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 Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 3:57 pm
Betrayal.
Was that it? It was much more than betrayal as he had believed that the one who had been betrayed was him - strung along by the spirits and blinded by the entangling lies and darkness that seemed to twist the Mizimu. He had loved the Mizimu'Tungika once, he had served with full heart to abide to what the spirits required and what was needed for the pride as a whole to obtain guidance from the unseen and yet it seemed that the slippery spirits had all but returned the favor; an eye for an eye. The spider webbed male had not only rebelled against his former pride but he had gone against the spirits, disgracing them as his heart, what he felt was right, urged him to help build an elusive trap which could, perhaps, help restore the balance which was lost within the Mizimu. If only it was that simple, the old male grimaced to himself. The longer he stood there the more it seemed that perhaps he had been betrayed by not the spirits but by himself - the spider had caught itself within its own web and had fallen victim to its own demise. A meager chuckle weakly emitted from his chest. As his very name meant 'trap' it would seem that Bakunja himself had been the one who had fallen; whether this was punishment from the spirits themselves he knew not but as for the verdict he was still awaiting to hear what fate would befall him.
Silently, his eyes locked onto the Warleader's as he spoke. There was something about his voice and the frown that etched itself upon his maw that was somewhat- well, unsettling. Shouldn't one feel anger or loathing when they were facing an individual whom they had sought to turn against? And yet there was an absence in such a thing inside of Bakunja. There was a clear conscience and accountability for what he had done, what treason he had committed. And dare he say that he felt remorse? There was a surreal, unexpected feeling that swelled inside of his chest - it gripped at his heart fiercely and caused his form to tense, jowls grinding together as the old male winced. Pain. He felt pain but from what? Bakunja's brows knitted together as he pursed his lips.
This feeling, this pain, what was it?
Pushing back the cluttered thoughts that sought to sort themselves out from the shambles of his mind, the spider webbed male attentively listened as Sakata passed the decree of both he and Mwako'damu's fates were to be. He flicked an ear, maw hanging ever so slightly ajar as he stared somewhat in disbelief. A slave? He had been expecting to be greeted by death, to leave this world for yet another adventure but it seemed that the spirits had other plans. For the moment his mind only continued to drown with a series of questions; Why were they sparing him, why was he getting a second chance to earn his place amongst those of whom he had betrayed? It was clear that his story, this chapter of his journey, was all but ending. It was just beginning.
'What do you want of me?' He asked inside himself, glancing up to the skies if searching for an answer, a sign even, to the mystery that laid at his paws. 'Why do I deserve to be given a second chance. I turned my back on you, I disgraced you! And yet here I am - bound to the lands I abandoned and given a chance to prove my worth, my honor and my loyalty. To serve once again.' No wind rustled, no breeze kissed his face. The old males chest tightened as he exhaled, withdrawing his gaze from the sky.
"Come what may," he exhaled, his breath emitting from out of him with defeat.
As if the spirits themselves had initiated for what was to come next Bakunja suddenly found himself thrust to the ground as several warriors restrained his movement. Lucky for them their task was easy as the old male didn't struggle nor put up a fight - if this is what the spirits required after they had spared his life then so be it. Even still his mind was finding it somewhat surreal to have heard from Sakata's lips that he was to be given a second chance. It was foreign to Bakunja himself but maybe, just maybe, there was a true purpose behind the motion. Something of which these unseen invalids felt he was best suited for or required him to do if he sought to make amends to his foolish ways and earn his place amongst the Mizimu once again. Is that what he wanted? Bakunja didn't know. He felt lost, conflicted, and pained. His face strained while the wings of his nostrils flared as a sudden searing pain tears through his back leg. No murmur escaped from his lips as the Haruspex performed the deed which placed an undisclosed mark upon his face and nor did he cry out. Instead the old male simply tightened his chest more fiercely as the pain swept through his left hind leg and kept his appearance composed although there seemed to be a twinge to his countenance.
