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 Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 7:47 am
He paused, head thrown up to inhale the warm air, golden eyes falling closed as he let himself enjoy the breeze as it carressed his fur in the way his mother did when she brushed the dirt from his pelt.
The wind was a friend. The sand was a friend. This place which held so much mystery and love was one which he wanted to explore. So many questions filled the mind of this young cub, questions that some adults feared to ask.
Why had he been born? Why had he been gifted life? What did he need to accomplish? Who was this great Finar-si that his father often spoke of? Why did he see things differently from others?
The young seer prince of the desert opened his eyes then, drawing in the landscape with orbs that seemed to see more than just the surface. They could weave themselves amongst the particles of sand, see beyond the surface and into the heart of the dunes. He could see the specks of colour where no colour should have been. He knew he was special, knew he was different.
But why?
With a shake of his head the young prince who had been blessed with the name Kidondo moved again with head held high.
What he was looking for he did not know, all he knew was that he had to be here, searching. He did not fear strangers for his scent enough would be proof enough that he was Kimeti's son and heir. He would use this status to shroud him with a shield of protection and enable him to walk freely upon lands scorched by the sun.
He was determined, noble and wise. Son of a King with a pelt that glowed with a brilliant radiance.
The den was cool but he would find none of his answers there. No. If he ever wanted to find what he was looking for he would have to find it outside, in this place he called home. In the lands that had been blessed with his kin for many years.
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 8:07 am
A dark form sat deep within the sea of sands, her large pelt making a mark for any who decided to peer out. While she sat there on the rock big enough for her form, the sun did nothing against her sanity, her body relaxed as it was used to the heat. The dark black lines of her fur brought the sun down on her form, though the thin nature of the hairs let the sandy winds brush a cooling tone across her skin. All in all, Nuri did not mind where she lived, she actually was bred to be a sand-dweller, as were her sons, and her grandchildren would be as well.
Shifting lightly, she glanced down to one of her sons in question, his deep pelt a mimic of her own. With a slow smile crossing her maw, she just watched as the small boy worked on his reaction skills with a harmless desert snake. The boy was growing up to be just like her, skilled with the strength of any male Firekin, but blessed with the knowlage that she held on her own. Rolling to her other side, back facing the male, she just let out a relaxed sigh and continued on with her nap. Thankfully, when she woke, the oasis would be right over the dune so they could get water and head to their den.
With a snap of his newly growl claws, Naraka slammed his hand down once more on the thin form of the snake, cackling lightly as the creature moved out of the grip. Waiting until it got out of reach, he settled his shoulders down and his tail up. Once more his form pounced and slammed down, but unlike the last few times he gripped the snake between two fingers and lifted it up.
"Stupid snake..." He murmered in monotone, red eyes bloodthirsty as the poisonless snake snapped in defence, before cackling again. Taking his paws, he pulled the creature forward before flicking it over his shoulder and away into the sands, where the dusty creature disappeared into the sea.
Watching as his mother yawned, Naraka settled on his haunces and yawned himself, entertainment now gone as his brother had not come with them that morning. Shaking his head, the small juvenile remembered how the dark black lion insisted he get more sleep instead, and Naraka let him go ahead with the idea. So, that only left him to spend time with his now slumbering mother, wondering just how lazy his family could become.
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 8:19 am
The sound of a voice upon the wind caught at the youngsters ears and perked his interest enough so that he changed his course. Twirling lightly on his paws the red-pelt made his way towards the sounds, wondering who it could be.
The scent upon the breeze did not belong to any of his family members, so that could only mean one thing. He was about to cross the path of a pride member. Preferring silence to acknowledging his presence Kidondo moved silently across the sand, his toes spread slightly so that the grains could pass between them. Then with a great tug the cub clambered up the side of the dune as easily as a playful breeze, his tail waving behind him and eyes bright as he sought out the strangers.
A few more steps brought him abreast of the dune and able to look down upon mother and son with eyes that glowed with an essence more mysterious than anything one might see. For a moment he was unsure what to do and then finally he began to make his way over to them. Ever silent, ever careful.
Yet by now he was in full sight of the pair if they thought to look in his direction.
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Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 6:54 am
Of course, red stood out greatly compared to the sandy sea around them, and Naraka was always one to keep a keen sight on all of his surroundings. As soon as Kidondo fell into the crest of the dune, and into full sight, deep red eyes locked onto his form. Though the juvenile looked from the corner of his eye, he still kept his form straight and keen, waiting to see what the red form would do. When it moved down the hill, Naraka moved his form to look straight at Kidondo, face blank and eyes hiding all emotion that might have shone before.
"Mother," He drawled on, before his ears perked and waited for her reply. When she gave none, he turned his head completly to her direction and sighed to himself. She had indeed fallen asleep, and odds are she wouldn't awake until the other creature decided to make himself known, not just slink around like the snakes in the sand.
Besides, he lacked the disguise of the desert snakes, and that was his loss.
