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 Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 3:41 am
"Then we will adapt," Azarax said in answer to Vesta's words, his piercing eyes surveying the gathering crowd with care. The energy in the air was tense, mounting with frustration and anger, and the tan lion's instinct told him that a fight could be looming in the near future if tempers weren't curbed. There were more pressing matters at hand for them all to worry about without the threat of a scuffle breaking out.
Turning to Damu, he nodded in greeting, though his eyes still strayed through the crowd. "It appears that we may have run out of water," he told the dark lion, a small frown still adorning his brow. "Nothing is for certain yet, but it would be wise to prepare a working strategy in case of the worst." He shook his head calmly. He had learned a way of compartmentalizing, of focusing on the issues at hand and its best solutions, and dealing with the ramifications in an alternate setting. In this instance, it seemed as though that was what was needed. "Here, I feel obligated to speak out for my soldiers. Indeed, they are the ones to hold the world at bay. Without them, there is no protection, for the strong or the weak.
"I'm not suggesting we forsake the young or the infirm, but clearly... we have to decide how best to ration what little water we have left."
Atesh glanced down at Vesta, touching his tail lightly to hers as she reacted to Ea's words. He could tell that anywhere but here seemed a better alternative for his rather more timid sister, even back out in the desert searching for more water. It all seemed bleak, indeed, and he wished he could understand how some of the others managed to stay so calm, so rational through it all.
The dark lion simply felt torn. There didn't seem to be a proper solution for this, and clearly, somebody was going to have to make sacrifices. But... who? The idea of choosing who got water and who didn't - perhaps even who lived and who died - made him feel queasy. Much as he hated to admit it, Atesh didn't have the same ability to immunize himself from death as his father did. But what if Azarax was right?
His ears flattened against his head, and he turned back to Vesta, concerned. "How are they ever going to find a solution to this?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 6:15 am
Fia listened from Ea’s side, her narrowed eyes fixed on Armada as she dared to even think she had a right to word her thoughts. But worse, the newcomer, too! Perhaps their parents had been wrong to allow them entrance if this was their attitude. Didn’t they understand that a Firekin was a Firekin no matter their rank?
She was not titled ‘Guard’ or ‘Soldier’ but she could fight as well as the majority of those gathered here. Well…probably. So who was to say that she was any less important than anyone standing here? She was definitely more important than that mad-eyed female and the new member.
“I don’t think this is your decision to make.” Fia snapped at Armada and Adiel. “Perhaps your time would be better spent helping the water-seekers rather than spouting nonsense.”
She snarled, her anger fuelled by Ea’s.
This anger was only made worse at Bodaway’s intervening and what had probably meant to help calm the waves of fury seemed only to stir them.
“Yes. Well. If you hadn’t noticed, old timer” Fia hissed. “The Firekin didn’t fair too well back then. All the more reason for us to band together instead of fighting over who’s more important.” She snorted. “Perhaps you should think of a better solution and earn your importance before you get dropped below cubs on the importance list.”
Vesta, clearly very uncomfortable with how things had suddenly grown so out of control, rose up onto her paws. “I…I’ll look harder. But…there are so few of us dedicating our time to water-seeking.” She glanced across at Vlam. “Perhaps if we had others volunteering to look, too? Cover a broader area?”
Her eyes darted nervously around, clearly seeking to see if Azar had returned with the Regents. No sign so far.
And to her brother's question she merely shook her head in despair. It did seem rather helpless. This was out of their control.
Fia, at least, seemed to sober at Azarax's words. He - unlike the rest of them - was of rank and was trusted by her parents. Even still she did not like what he was saying and was immediately concerned that her parents might take the same view.
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 6:56 am
There was no answer to Azar's calls at the den. She grumbled for a moment and stomped forward before calling out again. "Mom! Dad!" For most of her life Azar appreciated the unpredictable aspect of her parents. She always found it something unique and interesting. However there were moments like this where she just wanted to know where they were times like this where she needed to know where they were and she couldn't even guess where they could be. She was getting frustrated, she could only imagine what was going on back in the rocky area, she knew that her sisters could hold them off but yet she needed her parents.
She turned around quickly, there had to been some where else in the pride where they would be. As of where she wasn't very sure but she had to keep looking. She began to ran, pushed her body as hard as it could go. She needed to find her parents and she needed to find them now! She had an idea of where they were and she moved quickly to get there. She picked up a scent it smelt like them, she wasn't sure if it was new or old but she was going to give it a try. It was some what close to the watering hole. She slowed down again panting. Oh why did she run? She was going to need some water now. She moved toward the empty hole toward the shade and sighed. "Mom? Dad?" She called out again, this time hoping even more for an answer.
