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 Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 8:09 pm
Laqueta lounged on the same tree branch she always did when waiting for Regius to appear, and was alert for any sound or sight of the much darker teen. Since meeting him, she'd always looked forward to the next time they met, and as they'd grown, she'd finally convinced him to let her help him improve his abilities. Originally he'd been against it, but she'd realized it was only because he didn't want others to watch when he should fail or make a mistake and think less of him, and the fact he was scared of getting her more involved in his life that she already was. She, however, argued that the process would be much quicker if he'd allow her to help him, and he finally reluctantly agreed. At least he'd looked reluctant, but she sensed he'd actually liked the idea....maybe it was more to do with the fact that the faster his training went, the sooner he'd be able to face his father, but a part of her couldn't help but hope that perhaps a part of it had been that he'd like the excuse to spend more time with her. Well, she could always hope at the very least, and she was willing to take what she could get...even if the reason wasn't what she'd like it to be.
Looking up to see what time it was, she saw that the sun had risen enough to touch the tops of the trees. It was still early yet, but she was antsy for him to arrive and for a moment thought about pacing around the tree on the ground below, but instead, she put her head down and kept her gaze in the direction that Regius usually came from.
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Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 10:19 am
"You shouldn't think that just because I always do something, that I will continue doing it." Regius purred, looking up at her from ground. He had made a wide circle around the area, keeping low in the grass. Since her offer, he had taken it upon himself to practice certian skills that would be useful. His hearing had improved slightly since he was a cub, giving him a slight advantage at moving silently. If he couldn't hear himself, then neither could anyone else. He had been practicing moving as quietly as he could for the past few weeks so that he could sneak up on Laqueta. He had carefully approched her from the same direction each day they met. He grinned up at her, his smile carefree with a touch of mischief as he hoped that he did scare her. Since he had met Laqueta, he had found himself smiling more, though it was normally tainted with darker thoughts of his father. When Laqueta had offer to help him train, he had been hesitant, both because of the reason he was training and that he didn't think his pride would handle much more. He shook his head.
"Come down here, already!" He demanded playfully, placing his front paws on the tree trunk. He was in a good mood today, having slipped away from the pride without encountering his father. His moods were fleeting, but he hoped to stay in this mood. For a little while anyway.
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Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 10:45 am
Laqueta, totally lost in her own thoughts actually was startled when she did hear his voice, and couldn't help but laugh when she saw him below her perch. "You scared me! What if I don't want to?" she called down to him playfully, using her tail to tickle at his nose for a moment before leaping down to the ground beside him and pawing at his side. "So tell me, what do you want to do today? Seems you've gotten good at stalking...want to work on actually hunting?"
Standing next to him, she was still slightly smaller than he was, but not my much, nor was she as 'helpless' as she'd been when they first met. She watched him silently a small smile tickling her muzzle as she awaited his responce. It panged her to know that she was merely feeding his future desire by helping him, but what else could she do? Take what you can get and accept it....
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Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 11:14 am
Regius smiled and shook his head. "Not hunting... Not yet." He gave a wry grin. "I don't want to hunt for something when I am not hungry. In a bit, probably." He yawned and flopped into a small hollow at the base of the tree. He was hungry, really hungry, but he didn't want to hunt in the heat of the day. His black fur attracted the heat, making it seem twice as hot then it really was. They generally met around noon, when no matter what they did, Reg roasted. He didn't imagine it to be any cooler for her, so he was going to have them sit in the shade for a while. He lounged back, grinning up at her. The wind brought her scent to him. He inhaled the familiar scent, noticing a slight change. He rose to his feet, regarding her with shuttered eyes. "Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked. Since he couldn't judge a persons emotions or responces by sight, he was still learning how to do the same by scent. He could only do it with people that he knew well, picking up small changes in their overall scent as their emotions changed. He wasn't quite sure what it was he had smelled, but he knew something was different, wrong.
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Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 11:31 am
Laqueta was a bit startled for a moment that he'd caught onto her feeling, but she quickly recovered and laughed lightly. "Of course! Do you think I wouldn't of suggested it if I didn't want to? Silly lion..." Laying down, she rolled onto her side where she could still see him in full view, her tail flicking every now and then. She could only imagine what the heat did to him, and even with her lighter fur, her black clothes tended to make up for it a little too much.
So, if he wanted to stay out of the sun, she was just as happy to as well. Trying to make her voice as light as possible, she asked, "Why do you think somethings wrong? You should know me enough by now to know I'd not keep going through with this if I didn't." Turning her gaze up to the tree leaves above her that blew gently in the morning breeze, she added in her mind Just my reasons for doing this are completely different and probably more selfish...or maybe we're both selfish in a way....
