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 Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 3:23 am
The words sank in, resting on the aging lion's soul. Gold eyes flashed, filling with something of guilt. Wordlessly, he stepped away from the ranks of Firekin. Bodaway, formerly the rogue Firekin, had returned only to deflect. Tail flicking, he walked up to Kidondo, staring at the banished prince and his mate before joining the rogues and the like. As he turned to face the pride, he wondered remotely... How would Kiunguza react? But then he realised - He didn't care. He just cared about the future for his children. ALL of his children.
It was like watching a dream, as her mother moved to attack the blood-red and white lion. She felt detached, barely hearing herself yell out "Mother!" But she couldn't move, couldn't try to stop her. Part of her knew - This wasn't her argument. When Bodaway moved away from the pride, she had a bad taste in her mouth. Her own impurities were forgotten.
In that almost slow moment, she noticed again that familiar pelt, the yellow eyes, the markings so like Wakia's. She had to know, she had to find out now. Time still feeling sluggish, she hurried over, eyes burning. "You, slave, we talk alone." She knew she would be seen moving, for her black pelt stood out, but she didn't care at that moment. She had to know.
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Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:04 am
As the flurry of The Blood began to gather themselves Uzulu had no noble speeches at hand, no moral raising voices or talks of how they would win. He was no young child, and the thought of such pleasantries did not even cross his mind.
He knew to things: Get away from the crash of angry youth and out into the fighting lands.
The scent of blood had just began to fill his nostrils as he reached the unslaught. There were outsiders here, many, many outsiders. They did not belong in their lands. A snarl reached his throat, his anger spurred on by Ripuka's determination to end Kindono here and now.
Heretic was too light a word. Leaving the mercy for those in graves, he lunged at the nearest would-be slave.
Kaanga and the other's were all but forgotten from his mind.
Ure looked at her sister with a sideways glance. She didn't believe her, and father had said.
What, however, did father know? He wasn't around like he should have been, Tanana loathed him. Surely Tanana knew matters of their bretheren and heart even if her logic could drag in the dust.
No, she had to stay. She owed it to Sikitiko. To leave her here terrored and unsafe was not something she could do. They had a bond, they had to stick to one another.
But they weren't all here! The two halves of herself fought and churned until they threatened to completely rip her apart. She buried her small face into Sikitiko's neck and pretended this wasn't happening. Even if she could take the worst of their life in stride this was too much for even her lax head to take.
"Mpaji always talks about imaginations," Ure choked into her sister's fur, refusing to look anywhere else.
Maybe they just had to pretend. . .
Upendo'Mpaji hadn't run in a good long while. He might be able to walk to the ends of the earth and take great bounding leaps to pin poor Motomillia into the ground, but now his breaths came in horrible rasps as he struggled up the rocks after the Firekin.
Finally she turned, and the look on her face nearly toppled him over and off the rocks. He swallowed hard and tried to understand her state. He couldn't be hard, he wasn't built for it, but he knew there was no solving this matter with laughter.
Her sons were likely to be with Uzulu, or one would be, but they were getting older as well - making decisions for themselves. It was enough to break her heart, Mpaji realized.
He didn't know what to say. He opened his mouth with the intention to say her name and then faultered. She looked so distressed, and all around him the cries of battle echoed. There was no way they could find them in this mess unless they were to fight as well. It was not a prospect he found joyful.
Instead of saying anything he found he could only bump her lightly with his head to offer comfort. It seemed to do him some good as well, and a few words managed to escape his mouth.
"Let's find them, then," he said, his voice wavering with uncertainty. He couldn't promise their safety, but he could promise he'd be there with her the whole time.
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Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:35 am
Siki wasn't used to being cried to or on, hardly being the most sympathetic of her family, but surprisingly she did not complain or scold. There were no masters here to see, and she was scared too; she found herself shaking, though she did not choke like Ure, did not look down. If something came, at least one of them would need to see it, because maybe they could flee if they saw it in time. But for now, this was the safest place, wasn't it?
