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 Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:06 am
// First night out // [RP with Tamiko-chan] It had been days without water, days without food, and now he really assumed that it was taking its toll on his mind. Eyes widened to the point where his whites showed smooth like glass, he could only let his tongue loll out from his mouth and his paws fall one after another. Right, left, right again; all steps that he had no conscious thought of doing, simply second thought just as if he were breathing. The ground cool against his paws, he stopped once a rock hit the soft flesh between his claws, glancing down and just gazing at it with his cloudy gaze, the image swirling over and over as he started to follow it with his head.
Alone and without any means of protection or care, Ta'Ziyan had grown up slowly on his own, and for the first time in what seemed like months, he had gotten a chance to pause his wary legs. Letting his tail fall, the copper colored cub tried to keep his body from wavering, but it was too late and he could only blink as all four legs gave out and he landed on his stomach, pants filling the silence around him. Out of all the times to come into the world, why was he the one who had to be left on his own and survive? Sometimes, he wished that he did not have to deal with it, with the eyes all around him that only taunted his mind and left his body to suffer.
He wanted it to end, and though he was hardly grown, he still had a lot to deal with. Pushing up on shaky legs, he raised his head slowly, blinked his droopy eyes, wide, and lidded all at once. Was that water, or was he really just going crazy.
Water it was indeed. The copper cub wasn't crazy in thinking that there was water nearby. And near that water he thought might have been something he was imagining was another cub around the same age perhaps. This one was mostly brown with some light tannish color along his back and on his little fluff of hair and a white muzzle. There was also a marking on one of his legs, but could only be seen slightly as Tamu-jitu continued to pace back and forth in front of the water.
"What's wrong with me?" he asked, a little loudly. Ever since he and his family arrived in these lands, the young lion had begun to hear a voice in his head. At first he believed it to be someone who was watching him and following him everywhere he went. Yet after leaving himself alone for a long while in a place with absolutely no hiding spots, he began to think that he was going crazy. Hearing things in his head... psh! It certainly didn't sound like something that would happen to someone who was sane.
Stopping suddenly, Tamu flicked his tail back and forth behind him as he stared into the water and at his reflection. The voice had chosen to be silent for the past day, and he was beginning to think that the climate change he had gone through was beginning to affect him. Yet, just when he thought his pain was over, the voice started up again.
Behind you. Don't let him kill you! What the...?!
Put off by his failure, the small cub just stood there, tail swishing back and forth and tongue still fallen to the side of his maw. Taking one delicate step closer, the heat seemed to suddenly push harder against his form like it were a weight, one that took advantage of his loss in strength. Pushing his steps towards the water, he just focused on the process, concentrating on his flexing muscles when they screamed at his every movement. He wanted water, and than he would be fine, or so he told himself, but that did not help the ideas that spun in the darkness of his thoughts. They were there, they were all there just waiting for him to let his guard down, and than they would strike.
But alas, he still had no idea who 'they' were, were they lions or maybe some other creatures of the lands. Despite his time thinking it over, hours well used to get his mind off of his hunger and thirst, he still had no idea what these lurking beings were, and why he just had that prickling feeling on the back of his neck as if he were being watched.
Finally making it to the water, he avoided all other gazes and pushed the last few steps, head and forearms falling down so he could sloppily lap up the cool liquid, head spinning. Right as the water touched his throat, pain ripped through his head, it was so cold, but soon it got easier. Soon he was refreshed, and standing up with shaky legs, he knew he would survive.
While his back was turned, the cub suddenly heard the water being lapped up behind him. HOLY s**t SOMETHING WAS GONNA KILL HIM! ...... Not really, but that's what he thought, being as the voice had, just a minute before, told him to be careful and make sure someone didn't kill him. Spinning around, choclate orbs filled with anxiety and fear, Tamu whirled to see another cub drinking from the watering hole.
Wow... he was scared because of a cub around the same size as him? That stupid voice.. making him think there was this huge monster that wanted to tear his head off. It really put a frightening image into the young one's brain. But now that he had seen the other, he acted as if nothing had happened, as if the voice hadn't even made him the least bit afraid.
So, instead of holding onto fear and running away like some others might've, the mostly gentle male took a small step forward. He was careful not to startle the other.. he already looked like he had way too much stress put on him. Speaking softly and hopefully smooth enough to appear harmless, Tamu-jitu called out, "Hello?"
It seemed as if the other hadn't quite seen him yet.. maybe he was thinking to himself about something?
Turning suddenly at the voice, Ta'Ziyan took a step back in surprise; mouth dropping open as the copper fur around it just was damp and dripping. Though he had known someone was there, seeing a figure right in front of him made his head suddenly fly out, his stomach dropping and leaving him with a soft ache in his mind. Snorting slightly and lifting his tail from the ground, he got his footing and just looked to the other before letting out a tentative smile. What was he doing, why was he acting like that? Turning away, he withdrew himself from the other without a word, eyes becoming lidded and a sigh drifting through his mind and out his mouth.
A lion like that one could only mean one thing, someone had a sign that they wanted him to see. There were no unknown eyes looking around him, they all had left with the new presence, but he wanted to leave, to leave all gazes real or not. Hair standing on edge once more, he felt his ears perk and wait, catching the breathing of the other lion. Waiting for something to happen, he shuffled away from the water a bit, tail still up slightly though his eyes not glancing back once.
Wait.. why was this lion turning away from him? Ta'Ziyan didn't look like he was startled too much to a point where he just had to get away and calm down his nerves, so Tamu took another step forwards towards the other. But he was stopped when suddenly a slight wind sound rushed through the back of his brain. There was no more voice.. no more nervousness.. no more being told to do certain things by this unknown force!
"W-wait!" he called after the other, finally taking that step forward. He wanted to know more about this other cub now. Because of this one, at least he thought, that scary voice was gone and he wasn't being told to watch out or do something that he wouldn't normally do.
"I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to scare you or anything.. I just haven't met any other lions beside my mom, dad, and siblings." The brown one tried to explain it quickly yet softly enough to hopefully persuade the other that he really meant good.
Turning his head slowly, he could only be surprised as the other lion followed after him, blinking slowly as he swallowed. Letting his feet stop in front of him, he tilted his head ever so slightly. It was an action of confusion, and only he could just keep it for a moment before his tail fell to the ground and he let his eyes wander. Was someone out there, or was it just him and the other lion.
Shifting from one side to the other, he moved his gaze back upon the other and just let his ears perk, listening and waiting for him to finish as he narrowed thoes eyes.
"You act as if you did not mean to scare, but you appeared like all thoes others, always around, always watching. You are the type that causes my hair to rise, not that it is bad, because it tells me about them, but no, it was good I guess because I knew you were watching, and knew to leave. Yet you followed, why did you follow, I mean really..." He took a breath, his words slow yet fufilling as he moved to step a bit closer, turning his voice into a whisper, "You tell your friends to stop watching me, I am not that intresting and their eyes are really starting to bother me..." He glanced past him, as if the eyes were over the other's shoulder, and just hissed a bit.
Okay, now he was just confused. This one thought that those who were watching them were HIS friends? Boy, was he wrong! Never in a million years did the young brown one think that there would be someone else in the world that heard the same thing he did, felt the same thing he did with The Voice and the eyes that seemed to watch him but never really were. The things that he believed to be only in his head.
"Wait... you knew too? I knew you were behind me because He said so... the voice, I mean. He seems to haunt me and tell me to do things that I don't want to do. It's scary and at first I thought that there was just something wrong with me and that I should run away." Tamu quivered for a moment then sat down, thinking that his legs were getting too weak to hold him up much longer.
"I was just standing here, thinking to myself, when all of a sudden I was alerted to your presence... by... The Voice." The last part was said in a whisper as the male looked this way and that warily, as if thinking that whoever The Voice was, he was watching them and could hear their every words.
With a growl and a high pitched snap, Ta'Ziyan turned and glared at the other. There was no one anyone else could have known about his life, about his issues, and this one acting as if he knew and he cared caused him to all but turn away in disgust. He was alone, and would always be alone, but here was another, acting as if he knew, but he was wrong.
"There are no voices, only eyes, eyes I only can see and feel and with thoes eyes are messangers, haunting my sleep and keeping me awake. Dont act as if you know...no one understands my pain, no one sees what I see..." He trailed off, taking a deep breath as he just blinked and turned away in a sudden shy manner once more, what was he doing?
Tamu was really taken aback as the other snapped at him, saying that he didn't know anything and that there was no voice, only eyes. That part really got him down, ears drooping to show this. So he really was the only one that heard The Voice... how sad.
"I may not feel the eyes watching me, but I know there is someone there.. he talks to me and tells me to do things. I try to ignore it, but the voice won't go away!" This was said in a sort of crying manner, this little thing happening for a while now but the little cub never really able to tell anyone about it. Now, it seemed, this lion was dealing with almost the same thing.
"He won't leave me alone! Do you know how many times I try to tell him to go away, to leave me alone and just let me live my life like a normal cub?!" What was happening? So little and already he was having a nervous breakdown..
Pausing his steps, Ta'Ziyan took a deep breath, maybe the cub was telling the truth. Maybe there was someone out there that had the same issues as he, or maybe he was just alone as Ta was, and just needed another to work through it. Turning his head he just moved to jump down the small hill he had took a few steps up, and just looked towards the other with feverish eyes, "...I am Ta'Ziyan..." He whispered softly, a short sentence, something that was quite rare for him.
Maybe, by the looks of the other lion, he should at least try some civility.
"Tamu-jitu," was all he said in return to the other's short sentence. Tail flicking side to side, the young lion just sat there and looked at the ground, this meeting definitely disturbing him in some way and making him think that maybe he was just doomed to live a lonely life, having no one that could relate to him.
Sighing, Tamu rose to his paws then began to slowly walk away from Ta. His head was hanging low and he didn't think that this was the time to stay in someone else's company lest the voice arouse again and making him do something mean or stupid.
Yet, right as he took one step forward, The Voice snarled in his head. Turn around, and face that young one! Hearing this, the brown cub stopped in his tracks and even staggered a little, as if he had been hit by something physically.
Peering a bit at the newly discovered Tamu, Ta'Ziyan just blinked as he walked away, before turning back towards the water and bounding over. Missing the staggering of the other, he just figured he was left alone again, and preoccupied himself with laping up the liquid instead of thinking of his paranoia. Letting the shiver run down his spine and to his tail, he flicked the end and lifted his maw, eyes turning to see the brown cub still there, just standing with a somewhat dazed pose.
Moving to step away from the liquid, he looked all around for anyone else before glancing towards the cub. Letting out a mumbled rush, he turned and rushed towards the grasses, tail between his legs and heart racing as he ran away from what could have been a close friend.
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:09 am
// A monster // [RP with Safaia] Shifting through the grass, Ta'Ziyan just held his head low and followed the path a few paces in front of him, not sure where it led but keeping far away from thoes 'pride lands' or whatever that other cub had called it. As of yet, he had seen what he suspected, no one was different from him, all were crazy and small, but than agian he had yet to see an adult, let alone any younger lions, and that he was thankful for.
He had more important things to worry about, the eyes seemed to just lock on him today, no shadows around so he hardly knew where they were. If they were not in the shadows, where were they? As his hair on his neck stood on end, he looked around and just sniffed the air, eyes watchful and darting all around.
