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 Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 3:33 pm
Katavi, having just woken up, lumbered sleepily over to a small stream on the outskirts of the Tononeka territory to moisten her parched mouth. She bent over the trickling water, seeing her distorted reflection staring back at her. She took a few laps, sighing as the cool water ran down her throat. She put one paw into the glistening water and pulled it out again, running it over her tired eyes and blinking lazily as the moisture seeped into her fur.
She looked around quizically, wondering when and how it had been that she had fallen asleep like that. And it wasn't just dozing, it was sleeping heavily. Hit with a tree branch kind of heavily. She figured that after her multiple encounters today, not to mention helping to pick up the slack of the growing coalition after Kiwi's attack, and worrying about Uovu on top of all that, must have knocked her out cold. Still, that was unusual for her. "I must be working too hard," she muttered to herself, and added as a bitter after-thought, or being punished by the gods.
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 4:00 pm
As she had done for weeks, Kamaria had been traveling to and from the mistweaver area, becoming hesitant to visit them in order to ask for acceptance. She had met a few other along the path and many had told her if all went poorly, she would have a home in their pride. Not allowing this to completely discourage her, Kamaria was still determined to eventually make her way to her mother's former homeland.
Along her path that day, she spotted another lioness only a few meters off. The lioness, though full grown from what she could tell, was rather small. It did not occur to Kamaria right away that this particular lioness was also a descendant from the place in which her mother had called home.
Approaching still at her slow pace, Kamaria lowered her head in respect when she finally reached Katavi. "Greetings..." She said quietly, lowering her head further to lap up some water from the stream.
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 4:29 pm
Katavi's head shot up from the water, startled. What the...? Everything had been peaceful, and she had just been waking up, and then... what? Katavi blinked, trying to register the lioness' sudden apearance. A nagging voice inside her head whispered, you should have seen her coming. You let your guard down. Weak.
As she slipped out of her tired limbo, she held her ground without hesitation, letting a low warning growl rumble in her throat. She cast a sideways glance over shoulder, and spotted the makeshift Tononeka border taunting her from just a few feet away. Great. She had no reason to attack. Yet, anyways.
After the initial shock, Katavi calmed, though kept a careful eye on the other lioness. She watched her humble movements for a moment, before deciding the other wasn't a threat.
"Hello," she muttered, "What brings you here?"
Might as well find out what this strange lioness wanted with her.
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 5:05 pm
Kamaria moved rather slowly and tried to make it clear that she wasn't a threat. By the low growl coming from the other's throat, the lioness realised that she hasn't quite achieved her goal. Once she had taken her fill of water, she took a few steps back and looked the female over, "I apologise if I have startled you.." The lioness' voice came out quietly and gently.
"I am Kamaria," She introduced herself, feeling that with her name, the other might feel less defensive. Though already smaller than the typical lion, Kamaria kept herself low to the ground in a submissive position. She was tired and not in a mood to start some kind of fight with a stranger over misunderstandings.
"I am on my way to the mistweaver territory. Dare I ask, what brings you here?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 5:29 pm
Katavi ignored Kamaria's apology, knowing that she had been startled, but rather not willing to admit to it. After all, she was on a territory with which she had been familiar for some time, at this point. She should have caught the disturbance of the area's balance before the lioness just snuck up on her.
"And I am Katavi," she responded out of curtesy, but lacking enthusiasm. Her mind was still swimming with faults.
When the Mistweaver territory was mentioned, Katavi's mind came to a hault. "What?" she managed to say, blinking curiously at Kamaria. The mention of her old home brought both sadness and gratefulness to her heart; it tugged on too many emotions for her taste. Still, the idea that someone was going there dumb-founded her, and peaked her curiousity.
"I live here on my mother's land. But do tell me; why are you travelling to the Mistweaver lands?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 5:53 pm
Kamaria accepted Katavi's name willingly, glad that the other lioness was seeming to loosen up, even if it was only lightly. Remaining where she was, the lioness continued their conversation, surprised that her answer got such a shock from the other. Never once had her quest inspired such expressions or questions. Only kind words and offers of kindness.