She wasn't really the one to talk to about imagination. "Hush. The Masters are strong - the strongest." They had always said so, and Siki had always believed them. She had no reason not to, after all. "They'll win. It's nothing to worry about.
____
Azachamorel returned to the den that held her children safe for only a moment, just long enough to bark one more order at them in her fury, "No matter what happens, my children, you must stay here - you must stay safe. You are the future of the Firekin, do not forget that! You must not throw that away, no matter how you may long to fight. Fight only if you must to survive, and flee if you must, but if not you must stay here!"
With that, the huntress turned and ran to the sands to meet her future, whatever lay in store.
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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 12:20 am
She stared.
Hell had broken lose in just a moment, and from her spot in the den, Kenna watched what little she could... heard what little she could. A small tilt of her head was the oly signal to show she'd heard her mother's warning, and with deliberate ease, she sat down, nor scared nor nervous for the future; in fact, the large cub was rather content where she sat, morbidly curious as to what would happen.
Death, were it to come, did not scare her; then again, Kenna was most obviously slightly disturbed and not particularly normal, as far as cubs went. Her head lifted, just so, her red gaze fixed on the ceiling as she strained her ears, idly wondering where Zap was, then, without a second's though, she turned around and padded further into the darkness of the cave, seeking out Azula's and Sinbad's warm bodies.
Yes, she wasn't scared, but she found she wished to be by their side. It pleased her to do so, she thought to herself as she watched... and waited.
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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 1:21 am
Gehenda scrambled back towards the pile of siblings as his mother returned. Her frenzy scared him somewhat, made him wonder what was happening outside that would warrant such a stern order. But before he could ponder any longer or even ask his mother a question...she was gone.
Brow furrowed and his stomach in knots, he looked about at his family. Only Kenna seemed to show any life. But that didn't fill him with any comfort. He wasn't about to wake any of the others though.
"K-Kenna...? Whats happening...?" he asked her quietly, as if she were the fountain of knowledge for him. His meek approach was far removed from a typical Firekin, but Kenna was scary.
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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:02 am
 The large male didn't seem offended by the lack of introductions. A good waste of time for a situation like this. He had waited all his life for this chance. Somewhere out there was the lion that had stolen his brother from him back in his youth, somewhere out there, Azeze was living the horrid life of a slave, or worse. Either way, Malik had sworn up and down since before his mane had begun to show that he'd make them pay dearly for their trespass and for whatever they had dared done to his brother.
"Let's not waste time chattin'." He said simply as he moved forward. Everything seemed to move slowly as the red wave and the thunder of angry roars moved in towards them. There were more than he'd expected, that was for sure. Either way, the golden lion steeled himself and planted his paws firmly in the ground.
The speech that their leader was giving seemed a futile one, he wasn't an idiot, he knew the firekin would do what they wanted to do. Faith or no faith, they lived off the backs of others and the very name of their pride caused even the largest of lions to cringe in some prides.
His maw wrinkled up as he slowly started to scan the firekin ranks for the monster that had run off with Azeze, he'd be the first to taste his claws if the b*****d even bothered to show. Instead he picked out a far more familiar figure. "..pop..."
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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:10 am
Mwali emerged from the den as the rebel leader began his speech. The massive male seemed less than impressed by the slander that the rebels dared to throw their way. Where was the goddess? She was right there among them. Right there in himself, in his mate, in the hearts of the cubs he towered over as he watched the scene. She flowed through the hearts of every true firekin and gave them strength. Why did she need to dirty her claws on the filth that was challenging her when her children were more than willing to sharpen their claws on them?
He slowly looked down to the cubs that had gathered to watch the scene, "Do as your mother says... and watch closely. Today you will see what makes a true firekin. Sinbad."
The cub slowly lifted his head up from the bundle, "If one hair falls out of place on any of your siblings, it'll be your hide."
