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 Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 10:57 am
After a bit more descending, the water was getting closer and closer. Ahali could feel the rocks slowly become less rocky, and more and more earthy, as they got closer to ground level. It felt nice, kind-of. Although rocks here still seemed to be covered in vegetation, he was glad for the ever-so-slightly softer earth. It felt nice on his large paws, which sometimes hurt because of how much weight they had to support, especially with this hard path he'd just went on, so rocky..
He'd get used to it.
Soon he leapt to the ground as the path ended, and a body of water spread out before him. It was a lake, definitely, slightly pooled by a few rocky walls, but out towards his left it continued to a river. While not as big as others he'd seen, it wasn't small either, and rather nice looking, especially with the blue sky reflecting onto it, despite patched of darkness from the shadows that towered from the mountains.
"Found the water. " He said loudly, looking back at Afu to see if she'd arrived yet. Maybe she shouldn't stop so much.
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 11:15 am
Afu slips down behind him.
"I'm not blind, you know," she admonishes, but mildly, as she's too intent upon the setting before her to tell him anything else. "Well, at least we know where to go for water, and where a good spot is to hunt," she says. "And not very far from our new home, either." Pleased with the morning's progress so far, she spread out to search the place, padding right up to the water's edge and roaming along it. She halts in surprise as something flaps up out of the water, with a flash of brilliant sun-soaked scales. Fish!
From the first look, it seems that there's nowhere in or out of the valley except the way they came, which makes this a good place for hunting but a poor place for defending, she decides. Unless of course one wanted to float down the river ... but the current looked fast in places, and she wasn't certain she wanted to chance it.
She doubles round to come back to Ahali's side, with a purr in his ear. "It's beautiful."
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 11:23 am
He himself had moved closer to the water, gladly sticking his paw tips in it and walking along a bit, grateful for the coolness on his paws, and the soft wet sand underwater.
As Afu came back, he brushed slightly against her, getting out of the water. Not that Ahali would ever use the word beautiful, or at least not much, but he could gladly agree to it. "Yeah. " He smiled, flicking his tail then moving to crouch near the water, lowering his head to lap at it and get a drink, still thirsty from the way down.
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 11:40 am
He'd been a bit slow to catch up, needing to inform his family of his intentions to move, and even upon agreeing, he'd still need to spend some time with them before settling permanently, find a lady to serve with him, but after that was settled he'd come back here.
For now, he'd come along, following after the others once completing his task. Their trail led him to the edge of someplace absolutely stunning, and upon following Afu and Ahali's particular scents, was pulled further into a world stunning by all counts. The scents, the colors, the sights, the sounds-- all nothing at all like the tame lowlands, the pridelands, where he'd spent near his entire life. Even in his travels to and from Firekin territory he'd never seen anything like this.
Surely his pelt, bright as it was, stood out amongst all the green and gray. Jing took in the sights and smells all around, struggling only a bit with his footing, and that because he was being cautious of his steps.
"Hello? Is anyone else here?" He called out, pausing to look for signs of the two leaders.
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 11:47 am
The sound of a strange - well, not entirely strange - voice makes the black lioness startle, a polite, inquisitve mask falling over her dark features: that of a politician. With so little time to get aquainted with them, Afu doesn't trust her new Lords, not yet. Nor does she know what makes them 'tick,' so to speak. Until she does, she'll tread carefully and politely, every inch the gracious, reigning Empress. She hopes Ahali will do the same, although his mood swings aren't as volatile as hers, and so presumably easier to hide. To this end, she tosses him a brief 'remember you're an emperor, will you?' glance, and scans the trail above for a sign of the speaker.
The trail is rather cunningly hidden, and it's a bit of a drop to the earth below, which means they're going to have to jump back up to reach it. Fortunately, the white-and-gold of the newly-made Lord Jing Fei stand out shockingly against the natural colors - again, she wonders how some of these bright-colored felines hunted. Afu softly pads up the banks of the lake, smiling welcomingly up toward the young male. "Down here, Lord Fei. We're just exploring some of the territory."
Perhaps, she muses, they should go search out an area for his home base; Afu has already marked a likely spot for herself and Ahali, but if Jing Fei is going to be a Lord, he'd want his own home territory. And perhaps provide excess loyalty as well: lions were always willing to fight more for their own territory than anothers', and should problems arise, they would have four loyal ruling pairs willing to fight for 'their' land.
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 12:18 pm
An ear twitched backwards at the sound of a voice. At first Ahali mused over this being the something, but that was swept off almost the very moment it occurred. It sounded too normal and familiar. After a few more laps, he lifted himself from the water, turning to see Afu glancing at him, then pondering a bit. What was she.. oh.
He nodded curtly, then moved too to look up at Jing Fei, willing him down in his mind so that he didn't have to keep looking up-- it was kind of annoying. "Hello, " He said, forcing himself to remember now he was a bit more.. Er. How you call it, social? Only Ahali had grown so used to being bitter towards just about anyone, that it took a bit of reminding.
"Yeah, what.. " No, best not say 'what she said'. Afu probably wouldn't like that. "do you need? " He finished smartly, though managed to not sound impatient. Nice save. Not only would he have to get used to the land, Ahali though, but he'd have to get used to the lions, too.
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 12:52 pm
Imagine his surprise when the call came from below. Casting his eyes that way, the young lord seemed to perk a bit, and made with swift, but careful footing to close the distance between them so that they didn't have to crane their necks so to talk.
Landing at the base of the crest he'd once stood upon, Jing inclined his head with a low bow, clearly already accustomed to greeting them as his superiors, or commanding rulers.
"Emporer Ahali, Empress Afu, I wondered if I'd find you here. I've returned from my visit to the Pridelands."
