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 Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 10:29 pm
"Sucker." Kelasia teased. "He's got you now... I bet you half an antelope, Kizrain, Sitian takes one look at him and falls in love."
"Fine with me." Kiz laughed as he rolled onto his back. "He can have the wicked one... She could teach him a few tricks to sharpen any fighting skill he has... That girl is DANGEROUS. Mom said worse than Kalliska, when she was Sitian's age.. And Kalliska is the best hunter I've ever seen."
He needn't have worried. Over the root was a steep drop, almost a lion's length, with only the slightest of an incline. Acierta skittered down it and then turned a sharp corner around a boulder, waving her tail for him to follow.
"No trouble to show you." She called. "Probably should start teaching everyone.. Since we're all bound to need it soon..."
She hoped.
Around the sharp corner was a short path, which then split into three different paths. She sat before the split, waiting for him to catch up. "Lost yet?"
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 10:41 pm
Nikalo raised and eyebrow. "Falls in love? And yet she's dangerous?" He had no idea what to expect from these two others that the were talking about. He knew so few lions it was sad. Of course, he could barely be expected to want to be around others. Not that they knew that. He wanted to sigh. Secrets were not fun things. "Maybe someone should teach me how to fight first? Because... I've never found anyone before." He looked at Kiz hopefully.
Anijak slid down the incline rather gracefully and laughed softly. "Yet? I haven't stopped being lost." He looked at the three choices and suddenly wanted to explore them all. It would be fun, trying to find his way. A small, slow smile spread on his face. And so easy to catch the others here. Plans ticked away in his head as he looked at the split and his smile took on a more sinister twist.
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 10:59 pm
"All females are dangerous." Kizrain said softly, righting himself to look at his friend. "Most important rule there is, Nik.. All females are dangerous."
His eyes skipped to Kelasia, then back. "Don't ever forget."
His normal happy demeanor reappeared almost instantly. "As for the rest.. Sitian is worse than the other's I've seen... But then, they don't always show you their claws first thing... As far as teaching you how to fight, I bet we could all stand to learn that..."
"I wouldn't mind a few lessons." Kelasia murmured, the dainty claws of one forepaw lashing out lightning quick to score the ground. They retracted in the next moment, though she continued to consider the paw. "Papa promised to teach me some things... But I am sure I must wait until I am 'older'..."
She frowned at her paw, clearly irked.
An idea hit her, her eyes flaring as bright as her pendant's white glow, for a moment. "Clasira and Adian! And Riadir, if someone can find him... Adian can fight, and Riadir too.. I think... And they have powers..."
Kizrain had been carefully considering her, and her claws, when her words burst free. "Hey... Hey! I like it!"
He perked instantly, grinning. "Or maybe we can meet up with Caladbolg once in awhile, somewhere, and learn from him while they're taking lessons?"
He glanced at Nikalo, excitement lighting his eyes.
"It's really not that bad." She offered soothingly, smiling. Crouching into a play stance, she let her tailfeathers hover over her head, eyes fixed on the paths. "My middle feather is my favorite."
She winked, then leapt up and trotted toward the center path. "Because it's one of a kind. This way, Ani."
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 11:16 pm
Nikalo watched his change in demenor and frowned. Why would Kiz think that all females are dangerous? Not even Asia seemed all that dangerous to him. There were females that were dangerous, but all of them? He thought of his sister and of Citali. Neither of them seemed dangerous to him. They just didn't. And how did they know so many lions? Nik felt a little left out since they knew so many other lions and he didn't. He was pouting, but he wouldn't admit that of course. But Kiz looked over at him and Nikalo couldn't help but smile at him and say, "Let's do it."
Anijak blinked at the way she pick the path, coming back to his current senses and smiling. At least she hadn't seen him smile. "Are you sure that's the right way? It can't be the middle path. It would be too easy." He didn't really doubt her as he followed. She was their leader, as far as he was concerned. She wouldn't lead him astray.
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 11:30 pm
"Everyone is dangerous." Kelasia replied to Nikalo's unspoken question, smiling gently as she did so. "Everyone, Nikalo. Friends can hurt your feelings and break your heart, just the same as family or those you come to love... We all have teeth, and claws, and words... And no one can really say which of those will hurt more, when the time comes that they are all put to use."
Kizrain grinned widely as Nikalo agreed. "Alright! I can't wait for you to meet Adian, he's awesome... I don't know much about Riadir, except that you don't ever want to make him mad... And Clasira usually talks to Asia, or Acierta, from what I've seen.. But she seems nice, shy, but nice."
