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 Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 9:48 am
A light tutting toned out from her maw at both of the youthful lions, and her eyes danced with flames of entertainment. Maw shifting to flash a set of gleaming fangs, she raised her paw up and unsheithed her claws to stare at them momentarily.
"Now, did I ever tell you to be the first to strike? If I do recall correctly, and trust my sense of memory, I said no such thing. I merely stated that you cannot return with your intentions and not expect a lashing out by those of the past. It is how they were raised...when any challenged they would rebute, and strike down offenders to prove their word was law. Thankfully, I grew outside such teachings, and thus I have great pride in my verbal tatics than my physical. I choose when to fight, and so must you. Battles are very stratigic, and one simple mistake could cost your life."
Lightly setting her paw on the ground, she looked to No and directed her words to the raven female.
"Tell me, what has the prince taught you of the firekin pride? Has he told you of our heritage, of the plague and how it devistated the numbers to the brink of extinction? Has he explained our hatred for the outside world, and how no one would speak of the grasses and the trees, for in a Firekin's mind, there was no such thing?"
It seemed she decided not to answer Ondo's questioning of her son, for in her mind Naraka had moved on, and was no longer of her concern.
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 10:06 am
“I know of the desert,” No spoke smoothly, but to directly face the other female she had to crane her neck just a notch. “Had it not been for this place- I do not think I could have understood it.” She spoke, taking a moment to trace her green eyes across the sparsely grassed grey crag. “Grass is nice, but we don’t eat it. I can see how others would survive in the desert, but not why one would go as far to deny the existence of it.”
The world was changing outside the desert- surely the firekin did not wish to hide from it forever? She was not sure of all their ways, or why they did the things they did. But she could not hang forever, settle down, have many fat children in the pridelands and be content. She’d been pushing herself farther and farther- it had been by chance that she’d run into Kidondo, and she knew a worthwhile cause when she saw one. She would not let something pass her over simply because it was far, or because she did not understand. Kidondo had mentioned pridelander slaves, and a people in strife. That was enough reason for her.
“The plague was not just a firekin happening,” No spoke softly, and lowered her eyes. “Many people in my lands died from it, and my father’s and my mother’s.” She had not considered the plague to be the cause of the pride’s problems- but now she could see clearly how it wrought. “The plague has ended, it shouldn’t be allowed to keep damning others.”
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:33 pm
"Indeed." Kidondo blinked in admiration to the youth's words. She was not that much younger than himself and he found her intellect endearing. It was nice to meet others his age who were not egotistic Firekin. He had loved his siblings dearly, but a lot of them, Koka for instance had thought too much of themselves. One day she would grow overconfident and she would die. His heart grieved to think of strong, proud Koka lying motionless but he knew deep down that if they met they would fight.
Their views were too different, and again the realisation that if siblings were to fight to the death than so would other pride members. Nuri was right. Those who were set in their ways would fight to the death. He could name a couple of them now. Ripuka and his father for two.
Poor, poor Ripuka. He felt sorry for the half-blind old girl. This change he offered would probably drive her mad and in turn, to her death.
"You are right lady Nuri. It would be naive of us to think we can waltz back into the pride and win them over with words alone." He cast his eyes again at No, his gaze softening. They had only known each other for a short while but already he wanted to protect her with his life. "No." He uttered her name softly, "I fear for you too. It will be you who will have to prove to my kin that you are worthy of being a lioness of the desert. I look upon you now and I see strength, but there are others who will not so easily be convinced. Ultimately, my kin will need you whether they believe it or not. We need rogues, we need fresh blood, or else we are doomed."
He realised he had told No little about his lands and with a swish of his tail stood to stand next to Nuri. "Firekin are a race of warriors blessed by the Goddess Finar-si. It is this that have turned us into the 'superior beings' we have believed ourselves to be." He sighed, "yet our Goddess has gone and she will not return. I hold no love for her, but most of my kind will fight desperately to protect her name. They hope blindly that she will return and bring fresh blooded Firekin with her. In my heart I know such a blessing will never occur. We have been forgotten."
He sighed, thinking back to the plague. He had seen flashes of it in his mind's eye. The suffering of his ancestors, the despair and desperation. Lions had grouped together to call to their goddess, yet she had forsaken them.
"The plague killed off all but a few bloodlines. The only one that truly survives is my own. The royal bloodline. However, Nuri's dark pelted line still thrives alone with Ripuka's orange bloodline. However, even if Nuri were to return and breed with a male, we would end up with more cubs related to royalty. Eventually we would all be related and would breed only demented cubs. Inbreeding would lead to our deaths. That is why rogues are needed." Then in a rushed tone. "But that is not the only reason No. I do not wish to take you to our lands to offer you to males. Don't get me wrong. There would be no forced couplings. I wish to bring in worthy rogues to allow the Firekin to mingle, find love, take mates and create cubs who would not be related to us. We need to continue this great circle evenb if it means the Firekin blood turns to something else."
He turned his eyes up to Nuri. "Do you think it would work? Would you be willing to be a part of such a great change?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:43 pm
Nuri had once more directed her eyes elsewhere, mingling over the words of the prince as he spoke about the lands currently, the lands she had turned her back towards. The question was indeed what he asked, would she be able to return with her head held high, and be accepted. It was less than likly, for before she had the plague as an excuse for her leave, this time it was not as easy.
This time, she had left all of the Firekin's behind her, with a simple vow to never return.
Letting out a soft breath, one many would associate with a sigh, she turned back towards No and studied her one last time. With a set jaw, she moved to step away from the Prince's side, and eyed the youth with a sort of pondering matter.
