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 Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:37 pm
Nyota was not foolish enough to think standing this close to a crazy lion like Hala would be safe, as soon as his weight shifted to pounce forward, she was pushing herself back- but very suddenly Altair was between them and they were fighting again. They were too quick and she was too stunned, there was no way Nyota could have jumped into the fray. And then they stopped again.
Her eyes narrowed at Hala when he addressed her, almost begging for her to see his side, if not take it. But she was as stubborn as either of them.
"No," she said firmly, stepping forward. The only obvious way for her to help Altair now was to be near if Hala managed to escape, and she was not afraid, "I'm not here to talk to you, I have heard what you have to say and it doesn't matter. I didn't follow you because I believed you, I followed to stop you. It's just a shame it took me this long to catch up."
It took a lot of self-control to not to blather on about why she found it so easy to side with Altair in this, even ignoring the monstrous things Hala had done one his way here, his brother had shown considerably more honor and character in this confrontation. Not to mention the impression the young lioness had given Nyota- she hardly seemed unfamiliar with her father or hardened from a horrible upbringing.
"We are not alone here, and I'm not above sending for help if you don't stop now," she added, raising her voice to be sure Mizi and Alie could hear her. She didn't know exactly who they might find but it was hardly a bluff to say they were not alone. Hala obviously liked to work alone but Nyota was a pride lioness and she was happy to work as a team.
Mizi perked up when Nyota raised her voice, her eyes widening as she looked around frantically as if where to go should they actually need to get reinforcements would be obvious. All she saw, however, was Alie.
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Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 3:39 pm
Others? There were others here?
Hala's eyes seemed to circle without really focussing, perhaps seeing things imagined than seeing what was real. For a moment he fell still, seeming to need to take a few seconds to absorb that information.
"She's right, Hala." Altair continued in a low tone, unsure whether to believe her or not. "It's not just me on my own any longer. I stand with others. Would you really be willing to throw your life away for this pointless revenge? I know we can never see eye to eye again. I know that. But, would it not be easier to leave behind this feud? To get on with our lives. For you to...find peace."
"There is no peace to be found." Hala snapped.
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Hala, but...that's not true. It's not. There is peace for everyone. Even you."
Behind them, Alienor stirred softly, turning her eyes back to glance at the hare accompanying her. "Should we..." No. To show themselves would be to show the bad lion that the 'others' were harmless. Maybe if...maybe if...Struck by an idea, Alienor began to circle slowly, keeping herself as flat to the ground as possible. As she moved she made sure to rustle the grasses, to make it clear to everyone that someone was out there. Someone was watching. Waiting to strike. Perhaps that small thing might make a big difference in protecting her father and that brave lioness who had risked her life to save him.
Altair, strengthened by the sounds of others close by, stepped back away from Hala; freeing his brother once more.
The dark-pelted lion rolled onto his feet, clearly suffering from his wounds. He backed away a few paces, an old leg injury clearly bothering him as he straightened, turning his ears to try and track the movement of those who stayed out of sight.
"You brought a hunting party? If not to kill me then to what?" He hissed.
"To try and keep this encounter free of violence. Unlike you, brother, I have found that talking solves problems far better than flying claws. Sadly, I got ahead of the group and...well..." He glanced at his own wounds and tried to push the pain to the back of his mind. "Now it's time for you to choose. Turn away and live. Turn away and try to rebuild the life that...I took from you. Just now that...I have lived with the regret of my decision since the very moment it happened."
"Your apologies mean nothing." Hala snarled.
"I know. I know." Altair placated. "But the choice remains the same. Drop this need for vengeance and live the one life you have. Or...cling to it and die here and now."
Hala stood for a long moment, distracted momentarily by another rustle. He was an angry creature, bent on revenge, but his survival instinct was cutting in now that the initial fury was ebbing. If he died, he'd never get a chance to end this. If he died...
"One day I will have allies, too. One day we'll face each other again. Mark my word on that." And in his eyes there was so much bitterness, so much rage and jealousy that it seemed a futile attempt to try and reach him.
"And trust me when I say that if word reaches me of any foul deed of yours after today, I will not hesitate to kill you."
"You can try." Hala hissed and, throwing another angry glance at the female, he turned and fled - his gait hindered by a steadily worsening limp.
Only when he was out of sight, did Altair turn towards the female, shaking his head sadly. "I have a feeling I will live to regret that decision." He blinked, clearing his vision and gave her a ghost of a smile. "You have my eternal gratitude for stepping in when you did." And, with that, he sat heavily, his breath strained now that the pain of his wounds were becoming apparent.
Then, bursting from the undergrowth came a small, dark shape. "Daddy! Daddy!" And the child hurtled herself at Altair with all the energy she had, pressing against his side, her face pressed against his fur.
"W-what?" Confusion clouded his senses. "Alie? What are you doing here?" Anger and perhaps fear, crept into his voice. "Did...did she come with you?" He asked, directing that question at Nyota.
