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 Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:56 pm
Despite the painful memory of his brother's beat-down, Toshiro returned to the Pridelands. Perhaps it was the inexplicable draw to his offspring, perhaps it was... Something else. He wasn't sure which it was, really. But he returned, and he sought... What DID he seek? His paws only carried him, nothing more.
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Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:58 pm
Still licking his wounds from the encounter with the hyena, Shin wandered the Pridelands. He was still elated that he'd actually fought a hyena - And won! But the sense of elation very quickly fled as he spotted none other than his father. He was back? Why was he back?! The adolescent's hackles rose as he tried to find a place to hide, but there was nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. The only trees close enough were far too thin and tiny.
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Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:55 pm
Though he saw his son, Toshiro didn't attack. Something was holding him back, and as he approached... He smelled the stink of hyena. He paced around the adolescent, sizing him up. "You smell of hyena." It wasn't so much a greeting, more a statement... But it was better than his last greeting to his son.
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Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:59 pm
Trying to turn so he never had his back to Toshiro, Shin nodded warily. "Yeah... I... I went into the Graveyard... And met a hyena..." He swallowed a bit, watching his father. "She... She mentioned a pride called the Maziko... And that you were related somehow..."
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Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:01 pm
The piebald male stopped, then sat down with a laugh. "Related? I was part of them!" He shook his head, silver mane fluffing a bit. "I left them to join Nyekundu... But look what that got him. He's dead now, and his slaves and most of his generals have left." He let out a snort, "Including me..."
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Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:02 pm
His father was a Maziko...? Shin tilted his head, eyeing the adult. "That explains why the hyena attacked..." He flicked his ears back amid his black partial-mane. He had heard much about Nyekundu growing up, about how the lion tended to put lionesses in their place, as he said... But Shin had never known him, just one of his daughters. Speaking of, though... "D-do you know what happened to Kimiko...? She came back not long ago, and... She looked horrible..."
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Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:04 pm
"Kimiko? That little stuck-up princess complex? I put her in her place." Toshiro's tail flicked and he snarled just a bit. "I only stayed with her so she didn't die, the stupid little fool. I hope she got all that was coming to her!" He stood up, stretching out. On his shoulder, the three scars twinged just a bit. Quit suddenly, a thought came to his mind and he laughed loudly. "Oh, what a rich idea... Come here, Shin... Before I go anywhere... I want to give you something."
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Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:11 pm
Shin's eyes widened as he backed away, shaking his head. "D-don't hurt me, please!" Years of being beaten flooded his mind, bringing up painful memories. Memories of Kimiko learning to treat Shin less than dirt, memories of pain... He cowered, curling into a ball as best his lanky form would allow. But no pain came, just the sound of an exasperated sigh. One red eye peeked out, afraid and wary.
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Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:16 pm
Toshiro scowled down at his son, recognising the way he curled into a ball. "I'm not hitting you, pinhead." A smile curled on his maw. "I'm marking you..." Sitting down, he took Shin's chin in his paler paw. "Think of it as... A last gift, from myself and from Nyekundu." He was going to turn the meaning of the three V's around. But what did they stand for now...? What COULD they stand for? He pondered this as he used a claw to carefully carve them under his son's left eye.
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Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:23 pm
Shin cringed, flinching at the pain in his face. What was he doing, and why? But the way his chin was held was... Comforting. It was foreign, really, to feel comforted by his father. The same lion who often seemed to delight in beating him, using him as a punching bag... It distracted him from the marks being carved into his cheek.
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Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:53 pm
Finishing his work, Toshiro curled his tail. "Take what meaning you want from those, but... Find good meanings." He tilted his head, then stood up. "Now... I should leave before Sairin notices I'm here." He made a horrible face. "I'm glad Runai is nothing like that... At least, not attacking me."
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Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:55 pm
Rubbing his face with his darker forepaw, Shin eyed his father warily. "Runai...? Who's that...?" Indeed, he'd heard very little of his family. He'd barely known he'd had one uncle. Did he have more? Did he have aunts? "Is he another uncle I never knew about...? Do I have aunts?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:01 pm
The hard glare couldn't convey displeasure more. "Yes, you have another uncle. Older than Sairin." He scowled, clearly upset. "Runai may be younger than me, but... He got all the bulk." And a touch of stupidity... But they were all stupid at some point, he couldn't deny that. Even he had done stupid things... Like thinking he could face Sairin. "That I know of, you have three aunts - Masika, Jwahir'jaha, and Nkechi." His face softened at the mention of his self-declared twin. He missed her... A lot. Flicking his ears, he started to walk. "Speaking of Nkechi... I should go see her..."
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Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:02 pm
Shin didn't miss the softening on his father's face. Nkechi was clearly somebody he cared about amid his large family. He'd only really ever seen anything like that in himself - He couldn't imagine life without knowing his pale oddball brother, Sekizen, after all. Sitting up, he watched his father leave. It was the best encounter he'd ever had, now that he thought about it. After a moment, he got up and went back towards Pride Rock. Hopefully... Nobody would bother him about the scars on his cheek.
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