Glancing in the direction that she was told were the mistweaver lands, Kamaria spoke. Her lavender eyes looked out fondly as though a part of her was waiting for her there, "It is the home of my late mother. I have been told many great stories of the mistweaver territory and hope that if I visit, I may join them and call that land my home.." Kamaria's voice was filled with hope and naivity. She had no idea what had happened to the lands and though her mother had been ridden with sickness, she had never told her daughter just why she had left.
Returning her gaze to Katavi, she smiled, "Have you heard of the mistweaver lands? I love learning of my mother's home.."
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 6:15 pm
"You hope that you may join them?" Katavi echoed. An amused smirk played about her lips for a moment before pity dragged them downward again.
She hadn't looked at the lioness carefully enough, she realized. There was a similarity between them that went beyond foolish dreams of returning home - or dreams that had been destroyed - it was a subtle similarity, but it was there. Their size, their build, their scent... they shared the blood of the Mistweavers. Katavi felt a sudden kinship with Kamaria, and so she responded with sincerity.
"I'm afraid you won't be finding what you're looking for. The Mistweaver lands have been devastated since the plague. Last time I was there, lions were still evacuating because of the drought. I doubt there's a pride left, at this point."
She nodded, digging into the darker depths of her memory. "Yes, I was born a Mistweaver myself. I went on a similar journey when I was young and foolish, and was only left more disappointed when I got there. The land used to be great, so I've heard, but now..." she trailed off.
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 6:56 pm
Kamaria looked at Katavi strangely when the female questioned what she had already said. "Yes, I do hope to join them. I have heard wonderful things about them.." She repeated, but still Katavi's words seemed to have put some sort of curiousity into the lioness' mind.
Although Katavi had already made the connection with Kamaria, the other lioness was not so quick to realise that the two came from the same origin. Had Kamaria known exactly what she was looking for, she might have noticed. What she did realise and had been told by her mother was that the mistweaver's were built smaller than the typical lion. Kamaria noticed that Katavi was small, but didn't think any more of it.
Taken back, Kamaria was not sure of what to say after Katavi's bold statement. "That can't be true.." Amethyst eyes darted from Katavi towards the mistweaver's direction, "I have been on my way for so long.. Surely the pride is still there. My mother told me that.." Kamaria shook the doubt from her mind suddenly and began to continue on where she was headed. She couldn't let this stranger change her mind! She needed to see it for herself!
Stopping where she was, she looked back to Katavi and spoke, now colder than before, "How do I know I can trust you? It seems just a minute ago you were prepared to attack me."
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 7:34 pm
Katavi only shook her head at the other lioness. She had wounds, scars, all sorts of tell-tale markings across her pelt, but none that she would willingly advertise just to make a point. And the one true thing that hurt her most from that journey, well, she wasn't prepared to make its presense known to this stranger.
The fact that she had elicited such a response from only a mere warning sent a surge of well-needed power through her, and it sent a smirk to her face. At the mention of trust, she sneered, "You don't know if you can trust me. And should you take a step in the direction from which I came, you'll find that you can't."
At seeing the desperation in Kamaria's eyes, her own eyes softened, and her agitated stance lessened. Oh, yes, this girl certainly reminded her of herself so long ago.
"Look, no one's stopping you from going. If you must see it with your own eyes, then go ahead. But I'm warning you; you have quite the difficult journey still ahead, and it will only get more and more dangerous."
Katavi's eyes darkened as she dug into the deeper pits of her memory.
"I once made the journey, when I was quite young. I went with my brother and sister. We were all attacked multiple times, by lion and nature alike. Maji, my sister, was killed, and my brother Kip was blinded. And I..." She trailed off, subconsciously flexing her crippled front leg.
"Make the journey if you have to, but don't expect to come back the same."