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Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 11:34 am
The situation was out of Nyota's paws now, she merely continued her stubborn stare at Hala, watching his mind go over the possibilities of what was going around them. It was pitiful, the lack of hope he had for the future- what had he been planning to do after killing Altair? Hala seemed doomed to disappointment and emptiness as far as Nyota could figure. He had to find something better.
She was distracted momentarily as the rustling became more obvious but she managed not to look around. She knew who was there, unless Alie had been joined. As Hala and Altair wrapped up the conversation, Nyota focused back on Hala and his departure.
"It's sad he can't let go," she murmured thoughtfully, watching the distance Hala had disappeared into even as Altair spoke to her. Now all that remained were proper introductions, she felt herself hesitate. she only looked to him when he sat down-- but then Alie came rushing forward.
Mizi was frantic when she was left alone but she could do very little good, even if she attempted to mimic the young lioness's clever idea. She simply stayed where she was until the danger had passed and Alie came out of her hiding spot. The change in Altair's voice startled her and now she was ready to come out, too. Still quivering, she kept herself under control and managed to hop over to Nyota but not right into her.
"No, she-"
Nyota was cut off by the sudden reappearance of Mizi, she hadn't forgotten about her but she could see how worked up she was, even if she wasn't running and clinging like Alie did. She gave the hare a reassuring smile before looking back up to Altair.
"She followed you, I followed Hala," she explained, "Our paths crossed when you confronted him."
She glanced to Alie.
"You did a good job, scaring him off," she added. There wasn't much to explain about everything else, Alie was obviously concerned about him and she hadn't been foolish enough to run out. Things might have played out differently if Nyota was not there.
Mizi stood by Nyota's paws, feeling comforted just being close to her again. Of course, it helped that Hala was gone and the mood was now considerably lighter. Concerned parents were hardly an unusual thing.
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 1:53 pm
Alienor said nothing, simply hiding her face away against her father's side as if she were afraid he might leave again. The bad lion was gone now. Everything was going to be okay.
Altair, dragging his eyes away from his daughter, turned his attention to Nyota, lifting his ears curiously. "Followed Hala?" He shook his head. "He knew you?" He blinked, realising - for the first time - that the female looked familiar somehow. A distant memory attempted to surface but evaded his grasp.
Alienor finally turned her head, peering across at Nyota. She gave a faint smile and nodded. "I...think I was more scared." She glanced across at the hare and, carefully drew away from her dad a little, edging closer towards the long-eared creature.
"You should be at home, Alie..." Altair murmured. He seemed to want to lecture her but apparently thought that perhaps now was not the place nor the time. After all, for all the danger, no real harm had been done. There would be time to discuss that later.
But the evading memory niggled at him. "Sorry...do...I know you?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 3:03 pm
"We met, briefly," she said, "He spoke of you, I suppose curiosity got the best of me and I decided to follow him."
She wasn't able to tell much of a story, there was too much going on here now. He recognized her- she wasn't surprised. Hala had recognized her and she didn't look much like her father. She took a great deal after her mother, and apparently just enough after Altair for Hala to recognize.
"You know my mother," Nyota said carefully, glancing to Alie and deciding not to cause any trouble by spitting out the whole truth in front of anybody else. If Altair figured it out, he could say it.
"Angavu," she added, "From the Pridelands."
Mizi looked from lion to lion as the conversation proceeded. She and Nyota had talked about what she might say if they found her father but Alie was an unplanned aspect of the conversation. They hadn't even really considered that he might have a family by the time they found him. Nyota barely seemed affected by it, though.
Then she realized that Alie had moved closer, and she looked over and smiled at her.
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Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 4:04 pm
"I've...been hiding from him for a long time. Probably would have been, still, if he hadn't attacked a friend of mine." He thought of Anya, waiting back in the lands for news on the outcome. Knowing her, she would probably be happy that there had been no death, but he wasn't sure whether his news would provide her with the comfort she needed to feel fully safe again. Thankfully the other Guardian was still with her and by now Yuma was probably back in the lands again.
"I'm glad, at least, that he didn't turn that anger upon you." Which meant he must have taken a turn for the worse in recent days, perhaps, if he had attacked Anya so needlessly.
"Wait...spoke of me? Why would he--?" He cut himself off instantly, recognising the name and instantly putting together the connection. His eyes snapped across to Alienor, who was pretending to be distracted but was clearly listening. It didn't seem like she'd put two and two together just yet. "Yes. I remember your mother."
He paused and then; "What were your plans after you had done with following Hala?" He ventured carefully, casting a glance between the lioness and the hare.
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Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 8:47 pm
"Your friend, is she the one.."
Nyota trailed off. She knew of an attack on a lioness but she had been just too far behind the situation to intervene in any aspect of what happened, but it had been obvious enough that the creatures she was guided by had helped her piece it together.
"I knew Hala had caused trouble on his way out here, after I heard is when I finally caught up and followed him more closely," she murmured, clearly unsettled by what vague information she had.
She paused as he did, knowing why he didn't say more than he knew her mother. Angavu had a similar secretive way of speaking of him, but for different reasons. It was hard to tell if Altair was still living the same secretive lifestyle that Anga had implied of him.