The little cub Aithne was not happy to not be getting much attention. In a way it angered her and she just wanted everyone to stop shouting. She grumbled, looking around at the different adults that was until she felt a nudge from her other older sister Fia. She looked up her eyes wide before she stated pretty plainly in an annoyed voice. "Fia! Everyone is acting like babiesss!" She trotted along side her sister moving toward the big huddle and looked around. There was another cub here but she wasn't interested in him. More interested in the chaos that was occurring. "Everyone is gonna get in trouble." she pouted. She wasn't allowed to do this kind of yelling at her parents den. She wasn't sure why it was allowed now.
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 7:55 am
Nodding towards Azarax as he was answered, he watched with a small wince overcoming his features at the fighting betwix the females, notably the reagent's daughters and a female he was unfamiliar with at the current notice and he remained silent for the most part of this heated conversation before the topic of cubs was brought to the air. Peering at Armada peculiarly for a moment or two before he sat himself calmly on the sands.
"You speak as though cubs have the bellies of hippo's, what little moisture we have can surely be spared for cubs aswell as what the cacti around the desert can provide? Unless those have also run dry..." He should've been proud for voicing his opinion, but for the most part, he was filled with a silent dread, incase he got thrown into the argument aswell. Watching the cub for a moment, he hid a small smile of amusement at her bluntness before his attention was brought back to the subject at hand.
"The same goes for the newborns...even if we provide water to protect the weak, if we ration on that bias, there'll be no weak to protect."
Good Gods the sun must've soaked into his very brain.
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 8:21 am
Armada crinkled her nose, and glared at Damu. "The strong don't need the weak to exist. But the weak do. We exhaust every option, obviously. I'm not going to deprive my cubs of water. But that should come from my water. If I choose to go without, that's my decision. The water should go to those who are protecting these lands, with the hope that by the time the water returns, we still have weak left. But if we don't. Then we can rebuild. Maybe you think I'm being brutal, but I'm not wrong. No matter what you little fuzzy headed idealists think."
Ea growled as Armada continued. "It's no surprise that the ones not seeing reason are the ones most expendable. Historians, cub sitters! Even a hack medic isn't crucial. We did fine without one during the rebellion. You are clearly not the ones to make the decision. Civilians do not take priority."
"Most expendable?!" Ea snarled. "I'd like you to say that to my face when you're bleeding out from some idiot tumble you and your brute soldiers seem prone to doing!" She jerked forward. For a moment Ea seemed like she might even strike at the red lioness. Her temper seemed restrained at the sight of the cub huddled beneath Armada.
It didn't stop Vlam from stepping between them. He had the wide eyed look of a creature about to be killed, but did his best to shove Ea a few steps backwards. The wild cat hissed, digging her heels into the earth to try and stop him. "So we just turn over all the water for your benefit, and hope that it's all going to work out?! How does that even begin to seem logical! You might give your water to your kids, but what about those who aren't soldiers? What sacrifices do they get to make in this grand scheme?"
Armada scowled and turned her head aside. "Obviously I'm not the one in charge of that. But we're going to have to decide who is necessary, and fast." She glanced towards Azarax. "And we need to start guarding the water supplies we do have. That's only logical."
"Logical does not make a pride!" Ea shouted.
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 9:15 am
The old lion snorted. "You would be wise to remember that we were also troubled with a PLAGUE in those days. Disease doesn't care how old or young you are, nor how strong or infirm of body. The Firekin have withstood droughts before, and will continue to, IF a proper solution is found."
"Why not rotation..?" Kosuke boredly flicked a desert spider that crawled by. "Soldier or guard, then injured or ailing, then able-bodied citizen, followed by the old or young. Two gulps per, and then be gone. Everybody gets a fair share, and there's no favoring of strong or weak."
Tuli could only listen, glancing back and forth between them all. For now, all he could do was hide against his mother, glaring at the angry ladies. He REALLY didn't like them. They were so loud, and... Angry. Pale eyes glanced to the sky, as if willing mythological clouds to come and dump a sea of mythological rain on the desert.
