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 Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:55 am
Kaanga furrowed her brow as Ripuka spoke, and look off into the distance. In all her dreams and all her stories, she hadn’t once dreamt of any kind of proof of Finar-Si. She dared not utter such blasphemy- and for all she knew, the great goddess truly could be testing them. She almost liked that idea. The idea that faith was all someone needed to be safe. But was it? Kaanga wasn’t sure. She wasn’t sure of a lot of things- but this above all.
But it made her nervous to see Ripuka angry, and Kidondo obviously wavering on some very controversial thoughts. She shifted uncomfortably, and leaned against Uzulu. “Maybe something reveal themselves in time...? Like famine?” She remarked quizzically, as if the words were not really her own.
Still somewhat obscured by Kaanga- No raised her head. She could see Ripuka whispering something rather harshly into the prince’s ear, and her ears flicked forward. But by then, Kaanga was speaking and she could not hear it. But the look! Stubborn old woman. The black lioness stiffled down her own growl, and decided to take a few steps from behind Kaanga, so she was back in view again. Head still down and looking the part of a slave- she hoped maybe Ripuka’s intolerance of her presence might distract her attention from Kidondo.
Kaanga, meanwhile- attempted her own fix of the situation by babbling incessantly.
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Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:54 am
The sudden spike of tension certainly didn't go beyond anyone's notice, not Zari's, not Ashi's, not Uzulu's, and certainly not Azula's. At last, it seemed, someone actually verbally acknowledged the dying bloodline here, and yet now she could see why inbreeding was a looming worry. Well no one ever said the Firekin were anything short of stubborn.
If they knew the truth about Azula's own cubs then perhaps they wouldn't deem the situation utterly useless, but none did, and none could, for she wouldn't chance being run out with snapping jaws, or her children slain over the sake of pride. Pride was such an ugly beast, rearing it's head and taking hold, dragging it's followers down with it when things got rough.
Pride in moderation. That was what Azula believed.
~A test by Finar-si, oh please...~
I've met gods of whom you speak, and they are not as caring, nor as giving as you seem to think.
She wanted to say.
Gods were like any other lion in a position of power, most of them saw mortals as mere playthings, after all, wasn't that essentially how the mortals came into existance to begin with? It was what she had been taught at least.
"If this is indeed a test, then perhaps the answer isn't to simply wait around for handouts." She uttered calmly, gaze directed to the orange lioness. Her statement was somewhat neutral, not outright challenging, nor in groveling agreement. But if the old storyteller really expected their "prayers" to be answered just by being good little children, it was no wonder this pride was dying. How long had they been trying that, after all? If this pride was to survive then it was going to have to take it's own future into it's paws, and the goddess Finar-si be damned. She didn't speak such blasphemous thoughts however.
Zari watched the exchanges quietly after Uzulu's attention left her, and she wandered away from both the light pelted and dark pelted females to scamper over to Ashi's side instead. She didn't care for all this tension in the air, like a fight was about to break out at any moment. Her ears flattened gently to her skull and she pressed lightly against her brother's side where she sat now. He might be emotionless, but at least it meant he was rock-steady, an anchor in a sea of uncertainty.
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Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:52 am
As No stepped into sight, old Ripuka did indeed find herself drawn from her prince. Her teeth locked to bite back a snarl but it was quite clear she was angered - no not angered. It was more distress! Here she was in the company of her own kind, another elder too, and it seemed that all of their faith was dwindling? No wonder Finar-si refused to aid them. If one in a handful retained the honour of the old ways then why should the Goddess aid them? She knew if she had been a deity she would not aid those who did not show her respect.
For a moment it seemed she would lunge for the slave, take her anger and fear out on that pitiful black form. However it was Azula's words that kept her tamed somewhat. The young mother's words were so out of the blue and so unexpected that the old female was quite stunned. Words seemed to be knocked from her throat and for a moment she simply gawked. Her first reaction was to snap back, allow her temper to fuel her onwards and yet there was something in the way Azula worded things that stopped her.
