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 Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 3:39 pm
The lioness seemed to possess the slightest glint of odd character in her eye; was something Matope said wrong? Nevertheless, he remained on his stomach, waiting for Sehani to eat. She seemed hesitant, but that only proved her manners to be present.
When the grey lioness finally did take her bite, she ate in such a way that showed how truly hungry she was. Matope sighed. Pride had probably prevented her from accepting the snack the first time.
Although his stomach bashed him for refusing to partake in devouring the food, he remained steadfast, turning his head away as if to prevent himself from seeing the delicious prey. I should not eat before returning the kill... he convinced himself. Yet... the smell of prey-kill wafted under and over his nose, testing his limits.
He glanced Sehani again, hoping not to make her terribly uncomfortable. Who, after all, likes to get watched when they eat? Under all that beauty, she was strong as well.
"I.. hope it tastes good, even with its.. severed leg there," he murmmured. "It would do me well if Jabali and Asali appreciated my hunting, er, 'skills'.." Perhaps Sehani would be a good judge at gauging the worthiness of his catch this morning.
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Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 3:58 pm
This zebra was probably the most delicious thing the female lion had ever tasted. Then again, it could have been because she was just that hungry and so anything was welcome at that moment. But after giving it a little thought, she came to the conclusion that it wasn't just her hunger that had drove her to think the meat fabulous.
Blood soon ran down along the dead carcass and stained her steelgray paws and sharp claws. That same liquid covered her pretty little face as she took her last bite. No matter, though, she still had her tongue and there were always wateringholes where she could wash herself off at... though, she had to admit, the thought of submerging her maw in the freezing waters didn't appeal to Hani too much.
As she finished chewing her final bite, she could feel the eyes of the male on her, and couldn't help but steal a glance in his direction. Normally others didn't watch her eat, and to be honest she didn't much like it. But, he had been kind enough to feed her so she supposed this one time she could make an exception...
When she had swallowed the last bite, Sehani began to lick the blood from her maw. It really bothered her to have the thick liquid covering her fangs and nose and such. Once she had gotten most of it off, though, she looked from the carcass to the brown male. She hadn't taken a lot from the kill, which had been her original plan. And she was decently full. Hm, she was satisfied enough.
"Actually, that meat was rather filling, I must say." A moment's pause let her lick some of the blood from her paws. "They should be proud to have a hunter like you getting food for them." And she wasn't just saying that.
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Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 4:17 pm
Mmm... she likes it. The dark-colored lion tossed his mane again. He was glad that Sehani appreciated the snack, which meant both that... perhaps... he had left a decent impression, but also that Jabali and Asali would most likely enjoy the meal as well.
He made his glances less frequently and less obvious, however, for he had a feeling he looked rather odd doing it, and it probably made Sehani slighty uncomfortable. Luckily, the period in which he had naught but lie down to do soon ended, as the grey lioness finished the last of her portion.
The dark lion leaned foward the once again grasp the zebra in his jaws. When Matope heard the compliment, however, he was caught nearly off-guard, and paused his actions to reply. "Thanks.." he stuttered. "I'm glad... you liked it." He felt himself getting hot again; he was surprised to of recieved such a comment, and felt, well, honored. The adolescent was beaming inside.
As he bent over for the second time, he came to notice something that he should of noticed before: Sehani's blind eye. Despite the fact that he was aware of it even on their first encounter, for some unknown reason, during this meeting, he had forgotten nearly all about it. Perhaps he was caught up in something else... Something about Sehani? Deciding that it would be ill-mannered of him to break the moment, he clamped the zebra in his mouth, even though the curiousity still pulled at him.
"Wilf you be 'round the Souflands for'a while?" he managed, through the meat, immediately embarrased about how ludicrous he must of sounded.
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Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 4:38 pm
Hani grew hot as the other did, slightly embarassed herself that she had allowed such soft behavior come from her. But then again it seemed slightly appreciated, if not fully appreciated, by Matope. Nonetheless she straightened herself out and a proud gleam came from her eyes. Moments later, though, she faultered.
He was looking at her blind eye, she could tell. Her tail flicked curiously when she realized this, and immediately her eyes were averted from his. Her gray head turned to the right, leaving it so her left eye was all that was visible to him.
