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 Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 3:58 pm
Kayin frowned faintly, his ears twitching at a faint sound. He'd been trying to listen up for any sign of Kafe, so he did hear a tiny little scuffly sort of sound, like a footstep only much quieter. But it came from above him, which couldn't possibly-
The cub yelped in surprise when something landed squarly on his back. It threw him off balence, and he fell face first into the dirt. Belatedly, he realized he should have tried to roll, since doing so would probably dislodge his attacker, but it was much harder to do so now. Kayin tried anyway, scrabling with his hind paws as he tried to get a good footing to push off from.
He didn't make a sound after the intitial yelp, though he growled faintly under his breath as he tried to escape. He just couldn't get a good angle on what was going on. If he got away, he'd have to ask his mother what to do if this happened again, but for now he was more concerned with what was...wait...
"Kafe?" he growled tentativly, spitting out the mouthful of dirt he'd taken when he first face-planted. If it was Kafe he didn't have to be so worried. Actually, if it was Kafe then everything was fine. Sure he'd scraped his chin a bit, and it throbbed some, but he'd whacked the red cub over the head so they were even. If anything, he deserved worse for hurting Kafe first.
Although now that he could get a bit of the scent, since he'd gotten his face out of the dirt, it did smell familiar. It must be Kafe. Oh good... That didn't mean Kay was going to give up the scuffle. It just meant he wasn't afraid anymore. His mother would be disappointed in him for winding up in this kind of position, but he wasn't sure what to do about it now...aside from squirm around and try to wriggle out of the other's grip.
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 7:48 pm
Kafele was thrilled that his plan had succeeded. True, Kayin was struggling a lot and in a strange frantic way but he paid it no mind until the other cub tentatively called his name. He rejoiced at first, assuming his new friend was about to give in but quickly realized – as Kayin continued to struggle – that the other cub had only just then recognized him. He burst out laughing.
“Of course it’s me! What did you think it was, a giant vulture out to get you?” he didn’t let go even then and his body shook with good-natured laughter. He was actually worried he’d scared Kayin too much which was very unusual for him but he went right back to his usual self when the other cub’s squirming knocked one of his legs right from under his weight and Kafele fell right on top of Kayin. This time he was quick to roll over as far away from his friend’s paws as possible. He ended up lying on the ground, legs sprawled in every direction and head perked up with his typical grin breaking open every now and then as he panted a little.
“Oh man! Kay, you’re really tough to pin down!” the red cub giggled. He wasn’t particularly worried for Kayin’s well-being. If you’re good enough to get someone off of you, you’re just fine.
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 8:18 pm
"...I dunno..." Kayin mumbled at the other cub's laughed question. Maybe he was getting paranoid or something, but mother always trained them so hard...always made sure to keep an eye on him. If she was so worried, surely there had to be a reason. He understood, somewhat, about the Chosen One thing, and the dangers that existed both inside and outside of the pride's territories. But he couldn't help but wonder...
"Uff!" the cub squeaked as the air got squished out of his ribs. So thrashing around hadn't worked so well as he'd thought, knocking Kafe's paws out from under him just made the other cub land on him. Well...for future reference...he wouldn't do that again.
Shaking his head, Kay rose to his feet, pawing dirt from his face and trying to guess if his chin was bleeding where he'd scraped it on a smallish rock. It stung a little, but it wasn't so bad. He was just worried that Indira would worry if he came back a little bloody. They were only playing... "You surprised me," he tried to explain when the other cub went on about how he was hard to pin down, "You were so quiet. I didn't even know you were there!" He looked up at the rocks, obviously impressed with how sneaky his, hopefully!, new friend had been.
"I didn't think to look up..." he murmured thoughtfully. He'd have to take care to check from now on. And ask mother how to fend off such an attack.
