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 Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 1:05 am
Suli yawned as he stepped himself out onto the balcony of his own cave, stretching his claws out in front of him as he stretched himself out. His tounge rolled out as he stood himself up and glanced about, still half lost in the daze of the morning's sleep. It was nearing mid-noon and the heat of the day was starting to set in. He licked at his chops a bit, nose wrinkling up at the sticky dryness in his mouth.
He'd been asked to see to the newcomers as soon as he could, first thing in the morning Maji had said, but to the young lion first thing sometimes meant much later on in the day than it would for any other lions. He wasn't exactally lazy, just overly fond of dazing off in the shade.
Kisu brushed out the fluff growing along his chest, smirking proudly at the growth his mane had undergone in the last few months. Tinari would be impressed next he went to visit the elephant.
Giving a confident chuckle he turned and started down the side of the cliffs, picking his way carefully down the rocks. He said she'd likely be in the jungle or just around the edges of the caves. The lion paused at the edge of one of the larger rocks and gave a bit of a roar, announcing himself to the others in the area. If anythign else, she'd hear him. Perhaps she'd been told towatch for him too.
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 1:46 am
After all was said and done, their first night in Mistweaver territory had rounded out more or less like any other. Granted, it might have taken a little longer than they might have liked or expected, but... Well, it was said and done, and they were both still in one piece. And home, no less. Though convincing Kucha had been a little trickier than Jioni might have hoped. Safe to say, the male was much more reluctant than she.
A late finish had also led to a late beginning, for the lioness at least, who had spent a much greater portion of the previous night awake than her brother. She dozed easily through the early morning hours, shielded against the intrusive rays by the foliage dividing them. No, she'd not made it back to the caves the night before. Turned out she wasn't quite feeling up to it.
Or maybe Kucha wasn't. Neither could quite remember; it was a detail of little importance. One thing was sure though. The sun was just starting to filter through the leaves, speckling the ground below - likely an hour or two past sunrise. And Kucha was dreadfully bored.
He'd wandered a fair bit since he'd woken at dawn, driven mostly by a curiosity to hunt down just what it was exactly that had lured Jioni so. She was unreasonably fond of the area already, attached by some sense of beloning or homeland or something or other. Whatever it was, he was piggishly determined to puzzle it out, even if it took all day.
... But that was a fair while ago, and his drive was wavering by then, snuffed in part by the complete lack of anything he'd managed to find. Drying foliage and just trickling streams didn't do much to feed it. In fact, the further in he trekked, the less interested he became. So the lion did the only thing he could think of, and went to wake his sister (make her point it out to him).
It didn't pan out the way he would have imagined though. The lioness met him part way, creeping through what few shadows there were, so that when they met, she nearly startled him with her "Good morning, Kucha."
"You're a bit late for that," he retorted, giving his tail an idle flick as he pulled alongstride her.
"Come, I want to show you something," was her response, offered with that gentle smile and a slight nod as she turned back toward the cliffs.
"Good, I had wanted to ask you to show me something." The lion was as sarcastic as he was playful. Kucha did adore his sister, but there were times he couldn't help but wonder just what it was she was doing with her good sense and level head.
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:10 pm
Kisulisuli rotated his ears forward slowly, listening for any kind of response. His lips quirked a bit, lazy eyes rolling back a bit as the lion made his way down the cliff's face towards the jungle. The evening still left the spicy smell of dry grass on the wind, turned into an almost natural perfume in the swirling mists spraying from the waterfalls. They'd grown thinner in recent months, not enough to fully expose the hidden caves, but enough to show the sorry state that the valley had been facing as a result of the 'storm king's wrath' as many called it.
Dusty paws met with the dry grass, crunching it as he made his way lazily through the grass, now and then yawning off the day's sleep. Bugs flew up around him from the dry leaves in sprays- fireflies and the like, not yet dark enough to really enjoy the flicks of light they produced.
Suli turned himself towards the lake where he assumed the newcomers would meet him- or if anything else they'd have slept close to keep near some source of water. The elephant herd often lazed about towards the end of the day. Tinari, Suli's better friend, was an adolecent bull by now, proudly sporting a pair of handsome tusks. He had warned Suli that soon it would be the season for must- pretty much the elephant's mating season - and he was best to avoid that area.
Suli shook out his dusty mane as he approached the lake, glancing around shortly. Sure enough the elephants could be seen spraying themselves free of the dust they'd collected during the day, rolling around in deep mud trenches they'd carved out for themselves or socializing.
"Well well." A misty blue elephant lifted his head from the water, trodding himself over towards the incoming lion, "Look who finally has a mane."
Kisuli smirked, puffing his chest out a bit more, "And yourself- those tusks are looking pretty decent."