It bothered her somewhat to have people looking at her gray, unseeing eye. Sometimes it gave them a reason to pick on her and think themselves better, which always got her blood running hot and got her aggressive side to come out more.
"Yeah.. sure," she stammered out to his accepting the compliment, her head still turned away. She was uncomfortable, and normally she grew very irritable when she was uncomforable. But with a full stomach she felt quite helpless and unable to do much if he dared to make fun.
He's too noble for that...
Then, when he talked out and sounded like quite the bumbling idiot, an ear flicked in Matope's direction then the whole of the female's head turned to look at him. Even though he had sounded strange, she had to admit it was slightly.. attractive? What was she thinking?! Shaking her head then running a paw over her face as if there was some fly about, she grinned slightly.
"I think I will.." Perhaps he was thinking of visiting her sometime? How delightful... WAIT. What the hell?
"These lands are probably more suitable for me than any others I've seen yet..."
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Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 9:29 pm
Apparently noticing that Matope had been looking at her blinded eye, Sehani turned her head, blocking it from sight. The dark-colored adolescent figured that it was just as well; he wasn't sure whether he could prevent himself from glancing towards the eye that could possibly(?) hold history in it, or was perhaps the cause of some?
Matope felt as if he discovered a pet peeve of Sehani's, as he noticed her irritation when it came to eyes falling upon her "disabled" one. The lion took care to remember this. Although he was still curious, he wouldn't want to insult this lioness, who he seemed to be holding higher regard for.
He soon heard her speak of other lands, however, and recalled a wonder from his younger days and travels. Matope asked a question very similar to that which he had once asked Asali'jua. Keeping his tone as calm and casual as possible, he tried to tack one of his many questions off his list of curiosities. "Do you.. know about other lands?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 10:00 pm
Gray tail lashed out behind her curiously then gently settled over her paws as she slowly sat down. The other one seemed to be 'casually' probing into her life. If it wasn't for the warm food settling comfortably in her belly, she might have refused to tell him anything. But, as the saying goes, a way to an animal's heart is through its stomach. Well, it was partly true for Hani.
The whole 'eye incident' forgotten, she turned towards a new subject, one Matope himself had brought up.
"Yeah, actually... I traveled a lot before I got here. I was with a close friend of mine, Gana, but we got separated somewhere along the way." Suddenly a sad look came over her face.
Weaknesses.. they shouldn't be revealed, but rather kept secret.
Immediately she straightened up, her head held high. "All of the lands I've passed through haven't been as... different... as these, and that's why I stayed." She was attracted to things that were different? What the...?
"But I didn't just pass through randomly and leave them alone.. I was curious."
Like you, the gray lioness added silently. "There have been many prides along the way, some of them just plain weird and superstitious and others just too lazy to even care that I was on their lands." She scoffed there, obviously thinking lowly of the latter type of lions. They'd end up dead one day, she was sure.
A slight pause... then Sehani continued. "The lands were always dry, the ones that I passed through. For some reason all of them were in a drought. It must have been the two-legs using up all of the water resources for their strange creatures that they help sprout from the ground." Strange things indeed...
"What about you?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 11:28 pm
"Intresting.." Matope was listening closely and attentively, curious as to what other lands were like. It was always a subject that intrigued him, mostly because he and his brother hadn't travelled to many places, besides... well, when they were younger, of course. He was torn between the subject: although his curiousity often wondered about far-away places, he also valued the Southlands somewhat like his birthtown.
The dark-colored adolescent's eyes twinkled like that of a young cub's as Hani spoke, almost like a storyteller, about the many places she had travelled before. He easily became engrossed in the subject. But it soon came time for him to speak.
"Oh, well, I'm travelling with my brother, Jabali, and our, say, caretaker, named Asali'jua. We met her shortly after, well..." he paused, trying to find the best words to use, which were neutral on the subject, but still retaining truths. "...banished from our birth pride. I cannot remember much from my younger cub days, only that Jabali was occasionally teased about his smaller size, and also that he had once whacked into a sharp, protruding tree branch, leaving quite a nasty scar-" Matope chuckled at the nearly lost memory, "-Well, as we grew older, the leader kicked us out for some reason. My brother and I had the strong reason that he feared us and how we had the chance to gain strength and power. There was even some talk around the pride, that that was the reason. We left, together, and although I cannot remember the exact location our pride was situated in when we left, I do recall that we had an impressive amount of travelling done, before we met Asali. So, basically, I've been wherever my brother's been, which is mostly just the Southlands with Asali. Because the important parts of our former pride all pertained to our banishing, it being the easiest event to remember, I cannot help but say that... unfortunately, I think I've lost some knowledge on where we were located." He finished with a wistful sigh.
