|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 10:52 am
Xennek smiled as he slipped into the crowd. The large lion enjoyed stories and was really eager to hear the tales that everyone else had. Following him was Sekayi who had been out training with the lion. “Think we’re too late?” He whispered learning closer to the larger lion.
“We can never be too late.” Xennek replied with a grin. Still as they hovered around they caught the last of Ute’s story. “A goddess?” He chuckled softly to himself. That story reminded him of some of his own. The older warrior had several in mind, but it had been such a long time since he had told any stories. But as he looked over to Sekayi the lion smiled, “I have met someone who was worse than a god. More a demon in nature if I ever saw one. Remember him, cub?”
Grimacing Sekayi nudged Xennek, “Not that one! What about the demoness your friend had to flee from?”
As much as he wanted to boast of his victory –or rather tie with that male lion- Xennek couldn’t help but to chuckle at the memory of his friend. “Ah yes. As a traveling warrior who often got into situations I had numerous friends skilled in the arts of herbs and healing, but one of them was a very close friend. Before losing his home to a fire he lived in his own haven, a place where he could tend to the plants he loved. But one night after hunting down his prey the lion settled down to eat in the clearing. Still it was suddenly quiet.” Here Xennek paused to stare out towards the stars, “No birds, no smaller creatures of the jungle moved. Slowly looking up my friend turned his gaze towards a set of bushes where a set of red eyes looked towards him. Immediately, because he’s such a pacifist, Patton threw the hind leg of the antelope towards the bushes hoping that whatever it was staring him down would be happy with a free meal. Oooh, but as the lioness emerged she devoured that leg and before my friend left moved up to rub against him. Though he was not as…experienced as I was in this certain field-“
Here he gave a playful wink to the females, “my friend realized that this was some ploy. And yes it was! Rejecting her he watched as the flirty look was replaced by the face of a ferocious demon. She wanted to kill and eat him! This was a lioness that would eat cubs whether still in their mother’s stomach or just born.” His gaze which had sparkled with mischief turned deadly serious, “This lioness is one who you must remind any cub about before they try to wander off by themselves into the dark. Her amusement is the death screams of innocents and the flowing blood from wounds warms her empty heart should she have one.” He shook his head slowly, “And it was this lioness that my friend was left with. Where I would have fought her bravely my friend still had courage to stand his ground. As he reared up and roared his challenge to her the lioness pounced…right into thin air! For at that moment my friend took that opportunity to run for his life through the shelter of the jungle where he blended in perfectly with the night’s cover.”
“So in a way he won this battle.” Xennek laughed, “Of wits against a demon, but better to stay alive than to stick around to be mauled by that lioness. Though I would have showed that one a thing or two I was glad he ran else where would I have gone to have my next set of injuries tended to?”
Watching Sekayi shook his head with a faint smile. Would Xennek really have stayed to face a demon? Then again…his gaze darkened as he remembered the one lion who Xennek had nearly spoken of instead. Yes, yes the lion would have stayed to fight even a demon.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 5:02 pm
 Waiting patiently among the lions of the circle was Umbia with her companion, Tlitl. As Mpeko's trinkets came out, she stared wordlessly as some beads rolled past her; the same response came at Veru and Nur'yu's rather... insightful tales, but then she took in the other stories with some consideration, as they seemed to speak of faraway lands or cultures. That was something that intrigued her adventurous self.
"I don't know if I can top such a chilling tale," she spoke her first words to the crowd, nodding to Xennek, "But it reminds me of something that came between me and Tlitl here when we went off one day to look for water."
"Really?" piped the dark grey snake at her side, a blush seeming to come onto his face, "You want to bring that up?"
"Oh, come, Tlitl, it's no harm. You know it wouldn't have worked out, anyways," Umbia said, patting him lightly with her paw.
"Of course it's no harm, but why waste your breath on such a silly tale!" he remarked, "But oh well, I suppose I'm the only one who brings such memories to your life - you wouldn't be able to find them elsewhere, not in any other Firekin, nope nope!"
"Yes," she said with a smile, "Snakes can add a lot to one's life, and that is where this story begins: with the eyes of a snake, Tlitl. Our physique doesn't allow very much room when it comes to getting through spaces; not even our smallest cubs could get through to where an adult snake can roam. It just so happened that on one of me and Tlitl's adventures, we came by a cave; now, we had traveled quite a distance just to get there, so when we arrived, I just... wanted to take a nap, you know?"
"Yes, you lazy thing - that wasn't far at all!" Tlitl's voice piped out, smug look on his face.
"Wanted to take a nap without interruptions, as I was saying," she continued, giving Tlitl a quick noogie, "Walking on four legs is much harder than slithering through the grounds - and as I was saying, legs wouldn't be able to claw through the rocky holes in the cave as much as a snake's form would help."