The lion's ears perked as she heard the approach of something in the grass. A simple preybeast, perhaps? Or by chance another lion? She hoped it was of the latter, not liking the company of other lions for very long. And they never seemed to take the hint after a while that she wanted them to go away. Ugh. Annoying beasts.
She itched at her ear, mildly waiting for the...thing to come out, too lazy to do anything else. Why bother startling it, also?
Stopping his steps fully, he let his ears perk as his eyes went wide, something was out there. He shrunk back and let his neck fall, tail as well as he just narrowed his eyes and sniffed softly. What could it be, he was unsure but didn't feel like going out. What would he do if it was one of them? He did not know so he turned and started to walk the other direction, towards the left and away from the noise, or so he thought.
Coming out of the higher grass suddenly, his copper coat was wide in the open and he could only let out a soft squeak of surprise, head shooting back and forth as he looked around, stopping as he just caught sight of the other lioness, the large lioness.
Her ears perks up, more alert this time then the past. Certainly sounded like a preybeast...with that squeak and all. She slowly pulled herself up from the rock and plodded her large paws onto the rough dirt, crushing the dry grass underneath her feet. She slowly padded over to where the squeak was hear from, not sure on what she'd find. She wasn't too hungry, but a little rodent would tide her over until the next meal...
Gasping as he saw the large creature jump from the rock, he rushed back into the grass, getting low to the ground and trying to control his breathing. It was one of them, one of thoes who watched and tormented him becuase he survived, and now they were going to finally put him to sleep.
Closing his eyes, he felt the hairs all but fall off as he put his head in his paws, trying to get as small as possible from the large 'cub'. Why did he have to do this, why did he have to explore and come somewhere where lions were all over? He was in for it now.
The lioness cocked her head as she heard more scampering around in the grass. It made way too much noise to really be a preybeast, a small one that would squeak like that. She inched forward and lowered herself to the ground, peeking through the grass. A coppery colour....hmmm...well, something certainly more eyecatching then she was. She inched her paw towards it, hoping to poke it so it'd get out of there. Curiosity was something that always made her claws twitch.
Having nothing else to act upon, his eyes snapped open as a paw came near him, and he let his breathing pick up again. Here it was, he was about to die, but he wouldn't give up without a fight. Figuring he had no claws yet, he just moved in and took a deep chomp with his small sharp teeth, not breaking blood, or even hitting it, he had no idea, his eyes were closed agian.
He hoped that would make them back off.
"Ouch!"
A nasty ring came through her voice as she drew her paw back, irritated. Well, if that thing was going to hurt her, she was certainly willing to give a little pain back. She jumped up onto her paws, ignoring the few clumps of dirt and dead grass that clung to her underbelly and jumped right infront of where her paw was moment ago, using her forepaws to pull back the grass to reveal...
"A cub?!" Utter shock and disbelief were apparent on her features. Something she never thought she'd come across....
Watching as the grass was pulled away, he just slowly raised his eyes to blink up widely at the lioness, ears falling flat and body getting closer in a ball-like form. He had no idea what to do, he was trapped and was being starred at by some crazy monster. Taking in some breath, he moved slowly, and with a bit of shake in his legs, upwards to a stand, tail dragging and ears still flat.
"I do not know what you want with me, but I shall not go without a fight, you and your watchers will not get away with your torment, though you think you will, I know you, and every time I feel it I know you are around. Your eyes are always watching me, why wont you stop. If you insist on tormenting me, kill me now!" He said it all in a squeaky voice, shaking still dispite his brave stance. In reality, he was very close to falling back in his lying pose.
".....wha?"
The lioness was baffled by his comments. Totally confused.
"Wait, what? Tormentors? Killing?"
With a perplexed look on her face, she inched down towards the shivering cub, hoving not a clue on how to approach such a...complex youngling.
"I'm not going to anything to you, little one. Unless you plan on chomping on my paw again." She gave him a playful, sweet mixed glare.
"Ill stop, Ill stop!" he said simply, moving to slide a bit away as he shook his head, hairs on his back rising as more eyes were in his vision, the shadows to his right like a lion, though when he looked they were nothing more than a shadow, than his left, near the bushes, but they weren't there when he took a nice look.
Choosing to get his mind off of this, he took a glance at the lioness, the large large lioness, and just swallowed, why had his throat gone dry?
The lioness peered at him a bit, his eyes shifting from side to side. Maybe this poor one was crazed somehow...chased out of his home? Wouldn't be the first sob story she'd come across. A slight twinge of boredom crossed her emtions. Always the same old story, what a drag. Never anything interesting. She could be cruel in that way.
She placed her paws along either side of him when she laid down, trying to keep him traped enough to not run away, but not feeling threatened enough for him to bite her again. Granted, he couldn't do much damage, but it still hurt.
"Mmmm...." She eyes him carefully still, cursious on his reactions to things.
Turning to look at her, he just pulled back a bit, his ears perked as he settled on his belly, paws moving to scrach his neck as much as he could, all the while taking a deep breath.
"You say you are not one of them, but my neck still tingles...it is what I use, to find out if they are watching, they don't like me to do anything, so when I make mistakes they watch me, and torment me. You may think I am crazy, but it is true, the world around us is really just watched by others, who play and taunt us like we are simply their fools..." He let a slow sob come out, though he shed no tears, "...you dont believe me." simply stating it, he tried to jump over her paws.
The lioness sighed and placed one of her paws on his head, as gently but firmly as she could. He wasn't going to go anywhere, as best she could do.
"Little one, how could I not believe you if I haven't said a word? If you speak as such with one of knowledge, then use your common sense at least, unless you have lost that also."
The lioness huffed towards him, her warm breath flowing out of her mouth. It was getting darker; maybe the shadows scared him more then her? Shadows always hid things...
"Is it...the setting sun that frightens you?"
He mearly fell down with a soft whine, shaking his head at her question as he just tried to calm down his beating heart. They were around, but not from the sun, they were always there, always looking to him though hidden in anything. Glancing up to her the best he could, on account her paws were still on his head, he just starred at her.
"No...it isn't the setting sun, though it helps them find more places to hide..." He said it meekly, feeling a little overwhelmed by her presence but getting used to it.
She looked at him with her dull brown eyes, wondering what on earth 'them' and 'they' were. Too many questions seemed to overwhelm the little cub, so she kept her mouth shut. Her ears flicked behind her to catch more noise, but it could of just been the little preybeasts scurrying back to their dens before the sun had fully set. She sighed and lifted her paw up off fo the cub's little head. "Hiding...." She glanced around her dull body, the colours mixing in well with the savannah grass, looking around for what the noise could of been from.
Moving suddenly at her voice, he looked up to her, and blinked. She said they were hiding, maybe she saw them too, and could see where they were. Choosing not to say anymore, he felt so overwhelmed that he just got cold. Scooting closer he just moved to where her paws were and curled between them, closing his eyes a bit and just letting out a soft, inaudiable whimper.
"They hide and wait for me to be alone..." He said in a soft breath, and he realized, he had no idea who this lioness was.
She eyed the little cub inbetween her paws. Interesting to think that he was scared of the unknown, but chose to gain confort, ailbeit a small about, from her. Was she really that comforting to be around? She shifter her paws a bit to wrap around the shivering cub better, and questioned her own solitary actions as her eyes watched the little one.
"They watch me still... though they wont come out if I am protected by a big cub like you..." He said softly, eyes opening as he just gazed up at her, "...they call me Ta'Ziyan, though I am unsure why, it was the name I awakened with and nothing else, though I am glad to have it of course, I just wish I had other things...yeah..." He trailed off, choosing the shy, silent approach as he just settled his head on her paws, breathing slowly.
She was intresting, that was for sure, and he wondered what she thought of him. Stiffening slightly, he got the idea that she was getting annoyed, considering her silence, and moved to get up slowly, working to his feet.
The lioness smiled warmly, and returned the exchange of names. "I'm Nyota'ausi. Dark star.....not a comforting one welcome anywhere, I can tell you that." Seeing him move, she placed her paw on his back, gently pushing him down. "Don't get yourself caught up in a fit again, relax. They won't bother you quite as much when I'm around, ri-?"
Her ears flicked back suddenly as she heard a thrashing noise in the grass. She winced and turned her head back. Great, probably some stupid vulture going after some stupid thing, which would make the little cub go into one of his fits again, she thought.
Moving closer after smiling to himself, he had to agree, they didn't chase him when he was with another, and maybe they wouldn't disturb his dreams too. Letting out a soft squeak of a yawn, he blinked and just lowed his head once more, ears flattening, and fell asleep right away. Traveling all day with little sleep had played it's toll on him, so much that he didn't hear the other cub that approaced them
Nyota pulled the little cub closer to her chest, feeling a slight warmness...which didn't last long. She had something to look after now. Was this going to change her, make her more like every other lion? She certainly didn't want that....
Her thoughts wandered off to the noise that was made earlier. Was that another lion? Two was too many for her to handle. She was now hoping that is was just a vulture indeed.
Still a bit unnerved, Nyota laid her head down on the side of one of her forelegs, keeping the little cub near her chest undisturbed. Something definately moved out there, and she didn't know what it was. Which was bugging her. Did it mock her about protecting this little mad cub? Or did it just want to make her back itch with nerves?
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:10 am
// Run run as fast as you can // He felt the eyes, moreso than he could see them, and just pushed away from the shadows behind him. They were all there, always gazing through the darkness like beacons or even the stars in the sky. The feeling overwhelmed him, and he was almost blinded by the sensation that had built up. Skidding to a halt, he glanced up to the moon and let out a soft whine, why was he always alone?
Stilling suddenly, his ears perked and he glanced around, everything seemed so much more...alive to him when it was at night. He had to find someplace safe to sleep, someplace warm and conferting. Racing off, her unconciously headed towards the Pridelands, no idea what was in store for him yet.
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:11 am
// Rivals so soon // [RP with Lethrossen] Pulling back a few steps, his eyes widened, there was another out there. Feeling lost and having no clue as to where the voice came from, he failed to note the sound of the voice, or if the creature was strong or just like him. Tearing his eyes around the grass, it rose about him like giant bars of a chain, confining him in the spot where he stood, leaving him no room to flea. Was the other near by, to the right or maybe to the left? He had no idea.
Breathing becoming slightly wild, he closed his cloudy eyes and tried to calm down. If he didn't watch out, he would reveal himself, and one of thoes beings would kill him if nothing else. Opening the eyes again, he saw the grass russle and moved back even more.
Uumi finally came through, visable, and stood stock still as he regarded the other cub. It was a boy, like himself, but he was even more funny colored than the rest of his siblings. His head tilted slowly, tongue flicking over his teeth, a sign he was thinking. "You aren't a pridelander." He finally said, a certain level of snottiness apparent in his voice.
Just starring at the cub, Ta'ziyan blinked for a moment and listened to the words, before his eyes narrowed slightly. Not wasting his breath on the one before him, he turned to the side and started to stalk off, feet still leading him as his mind was blank. Had he opened it up to thoughs, he knew only thoes that painned him would flutter through his mind.
Tail raised a bit as if taunting, he did not care for someone who thought he was better than everyone else. That kid had no idea what he delt with, the eyes would probably haunt him too soon enough.
Uumi was shocked, he was never ignored in his life, and here tonight he'd been ignored twice by thise dumb.. rogue he thought. He started to stalk after him, an ugly look on his face. "Hey, where are you going? Answer me? Or are you deaf an' dumb?" He hissed, trying to catch up.
Uumi wasn't one for much physical activety, seeing as he was easily sick, and easily out of breath.
