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Plotting

That was what Kiu was doing while sitting on his “special Rock.” The time was approaching swiftly. Soon, Kiu would attempt to overthrow Makadari and take his place at the head of the Firekin pride. It was his duty, it was his right to overthrow his father. After all, Makadari was getting old. He was beginning to grow slow in his movements, his eyes were clouding slightly. . . but he was still a fierce sight to behold! The young heir knew that he would have to be careful around his father. If he was not. . . he would be the one that lost his life, instead of his intended victim.

Kiu had another reason for killing his father, too. The Firekin pride did not respect him. He was younger than some of the lions there. He had done nothing to show them that he was worthy of ruling them. Makadari had, on numerous occasions. Surely, killing the king to take his place upon the throne would show them that Kiu was a lion to be respected! He was not a young, lazy fool like his younger brother, and he would make sure that whenever one of his pride, or any other, spoke his name, that they would speak it with fear in their hearts!

The sun was setting, it was early evening. Crimson hues dominated the sky, though wisps of dark blue were beginning to intertwine with the bright reds, oranges, and yellows of the dying sun. It was beautiful. However, Kiu did not notice the beauty of his surroundings. The sands of the Desert were a tarnished gold, breathtaking to behold. Kiu loved sunsets. Soon, the sun would set on Makadari’s reign. The dawn would bring a new era to the Firekin lands. Kiu would rise, just as the sun did, and bring a new age of glory to his people.

Kiu smiled slightly, looking up at the sky. “Yes, it will. You can always see the stars in the desert. . . In the pridelands? Not quite as well. And you can hardly see them at all through the mist in the lands of the Mistweavers. From that great bloody waterfall they have. . . But here? Out in the desert, nothing blocks your view. No trees, no rocks, nothing. Just the sky.” Kiu’s smile widened. He had always loved sunsets. . . those in the sky, and those among the rulers of the Firekin lands.

Kiu’s rock was perfect for stargazing, too. A little off the ground, a comfortable place to sit, a perfect view. Curling up on the rock, he flicked his tail over an empty space next to him. “Care to join me?” he asked Kinja, his eyes watching her with keen interest. The golden light from the sunset was glinting off of her reddish pelt, making it glow with an ethereal majesty that took Kiu’s breath away. He averted his eyes, and continued to gaze at the source of the light that had made Kinja look so enchanting. Soon, the stars would come out.

One.

Two.

Three.

One by one, the tiny pinpoints of light covered the sky as the darkness of the night covered the heavens above. Soon, the sky was covered with stars. They shone brightly, making all sorts of patterns. The stars, Kiu realized, were the only things that ever stayed the same. Though life had changed as he had grown up, the stars had always been there, looking down on him and the rest of his pride. The stars were always there.

Kiu arched his eyebrows in surprise as Kinja rested her head against his mane, but made no movement to reposition her. Having her resting next to him was. . . enjoyable. The stars were indeed beautiful, but they were nothing compared to the serene goddess that rested next to him. He sighed to himself, so softly that Kinja couldn’t have heard, and relaxed. He couldn’t let anyone know that he had such a soft spot for this lioness (they might tease him, it might ruin his reputation, they might use her to hurt him someday), but since no one was here. . . who cared?

“I’ve always looked at the stars,” Kiu responded, deciding to state what he had been thinking about earlier. “They’re the only things that have always been the same. Lions have changed as I have grown, the pride has changed, I have changed, but the stars have always been just as they were before. They were the same when my father was young, and when his father was young, and when the gods first came into being. The stars have always been there, and always will be there. They’re the only thing in life that is certain, that won’t ever disappear.”

After this rather poetic speech, Kiu was silent, looking at the stars. Looking at the stars with Kinja. As he rested there, the heir to the Firekin pride could think of nothing else that he’d rather be doing at that very moment. It was a pity that he’d have to treat her with indifference in public to save his reputation. He’d explain why to her, and everything would be perfect.

“I really like you,” Kiu said after a moment. “You say things that interest me, you seem clever, you are proud and brave and honorable like one of the blood should be. You can hunt, you look absolutely stunning, and. . . I really like spending time with you.” He said all of this only a little awkwardly, only a little quickly, only a little nervously.

It was at that moment that Kiu realized that he was in love.

He was rather embarrassed about it, since. . . It wasn’t an emotion that was normally felt by someone that was strong, brave, proud. . . Someone that knew that attachments could be dangerous. It was something that very, very few of the Firekin experienced. However, Kiu felt it, as much as a Firekin could feel it. (They are, after all. . . well. . . evil). At least, he reasoned, he felt it for an honorable Firekin lioness, one of the blood, one worthy to be his mate if he and she so desired.