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 1:01 pm
Afu really ought to take Ahali aside and explain things to him, but it'll have to wait for another day. At least he's quick enough on the uptake to change his casual statement into a more appropriate one, even if it still needs work. Her first mate had lacked grace, too, which she had learned to make up for. But Ahali, as Emperor, would have to learn some tact, at least. He had good qualities, that just ... wasn't one of them.
Overall, though, this could be going much worse, and the black lioness can at least be assured that her large mate won't say anything too poorly thought-out. She accepts the bow with a gracious nod of her head and a sweet smile that actually isn't feigned. This is something she loves, something she doesn't have to put a mask over for, and something that gives her a little flutter in her stomach, silly as it may be.
"You found your family well, I hope?" She quips, head tilting in inquiry to the side. "Ahali and I, as I said before, are looking around for likely places of interest in the lands. Would you like us all to explore the south to find a main court for yourself and your House?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 1:12 pm
Ahali blinked a bit in confusion at the bow, then remembered thats what they were supposed to do. Its just usually.. Well, the only bows he saw where when one wanted to pounce. He gave a curt nod, unsure of what to do, and listened to Afu for now, looking for a starting point for him to speak.
Yes, finding a place for Jing Fei. That'd be good. "Back up there there are a few natural paths, " He said, at first kind of uneasy, as much as Ahali managed to keep it out of his voice, in his mind, it felt kind off strange. However, it didn't take him too long to get the hang of it. "We could use them to find somewhere good for your house. " He shot a small glance at Afu, as if wondering if she thought he looked idiotic right now.
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 1:28 pm
Jing couldn't help but smile a bit at this, so this land would be the pride's after all, as Afu had first said. He didn't seem to mind at all that it was going to be such a large adjustment, confident that the numbers would be able to cope. He himself saw it as a new challenge, and was eager to see more of these lusterous lands.
"The houses are to have their own areas? I hadn't thought of that..." But it made sense, and, again, he didn't seem put off by it, plesantly surprised if anything. The smile grew a bit as he agreed to both, but remained polite so as not to come across as childish. "As long as it's no trouble, I'd be glad to see the Southern lands."
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 1:38 pm
As the dark lioness doesn't give Ahali any particular glares, it's safe to assume that he's probably doing just fine. Instead, she actually smiles at him, and nods to Jing. "Yes ... "
As much as she delighted in being an Empress around others, Afu seriously doubted she could keep her temper if she had to live with the Lords or Ladies.
No, it was better to be kept separate. Besides, what was seen everyday often lost it's aura of mysticism.
"Oh yes, my lord," she continues, taking up the thread again. "You'll rule completely within your own section; Emperor Ahali and I will have our own section of lands in the middle." It will ensure a lot of things, including that there was enough prey to go around; Afu did not think that draining a central resource was a good idea, and she hated the thought of moving from site to site, as so many prides were forced to. She pretends to purse her lips in thought. "We shall probably have to find messengers to keep up on news, and have celebrations now and again that the entire pride can attend, but that won't come until we get settled in and learn some of the rhythms of life here."
"If my lord would lead the way ... ?" she prompts, nodding her head back up the trail.
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 2:02 pm
Yes. At least she wasn't glaring at him or anything. He shrugged slightly. "I don't think there's trouble. " He said, a bit quietly. He had a feeling Afu was probably going to take over the conversation anyway. But then he pondered. The way down had been hard enough. How about the way back up?
"I already drank, " Ahali said, glancing slightly towards Afu, then at Fei. "Maybe you two should aswell. I'm sure the way back is harder than the way down. " He said, feeling sure at least of this. His mouth had gotten annoyingly dry by coming down, and they hadn't even gotten a drink. He wasn't sure where they'd find water next, either.
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 5:58 pm
"Hmm... alright. That sounds like an excellent idea."
He approached the pool, though paused, waiting to let Afu go first, and indicated so with a polite incline of his head. He'd learned manners from his mother, even if he really wasn't so intent on upholding them back home. He just hoped that Ahali wouldn't think him as being too forward towards his empress, as that wasn't the intention.
His eyes wandered over the lands, taking in their splendor once again. It was hard to believe that he'd rule any portion of this paradise, let alone his own portion. No one would be able to attack from the South and get the jump on them though, if the Southern lands were higher than the middle grounds. If he could just find a companion to help rule with him. What was a lord without a mate, after all? Man, and what would No think if she knew?
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 6:15 pm
Yes, males seemed to have an extra sense once they had gotten married; Ahali was definitely acting better than she expected. She gives him a slightly more genuine smile, tail tapping against his side lightly, before she nods. Her large mate was rather straightforward in some respects, but there were some upsides to this ... she doubted she'd ever have to worry about him plotting behind her back. He could be cruel, but at least he would be honest about it.
She lapped at the water, enough to refresh herself, but not enough to weigh her down on the way back up. Afu was fairly agile, but she had a feeling she was going to get even more in shape just by living here. It certainly was no savannah.
That finished, she lightly jumped back up onto the pathway, and headed up. Next stop, the southern portion of the territory, to scout out Jing Fei's new homeland.
(OOC: Tahj: If you want to take over in terms of scenery and stuff here, feel free, since it's your portion of the lands. xd )
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 6:23 pm
If Jing was worried about Ahali feeling he was too straight foreward.. He was pretty wrong. Ahali didn't worry about this stuff. While the large lion knew perfectly well how males could be-- Gumu'd made sure of that-- he really only cared more if it was something more solid.
He leapt up to the ledge as well. At first, he'd imagine it'd be awkward for him to go leaping around with all his weight, but he'd live with it. Afu had already passed, but he decided to wait for Jing now. Not really to rush him or anything, Ahali just though he should. He merely assumed that.. Well, the leader didn't just leave folks behind.
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