Ta'Ziyan just slowly turned around, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the cub that was getting really on his nerves. All thoughts about the beings around him soon left his mind as he just looked at the wheesing cub, wondering if he was really spoild enough to think he was better than him. Tail flicking back and forth, he just raised his maw and let out a light huff, waiting for the red one to come closer and to see if he really did have the guts to keep calling him names. If it was one thing he hated more than the eyes, it was people who acted as if he was dirt becuase he saw thoes eyes.
He almost stopped when Ta'Ziyan turned around. Almost. But it just sort of made him look like he'd stumbled a little. He continued forward, but slowed down a great deal.
"Well? Too chicken to talk?" He hissed again, fur puffed up to try and make him look bigger. Uumi was just asking for it, wasn't he?
Deciding to do what he usually did with the eyes, he moved a sharp step closer, his cub body not showing any intimidation but the low purr-like growl did slowly get louder. Taking another step closer, he let his tail rise and all but made a movement to pounce at Uumi, but instead used the height of the ground to pounce over and land right behind the other cub, stumbling a bit to catch his balance before snorting a moment as the dust flitered a bit around him.
"Insigificance is something I do not appreciate. You have no right to act as if you own the lands because of your furr being any different than mine, you need to learn that you might be beaten if you keep acting that way..." He took a breath, about to go on, before he suddenly turned and stalked away, feeling paranoia creep up his system once more.
Feeling the other not follow him, Ta'Ziyan moved into the grass and let out a soft sigh. For now he was safe, but it seemed like all that was ahead of him was more land left to explore.
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:12 am
// My name is- // [RP with IrisVirus] It had been only a few minutes since he fled from the other stuck up cub, but already Ta'Ziyan was dead lost, the grass around him too high for any sign of which way to go. Letting out a soft whine, he just flattened his ears to his head and looked around, pushing through any way and unsure of which was was what. Suddenly, he pushed through a thick spot and let out a gasp, looking wide eyed at the large rock that just was out in the open, his head craning back as he shook a bit.
Not moving from his spot, he wondered where he could be, why he had come upon a place like this, and if anyone lived there. Slinking half way back into the grasses, he glanced for anyone, and caught sight of the water hole. Man was he thirsty.
-The small golden lioness slipped away from the Priderocks quietly, ears perked gently to catch any sound of her father or the other lioness' as her paws settled upont he grass. She wasn't really the picture of perfection.. not as strong or fit yet as some of her siblings, but her fluffy and tubby little body certainly had learned early on how to sneak about and avoid the others.
Smiling a little softly, she crouched, glancing around to make sure noone was around before she sprinted (the best she could on young and tubby little legs) towards the tall grasses nearby. She didn't know what she was going to do today, but sneaking away was part of the fun.-
Seeing another figure running towards him, Ta'Ziyan gasped and pushed back into the grass, eyes narrowing as he watched the cub steadily speed this way. Wondering who she was, he forced down his feeling of the eyes and just let the shiver die down. Sure he wondered who she was, but he was not about to go out and find out. All he could hope was, as she got closer and closer, that she wouldn't come into the grass where he was hiding. For some reason, that always happened to him. It must be the eyes, they always told everyone where he was.
-As she neared the grass, she breathed a figurative sigh of relief, no yells from the rocks yet, so she was homefree! She'd made..!
Kami's thought was cut off abruptly as her lack of paying attention caused her downfall, tripping over her own leg before roughly tumbling into the grasses before her. Stiffling the yelp and cry that she wanted to give, she laid for a long moment, before trying to untangle herself from the few blades of grass that'd wrapped around her, little paws and claws trying to slice away at the thin blades.
So clumsy...-
Letting out a yelp of his own, Ta'Ziyan was forced to roll out of the way at the sudden slam of a body through the grass, and he just lied there, on his back side with wide eyes, before quickly scrambling to his paws. His dark copper hair falling into his deep eyes, he just blinked and starred at her, wondering if she knew he was there but not being able to move his paws, a blush burning his cheeks. How did he always get discovered? No matter what though, as his heart raced, his paws felt like led, and his shyness happened to imobilize him.
-The yelp was enough to get her attention, and the princess eeeped loudly, trying to scramble away, snapping blade of grass as she went. Trying to wiggle her back leg free from it's captor, her eyes settled upon the other cub, ears lifting a little as she noticed his age, and apparent fear.
Curling a little softly, she swiped at her back leg, freeing herself from the last bits of grass before, she let her eyes fall to the feet of the young male cub, very soft voice escaping the golden cub.- "S... sorry.."
Ta'Ziyan just blinked again, keeping silent and lowering his head. Watching her swipe, he let his eyes follow the movement, keeping still as he felt the head slowly push away, his neck tingling as the hairs rose up slowly and his tail trailed into the grass and the dirt. Shifting to lift his paw and set it in a better spot to hold his weight, he tilted up his head and perked his ears.
She was sorry, sorry for scaring him? He never was told that by anyone, no one ever apoligized to him. Maybe it was a sign, that the beings had not told her where he was, she just stumbled onto him. Nodding barly to himself he spoke in a soft, though somewhat squeaky, voice.
"It is alright, I figured that it was not meaningful that you ran into me, that you did not know I was here..." he trailed off, what a long way to say that he accepted her apoligy. Taking a deep breath, he just peered at her.
-She was relieved and a little confused to tell the truth. It wasn't that she expected to hear "Oh no no, it's MY fault princess". But it was such a common occurance, that it rather struck her. It was good though, because it WAS her fault, it always was.
Blinking a little softly, she watched the other cub gently, curiously peering at his markings. He was beautiful. Admiring his colorings gently, she barely noticed his equal shyness, finally shifting herself to sit. Eyes still not touching his, she gave a rather embarrassed laugh.- "No... I didn't notice. I was just going off. To play." -The words seemed stressed, a little out of place, the eloquence of her father as of yet wasn't with her, who knew if i would ever be.-
"To play?" He asked softly, not really continuing on, biting his tongue a bit as he just blinked. Good, she was avoiding his gaze, it helped the akwardness die down just a bit in his mind, becuase he wasn't forced to say many things that he usually blurted out when others peered into his eyes. Plus, he always pictured the other eyes, the ones he always saw, when he looked into other's eyes.
But she seemed a little surprised that he had accepted her apoligy, was it something he said. Sure she seemed a little different than him, her whole stance and fur coat seemed to just reek with...a sort of higher class them him. Swallowing, he just looked around before looking back to her, "What do you play?" It was a soft question, he had never played many games before.
"Ummm.." -She laughed a little again, nervousness and embarrassment. She hadn't been expecting that question either. She didn't really 'play' like alot of the other cubs. In fact she avoided the others as much as she could. Dragging her paw along the ground, fearing she'd sound silly to another child who probably DID know all the different games and such, she offered pathetically.-
"Sometimes I play cloud watching... and sometimes I play tag with butterflies... Lots of times I just play pretend." -Pretend was her favorite. She could be whatever she wanted.. She could be a strong queen. Or a little baby zebra. She could pretend that she was othing but a small wildflower without a care in the world except for swaying in the wind.
Looking up finally, trying to be polite, she offered a half smile.- "Silly things really.. Are.. you playing? Now..?"
Ta'Ziyan let his head bow as she looked up to him. Such games she spoke of were games he had never heard of. He had no idea what fun was, for he was always on the run, searching for his peace where he would not wake up at night with eyes circling around him. The eyes, he was not sure if they were real to others, but to him they were, and that fact alone made it hard to not stop and just lose all laughter gained from games.
"I...do not play games...I do not know about games or have ever played them...I am always on the run, always hiding from them..." He said it with a bit of a sad ping to his voice, and just looked to the right as he let out a sigh. Games did sound fun.
-Well that was certainly.. bizzare. Of course her father had talked about the dangers outside the Pridelands. Perhaps he was from somewhere else? Or maybe bullies just liked to pick on him?
It didn't make sense at all, and that finally seemed to get her attention. Puzzles, problems, those she liked.. for whatever reason. Shifting her weight forward she she could stand, she took a soft step closer, golden and redbrown tail curling beneath her legs.- "But... my daddy will take care of you. He takes care of everybody. You can play."
Blinking, he just looked to her now, finally looking into her eyes as he was silenced. He remembered the other female he had awoken with, the elder one that was in the south lands. She promised she would watch him too, or so he assumed, but she did not say it, and out of fear he ran, ran north to this place. Stepping back a moment, he just looked to the side and shivered.
"Your dad?" it was a squeak, and he knew, if she talked about her dad, it had to be another big cub, and he didn't know what to expect from the males. Most males were meaner to him than females.
-Another soft look of confusion touched her face at the fear that accompanied his question. Perhaps she was too sheltered to understand such things? But still.. he would take care of him!
Shrugging her golden shoulders a little softly, she finally gave a proud nod. Her father was everything.. perfection even. Perhaps that's why she worried so much about following after him. Where she was shy and clumsy.. he was kind, smart, graceful, brave, socialable. Everything.- "My daddy is the king of the Pridelands."
-She motioned lightly around with a small paw, before looking back up to him again, a proud smile touching her briefly.- "He makes sure everyone in the Pridelands are safe and happy. And makes sure scary things don't come in.."
Pushing back a step, he could only let out a surprised gasp, "King..." All of the sudden, he felt small and alone as he looked around. Kind ment ruler, and anyone who ruled would always watch for imperfections, which was him of course. Looking back to her, he whined a bit and just shook his head, "No king would wish to take care of me, a nusience like me isn't someone anyone would wish to take care of..." He lowered his head before suddenly blinking. He didn't know her name.
"I...I am Ta'Ziyan...how rude of me..." He seemed to just look up after that, before searching her eyes for her name, would she tell him, but he couldn't wait, as he heard a rustle and his head snapped to glance the other way. Was that the king. He didn't know, but he just looked at the cub with a scared gaze and turned, running into the grass without so much as a good bye as the rustling continued, though he missed that all it was was a bird, poor Ta'Ziyan, fear prevented him from getting his friends name.
-Imperfections! Her father would never do that.. but.. Before she could protest the male cub was pushing backwards in fear. Openning her mouth softly, she watched as he dissappeared suddenly, yelping out, though it was likely lost in the grass.- "Kami.. Kamilika."
-Watching the grass fall once again into a still hush, she sighed strongly, rattling her small frame with frustration. Look what she'd done now... he'd seemed nice.. and interesting. And she'd went and run him off.
Ears drooping, she turned back towards the Priderocks, and began to make her way back. She didn't feel much like playing anymore...-
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:13 am
// Back and forth and back again // It seemed that his paws always took him to the same place, over and over again. As he once again was heading south, he tried to force all thoughts out of his mind about everything that had happened so suddenly. He was only a cub, and yet, already he was having nightmares and freaking out over the simple things. Every turn he made through the grasses was one that made his breath catch, there was always a shadow that caught his eye and pushed his heart to race faster and faster. Soon enough, he was sprinting, sprinting across the prideland edge and towards the Southlands.
The sun above slowly inched across the sky, time slowing as he had no idea just what was going on, and through the clouds drifted an African Hawk, her eyes watching the copper gleam below. Ta'Ziyan, who heard the squawk, quickly looked up, and than jumped into the bushes, breathing coming in pants. Where was he, this place wasn't the same lands as before, and already, it was getting darker and darker. Oh why didn't he stay in the pridelands, at least there, there was a cub that wanted to play. And when he came back looking for the other one, he got lost. Just great.