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 9:46 am
"I will help," Atesh responded, volunteering himself almost immediately to aid in the task of seeking water. Much like his sister, suddenly, he felt as though any place would be better than here, embroiled in this angry, uncontrollable crowd. It wasn't as though the raised voices and hot tempers scared him, but the fact that he had no ideas, no solutions to contribute, was worrying. The feeling of helplessness made him suddenly want to be on the move, focused on whatever task he had at hand. If there was no room for his mind to wander, it would cease to feel as anxious as it did now.
And, he hoped, it would stop pondering their fates, stop picturing the vast desert devoid of life, stop picturing their entire pride migrating somewhere new. This was the first time the threat of drought had ever seemed so near, and Atesh seemed inclined to jump to the worst possible conclusion. But more than anything, he thought... that perhaps if they found water, they could please everyone. And nobody would have to sacrifice anything.
Azarax fell silent. Always, he had been a lion of relatively few words, preferring to watch and listen and analyze before making any concrete decisions. No action escaped his watchful gaze, and no words went unheard as he stood and waited. Waited for more information, for more options, for the Regents to appear.
Because at the end of the day, no matter what anybody suggested or insisted or decided or argued, it was No and Kidondo that Azarax would support. Perhaps he might try to reason with them, change their minds, earn his soldiers better favor, but in the end, the Regents held the final say.
What was more, he was waiting for something to strike his attention. Some unthought of, or maybe even wildly outlandish, suggestion that made his gut believe, no questions asked. But that, he knew, could also be wishful thinking.
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 3:54 pm
Fia - momentarily distracted by Aithne's antics and teasing - gave another softer growl. "You'll get in trouble too, little beast." The term was meant affectionately of course. Fia didn't generally like cubs, but at least she was related to this one. It softened her just a little.
She moved forwards to grab said 'little beast' when Armada continued. The fire raged in her so suddenly that she barely managed to restrain herself, embedding her claws into the firm sand to keep herself from lashing out.
"Everyone is necessary." Fia hissed. "Everyone!! Can a pride survive when it only contains soldiers? Who would hunt? Who would care for the cubs whilst you are off playing your foolish war games? Everyone here plays their part. Just because some of us chose different paths to support the masses doesn't mean we shouldn't be counted. I for one will not look more favourably on some and not on others."
Her eyes narrowed and her head swung back around to look at Bodaway. "Save your lectures for someone who cares. Did you not just hear the lovely Armada? I'm an Historian. History is what I do. But perhaps if the pride had banded together and helped the sick and needy - instead of huddling in fear - the disease would not have spread so rapidly. I don't know and I don't rightly care."
Then, at last, someone helpful. Atesh.
Fia gave him a brief nod, her eyes flashing across both his and Vesta's faces. "Count me in, too. I'd rather be out there helping than listening to the foolish prattle back here."
Vesta gave a grateful nod, feeling a little better now that she knew the small group of water-seekers would not be pressured to walk till they dropped and then some.
--
And not too far away...
"So...what exactly are you trying to say, Azar'bijan?" Kidondo asked, trying his best to keep his patience with the lion. Azar was one of those lions that liked to shoot his mouth off but, unfortunately, was good at his job. His success at being a Guard was the only reason anyone ever put up with him at all. "I thought you wanted an apprentice. What's changed, exactly?"
"Well...the thing is. The apprentice I've been given. He...I don't think we'll get on. At all. Really."
Kidondo eyed him with ever growing frustration. "So...the apprentice did not choose his teacher. You chose him. Come, Azar, don't tell me you're afraid of a challenge? I thought you sought out such things to better yourself? Or was I wrong about you all this time?" Challenging a male with such a weighty pride as Azar's was surely the way to bring about success, right?
"The thing is, though...I didn't choose him, either."
The Regent bit down on his growl of irritation and forced himself to stand and listen. "So...exactly how did you become paired, then? If I dare ask..."
Now, this was the awkward bit. The large, red male shifted uneasily on the sand, casting the Regent a sidelong glance. "Well it's a funny story."
"Skip to the main parts, if you would. I'm not much one for humour."
"Your mate. She...she organised it." As a punishment, no doubt, he added silently.
"No did? Who is the student, if I may ask?"
The lion huffed noisily through his nostrils. "One of yours."
"Listen. Knowing you, you've earned this reward somewhere down the line, Azar. You've made your den, now lie in it. Or...go and talk to No, if you think she might change her mind. If you want my opinion, she probably won't."