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 6:29 pm
“It was an ambush!!” Kafele said in proud exhilaration. “I’m gonna ask my aunt to teach me how to make even better ones!” he moved closer to Kayin not the least bit bothered by invading the other’s personal space – as cubs often disregard such matters – and he finally noticed the scrape on Kayin’s chin. “Wow, that’s a little blood... If you’re lucky you might get a scar there! Was it too rough?” There was a hint of regret on his expression but it didn’t linger. “What do you think we should do next? We can switch places and you hide next! Or we could visit the old empty tree! It’s right there! Or or! We could just play catch or play rough...”
It was like he wasn’t thinking, just blurting out every thought that occurred him as the adrenaline was still pumping through his veins. He started hopping on the spot moving in small circles as he looked in every direction, wasting as much energy as possible. But there was so much he could do with Kayin – as opposed to the cubs he usually played with - and they already felt a little like old friends… he just forgot to turn on the filter.
“You should’ve seen your face! It was all… blah! It was like you were face to face with that stupid Sahen b*****d, ah.“ the red cub laughed twice throwing his head back, fully relaxed – the perfect image of blissful abandonment - before suddenly freezing on the spot. He turned abruptly to face Kayin head on and Kafele was a whole new cub now. There was no wicked grin pushing his lips back this time. The red cub was tense and every hair on his body stood on end as he eyed the other cub fiercely, claws unsheathing in one brusque motion, a loud growl rising from his throat as his head lowered slowly. He looked like he was about to jump Kayin.
“You didn’t hear that. I didn’t say that! Promise you won’t tell anyone, Kayin! Promise Kay, you have to promise! I'm serious! You have to give me your word, Kay!”
It was obvious Kafele was very very angry now (most likely at himself) but an hint of fear could also be heard in the young cub’s voice if one was paying attention. He knew he wasn’t supposed to talk about those things outside the family! They had to be so careful! The Shaktona had already used his Ligi to kill Kafele’s grandmother, he couldn’t do stupid things that would make the ruler go after mom and aunt Fila, too. He might even go after his siblings to eliminate all the loose ends. That meant Livi and Azu… even Dada wouldn’t probably escape his anger if the ruler found out the things that were being said at Kafele’s home. Stupid, stupid! Why didn’t he think!?
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 8:20 pm
It was indeed an ambush, and as far as Kayin was concerned it was a good one. Maybe he could ask Kafe to teach him to do the same, especially if this aunt of his taught him to make even better ones. Maybe Kay could show him how to do that paw-batting thing in exchange, that was fair, right? Of course, he would have to ask mom how to avoid getting pinned when someone jumped on him. He hadn’t done well at all when Kafe dropped down out of nowhere.
“It is?” Kayin’s voice squeaked with dismay when he was told his chin was bleeding. Oh no, he’d be afraid of that… ”What? Too ro…no no, I’m okay. I think my mom might worry though,” he explained anxiously. That had been fun! He didn’t mind a little scrape, it was worth it to get to play with Kafele, really! He just didn’t want Indira to worry, or worse, forbid him from going out again. He hadn’t thought any harm could come from talking to another cub, and it had been really, really fun with Kafe…
He was having trouble picking what he wanted to play, there were so many choices. He hoped he could come back and play tomorrow too! He’d never played before, never got to meet a cub that wasn’t Jabari or Sahil before…this was so much fun…
Except, then, it wasn’t.
Kayin froze when Kafe snarled at him, his ears laying slightly back in surprise and hurt. He hadn’t done anything! He’d been a little surprised to hear the red cub cursing Sahen like that, and he might’ve made a small little noise, but it was only surprise! But now it suddenly felt like they weren’t friends after all. Why else would Kafe be yelling at him like that?