Silently he was questioning everything, attempting to make sense of the Dhati and what it truly had brought to the Mizimu. If anything the only thing it had brought was shame, shame to himself and shameful deaths. Where there once contended a conflict between Dhati and Mizimu mentality it was that, slowly, the mind frame whose previous foundation he had dismantled was rebuilding itself. The revival of the old ways were beginning to resurface.
Perhaps this was it- a great awakening which was only to propel him back into his beliefs. Was this a spiritual awakening, a renewal?
Time would only tell.
With the warriors grasp withdrawn and the deed of the Haruspex complete, the spider webbed male staggered to his feet, albeit slowly, as he maneuvered himself as best he could with a crippled back paw and a severely damaged fore paw. Bakunja's gait was awkward, unstable as he all but dragged himself to take his place among the rest of the Dhati. Pain registered within his body, clawing restlessly and with agony at the back of his mind yet he ignored it. He deserved this punishment, after all.
The final advice which was given to him by the Warleader was something that the spider webbed male would not waste nor take for granite and perhaps this time he would be worthy once again to find his place amongst the Mizimu. Leveling his eyes up with Sakata once more, Bakunja gave a firm nod of his head. It was a simple demonstration of appreciation and comprehension that this was a gift, something that wasn't to be trifled with. Swayed by the lack of faith and the promise of change that could be brought, it was Bakunja who had ensnared himself within the Dhati; searching for something to make sense of the loss, of his grief and his misunderstandings of the spirits.
Through this second chance, an unexpected twist for the old male, perhaps he could finally come to terms with the spirits and serve them faithfully once again. Death was only the beginning to a new life but this- this was a spiritual revival. Life itself still had its mysteries and its reasons and it seemed that Bakunja still had webs to weave on behalf of the Mizimu and the spirits.
This chapter hadn't ended - it had only just begun.
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:59 am
Takatifu watched the first couple of lions take on their punishment, and though she tried not to advert her eyes, she could not help herself. Her head turned and her eyes closed briefly, only to reopen and focus back upon the now crippled lions.
It was true that sacrifices were much more gruesome than this display of violence, but there was a big difference between marching onto the altar to join the spirits... and this. This was meant to be torture; a punishment, while a sacrifice was meant to be a reward. The Pure knew the difference between them, and despite everything, she felt almost sorry for the lions. Not due to the fact they must endure their punishment, but because they had chosen to abandon the spirits and the ways of the pride. She pitied them for having left. She pitied them for having lost their way and she hoped that they may find their way out of the darkness now that they'd been given a second chance.
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:05 am
Magadi'Afya had little attention to spare for the proceedings of the Mizi's trial. His body hurt, but more, his head hurt from thoughts he could not control or understand. A torrent of memories battered him and with little ability to slow them, he couldn't pick them apart and try to understand what anything meant. So, he simply sat there, battered and bloody, with a helpless look on his face.
His eyes, once bright with determination and purpose, were glued to the bright form not so far from him. He knew Ufahami, he could see memories of them together if time and place were hard to understand amongst the rabble of it all. She was his mate, his beloved, and it was the last sane thing he had left to cling to in all of this. The torture and maiming didn't matter, only the fact that Ufahami was obviously in labor with his cubs was important to him. What he didn't understand was why no one was helping her or why no one would let him near her. If he tried to rise he was simply shoved back down by the guards he had no idea as to why he needed.
He had memories of fighting battles alongside these Mizi, of being in this war just as they had. What had he done so wrong that they were punishing him for? Maybe they'd all just finally gone crazy - he didn't think that idea was too far fetched.
