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 Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 2:47 pm
"Wait," Bandele demanded firmly, moving in front of Fadhi to block any progress in movement he'd have made otherwise. "Just wait." His emotions were going crazy, but Bandele did not run on emotions. Or so he thought. Just wait, his mind had told him. So, that was what he passed along to his uncle.
Amira believed her sister, every word, but they offered little comfort. "But who's going to protect you?" This lioness was above and beyond terrifying, and Hasana's paws were shaking. She was afraid of her, wasn't she? She would have ran if she wasn't too afraid to do that much. She wasn't Tabia, she realized then. She wasn't a knight, or brave. She was scared. With every word the stranger spoke her heart felt like it beat faster. Like it was almost exploding.
"I came back?" Ohahira echoed coldly, regarding her sibling with the eyes of someone you would expect to be lifeless. "What pretty idealistic way to put it, Nyumbani. And what of Tara? Did she 'come back' to you?" Her attention again turned to their mother. "Did the one you cheated the rest of us for come back to you, Mother?" Then, Nyumbani again. "The one you protected and defended. Did she come back to you?"
The tension, had it been water, would have drowned them all.
Ohahira didn't move, but her claws stretched out.
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 3:01 pm
Fadhi did as he was told, though he tilted his head. "Are you sure, Bandele?" He didn't want to wait here. He wanted to be standing next to his mother, supporting her. His sister got to go over there. Why did he have to wait over here with his cousin? If they went there would be four of them to meet up with Ohahira rather than just two. Still, Bandele looked like he knew something. For now, he would have to trust him. He could always push his cousin out of the way if he was needed.
"Daddy will," Tabia responded, trying to sound sure of herself. The fact of the matter was, Daddy wasn't here. Aunty Nyumbani was here and Grandma was here, but she would have felt a lot better if her father was here, and her mother for that matter. But she couldn't say any of that to Amira. "We have to be brave." She said it to remind herself as much as to remind her sister. Things would turn out okay. She had to believe it.
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 3:07 pm
Had she not always been a lioness of ideals? If Ohahira had come back expecting cynicism from her, she might as well have expected to see Nyumbani throw herself from a cliff. Better still, to have joined in the hunt to take down and kill Tara.
But, that name was dead to her.
"There is no coming back for Tara," she retorted. "She's no longer part of my family." It wasn't a view she'd shared with Hasana before. Whether or not she was a part of 'Hasana's' family was not her choice, but that was how it went.
It was, in fact, for the same reason that Ohahira mentioned. Tara was never coming back. But, for no matter what reason, Ohahira had.
She did not say anything further. If Ohahira wanted to tell them, she would. If her intentions were to attack, she'd give as much time as she could to the cubs to run away with her mother. She hoped Ohahira was just here to spit in their faces and nothing more. She could deal with that. Maybe.
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 3:23 pm
"Nyumbani!" Hasana looked just as horrified at hearing that as she did Ohahira's coming. She said nothing else for the time being, if only because she couldn't find any words. What did one say at a moment like this? The moment she'd found Tara had fled, she was so sure then, would be the worst to ever play out in her life. But this...
"Even the one who worships you denies you," Ohahira spat. She had words enough for the both of them and Nyumbani. The later may have noticed just a very, very slight softening of her eyes at the words. It wasn't long enough to truly confirm and if it had been, it still wouldn't have mattered. She moved on quick. "I'll tell you. What happened. The Goddess here, the one you worship almost as much as Tara, gave me to the firekin. The pride of bastards. They enslaved me. They beat me. They beat us. Five granddaughters and a grandson suffer in the name of your daughter. Was it worth it? All of us, all of them?" Ohahira did not love her children nor did she really care about their current position still in the Firekin or that they would likely die there. She just had them as ammo against her mother. She was reaching for everything, for anything, and she'd use it.
"This was my fault," Hasana nearly yelled at not just Ohahira, but both of them. "What happened with Tara, it was my fault. You can't hate her, or blame her. This was me. What you're doing, what both of you are doing is wrong."
"You know, Banji isn't worth it anymore than she is. I followed him here, to kill him. Him and that leopard he's with. He's pathetic. Tara's pathetic. They are a lot alike."
"It was me," the mother repeated with an even stronger voice. "It was me, Nyumbani, Ohahira."