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:14 am
// Scared, Copper? // [RP with Kasai Loki] He saw the shadows slowly slink out as the sun moved towards the west, and right away he wished he had staied near the pride lands. Maybe that other cub was right, maybe the king would look out for him and make sure he wouldn't be attacked by them. But stupid as he was, he had to run, and thus he was there, just wandering like the lost cub that he was.
Pausing a bit to catch his breath, he dug a paw into the dirt, swipping his premature nails across and letting the smoke rise up and filter a bit to catch the wind. Sometimes it was easy, like at that moment, to find ways to distact his mind, and just keeping sight of the dust until it was gone was enough for him to sigh and turn to do it again. It got darker yet, and still, he watched the dust. He really was working hard, he had to ignore the eyes, but soon he couldnt, and slowly, the shiver moved up his spine.
Another lazy day, and predictably another lazy night would lay ahead. The dark pelted male moved swiftly over the rogue lands, getting away from his parents as they slumbered peacefully next to his two other siblings. That lovey dovey stuff really wasn't for him. Not at all.
Sighing, the lion cub looked up to the pink streaked sky. A truley beatiful sight, to those who admired nature and its wonders. Something this little one loved. He looked around, flexing out his claws, allowing the dry dirt to fill the gaps between them. Raising his maw to the air, Denahi sniffed. A new scent swerved in and out of the small area, causing the lion to become curious. Hmm. It was probably just another crazy.
Ta'Ziyan moved his paws away from where he was scratching at the ground to life his eyes up, widening slightly as she just perked his ears. Why did he always have to be so paranoid, he berated over and over that no one was around, but he felt it, he smelt and heard it. Something was out there watching him, and as he glanced around with deep breaths, he felt his heart speed up.
"Who is there?" He asked a bit loudly, though his voice betrayed the seeming courage as it was a squeak as well. Shaking his head and swinging his tail, he looked over his shoulder. Was someone there?
"Who is there?" came a snickered reply. The voice, sickly calm with a hint of maliciousness in it. "Who is there?" He mimicked once more, sky blue eyes landing on the sight of the other male cub. Good, he seemed to be a bit skittish, so to speak. A perfect opportunity! With a thrash of his tail, small ivory fangs showed with a smirk.
"You should know me," Denahi growled, nearing the young cub. "If you live in these lands, you should very well know me!" He snarled. This cub thought that if you lived in the southlands, you /had/ to know him. I mean, how could you not? Charcoal pelt, unmissable blue eyes plus an attitude as high as the heavens. "The question is, who goes there. Stepping upon my lands." He snarled, lying. Though, if this cub were alone, he didn't need to know that now did he?
Spinning around and back again, right away Ta'Ziyan could tell that the eyes finally spoke to him. There they were, steel blue eyes that just glared at him through the darkness. He couldn't move, becaue this time, he knew they were real. Shivering to himself, he lowered his head and took a step back, keeping an even distance as the cub seemed to slink from the shadows itself. Why was this all happening, it was his nightmares come to life.
Hissing a bit, he shook but held his ground, "Stand back." It was a whisper, but soon he let it grew, "Stand back!" until he finished with a yell, and a mix between a snarl and a whine.
Ahah. That reaction, priceless. The cub stalked towards Ta'Ziyan. "Stand back? Why?" He growled, his pace slowing, but failed to comply to what the copper cub told him. "You gonna get your /mommy/ to come after me? The great one." He smirked, inching closer step by step. He used his name meaning, rather then introducing his self with his true name.
"Scared, Copper?" His eyes flashed, giving the other the name of Copper, seeing as his real one was unbeknowngst to him.
Raising his maw a bit, Ta'Ziyan just looked with dark eyes at the other, trying to stand his ground as he pushed back the chills and the urges to run away. He was being called upon for his courage, and the little bit that he had just seemed to respond. Taking a step back anyways, he used it mearly to gain his balance and to give a moment for his heart to slow, before lowering his head and narrowing thoes eyes.
Choosing not to say anything, he just let out a low rumble that was nothing more than a light growl, though one that would not inflict fear upon others, he knew it would probably show he was irritated and wanted the other cub to step away. Irked by his luck, he just wished that his mind would stop playing games, as it ached softly and he kept his eyes upon the darker one's.
Denahi made a 'hmpf' sound, getting bored that this other male wasn't answering him. "What? To scared to talk now Copper?" He sneered, stopping just a few feet away from the other. He began to circle him, like a vulture circling its prey. With narrowed eyes, he snapped his jaws towards the others, just to scare him. "Perhaps a few good swipes will get something out of you, eh?" He raised his paw, claws unsheathed, as if he were to stike the other lion.
Sneering a bit, Ta'Ziyan just shook his head, and than shot his gaze towards the claws, swallowing a bit but keeping his composure as hard as it was. Moving a step to stop the other from the circles, he glared before responding sharply.
"You should not dare try and attack me, though I know you will, but to attack me, would only make you weak, unlike what you seem to think the action is." He took that breath, and just puffed his chest. What was this cub, a bully, though he had no idea what the word was, he felt the same ideals as anyone would about a bully. This black cub seemed to get pleasure out of Ta'Ziyan's unconfert.
A laugh. A small, manical laugh erupted from the charcoal cubs maw. "Oh, is that so. Hmm. Its only weak if I can't defend myself against the likes of you." With that, he neared the cub, pushing him harshly against the shoulder blade. He was really a - a bully. Though, in sight of his parents, he was the perfect, near perfect, little angel. "So high and mighty now, aren't ya." The cub growled, snorting.
Seeing the paws coming to his shoulder, Ta'Ziyan had no idea what to do and mearly froze in fear. Why was he so afraid. As the cub grew closer, all he could think about were the eyes, the eyes that waited for him to slip up before attacking him while he had his back turned. Letting out a gasp, he was pushed to the ground as dust flew up around him, covering his side and his cheek where he slammed into the ground. Lifting his head just a bit, he blinked before looking to the other, keeping silent still and just having one eye closed. Why him?
"What? Giving up already. You're pathetic." His tail whipped behind him, his claws sheathed. "And you have the nerve to call me weak?" With a snort, he sat on his back haunches, blue eyes just staring into the Copper ones. It wasn't much fun now, if the other just sat there! Where was the action?
"Not even man enough to put up a fight. We all know where you will be once you get older." He taunted. "A worthless piece of--" His voice stopped shorted, smirking as a thought crossed his mind. "I don't think you will even live to see a day past cubhood." He said to Ta, with a short eyeroll. "Goodriddance. We don't need anymore wimps around here."
Closing his eyes, Ta'Ziyan felt heat reach his cheeks, though the other would not see it. Moving to his paws, he pushed up slowly and just sat there, listening to all that was delt to him with ease before opening his eyes once more.
"You attack me and yet I do not fight back, who has more strength here, when I am sure you would attack me back had I struck first." With that said, he just turned his head and moved to walk away, half of his side dusty and the other half a copper color in the now approaching moonlight. Who was he kidding, he wouldn't ever be able to fight anything.
"You dare turn your back on me?!" Denahi snarled, tackling the other. He bit at the scruff of his neck, slowly moving towards his ear. He watched his parents do this same attack the other day, only that was out of playfullness. This time, however, the young cub wasn't playing. He was truly angered.
Grabbing the copper ear, he gave a swift tug before releasing and back off, a constant snarl on his maw. "Never turn your back on a rogue." He growled, tail flicking behind him quickly.
Letting out a cry, Ta'Ziyan closed his eyes and just lied there, even after the other cub was off of him and away. Panting heavily, he just forced the pain and tears away as he let his head bury in his paws. He just couldn't get away, yet he couldn't defend himself. Feeling his ear bleeding, he wipped at it with his paw and opened an eye, the red dying his light fur.
Not getting up this time, he opted to just lie there, sniffling softly and catching his breath.
"Why..." He shivered.
He watched the small figured sniffling, getting to his paws. So, this one wasn't the one to just stay down eh? Could be of some use later on. Gazing towards the sky, the dark pelted male put on a smirk. Why...? the other had said. His gaze wandered over to him, looking at him with curious blue eyes.
The 'high one' stood up, moving over to the shivering cub. He circled his prey once more, not attacking this time, finding no need for it. The other was bleeding, the other seemed to have his spirit broken. "Whats your name, Copper?" He asked, head held high, gaze ever so content on the male.
He just glanced up coldly to the other, about to spit out a sarcastic reply but instead moving to push up his paws, sitting with his shoulder turned yet his eyes still able to see the other. He had learned, he would not make the same mistake as last time, and if worst come to worse, he would dodge and swipe and run. Raising his chin a bit, he looked to the moon before standing and just snorting.
"You have not earned the right to learn my name..." And than he ran, rushing up and jumping into the grass, he wanted to see if the other would chase him, it was easier to learn from mistakes than be forced to make assumptions.
So that the way he wants it? Very well then. Denahi just watched the figure retreat, giving the copper one a few minutes head start. One thing about having the dark pelt and it being night out? You can sneak up on those.
Closing his eyes, the cub crouched, trying to rid himself from the view of Ta. He followed the other, occasionally switching paths, making his movements look as if the wind were pushing the tall grass.
Moving deep into the grasses, Ta'Ziyan went in random directions, letting his mind move before think. Using it as a speed tatic, he crossed his paths a few times only to dart another way. Why was he running, he probably was only making it worse. Oh how he wished he had seen the elder cub again or at least ran into that nameless one from the north.
Breathing speeding up, he broke into a clearing only to rush towards a small bit of water, turning around and looking all around for the other, wondering if he would be attacked once again.
Denahi watched the other cub make his way out into the clearing. Hmm, he needed to find a way to drag the other into the taller grass, much easier tactic for him. He shuffled a bit, his cubbish voice speaking "You can't hide from me," He said slyly, before moving to hide his location. Blue eyes settled on the copper cub from the left of him. A smirk, ever so plastered onto his face.
Shifting and jumping, he glanced around, head lowering as his eyes widened. Stepping back quickly, he just shivered and looked through the bushes, unable to catch sight of the other and swallowing soon after. He wondered what to do, any way he would go the other would follow, and soon just opted to sit out and just look around over and over again. He would catch sight of the cub if he jumped out, and hopefully would be able to get away. Shivering, he just wished he could curl up and sleep.
Keeping his body low to the ground, the sadistic cub moved out of the grass, trying to move behind the other. Once again, he praised his dark pelted body for mimicking the shadows of the night. Moving around, he snarled, lunging for the copper cub. "Think you could run now, did ya?" He spat out viciously, fangs bared as if he were to bite at the lion again.
One ear perked, this time Ta'Ziyan could hear the other and turned suddenly, moving out of the way to prevent any scratches as he panted and scrambled towards the bushes. Slipping in when he could, he let out a gasp and looked over his shoulder. Had the other gotten up quickly, or was he free to escape. Whatever it was, Ta'Ziyan had to get out of there, he wouldn't last much longer and he had a feeling this cub would kill him if worst come to worse.
Slowly, the body was lifted. A glare was situated over his eyes. "Why run, little one?" He crooned out in a rather disgusted tone. He moved towards him, eyes affixed on the slightly injured body. A blotchy pink tongue slid out from the dark's maw, licking dry blood from his lips. Oh, a great way to show a sort of vampirism. "Care for another chase? Or will you submit." He questioned darkly, a warning growl telling him what /might just/ happen if he decided to run.