And so, he decided to tell her.

He had a very, very strong feeling that she felt the same way anyway.

”Kinja. . .” he was hesitant, but soon, he managed to say:

“I love you.”

[xD Ha, no prob and sorry for my late response AND picture ; _;]


Taka bounced upon and down, very proud of the youg cub and quickly ushered Teule and Jasi over to see what he had done. She sat proudy by his side grinning, preparing a motivational speech for the other two that had yet to practice.

"Now that was a perfect example of hunting! Now, unless you didn't hear me before the steps are watch, stalk, spring, chase and then BITE! Now let's find you some jack rabbits. Hmmm, ah! Jasi there's one over behind that bush...and Teule there's yours."

Teule smirked eagerly, winding his tail in small circles. He saw the rabbit and slowly started to make his way up to it, while it's amusingly large ears twitched and listened for any sound of predators. Suddenly, it froze, making Teule also freeze in surprise. Then it jumped up and started sprinting away from Teule who was mroe than happy to oblige to the chase. The rabbit wound about trees while Teule kept up just behind, nipping at it's tail, and pawing at it when he had time to. Suddenly, the rabbit swerved to the side and Teule reached out a clawed paw, eyes thirsting for the kill. The rabbit tripped, landing on it's face and doing a spin, but before he could right himself Teule had already latched his jaws onto it's neck and it was gone.

The little white lion blinked, the feeling of life in his mouth slipped away, strongly enough for him to feel. It was odd and somehow...it made him feel good. Also his vision had changed, it almost seemed like he as seeing red when he was chasing the rabbit.

Taka reared up and gingerly made her way to Teule licking his head and sending his little mane forwrad over his eyes which he shyly, brushed back. He gave his mom a triumphant smirk and started dragging his catch over to Woko whilst Taka kept her assuring gaze on Jasiri.

Jasi nodded and smiled at Woko, and made a mental note to introduce herself afterwards. Slowly she readyed herself for the hunt, she could see the rabbit nestled over a patch of dry grass, its back to her, she slowly crouched, and began to advance towards the animal. Right when she was about to pounce, the rabbit turned sidways, reaveling a smaller, baby rabbit. Jasi knew right away that the big rabbit was its mother. She moved a bit uneasily. Why shouldnt she hunt it?The hyena had given her mother no mercy...still. She sat up slightly, letting the mother notice her, and usher the baby down a nearby hole. Jasi turned to the others, hoping htey handt noticed what shed done. "Um, Taka?Do you think we could hunt another animal?We seem to have alot of rabbit already." she glanced at the hole one more and saw a pair of eye watching her, but as soon as she saw them, they dissapeared into the darkness.

Allowing Dama to outstrip him for the timebeing, Kitwana's thoughts trickled back to the den of the Blood. Once Makadari noticed that not only Kitwana had fled, but Dama, he was sure to react. Such royals as that family would never adjust to being without slaves. If they were not caught, he pitied the next poor fool to wander into the King's territory.
Such thoughts could not long occupy the adolescent at this time, however, and increasing his pace, he easily matched the tread of Dama, eyes trained ahead, the parched desert thinning more about them, and the scent of other creatures a fair distance off making their first intrusion into the sensitive nose of the lion.

Suspicious gaze flickering about the greenery beginning to pop up, a quiet growl escaped Kitwana's throat. He did not trust new places, the last time he had wandered he had been beaten into the savage routine of the Firekin pride. Never again would he serve others. Never.

((Quick oneshot RP. Don't respond to this anyone, please, 'tis an interlude~ n_n))

Walii paced restlessly across the night desert. The warm sands felt good under her paws, almost soothing. Unlike inside.

One image had haunted her mind in the weeks since Jua's death. It wasn't that of her niece bloody and torn, no. She had deserved that for her traitorous actions.

It was the cubs. Tiny, fragile things, left to die. As her own cubs had perished.

Walii let out a frustrated snarl at the silent stars. They were halfbreeds, traitors. They did not deserve to live.

Her cubs had been full in the Blood, and had died.

These facts did not make her mind any less easy.

She'd thought about going back to the cave, but she knew it would be futile. If she found bones, she would feel worse. If she found nothing... she'd have to tell her brother that. Either way, it was a bad situation.

Still, she had to stop herself hunting in that direction, knowing one paw on that path would carry her to the end.

"They are dead. They deserved it," she growled as she paced, her claws gouging temporary ruts in the sand. "I do not pity halfbreeds."

I don't...