"It's just the way I remind myself." She murmured. "This is actually the second of these 'pick a path' detours. With the proper turns, even if you choose the wrong path, they can all get you to the heart of the wood, it just depends on how brave you are."
She gave a bell-like laugh. "That's probably the danger of all these. There is one 'cub' path that goes from the outside, to the center... But there are several off-shooting paths that can get you lost, or get you there faster, depending on what order you take them in... They call it a maze.. I like it."
She wriggled through a wall of greenery, little more than draping vines with large buds. "Those will flower in the next few weeks, they smell really nice."
Then skirted around a few tightly twisting turns, and scrambled over a boulder that blocked the better part of the path. The entry to a little tunnel on the other side, she skirted right into the 'rabbit-hole'. "Come on, it's not very long, but there's a big boulder you can't really go around or over sooo..."
Acierta loved the different obstacles. It was like a big game.
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 11:52 pm
Nikalo smiled at Kiz, at the way he talked about his friends, and wondered if he got the same praise from the kit. The thought made him happy. And slightly careless. So he laughed off Kelasia's warning. "I don't think I will have to worry about that, Asia, really. My aunt -- " As soon as the words passed his lips, he froze, mouth clamped shut, eyes way to wide. Why did he mention her? He never brought her up here. Never. It was just the mention of family... or maybe love. How could he love with a mad women in his head? Despair shot through his eyes for one moment before he had it under control again. "Nevermind that." he laughed weakly.
Anijak followed her through the obstacles with an ease that surprised him. He just saw where she went, and then he went. It was an almost graceful motion that he would never be able to do on his own, he was sure. Ani enjoyed it, though. He did have his sisters ability to be silent wherever she went. So, he enjoyed it while he could. "I think I am going to have a hard time finding my way through this place." He sighed softly, but there was an undertone of excitement. He slid into the tunnel with that same, eerie grace he had picked up. "Lead the way."
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 12:25 am
Kelasia tilted her head, and smiled slightly. "I believe I know where you're coming from, Nikalo..."
She curled her tail around herself. "My uncle."
She shook her head and let it go.
Kizrain had given his friend a puzzled smile, and nudged him playfully. "Can't wait for you to meet them, bet you'll have a blast! I always do when we mock-battle."
She laughed as he followed her into the dark and trotted down the narrow path. It had been widened by Jade and Aki's claws, and perhaps the work of the first Loyalty Unending... Maybe LU2 would add their clawmarks to the clay...
Filing that thought away for later she lead the way up out of the other end of the tunnel, through another wall of vines, and around a sharp corner. A little avenue led from there into the clearing. "Hi everyone!"
Citali grinned. "Acierta! Anijak! You made it!"
She laughed. "I was beginning to wonder, Brother... I'm glad the Star could lead you to us."
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 12:38 am
Nikalo was very glad for his sisters arrival. Everyone would pay attention to her now. As it should be. As it should be. He gave Kiz a smile. "Yeah, I can't wait to meet them either." He shown with false excitement, but his eyes flicked to Asia, frowning. Her uncle? Who was her uncle? Why did she think she knew where he was coming from? He mentally cursed himself for not learning more about his friends. He would have to ask Aceirta and she have questions. No. He was going to get Asia alone and ask her. She's have the answers anyway. That decided, he turned back to Kiz, returning the nudge. "I hope they teach me something before we fight."
Anijak smiled warmly at his sister. "Yeah. Ci-Ci is really good at leading." He tilted his head to make the bead against his chest rattle. "I tried to come through the kit path." He wasn't as good as Nikalo in smiling when he didn't want too, but he tried away. "I didn't know about the other paths." He turned to face the rest of the room. "Hey guys!"
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 12:58 am
"Before you and I fight, or you and Asia?" Kizrain teased.
"Either way.. I bet you'll learn loads, I always do." Kiz grinned wider, tail flicking back and forth. "Adian is awesome... I bet you and he get along great. Clasira's really sweet to, she's shy, a lot like Kelasia. But I guess their parents know each other so they've spent a lot of time together."
He shrugged and called a greeting to Acierta and Anijak when they arrived, smiling all the while. In the back of his mind, he wondered when Jes was going to arrive...
Citali grinned wider, then blinked and gasped. "OH ANI! I'm sorry!"