And with that, Matope had revealed nearly his entire history. Did even Asali'jua know all of this? Ah, well.. The lion doubted that Sehani would try to use the words against him, as he was very much growing to trust her, or perhaps it was just the intriguing mood of the conversation the two were having. Nevertheless, the past slipped without Matope being terribly conscience that he was doing it.
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Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2005 10:10 am
Once the gray lioness' story had been told, the storyteller had become the audience as Matope revealed what seemed to be his life story. Taking this extra time whilst he talked, she went ahead and began cleaning the blood from her paws. Yet she didn't just stop listening to him because she was doing something else, no. In fact, her ears were perked forward to their maximum so that she could still hear every word he was saying.
By the end of the tale, she was nearly finished with her grooming. At first she was too caught up in imagining what this scene would look like--Matope and his brother being banished--to notice that he was finished. But a second later she recovered herself and caught up with the real world.
Her great, gray head lifted as her eyes traveled up and sought out his.
"Sounds a bit like my pride," she commented, almost too quietly to hear. "Except... my friend and I weren't banished. We left on our own. See, the pride members were really too in love with themselves and their 'magnificent' history and bloodline to care much about others' feelings. My friend Gana... well, he was teased and bullied because of his odd and extravagent coat." She paused for a moment, looking down at the ground in thought. A second later she was looking back at the brown male and telling her tale again.
"Of course, I tried to defend him, but..." Memories. They flashed through her brain faster than lightning. "One day I got in a fight." Suddenly her sightless eye began to sting. Sehani winced, but continued. "It was two to one, me being the one. They were ruthless, really, yelling and sending out insults, telling me that my attempts to protect Gana were futile... I killed one of them in my anger, but the other was able to... eh..." She turned her head away, making it so he could see her blind eye. If he looked close enough he would see a slight claw mark going through the unseeing eye.
"For the next few days after the fight, Gana and I cleaned my wounds. Most of them healed..." Most. She was thinking of her eye as the one not included in this 'most' category. "Everyone avoided us; we were outcasts. Finally Gana couldn't take it any longer, so he left, and I followed."
A long pause followed that last sentence. "We traveled everywhere it seemed. Then, when we got separated, I came here and decided to stay. I don't know why, but I have a feeling that I'll find him here... someday."
Just like the male, Hani's life story had been spilled out without her knowing.
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Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2005 11:01 am
Once again, the dark lion's ears were perked toward the magnificent storyteller and her new tale. She has such an interesting tale... During their first encounter, Matope had tried to connect he and his brother's banishing with Sehani's blinded eye, considering that both would bring much pain. However, now he knew of an even closer event.
"I never knew... that there was anyone else, that suffered an unnatrual release from their pride, like we did." By 'we,' the lion was refering to he and his brother, but as the history poured in, now there was another two he could consider: Sehani and her mysterious friend Gana.
Recalling the spotted lioness' tale, Matope made comment, "Extravagent coat? Why, I don't see why someone would get teased for that. I actually... like unique markings and... colors, of the.. such." He thought back on Asali'jua. "It makes a lion, or lioness, look, well, mystical." The adolescent was much less of a natrual, let alone eloquent talker, but his opinion still spoke truth.
And then he thought about her eye. So.. that's what happened. It sounded dreadful, all the excruciating... pain. And she had to feel it as well. Matope couldn't even imagine if he would be able to take it all.
Matope's eyes reflected the amazement snuggled in his mind. Sehani had went through so much more than he! No longer would he moan at he and his brother's banishment, or how they were left on their own. Now, he would hold Hani's bravery and strength, not to mention courage, as the lioness whom went through the most trouble. She stood up for her friend... that was... awe-inspiring... Although they both had shared the pain of such pasts, the dark-colored lion couldn't help but feel somewhat ashamed at how he used to think he deserved pity for their history, considering how much worse Hani's was. Through this one simple encounter, the lioness standing opposite the lion had taught him so much, not only that he was not alone, but also that he had so many things to learn. And to think, by the looks of it, Sehani seemed slightly younger than Matope.