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:11 am
He meets Bakunja's gaze with an impassive stare, unwavering; he does not return the nod. Perhaps in time. And after the two crippled lions have departed, Sakata turns his attention to the other two lions. "Tayari. You fought against us, although you did not know us. Now you will have the chance to work for us, and perhaps to earn your freedom." It seems strange to the Warleader that an outsider would have fought for a cause they were not a part of, but perhaps Tayari simply likes to fight. Well, if he earns his freedom among the Mizimu'Tungika then they can put that desire to good use! While Sakata speaks, the Haruspex steps forward - but not to maim, this time. Her paw lifts to mark both the dark lion and the red lioness as Slaves, and then she steps back.
"Aparajita. You fought against us and played a role in the starvation of our children. For this, you must be punished before we will offer you the chance to earn your freedom. You will work with Senka and Kiua, to help feed those you starved. And they will see to it that you are always the last to eat. Hunger will be your one true companion until such a time as these lands recover from the insult you served them. Then, and only then, can you earn the right to stand among us as an equal."
"To live as a Slave is to be a servant to the pride, and to the spirits. Your life is no longer your own - it belongs to the Mizimu'Tungika, and it is ours to do with as we wish. Your duty as a Slave is simple: serve. Serve the pride, serve the spirits, and perhaps one day you will earn your freedom. Some will hunt, some will care for our youth, some will tend to the needs of the Sacrifices. Others... will serve as a reminder." His gaze drifts to Magadi'Afya, and then back to the rest of the Dhati. "It is in a Slave's best interests to be as useful as possible. Punishment for any wrong-doing is simple. If any part of you offends the Mizimu'Tungika, it will be removed. If you attempt to escape once, we will take one eye and one leg will be crippled. On the second attempt, we will claim the other eye. A third attempt to escape has never been made, but if that were to happen..." Sakata grins, his bright teeth flashing against his dark fur.
"We'll come up with something appropriate."
He watches the new Slaves return to the Dhati, and then shifts his gaze to his next victims. "Malaika. Kizuka'ruya. Vunjika. Priyasha. Step forward."
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:48 am
-She herself could not watch it. Deserved as it might be to 'traitors', she too was just as at fault, even without spilling the blood that the other rebels might have. Her eyes focused on the spider webbed male, the one whose young wriggled within her body as her own stomach turned in fear and anticipation.
They'd lived. All four of them. It'd been enough to draw her dual colored eyes opened once again, looking towards the warleader in something akin to disbelief.
Perhaps she'd been blind to it because of all that had happened lately. There was still kindness.. forgiveness even. She remembered it as a child, as a young lioness. Perhaps she'd missed the signs just as she missed the voices of the spirits that once 'spoke' to her.
Her expression drew shallow as the warleader's voice rose again, herself... and her childhood friend. She could not be so hopeful or naive to assume they'd all be given such a generous fate. Perhaps the kindness towards those before.. was set as a buffer to what was about to become of them.
One paw lifted, shivering, and then another, the old lioness drawing herself forward towards her fate. When she stopped she sat, letting her forelegs act as a shield for the bulge of her belly, as if that would stop them.... Though her eyes drew shut her ears lifted softly. Now was the time.. the time to pay for her misdeeds of the past, whether it be the murder of her own daughter or the rebellion against the pride she called home, she could not say.-
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:11 pm
It was time.
For a brief moment, Kizuka found that she couldn't move. After watching two of her fellow captives crippled, after watching all four of them marked with a slave's cowardly green, the fear of her own impending punishment rooted her paws to the ground. Glancing at Malaika, her mouth twisted at her cousin's apathetic gaze and envy washed over her. It would be wonderful not to care right now... Then she remembered Karma, and his warning not to dishonor herself--this time, the fear frees her to step forward.
Come what would, she would not disobey the spirits.
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:27 pm
Vunjika had narrowed her eyes as the four had been marked slaves right in front of their very eyes. Would killing them here and now been better end for them? She did not wish to become a slave, become ordered around by the Mizimu. She would rather die, but then again some of them were young. Younger than she was. It was their opinion on their fate, and not hers.
Her name was called and she too, stepped forward to face her fate, standing besides Priyasha.
Behind them, Shinda grimaced, but did not budge from her position.