”I…I won’t,” Kay stuttered, taking a small step back. He wasn’t afraid exactly, he was actually pretty confident that he could handle himself in a fight if he had to, only…only he didn’t want to. He wanted to be friends with the other cub, not fight. ”I wouldn’t tell, Kafe, I wouldn’t!” he insisted, shrinking back slightly, knowing that if he made himself smaller he wouldn’t seem threatening back. He so did not want to fight with the red cub. He…he just wanted to be friends. ”Honest, I wouldn’t! I know you could get in trouble, I wouldn’t tell…I…I thought we might…might be friends…I...wouldn’t tell on you…I wouldn’t…”
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 9:24 pm
Seriously Kafele, you must be made of infinite kinds of stupid… for all you know Kayin’s parents are Ligi and he’s off to tell his mommy and daddy about what I just…
The red cub’s pessimistic thoughts were suddenly cut off by Kayin’s reaction. He was shrinking, agreeing not to tell anyone, saying they were friends and using Kafele’s nickname to boot. The red cub had always been soft to that last one.
“Sahen… has a way of getting rid of anyone that gets in his way. They don’t just get in trouble, they die. But you didn’t hear this from me.” Kafele started slowly, threading the ground more carefully now, trying not to say anything related to his family. It kind of hurt to see Kayin like that.
“But we are friends. So I trust you.” Kafele said much more gently, visibly deflating. “I’m sorry I got so angry. I don’t want to get anyone in trouble for being stupid.” He almost chocked on the words I’m sorry and that was the only explanation he was willing to give even if had to admit Kayin deserved a better one. “But you still have to swear on it. You have to say I swear.”
He seemed very calm and collected now and there was actually a hint of a smile on his expression as he lifted one of his paws and turned it upside - he had just thought of something, something just he'd never done before, something interesting. He dropped his head to bite it, flinched and then decided it would be better to use his other paw to scratch the first one. When his dark paw drew a few drops of blood, his paw rose to touch the other cub with a very gentle almost playful pat on Kayin’s chin. A sort of physical I’m sorry but so much more meaning behind it.
“There, we’re blood brothers now. So we can never betray each other.”
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 8:45 am
Kayin relaxed slightly, letting go of a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding when the anger seemed to ebb out of the other cub. He straightened up slowly, still wary of somehow setting off a fight. He wasn’t afraid of getting hurt or losing, he just didn’t want a fight. There wasn’t anything wrong with that. He would be happy if his little lifetime of training was utterly wasted. He had a feeling that it wouldn’t be though. Indira didn’t seem the type for pointless exercises.
He nodded slightly at Kafe’s explanation about Sahen. Of course, Kayin had already heard something to that effect from his mother. But he was cautious, he knew better than to say anything. Jabby was the talker, he was better at explaining. Kayin just tried his best not to let anyone down was all. But at least…at least Kafele’s outburst told him that his hopefully new friend was…well…’safe’. If Kafe didn’t like the big red lion that ruled their homeland…then he wouldn’t grow into an enemy someday. Where that thought had come from ,Kay couldn’t say exactly. Maybe it had to do with the way laughing and having fun had suddenly turned into something that felt like bloodshed was about to ensue. It hadn’t, thankfully, but it still felt…upsetting to say the least.
”I swear I won’t tell,” Kay said softly, his blue eyes shifting around as though he expected to be caught. If someone heard him, they might want to know why he was swearing secrecy. And then they could be in trouble… He squeaked in dismay when the other moved to bite his paw and then scratched it instead, opening his mouth to ask him why he’d done that, or perhaps to see what he could do to help fix it… and then…
The cub blinked. He lifted his own paw to the spot on his chin where Kafe had gently touched the bloody paw to the scrape he’d garnered off of a rock. ”Blood brothers?” Kayin asked. He’d not heard of that before…not exactly. He knew that Sahil and Jabari were his brothers by blood, even though he knew Indira was not the lioness who gave life to them. She was still his mother though, more than the one he’d never known, though he was sometimes curious about her…sometimes…
Still. It was an odd feeling. Blood brothers he didn’t quite understand, but the part about never betraying each other…that was pretty clear. And Kay didn’t mind. He liked it. He wanted to stay friends with Kafe forever, even though they’d barely just met each other. He could hardly imagine going back home to Indira and his brothers and never seeing the other cub again. That would be awful…he’d miss him so much!