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Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 12:11 pm
Regius frowned, a million possiblities running through his head. He was immediatly suspisious, neck stiff with tension. They had been hanging around each other for some time now, but he had never had this scent from her before. He had never understood why she had hung around with him, but never expected it to be more then a desire for friendship. He had figured that since he was the first lion she had met, she was going to meet someone else to befriend and spend more time away from him. Was there an alternitive reason?
He tamped down the suspision, slightly angry at himself. He didn't think that she would do anything to harm him, she was his friend, wasn't she. He kept the termoil off of his face with a practiced skill. "If you are sure..." He said in a steady voice, hopefully not betraying the suspision and fear. "I believe you..."
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Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 12:38 pm
"Good, and you better," Laqueta teased, more of her former more happy self returning to her voice, mainly do the fact that she hadn't lied and had been nothing but honest with him since they met. Okay, so maybe she wasn't going to tell him what was bothering her, but it wasn't a big deal was it? Not like it'd change his mind from what his ulterior motive was, and she was starting to doubt her earlier hope that things would ever progress above friendship. That and she was scared he'd ultimately leave her if he ever found out her true motive now for wanting to spend so much time with him. She thought this whole thing was nonsense, but knew better than to say such things to him, especially because she knew his pride was involved and the fact that he wanted to prove to his father he was a 'worthy' son, (or at least that's how she viewed his real reasons behind this) but all she could see as the end result was his lifeless body and absolutly nothing changed in the end. Yeah...it was best he didn't know.
Suddenly getting up as her tummy gave off a rather loud growl, she announced, "I'm hungry, so I'll be right back..there's a zebra herd not far away...unless you'd like to come with..." Sure, maybe it was partially an excuse to change the subject away from something even she wasn't quite ready to face head-on, and maybe she wanted a distraction away from thinking these thoughts that would do no good other than to depress her further, she started padding away at a steady trot. Hunting would be easier now than when the true heat of the day drove them back under the tree for cover...and maybe she could forget her worries for a time.
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Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 1:08 pm
Regius listened as she padded away, frowning. He rose to his feet when she was beyond earshot, moving silently along her trail. It was easy to follow her scent, his suspision marking it clearer in his head then any others. The grasses parted before him with a soft hush. He didn't want to follow her. For a moment, he paused, shaking his head. He didn't want her to leave but... He had always thought that she would leave him eventually. She was so... Someone better suited to her would come along and Regius would fall to the wayside as just a childhood friend. He wanted her to stay but... He had to know what she was about, regardless. He continued slowly, burdened down my his dislike of this. Reg had to be able to trust her, he wanted to trust her. Tears stung his eyes for a moment, thinking that she might betray him. She shook his head again, anger flooding in as sorrow left. He moved faster, following her trail like she had showed him, using the skills that she had helped him achieve.
The sun beat down, heating his fur even though it wasn't as hot as it had been. In the wash of green, he knew he stood out so he kept low, creaping through the grass, only interested in finding out what Laqueta was hiding.
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Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 1:52 pm
Laqueta was sad when she didn't hear him get up to follow her and so she decided she'd bring the kill back to the tree where they could both eat comfortably in the shade. She didn't even look back to see his form gone from where he'd been laying, as once more she was trying to busy herself with this distraction. Besides...hunting would help her feel better for a time and maybe it might let her relax after taking her frustrations out on the unfortunatle zebra that would end up between her claws and teeth...or at least maybe she'd act normal around him for a time.
She knew well enough he didn't believe a word she'd said, heck even she'd sounded false to her own ears. Again, she wondered if it really mattered...it was a question she'd not stopped uttering from the day she met him. Did her feelings really matter that much to him? What would he do if she were to tell him? "Yeah, I tell him how I feel and that'll be the day he leaves me to finish his training without a meddling little lovesick lioness around...After all, I'm the one who promised never to leave him, not like he'd ever promised me..." she muttered aloud, angry and frustrated, not really caring who heard since he wasn't nearby (or so she thought). A few other thoughts flitted through her mind along that line and every so often she chuffed in frustration and even growled a few times at herself for being such a cub. She had, after all, talked him into this so the consequences were hers alone to deal with.
Finally, just over the crest of a hill, she spotted the flash of black and white that marked where a zebra herd had taken residence lately. The grass was long and lush with new spring growth, and she could hear little foals whinying and playing around with their friends. The foals would be lucky today...she wanted something bigger. Creeping closer, she studied the group carefully. Aah! Perfect...a young mare obviously favoring her back left leg was walking/hopping not too far away from where she had crouched down in the grass. A soft purr/growl escaped her lips as she licked them hungrily...yes, that one would do nicely....