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:13 am
A snarl suppressed as Malaika drew forwards along with the other three called - her adherence was not out of obligation, but her desire to finally face the mighty Sakata, daring him to bestow a proper punishment in her mind. Anything less than what she deserved wouldn't have been entertaining at all. The only thing that may have caused the slightest bit of hesitation was acknowledging that she was called alongside her cousin - just a mere puppet in the game - and a couple of others she vaguely recollected being amongst the Dhati. Even displaying such treachery on two sides of a war did not elicit much recognition or glorification; she could not claim her rightful eminence either way despite efforts to grasp that grandeur that should have been her birthright. Malaika would have smirked at herself, but the weariness and lethargy that had settled within her body since that memorable day prevented it.
An eye flickered towards the easily recognizable black and brown form who had once called her a great friend and comrade. He had been so collected, assertive, and someone she considered a threat at times had she incited his wrath. She almost felt pity watching the still, pacified Dhati king practically pinned to the ground by Mizimu guards. Malaika only regretted that she erred on finishing his queen completely; had she done so, Magadi may have had that much more anger to fuel his capability in the field. Such power was wasted in feeble minds that so easily collapsed in pressure.
There was even a little sympathy to be had for Kizuka as Malaika observed her cousin's movement. She refrained from acknowledgment aside from the peripheral view she had of Kizuka; what was to come wasn't destined to be that way in her mind, but sometimes one just had to face the cruel twists of fate thrown at them alone.
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 4:56 am
These four are different. Their crimes were not committed on the battlefield, but this does not excuse them from their wrong-doing. Still, Sakata can't help but be saddened at the thought of visiting punishment upon a group of lionesses... until his gaze rests upon the two who stole his child away. A low growl rumbles in his chest. Will he be needlessly harsh to the lot of them, as a result of his hatred for the two treacherous cousins?
"Vunjika," his gaze shifts suddenly to the older lioness and he bites her name off with a snarl, eyes narrowed. "You spread your words like venom before you left, planting seeds of treachery among the pride you served for so long. What's worse, you held your own personal feelings ahead of the good of the pride. You will be given the chance to mend the wrongs you have committed, but know this: if you abuse this opportunity, I will rip your tongue out myself and force you to eat it."
The Warleader huffs, anger still flashing in his eyes, and levels his gaze upon the pregnant ex-Haruspex. "Priyasha. That which you carry within you has more value to the pride than you do. Your punishment will wait until after the cubs you bear are born, out of respect for the blessing the spirits have granted you." A blessing that she clearly does not deserve, in his opinion. "Your children will be given over to a nursing Minder, to be raised as a part of the Mizumu'Tungika. You will have no part in their upbringing. You will not be permitted to see them unless escorted by an Overseer. And when they are old enough to understand they will have to live with the shame of having a Slave as a mother - unless you have earned your freedom in the meantime. I suggest you start thinking of ways to prove your loyalty now."
"Kizuka`ruya. You claim that your actions were orchestrated by Malaika, but have no proof aside from your own hollow words. Your attempt to shift the blame is pointless. Even if she was responsible, you are an adult and you should have known that your actions would be punished." Still, the fact that he turns his attention to the mute lioness next indicates that he does believe there is a link.
"Malaika." Sakata's gaze rests upon her, then he turns to look at the former rulers of the Dhati. "You have already been punished by the Dhati for your betrayal, and now you stand unable to speak in your own defence. But the crimes you committed against the Mizimu'Tungika remain unpunished." Perhaps that is his final insult, the fact that he has simply lumped her in with a few other lionesses instead of singling her out alone for a far greater punishment. Or perhaps he really doesn't think she is important enough to deserve such treatment. Unfortunately, Malaika will never be able to ask him for the truth.
