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 Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:26 pm
 His eyes lowered, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his maw in silent thanks, Tanaka watched the form of his retreating son. Already his children had grown so much, both in mind and body, and the father couldn't help but be proud of them.
"Be well my son, I will always love you."
His voice was quiet, spoken more to himself than the child that was already out of ear shot. Leaving four children behind was not easy, a part of him longing to stay there with them and Kiuma forever. But the protective father in him would not allow it, he could not forget Kali.
And so with a deep breath and a silent sigh, the white lion began his journey, his will pushing his body forward despite his injuries. His gait was shaky, weight placed on three paws, the fourth barely touching the earth, pawsteps carrying him forward in the direction that Mrost had taken his daughter, blood marking the trail behind him.
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Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:42 am
((I apologize for the general shortness Amon. I kinda figured it'd be longer, but my lack o' inspiration nipped that in the bottom it would seem.))
-His paws pounded, breath hitching and shifting in huge huffs as he pressed himself through the grasses, and towards the looming shadows in the distance. Already heat billowed from the cub into the cool night, sweat of worry and exercion taking his little body. But he did not stop despite the huffing and puffing. Not until he'd finally pulled himself to the mouth of the den. And there he called out amdist heavy breaths. Called and hoped his mother would wake.- "Mom! Mom!!!"
-Finally his body let that fear rattle him, and his legs quivered, his tail hung low in desperation and helplessness. They had to fix this.. they just had to. It didnt matter how tiny he was.-
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Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 9:47 pm
"Be quiet, Ahai, or you'll wake your brothers."
The silken voice drifted from the darkness of the den as Kiuma stepped out of the shaddows, looking like one of them with her red pelt darkend by lack of light. Her eyes though, glittered dangerously, and at her heels trotted a near mirror reflection of Ahai himself, his twin.
Matsai had awakened not to long after Ahai had found Tanaka, his terrible dreams much like Ahai's. Knowing where his twin had gone, he'd woken their mother, having to spend the time to explain to her the urgency of following him out to find Ahai. They had just been about to set out when Ahai had arrived in the flesh, shouting and out of breath. His fear showing clearly, unusual for the stotic cub, Matsai huried over to press his shoulder to his twin's, supporting the other body while he caught his breath.
"Tell me what's happened, son." Kiuma said softly, her voice holding the iron of command in it. "Tell me everything." Her mate and two of her cubs had disappeared in the night, and she was shaken deeply, reminded of the night her own father had died. It had been much the same for him, but unlike her mother, she more than able to go out and find her mate. Fear settled into cold anger, steading her and preparing the red lioness for what she must do now.
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Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2006 7:05 am
-His ears snapped foward with the unexpected reprimand, but it was immedately followed, his mind already reeling into a childish numbness as he tried to force the fear from his body. And a heavy sigh rattled weavingly from him as the familar figures touched his sight, all too happy to have his other half pressed against his side. Body leaning heavily against his twin, trying to use his form to soften the visible shakes that were still working at his own legs, he turned his eyes once more to his crimson mother.
What did they know? From her words it was something.. but how much? And before he could stop himself, he was dutifully spilling each word out, even the bitter ones that he knew quite well wouldn't sit with the mature figure before him.- "He was in a fight with another lion... one that looked like Matsai and me! And.. and.. when I got there he was covered in blood.. and I told him he needed to come home, but he told me that he wouldn't. That he had to go after stupid Kali. And he wouldn't let me go!"
-Angery tears stung at the cornors of his eyes, as his voice began to raise from it's hushed whisper once more.- "Why couldn't he kill him mom!? Dad is... dad is.."
"We have to help him! You have to help him. He won't listen, he's going after him again."
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Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:14 am
A blank mask fell down over the lioness's features, masking a deep anger mixed with fear. Mrost, of course, damn him. She had supported her mate in his malice towards his brother, but now the fued between them had cost her one of her cubs. This had to stop... she would make it stop. The god of war might be able to fight off Tanaka alone, so evenly matched were the brothers, but he could not stand against two lions. Especially when one of them was mother to the cub he had stolen.
Deep chest expanded to take in a calming breath, banking the fires of her rage. "Mrost is much like your father. They are brothers, after all. Your father could not defeat him because he went alone, though I'm sure your uncle looks even worse off than your father. Do you see now, why one must not fight with family?" Yes, there was a lesson to be learned here, one she would drum in later, when she had the time. "Don't worry, Ahai, I will go get your father, and my daughter, and bring them safely home."
Kiuma sighed inwardly, wishing nothing more than to rush out much as Tanaka had done. But unlike her headstrong mate, she remembered her obligations. Their cubs could not be left alone, not if they didn't want them to end up like Kali if the pair couldn't get her back. And there was only one lioness that Kiuma could count on to take her cubs without question.
"You two will stay here and watch over your brothers. Don't wake them unless I come back, or something threatens you. If something does, hide in the back of the cave and wait for me." Sure that her sons would obey, Kiuma turned and stalked from the cave, fading into the darkness in search of her sister, the new ruler of the Pridelands. Kami, weak-hearted thing that she was, would never be able to refuse Kiuma when she asked for her to watch her cubs. The red lioness was counting on it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back at the den, Matsai stared wide-eyed at where their mother had disappeared to.