What if she herself had been reading the test wrong?
"So what do you suggest we do?" She retorted with a sharp flick of her tail. "Violate our Firekin spirit by mingling with the outsiders?" She shot No a sharp gaze, noticing that the young female was definately not an ordinary, pitiful specimen. No. Her Prince had chosen a fine female slave indeed.
"Enough!" For the first time since the group had gathered Kidondo seemed suddenly the Firekin Prince he was born to be. No longer were his words softly spoken and no longer was his expression blank.
Now as he stood his muscles rippled beneath a fine red pelt and his eyes flashed with something akin to anger. Never before had he felt such a raw emotion and he could understand why Ripuka braced it so often. With anger came a feeling of power, of strength. He unsheathed his claws and imagined slicing into those who wished to destroy him.
His muzzle wrinkled in a snarl and he turned upon Ripuka with a surprising ferocity. "Enough of this speak of tests! Do not let differences drive a wedge between us. In difficult times we should work together, accept and embrace change if it means survival. You have assumed much today Lady Ripuka and I do not like what you have been implying." For though it was true he was not of his father's mind, he did not lack tradition. He did not want to rid his kin of their history. Instead he wanted to mingle old with new. Why could ones like Ripuka not see this was the only way?
"Finar-si may be testing us as you say but do you wish me to stand back and watch my people suffer? Ripuka...I thought you knew me better than that. I love my kin, you yourself taught me to honour and respect my fellow brothers and sisters. I would never do anything to purposely hurt them. Do you hate me for trying to find a solloution to our problem?" He sighed and again his anger seemed to seep away. "Every night when I sleep my rest is disturbed withj nightmares. To see the desert empty of red would break me as it would you. So then why do you accuse me of such blasphemy? If it is because I left the borders then you don't need to worry. The outside world offers nothing for me, the desert is part of me and I will do nothing to destroy what I love."
Ripuka looked shocked and deeply ashamed at her Prince's words and remembering who she was in the presence of lowered herself in a deep bow. Her nose brushed the sand and for a moment she looked suddenly old.
"I am sorry my Lord. Please. Forgive an old fool. I have been troubled, as we all have, about the goings on in the pride but I should not have said such words. I know you Prince, I know you will do me proud."
Kidondo's heart clenched.
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Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:27 am
Ny had yet to leave the desert as she had said to the prince she was doing, she couldn't bring herself to leave again.
She had gone on a morning walk to see if she could make up with her father when she had first set eyes on the group, all the young cubs brought a smile to her face. She loved youngsters when they could go back to their mother.
Out of curiosity she walked towards the group keeping her head low, her eyes darted from lion to lion untill she saw Ripuka but the voices were what she was keen on listening to. It seemed the new king had listened to what Ny had said to him, or more yelled at him.
She kept near to the back of the group watching to see what it was that was happening. The topic seemed to be about breeding, something that she hadn't worried about. Both her and Ra were going to live in the graveyard and there were lions everywhere but since returning home Ny seemed to like that idea less and less.
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Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 6:59 am
Kaanga received a sharp jolt when Kidondo suddenly started to yell. She settled herself by leaning against Uzulu again- but it was obvious that this discussion between Ripuka and Kidondo was making her uneasy. They weren’t arguing about babies anymore, were they? She didn’t know what it was about; but cautiously watched the scene unfold. She had never seen her brother angry before. In fact- she really hadn’t seen her brother be anything before. He had always a blank. Now he buffeted like fire.
The black cat, who had been quite ready to take whatever it was the old lady had on the end of her paws, dug her own claws into the ground apprehensively. Her head was no longer down and it volleyed between looking at Ripuka and looking at Kidondo. He was yelling at her now- and she kept sharp for any kinds of retaliation. Both from Ripuka; and the other lions. But the others surrounding the group seemed mostly surprised if anything, and no one spoke up against the Prince-Heir as he scolded the old woman.