Sakata gestures to the Warriors that escorted them, and they move to pin the lionesses to the ground - all but Priyasha. The Haruspex steps forward to mark her flank, and then shoos the pregnant lioness away before she turns her attention to Vunjika. One swipe of her claws cripples the old lioness' left hind leg, and after she is marked the Warriors let her limp away. And then she turns to the cousins, and waits for the Warleader to pass judgment before acting.
"The two of you will make excellent playthings for the cubs. After... some preparation."
"Oh, and don't forget the eye," Sakata reminds the Haruspex, "Kizuka'ruya deserves at least the same treatment she gave my daughter. It's only fair." His expression is grim whle he watches, eyes narrowing a bit as the Haruspex removes the first claw. And then the Warleader pulls his attention from the morbid scene, looking back over the Dhati.
"Skugga. Samehe. Petra." He begins, then turns to look at the assembled Mizimu lions. His voice lowers ominously. "Yuusa. Una. Shinda. Step forward."
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 5:36 am
And the wrongs you have committed? Was what Vunjika dearly wanted to retort with, but she bit down her tongue, hah, how ironic. The Warleader was already getting his way. Her eyes flickered over to Priyasha, feeling a touch of pity for her friend to have been caught up in all this while pregnant. Even now, Priyasha's cubs would not have had a good ending.
Behind them, Shinda's face contorted ever so slightly when the Harsupex crippled her ex-Minder. She kept her conflicting emotions within her, not letting anyone see them surface on her face. The only comforting thought she could think of was that at least Vunjika was alive and she could see her? But from a Minder, to a Slave of the Mizimu. A breath was exhaled as her name was called out, and she stepped forward, and out of the corner of the eye, she looked at the two sisters that she had helped. At least Petra had not betrayed her end of their proposition. But what would become of the both of them, then?
What would become of her?
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 5:55 am
-Though her closed eyes shielded her from the anger and distaste turned her way, she could still feel it. The tension thick in the air, the scents of pheremones and blood and sweat. The tone was heavy on his tongue.
She'd always been so soft... What a disgrace she was now to her fellow rebels.. the ones who had been so brave in their punishments.. as tears trailed down her cheek, a sharp sob escaping her throat as she opened her mouth.
It really was the ultimate punishment to her. After having lost them all... to lose her children again. She was far too old for another litter. And now.. her gifts.. they were technically to be glorified prisoners of war.
Never would she feel the warmth of their little bodies cuddling close. Never would she have to try and stop the silly bickerings of siblings making far too much a deal out of nothing. No more wide baby yawns and big eyed stares.
It was too cruel. Dreadfully logical. But cruel.
She was marked... and then she was walking, numbly back to her group. Too consumed to even notice the pain being inflicted to the fellow lioness'. She should have just run when she had the chance.
Her only hope... deluded as it may have been... was that perhaps her young would be safer in the paws of another. Maybe it always had been her fault.. Maybe they all had died because of her. Karma perhaps.
Priyasha wanted to jump off the nearest cliff. Maybe she would... once her babies were safely out of her womb....-
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:17 am
Kizuka barely had time to flinch before the warriors pinned her to the ground. Braced for the expected crippling blow, her eyes widened in shock and pain as claws sank into her paw. The first was agonizing. By the tenth her jaws ached from gritting her teeth to keep from crying out. As the Haruspex removed the twentieth with surgical precision her resolve to cling to remaining honor hung by a thread. That thread snapped as a paw flashed out to remove the sight of her left eye, but there was no more to be done.
Walking was more torture than anything that had come before it. As she hobbled back to where she had been standing, the alert could hear her pained whimpers.
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:01 am
The events unfolding have seemed to move with an almost dizzying slowness. Violence does not seem to frighten her steeled face; but even she can't help but wince as the Haruspex deals out the more brutal punishments. There's a big difference between violence in war, and this. But have the judgments been unfair? Is everything as black and white as she had once hoped it to be? That seems to be crumbling fast into gray. She can't fault the Mizimu. And she can't help but wonder what punishments she might have deemed fair. Perhaps that thought is the most sour in her mouth.