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:59 pm
Aithne looked up at her sister's growl a little alarmed. Most of the time Aithne was as bold as possible and she wanted to take on what she could. She wanted to show all of these adults that she could take on what she wanted, on the other hand she knew she couldn't. She knew that she was still small and any of these adults could hurt her if she wanted to, so the growl was a little startling to her, but yet she turned around quickly and looked up, giggling some at the lioness's comment.
But then as she heard Armada and then was moved by her older sister she was surprised once more. "She's gonna get in a lot of trouble Fia!" She puffed her chest out and moved by her older sister's side keeping an eye on the lioness. In her mind it was switching back to the tough lioness that she believed she was. She glanced at the other cub for a moment, she was surprised by how quiet he was.
---
Azar knew that he wasn't there, she couldn't give up but with the lack of water she was starting to get tired once again. She didn't want to stop but yet she didn't know where her father was and she could only do so much running around the pride. However it was then that something caught her attention, a scent floated into her nose and she looked over to the side. She could smell it, it was strong and it was her father and she was glad to know that he wasn't that far away. She also heard voices, he was talking to some one. She wasn't sure if it was her mother but he knew that if it wasn't then her father would know where her mother was, if not then her father was better then no one.
She took another deep breath in before moving again, this time she ran more at a gallop instead of a full run. She didn't want to use all of that energy when he wasn't that far away. She could see him and the more and more she could see him the more and more happy she became.
She slowed as she approached, she quickly nodded her head. "Azar," she greeted the other Azar. There were times where she felt it was really confused when her father, mother or other family would talk about that Azar and she wouldn't be sure if they were talking about him. She really never got to see him often however right now wasn't one of those times to worry about talking to him.
"Dad, there is a serious problem right now at the rocks." She stated matter-a-factually. There had been times where she was reporting things to her father at times like this. "The water seekers couldn't find water, when I left the situation wasn't that bad but I don't know what it looks like now. Where's mom?
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:32 am
The slightest of frowns rested on the calm cub sitter's brow, but his features still remained soft and mostly concerned, even if Armada's comments took a slight blow to his self esteem and his ears sat flat upon his mane. Expendable? He was expendable? He could understand himself but...glancing at Ea and Fia, he envied the fire they had in their bellies before shaking his large head gently. His voice, still calm and giving nothing for any of them to find opposition against besides his opinion.
"What is a solider without anything to protect?" He said bluntly. "You dismiss the lifeblood of the pride and you leave nothing but a hollow backbone with nothing for it to defend, no purpose...and nothing to heal it should anything go amiss."
This time it was said more pointedly at Armada, but his glance briefly rested on Ea with a respectful nod to her craft. His mind ticking over the options the pride had. He'd never had to think before...than again he'd never really had to express the majority of his opinions before since he was rather...soft? Isn't that what his mother had once called him?
Soft in the head and heart.
"If we are looking at options for the future, as much as I am displeased to say it..." He searched for his words very carefully before speaking, taking a deep breath before speaking again.
"...The option of finding water in the jungle may possibly be a last resort....?"
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:23 pm
Zii'moto was more distressed than she had been in her life. Since the betrayal and her heart being broken, she had healed and had not suffered any mischance or horrors. And then the rains did not come. The water had stopped being available. She was afraid for her child; who was fully capable of being an adult on her own now. Still, she was worried. Her daughter and her mate were her life now. She devoted herself to her family.
And now she was depriving herself of water openly. It wasn't unknown that Zii would not partake in water found; she was showing signs of distressed of her body. She had been guarding so much lately, it wasn't healthy. But Zii didn't care. She approached the area where everyone congregated, her usually lithe loping now slow and almost limping.
Uteketezo'nuru was following her mother quietly, knowing all well her mothers health was slipping. She had been quiet much of her life and this was no exception. Her communication with anyone was very lack, and especially now. Her blue eyes gazed upwards as they approached everyone. She spotted her grand father and her aunt and a few others. She lifted her head and quickly lowered it, knowing that the talk was all about the lack of water. She sighed, quickening her pace to catch up to her mothers.
"Mother please slow down." She said quietly, her voice so soft and smooth against the harsh air. She knew that even speaking would take away the moisture of a mouth, in no time flat.