He bowed his head, and murmured, "I hope... you find Gana soon."
(( edit: -added one part- :< ))
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Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2005 11:26 am
Sehani stayed silent for much longer than a few moments after her tale. Just thinking about it from time to time made the pain of so long ago come back and bite her in the arse. But telling it... oh, the pain was much worse. It reminded her of just how hard a lion's life could be without a pride, and sometimes with a pride.
Then, when Matope talked about not understanding why someone would get teased because of their odd coats, she instantly looked back up towards him. She spoke out in a soft yet harsh voice. "You don't know our pride. If they didn't like you they'd find the most stupid reasons to ridicule and torture you.."
She looked away afterwards, her blind eye beginning to sting again.
"Gana would be... delighted... to learn of someone who'd think his odd coat was mystical." A small beginning of a smile began creeping along the linoess' maw.
And indeed, it seemed that Hani's story beat the male's by at least a little bit. Yet... it seemed that his presence made it somewhat better. Perhaps it was because he shared a smiliar history, or perhaps... something else?
"Yeah... me too," she whispered back, her eyes finding his again.
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Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2005 11:51 am
As he watched Sehani, Matope could tell the pain she was feeling, even just bringing back the tale. Sometimes memories were indeed hurting. But thinking about it, with no past, what was a lion? Hard events helped one live through, to see that, even if times bring you down, that only means you've got so much left to experience, rather than seeing it all right in your few days of childhood.
As the adolescent looked into the grey lioness' eyes, he could feel her distress. Sehani must be so strong, to be able to hold that story in, and still never give up in trying to find that friend she had stood up for. In a sudden wave of empathy, Matope had wished so deeply that he could heal her wounds, lighten the mood of this beautiful lioness that had experienced so much more than he. It was not right for me to feel unlucky because of our bashiment... we were never even hurt! They had only been sent away because of fear of them taking over. It wasn't a fight, nor a battle. It was an emotion, but there was not nearly as much pain, physical or emotional, felt, as Sehani and Gana must have.
Matope looked down again, staring at the grass-covered ground. He pawed at a sprout in the ground, lost in a world of realization. "I'm really... sorry. That that all happened. I used to think, you know, that the feeling of exclusion that Jabali and I had was horrible. We were so confused. But we were only young cubs in juevinille bodies. We didn't know how to fully feel the true anguish if there wasn't any excruciating physical pain with it. At least, I didn't. And I've sought for pity, almost. But now, I've realized, that there are others like me." Matope didn't want to make Sehani feel like a worthless little lioness that needed care from others, and the empathy and pity along with it. He knew she was already plently strong enough, both on the inside and the outside. So instead, he merely looked up at her, with glinting eyes, trying to send a message that, "I hope all will be alright soon," rather than, "I give my pity and empathy." Oh, how I've changed...
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Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2005 12:08 pm
Indeed the female was strong, and she was definitely proud of that. What she wasn't proud of, though, was her horrible history. Taking another's life... even if it was in defense... that still gave her a great burden. As the wise old lioness in their former pride used to say:
"You can take a life, but that doesn't mean you will be able to carry the responsibility of that life."
That one saying had kept peace in the pride for many, many decades... so she had heard. Yet, it seemed Hani was a bad omen of some sort, being as she broke that record and killed someone. Now, now she was feeling the true meaning of that old saying.
Then, when Matope went on about how he used to think being banished was something so horrible that it needed everyone's pity, the gray lioness tilted her head slightly. He had sought for pity because he was banished? How selfish! She herself had never even wanted pity, thinking that if someone gave it to her, the other might think it gave them a right to some thing or another. But when he said that he realized his pain wasn't as much as hers, her eyes glittered.
Even though she had only met this older male twice, she could already tell that he was changing into something stronger and more respectable.
"There is a time in every young male's life where he must take on the world alone and realize things for himself."
That, too, she now saw the real meaning of. And when she looked into his eyes, she saw not pity, but understanding. A sort of understanding that no one else had ever had or tried to have for her. It was a new thing for Sehani and it made her blush under her fur and look away for a moment.
