|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 2:14 pm
Red eyes glimmered in the light of the setting sun, making everything glow with the fading light. Golden grass danced in the light breeze that floated across the Savannah. Not much further until her destination. Which meant that he was there. Not knowing anything of the pain that she had been going through for so long. The burden that she was carrying for so long would soon be lifted and forgotten. Something that she would bring into the world and abandon with it's father. The thought made her flinch. How could that happen. They were so different. So distant. How could one night, one accidental night leave her so destroyed on the inside.
Her dark face turned back, waiting for Shaha to show his face. He had been understanding. And he had been the one to stay with her. He was family, and what was growing inside of her were anything but family. They would never grow into a place in her heart. She had decided this long ago when the idea had just popped into her head.
It was time for her to face her past, no matter how much it hurt her. No matter what scar it left on her mind or body. They would be gone. They were freaks. How could she ever accept it? They were stupid for coming into existence. They wouldn't be hers soon. Just Tama's. And he would never find her while she traveled.
"Only a few days longer. And I will have no part of his life." She whispered under her breath while anger bubbled inside of her.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 9:38 pm
Large gray paws struck the ground as dusk fell slowly over the Savannah. He could see Matawi from here now, but decided rather to walk than run to her, for the cheetah at his side would no doubt surprise her. At the thought of her, Shaha glanced over at Kiji and padded closer to her, enough to rub his cheek briefly against hers.
He knew not whether the gesture was made to reassure her that no matter what happened he wasn't about to leave her side, or to remind himself that she was there and that she was coming with him wherever he went.
As they drew nearer, he noticed something different in his friend. She was... aggitated and upset. Her anger surrounded her like a cloud he could almost feel in the air around him. He slowed to a stop, not sure what was wrong. Perhaps it was he she was mad at...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 9:51 pm
Kijivu acknowledged Shaha with a smile, returning the nuzzle. She fell into step with him, comforted by his presence as usual. Having him in her life was surely a miracle, and she could hardly believe that such a perfect soul - in her eyes, at least - could be any less than a god.
There was someone ahead, and by the shape, Kiji assumed it was the leopard that Shaha had told her about. Though she tensed up slightly, she kept a relaxed expression, a clear sign of her recovery. "That's Matawi, right, Shaha?" she asked softly.
But there seemed something wrong with her, though she didn't pick up on it as strongly as the lion did. She hesitated slightly, her stomach churning uncomfortably. Everything would be okay, right?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 5:43 pm
Harsh thoughts were filling up her head. She was more upset and angry than she had ever been in her life. It seemed that nothing could put a smile on her face. That there wasn't a happy thought left in her. Like it was impossible to breathe without more fire burning hotter.
Matawi turned her head and noticed someone with Shaha. It seemed to make everything worse. He was her bestfriend. And he was her family. She averted her gaze. Maybe the stranger would go away. If she closed her eyes, maybe she would wake up up for the nightmare that was so much better when she was sleeping. Everything was hurting. Physically and Mentally. She wanted to be alone to whine and feel bad for the life she was leading. And the cubs she knew where growing inside of her. They were freaks. That even a mother couldn't force herself to love.
She kept her mouth shut and waited for Shaha to introduce her to his friend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 7:37 pm
Shaha nodded once to Kiji's question, smiling when she returned his nuzzle. He had made a promise to protect Matawi and he was indeed her friend, considering her as close as a sister. But he wouldn't leave Kiji, not for the world. He felt, deep in his heart, that he would pay nearly any price in the world to be with her.
"Matawi..." he said, smiling slightly at her as he spoke when he had Kiji had come near the leopardess.
"Matawi, this is Kijivu. Kiji, this is Matawi," he introduced before turning back to his friend. His smile faded slightly and his concern for her showed in his eyes.
"Forgive me for being absent of late. Kiji required my aid," he added, gifting Kiji with a glance, a softness flashing briefly within his eyes, and then turned back to Matawi.
It pained him to see his friend upset, but he would not press her. He wanted her to tell him what troubled her, to trust him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:00 am
The negative emotions radiating off of Matawi continued to make Kiji nervous and she kept close to Shaha, their shoulders brushing every few moments. His nuzzle comforted her, but did not brush away her worries about the leopard.
The cheetah was not entirely sure what to do, so she stood by the lion, flexing her claws nervously into the dirt. So many things were running through her mind - what if Matawi was mad, didn't like her? What if Shaha decided he preferred the leopard over her? What if they simply didn't get along? Would Shaha choose his close friend over her? Her body trembled slightly and she looked down at her paws, eyes clouded with doubt.
Finally she looked up, and in a small voice said, "Hello."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 5:26 pm
Matawi relaxed. Having Shaha by her side was like having a never moving rock to lean on. She took a few deep breaths, knowing that lashing out at Kiji would only force her rock away. Her scrambled thoughts were trying to form words. A simple sentence that would hopefully not sound as rude as she was feeling deep inside of her.
"Good Evening Kiji, will you be joining me to find a wretched male named Hinotama?" His name left a bitter taste in her mouth. Making her gag. He was the worst thing to ever happen to her and 'hate' was the one word that kept coming her her mind. Her crimson eyes looked back at Shaha with understanding.