"Seems the little monster has gotten into trouble yet again." He said matter-of-factly. "She truly is terrible. You think maybe some evil thing switched her with our real sister or brother when she was born?" He attempted to lighten the mood a little, doing what he could to help bolster his twin's strength. It was like the world was crashing down around them, their safe, easy life sudden and violently uprooted and tossed into the wind.
Well, he had been complaining to himself that it was too boring, too monotonous here. The Circle had made sure he didn't think that anymore.
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:11 am
((Did you want to assume that rp, or rp that out here? :3 I'll post Kami in my next post if you do. Or you can simply hunt her out in the den where she's sleeping.))
-Like my father? Brothers? His eyes immediately drifted to the twin that comforted him silently. How could brothers do that to each other? Matsai was like his other half. It had to be Kali's fault. That stupid little twisted brat. That always got her way no matter what she did. Squeezing his eyes shut he listened to his mothers words, and then her departure, eyes openning only when Matsai's voice rose in his ears.
And the gentlest hint of a smirk touched him for a moment at his brother's idea. Perhaps that was it.. but seriousness of the utmost level touched his voice for the simple statement that followed.- "Maybe. Whatever.. whoever she is though, I hate her."
-Butting his head lightly against his twin's, he lifted himself once more, happy to find that the sensation in his legs was beginning to subside. And though fear dug at his heart and stomach still.. he was beginning to feel stronger, more in control. Certainly mom would fix it.. and until then, they should do as she said.- "Let's go sit guard in front of the den Matsai."
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Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 2:37 pm
Matsai showed a hint of a smile as he looked at his brother, then nodded and padded to place himself at the entrance to the den, his little tail curling around himself.
"Hate is a very strong work, but I agree with you. She isn't worthy to be our sister, or a child of our great parents." He thought for a moment, wide-eyed but seeing nothing. "Maybe... maybe she shouldn't be allowed to come back. What do you think?" Expressionless, yet radiating malice, he turned to his twin, his maw twitching with a cruel smile. Traitors should be punished... and who better to give that punishment than the ones she's betrayed?
*****************
Kiuma growled to herself as she paced into the large pridal den, her eyes flickering through the darkness as she searched. Damn Mrost... if it weren't for him, her life would be near perfect now. If he hadn't come, her mate and daughter would be safe in the den, and she wouldn't be here to beg for her sister's favor.
"Kamilika..." She hissed. "Sister." The red lioness called out to the yellow one, depending on the bond of blood to see her disintegrating family through.
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Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 8:54 am
-Following in tow, he plopped his rump onto the ground near his brother, only far enough away that their two bodies blocked any enterance into the cave. Nothing would get past them. No way.
The emotion and gaze that Matsai so deftly hid shown brightly upon his twin's maw however as the words sounded, and the idea began to drift through his head. Had he had the forethought to think back to his father, or now his mother, how they cared for the brat perhaps he'd have said differently. But children didn't think of such things, ecspecially not angry children.- "Definately." -It would be a pact even.- "You and I will never let her nasty paws step near OUR family again."
***************
"Mmmm...." -Kami stirred gently as the familar voice assaulted her senses. Drawn to conciousness even more quickly by the aggressive stance behind the voice. W.. was something wrong?
Eyes searching through the dark for the muscular figure of her sister, she pushed herself to her feet wearily, approaching with the soft uncertainity that always seemed to fill her when aside her bolder, stronger sibling.- "Y.. yes Kiuma?"
"Is something wrong?" -She hazzarded.-
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Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:57 pm
Kiuma's maw twitched as she watched her sister rise and approach, timid as always. And that was what now ruled the Pridelands? It was a great fall from what their parents had been, but now was not the time for her personal greivances.
"I have to go, but my cubs can't come with me. They'll be safer here in the protection of the pride. I need either you or one of the Nannies to watch over them while I'm gone... Please." The plee was grudging, but sincere. There were few she could trust with the safety of her precious family, something she cared for beyond even her own life, and Kamilika was one of them. "There are only the four boys to watch, Tanaka and I are going to bring back our daughter. She's... visiting with Tanaka's brother. I don't know how long we'll be gone."
Kami didn't need to know more than that. She especially didn't need to know that Kali had been cubnapped. Kiuma shifted on her creamy paws, keeping her voice low so as not to wake the rest of the pride in the large den. She refused to think that it might be the last time she saw it, or her beloved sons...
She would return someday... Only death could keep her from her children and this land she loved.
*************************
Matsai made a soft sound, nothing more than a puff of air between his teeth in laughter. "Not unless she can prove that she is worthy. Which I doubt. Mother and Father might not care to punish her, but we shall be there to deliver it." He nodded sharply and turned to look into the darkness, waiting for their mother's large form to reappear. Why had she left? Just what was she doing out there?