Looking around, Ta'Ziyan looked for his options. He knew running was out, and submitting was too. What else could he do. If he ran he would leave himself open for easy attack, yet he didn't even want to think about what he would do if he submitted. Letting out a dull whine, he just turned and glared at the darker one, making up his mind at last.
"How about neither." And with that, he pounced, small fangs open as he tried to grab onto anything. Sure they wouldn't hurt the other one too bad, but scratches were always annoying.
Neither wasn't an option! He hissed as Ta'Ziyan grabbed onto him, his small fangs piercing the skin. "Gettoffameee" He snarled widely, trying to roll over to switch posistions with the cub. He threw his maw back, grabbing onto one of the copper paws. Denahi thrashed around violently, trying to throw off his attacker.
Keeping his tight hold on the other's fur, Ta'Ziyan noted the attempt to pin him, and quickly turned his weight each time so they continued to roll through the dirt. Letting out a sharp whine when his paw was bit, he swipped with his other one, though there were no claws, and aimmed to his the other's head and force him to let go. What the heck was he doing, fighting like this.
The rolling and biting and swiping continuing for awhile, he soon pushed away so suddenly that he stumbled back a few steps, panting and glaring.
As the rolling, biting and swiping ceased, Denahi lied on the ground, panting heavily. He was bleeding for various cuts, but not enough to kill him. "Say your prayers, cub!" The charcoal male snarled, lunging once more for the other.
That was until, his tail was pulled on roughly. "Hey, what the he--" He gulped, staring at the newest attack. Eyes as cold as stone bore right into the soul of the young cub, causing him to shake slightly. "Do I need to /even/ ask what in the names of those above us is going on here?!" Ari snarled, dropping Denahi's tail before placing a paw on him.
She looked over to the copper cub, frowning towards him. She hadn't seen who attack first, which made her gaze flicker from both male cubs.
Eyes widening as large as they could, Ta'Ziyan suddenly took a step back and away from the female, his ears falling to the sides of his head as he just tried to not let his fear show. She seemed to know the other, and he knew for sure she could easily wrap her teeth around his neck if need be. Tail falling to the ground, he just watched her, panting and nursing a wounded body.
What was going to happen next. He was sure no one would come to save and protect him, and for that, he was all by scared sensless.
When her son didn't answer, she gave him a small nudge with her paw. "Denahi," She said with a warning clearly evident in her voice.
"What? He started it," The cub lied, glaring at the copper cub, hoping his mother would fall for it. However, she wasn't stupid. Ari hissed at him, before settling her eyes on the other male.
"You, you hold truth in your eyes. My son speaks, but it is not the truth I here. Tell me," Her voice softened, causing Denahi to scoff. "Who started this." She sat down, keeping her gazes on one of the two cubs.
Shivering as she spoke to him, Ta'Ziyan tried to prevent his eyes from wandering to the other cub, but soon they darted over to him and he could only just swallow, his throat dry and with a lump in it.
Stepping back more, he just lowered his head, shivering as the eyes suddenly focused on him, the feeling intense and his head hammering, heart thumping. He had to do something, before he really freaked out. Tail swiping the ground, he couldn't say a word.
"Dehani, what did you do to him?" She growled, moving over to the frightened Copper. "Don't worry," She said gently, her tail flicking once behind her. "I won't hurt you." With that said, she lowered her head, licking at one of his wounds. "And I can vouch for my son as well. He will not hurt you anymore." She said, a frown on her maw. How could one of her own blood be so cruel, so mean.
Denahi snorted, beginning to walk away. "Don't you move mister." Ari growled, turning back towards the look alike cub. "You and I have a lot of talking to do." With widened eyes, Denahi crouched low to the ground, sighing. 'Just great...'
Cringing, he closed his eyes but was surprised when the elder lioness seemed to just lap at his wounds. Blinking, he peered through her legs at the other, and just cringed. He didn't look too happy, and that wasn't a good thing for him. Who knows what the other thought of him, and as he thought this he shivered.
Glancing back up at the other, he just let out a soft whine, "I..." It was weak, and he didn't know what to say, but he was just quiet. What would happen to him now.
The adult lioness sighed. "I see..." She said, glancing down at the cub. "Whats your name, young one?" Ari asked, nuzzling the small male after she cleaned most of his wounds. "I'm Ari." She purred, before lifting herself and moving over to the Denahi. The mother begin to clean his wounds as well.
Now was his chance, as she moved away, he took another step back and just looked over his shoulder. Good, the grass was close. Turning back, he watched the mother clean the now realized Denahi, and just shivered. She was his mother, yet she seemed nicer.
"I...they call me Ta'Ziyan..." He said meekly, his voice a squeak as this time he did avoid the other's eyes. He couldn't aford to see thoes burning eyes again.
"Ta'Ziyan..." She repeated, smiling that he told her his name. "Where are your parents, Ta'ziyan?" She asked him, looking around. This one wasn't to much younger than her children, so surely his parents would be roaming around here somewhere...?
Denahi growled as Ari licked at one of his scratches. "That HURTS!" He whined, trying to swipe a paw at his mother.
Blinking, he just looked to her with his big, round eyes, before looking away to the ground with a meek posture.
"I do not....have any parents, though I do somewhat remember them, I hardly do anymore and as I grow I keep forgetting more and more, but I did have parents...they just aren't here with me now." He took a deep breath, glancing curiously to the other cub.
"What are you looking at?!" Denahi sneered, before getting pushed by his mother. "Stoppit!" He complained, though allowed his mother to push him around. "Haha! He's an orphan!" He piped up, quite rudely, I might add on myself.
Ari smacked her paw over the charcoal cubs mouth. "Hush." She growled, before a lone idea popped into her head. She frowned at what the other said. "If-you don't have any parents, you are welcome to come stay with ours. My mate, Asikari, enjoys being around cubs." She giggled slightly, picture all three of her children pouncing on their father to pursuit an attack. "And there are two others, around your age, both the total opposite of Denahi." She pointed towards her eldest son. "And, he will be in our sight at /all/ times, so you wouldn't have to worry about anymore fights that might arouse." When she said our, she meant herself and Asi's.
Ta'Ziyan shook his head, taking another step back as he just shivered lightly and adjusted his weight on his paws.
"I couldn't, for I have places to go and friends to see, and I am too much of a bother as it is, considering all of my dreams and nightmares and fears..." As if to prove that, he looked to Denahi and just shivered and quickly adverted his attention elsewhere, "I should be going...sunrise will be here sometime soon and I need my rest...or what I can get..." He glanced all but to the eyes of the two other lions.
Shifting suddenly, he looked away and rushed towards the grass, running off blindly and hoping he could find somewhere where he could clean up and rest. This would be a night he would remember.
Ari nodded. "I understand, though, you are not bothersome, not matter what anyone asys to you," She frowned, listening to him. She watched him steal a glance to the charcoal male, before looking away. Looking down, she noticed her son glaring at the copper pelted male.
"Farewell then, young Ta'Ziyan." She spoke quietly, watching the morning sun try to slip past the horizon before watching him run off. This gave the mother a chance to growl at her son.
"You and I have a lot of talking to do." Ari snarled quietly, picking Denahi up by the scruff of his neck, heading back home. The cub just took his fate, knowing not to get on his mother's bad side. Or, better yet, not to get further on it >>;
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:17 am
// The past until now // It was thundering when she found herself being shook awake, her eyes slowly opening as everything was a complete blur. Her family had discovered a small cave a week before, and had decided to make it their den until they had the energy and the will to move on once more. Blinking back her tired lids, she opened her mouth to emit a short yawn, standing on her paws and stretching out her spine as she felt the muscles loosen. It was than she could catch the persistant callings, and remembered her rude awakening, her juvenile form turning to catch sight of her mother. The first thing she noticed was the elder lioness' desperate gaze, the orbs glancing around wildly as a flash of lightning lit the skies.
"Momma?" Tisha asked softly, her ears flatening against her head as she let her tail fall to the ground. She didn't like the look in her mother's eyes, out of all of her family her mother had always looked at her with love and paitence, and now, she had no idea what was going on. Her mother, the calm accepting one, was in her opinion going crazy, which meant something was off.
Thunder struck short outside of the cave, the sound crackling around her as she suddenly realized her father was gone, and her two other siblings were cowering behind her mother, deeper in the cave. Something was up, and Tisha felt her fur stand on end as her eyes were blinded by a flash, the thunder roaring in her ears as she snapped her eyes closed, squeaking and feeling as if she heard the others do so as well. Her eyes opening slowly, she turned her head towards the entrance, her gaze tracing the rains that fell as the winds pushed the water down like bullets, gravity nothing compaired to the force, and she moved to rush towards the entrace, ignoring her mothers calls.
"Papa!" She yelled loudly out into the rain, still standing inside though the winds causing her to be at their mercy with their onslaught of icy cold liquid, "Papa!"
Her bi-colored eyes looking upward, she narrowed them as all she could see was black, all she could feel was the rain pelting down on her coat, but than suddenly she was blinded, her ears silencing everything around her. It was a flash, a burning flash that had hit a tree right outside of the den, and she rolled out from the surprise, sliding down the slight decline as her hair stood on end. Everything was silent, she couldn't hear her mother's sharp call, her sister's amazed gasp, and her brother's high roar of a yell. She was falling, and as the lightning hit the tree, the force through the air sent the wind from her lungs. There was no vision, there was no sound, there was only silence, dead silence.
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:18 am
// I awake in a graveyard // [An RP with Baneful] It had been growing to daybreak when she had first awoke, her head throbbing and her eyes narrowed when the sun pierced their depths. Pushing up from her lying position, she let out a soft groan as her ears flattened against her head; yawn breaking out from her maw. It was when her head cleared this mist of sleep that she could finally get a look around, taking everything in as she merely wondered what lands she had fallen upon, and how she had gotten there. Paw falling against the dirt; she moved a few steps away from where she had lied, sniffing lightly and just glancing all over. She really had no clue as to what was going on, and the sudden ache in her head did not help her one bit.
She just continued to look around and scout the small area that was around her, fur standing a bit on edge as her heart thumped loudly in her chest. She really was alone, and that fact both brought joy to her mind and a fear to her soul. Stopping suddenly, she glanced around once again, eyes narrowing as she raised her head, or was someone out there?
Ausha these days lived in or near to the elephant graveyard when his mother went out hunting, he had begged and pestered her to let him until she finally conceded. So, before a hunt, Masuka would drop him off here, in the shadow of the elephant bones, where he could play and lounge amidst the decay. He liked it there, it was peaceful.
Today he stood atop on of the outlying elephant skulls, bleached pearly white in the sunlight. Ausha himself stood out against the impossibly blue sky like some sort of image of a lion, devoid of colour. One could even mistake him as part of the bones themselves.
Letting out a sigh, he cast his eyes across the horizon, the heat making the distance hazy and insubstantial, sometimes he wished for someone to talk to, someone to distract him from the whispered voices inside his own head.
But no one ever came it seemed.
And he was always left alone with just the sun, the voices, the bones and the ever endless blue.
Finding herself still feeling the eyes upon her, she just spun around as the same area as before caught her eyes. The grass around her seemed to thin until it became a rich dark dirt, something that clearly looked as if it was filled with decaying bones that just had fell into the sands. Moving her steps towards this new place, she just narrowed her eyes to let them ice over a bit, and her tail trailed a bit above the ground. Had she ran into any lions, she would have had a word or two with them that would show she was strong, but since it was only silence, she just let the act stay up, unsure as to why she wanted to act that way.