She took a brief inventory and was glad to see all of his beads seemed in place. "I'm so sorry, I forgot. Oh, and if Piquet tried to get here he's probably lost!"
She winced, flattening her ears to her skull and hunkering down. "Betcha' wanna kill me, huh?"
"Oh Citali don't be silly." Acierta rolled her eyes. "I rode to his rescue and saved the day.. And I'll go get Piquet if he's lost too.. It's not a big deal.. And besides, if Ani hadn't have gotten into this predicament, I probably woulndn't have realised we all need to practice the 'cub' trail..."
She frowned. "Wouldn't do for anyone else to get lost or tangled up..."
"It is an important thing to review." Kelasia agreed with a nod, stretching where she lay. "That way when we need it, we don't have to wait for one of the others to come along and help us... Granted, if its ever needed it will be there... But this will make things easier."
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Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 7:16 pm
Nikalo laughed, ramming Kiz with his shoulder softly. "You, of course. I wouldn't want to fight a girl." More over, it didn't want to lose to a girl. He didn't really want to fight anyone. It seemed like a great waste of time, to him. He supposed there were reasons to fight, but... He looked sideways at Kiz as he prattled on about how great these other lions were. If he held them in such high esteem, then they had to be very great lions. "If you keep talking about them like that, I may end up being disappointed when I meet them." He teased, turning his attention to Citali for a moment, wondering what she was apologizing for. He would ask Acierta later, since he was paying too much attention to Kizrain to pay attention to the others. Which was odd, for him.
Anijak laughed. "I don't ever wanna kill you, Citali." He wouldn't even have come to the LU2 without her. He'd never spent this much time around so many people without pranking the hell out of them, to which the moon boy would attest. He had to apologize. Right. Couldn't forget to so that. "And, yeah, I probably would have gotten really lost. Ci-Ci is going to have to show me the trail at least one more time. I know it's the middle fork, though... I think." Ani laughed softly at himself, resenting it. He hated to be laughed at, even if he was the one laughing. But, better to suffer for a few moments than to have Citali think that he was mad at her. Which he was, but she wasn't supposed to know about that.
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Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 9:38 am
"It's ok Nik..." Kizrain teased with a conspiratory wink. "I wouldn't want to fight Asia either... I've heard she's tough."
His eyes slid sideways to consider the Fayth's Treasure, then back to his friend as he laughed. "Alright.. I'll stop talking about them.. For now."
"Liar." Citali murmured, though there was amusement on her face. "You're my brother.. You're bound to want to do so at some point... It's a rule or something.."
She flicked her tail, not greatly concerned with it. "As for the rest... We really should have thought about it... Sorry it was you, Ani... But I guess it's good Acierta was out there.. I don't know if I could have helped you."
Mischief glinted in her eyes. "The temptation to laugh..."
"That's hardly very nice, Citali." Acierta scolded, though she smiled when she said it. "We really should have all reviewed it before now... With all the false turns, we might never find each other if someone got lost..."
"A mistake that will be rectified." Kelasia murmured soothingly. "I see no reason for us to continue to squak about how negligent we were, or who is to blame... It is behind us, and no harm was done... We are all friends here, so I am sure no one is holding against the others."
Her eyes were weighty with the power of years she had not yet seen. But then, the Fayth's children were like that.. Wise beyond their years, gifted beyond their fellows. Only time would tell as to what Kelasia would become. "I vote we call this meeting to order, and get on with buisiness, if there are no objections."
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 10:08 am
Nikalo grinned at Kizrain, happy that he wasn't the only one who didn't want to fight Kelasia. Of course, Kiz would have a better chance of beat her than he would anyway. Learning to fight with these friends of his was going to be an exercise in self-control, really. And a lot of prayers to the moon that his Aunt wouldn't just show up to help with the training. He nodded to Asia as she spoke, still planning to corner her for explanations later. As long as the moon shone, she wouldn't be able to get away from him anyway. "I second that vote. let's get started."
Anijak kinda smirked at his sister. If she laughed at him, he'd have to hit her. Hard. He didn't enjoy making a fool of himself, especially not in front of their leader. Not that he would admit that. He opened his mouth to reply when the Fayth child spoke. Which made him shut up. As usual. Still. Probably a good thing with what he'd been going to say. So he smiled and nodded, agreeing with the moon boy.
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:24 pm
"Hope you aren't jealous." Kiz teased under his breath, careful to speak just out of the other's hearing. None of them were close enough to hear, but he scooted a little closer to Nik just in case.
