du..du..didin't..mm..mm..mean to in..in..intrude" eh managed to stumble out his voice wavering.
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Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 11:41 am
By his form, Shiri could assume he was not old, but his age did not matter greatly to her. This stranger was another adult male and if he was a cruel one, he could do a great deal of harm to her. Cautiously, she continued to watch quietly from beneath the yellowed grasses. Silently, the young lioness hoped the male would pass by unknowingly, or possibly ignore her if he noticed her presense. As she waited, she heard a light grumbling come from the male and even farther her ears lowered. The noise did not seem very comforting.
As she had been thinking over the grumbling from this strange lion, she almost did not notice him nearing, until his footsteps were coming incredibly close and she felt her form shivering. Like she had hoped for, he did not notice her, but now he was nearly stepping on her! A quiet squeek left the female's maw and as soon as she made the noise, he spotted her. Instead of a reaction like Kazi, this male seemed incredibly uncomfortable and began stuttering. Quietly, the female backed up from him in slight fear.
When the male began to speak again, Shiri became incredibly confused. Even the rogue males did not behave this way! What was it about her incredibly small form that made him so nervous? Speaking lightly, she hoped to calm his nerves somewhat. She understood greatly what it was like to be so frightened, "...i'm Shiri..."
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Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 11:49 am
"I uh..uhm..tu..tu..tu..tu..tterribly su..su..sorry..I uhm..yes" He blinked laying down on his belly so he was level with the little lion his chin going down to the ground in a nervous bowing motion. "pu..pu..puhlease dd..d..don't bu..be mmmad.."
Of course when the female spoke he lifted his eyes and acctually looked up at her over his muzzle. "mu..mu..my nnn..name is Liza..mm..mm..mma'am" he stated simply, his name, one of the few things in the world he could say without stuttering. "I..rrr.rrealy didn't mm..mm..mean to..inn.inn..tr.trude.." he mumbled, his voice wavering and shaking as he spoke.
His golden black tipped ears flattened tightly against his head as he spoke, he was obviously nervous even of somone as small as her. Perhaps it didn't occur to him that he could hurt and run. It certainly never would. He was subsevient to the point of stupidity some times.
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Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 12:01 pm
Shiri could barely understand the male due to his awful stuttering. She cocked her head adorably and wondered whether he had some sort of speech problem, or if he was honestly that bothered by her presense. All fear she had once felt had left and been replaced by a curiosity of this male. What was it that scared him so much? She looked herself over for a minute, and then glanced back up to Liza, "...i'm not upset if that's what you're worried about..." her voice was quiet and sounded calm, only because she could not be scared when this other was in this state.
Hidden beneath her calm behavior was a racing heart, eager to leave the situation. The male continued to speak and Shiri listened. Had this male been smaller than her, she might have lowered her form to be less intimidating, but she found no reason to do so. The male was more than twice her size! Shiri did notice that he was drastically smaller and sleeker than Kazi had been. "..Liza is a nice name..." The words felt strange leaving her mouth. It was not that Shiri had become any more comfortable in the situation, but more than she needed to act this way or take the risk of causing the male to panic even further.
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Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 12:35 pm
"Th..th..Thankyou my mu..mother named me" he managed, though he never stopped his stuttering he did relax a little once he knew he was forgiven. "I'mm..ju..ju..just pu.pu..pssing through..it's gu..gu..getting hot..ou..ou..out there" he stayed laying down his eyes cast to the ground still in his cow towing submissive fashion. "I..w..w..will..gg..go..i..i..if y..y..you wu..wwish" he tripped over every word he said, it perhaps was not surprising that his shoulders trembled a bit though he managed to put a stop to that his sleek, furry black and silver mane falling over his eyes.
"y..you have a pr..pr..pritty n..n..name too" he said after a moments silence, unsure if that was the correct thing to say, he didn't wish to upset the female further after all! It seemed to him he had already incurred her wrath if she wished to give it.
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Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 12:39 pm
Shiri had just began to think the male's stuttering had begun to get better, when he continued, almost worse than he had first begun. She had nodded to what he had said about the weather, though through experience with both extremes, preferred the heat over shivering alone in the cold. She assumed that would be another perk to joining a pride as there would always be someone to keep you company. Releasing a short sigh, she continued to listen. "..you don't have to leave, though I won't mean to keep you here if you have somewhere to go..?" She was truly incredibly uncomfortable, but continued to act as kind as possible with the hopes of calming the male.
When the male had complimented her, she felt her cheeks become somewhat pink at the words. Only Kazi and Jini had ever shown that sort of compliment towards her and she couldn't hold back a giggle. Was Shiri anything special? Whatever the case, she was glad that this male had thought so.
Going out on a limb now and taking a risk, she spoke quietly, "...are you afraid of me?"
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Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 12:47 pm
Liza licked his lips, he had never heard a female 'giggle' before having spent his whole life around only one, his mother. He was however pleased at the sound and managed a little weak smile though his head was still bowed.
The question startled him out of his short lived happy moment though and he looked up at her his eyes wide and full of shock "II..I..i" he took a deep breath and looked around "fu..fu..fu..females are in..ch..ch..charge m..mm.ma'm I d..d..do not w..w..wish to anger you!" He paused then his head flattening in to the dust between the long brittle grass, his eyes closing and his shoulders shaking. He was waiting for a punishment. If he was asked a question and it wasn't answered correctly he gained a punishment, this question was one of those trick questions, his mother used to ask them all the time, there was no rigth answer to them so it gained a cuff usuallt accross the cheek or a hard bite at his scruff. Either way it was easier to grip the ground and bear it, he was bretty used to such things after all.