"When I find Gana," she said, using purposely the word 'when',"I'll have to have him meet you." Orbs sparkled once more, showing the true meaning behind those words.
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Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2005 5:34 pm
Matope smiled as he heard Hani's last comment. "I would love to meet him."
He looked skywards, tilting his massive head up. The dark lion's eyes glowed with the intensity of newfound knowledge, as he thought back on his occurences and history. I've been living a very... self-centered life. He could not call it anything less.
As Matope continued his evaluations, his mind flickered upon Sehani. The first time they met, they were fierce to one another, and thought very lowly of each other, the odd, strange lions who treated the other so harshly. But now, upon conversering with her, the young lion had matured, even if by ever so slightly. He was forced to think about his life, both the good and bad times. Have I been too.. selfish? Matope held his eyes shut, mind whirring.
A leopard cannot change its spots, he thought, But they can certainly change their future. "Matope" wouldn't leave. There would still be that little confident, cocky, agressive, even arrogant side within him. But maybe, just maybe, his formerly latent nobility would overpower the other traits, sending them into a deep, locked slumber, where they wouldn't reawaken for a very long time. Or, at least, not until it snowed along the equator, which would probably take a long while! But perhaps, perhaps he would have more control over these characteristics of his...
.... Naaaah... A leopard can't change its spots, afterall. Even though, Matope was getting pretty close. But...! No longer will I seek empathy over something that expired so long ago. He held his dark head high, lifting his thick, orange mane along with it, and thought aloud in the slightest whisper, barely audible, "No longer will I be that inmature little juevinille I used to be. No longer...." Good enough for one day.
The lion nodded his silent thanks to Sehani, knowing that he was in much debt to her. No other lion or lioness would probably of been able to change his life like so. Soon, however, his realizations were cut short when he dropped his head and accidentadly let his orbs meet the carcass.
"...Oh..." His companions were probably waiting for him. Someone else probably had some kill as well, but there was no sense in letting the zebra's juicy meat rot. And yet, Matope didn't want to leave. "I think.. I ought.. ought to... Uh..." He couldn't find the words to depart himself, so he settled with, "... thanks."
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Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2005 7:12 pm
The barely audible words of the other were almost missed by the more-acute-than-other's-ears of the female, yet she was paying enough attention to see his lips move and listen. Those words clicked something inside of her brain. They say females mature faster than males, and not long ago Hani had made that very same statement, although it was slightly different because she was still a juvenile back then.
And it clicked something else too... something more... intimate, if you could call it that. Matope was mature, a bold, confident, and caring lion in a smaller body that didn't much suit his personality. Yet from how large he was already, she could tell he was to be growing soon into that amazing lion with a sparkling orange mane. A lion her heart was telling her she wouldn't find even if she looked for a million years.
But when the male went to depart, the gray lioness found herself with a frown on her face, ears drooped slightly. From the look on his face it seemed that he didn't want to go either. Yet he had other lions he needed to get back to. Perhaps, though, they could see each other again?
"Yeah.." she replied quietly to his thanking her. Really, she should've been the one thanking him, but before she had the time to put the words together, something else was randomly blurted out:
"I'll get to see you again... right?" Golden, seeing eye sparkled with a new emotion, one that was tearing her apart on the inside. What was this? What was happening and why was she being so kind and gentle to Matope, a male she had only met twice?
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Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2005 7:50 pm
Matope was truly inspired by Sehani. There was just something about her that spoke to his heart, and that he could understand. He would always be in debt for this encounter, and how it had changed him, or started the change, at the very least.
He didn't really want to leave. There was so much he could gain from being with Sehani. But he could not leave his other travelling companions for too long.
Head turned downwards, the dark-colored lion was slightly surprised at the question, and yet, relieved at the same time. Was I about to ask her the same thing? He shook the thought away as his brow furrowed. Would Hani want to keep looking for her lost friend, or would... she...
"Join us?!" he blurted out. Eeep! A flushed color of red immediately took refuge on Matope's face. "Uh, I mean... You could always..." He considered finishing the question. Would Hani agree? "...Come meet my brother Jabali, and... Asali'jua...?" A little unsure of the question, he added, "Like, er, now?"
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