Smiling at the group, he nodded. "All In Favor?"
"I know, pain, lots and lots of pain if I laugh." Citali sighed mournfully at Anijak, pouting slightly. "You never let me have any fun, Elder Brother..."
She watched the rest of the group as they settled and called the vote, waiting until the proper time.
"I." She sang out with the rest of the group.
"Then I believe Loyalty Unending 2 is called to meet." Acierta sang out, stoicly, then beamed widely. "I would like to formally apologize on behalf of myself and the other followers of the old LU... We probably should have paid more attention to the paths and explained them fully... With my condolences, Anijak."
She stretched out a forepaw and tucked the other beneath her chest, sweeping her tailfeathers out shen she bowed her muzzle to the outstretched paw. "Forgive me, My Friend."
"I too apologize, Anijak." Kelasia murmured. "I who have a knack for finding things and knowing... And I did not use it... I am sorry you were lead 'astray' in the woods... And I hope you will not hold it against us for too terribly long..."
She gave him a shy smile before echoing Acierta's bow. "Surely it would strain our relationships, and that could not be born..."
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Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:20 am
"J-Jealous?" Nikalo laughed, keeping his voice down. He should have been paying attention to his sister, but the sudden proximity of his friend was distracting. Which was odd, something that normally wasn't a problem for him. He never had any problem paying attention to his sister. Still. The other boys closeness was very distracting. "Why would I be jealous of lions I have never met?" Nik ignored the girls apologizing to Anijak. He didn't deserve it so he didn't want to listen too it. And when they were hanging by their tails a few feet off the ground with that bullies laughter ringing in their ears, they wouldn't want to apologize to him anymore either.
Anijak shifted uncomfortably. Why did everyone have to apologize to him? It was... uncomfortable. Even the Fayth Child was apologizing and she hadn't done anything. "There is nothing to forgive." He took a few steps back, shaking his head. "It's not your fault I got lost. Really. You don't need to apologize, Ci-Ci." His butt hit the back wall. "You either, Kelasia. I mean, what the hell? You didn't do anything, Asia. What is there to hold against you?" Even if he did still plan to prank the hell out of them when they were away from his sister, it wasn't revenge or anything. Just something he wanted to do. And they were already making him feel bad about it. Damn smiles and pretty bows.
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Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:32 pm
"True.. You haven't met them..." Kizrain grinned. "Guess we'll have to change that, eh?"
His smile was a little smug, and obviously the wheels were turning in his head. A slight vein of wickedness ran through the family, and he couldn't help but rib Nik a little... It was going to be fun, to have Nik meet Adian and Riadir... No doubt Caladbolg would be teaching them at the usual spot... Bet Clasira would be there overlooking it all.. She usually went off to practice by herself or a female friend she mentioned...
"Jessadra..." Kiz murmured, remembering her speaking of the other cub. "Jessadra's dad knows how to fight too.. So does her mom.. We might have a handy little network set up in no time."
He grinned wider.
Acierta smiled at him as she straightened and sat, wrapping her tail around her paws. "But I feel better having said it... I don't want anything to strain the bonds of friendship.. After all, we have one basic creed... That if any of us are in trouble, we'll all be there as fast as we can... Hard to run out and save someone if all you're thinking about is the last time they failed you."
Her lovely face turned into the picture of sorrow, pale eyes darkening to storm-cloud grey. "I didn't mean to fail you, Ani."
Kelasia sat silently as Acierta spoke, mimicing her now sitting pose and nodding at her words. Acierta merely echoed what she said, what they all felt to some degree or the other. That was the basic code of Loyalty Unending... If there was trouble, they were all there. It didn't matter what or who or why... They were there for each other.
"If you do not hold it against us, that is one thing... But we did neglect to pass on relevant information... Which is an oversight. Everyone should know, at least all within this group, how to get here... That is priveledged information only to us, for we do not want outsiders to come, but it should be free information to our numbers... What would have happened if you stepped into one of the pits that are scattered through this place? We never would have found the body!"
"Body.. Yes, that's cheerful." Mused Citali. "Mother would loooooooove to hear that story I'm sure.."
She eyed her brother. "What do you MEAN you don't know where your brother is Citali?"
She coughed and looked around. "Well mother.. We might have forgotten to tell him the right way to the secret place you don't know about... And he might have gotten into some trouble..."
She trailed off with a grimace.
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