Tinari chuckled, curling his trunk around one of them, "Yup. Just got done rubbing them." Meaning there was one more tree minus much of its bark. "What brings you around this early in the evening? Last I checked you don't like to get up till the sun's gone."
"True." Kisu yawned a bit, "But my uncle has me out showing some new-comers around."
"Outsiders?" The elephant quirked a sharp brow.
"Naw." Kisu waved a paw as he seated himself, "Old members... parents took off a while ago but-" He made a motion accross his throat.
"Ah."
"You've not seen them around? The lioness is a dark blue with some black splotches."
"Not that I can remember." He rubbed his chin with the end of his trunk thoughtfully. "I saw that cheetah again."
"The one that thinks he's a lion."
"That one." Tinari smirked.
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 6:22 pm
"Is that so?" she questioned, meeting his gaze with a sidelong glance as they moved along, pressing through undergrowth and over drying leaves with amiable strides.
"It is." Kucha gave a surprisingly serious nod, almost grave in contrast to his sister's contented smile.
She could have guessed as much. "Because you don't trust me," she teased, flashing a toothy grin.
"Good to see you haven't lost your touch with ill-stating my intentions in a fashion I can hardly argue with." To an outsider, it might have been difficult to tell he was not displeased, but Jioni knew better. Frustration was not his way - especially not with her.
"You worry too much. You know me better than that, Kucha. You know I would never lead us astray."
The lion shook his head, his full mane swaying. "Intentionally. We went through that already. And you know it's not because I don't trust you."
"It is because you don't understand what could possibly transpire in a single evening to make me want to call this place home." She nodded in understanding, and acceptance of his silent reply. Nothing more needed saying - the conversation was already remarkably similar to one they'd had already. The only difference was today, she'd show him.
Kisuli's roar may have been lost to them, drowned out by the distance as it failed to carry through the jungle's foliage, but his conversation following later was not. Bits drifted to them, clearer yet the further the two carried on. By the time they could actually make sense of it, it was enough to give them both pause.
"She sounds familiar," Kucha commented softly, glancing toward his sister.
... But she was already heading toward them, her paws carring her at a brisk trot. "Excuse me," she offered at last, almost shyly, as the figures pulled into view.
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:02 am
Tinari lifted his large head up, both leathery ears fanning out as the lions approached them. He had no reason to be overly careful- with half the herd behind him enjoying the water and mud, a lion would think twice before attempting anything. Even then- a single elephant was still a match for a handful of them, even if he was a bit young. He pointed over with his trunk, gaining Kisulisuli's attention, "Those your friends?"
"Huh?" Suli tipped his head a bit, eyeing the pair of lions. Two- oh yes, her brother. Maji'd mentioned him. "Ooh yeah." The lion grinned a bit as he rolled himself back to his belly and pushed himself to his paws, "Jioni I think?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 2:27 pm
An elephant, Kucha noted as he brought up the rear. Despite the sloshing of the herd in the background, it was not quite what he had expected the other would be keeping as company, to say the least. He gave a nod anyway though, and perked his ears as Jioni pulled herself forward to make greetings.
"Yes?" was all she offered at first, mirroring her brother's nod. "That is my name. And this is Kucha," she added, motioning toward him with her head as he gave her a look only she would know was questioning. "Was there something you needed?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 11:21 am
"Naw." Kisuli glanced between the two, his eyes had kind of a critical edge behind the apparent lax that he almost carried himself with these days. The new comers were a bit thin and obviously well-traveled. Both had markings that were simular to many of the other natives, they had the colors though yellow and gold were a bit unfamilar. Then again, the true members of the pride had died off long ago, leaving behind only a few fragments or lower-bred members that had wondered in or had been bred between outsiders and natives.
He seemed content with his short study of the two and extended a paw out, "I'm Kisulisuli, Uncle Maji couldn't make it down this morning. He had something to attend to with another bunch of lions that came in earlier. Something real important."
Tinari nodded his large head, "Yes, they've been discussing it for some time. I overheard some of the others," He motioned over his shoulder with his large trunk, "Speaking about how simular the new comer female looked to Maji. I'm excited to hear more about it but for now all we have are speculations. Not much good wasting time on humoring those though."
"True enough." Suli chuckled, "Anyway, Uncle Maji wanted me to show you around this place a bit. Make you feel at home."
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Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 2:21 pm
The ivory one met the lion's inspection with an inward smile. Caution was good. He could relate, and welcomed it with the sort of understanding that came with being reluctant himself. The notion went a surprisingly long way toward smoothing his own suspicion - something Jioni would have been grateful for, had she known.
Uncle Maji though? That explained a few things... Like how he knew her name, and why he'd apparently been talking of her. "Pleased to meet you, Kisulisuli." A stark contrast from the simple 'Maji'. And a bit of a mouthful, too. It was a nice name though; she wouldn't dare complain.