"It just so happened that I woke up to find myself alone. I went outside to look for Tlitl, but he wasn't anywhere at all. Where could he have been? I went back inside the cave in case Tlitl had come back, and he was right on time - I shouldn't have worried."
"There was a strange look in his eyes, though... It was like he had discovered something awesome, but it wasn't quite that. What could it have been? I knew something definitely happened, and so I asked. All he could say was 'I found paradise'. Paradise? I thought. Was there really paradise on the other side of the rocks in that cave? I really wanted to know. I tried breaking off some rocks, tried squeezing through, but it was simply impossible. Tlitl just sat there the entire time, that look still in his eyes. It was amazing, really - we never found anything that left him in THAT much awe."
"I asked him what it was. He snapped out of his daze and couldn't seem to find words to express it. What was this?! I had never seen Tlitl this way, and so I had to find out what was on the other side before leaving the place. Tlitl insisted we leave, which was also strange. What would he want to keep from me?"
"So I started clawing more ferociously at the walls in the cave, and he started trying to protect the thing! Usually, when your friend says they found paradise, they should want to share the experience, right? But here Tlitl was, trying to stop me from seeing what he saw! That just made me keep going. I was sure there was something on the other side I had to see."
"All my clawing must have made something on the other side respond, though. Because soon after, I heard a hissing noise. At first, it frightened me, but then it sounded familiar... Like a snake."
"Are you done yet?" Tlitl said boredly, curling around her paw with his eyes closed as if in a slumber, "Ooooh, it was a snake!"
"Don't give it away!" she exclaimed, though realizing she had just said it too, "Well, yes, it was the sound of another snake. After I clawed the wall in, there was nothing there. And why would there be? A cave is just a cave. But apparently, the 'paradise' Tlitl was talking about was this female snake. She slithered right up to me, and then started to hiss some more. Apparently she didn't like lions, and didn't like snakes associated with lions, either. I think Tlitl had a little kiss on the other side of that rocky wall while I was napping. He never had much interaction with other snakes, anyways, aside from his family. It was cute."
"Yes, well..." he paused, thinking, "She wasn't that nice - that's why I came back to you."
Umbia laughed, raising a paw to rub her head; while not as dramatic as some of the other stories the older Firekin told, she could only attempt to change the mood to a lighter one for those who may have enjoyed it.
"Anyways, once she saw that Tlitl was with me, that information... It burst her bubble quite a bit. She slithered off, out of the cave. I guess it didn't help that I kind of broke her home."
"There was that, too," Tlitl pointed out, "I wouldn't like you very much if you destroyed my home.
"I said sorry!" Umbia exclaimed, "And you wouldn't tell me what was on the other side; if you had, maybe I wouldn't have!"
"Well, I underestimated your power," he said, "Who would have thought a young girl like you could break the cave's walls?"
"And that's why you don't underestimate the strength of a Firekin lioness!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 5:15 pm
Laughing softly at the story about the snake Suditi moved forward, “I suppose I should contribute a story now. I can’t resist not telling one at such an event as this.” Her voice was soft, sultry even as she sat down in the center of the group. “But it’s not about demons or trickery I’m afraid. Nor is it my own story or that of snakes.” She gave a slight smile her gaze carefully seeking Xennek who stared back at her with an unreadable expression, “More of a sad love story which I heard while traveling here with the others.”
Looking away from him the lioness focused on the stars overhead before beginning the story, “A family of warriors was made from a curse of blood lust. How much of a curse I do not know, but the tale begins with a male cub from that line. He was raised alone out in the wilds of the rogue lands and knew nothing of love, only death and destruction.
But on the opposite ends of the savanna where the ocean waves crashed into a pure, white beach lived a family of healers. Their females guarded the secrets of healing and of the water gods there. It was there that the berserker was saved from death. Hungry for battle as he was the mighty warrior had been ambushed by a whole group from a pride which wanted revenge on him for the slaughter of their own general. Outnumbered the male managed to hold his own for a whole night, maybe into the next day, before finally collapsing from blood loss and exhaustion. It was then that she found him. A lioness who lived by the sea and followed the ways of love and healing came and dragged his bloody form across the rocks and down into the cove where he would be safe.
But to take in one like him not only a male, but a warrior as well was not smiled upon in her family. So she hid him. Even though once he regained consciousness and tried to kill her as well in confusion she still stayed by his side. For days and nights she fought to keep him alive and pieced together the torn flesh. And as time passed and the fever died the lion found himself in the company of what appeared to be a goddess. She was a light into his darkness.