Pausing a bit, she realized that she was unsure of many things, one of the main things being as to why she awoke there and why her head hurt so much. Looking up to the sky for a minute, she became lost in a deep thought, only a few feet away from where the sands started.
Ausha thought he saw something move out there, and held a paw up to sheild his eyes from the suns glare and hopefully get a better veiw. However, he had no such luck, the figure remained as vague as before.
He narrowed his eyes at his own uselessness and leapt down from his skull vantage point, tail lashing behind him. In the shadow of the massive skull, he could see that much better. Another lion stood not too far from where he was, a lioness by the looks of it.
In that self assured way he always did, he called out.
"Hello there. Lost?"
Turning her head suddenly, Tisha just blinked as a voice echoed out all through the small area, clearly not many were around if once voice could make such a loud echo. Blinking her bi-colored eyes just a bit, she narrowed her head and let a frown cross her features, eyes narrowing. Who would be such a fool as to yell stupidly out and give away his location. Even though the other lion was in the shadows, even she could pin-point where he was right away as she just lifted her head. Should she answer him, she really had no idea, but the last part of his sentance made her suddenly pause.
He thought she was lost...
Well that right away settled her decision, and soon enough she just stalked into the dark sands of the graveyard, and past where he was hidden. She didn't need to answer him.
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:18 am
// I need water // The sun was slowly reaching the peak of it's crest as Tisha found herself still walking slowly south, no shade around as the trees seemed to be gone. Her head ached as she felt the dull throb that was going through her body, and it took all her energy to just blink, and even than her vision was blurry. She could hardly see anything around her, and her mouth was dry, everything just seemed to be so hard. She had forgotten where she was when she awhoke, and to come on one of the hottest days of the time, she couldn't take it much longer.
Keeping one paw after another, she didn't feel as if she had seen that lion the day before, but she did, and the light night and morning just seemed to loll on forever. Keeping her pace, she tried not to think about it, but soon she needed water. Stupidly, she hadn't gotten enough before, and as she journeyed towards the southlands, she couldn't think straight.
Grass soon was everywhere, and the hills seemed to grow from the grounds as the dirt felt a bit cooler on her paws. Sighing, she paused a moment and just let the chill fall down her back, was she sweating. Everything was hot and cold at the same moment. She needed water, she needed something, food didn't matter, but water was a nessisity. Pushing her steps, she set off, making her way to the southalands.
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:19 am
// I dont know him...sorry // [An RP with Naita] Finally making her way south and away from the graveyard, Tisha found her tongue lolling out from her mouth as she just searched from someplace to rest and requence her thirst. Pausing a bit, she let her aching paws rest as she lied down on the grass, glancing around the clearing as she wondered what this place was. She knew, in her mind, that she was a lor more south than before, and the question was, what was south?
Hopefully, she wasn't on any pride lands, but than again, she had yet to see a pack of lions, so maybe she got lucky. Pushing to her feet once more, her legs shook for a moment and she rushed towards the long grass. There had to be some sort of watering hole around here, and she really was getting thirsty.
Paws beating on loose dust, red eyes scanning the horizon, head low between his shoulderblades, the figure of an adolescent lion made a much more brooding form than intended, or indeed, understood, by that male portraying it.
Black stripe along his back, face, and tail attracting far more heat than was comfortable in the rolling heat of high afternoon, Masego gave a great sigh, sending particles of the dirty ground flying through the air, dancing a ballet around his quickly drooping head.
A few seemed merciless, toying at his noise, tickling and tugging in their effortless dance, causing that feature to twitch and itch.
Finally, with gut-wrenching force, the lion sneezed.
Ah, such a sly king of the plains, that one.
Stilling suddenly, Tisha had just moved out of the grasses when a roar-like sneeze broke through the silence around her, and her eyes widened. Glancing around slowly, she caught sight of a lion that looked just a bit older than her, who stood about 20 feet away. Tail swinging back and forth slowly, she tilted her head as her ears flattened, and she just wondered how she could always end up running right into the bigger lions around her. Paw lifted in a half step, she just lowered her head a bit and was prepaired to run.
Taking one last moment to look over the lion, she soon realized he wasn't even an adult, and her back relaxed just a bit as her jaw loosened from its clenching tenseness. Letting out a sigh, she turned her head away, figuring the other one wasn't a threat, and moved to walk ahead once agian, still in search of some watering hole.
Eyes catching on another figure, Masego's features briefly flickered with immense hope, before falling as he realised this was no familiar face, but a stranger. Nonetheless, he reasoned, strangers may have much needed information, and thus spurred onwards, he sped those weary footsteps in pursuit of the other.
"Hallo," he called out to her, "hallo! You there!"
It was not the most polite of calls, but there was no need for manners unless he found his way back soon! He missed Kitwana, his "brother." So he had labeled the adult, though whether he would have the bravery to call him such in his presence was questionable. Masego was by no means intelligent, but he knew the value of his own life.
Surprise filtering across both her dark and pure white eyes, Tisha turned in surprise as her footsteps were stilled, blinking and just starring with blank features at the lion who had come towards her. Unexpected was the action, and she simply just stood there, listening to him call to her before stopping a few paces away. Narrowing thoes bi-colored eyes in a contemplating manor, Tisha did not know why, but once again she felt the strange urge to just ignore him and keep walking.
"Yes?" She asked softly, ears perked but features not giving away intrest or bordom.
Decision to catch up to the stranger before speaking again flitting through his rather vacuous mind, the adolescent jogged, walked, slowed, and eventually stopped before the young lioness, bowing his head as he did so.
"Have you seen an adult abouts?" he queried, then, as an afterthought, mentioned;
"he has an ill-gorwn mane."
Crimson eyes trained on the other as he awaited an answer, Masego began contemplating seating himself on the dusty ground.
Surprised by his bow, Tisha just lifted a paw and blinked a bit, stopping in mid step as she set it down ever slowly. An adult with an ill grown mane, she had no idea. The second lion for her to really see today, Tisha just blinked once agian before looking to the sky, as if she were deep in thought. This was something, not many male lions had ill grown manes, she knew that much, and usually thoes who did never survived, as sad as that was. It just seemed, in her mind, another reason for others to pick on thoes who were less grown than they were, less mature if you could all their actions that.
Sighing, she glanced back too him, and said a simple, soft, "No..." before she mentally cringed at her own words. What was she becoming?
"...sorry..." It was a mear quick add on, one almost too hard to catch, but she did say it.
Realizing that she was being quite foolish, she just blinked at the other and turned away, feeling back she couldn't help any more but not feeling up to talk about it once again. Moving away, she just focused back on her path, searching for the watering hole so she could finally get some liquids for the day. Looking over her shoulder once, she just watched the other for a second before jumping into the slightly high grass, tail lifted a bit as her shoulders and head were above the green. At least she could see, however, she had yet to see the bright rusty colored lion this time.
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:20 am
// Which way to the waterhole // [An RP with Raikha] Bhaskar kept padding along slowly. He wasn't in any sort of rush; he'd just eaten, and had decided to lope along for a bit, to find a nicer place to stop and hang out for a while. The wandering life was good. Eventually, a part of Bhaskar wanted to slow it down and settle, but he figured it was a good while away till he would ever find a mate anyway. He noticed two other lions a bit off, and kept loping along, somewhat towards them. No use running now, might as well just hope they're friendly, right?
Realizing that she was being quite foolish, she just blinked at the other and turned away, feeling back she couldn't help any more but not feeling up to talk about it once again. Moving away, she just focused back on her path, searching for the watering hole so she could finally get some liquids for the day. Looking over her shoulder once, she just watched the other for a second before jumping into the slightly high grass, tail lifted a bit as her shoulders and head were above the green. At least she could see, however, she had yet to see the bright rusty colored lion this time.
Bhaskar tilted his head and quickened his pace some. What was going on? He watched the lioness jump into the grass and padded over to the edge of the grass, looking in curiously. Should he follow? Should he make a sound? He just stood there, perplexed.
Stopping a moment, Tisha stood on the tips of her paws as she tried to look as far as she could, searching right and left to figure out which would be the best way to go. Letting her head fall, she settled her hears against her head and just looked to the ground, before something caught her eye. Another lion, what were the odds. Raising her maw, she just starred at the other, bi-colored eyes calculating as her tail swung back and forth in the grass.
Seen. Well, make the best of it. Bhaskar lifted his head and stood up taller to see Tisha better. Two different colored eyes. How odd. "Hello there! Um.. everything alright? I wasn't quite sure if you were playing, or trying to hide from me, or.. what.. so.. I thought I'd come over here and ask." he shifted his feet, edging up to try to see more of this lioness. The eyes, though. He tried not to stare into them, but they were so.. intruiging.. dark and light. Did this lioness' personality have a light and dark side too?
Standing there in silence, Tisha just blinked a moment when the other one had finished talking. Was he really just talking to her. Glancing around for a moment, she noticed she was the only one in the grass, and soon enough just looked back to him with perked ears. Facinating really, everyone seemed to like talking to eachother here. Letting out a sigh, she tilted her head a bit as she contemplated her answer.
"I..." She started softly, not really calling out to have her voice travel over the distance. The words catching in her mouth, she closed her maw and looked deep in thought.
"I am looking for a watering hole." It was a short simple answer to his question, she knew it, and she had meant it, but she had not asked him where to find one, and thus turned a bit to keep searching the area with her eyes.
Bhaskar blinked, his head still slightly tilted. "Well, do you want help?" he wasn't an expert at finding waterholes, and this was the first time he'd ventured to this area, but here was tall grass, which must mean one was nearby. As it was, he could probably use a drink himself.
This lioness was just confusing him. She obviously didn't know of anearby waterhole, yet, she refused to ask. Nothing was wrong with questions, he thought. Well, he figured one of them out to be polite and introduce themselves.. "I'm Bhaskar, by the way.."
Deciding one had to be in the direction the other had been, Tisha walked out of the longer grass, her paw and tail markings becoming apparant as she just looked up towards him a moment. Shaking her head a bit, she blinked to him, walking back a few feet away. Strange, he had introduced himself, confusion lacing her bi-colored eyes, she let her face stay blank as she flicked her tail just a bit.
"I am Tisha..." She said softly, eyes glancing away in a shy mannor as she moved to walk past him, "...and I am sure I can find this waterhole...somewhere..." there was a slight ring of uncertinty as she moved past him slowly, still looking around.
Bhaskar laughed, taking in her markings "Mm... you sure about that?" he swung around, following her slowly; he took longer strides then she, being bigger. "'Cause you don't exactly seem so sure, looking around and switching directions and all, like you're doing" he smirked to himself some, watching her try out confidence.
Stopping a moment, she just glanced over her shoulder and than back ahead, rolling her eyes and wondering why this lion was following her. She felt a little put off, being quite a bit smaller than him even for a female lion, and just tried to ignore it as she walked on. He was right, she had no idea where she was going, if there even was a wateringhole, but she wouldn't feel right admitting that. Ears flattening, she let out a soft sigh and paused again, turning to face him, forced to look up a bit.
"Am I to expect you know where it is?" She asked after a silent moment.
Bhaskar tried his hardest not to grin, watching her. "Well.. you are walking away from, and not into the grass" he motioned to it with his head, having to then shake it and fix his tuft of growing mane. "And, I've learned, that waterholes are usually IN patches of grass like that one.. so.." he pawed at his ear bashfully, pretending to shoo away a flea or a fly "I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure that if there is water nearby, it'd be in there.." he looked to the grass, then back at Tisha.