His gesture was strange, too. Kucha met the extended paw with an ever-so-slightly arched brow, and held his place while Jioni pushed hers forward a few moments later. His seemed awkward and expectant sitting out there all on its lonesome. Hopefully that was what she was supposed to do, and it didn't look as odd to him as it had to them.
"It is nothing bad, I hope?" she questioned trailingly, at mention of 'something important'. Their tone didn't make it sound urgent, but one could never be sure...
And her brother followed the query several moments later, as Kisuli explained his purpose. "A kind notion. Thank you both," he commented, as earnestly as he could manage through his suspicion. It couldn't hurt, at any rate, and that was true enough.
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 5:17 pm
"I've never known him to have anything 'bad' come of things he says are important. Not when concerning the locals anyway." Tinari chuckled a bit, "Even as a cub he'd say building a rock dam in the river for fish was 'important', or playing with the monkeys. Lion politics still escape me a bit so you'll have to forgive me."
Kisuli met Jioni's paw simply by touching the back of his paw to hers, a strange gesture that his uncle had come up with for greeting those they deemed as allys. Some kind of 'secret gesture' he supposed. "Yeah, it's nothing bad I don't think. He looked a bit...pale I guess but none of us have eaten very well you know. And the water tastes like mud in some places."
He stood himself up, shaking out his dusty mane, "Alright, well uh..." He motioned a paw over towards the lake. "This is the lake. It was much bigger when I was little. It's still probibly the deepest water in the valley and until it rains probibly your best bet at getting a mouthful of clean water."
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Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 3:12 pm
"That is a relief," the lioness sighed, giving a faint smile and a slight nod. What a tragedy it would be to have only just arrived, and have ill news already... The state of affairs here was concern enough without it. "I think politics tend to escape everyone - to some degree or another."
"You're sure it's alright for us to stay here?" It was Kucha who spoke this time, his ears perked forward in rapt attention. "You sound as though you - and the lands - have more than enough to deal with already." He caught Jioni's eye then, and for perhaps the first time since they'd discussed staying, exchanged an understanding glance. Neither wanted to be additional burden.
The pair pushed themselves to their limbs, and briefly followed his motion out over what was left of the pool. 'Until the rains...' They could only wonder how long that would be. The lands were obviously in dire need, and soon would be its inhabitants. "At least it's close," Kucha added absently - part honest, and part sarcastic. Traveling the greater portion of a day to reach water wasn't all that unheard of.
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Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:17 am
Kisuli wrinkled his nose up a bit, "Yeah you're allowed to stay here. Uncle Maji said you both belong here anyway, somethin' about your folks running off to do some work for the pride and you two being the ones to come back. Don't worry about it, you're not here to eat up our herds or pop out fifteen cubs to make things worse." He chuckled a bit, "Those have been our larger problems. There was even a firekin trying to lodge here." There was a sharpness to his tone with the mention of that pride. They'd not met the red brute personally but there was little reason to. Firekin were firekin- it was partly their fault for the fall of the old pride.
"The lions around here believe a god will make it rain again." Tinari explained, "There's a few rumors on just how that will happen but again." He waved his trunk dismissively, "I'll believe it when I see it."
"Bah, ignore him." Suli loped his way around the edge of the lake, "If you need to ever find your way back to the caves just follow a river upstream. The rivers are fed by the waterfalls that run over the face of our cliffs." He nodded forward, "Even if they dry up you can find us by following the waterbeds."
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Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 2:09 pm
Jioni tilted her head ever-so-slightly, quirking at the elaboration. She hadn't mentioned their parents' purpose, certainly. That much she was sure of. "Running off makes it sound a little glamorous, I think. If not for their efforts, not even we would be returning." She straightened herself then and gave her tail a faint twitch. "We were not born here, you know. In spite of it, Maji is under no obligation to accept us." Her belief was cemented though. If she had been even a hint of uncertain before, she was convinced then - this was the place they had heard about.
Kucha too was contented, if not a little anxious to meet this Maji. Important figures were always a curiosity, especially if he knew as much of their lineage as he seemed to. "No, I don't expect you'll have to worry about that. Not from me, at least." An ornery grin curled his maw as he glanced at Jioni, albeit a faint one. She met it with a disapproving, comparatively stern expression. "Was, though? The firekin left - or have you removed him? And I assume there are others outside the pride trying to take residence here?" He hadn't meant to overwhelm with questions, but if they were to stay here, he expected to be aware of the state of things.
"He will," Jioni assured quietly as she followed, despite Suli's dismissal. "Hopefully it will never come to that." The thought of dry riverbeds was anything but a pleasant one.