Finally, she hears her name fall from the Warleader's throat. She had missed the other names being called- but as she strides forward, she notices Semehe not far off. Petra's ears flatten, and her bright eyes shift away. But as soon as she does, she sees Shinda and Una draw out from the crowd as well.
For a moment she stops her stoic walk. Una. Even amidst her buried love for her sister, the sight of her feels like another stab in her chest. It's compulsive and immediate. She can't stop it, even though she has for the most part, settled her anger. And yet, she is still a sister. A small flutter of fear kicks up in her chest for Una. Like her anger, she can't help it or control it. She supposed she had never thought to ask what Una might have sacrificed in order to get her crazy plan to work.
And Shinda too! Well, hadn't she just gone and gotten everyone into trouble! Her head throbbed again, and she fell into place somewhere beside them. It was awkward, but no more awkward then being amongst the Dhati.
What now? She lifted her chin and stood as still and firmly as she could. The way she imagined a warrior should. She didn't regret her actions. Not running away to the Dhati, and neither did she regret assisting the Mizimu after. But where did that put her?
But she'd kept her bargain. Was there honor in that? She had guilt, but for the moment, swallowed it down. Whatever fates might be before them, Petra knew what she had prescribed for herself. She wasn't a thing to be trifled with. She could play a puppet. She could play a puppet forever if she had to. But she couldn't live one day pretending to be something she was not.
She only hoped that choice hadn't pulled Una, and possibly Shinda, down with her.
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 11:03 am
At a quick glance Skugga seemed in poor shape, and oblivious to the fates of her fellow pride members. Her fur was a mess, matted with blood and probably worse things too judging by the foul smell. The dark pelt she wore as a bracelet almost seemed to blend in with her own. She stayed in her designated place among the other captured Dhati lions, staring at a point in front of her, and she seemed to distance herself from the others. There was enough room for an adult lion to lie beside her but if someone, guard or fellow Dhati, tried to intrude on that space she growled to defend it. She didn't flinch as the punishments were decided and executed, and the only sign that she might care was a flick of an ear when the Haruspex seemed to cause a lion or lioness a lot of pain.
She reacted slowly when her name was called and earned a n** from one of the warriors guarding them to get her going. With a hiss she slowly stepped forth, dragging her paws as much as she dared, but not enough to warrant more nips or shoves from her captors. Ears sleeked back, face twisted into a silent snarl. Skugga had probably been better off dead, but she was sure she would be denied even that.
Skuld watched, stony faced behind her mask, as the traitors got their just punishment declared by Sakata. It wasn't the first time, but she hoped it would be the last time. War was never pretty, and if the Spirits were kind this would be the last war she would see in her life. She had mostly healed after her near death experience, but she still felt a bit off. It might be old age, or perhaps those two rebels had managed to knock something important loose. Either way she felt a grim satisfaction as one of the bastards who had attacked her walked up to receive her punishment. The other was nowhere to be seen. Dead perhaps, or on the run with his tail between his legs.
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:21 pm
A plaything? Lips curled into a grimace as she was sentenced to the same basic treatment as Kizuka - her punishment was even lighter than that of her cousin's, though she wasn't the one to order the blinding treatment, after all. A part of her told her to leap at Sakata, to stare him down forcefully demanding why she had not been recognized. Or perhaps the oaf was stupider than she thought, unable to see the thin lines that she ran through her participation in the war. That part of her was telling her that if it hadn't been obvious already, that she should make a name for herself now, if not then. But she ignored the impulse-driven conscience, knowing even that would not work if her intentions were that plain. If the judgment was to stay alive for a while, there was another calling in which to tend. She would have to find out just what that was.
So she acquiesced to the brutal abuse of the Warriors, lazily waiting for the Haruspex to carry out Sakata's will. It was painful indeed to go through the declawing, and it took her tenfold as much effort as the Haruspex to put up a calm visage and keep her body motionless.
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