"I hadn't thought about it," she answered, glancing to Mizi, who was a step closer to Alie and considerably less careful about hiding how much attention she was paying- she was staring right back at Nyota.
"I suppose I've already done what I set out to do."
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Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 11:38 am
Altair nodded. "Yes. Her name is Anya. She came to stay in the same pride I am in. I don't know why Hala saw fit to target her, but she was badly wounded. I...think she may have died if she were not brought to the lands by a passer by." He shook his head. "You did what you could and you probably saved my life today."
Alienor blinked, looking up at her father. "You wouldn't have died, Daddy."
The dark lion's cut face was grim. "I...I hope that would not have been the case, but never matter. What's done is done and both of you did well." Nyota, for intervening when she did and Alienor for staying out of harm's way and not charging in to try and protect him from a lion who would most certainly have tried to kill her.
The young female blinked her grey eyes - her mother's eyes - and turned to look back at Nyota. "You should come back with us. Shouldn't she, Daddy? If she has no where else to go..." She stood and threw a smile towards the hare, too. "And you as well, of course!" She lifted her head a little higher. "My name is Alienor. What's yours?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 6:25 pm
Nyota shuddered as the part of conversation regarding Anya wrapped up. She was glad to know the lioness had made it somewhere safe and was still alive. She looked back and forth between the pair of lions as the conversation continued. Alie obviously thought a lot of her father to say he wouldn't had died, even after what she had witnessed.
Her neutral, somewhat uncertain expression changed suddenly when Alienor was inviting her to come back with them. Her eyes went to Alie, then Mizi and then to Altair where they stayed.
He obviously wasn't as secretive as her mother had said. Or.. he wasn't so secretive anymore. He had a family, he was part of a pride, he had friends.. she was extremely curious about him and his life but she was not sure about intruding. Nyota was very similar to her mother, normally she was very out-going and willing to push for what she wanted but this wasn't the same and she wasn't even sure what she wanted.
Mizi was not so startled by the invitation, she had the most outside perspective on this situation. It wasn't uncommon, she thought, to invite new friends to see your pride, if not stay there. The hare had no idea what Nyota actually thought about it but she figured Altair would be the deciding factor.. and while he wasn't jumping to say no immediately, it wasn't exactly an ideal time or place for it.
"Might be nice," she spoke up when Nyota fell silent, looking at Altair, "At least to take a break."
Mizi was afraid of strange lions but even she felt safer in a pride. And it was a good way to avoid the awkward discussion about sticking around in front of Alienor.
"I'm Mizi," she added, looking from Nyota up to Alie and smiling.
"I'm Nyota," she added after Mizi made their decision for them, a bit startled by that itself but knowing it was a good choice. Especially where Hala probably wouldn't get far fast and another run in with him could end badly.
"It's nice to meet you, Alienor," she said, finally looking from Altair to Alie.
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:50 pm
Altair wasn't sure what to think. On one hand he would have liked the lioness and her friend to come with them, especially if they weren't sure where they were headed. He didn't exactly want to part their company only to have them run into Hala the moment that they left. That would...not be good.
On the other hand...what would his mate say when all this came to light?
Ah, who was he kidding? His whole dark assassin past was out in the open!! Having a family elsewhere could hardly compare. Besides...it had been before he'd even settled down. Long before he'd settled down. Well...mostly.
"Well, if you would like to come back with us, that would be fine. The pride is very accepting of new members and I'm certain they'll be happy with having a couple of visitors, if you only wanted to stay a brief while. It's not too far but...in my condition, it might take a little longer than normal." He looked apologetically at them.
"Don't worry about that, Daddy. So long as well all get back safe and sound." Alienor was smiling, though her eyes seemed concerned and kept flickering across to him. She opened her mouth to say more but closed it again, somewhat reluctantly.
"Mizi is right. It'll be nice. Pleeeease, Nyota. Come back with us."
Altair threw the adult lioness an apologetic smile.
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Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 6:45 pm
"I suppose it is the best choice for us now," Nyota said with a sigh, looking around at her three companions. They could hardly leave right away and as satisfied as she might have been, it was hard to guess what Altair thought or if he had any desire to know more about her- and her sisters.
"It'd be nice to be somewhere with more lions again," she added with a smile. Pride life was definitely how she liked it.
Mizi wiggled excitedly. She, too, preferred life in a pride, though it wouldn't be an easy adjustment for her- even if it was only a temporary stay.
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Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 5:13 am
"That's decided, then!" Alienor chirped, clapping her paws together. "We can all go back home. You'll like it there, I'm sure. It's very pretty and all the lions are very nice." She stood with a flourish and gently tugged at her father's paw.
He stood with a low groan and took a few careful, testing steps. New wounds pulled painfully and the going would be slow, but he was sure he'd be fine.
His daughter shoved in against his side and, casting him a smile, tried to support him as best as he could. "Come on, Nyota, Mizi. This way!" She called, striking out for home. But, despite the smile and the shining eyes, deep down she was still concerned. Concerned for what had happened. Concerned for her father's welfare. And...more importantly...concerned about what might happen if Hala didn't heed her father's warning.
She'd have to be on guard, that was for certain.
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