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 Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 11:39 am
A green striped white young lion had fallen asleep in the shades of a tree that had managed to grow just on the outskirts of the desert. The juvenile's fur was rough, ragged, tangled and drenched in sweat. Her 'bangs' clung to the fur of her face, covering the bits of the markings that decorated her features.
Unfortunately the lion was tossing and turning fitfully and lashing out at some invisible creature. "No....no...it's not my...it's...it's not my fault!" The juve screamed in her sleep. "It's not my fault....not my fault." She murmered repeatively as she continued to sleep fretfully.
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Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 7:06 pm
As he neared, what appeared to be, a desert, Kei paused. He had travelled far and would need to rest.
Examining the terain in order to find a gentle area to sleep, the male caught site of the lonely tree. It seemed to offer valuable shade and comfort, away from the hot sun. It was not until he was much closer that he noticed the small juvenile sleeping rather restlessly. He had been warned when younger never to disrupt an active sleeper, but this young female seemed truly distressed.
Offering a gentle tap with his large paw, Kei whispered towards her. "...now now.. there is nothing here.."
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Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 2:04 pm
The touch of the other woke the young lion instantly and she rolled to her paws as fast as she could. Her teeth were bared as she narrowed her eyes at the lion before her. It took Tama a minute or two to register that he wasn't trying to hurt her, if he had wanted to he would have done so by now. Or at least she hoped that was the case.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Tama tried to put on a brave demor in front of the stranger, but alas it was more rudeness that she was showing rather that braveness.
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Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 9:52 am
Kei was not taken back by the sleeper's aggressive awakening. He had disturbed whatever nightmare she was having and knew it might take too kindly to this. Lowering his head respectfully, the male spoke in a gentle voice, "I mean you no harm. I simply noticed that you were distressed and wanted to offer comfort." As he spoke, he took a few steps back and looked over the female. She was interesting in color and upon her white and green fur, orange eyes were piercing. "If you would wish, I can find shelter somewhere else?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 6:09 pm
The female's ears flattened against her head and bared her teeth at first before relaxing her muscles slightly at his gentle tone. She was still wary of the other unsure if she could trust him or not. She knew that there were those that pretended to be nice only to show their true colors not to long afterward, after they had gained the other's trust.
She knew this all to well because that was how she had been conceived. Her father was one of those.
Tama eyed him warily before reluctantly accepting his help. "Please."
She wasn't going to let her guard down, no that would be dangerous to do so, it would leave her vulnerable and all those months in the oasis had taught her that it was never wise to let your guard down, even for a second.
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 11:33 am
Kei understood the cubs skeptical behavior towards him. They were both in the rogue lands and the very same territory could be incredibly dangerous at time. Kei also understood, if his large size intimidated the small female. He tried to keep his frame low to the ground, as to appear smaller and perhaps less frightening. Kei found no reason to lie to the lioness. They were both strangers and they may not trust one another, but it wouldn't get either of them anywhere to lie.
At first Kei was not sure whether the lioness was asking please for him to leave or please for him to stay. By the tone of her voice and the way in which she asked, however, the large male assumed the female was allowing him some time to prove himself. With a gentle smile, Kei sat more comfortably on the ground. He kept his distance, but settled to show that he wouldn't be making any sudden movements.
Now comfortable and sure that he wasn't going to be driven away, just yet, the male began to speak. "So, what's a small cub like you doing all alone in the roguelands?" He wasn't quite sure this was the best way to start, but knew it'd need to begin somewhere. Laughing lightly, he quickly added something else, "Ah, my name is Kei."
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 6:27 pm
The juve was still tense. She just wasn't sure if she could trust the male fully. It wasn't safe to let your guard down ever. It was suicidal to do it in the presence of strangers yet she wanted so much to believe that he wasn't a bad lion, that he wouldn't do her harm...yet...she just couldn't. Not now, even if he hadn't done anything to her.
When he sat she remained standing even though it would have been go for her to rest even if it was only sitting. She had gotten so little sleep as of late and it wasn't doing her any good to not take it easy when she had the chance.
His words brought those horrible red eyes out of her memory and into her mind. She winced ever so slightly and a shiver ran down her spine. "You don't need to know." She told him sharply, but it was more for herself than him. She didn't want to have to explain what already plagued her sleep. "Tama." Was the only thing she would say afterwards not trusting him with her full name.