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Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 1:16 pm
Shiri noticed the smile and actually found it causing her to smile as well. As the two talked, she was beginning to feel more comfortable, but now felt a guilt come over her. Something inside of the young lioness wished she could help and offer some sort of relief for the male. She could not understand, for the life of her, why he was so umcomfortable, let alone around her. Before he could speak again, she looked towards him and realised he hadn't lifted himself from the ground since the two had met, "Why are you still bowi-" But before she could finish he spoke.
His stuttering made his speech difficult to comprehend still, but Shiri got the jest of what he was saying. Quickly, she contadicted his statement, "No they're not!" She was not angry and made sure not to speak loudly, but her voice came out shocked. Why would this male get that view? It was wonderful to find a male that did not think of himself more superior than his perfectly capable female counterparts, but the opposite was not any more true, "..you won't upset me, don't worry...I only worry i'm upsetting you!"
When Liza lowered himself to the ground, a large trembling mass, Shiri breathed out sadly. Dispite his age, he seemed no bigger than her. Approaching him slowly, she lowered her maw to him and offered a comforting nuzzle. It seemed this male needed comforting far more than she.
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Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 1:30 pm
The touch almost startled him out of his wits, he expected it to be his punishment coming to him, biut instead he was greted by a comforting nuzzle. He slowly opened his big orange eyes and his head tilted, he was confused, why wasn't she giving him what for?
Her voice had woken him a little as he listened to her small speech. Females wern't inc harge? "b..b..but" he didn't know what to say, females had always been in charghe of his life, one female in particular, what had changed since he had been sent on this quest? "I have..al..al..always fff..followed..fuh..fuh..females..uhm..I..I..I'm sssupposed to!" his voice was still nervous though the gentle nizzling of the little female was some what comforting and his shoulders untenced, at least a little bit, the shivering coming to a jittery stop. He was still awaiting his punishment. Perhaps this female liked to see him relax so that he didn't expect the cuff.
"yy..you c..c..can't upset me mmma'mm...I'm ju..just f..f.ffollowing or..orders..I hhhave t..t.tto ob..obay you" It was a standard speach. His mother had driven it in to his headearly on in his life. Of course the fact that it applied to all females had only happened recently with her death. He had never had the company of another female before, he assumed they were all like his mother, huge, scary lionesses whom demanded to be obayed.
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Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 2:01 pm
Shiri had expected the confused expression and let out a slight laugh, "Don't worry Liza.." She said quietly, "I won't hurt you.." When she had went in for the nuzzle he almost appeared as if he was going to wince in pain. Whatever past this male had must have been incredibly awful. Sighing again, the small cub tried to think of a way to make this male feel more comfortable. In the past, Shiri had learned that comfort came only with trust and so she hoped with time she could gain this males trust.
Looking Liza over, she tried to see what it was exactly that made him nervous. Stepping back, she tried to give the male his distance, "Haven't you seen me? I'm just a cub! A rogue at that! I have no home and I wouldn't dare try and hurt you!" She hoped these exclamations would further convince him, or at least put the thoughts in his mind. Whomever this female was that had hurt him must have been doing it for quite some time to nearly brainwash him. Lowering her own head in a bow, she showed equal respect for Liza. Shiri was certainly a quick learner and hoped that her new companion could understand that she meant absolutely no harm.
After his last statement, Shiri kept her head bowed and spoke quietly, "...You have no more reason to obey me than I have to obey you. We are equals and I will not accept you calling me ma'm any longer... please, call me Shiri..." The voice of the lonely young lioness was incredibly soft and gentle.
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Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 2:18 pm
To Lizas surprise and perhaps even his dismay she bowed back. he looked around half expecting somone larger to appear and fault him. "b..b..but I..h..h..have to" he stutered. Of course her statement only confused him. She was acub, but she was a she, he wasn't allowed to be obstenate to a female no matter what her size.
"I..I..I d..d..don'ty under..st..stand" he managed looking shocked at her revelations. Was he supposed to beleive after all this time taht females were not the reigning power? That he was an equal or greater force because of his size? It was hard to swollow and the blak and silver maned lion would take alot of convincing.
"Y..yes..sh..shiri" he mumbled after a moment, he had to obay her. If she told him to do anything he would do it in an instant. That was his way, he would find it very hard to change and if he did dissobay, he would expect this or anotehr females wrath upon his hide. That was the way of life, or so he was taught.
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Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 2:37 pm
Shiri raised her form now, but still kept her stature low to the ground, "...You don't have to, Liza." Her words were both firm and gentle at the same time, "And if you had to listen to me, then listen to me now. I say after this point in time, you have your own say of what to do.. please don't be scared of me.." It almost seemed as if Shiri had grown more mature during their conversation. Although she did not know it, she was becoming more of an adult and less of a cub.
It was foolish of Shiri to try and convince the male so suddenly. If he had grew up being taught that this was how the world was, why would one female's opinion change that for him? She would not give up, however, because if one female could give him the impression than one female could change it. It would just take time. Sighing quietly, she remembered back to when she had first spotted him, "Did you have somewhere to go? You seemed like you were heading somewhere before?"
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Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 3:10 pm
Liza listened, though of course it was hard to accept for the dusty yellow male to accept such words, even if they were said kindly to him. His dusty ears twitched as he looekd upw ith those big orange eyes.
"Yes ma..uhm shiri" he mumbled. "I uh..yes..uhm am g..g..going to th..th..the muh..muh..mmmistweavers..mmmy muh..muh..mother tttold me tto" he stuttered out. His mother had told him to go to the mist weavers "mm..mmm..my fu..fu..father wwwas bbborn there." He paused for a moment trying to collect himself "I j..j..just d..d..don't know wh..where it i..i..is" he looked ashamed, he had failed to follow his motehrs last order to him, he still feared her wrath, even beyond the grave.
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