"You're right." For just a second, it looked like the beast had been calmed, and Ohahira's posture looked as though it relaxed. Again she said, "You're right." Then, her paw swung up, and to the side, claws slashing across her mother's face as she snarled. "This is your fault!"
Bandele, too, snarled. Logic be damned. He couldn't have abandoned Fadhi and jumped off that rock any faster. It was not a size advantage but the angle and speed with which he tackled her that sent them both rolling in a fit of hisses and claws.
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 3:31 pm
"Mama!"
It was a good thing that Bandele had moved when he did, otherwise Fadhi would have ploughed him over in his haste to get to his mother. Family be damned for the moment! This was his mother and he would not allow one of his sisters to injure her! He was off the rock within the seconds, bounding over to stand between his mother and his crazy sister. "Mama, are you okay?" He touched her with his nose, and it was only then did he recognize the distinctive small teal and black body and its cameo counterpart. Instantly his resolve hardened.
Fadhi was never the warrior type, but he would protect his family with his life. It didn't matter whose fault it was. Nobody messed with his mother.
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 3:46 pm
Nyumbani hoped her mother didn't take it the wrong way. She had no intention of killing Tara. She would merely treat her as a rogue lion if she came stalking back. But she was no longer viewed as a sister. She'd lost those rights. She had walked off, and had she not run into her, she would have no idea where Tara had gone. Nyumbani could not forgive her for walking off on them like that. Not even a message.
Nyumbani's eyes widened in shock at the story. The Firekin? The. . . Firekin. The scars made sense. And, oh hell, Hahi'd had children too? Her jaw quivered, held halfway open to speak but unable to say anything.
"You can't blame yourself for Tara abandoning us!" Nyumbani tried to defend, the loyalty to her mother still present. She wouldn't let her beat herself up like this.
Her eyes shot back to Hahi. Banji wasn't even here. . . left, gone. The leopard was none too happy.
Silence and relief followed for a second. Nyumbani let her guard down.
Two snarls sounded, neither one of them her. "Mother!" she said, but Fadhi was already taking care of her. "Go! Get the hell out of here!" She hoped her cries weren't worthless. She didn't know how fast her mother could run, or if she even would. The damn problem with this family is that it was never running or listening.
Without a second thought, she joined her son in the tumult. If they could somehow get her pinned. Maybe, just maybe, two of them would be enough to stop her. Stop her from what? What the hell was she going to do? And where would her damn hatred end?
"Ohahira!" she growled in the midst of the flurry. She'd yet to unsheath her claws. She didn't want to hurt her. It was almost pathetic. "How many deaths do you want!?"
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 3:55 pm
Blood poured from the slash on Hasana's face, the same blood that fell onto Amira and Tabia's coat as she picked them up, starting with Amira, and put them on her sons back. Nyumbani was right in being frustrated she wouldn't go, but Hasana didn't want to face the same thing. This was her daughter. How could she run? "You should never give up on your daughters," she told Fadhi hurriedly. "And right now, it's important for you to get them away from here." She cringed at the thud without knowing what it was.
It had been Bandele. His aunt had him pinned before Nyumbani had moved. The strength, the speed, they were impressive and like none the pride had seen so far. You didn't get enslaved for months working day and night and not benefit that much. Sure enough, a bite to the shoulder that would have been fatal. It was like watching a repeat, except this time, it was Nyumbani instead of Banji.
Her teeth only grazed Bandele's shoulder and with the weight off him he hurried back up with little more than a wince. His abilities may not have been on level, but his willpower was at least within inches to being exactly the same.
Ohahira fell under her sibling and was pinned. She did not answer, before she kicked with as much force as she had against her sister. Instead, she replied with only another question.
"How many of you are there now?"
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 4:02 pm
It was the second time in his life Fadhi felt torn between two unimaginable options. Alake would never forgive him, nor could he forgive himself if his daughters stayed here and were injured in the battle. At the same time, he had no desire to leave his mother here with her only protectors as Bandele and Nyumbani. His sister would be too dangerous. For the briefest moment he hesitated. Could he do it? Could he take his daughters home and return safely?
"Be safe mama." Making sure that his daughters were holding on, Fadhi took off in the direction of the pride. Please let Mwokoti find them out here. Please let her come and stop his sister. Please let him make it back there in time.