The cub looked off to one side but didn't answer.
Turning his attention back to the building battle, his eyes fell directly on the rebel leader. If he took him out...the others would fall quickly. The male gave a thundering roar and launched himself after Azachamorel, his claws pushed out of the massive paws, thirsty for blood once more.
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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:16 am
The young male waited until his father's shadow had long left the den's mouth before he gathered himself up to watch the battle. His other siblings were already fully awake and pressing close to eachother. As powerful as their parents promised they'd become, at the moment they were still just cubs. Older cubs, large cubs, but cubs none the less. And once more, the task of keeping the litter safe fell on him. A few scars along his back side reminded him of what would come if he failed again.
He licked the top of Kenna's head idly as she curled herself closer to her then glanced shortly to Gehenda. He was acting like a coward.
Sinbad picked himself up and stood tall as he could manage, "You heard him you big baby!" He roared over to Gehenda, "We gotta watch. You'll see, mom and dad will make quick work of them..." He smirked a bit and brought one of his paws up to run his tongue over, "Then maybe they'll bring some back here alive for us to play with..."
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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:20 am
Zaphod woke with a start, flipping himself around to his belly and digging his claws into the sand as he looked about wide-eyed for the source of all the sudden commotion. It was about then that the mother and father of his mistress tore away from the den in a rage. He slowly gathered himself up and pulled away from the small thicket he'd determined was his home for the time-being. Until he had permission, he didn't dare sleep in the same den as the family that kept him.
Down below unfolded the scene he'd been plagued with just a few days prior. Two flames in the desert, a thunder had sounded...soon there'd be blood.
"Mistress!" He turned and ran himself into the cave, forgetting himself for a moment as the situation crashed down on his nerves, sending him into a panic.
The blue cub skidded to a stop at the mouth of the cave as the eyes of Kenna's littermates reminded him of his place a few seconds too late. "..M...mistres....", he gulped and glanced back out towards the scene, then back to her.
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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 3:15 am
And still she watched, "Hmmm..." it was all she said at first, her eyes piercing the darkness in an attempt to watch beyond the den... to see, to feel the battle she could hear, just beyond her reach, "They fight," were her first words as she looked to Gehenda, "They battle; I don't know why. Don't care why, either," after all, it didn't really matter why they were fighting, beyond the den's reach. All what mattered was they WERE fighting; details didn't seem of consequence to Kenna.
She did not (could not) offer Gehenda any comfort; what would be, would be, and somehow telling him that death was inevitable at some point didn't seem like the best of words to say, so instead she fell silent, only leaning in once to bump her head against her brother's side in what might've been a comforting caress but fell short. Kenna had never been physically inclined to show love, even though she did feel t for her siblings and family.
Watching her father launch himself out of the den, she turned to Sinbad, gaze languid as ever, though a small smirk tugged her maw. She was about to say something, probably rather morbid, when Zaphod ran into the cave; her attention refocused itself on her slave, "Here. Come here," she boomed in the darkness as she waited for the blue body to lay beside her, her paw poking his side as she checked for injuries; she was mildly please he'd not been killed. After all, he was her first slave, and... amusingly entertaining. She did not wish to lose him just yet; finding slaves was such a bother after all.
Then after placing a possessive paw over the smaller blue male, she turned with languid, though morbid interest, back towards the battle that would rage on outside. Time would tell of the outcome.
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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:49 am
Gehenda thought he had prepared himself for whatever answer his sister might give, but it still hit him like a brick in the face. He almost flinched as she moved to gently butt him in his side, but somewhere inside, he kind of knew it was an attempt at affection. He didn't return anything though. He thought would be totally lost on her.
Besides, he was busy trying to fend off his brother's accusations. He scowled, and watched as his impressive father also disappeared onto the battle-field.
"I'm not a baby!" he growled. A blue blur that turned out to be Kenna's slave distracted him for a few moments as the scruffy cub wandered over to his sister's side.