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Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 10:01 am
Armada shrugged, her strange face looking oddly still against the angered expressions of the others. As Fia rounded on her, she simply let her eyes slide back and forth from sister to sister. Was it possible for both of them to be so grating? It didn't seem like it should be. "Idealistic notions are what destroy prides and get everyone killed. Sure, we might die feeling better about ourselves, if that's what you want. We protect the pride, even from itself. If there's limited resources, we need to pick who the most important people in the pride are. The people who keep it safe, and keep it functional. Everyone else is secondary. I'm sorry if that's too cold for you to see- but thinking we can just ration water equally and hold paws and hope for the best is ludicrous. What good does a historian do to a pride that can't even get a mouthful of water? I suggest a career change. And quickly."
The red cat flattened her ears. "And even if we do find water, we should have a plan for such a thing in the future. We live in a desert. Surely this isn't the first time this problem has occurred. Nor the last."
Adiel shuddered, and seemed to shrink into the dark pelt that she wore across her back. "There are enemies in the north. This is exactly the sort of catastrophe they'd exploit. We can't let the pride weaken..."
Ea growled. "So, you just let fear govern your actions blindly?!"
Adiel frowned. "It's more than fear. You wouldn't even begin to understand."
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Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 1:46 pm
"Did anybody bother to check the lands the Safi used to occupy?" Pushing her way past her father and Kosuke, Savitri looked around at everyone. After a moment, she turned a glare on her cousins. "You know, I heard somebody mention burning your fire out if you keep at that anger... If you calm down, we might be able to discuss this like adults instead of bickering like cubs." The white lioness let out a huff. "Though assuming someone DID check the former Safi lands, then maybe we should take a temporary exodus to greener pastures, as it were."
Now there was an idea... "She has a point. We're Firekin! We could just take what we need! Do any lions out there even know we still exist beyond bogeyman tales?"
"That is NOT what I meant..." Savitri let out a huff, glaring at Kosuke. At her paws, the small cub she'd brought home peeked, unsure of what to do.
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Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2011 10:59 am
Azar'bijan glowered at Kidondo's daughter and strengthened his posture; during his head up proudly. What was she doing sticking her nose into his business? Didn't she have other 'soldier' type things to be getting on with that didn't involve her daddy?
Kidondo's attention had turned - almost thankfully - to his dark-pelted daughter and a pleased rumble vibrated through his chest. However, the sound came to an abrupt halt as he noted her expression and immediately he felt himself tense up.
Something was wrong.
"Sounds like I should get over there now." He turned to Azar'bijan and gave a soft snort. "Sorry to cut this short but as you heard, something has come up." Then, returning his gaze back to his daughter, he continued: "I haven't seen her. She may be out on patrol. Either way, she's quick to sniff out trouble. I'm sure she'll be on her way."
And, without any more time to waste, he quickened his pace, following the path of Azar's paws back to the den site.
Azar'bijan, standing awkwardly alone with the Regent's daughter, gave the female a low growl. "There better be BIG trouble there." And, with that, he hastened after Kidondo. If there was trouble brewing, he certainly wanted to be there to break it up.
--
Fia saw red. There was no other word for it.
Perhaps she was so angry because she was being belittled in front of others. Perhaps she was angry because she felt so outnumbered, even with Ea and Damu there. Or, perhaps she felt so angry because Armada was right and the feeling of helplessness and fear was too terrifying to even conceive.
Like Firekin, Fia seemed to be turning to anger when she had no where else to go, and that anger was currently being directed towards the white-eyed female.
"I've heard enough! I'll show you what an Historian can do! How about it? Put your claws where your mouth is, Armada, or shut up." She snorted like an enraged bull and moved to step around Vlam, shoving the little Aithne aside in a less-than-gentle manner. "I've had enough of you spouting off your idealisms when they're not wanted."
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Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2011 7:14 pm
Azar turned to see the other Azar and rolled her eyes. Why did he have to be so rude? She turned toward her father quickly, she had a feeling he would be fast to react, he almost always was. Her father almost always knew when something wrong was going on. She nodded quickly at the idea. "Yes, quickly." She agreed with her father. She thought about it for a moment, she had a feeling her mother must have been already there. If not then Azar wasn't that sure about how quickly she would find her. she didn't want to be wandering around the lands when her mother could already be there. There wasn't a point in that.
She paused and watched her father turn quickly and she looked at Azar as he began to speak. "Why are you so stupid?" She snapped quickly to his response shaking her head, angry at his questioning of there being trouble. Of course there was trouble other wise Azar would not be here looking for her father! She growled and turned around once more moving quickly behind her father hoping that nothing got too bad since she left.
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