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 4:12 pm
Her victory was short lived. The kick to her guts shoved out all the wind and send her rolling away, coughing and sputtering. Her nails dug into the ground and she was back on her feet in an instant, spinning to face Ohahira in case there was a violent retort.
What did she mean 'of you'?
"I don't know," she answered. It was the truth, at least in part. This was a stalemate. She couldn't bear to hurt her sister, but she didn't want to see her brother or son or mother hurt, either.
She wanted this fighting to stop. Now.
She could choke her sister until she passed out, but. . . what then? Ohahira had one chance to stop before Nyumbani would have to take one action or another.
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 4:21 pm
"Take a headcount," Ohahira snarled. "Then you'll have your answer."
"I will," Hasana told Fadhi and made a nodding motion to indicate he should hurry. There was no getting away from this situation fast enough. Turning her back had not been an intelligent thing to do, but Hasana was no expert in the art of battle. She faced the remainder of her family to see Nyumbani winded and Bandele in front of her, growling in warning and bleeding himself. "Ohahira, there's an entire pride behind us. They'll come out here, when your brother gets back. You have to stop this."
"My brother, is it? Is this also my brother?" Her head jerked to Bandele. Hasana frowned.
"Your nephew. He's Nyumbani's son."
"Her son?" A second time, Ohahira froze. Her eyes moved then, from Nyumbani, to Hasana, to Bandele. They would cease on her mother eventually and narrow. "I advise you kill me now, then, or all of you will die by my doing."
Bandele didn't glance back at his mother. Unlike Hasana he did understand the do and don't of these situations. He did tense, and he didn't spring. Yet. Surely there would be an okay for this, and then. Then he'd attack.
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 4:29 pm
Nyumbani snarled just as equally in response.
"What nonsense are you spouting Ohahira?" she snapped. Her fur was raised, but she didn't move. She couldn't kill her sister, and she knew she wouldn't let her son, either. If he attacked, she would have to pin him down.
"They did nothing. Are you angry with them for not supporting your conquest in being rid of Tara?" She swallowed and cursed herself.
"If it's all you want, then I'll go with you. I'll be the sister that concedes to your will. But, for ******** sake, leave the rest of them alone. They were never against you."
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 4:34 pm
Ohahira snapped at her. Literally. Each and every sharp tooth bared and she growled so viciously even Bandele jumped a bit. "You really expect me to believe that?!" the lioness roared, not so literally. "That the Goddess of this pride could enslave me, a place where there are seers no less, and none of you would ever know about it until I escaped?! You expect me to not consider the fact you're not after her for doing that not being against me?! You'll burn, too, Nyumbani!"
Tired, scratched herself and a number of other things, all negative in nature, Ohahira took a few deep breaths. One's she needed to even be able to speak again. Not that any of them would know it, but this was the most she'd spoken in months. A year maybe. "Mwokoti who rules this place, who did this to me, and all of you who worship and follow her I can't forgive. Strike me down now, or I'll come back here, and this pride will end for good."
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 4:42 pm
"I can't kill a god," she hissed back. Her ears were laid back against her skull and her body was close to the ground. She was ready go spring and run all in the same moment.
And Ohahira was a fool to think she could, either.
"Go on assuming we knew, Ohahira. You know it's not true." And there was hatred there. Maybe Ohahira couldn't see it, but to know that Mwokoti had sold Ohahira to the Firekin . . . She was a goddess, surely something else could have been done.
"Leave Ohahira. You know I don't have the heart to kill you. But if you come back bearing death, it will change."
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 4:46 pm
Ohahira approached her, walked right past Bandele to do so, and blew a warm breath in her face, eyes glinting dangerously. "Then you will die, too, Nyumbani." She jumped back. Bandele had shoved his way between them and was growling at her again. "My return will bring death and horror on this land beyond any rebirth ever could. Let your goddes and your ghost try to stop it."
After the months of her presence being gone, being in the dark, she was gone yet again. No murders, not yet. A minimal amount of bloodshed considering. It was unbelievable. Not close to as much as what followed her departure.
"I did know, Nyumbani," Hasana told her, and said nothing else. She turned and headed back for the pride, for what was left of her family.
For now.
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