"...I just don't want anything bad to happen..."
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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:47 am
Azula seemed to have slept through most of it. In actuality, she had heard... just didn't really care. The self-proclaimed 'princess' stretched lazily when she finally decided that attempting to remain asleep was futile. Their parents had gone off to deal with what were obviously rebel, mud-blooded heathens, no better than slaves really, and they were to stay in the den. That seemed relatively simple, as far as she was concerned.
Rising from her place, she extended her legs out and arched her back in another languid stretch. Her claws scraped over the ground nearest her, giving off a pleasingly grating noise that was sure to alert her siblings to the fact that she'd risen. "I realize that they think this awfully important, but do they really have to make so much noise?" She complained in a brisk tone as she strode up to sit beside her beloved sister. Much like Kenna there was a creepy air to this sibling--but in a distinctly opposite way. She wasn't half the physical force her sister was, but none could escape that there was a threat to anything the same size or small than this young female--anything she thought she was in some form of control over.
That 'control' extended to her siblings, as far as Azula was concerned, and to Zaphod by Kenna's own word. "I suppose this one," she gestured to the slave at Kenna's paws, "is staying inside now?" The girl raised one brow, and though she didn't spell it out for the others, her tone was such as one might use when discussing bringing a pet indoors for the first time. Or allowing trash to pile in the kitchen. "over this little thing?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:17 am
Zaphod tucked his tail down inbetween his legs and pressed both his ears back against his head as he padded over towards his mistress, obviously out of place in the den. However, it was better to risk a den of cubs than a desert full of warring adults.
He sat himself down beside Kenna and dipped his head. "...sorry..."
Sinbad snorted and eyed the slave as the blue cub entered. Scum. At least he seemed to know his place. "Might as well keep it alive. He can at least occupy any attackers while the rest of us get to safety if it comes to that."
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 12:20 am
"Bad," came Kenna's voice, echoing her brother, "That is such a... double-edged word," she moved so she was reclining herself comfortably against Sinbad's form, taking the moment to groom her pelt down, ruffled from the sleep she'd been woken up from earlier.
Her mind was pulled out of the fog by Azula's voice, seeping through, calling out to them, and she could barely refrain the smirk that tugged at her maw, "Come, come," she told her younger sister, "I'm sure you'll manage to catch up on that beauty sleep later, once things settle down... don't be so prissy," she waved a paw almost dismissively but it was clear it was a light taunt, a bait for her sister to take so they may pass the time whilst waiting. The battle outside was only interesting for a while, for after all, as far as Kenna was concerned, what would be, WOULD be, indifferent or not of their attention to it.
Blinking down at the slave that was currently pressing himself against her front limbs, she snorted softly at Azula's words, "Yes; I would not like him ripped to pieces," she drawled, "He is efficient for what I need him, and would not wish to have to train another one," her voice was weary as she spoke this, as if really, training a slave were so... time consuming. Not to mention the other bonuses having Zap around seemed to lead to, "Hm..." turning to Sinbad, she arched a brow; she would never run away. What use would it be? If an adult came after them, he or she would catch up without much trouble. Bait would not save them.
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 3:57 am
Gehenda grunted and suddenly felt like the 'oddball'. He wasn't without his Firekin traits - he had a fierce temper and was certainly no runt. But he could certainly be accused of thinking too much about himself and his heritage. He watched first Kenna, then Azula, as they reacted to the little blue slave. What an odd pair - Kenna's fiery orange with Zaphod's soothing blue. If he was good for nothing else, at least he had a pleasant sky-blue calmness to his pelt.
Gehenda was restless now. The sounds of war outside just wouldn't let him be and he paced around the den, tried to settle and only shuffling about unable to get comfortable. He finally padded over to join his sister's and the slave.
"Has he got a name?" he asked, treating Zaphod in a similar manner to Azula - like he was some pet to fawn over.
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