Just starring at him for a long moment, her eyes were unblinking as she waited after her spoke to thing. Slowly moving her eyes away from him and to where the grass was behind him, she felt heat grace her cheeks, though was lucky the lion could not tell. Ears flattening and tail flicking back and forth in quick movements, she shot her eyes back towards his own as she let out a short huff.
Not saying one word, she brushed past him and back towards the grasses, feeling shame and embarrassment through her system as she said not one word.
Bhaskar followed slowly, giving her some distance. He hadn't meant to upset her, but he could understand. When he was younger, he hated being corrected, or needing it even. Sighing, he watched her tail swishing through the grass. He paused and yawned loudly, not realizing he had been tired. Was he getting old? He hoped not.. he kept padding through the grass, trying to catch up to the sounds of Tisha ahead.
Was he following her? She could not tell, but she had to give him credit, he had earned a bit of respect for putting up with her somewhat of a tantrum back there. Not taking the chance of looking over her shoulder, she just slowed her pace a bit, her head moving lower in the grass as her tail continued to cause a swish of a sound.
The wateringhole had to be close, the grass was getting thicker, but than again she was going by what he said. Sighing, she paused and turned, finally deciding to see if he was following as she moved on the tips of her paws once more.
Bhaskar let his tail brush past her as he walked by. He paused ahead of her and lifted his maw to sniff "Mm..yep.. smells like it!" he looked back at her "See?" Grass equals waterhole!" he padded on, excited to have somewhere to stop and rest some.
Eyes widening, she just watched him pass as she felt his tail brush across her side, and felt as if he was mocking her in a sense. Shaking her head, she swung her tail and turned around, paws packing the dirt as she heard his comment. He was right, it did smell a bit like water now as the air felt thicker. Running to catch up with him, she caught him just as the grasses suddenly thinned, and she felt her feet stumble until she was standing right out in the small clearing, a wateringhole a few feet away.
He was right, it was right there, and she could only just blink before moving slowly towards the water, looking at her reflection in the cool liquid.
Padding to the water himself, Bhaskar grinned at the water before dipping to take a long drink. He stood again and looked over at Tisha. He sat, simply enjoying the company and the humidity of being near the water. After a moment he crouched again to drink more. One never knew how long you'd go without water. "See? Waterhole." he said simply. He didn't want to be rude about it, but he had been right.
Resisting the urge of glaring at him, she finally dipped her head down to lap up the cool water, taking her time until she slowly built her fill. Pulling up her head, she glanced at her reflection in the water compaired to the other lion, and just frowned. She did look very small and petit to the other. She was a runt, though she had no idea where that came from, it was the first thing that popped into her mind and she hated it. Turning away with a swipe as she went, she just put her back to the water as she looked around.
"Yeah...water..."
Bhaskar watched the water ripple with Tisha's bat to it and turned his head to watch her. Could she be angry? He was so confused by the other gender, he never could tell what they were thinking. He decided to try to make the situation more cheerful "Up for a swim?" he walked into the cool water a few steps and rolled in the mud, loving how it cooled him off.
Blinking, she turned and looked as he went in the water, before her eyes looked towards the cool liquid once more, but this time for a different reason. Walking to the edge, she looked uncertin at the water before moving her gaze back to watch him.
"A swim?" she asked meekly, her ears flat as she touched the water with the tips of her paw. Pulling it back, she wondered what it really was like, it wasn't like she swam every day, but soon she lifted her maw and took a step in, closing her eyes a moment as she looked down so he couldn't, hopefully, tell.
Bhaskar rolled to his feet again and stood, then eyed Tisha "C'mon!" he waded down a bit more, his golden fur muddied up, and his mane wet and dripping mud down his face. He looked back and noticed Tisha's uncertainty "C'mon.. you'll be fine.. it's wonderful!" he said, hoping that was consolation enough.
She looked up to him as she noticed his muddy coat, and just frowned a bit to herself, before taking another step, the water going up to her mid legs as her tail was dipped under the water. Looking over her shoulder, she lifed it up to see the dark fur sopping wet, before she looked back towards Bhaskar, taking a deep breath.
All in a quick moment, she jumped and went into the water, pouncing far enough the a small splash was made as she was submerged for a moment. Pushing up her legs, she stood up to have the water go to her chest, the rest of her fur glistening as her hair fell into her eyes. Once again, he was right, it felt quite good compared to the heat.
Bhaskar grinned "There ya go! Nothing like it, huh?" He start to swum around in a semi circle around Tisha, not really wanting to swim out too far. He kept an eye on the back, too, incase he needed to swim to shore and attack something, or.. some situation came up.
Seeing him swim around her, she just wadded a bit, gettng a little tired since her limbs were shorter and she needed to work harder to stay afloat. She had to admit, she wasn't the best swimmer and could have more pratice, but still she tried her hardest for it not to show, moving a bit back and forth. Seeing his eyes trail to the shore, she too looked over there, confused a bit.
Bhaskar took a deep breath; swimming was a lot of excersize. He swam to where could stand comfortably and sighed, relieved. Water was wonderful to mess around in, but Bhaskar was a land animal, and it always felt better to have his feet on something solid. ..Even if it was squishy. He looked over at Tisha, his fur sopping wet, and grinned.
Following him quickly to the ground, she had to move a little bit closer to the land to touch the ground and still be above the water. Looking up towards him, she just blinked.
"What are you grinning about, Bhaskar?" She questioned softly, ears perked a bit as the cool water made her relaxed. The heat was getting her irritated earlier, so now she felt quite a bit better.
Bhaskar smiled at her "Nothing, isn't it just awesome, though?" he padded up a bit more, splashing water as he did so, then flopped in the mud and rolled on his back.
She agreed with him to an extent, but she wasn't really going to roll in the mud. She had a gray coat, and to get it muddy wouldn't be the best of options. Looking at her paws, she frowned a bit when they were covered in brown, and moved to the land to go and work on cleaning them, hair still damp and falling into her eyes.
Bhaskar watched Tisha idly and flopped to his side, walking up to higher ground before flopping down again. The mud would be easier to get off later, once it was caked and dry. He watched her clean herself then yawned again and layed his head down, dozing off after a moment.
Watching him lie down, Tisha just blinked before stepping back a bit. Frowning, she looked around, before moving to lap up some more water, and than she turned away.
"Goodbye Bhaskar..."
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:22 am
// My debt is paid, little one // [An RP with Sirius Dogstar] Kajji shook the dust from his pelt and moved slowly towards the nearby watering hole. He had left the graveyard in search of food but had been unsucessfull in finding any. His dull pelt hung raggidly off his frame, ribs sticking out sharply. Actually the majority of his bones where visible. the only healthy looking thing on him were the ruins on his back. They shone brightly in the sunlight, contrasting with his dead and haunted looking eyes.
Kajji eyed the female and cub nervously. His shoulders hunched back and his eyes narrowed. Letting out a soft growl, he stood there tense and alert.
Glancing at the cub with a perked ear, she just rolled her eyes at the growl and turned away, padding back to the waters before looking over her shoulder with a cold stare, forgetting about the smaller pink one once more.
"Get some water." She told him softly, "It isn't sitting here to look good..." She had eyed his small structure and it struck a chord in her heart, though she wouldn't show it, she did want him to at least not fall where he was standing.
He moved forward slowly, still eyeing her nervously. flicking his tail, he halted at the waters edge and crouched down. He began to drink the water swiftly, relishing in it's cool taste. Finishing he backed away from the water, keeping an eye on the female.
Not bothering to even watch the male cub, Tisha sat down slowly and lifted up a paw to continue her self-grooming, eyes closed as she let the sun warm her fur. Settling soon after down on her stomach, she let her tail flick back and forth and she smiled, this place was a perfect relaxation from her travels, and though there were others, she thought nothing of them as she yawned once more. She settled her head on her paws and opened her eyes drowzly to look at the male cub, seeing if he drank or not.
He sat not far from her, gnawing hungerily on a piece of grass. Nothing else to eat, he'd eat grass to stay alive. Pausing in his gnawing, he glanced up at her. Ears twitching as he listened intently.
Sighing and rolling her eyes, Tisha raised her head before starring right back at the cub, eying the way he ate the grass, "Hungry kid?" She asked softly, tilting her head as her bi-colored eyes just starred at him. Something about him seemed slightly familiar to her for a moment as she sat and observed him. Gasping suddenly, it all came to her, this was the cub that helped save her in the grave yard. Standing suddenly from that thought, she added, "Follow me than."
The least she could do to repay him was to find a hunt.
Scrambling to his feet, he headed after her. Moving as fast as he could in his present state to keep up with her. The promise of food urging him onward.
Bounding slowly ahead, it unnerved her slightly with the fact that this other cub had said not a word to her yet, and she just pushed it out of her mind as she looked over the grasses. The question was, where was the nearest prey for her to catch. With this larger form, it was easier for her to bound and keep up with most, but the hardest task was finding them. Glancing behind her, she probably thought it be best that the cub also learn how to hunt, for just looking at his form she could tell he didn't get out much.
"Hey, cub, keep up next to me alright?" She called out softly.
Kajji bounded after her, panting softly. He wasn't really paying too much attention to where they were heading. Food the only thing on his mind at the moment. Glancing about all he saw was grass, so it wasn't too much of a help.
Slowing once he reached her side, she just peered at him, "So what is your name?" She asked him softly, nose still up in the air as she tried to catch a scent, though she knew they were close she had yet to pin-point where the hunt was located.
Kajji remained silent for several mometns before answer her in a soft voice, raspy from it's lack of use. "Kajji" Ears twitching he peered about the area, trying to see what she was looking for.
Unsure if he was going to answer, she faltered when he did before nodding, "Well Kajji, Im Tisha, and I am going to say that this hunt is a payment for you saving my life a few weeks ago..." Not looking at him, she added a quesitoning, "And have you ever hunted before?" Before her eyes finally sought his.
"er once with a hyena actually" he looked down unsure if she shared most lions views about hyenas. His eyes stared at the ground blankly for a moment, his mind elsewhere.
"Well..." She started slowly, "...lions hunt differently than hyenas, that is a fact, so therefore you learned nothing for your advantage to living." Leaving it at that, she paused and looked to him to do so as well, her head lowering as she felt her shoulders pop in the movement to prowl, tail swinging back and forth. She smelt it now, the gazell, they were out there, and she figured both herself and the cub were hungry.
He frowned slightly at her words but didn't say anything back to them. Cocking his head slightly to the left he mimiced her motions, crouching down low.
"Follow my lead..." She told him softly, "Don't go for any one except the one I do...it is easier that way, and you are bound to get a better hit..." With that said she neared the edge of the grasses, looking silently through to where about a dozen gazelle grazed by themselves, searching for one to pick out, eyes landing on the closest (and smallest) one of them all. Perfect.
Kajji nodded and moved after her silently. Eyeing the gazelle hungerily, he twitched his tail. His mouth water in anticipation at the throught of food.
"Good..." She whispered, and with that she was off, her much larger leg muscles contracting in a facinating movement of life that would only bring death as she appeared out in the open, eyes only for the small gazelle that was in front. With no heed to the cub behind, she extended her claws and pounced in a single motion, landing on her target and swiftly sinking her teeth into the warm flesh without any focus on the surprised cry of the other prey around. Both her body and the other falling to the ground, she felt more gracefully as she kneeled and settled the neck in a easier position, waiting for the last breath to reach her ears. Hopefully that cub was watching.