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Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 3:23 pm
-He nodded once more, before falling equally silent beside his twin. He didn't think however.. on what was and what was to be. No, for now he simply rested, and tried to regain that fire within him. He often cursed himself for not being 'big enough', and now was just another of those times.-
*****************
-It took her a moment to register the words, never having expected such a statement to touch her ears. And she had to bite back the retort that she was most certainly not responsible enough to care for any cubs. But the fact that Kiuma was asking.. her very blood and the little family she had left. And the fact that she was 'supposed' to be strong these days kept her statement quiet.-
"You're.. going to find his brother? And the boys cannot go..?" -She echo'd softly and rhetorically, before finally she nodded.- "Of course, of course I'll watch over them."
-It was an excuse after all, to hide within the dens and away from her duties. And if things got too hard, there were quite a few nannies.. and Ta that she could turn to. Yes, she could do it, she knew she could! And finally she gave a hint of confidence and assurtion to her answer.- "We'll all take care of them until the three of you return Kiuma."
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:36 pm
The red lioness could feel the time growing short. Tanaka was hurt and time was off the escence, she had to get to him soon.
"Good... come with me, I'll show you where they are sleeping." She kept her statements short and to the point, for now, turning with a flick of her tail to pace down to the cave where her cubs waited for them.
"I have no special instructions, Kamilika... Just keep a careful eye on them." Kiuma said over her shoulder, turning her head back quickly.
Back in the cave, Matsai perked his ears. Was that paws he heard? Yeah, the soft brush of paws on rock and dirt, drawing closer...
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:46 am
-The golden lion followed dutifully, by now her body awake and cautious, ears twiching with each tiny sound of the night. There was something that ebbed of bad news.. and danger.. despite her sister's attempt to keep it from her. And though the strange feeling nagged at her she followed quickly, keeping what she could manage of a pleasant smile on her maw.-
-Emerald eyes peered through the dark as his brother reacted to the subtle sound, attention turning to the approaching figures. Two full grown lioness', and all ready he could make out the red of his mother.
Was this other lioness going to help them get father back? Did they even need a fourth for the task? Obliviously the azure cub waited.-
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:22 pm
Kiuma emerged from the night, but it clung to her as if unwilling to let go completely. Padding closer, she stepped just inside the cave to make sure everything was as she'd left it.
"Here they are, Kamilika. Ahaiyuta and Matsailema, the twins, Belial the red one and Mastema, the gold one. Matsai has the star on his forehead." Turning back to the two cubs that had waited so diligently, she gave them each a light lick along the top of their heads, a sort of farewell, before padding back to do the same to her other cubs.
"You will do as Kamilika says, and anyone else that she sets to mind you, do you understand? I don't know how long I'll be gone, but when I return, I will have your father and sister with me."
Matsai eyed the queen, looking her up and down with what could have been scorn... or dislike, but he kept it behind his blank features. His nose lifted as he was named off, ears laying back as their Mother gave him a rare sign of affection, repeated on the others. Strange...
His ears flew forward at what she said though, the small body springing to its feet. "We're... not going with you?" Impossible... how could she leave them behind, in the care of some strange lioness? Sure, she might be their aunt and the queen, but she couldn't replace their parents.
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 12:02 pm
-She logged each name in her head dutifully, repeating the names silently to herself, as she offered a meek smile to the two that sat in wait. They certainly were beautiful.. Kiuma's cubs. So vibrantly brillant in color.. and no boring marks like her.. no, ever inch of their tiny body had some new detail of beauty. So intranced she was, that it wasn't until the tiny protest touched the air that her attention snapped forward. And it was obvious she was uncertain as to how to comfort him, eyes turning to her bolder sister to answer the cub.-
-Ahai didn't rise, though his front paw slapped the ground with an unpleasant thwack, tiniest of growls questioning his mother despite her authority.- "We want to come! I told dad!" -His tail lashed unhappily and he finally pushed to his feet, coming shoulder to shoulder with his twin, as if the opinions and drive of the two of them together would change her mind.-
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Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 8:12 pm
Kiuma's head rose as the twins voiced their protest, her ears falling back as her expression turned cold.
"I said you would be staying here, its not up for discussion. You will do as I say." She growled, towering over the small bodies. "You aren't big enough to keep up with the hard pace I will set, and if there is fighting, you will only distract your father and me from it, forcing us to protect you."
A hard breath blew from between her teeth as she turned away, the pair dismissed with a flick of her tail. "Make sure you watch them, Kami..." She said softly, all of her dominance stressing her words. Probably not the best tone to take with her queen, but to Kiuma, she was still her weakling sister, being entrusted with the most precious thing in the world. "If anything happens to my family... I don't know what I might do." Subtle warning given in a silken voice.
Matsai's own ears fell back at her tone and reprimand, sullenly settling back on his haunches. The shadow of a frown crossed his face, but there was no point in argueing with her. Mother wouldn't let them come, and that was that, much as he resent it with all of his being.
Green eyes flicked to the golden lions, though she was really nothing more than a soft shadow outside the cave, far lighter than their own mother's form. Just that, and the fact that he had no one else to blame, made him hate her at that moment.
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