He could barely believe it had come to this. He'd brought them here promising peace and prosperity, love and old age. Yet mere days after arriving in this new land one of their youngest and most vulnerable had been kidnapped. Worst still another of their group, brave young Waridi, had been slain in an attempt to bring her home. All this had happened without his knowledge. And what had he been doing? Blabbering on like the lovelorn soul he was before the cruel yet radiant Zene.What magnificent fool he'd been.
There was no use apologizing. No point regretting what he couldn't change. Samawati and Jambazi were planning to go back. There was no stopping them. The thought had passed his mind only briefly that he could petition Simi for help. But no, even if the king would help it would all take too long. This pack was barbarous, vicious. There was no telling how long they had before they would slaughter poor sweet little Hima. The young males were right. They had to go now. Only they couldn't go alone.
A crowd had begun to gather. All of his own group was there as well as a few Prideland natives, none of whom he recognized. Some, mostly those of his own group, where visibly distressed. Many of the rest had joined them out of curiosity. He could hear the hushed whispers as they gossiped amongst themselves. He paced, each step deliberate and forceful. He hated their rubbernecking but he knew better then to chase them off. He could make use of this.
As he turned to look at the two anguished brothers a vision returned to him. Dark, hunched figures crept about at the edges of his vision, vanishing even as he turned to look at them. This little trick of theirs seemed to amuse them greatly for as the vision faded he was left with their sadistic laughter ringing in his ears. Of course. That horrible feeling that had been haunting him. That vision which kept returning. He ought to have known this was coming. He should have known. He should have fallen in Waridi's place. The golden lion stopped abruptly. No, there was no use regretting what couldn't be changed.
He shut his eyes tight, clenching his teeth in a pitiful attempt to hold back the tears. It was all his own fault. All of it.
The tears he expected never came. As the grief grew inside his heart so did the anger. How that strong body ached.
He lowered his head, hoping to hide his tears long enough to speak. The tears never came. What did come surprised even himself.
"Sordid MONSTERS!" his rising roar echoed past the assembled crowd. "They would prey upon our smallest and weakest for their own sick games. They are the basest of creatures and should we allow them they would come again and again to steal from us our closest blood."
The wind toyed with his mane as he raised his head. He turned as he continued, looking each lion directly in the eyes as he spoke. "Waridi's future has been stolen from him, but Hima still has a chance. If there are any among you who hold a compassionate heart. Any who's courage is greater then that of a field mouse. Go from here and rally every able body you can find. I will lead a force into the heart of their lands. We will avenge Waridi! We will rescue Hima! We will impress upon them a fear so deep that even the passing of ten generations could not ease the terror we bring! Who is with me?"
The reply, if there was one, never met his ears. Along side his final roar came a vision the likes of which he'd never experienced before.
He stood upon a battle field. They had reached a lull in the fighting... or maybe it was over. As he looked around he saw several faces he recognized along side many more who were strangers to him. Each and every one of them bore blood upon their coat. Something moved at his feet and looking down he saw little Hima pressed up against his leg. So they'd done it. They would return as heroes. As he lifted his head he noticed that, strangely, the sky could not have been a brighter shade of blue.
And before the gathered crowd, Tungiza collapsed.
(( Anyone who wishes to reply to this RP may. ))