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 3:42 pm
Kei felt saddened when he watched the small lioness nearly cower in his presense. She would not let her guard down and this was clear. Woe was the life of a rogue lion in the presense of another. Thus far, as the rogues he had met had shown the same distrust of him and all others. He was surprised that Shiri had begun to trust him, but by her meak behavior, it had almost seemed as though she had no choice.
Returning his gaze to Tama, he smiled lightly when he heard that she had offered her own name. Whether or not it was the truth, Kei did not mind. He was glad that the cub was speaking and that she would at least begin to loosen up. He did not mind that she could not explain why she was at the roguelands. It was clear to Kei that something was not right about this lioness. Perhaps she was hurt at some point in her life.
Looking her over, Kei smiled. She was a very interesting match of colors for a lioness. Her orange eyes almost had the male captivated. Very interesting he found. Wondering how else he could continue the conversation, the male continued to speak, "Well, Tama is a very nice name. Fitting of a nice young lioness." The male found that he enjoyed the company of a younger lion more than he would have thought. Perhaps at one point in his life, he might have some of his own.
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Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 4:18 pm
Tama's orange-yellow eyes stared strongly at the male before her. Despite her small form she was still strong. She had to be and she always would be. There was only one thing that she learned during her time in the oasis. Everyone was out there for themselves, you had to care for yourself or die.
The green striped juvenile hated the fact that that particular phrase stuck out so strongly in her mind. She refused to believe it, her determination that kept her siblings alive was proof enough that it was wrong...wasn't it? Now they were all on their own with no one to look after them...She knew that she had been the glue that kept them all together and now that she was gone they would fall apart and all go different directions.
She had abandoned them, just like her mother and now she was standing here talking to a complete stranger when she should be looking for her family! But something kept her from going anywhere, from excusing herself from the other's presence. What? She did not know.
This was only the second time the young lion had meet a rogue. For the longest time she had only known the those of her 'pride' and her sisters. Her sisters....At that very thought she cringed and moved away. Tears that she had stopped herself from spilling for so many nights came spilling out of her, like water out of a drinking fountain.
"No!" She mumbled when she felt the tears wet her white fur. She wasn't supposed to cry! Strong figures couldn't cry! It wasn't a part of their nature. Yet here she was crying in front of someone she didn't even know. She had never cried before, not when she had learned of her father's death, not when her mother left them, not even in front of her sisters and here she was crying before the male.
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Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 6:30 pm
Like it clearly bothered Tama, the thought of his own family was not something Kei ever wished to think about. During the plague, his mother had risked her life to bring her pregnant form into the rogue territory in order to have her children in the safest environment that there was. Having already been infected, Kei, as well as his brothers, were born thin, and very weak.
Though the small lioness did not speak to Kei of her determination to be strong, Kei understood fighting difficult battles and being stronger in order to survive. His strength, however, had come with a price. When his mother noticed that he was pushing through much better than his siblings, she began to favor him, allowing the others to slowly dwindle away. Kei understood now what she had risked for his life, but could not forgive her for trying to keep them a bit longer. With the company of his brothers, Kei would have been such a different lion.
It had seemed that Kei and this lioness had a bit in common, though the large male lion did not know of it. If the two were to become closer and speak to one another, these things might become more clear.
When the tears began to slide down Tama's face, Kei stepped forward and offered a paw to help comfort her. He understood that he was still just a stranger, but the site of the strugging cub before him was difficult to simply watch. She was fighting the tears and she was trying to remain brave. This was obvious to Kei and having spent so many miserable nights alone after his mother's death, he understood the need of someone nearby.
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 8:16 pm
Tama hated this, she hated crying in front of Kei, hated looking weak when she was supposed to be strong. But she couldn't stop, the tears just kept streaming down her face matting down her fur.
When the dark male stepped forward so did she. She then threw herself into his mane, burying her face into it to try and hide her tears. Her sobs where muffled and she cried out bitterly. "Why the hell did you have to leave?!" Her tone wasn't only bitter it was full of depression, sorrow, anger and most of all pain. She wasn't yelling at the male beside her but at her mother, where ever she was.
"Why did you leave us to die? Why did you leave us all alone...why?" More tears began streaming down her face even more heavily as she stopped shouting and just completely broke down.
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 7:14 pm
Kei could not tell whether it would be better for him to simply leave the cub finish crying, or attempt some way to comfort her. He was still a stranger, no matter how long they had already talked with one another. Unable to find words to heal Tama's pain, Kei merely whispered, "I'm sorry, Tama.."