"Fine..." He hissed in response to his mothers lightl sigh, and he turned his eyes back onto the red form of the prince, his own form appearing relaxed. Yet, his muscles were tense for a standoff, for while Kidondo wasn't an adult, neither was Naraka. This was a miniture battle just waiting to take place. At least, in Naraka's head it was so.
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Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 7:05 am
The strange cub that approached looked almost ethereal, his golden eyes so deep that they threatened to pull anyoen in who stared at them a second too long. It was those eyes that were the source of his power and those eyes that stared into those of the elder Firekin he approached.
It seemed that this one had no intention of speaking to him first - which he found strange considering that his scent must so resemble his father's. So with a drawn breath he came to a sharp halt and twitched both ears forwards.
"Greetings brother." His voice, though quiet had a firm tone to it. "A lion of few words I take it?" He seemed strangely adult and when he spoke it was not that of a childish cub. Yet in truth that was all Kidondo was. A cub who was searching and wanting to learn.
Yet the prospect of a fight did not even cross his mind, for the eldest son of Kimeti much prefered the use of his mind over physical power, especially when dealing with others of his Blood.
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Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 7:25 am
The eyes were something he caught many, though Naraka found no interest with them. With a flicker, the elder lion kept the gaze for a few moments before rolling his eyes boredly, just as he did when he met the princess not too long ago. With a flash, Naraka lost all interest in the cub as a whole, and showed no sigh of respecting the royalty before him.
His head was to the side when the prince spoke, and only the quick flicker of a ear showed that he heard the words. Instead, his focus was on his mother, watching as her lean form shifted before her tail slid off the rock to brush the sands. Nuri was slowly awakening, and a satisfied smirk crossed the young juvenile's maw.
Glancing back towards the prince, the smirk darkened, and he just raised a brow as a yawn sounded in the area.
"Mother's awake."
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Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 7:36 am
Kidondo tilted his head in slight interest, gaze moving from the strange juvenile to the one he called 'mother'. Their pelts were so dark and yet there was no mistaking the Firekin Blood within them. Were all of father's pride members so unwilling to partake in conversation? How did they learn anything if they did not discuss?
"So I see." Kidondo replied, extending his tail to brush gently against the sand behind him.
There was something rather odd about the other male, something that flickered in his aura. It made Kidondo feel strange, not afraid, not threatened, just...strange.
He blinked his dull eyes and returned his attention to the waking adult. He would not speak to her until she had fully woken, it would seem rude otherwise and he was in no rush.
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Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 7:48 am
A frown marring his features, Naraka turned his head away and padded to where his mother's tail had fallen. With a clawless paw, he batted at it in an effort to speed her up, though it looked like a bored action to any who might be watching him otherwise. It was the moment the tail snapped up that Naraka turned and settled, tail touching the rock and smirk back on his features as Nuri finally awoke.
Annoyed enough with how much her son wished for her to awaken, Nuri snapped her tail up and moved to lift her head. A low growling sounded from her throat in warning at the juvenile until it died at the sight of the cub. Dark eyes narrowing, she gazed at him in questioning as he just stood there, reconizing his pelt and markings as ones of royalty.
"Shouldn't you be in your den, cub?" She asked softly, a clear undertone of annoyance at being awakened. Snapping her eyes to her son, she sent him a warning glare, telling him to wait until it was time. The prince still might wish to follow their plan and steer away from the teachings of Finar-si. Nuri knew of her sons' escapades, and believed they have been blessed by the gods as their messagers. She could only hope with how the pride was changing.
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Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 7:55 am
He straightened his posture and held his head tilted up at a higher angle, his jawline curving upwards towards the sky. Should he be hurt by the question? He wasn't quite sure, but either way he wouldn't show offence. It would not do to anger her as he was sure his father would not appreciate it if he stirred trouble mongst the ranks.
"I probably should be." He replied, nodding his head slowly. "Though I am not one to stay put, not when there is so much to learn and do."
He twitched his nose thoughtfully and let his tail fall with a quiet thud to the ground. "I am Kidondo, eldest son and heir of our King, Lord Kimeti." He was unaware that some may dislike his father, for in his eyes the great and strong lion was an honourable lion who deserved nothing but respect.
Oh, the cub did have so much to learn, but atleast he was willing.
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 4:34 am
"Many would wish to cub nap the elder son of the King, who is next in line for the thrown..." Nuri murmered softly, before moving to stand and jumping down from her post on the rock. Stretching her lengthy limbs, she glanced towards Naraka a moment in thought, before turning towards the cub with a deep, dark smirk.
"I do hope you realize your duty, young lord. It sounds like you have, for it is a prince's duty to learn all he can of his pride. If he does not, he will not be trusted, and will have one of his siblings decide to take over instead...but that is a story for another day, now isn't it..." Her eyes darkening with the smirk, she settled on her haunches and continued on, speaking in soft tones of dark nature and clearly spinning a web of plans in her mind.