She finally sheathed her claws when the old woman bowed into the sand, and apologized. Eager to expel the tension, she snorted stiffly and puckered her whiskers; letting the thrum melt away so she could coil back into the slave’s posture. This Ripuka truly believed what it was she said. Could they really blame her for being faithful? No; they couldn’t. But it still didn’t change anything.
Out of the corner of her eyes she noticed a white lioness slink by. The black creatures eye moved nearer the lady. Kaanga’s nervous laughter interrupted her curious look.
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Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:01 pm
It seemed to Uzulu, that perhaps the one that would be craved now were those not of royal ancestry. But weren't they all, in some way or another, related to the goddess. Afterall, they were Firekin. In his youth, cubs between cousins was something quite common, or so he'd believed. Had any of them known of the reprocussions of their actions?
He'd been around for the plague. And he didn't want to be reminded of it. His eyes narrowed, fur prickling, not necessarily at the prince, but at the words which he spoke. He didn't like where this conversation was going, one bit, and he sided with Ripuka in more ways than one. He did not, however, have any faith in Finarsi. Despite his family's biased religion, he held no respect for the gods, and silently opposed them. He could not stand to stay quiet any longer.
"I think it is unwise to let one so young carry the responsibility of the Firekin in their shoulders. It will only lead to a bitter end. Our bloodlines tainted or not, Finar-si cannot save us. It is not the red that will be washed from the earth, but the tradition that creates this color. The question is, do we die in honor, or taint the lines in hope of success?"
What Ripuka had infered, it was something dark indeed. To let the outsiders come in, it was blasphemous. They would not understand the culture, or any of it, unless they were taken as youth, red in coat, and raised to be of The Blood. To grab those blindly would make their ruin. Still, even those youth would taint their ways, and Uzulu wondered if it was yet worth it.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:02 am
The young male could find no more words for the gathered lions here. His eyes ran over all of them, from Ripuka to the cubs, to the mother. They settled briefly on the old male and his ears bowed a little at his words.
Too young? Inexperienced? Was all this true? Was his desperate attempt at saving the Firekin only destroying it? His heart shuddered painfully in his chest and then his eyes shifted sideways to Kaanga. He found comfort in her face but sadness too, for in her eyes the cheerful spark had begun to fade.
He moved towards her, snapping into action so abruptly that Ripuka staggered back, fearful of a strike. Yet he paid the old one no heed. Instead he continued towards his sister and moved to nuzzle gently against her.
"Kaanga." He whispered, "I am sorry." And with that he swept past her, leaving his last glance for No alone. Strong, beautiful and proud. Yes, she was no slave.
Then with that he was gone, dissapearing amongst the sand as if it had risen to swallow him up.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:07 pm
Kaanga’s mouth fell open to say something as her brother walked past, but all that came from her lips was a soft squeak. Her tail curled nervously, and she looked towards Uzulu, who was also addressing the situation. She was suddenly quite afraid, but the white creature did not know why. Did it have something to do with the dreams she had before? Trouble from the west... what did it all mean? But, maybe she was overreacting. Kidondo had a long journey! Surely he was tired, and Ripuka was always irritable. That was it. But in the narrow frame of her chest, she could feel the steady and unrelenting drum of her heart.
“Oh...” She finally mouthed by the time his back was turned. She looked again to Uzulu and lowered her eyes. “...I am sure everyone is just tired...” She dismissed to the group, as though it was up to her to smooth the incident over.
No too felt the concern Kaanga was feeling, but unlike Kaanga, she couldn’t dismiss it. She caught his eye as he walked by- but he didn’t seem able to hold it for long as he walked off. He looked... something was off.
No turned back towards Kaanga, and bowed her head low. “I should look to him,” She dismissed- but did not wait for a chance for any of the others to say otherwise. She hung back for a moment to give Kidondo space- before crossing off carefully behind him.
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