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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 5:10 pm
"He left." Suli shrugged a bit, "Our scout saw them leaving the boarders not too long ago with his mate and all their little ones. Good riddance I say. The last time the firekin stepped paw into this territory they kidnapped our princess- or so Maji says. There's a lot of stories on the walls of the caves around here. I'm learning how to read, some of the markings are still kind of difficult for me to remember."
"Another thing I can't understand about your kind." Tinari noted, trogging himself out of the mud onto the riverbank. It seemed he was interseted in joining the little 'tour group' himself. "The whole buisness of throwing berry juice and mud on the walls to keep your history. That's why my kind has the storytellers." He curled his trun up under his chin a bit, stomping heavily after the trio of lions, "Of course I've heard your species doesn't live nearly as long as we do."
"Ah we live plenty long." Suli snapped, wrinkling his nose up, "And besides, there's nothing wrong with the way we do things." He glanced over to the pair of strangers, "You get used to comments like that. Uncle Maji's got a few non-lion buddies hanging around. There's a cheetah that's dead convinced that he's a lion- digging on my cousin." He chuckled a bit, jumping himself over a fallen log. Fresh by the looks of it. "My old man said it's hard to adjust to this pride again. He remembers the old king too you know."
"Some of the elephants mention him but we were never on real friendly terms with your kind. We protect our rivers, you all pray to them." He chuckled a bit, "If there is such thing as gods and goddesses I think they have better things to do than to listen to our problems. That's what we've always believed anyway."
"Yeah and you guys still munch on ruffage." Suli made a bit of a gagging sound.
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Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:12 pm
He left? Surely it wasn't as simple as that - families didn't uproot themselves and relocate just for a fleeting whim, especially not if they had 'little ones'. That thought was a little unnerving. Something had to have spurred it; the question was... what? A feeling of unwelcome he could tolerate, but if it was because the lands were more inhospitable than they looked, he would have had to reconsider.
"You take his word for it? There are no others who can read, or who remember the firekin or princess?" Though he had been mostly won over already, it was Kucha's nature to play the devil's advocate. Someone had to, because Jioni was far too trusting.
Besides, he wanted to hear there were others... More than this Maji who could read. To think such a large part of their culture may have been lost was saddening.
"Records are more permanent than storytellers," Jioni explained, overlooking the elephant's suggestion of their short lifespans. "They don't change, either. You could reread them as many times as you like, and the story will never change. Words have a way of evolving as we retell them though. The stories you hear now may... or may not be the same as when they originated."
It was an interesting thought though; something she'd never really considered before. It wasn't that she'd never heard stories, or told some of her own, but she thought important events were better written down. Leaving their accounts to her memory was... Well, it was unreliable. She couldn't put much faith in a storyteller's memory either, especially not if they added exaggerated flair, as storytellers often did.
"It is no trouble," the lioness added dismissively. "He did mention befriending other species." It still crossed her as a little strange though. Particularly the 'cheetah who thinks he's a lion' bit; he must have been quite the character.
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:26 am
Suli shrugged a bit, "I don't have any reason not to believe what he says. No one that's come here from the outside claiming to be of the pride knows how to read or write from what I gather. I met only one outsider myself- he was just kind of a trembling little coward. Wanted to stay here." Suli took a short glance around the place. Dry, dead, it was nothing like the place he knew in his cubhood- and even then it was the start of a dry age for them, "I dunno why... this place has nothing to offer. We're hardly managing ourselves."
Tinari nodded gravely, "God or not, unless the rain comes along soon my kind will even have to move on. No water, no leaves- we'll starve or dry up." His trunk wrinkled up a bit inbetween his eyes, "But I can agree with fuzzy- why so many started to come is beyond me."
Kisu shook his head a bit, "We'll never know. They're gone and that's that. Don't know how we managed to get them all to pick up and go but they did. Perhaps the storm king, perhaps not." He smirked a bit at Jioni's explanation of records, "See I've been trying to tell him that forever. He still likes storytellers."
"Permanant or not it's part of our culture. We can't exactally make doodles on cave walls." He waved his trunk around a bit, "I don't think I'll ever understand that bit about you folk."
"Yeah and you eat leaves." Kisu chuckled a bit. They were nearing the cliffs by then. The waterfalls were still present though they'd dimmed from a roaring torrent of pure water into a trickle. All the caves that had once been hidden by the falls were now out in the open, exposed for everyone to see. "Alright you see that one?" Kisu pointed up to one of the higher cave mouths- it was just behind one of the larger 'trickles', "That's where the main chamber is. All the more important records are written up there. Maji spends a lot of time there. He sleeps in one of the rooms so if you need him that's the best place to try. Also has most of the pride's history written there. It's just a good place to know about overall."
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