He cocked his head to one side even further. His eyes widening as he watched her attack the gazelle. That was impossible, he wouldn't be able to do that even if he tried.
Pulling out her jaw a moment after the breath was taken, she licked her maw and just turned to gaze at him, a small smirk crossing her lips.
"Come on Kajji, you must learn how to hunt, though it will not come natural until you are much larger, but it is always a good skill to pratice...I needed to pratice a lot until a few weeks ago when I got the hang of it..." smiling, she moved to push the limp body a bit, "Now, eat up, you need it more than I do."
He bolted towards the food, all uneasiness forgotten at the sight of food. Crouching down, he tore hungerily into the meat. Swallowing chunks of it nearly whole, as fast as he possible could. It was amazing that he didn't choke.
"Slow down!" She cried softly with wide eyes, shaking her head at his hunger before adding, "You might get sick that way." And she left it at that, moving a little bit away from where he dug in to slowly savor the meat herself, not minding that her maw got a little soaked with the rich red. Sitting back after a few bites, she glanced to the other once more.
His muscles twitched, his uneasiness showing once more. He faught back the insticts to grab some of the food and run. Instead he slowed down barely. Still eating at a feverious pace.
Shaking her head once more, she stepped back and just sat there, watching the carcass for a long silence as she let him eat his fill, it easier to bare eating her own after since she was so used to being on her own. Taking a deep breath, she moved her gaze south, not sure why but still just looking in the distance at the rolling hills and ocassional wildlife that filled her gaze, ears perked for when the other would finish.
He finished soon after her, his body not used to eating a lot yet. Backing away from the kill he watched her silently.
"There you go..." She said softly, feeling her debt was repaid as she turned to get up, her intent to go back to the watering hole and to get some more to drink before exploring once more. Stretching her tired limbs, she noted a little red on her nails and quickly lapped it clean, figuring she could groom in a bit.
He watched her silently for a moment before allowing a ghost of a smile to appear on his face. "thanks" His eyes shining with gratitude for a moment beofr ethey once again looked dead and haunted. She had kept him alive for another day.
Stilling as the cub spoke, Tisha just blinked a moment before looking around beind her, and smiled herself, "No problem kid." She told him softly before padding into the grass, needing to clean her soft fur as she placed the cub in her memory for next time.
Kajji watched her silently for a split second before disappearing into the darkness. Heading back towards the elephant graveyard. His thoughts on sleep now that he was fed and content.
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:23 am
//Where did you come from? // [An RP with Getsurei] Kifo slowly made his way across the flat land, the breeze lightly blowing against his fur. So much pain followed him, it collected like pools of rain in the prints he left on the ground. As the sun set he noticed a small watering hole; no one was there. He sat at it's edge and glared at his reflection.
Padding quietly away from where she left the younger lion, Tisha finally emerged from the grasses to the watering hole just as the sun set, her fur standing out in the twilight like the clouds in the sky. Stilling, she took notice of a small cub that was at the watering hole as well, and blinked her bi-colored eyes slowly, sniffing the air and searching for some sort of threat. When she saw none but this creature, she just walked to the water's edge and lapped lightly at the cool liquid, absentmindedly thinking about how she always seemed to just go for water and not food.
Kifo suddenly jumped at the site of the older female. She seemed to have appeared from no where. Or it could be he wasn't paying very close attention. He slowly stood and walked over. Kifo sat beside her, but said nothing. He just looked at the water, and the water looked back.
Before she knew it, Tisha looked up and the cub was right next to her. Almost sputtering out the water, she swallowed it quickly and moved to step away. Shaking her head, she just peered down upon the small cub with a slight skeptical look.
"Erm..." She said soflty, blinking to him, "Hello?" Smiling a little akwardly, she just waited to see who this little cub was.
Kifo looked at her. His eyes were blood red, just as the sky was. "Umm, hi. I'm Kifo."
He was sort of uncomfortable around others. He always had been. Kifo swayed his tail back and forth. He heard a small cry from afar, a familiar voice. "I'm sorry, i have to go. See you again sometime." and he was gone, just like sun was.
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:23 am
// I only wanted a nap // [An RP with Edit] Wandering through the southlands once more, Tisha found herself in the tall grasses as they tickled at her paws. The sun was just starting to reach its peak, and already she was looking for a place to have an afternoon cat nap. She really was tired from all of her wandering, though she had no place to settle for her to relax and live a full life. Shaking thoes thoughts out of her mind before they could progress to a depressed state, she just narrowed her bi-colored eyes and peered father down, her tail swinging back and forth in a lazy motion as the winds played with her fur. Where was a good place to rest?
Muroki padded across the grasslands, senses alert. He was trying to find one of Rahima's old scrapes. His aunt used to be pretty good at finding safe, snug places to rest awhile. Maybe he could find it and stay here - the Crater was no place for him. All those cubs and restrictions on his freedom...a rogue's life was the life for the pale coated male.
It wasn't long before he realised someone else was about, and he stopped to hide in some of the longest grass he could find. He didn't recognise the scent.
Shifting lightly, Tisha was surprisingly upwind from the younger lion, and thus had no idea someone was around as she walked towards what looked to be a large rock sticking up from the grass. Smiling to herself once she got there, she scaled around it once, nodding as it was large enough for her to lie on. It was a lot better than lying in grass, that was for sure, and soon she hopped up and settled in, letting the sun warm her pelt as she sighed.
Curses! The signs were old, but he could tell that the abandoned den was under that rock. And whoever that lioness was, she was laying atop it. Huffing out his breath, he came out of hiding and walked openly towards the rock. If she turned out to be a threat he could dash into the small sleeping space or he could run. Or he could make a new friend, which was preferable.
"Hello?"
Ears perking as the only sign of his calling, Tisha waiting a moment with her head resting on her paws. Slowly, she opened her eyes, blinking and raising her head to stare at the younger male, ears still perked and eyes glancing over his form quickly, as if sizing him up. With a slow yawn, she just let her ears flick in the heat as a slow smile reached her features.
"Hello there." She spoke softly, voice showing nothing but a trace of emotion, eyes giving away nothing.
"I'm Mawali. What do they call you?" His voice had an odd accent, nothing to drastic but there all the same. Sitting down, he offered a smile, curling his tail around himself. No point in not trying to be friendly, no? But he used his father's name rather than his own anyway. It was becoming a habit, along with lying through his teeth.
Surprised for a moment, she had no idea why this lion seemed so suddenly friendly, but said nothing upon it as it was not a bad thing in her mind. Shifting lightly to push up with her forearms, she sat above with her back straight as it could be and her head tilted slightly, before she suddenly jumped and landed to be level with him.
"They call me Tisha." She told him softly, blinking as she took note of his markings in the new light and angle.
Taking a moment, he studied her. Older than him, but not an adult really. Pale as Laini and as the Mistweavers he'd heard about. Her eyes were odd. And those were the strangest marking's he'd seen since he met that girl with the zebra stripes. All in all; interesting.
He bowed his head quickly in greeting. Hopefully she wouldn't care about his den being under the rock she was resting on...unless... "Do you live here?"
Not minding about him observing her, or showing it if she did, Tisha just observed him back, taking a look at his sandy colored fur and marks with a slight perk of intrest. Shaking her stuper after he spoke, she couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
"Live here...? No...no I do not, I mearly was using this rock as a place for a short rest, though I had no idea people could live here..." Turning, she just glanced over it and said softly after a moment, "I see..." And left it at that, turning back to blink at him once more, not saying anything as silence seemed to keep up with them.
"I've been living around here since I was a cub, it's an easy life here abouts." Not strictly true by close enough. "I just wondered if you did too."
Getting to his paws, his tail flicked back into motion. It swished back and forth behind his like it had a mind of his own. He wasn't entirely sure what to do or say now; all his old meeting had been with adults or cubs. Being too respectful seemed rude and being too friendly would seem childish.
"So..."
Shaking her head, she than nodded slowly, "I am a wanderer, so I don't spend time in one place more than a few days...has always been like that." She spoke it soft this time, looking to the ground where the dust settled and running her paw across it before lifting her head and looking to him, "So...Mawali, you live around here, right? What do lions like yourself do around this place that keeps it so intresting?"
"Survive; every now and then the maned wolves come up with some scheme or other to kill any young lions they can find. Some of them are really nasty." Lies, lies, lies. Muroki had never even met a maned wolf let alone driven one off. But it sounded pretty good to him.
"You go from place to place? That must be interesting."
"A wolf comes and attacks cubs?" She asked softly, just looking at him with slight amusement though also some beliefe in thoes bi-colored eyes, "And yes, I am a wanderer, though I still have yet to scale all of the lands...it is more in search of my past...though many creatures I have met are quite intresting, many lands quite fruitful and some just reeking of death." Pausing, she tried to remember, "And yet I haven't found what I was searching for, so that is why I wander...so you could call it intresting...it certinly makes every day different."
"I hope you find what you're looking for someday."
His ears flicked back; he really meant that, it was the reason he was so restless himself. Living in the Crater with his adoptive aunt would be easy - but perhaps one day the real Mawali, his father, would come or send someone looking for his lost family. And if not...maybe he could find him first. Then he could go and join up with Kundu and Sab again.
"I plan to wander when I'm a bit older...find my past."
She nodding slightly in thanks for his caring responce, though said nothing as she just watched him as he spoke, finally speaking after a moment.
"It seems as if we are both in the same hunt here..." She responded with her eyes looking to his, "We both wish to find our pasts...and have yet to do so..." She looked to the sky a moment and continued, "Though wandering is hard, sometimes it helps than just sitting down and waiting for it to find you...but there is a down side...being lonely." She spoke this with such a soft, aching tone that even she was surprised by the emotion.
Orange-gold eyes closed. His fictional wolf-fighting self stayed by the rock and fought bravely while waiting. He'd waited by Kalwahiri's body and then he bones though...only to half starve and be told the truth. Waiting was not an option to him any more.
"Feeling alone is horrible, but in all the stories I've ever heard, Fate does not favour thouse who sit and hope it'll come along. Travelling is probably better...and you can make friends along the way too."
Letting out a sort of chuckle, she just nodded slowly, "You see already ready to leave and go on your adventure in search for your past." She smiled after that, amused slightly and seeing a bit of herself in him, though she was never as outgoing as he seemed to be, in fact, it took her a few weeks of being alone to get to the point where she talked to another like she was right now. Looking away at this thought, she just contemplated for a moment.
"Yeah, well...I have my personal deons to fight before I do." He remembered his earlier lie and grinned, showing his sharp teeth playfully. He was still a cub at heart and beating imaginary foes seemed brave and fun. "And that maned wolf."
"Ah..." Tisha said softly, nodding to herself and moving a few steps, "...sometimes it is best to wait until you are older and more expirenced anyways..." She told him softly with a grin right back, stating that indeed she had realized he was younger than her by just a bit. Padding past him, she decided her nap wasn't going to happen today, and decided it was better to try and get some water from the wateringhole. Looking back to him, she just waited a second, seeing if he would follow or would stay.
Nodding in agreement again, Muroki watched her start towards the watering hole. He half hoped she'd be back....she was good to talk to. Tiredly, he glanced towards the den. He really, really wanted a nap.
"Goodbye Tisha." With a smile he padded around behind the rock and set to digging out the semi-collapsed scrape.
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