"It is fine... The alone time helped me deal with every fight going on in my heart and mind..." She had been at a loss without him. But she would never let on. Not with his new lady friend around. Conversations and tears needed to be shed in privacy. Family was what was important to her. And Kiji had a long way to go from being 'family' in her eyes, but she was willing to make friends while on this horrid journey.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:40 am
Shaha frowned at the bitter sting he heard in his friend's voice. Something was indeed wrong and an anger bubbled up inside him at the thought that it was this "Hinotama" that had caused the pain his friend was going through. Just as his father, and his father before him, the large lion was a warrior at heart, bent on protecting those closest to him. If Matawi had been hurt, the male she spoke of would pay dearly before Shaha even realized what he was doing.
A change came over the lion for barely a second. He seemed to grow in size, a growl building in the depths of his chest and, for a moment, the world he saw turned red.
But as soon as it began it was over.
Shaha closed his eyes and shook his head, taking a slow breath.
"Who is this... Hinotama, Matawi? And what has he done to become wretched?" he asked softly, his teeth grit together, strained.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 9:03 pm
She was still nervous, and the formal words that came out of the leopardess' mouth did not help. A male? It put her on edge, a potentially dangerous male... just the thought scared her, let alone helping to find him. Kiji gave a non-commital tiny nod of her head, looking down at her paws, suddenly feeling very out of place.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 12:15 pm
"Hinotama..." How to describe him? Some that she had called 'friend' had ruined everything that she had once been. Carefree and confident. Sweet and gentle. Everything that Matawi thought put butterflies in her tummy.
"He was someone that I once called friend." It was the only way to describe him without lashing out and wanting to pick a fight. Now that she thought about it... Matawi hadn't even told Kiji what had happened. Was it embarrassment or had it simply slipped her mind? Either way, she needed to tell him. If anything maybe it would be a good conversation starter.
Matawi hesitated. How was she going to say this?
"Well... He ruined my life. And the life of at least one cub." She wondered if either of them would catch her drift or not. It wasn't THAT hard to tell what she was hinting at.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 12:45 pm
Shaha always did catch subtleties. Although he liked to be blunt, his mother had always taught him to see the true meaning in all things, especially words. His eyes widened and his sky colored eyes briefly flicked to Kiji and saw how she hung her head. He nudged her chin with his head and smiled once before turning back to his closest friend.
"Did you not want him to do what he did, at the time?" he asked, his ears folding back at the very thought that this male took advantage of Matawi. He would wait for her to explain before telling her his opinion. In truth, he didn't understand why she said this would ruin her life and those of her cubs. Cubs were a wonderful thing; he only hoped that someday he would have his own. He also knew, that when Matawi's cubs were born that he would take care of them, if need be, as a father would.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:06 pm
Kiji knew - or at least thought she knew - all too well what Matawi was hinting at. With widened eyes, she looked between the leopard and the lion, scooting closer to Shaha. It had been a long time since she felt so vulnerable, and the feeling was not welcome. There was nothing she could say, simply listening in silence.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:25 pm
Matawi shook her head. She was unsure of what she wanted at that time. It had been a simple fling and nothing more. Cheetahs and Leopards were far to different to ever have children together. So why had this happened to her? She stared at Shaha with a heavy burden lifted off of her shoulders.
"It was a mistake. And nothing more." She began to walk forward towards Pride Rock. That's where Tama had been, and something told her that he would still be there. "Shaha? How do you think this happened? Me and Tama are not the same. Not one bit. It seems as if it is impossible."
Her attention turned to Kiji and Matawi smiled genuinely. Being around her older brother had certainly loosened her up enough to really welcome the new female. "It will be nice to have you around if I decide to keep a cub. I might need the extra help."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:46 pm
Shaha watched Matawi and smiled a bit when he saw his old friend loosening, becoming the leopardess he had come to call family.
He looked to Kiji with a smile before rubbing his cheek against hers and motioning for her to come with them as he set off after Matawi.
"I do not know what is impossible and what is possible, 'Tawi. If a lion can care for a cheetah as he or she would care for another lion," he hoped Kiji caught the veiled message in his words, that he was not adverse to caring for her as a mate would, if she so wished, "Why, then, should the gods keep them from having children if they care so much about one another? And is it not true, that two leopards can spend a short time together and part with cubs resulting from their meeting?"
"I think this is fate, 'Tawi. We need children in our lives to teach us what is most important," he added, smiling at her and gently nudging her shoulder with his.
"Whatever you decide to do, I am with you. And your children, though I would hope you would keep them all, I can understand if you would rather not have too much on your paws should there be too many."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 10:01 pm
Her stomach churned uncomfortably.
What could she say? The whole situation was wrong in her eyes, although before her own cubs had been born, she might've agreed with Matawi. As it was, she barely managed to hold back a frown. After a moment of gaining her composure, she spoke in a calm and (hopefully) helpful voice.
"Regardless of how the cubs came to be," she said, voice soft as usual, "I think the most important thing now is to look out for their needs." Kiji couldn't wrap her mind around the idea of "deciding to keep one" when the leopard was their mother... even though she had been in a situation slightly similar. At the same time, she was concerned with making a good impression on Shaha's friend, and so in a slightly brighter voice, she added genuinely, "I would be happy to help you look after them. Mistakes happen... believe me, I know. But..."
Her voice seemed dangerously close to breaking as she finished, "it would be a mistake to forget they exist, too." With a small smile she hoped would indicate to Matawi that Kiji knew these things, she rested her cheek against Shaha's shoulder. His words warmed her and though she did not want to leap for joy and proclaim her love in front of Matawi, she hoped that her deep purr and warm brown eyes looking up at his got the message across.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