It was her love that stopped the blood lust.” Here Suditi paused to take a deep breath. It was good that she was sitting else her shaking legs would have been obvious to the crowd. Closing her eyes against the warrior’s pain the lioness continued, “The two of them made many other small tales together, but those are too numerous to count. So I give you their ending instead. A distant suitor someone who was to be with the warrior’s love came into the play. The family was against allowing the warrior their favorite daughter, but the darkness that they saw in him should instead have been seen in the new comer. One day while the warrior was out gathering herbs for his love the newcomer saw his chance and attacked the frail lioness. She was no warrior and had no strength to fight his advances. The warrior returned at the end of the act and failing to stop what had happened in rage slaughtered the other male where he stood.
The truth of course was never revealed to the family. Instead they saw the warrior as a proven murderer and chased him from their lands. The female torn was forced back as her lover went behind the cliffs and out of her sight.
But she was heartbroken. She never ate, she never moved, she never spoke to anyone. Her younger sister seeing her devastation was her only support. And even she only helped because she too had fallen for this warrior. A moon passed before it was realized that the female was pregnant with her warrior’s cubs. Finally it was at the point where she could stand it no more. The healer went out in search of her lover. But she was weakly and with cubs so it was no surprise that when she met a group of rogues that her life was in danger. The warrior finding trails back to her was devastated to realize that he had missed her by a day’s time and by the time he found her…well she was far from the healthy light that he had last seen.
And so once again the warrior was outnumbered but this time he fought for love. With roars that echoed the thunder over the savanna the storm broke loose. She saw him fight as he once had…pure rage. But his defense was down and she couldn’t bear to see him harmed. Jumping in as one blow may have killed him the lioness was flung aside. A mighty snap as her neck went echoed through the silent land.
She and their unborn cubs…were dead.
And he in turn killed them all.
Where the warrior went I have no idea.” A slight lie. “But his vengeance on that band was mighty. Their blood to this day stains the grasses were he slaughtered them all. And to the coast a pile of colorful stones stained with his tears covers the limp form of his love. Each night as the tide reaches out to her, it is as if their souls are forever reaching yet never touching as she is just out of reach of him. He may forever travel, but his spirit is still there in that cove where they shared so much love.”
Giving a slight nod of her head the lioness turned away and slipped back into the crowd just past Roho. Further away in the group another lion turned his head and brushed away from the group as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 8:38 pm
From the moment the darkness fell, Nawvlee was well aware of what the day was and he would have to be an idiot not to hear the plan Roho had to share the festival with the Firekin in an effort to keep their traditions alive and perhaps teach them a thing or two. He had mixed feelings on the topic. Partly, he did not wish to share the traditions of the Hongshan, even with those he was sure would have fit the standard. On the other paw, he did not want their stories to be lost or his former companions forgotten. He decidedly stayed out of the planning process, allowing Roho the opportunity to prepare as she saw fit, and when he showed up, he stayed out of the way and out of central focus. He listened to the story of Jianjun from the shadows, reflecting on his history with the former leader of the Hongshan. He had not witnessed his death, and in part it was lucky for he probably would not still be here. The decision to spare those who surrendered came late and seemingly at random.
He stayed in the shadows, lurking and listening to the others tell their stories. Nawvlee had plenty he could have bragged about, he almost felt obligated to join in- that was what the night way about. But the more lions that showed up and shared their stories, the more convinced he was that his quiet reflection was satisfactory as he waited out the night, trying not to be too judgmental of the stories the others shared.(No story, simply establishing Nawvlee's presence during the night, though he refuses to share his stories or even really sit with the group.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:33 am
(I apologize for the delay! ;; I got super sick this week. Thank you so much for everyone's posts! <333
Winners of the two cubs shall be:
Ameh Firekin: Ameh [ Colorist: Kaelyndra, Parent owner: Sabra Knight / Kitsune Princess Nyoko ] NovaCracker Hongshan: NovaCracker [ Colorist: Ecavi, Parent owner: Kimaria ]) 
No furrowed her brow, considering something she'd need to bring up with Kidondo. "Those were good stories," the black cat said politely, equipped with her Cheshire grin and steady voice. "And I did say I'd tell one of my own..."
She certainly had plenty to choose from. Since birth No had lived nothing short of an interesting life, to say the least. But when the stony face of Armada came into view, the black cat realized her time had been cut short. The regent sat up, craning her neck in the direction of the corporal.
Armada pushed past the group, her pale eyes narrowed and her face severe. Blatantly ignoring the festival at hand, she leaned over towards the regent and ushered a short report: "There's something you need to see on the borders, 'mam."
The black cat nodded, and jumped from the rock. "But it looks like that'll be for another time. Good night, everyone. Its been a good year so far."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