Slinking closer, she concentrated totally on the prey before her...she memorized every line on that little mare's body, her eyes locked on the juicy rump as she got closer and closer. Finally, when she could stand waiting no more, she shot like a streak from her hiding spot and ran as hard as she could. The adrenaline rush was amazing and she increased her speed even as the other zebras began bolting in fear around them...this mare was hers...she knew it...the mare knew it. Launching herself, she roared, sinking her claws into the fleshy rump and sending the little mare off balance to fall on her left side. Valiantly the little horse fought, kicking Laqueta once in the ribs as they rolled to a stop, and a glancing blow to her right front leg as the little lioness fought to keep her prey down.
Finally it was over...the lioness was the victor, but the mare had left her marks...a deep gash ran across the lower part of her leg and labored breathing showed that not all was well with Laqueta where she collapsed nearby. "Maybe I have a death wish too," she said aloud to herself as she mentally assessed her injuries, a dark chuckle following close after causing her to mew in pain as her ribs sent a spasm of pain up her side. She began to wonder if she was going to be able to drag this back...but she'd promised to return, and she'd never broken her promise to him yet. She tried to get up, intending to do just that, but the pain from both locations at once caused her to cry out in pain and she promptly passed out.
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Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 7:55 pm
Regius had caught up to her barely in time to hear her talking to herself. Lovesick? He thought, having the sense to not say it outloud. Barely. He had stopped when he heard her nearby, but now he was having a hard time moving. She's in love... with me? The first question that flitted through his head was why. He had thought that she was going to leave him, regardless of the promise. "She thinks I'm going to leave?" He wondered aloud, sinking lower into the grass and moving forward. He could smell the zebra, a deep musk that made his mouth water in hunger. He couldn't hunt, not yet, but with Laqueta teaching him... He stopped for a moment, straighting a bit. Oblivious, he had been using her for his own means. Sickened by his own actions, he froze, again wondering why she wanted him. He heard a purr, then the wisk of grass as she began to stalk her prey. Frozen, he listened to her movement with somethine akin to awe. He heard her start her attack and her roar and then silence as the death game ended.
"Maybe I have a death wish too."
His heart skipped a beat and he was moving toward her cry of pain in an instant. "Laqueta!" He called, unsure of where she lay. When she didn't answer, he began to get frantic. Searching around blindly, her tripped over her, sprawling in the dirt. Uncaring, he turned to her, nosing her gently. "Laqueta?" She was still warm, her heart still beating, but he could smell blood. Blood of the prey and of the preditor. "You stupid... stupid..." He choked, nosing her again as he began searching for open injuries. He found the one on her leg, licking it gently to get some of the blood off. He curled around her, his own hunger forgotten. "You... I don't want to lose you... Ever." He laid his head over her neck and closed his eyes, listening to her heartbeat as well as for any approaching danger.
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Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 8:31 pm
For a long time, Laqueta did little but breath, the rise and fall of her chest and the slow beat of her heart the only signs of life, though her breathing changed from a labored sound to one of more peaceful type as she dreamt she'd heard Regius's voice calling her name. She felt him lick her wounded leg, and then curl around her...this could be nothing short of a dream!
At least she thought she was dreaming till the pain started coming back in waves. Her chest throbbed enough to make her gasp in pain, and mew when that just made things worse...clearly, breathing wasn't going to be fun for awhile. How was she going to help Regius now? He had to think she'd left him by now...how long had she been laying here? "I gotta...get back...gotta take...the mare....back to...the tree..." she mumbled aloud to herself, gathering her courage to try getting up again. However...what was on her neck??? Opening her eyes, she blinked a few times to clear her sight trying to see who or what it was on her neck...
It couldn't be...could it? Unmistakably it was Regius, she could just make out the crown that decorated his face in her peripheral vision and his smell filled her nostrils. Must be he'd come searching for her when she hadn't returned and found her lying here? that had to be the answer....it was the only one to make sense to her. "Regius...dinner is served..." she purred lightly calling to him, the pain making her wince. Thank goodness he'd not heard me earlier, she thought to herself...she'd hate to see his reaction to it, on top of this little set back in plans. That mare had been the biggest game she'd ever tried to hunt, having usually stuck to foals and other smaller game...clearly she wasn't as ready to care for herself as she'd hoped.
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Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 11:15 am
Regius picked up his head when she spoke and regarded her, worried anger in his sightless eyes. He thwapped her lightly on the head with his tail, not hard enough to hurt but just enough to let her know he was not playing around. "Dinner is served?" He asked, voice a dangerous growl in her ear. "Did you really think that I care about dinner?" His stomach made a protesting sound, but he ignored it and glared at her as he rose to his feet, restless now that she was awake. He paced for a few moments, trying to calm the fear, worry, and anger he was feeling. He sat a few steps from her, facing her and her kill.