"Kidondo, you have sought me out at the best of moments, for I am afraid I have quite a bit of disappointment in the pride before you. My name is Nuri, a huntress, and this is one of my two sons, Naraka. We have lived in the lands just as much as everyone else...which is very little. The great plague killed many, dwindling our pride to such numbers and forcing the blood to seep from our wounds and do us our death. I am afraid that while the pride dispersed to small numbers...the teachings grew thin as well..."
Drawing it out, she turned her head away and looked to the sandy dunes, her tail shifting as she let the words sink in and wondered if the prince would take the bait. Nuri always loved to tell the truth, and while the issue between the king and the rightful queen was something of a non-say, she always seemed to have a 'weakness' so to speak for cubs.
Catching on quickly to what his mother planned, for it was up to Naraka to teach the prince and advise, the boy bowed his head as his name was called in greeting, before lifting it once more and settling next to his mother on his belly. For the words she said, he had no idea of what she talked about, and a shiver raced up his spine with each building of her plot. He couldn't help it, his mother just seemed to always say the right things at the right time, and now he wanted to know the story of the kings, something she felt was not important until right now.
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:29 am
"But why my Lady? Why would any of this Pride wish to take me away? Do they think I am not worthy to become King? I have heard stories of the Kings before my father and how they ruled with an iron claw. I have no intention of ruling with violence, though perhaps this is what they expect of me?" He was lost in confusion, unsure what step to take. If he was expected to gain power through fear then he just wouldn't do it! Kidondo it seemed had inherited a little of his grandmother's kindness, though he would never know it.
At the following words Kidondo's interest was perked and he took a step closer, eyes switching from the adult to her dark-pelted son. "My duty is to my pride, my life is to serve and care for the Firekin and lead them into a better and brighter future, is it not?"
He listened to their introductions with a slight inclination of his head, showing respect where it was necessary. "It sounds like the teachings were not lost in you, Lady Nuri? My purpose for life is to learn and to lead in the best way possible and to do so with the aid of a wise huntress as yourself wouldbe an honour." He seemed unaware that Naraka too, would play a part in the teachings that were to follow.
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:45 am
Dark eyes glanced down to her son, and the same blood red color gazed right back to her. Both were silent for a long moment, before the female of the two turned towards the prince.
"The pride does not like change, nor do they accept it easily. If you wish to take a stand, you must do so demanding they accept it, for while it is their duty, I doubt they will stand down without a fight...we have yet to do so..." Smirking darkly at that, she went on at his next assumption.
"I do not follow the teachings of Finar-si...for they are the reason our pride had died...it is by her blood that we are condemned." Not caring who heard, Nuri casually stated all this information to the willing mind before her, "It is Finar-si's wise siblings that knew when to not prod...while Finar-si simply played a game until she was about to lose, and turned her back when we needed her the most..."
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:54 am
He listened to Nuri with widening eyes, hardly believing what he was hearing.
His first instinct was to speak up to defend the Goddess he had been told so much about, to honour her name and make sure that none thought badly of her. If it wasn't for Finar-si none of them would even exist...and yet...and yet this lioness was right.
He had heard no stroeis of how Finar-si had coem to their rescue or how she had helped them during hard times. Where had she been when the plague had ripped through the ranks, destroying royalty and hunters alike.
"It worries me somewhat to realise that what you speak could be considered truth...Lady Nuri, do you really think Finar-si has been playing with us all this time? Have we been worshipping a God who looks down at us as if we are nothing more but toys to be messed with?"
His breath shook and for a moment he looked crestfallen. "Surely this could mean changes in the Pride that could transform it completely? And yet if it is lie how can I preach to future Firekin about Finar-si when all she does is bad. They won't believe, they'll need proof...and that will be hard to come by unless we happen to run across this elusive Goddess herself.
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Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 7:39 am
The female just looked casually to the dune ahead, not even bothering to show the prince the proper respect he deserved. Instead, she just relaxed in her lacidasical way, and let her tail swing from side to side in apparent boredom.
"Where is the great Finar-si now? Where is she when the prosperity returns. It is not the goddess who has brought us back onto our paws, but the strength of each lion in turn. We do not need the goddess any longer, for we are very well capible of making our own fate, and not ruining it within our paws."
Lifting a paw of stand, she let it flow through her paws and drift down to the ground, "While she cares not what life slips through her own, we care enough to bring it back, and keep it secure. We are very much capible of leading our own lives, and we need not a goddess who simply distroys it."
Naraka shifted at the second question, and eyed the clearly weakening prince, "We need not the goddess, but simply her siblings instead. They are the strength of the firekin line, they are the hope and the truth, and the ones we must follow. There are hundreds of gods in the world around us, Finar-si has just tricked us into believing she is the only one."
At that, his paw shifted through the dirt to make a short sketch of Baku, the latest god he met, or more like firekin, "This creature teaches us all we know, all we need to know about the siblings of Finar-si. They are not red, they are black and white and all colors inbetween, and live outside of our home to spread their strength. Finar-si has taken all the life out of our lands, while her siblings, have given it to the others outside of our boundries. What more proof do you need?"
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