When Kei spoke, he saw that Tama deeply needed the comfort. When she threw herself into him, the male's eyes looked down to her weakly. He had never been in a situation like the one he currently found himself in. Living a very unloved life had the male unsure of just how he could help the cub. As she continued to cry out louder, Kei lifted a paw to pull Tama closer to him. He embraced her and tried to keep her warm and comfortable. Her pleas to her passed on mother send a shiver through Kei's spine. Many nights he had the same angered feeling go through his own mind.
Though his life, however, he was able to appreciate his mother's actions and understand that she did not leave him on her own choice. Patting Tama's back, Kei continued to speak, hopefully to reassure Tama. "Tama.. I am sure she did not leave you because she wanted to. And though she is gone, she is still with you... She wants to keep you strong and she'll watch over you and make sure that you're safe.." The words simply slipped from Kei's mouth and he hoped it would help the lioness know that all would be well.
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 7:44 pm
Saying sorry wasn't going to bring the white and green lioness suddenly back into her life. No it wasn't going to get her anywhere yet....it was strangely comforting. But this kindness...it was weird, something she wasn't used to but something she was very grateful for.
This was the first time she had ever been comforted by anyone, let alone a stranger...a male. Even for the short time before they learned of her father's death her mother hadn't been comforting, only because there wasn't a need to be. The place was rather nerve-wrecking but still rather peaceful. All hell broke loose when the news of death traveled through the members of the pride.
Most were ecstatic. Her mother however was not. The lioness Malika had been severely wounded, emotionally, by the salmon marked male, the one that Tama resembled so very much, except for the green that defined her. She had completely broken down and run off, fear, disappointment and most of all betrayal eating away at her as she did.
"How can she watch over me if she doesn't even know if I'm alive. If any of my sisters are alive? How can she watch over me when she's obviously not here!" She cried her words muffled by his mane. She soon fell silent, hating the fact that she had just basically blown up at the dark male who was only trying to help.
"I'm sorry...." She mumbled softly pulling away slightly and looking down at the ground, ashamed. "I...I...I..." She had picked up her mother's bad habit of stammering when she was nervous, embarrassed or just plain ashamed. "I-I don't m-me-mean to be ta-taking this out on you...you've done nothing wrong..."
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:09 pm
Tama appeared to be calming down, if even just a bit. It pleased Kei to know that his comforting words had been useful to the saddened cub. It was so difficult to help a stranger that he knew so little about. The male knew that Tama's mother was gone and his first thought was that she had passed, but it could have also meant that she abandoned her cubs? Kei winced at the thought. He couldn't imagine any mother abandoning her cubs to be left alone.. though he knew the hardships of the roguelands and remembered the deaths of his brothers clearly.
When Tama's reaction to his words turned sour, Kei realised he had chosen the wrong thing to say. Tama's mother had, indeed not passed away. How and why she left was unclear to Kei and he was quiet for a moment, large paw wrapped about the cub for comfort. "Tama..." he began, voice quiet and gentle, "A mother's love stretches out for miles and miles and no matter where she is, she is thinking about you..." Kei spoke from the love he knew his mother felt for him when she acted against his brothers, "..She may not know where you are, but I am certain she'll find you again.. and if you two never cross each other's paths, you'll need to know that she still loved you, despite whatever happened."
When Tama pulled away and looked down, Kei still offered his paw to pat her on the back comfortingly. "No need to worry, Tama. I understand." When he was younger, Kei struggled with his life, greatly hurt and filled with guilt that he lived and his brothers didn't. He understood taking on a burden that wasn't yours to take, "No need to worry at all. I know that you're upset. I only wish I could help more.."
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 7:58 am
The young female wanted to believe his words, she really did but she couldn't. It had been so long ago that her mother had disappeared, was she really looking for them now? Probably not, she probably thought they were all dead. They should have been too. It was really a miracle that they were still alive. And if she didn't think they were still alive then how, how could she still be loving them if she ever had?
"How do you know?" She asked in a mumbled her whole body shaking, almost ready to collapse on her. "The nightmares....the plague my sleep..." she muttered making no sense at all. Even she didn't understand why she was saying this. Perhaps it was because he had woken her from her terrible sleep and had seen so much of what she tried so hard to hide. "There is no haven.....no haven in my dreams..." Maybe Kei could make out what she was saying and why for she had no idea why she did herself.
Then suddenly she fell to the ground, everything going black around her. Her heart pounded heavily in fear before she fell unconcious, it was something that had happened before and always seemed to happen when things got too emotional for her small frame.
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