"How could you, you, be so careless?" He asked, trying to keep his voice under control but failing horribly. Reg's body was ridged with tension, tailing lashing back and forth. "You almost got yourself killed!" His voice cracked a bit, betraying all of his worry. "If I hadn't been here, some other predator would have found you and you would have ended up like your kill?" He stalked over toward her, close enough that his nose touched her flakes. "Is that what you want, Laqueta?" He whispered. "Do you indeed have a death wish?" Of all the things he wanted to say, he had to be threatening. He almost wished he hadn't said it but... He bit back his regret and stared at her. "Do you think that is what I want as well?" He purred in that dangerous tone, face inched from Laqueta's. She obviously still didn't know that he had followed her, heard everything she had said. He had only dropped one clue but that was with a later statement so he could have missed the first part of her talking to herself.
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Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 12:07 pm
As Regius thwapped her with his tail, Laqueta let her purr die down. Okay, so it'd been a very bad joke to make right then, she deserved that at least. However his dangerous purr of "Do you think I really care about dinner?" nearly made her growl out something about of course he didn't all he cared about was revenge on his father, and instead she used her anger to help her get up and make sure she was really going to be okay. As he paced, she used the few minutes to do a phsyical check of herself and was glad to note that outside of the pain in her ribs and paw (which had nearly stopped bleeding...she'd been quite lucky in that regard) nothing else seemed wrong. Good...she'd survive.
Calmed slightly, she watched him pace back and forth, obviously upset. She couldn't blame him for being upset with her...it had been awful foolish of her to do so, but she'd been upset and wanted something big enough to match her frustrations. Silently, she took his tirade up until he whispered in her ear.
"Is that what you want, Laqueta? Do you indeed have a death wish?"
So he'd followed her! The fact that he had didn't bother her as much as the fact that she didn't know if he'd heard anything else and that he hadn't had the balls to tell her he was coming made her angry. Her own voice as low and full of the anger and frustration she'd been hiding earlier. "What does it matter to you what I want? Do you think I haven't known the true reasons why you agreed to let me help you train? Of course you have a death wish, after all 'You try, you fight...or you die'." He wanted to throw her own words in her face, she could play the same game just as easily. Okay so maybe it might not be an exact quote, but it was close enough for her purposes.
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Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 12:41 pm
Regius bared his teeth in a silent snarl at the sound of his own words. "I don't wish death, little lioness, but neither do I fear it." He growled, taking a step back and out of fighting range unless she wanted to lunge at him. Though he was slightly larger, he would still have a hard time winning without hurting her. And, he didn't want to fight her. He had enough fighting to do. It's your death I fear... He added silently, the snarl dropping from his face. He inhaled sharply, her scent coming to him in a mix of her and the sharper scent of her anger. She was so angry... At him. Because she thought he didn't care. He started to laugh at that. She thought he didn't care. How ironic when he had thought she was hanging around out of bordem and pity. That she would only be with him till she found someone, anyone, else. He started to laugh harder. He couldn't stop himself for some reason, though he was damned sure this was just going to insense her further. He tried to break off the laughter before it got hysterical, but he hiccuped, causing him to laugh harder. It wasn't happy in any sense of the word. It was the kind of laughter you would hear from insane men. He fell backward as tears from laughing rolled through it fur.
"You think... that... I don't..." He began as the laughter subsided, leaving him gasping for breath. Panting he rose to his feet, shaking his head.
"You think you know my true reasons for letting you help?" He asked, voice regaining it's strength enough to sound arrogent. "Oh, do enlighten me..." He purred, a grin pulling across his face. Whatever reasons she thought, they were wrong. She wouldn't have guessed why he had let her help...
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Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 1:16 pm
Laqueta just sat there and watched him, neither moving away nor towards him. Her anger just festered and grew as he began to laugh. At her. He was actually laughing at her. He not only had the balls to follow her, but to laugh in her face. Hot tears stung her eyes, and ran down her cheeks, the only thing keeping her in her spot and not lunging at him to slap him upside the face was the intense pain that was starting to make her see spots. "I will not pass out and give him the chance to laugh at me more..."
...neither did she answer his question. Instead, she sat there in stony silence, never moving a muscle, the only thing betraying her presence was her irregular breathing as she was forcing herself to take shallow breaths despite her emotions. It was only her promise never to leave him that kept her from walking away without a word, and it was something she was starting to seriously regret making.
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