”Never betray each other…” he heard himself repeating, and then a smile spread over his features. ”Never. I promise.”
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 6:29 pm
Kafele seemed pleased as he matched the other cub’s smile. It did make him just a little bit nervous that Kayin hadn’t admitted he also disliked the ruler but maybe that just meant he was smarter. The mini crisis had ended and Kafele was quickly returning to adventure mode. He headbutted Kayin playfully before sprinting away from him, an excited laugh following almost every word.
“Now, let’s do something fun! Wanna go see the old dead tree? Do you want to try climbing it?! I’m sure two cool strong Atmaja lions like us can manage that!”
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 9:06 pm
The smile spreading across Kafe's features was by far more reassuring than even the choked 'I'm sorry', which Kayin had a feeling was really hard to get out. He wished he could have reassured his new friend, or blood brother, further. But he didn't dare. Indira had impressed quite firmly just how utterly vital some secrets could be. He would never compromise his family, not ever. Not even for his best friend...?
No. No he...he couldn't. Not now. Maybe someday, when the Chosen One finished dealing with Sahen. Then he could tell him, tell him everything and apologize for keeping the secret. But it wasn't his secret to tell. Kafe would understand, right? Someday...
"Okay!" the cub agreed, happy to go and play more. The serious nature of the conversation they'd wound up in was making him nervous. But he froze in mid bound when the other cub made a tiny mistake. "I...I'm Tama..." Kay explained, suddenly hesitant. He was browns, he kind of could be either. But Indira was Tama, and they were supposed to be her cubs...so they were Tama too. But...but it wouldn't make a difference...right? They were still friends anyway, right?
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 9:42 pm
“Very funny, Kay!” Kafele said before he caught his friend’s expression. “You’re not kidding. No way! You look just like my sister!” that was a rather silly argument but Kafele wasn’t exactly Mr. Brilliant as he had clearly demonstrated before. He didn’t look angry this time just oddly surprised. “Yellow is Atmaja. I was thinking of you as a sort of pale yellow…? I don’t know what brown is… my mother is brown.” He tilted his head to the side as he tried to get his thoughts in order before his brain started to entangle. “Ah well, not everyone follows the exact House colors…”
Maybe that was why Kayin was quieter… then again, so was his brother Livi so maybe that didn’t mean anything at all. All he knew was that Kayin was cool and he was his friend. And, of course, his blood brother now. No amount of vague prejudice could keep him from remembering that now. The red cub just had to adjust his reality a bit... or simply consider Kayin an exception.
“I guess it’s okay…” Kafele said slowly looking serious for just a few moments before his mischievous grin was back in place, his voice suddenly a light tease. “Now look at that! My blood brother is wimpy little Tama boy! I wonder if he can climb that big old tree all by himself… I’d like to see that!” The grin softened just before Kafele started moving again, running away from Kayin and towards the huge broken tree ahead. “Let’s go, Kay! Get your butt moving and try to catch me before I touch it!”
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 10:18 pm
When Kafe laughed Kay wasn't sure what to make of it. Did he think he was no good if he wasn't Atmaja? He blinked as the other cub compared him to a sister yet again, was she one of those cubs he'd seen with the adults? The ones who'd seemed to be a group already, when he'd suddenly spotted the brilliant red of Kafele off to one side? Which one might she have been?
A tentative relief brushed him when the other cub said he supposed it was okay. Oh...good. He'd been so worried...he didn't want to lose his only friend just because he was in a different house! It didn't seem like a big deal to him...maybe he was just odd though. But he didn't remember hearing anything bad about playing with someone in a different house...
He wanted to protest that he wasn't wimpy, but kept his mouth shut. Kafe still thought they were blood brothers. That was good enough for him! He'd just have to prove whether or not he was wimpy.
"Coming!" Kay cried, lunging after the other cub. It was a challenge, and one he didn't mind trying to take up. They were friends, right? It didn't matter which house they were in. Or if he'd heard Kafe say something he shouldn't have. They could still have fun...
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