"You will need to be educated...and do not take that as a dimenishing concept, for while the prince sees you as strong, you still are quite lacking...there is more you must learn if you wish to face the king and the blood...much more." Looking back to the prince, she gave him a half smile, a true one for once.
"I take it she shall be your second in command, yes? It would be perfect, for choosing a non-blooded creature to help bring back the strength of the lands would prove a strong point. Not to mention piss off the pride, for lack of better terms. My suggestion, is search around for more worthy lions, such as No here, and while you're at it, if you find my foolish son, make sure he knows he better have a good excuse if he wishes to return."
"As for me, I shall wait for word of the uprising, and make my move. It would be better I show up after you make your first step, more dramatic if you are followed by rogues and half-blood than anything else."
Trailing off, she looked out to the lands, and softly let out that same breath, "I know there are pure blooded creatures out there, ones that like me have left the dwindling pride. They will respect your cause, and in turn support you to the end, Kidondo. There are powerful allies in these parts, ones that will determin a failure from a win."
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 1:21 pm
The black cat nodded her head as the two spoke, before Kidondo addressed her and she returned the glance with a steady look. No understood what he meant- although she was not, at the moment, considering her plot to be that just of an added blood line. This was a cause she could help in- even to destruction, if that was where it lead them. She had always nursed the childish belief of being great, and she’d be called no coward for shying away from it. Nor a fool. These were a people would soon grow desperate; how long before another option came to them? Kidondo’s path though- great things could come of it.
She listened to him finish, and shook her head with a faint chuckle as he rushed the last part. As much as it seemed obnoxious to think- she wasn’t exactly far off from adolescence. No supposed it was not too ridiculous an assumption for her to make about Kidondo’s plans for her. “I expect we’ll want to win the war before worrying about what place my blood makes.” She remarked. “But people will understand the reason, and I think the promise of mates is a good one.” She was a child, but she did know enough about people to get that. Lionesses would get cub hungry, and males would soon want for females. How would Finar-Si’s teachings hold up against nature? But with some consideration, No decided the fact that they were having the problem at all meant the effects of them were considerable.
“I’ve never been bothered what people think of me,” The black cat continued. “And I’ll not care about their opinion. But they’ll know enough that I am worthy in time.” Would they? She made sure not to let her face flinch. But she was a tad...worried? Worried wasn’t the right word. Appreciative of the subsequent looming of certain death? She didn’t know a word that quite carried that definition. Briefly, she glanced her eyes towards Nuri. Kidondo believed her to be the epitome of a firekin woman. Would she need to be like her? Her tail twitched, and quietly, she started taking notes on exactly how the older female was holding herself.
Almost on cue, Nuri spoke to her. Her eyes had already been upon her, but she darted them once out of compulsion. “I understand,” The black cat remarked. And she did. She’d have to know much more about the firekin- even more then some firekin themselves. The idea of finding these lions was daunting- but for Kidondo, she imagined the feeling must have been just the same or greater. No, no- she would help. She couldn't let the possibility of it's failing- and costing Kidondo his life, and even Nuri as well.
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 2:02 pm
He stood again and took a few steps from the two females, pausing to gaze back at them fondly. Nuri was like a true mother to him, and he could not help but wish he had been her son. His own was not around much and their status kept them apart. Poor Karama, she had been used by Kimeti for heirs and been placed in a situation she couldn't get out of.
His heart twitched and he shook his head as if to try and rid his mind of such sudden thoughts. He waited for No's reply to Nuri before speaking up again.
"If No accepts then she can walk beside me as equal, as friend and as second in command. In the little time I have known her I have come to trust her. To me that makes her one of the strongest allies I could possibly find." His eyes fell upon No's form and inwardly he smiled. He was not one to show much emotion, even happiness, but there was something about her that just made him happy.
"If I see Naraka I will be sure to tell him and I hope we can meet again soon. I will sleep better knowing that I have you on my side Lady Nuri." He bowed his head deeply towards her and then moved off. "I promise you it won't be long before rumour arises. I'll be sure to help spread them." And with that he was off, his brilliant red form strangely foreign in the surroundings.
Things had been set in motion. Things that would change the shape of the Firekin forever.
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 5:07 pm
She silently settled once more on her haunces, clearly making it known she had no more words to say on the subject at hand. Watching the prince turn and walk off, she looked over towards No and pondered a second, before her soft voice moved out for the youth's ears alone.
"Change has always been on the lands, waiting for someone to set it in motion...I have great hope you will help Kidondo change the lands for the better...please do not bring failure..." Trailing off, her eyes once more turned away, and she pushed her paws to turn her back.
"You are always welcome here No, I enjoy both yours and the prince's presence." And moving away, she decided to head back towards her cubs. If the time arose, odds are Kidondo would return to find more than just one fullblooded Firekin ready for his commands. All she had to do now, was wait, wait and see what words would brush forth upon her ears.
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Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 8:35 am
No nodded her head sincerely as the older lioness spoke, her dull green eyes trying to take in as much of the female as possible and remember her shape and appearance. “I will not fail.” She said seriously. She would not fail. As Nuri turned, No moved as well, keeping pace up behind Kidondo, although he had now strayed a few feet ahead.
The black cat paused again and looked over at Nuri. Kidondo had been right- they did need her to make this succeed. There was no doubt that Kidondo had his mind filled with plans for the future- and quietly, No started to form quite a few of her own. She would not allow it to fall.
It meant too much to him- and to the firekin, whether they knew it or not.
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