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 9:02 pm
Kamaria could see now that Katavi's words were only a warning. What she did not understand was how so much damage could have come to the pride. She knew of the plague, but the sickness had also come over many other prides and they had managed to rebuild. If the mistweavers needed assistance, that was only more reason for Kamaria to return to them and offer herself as help.
Whether or not Katavi was offering help, however, didn't change Kamaria's distrust of her. The lioness smirked and almost mocked her interest in the pride. Perhaps the lioness had her own reasons for being upset. Whatever the reasons were, Kamaria did not feel as though they needed to be taken out on her.
Before she was able to continue on, Katavi shared with her some information that absolutely put her in disbelief. Unable to speak, she merely wondered. How could the mistweavers attack their own people? Had Katavi and her family somehow upset them, offended them, or made it appear as though they were a danger? Kamaria shook her head, as though refusing to take in any more the lioness was saying.
"But w-why would they do that? Did you make it clear that you were only there as a friend? If they're in trouble, surely they'll need help?"
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 7:57 pm
Katavi slowly shook her head again. She wasn't sure if it was Kamaria's distrust in her, or the fact that she had such high expectations that would unevitably be crushed. Not that Katavi cared that much; in the scheme of things, she really only cared for herself and those quite close to her, certainly not some distantly related stranger that had just stumbled upon one of those rare peaceful moments... well, until she stumbled on it, of course. Still, there was something desperate in the other's eyes that propeled the dark lioness to explain further.
"The kind of help they need is nothing one can fix themselves. It the doing of nature, and of the gods." She cursed the gods silently, her lips drawn back in distaste.
" And they, the Mistweavers, didn't do anything. The rogues travelling on our same path did. Remember, not everyone you meet will be as tolerant as I am. And when and if you do arrive to the old Mistweaver lands, be prepared to make the same dangerous journey home again. You may not trust me, but I am giving you fair warning that you should at least consider; prepare yourself, both mentally and physically. What you will see and endure... it will not be pleasing."
Katavi looked at Kamaria thoughtfully, sizing her up with a sweep of her gaze. The girl wasn't too big, but then again, neither was Katavi. She might make a decent fighter. Maybe.
"But I think you'll live," she decided.
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 8:09 pm
Since Kamaria was a cub, she had looked up to the Gods for nearly everything. They had created the savannah and had both aided and supported those that lived below them. When Katavi drew her lip back, Kamaria couldn't help but flatten her ears uncomfortably. Why would the Gods have cursed her own people? So torn in what she was hearing, the lioness couldn't help but simply look away and release short, awkward breaths.
Kamaria did not wish to believe a single word that the darker lioness was telling her, but in the back of her mind, it sounded as though it could be truth. Kamaria was trusting of this lioness and though she was coming to accept the dangers, she could not go her entire life without making the journey for herself. Her mother's pride was of great importance to her and she couldn't have peace without seeing it for herself. Perhaps she could say something, or do anything that might help.
Looking back to Katavi, Kamaria's brow was lowered as though she knew what was to come. Clearly the lioness was bothered by what Katavi had said, but she knew that there was nothing she could do about it. "I appreciate you explaining this to me, Katavi.." And with another breath, she added, "..But I must make the journey for myself. I hope that what you said is true and that I might make the trip safely. I can only hope that I might help somehow.."
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 8:44 pm
Katavi gave a defeated sigh.
Tiredness was creeping forward again, making her shoulders droop, and tugging down at her heavy eyelids. Really, she hadn't slept enough, after all that had been going on. And she certainly didn't feel like pressing any further on the lioness.
"You should go, then," she said, "see it for yourself, so that you may stop wondering, and go on with your life."
If Katavi hadn't gone on her own sojourn so many moons ago, leaving the comfort of Roho's guidance, she figured she may never have learned true independence and strength. Despite the hardships she had endured, she knew it hadn't been a total loss. And that was all Kamaria could do...
"Make the most of what you get."
It was the best Katavi could manage, for she neither believed that Kamaria would have a safe journey, nor did she believe that Kamaria would enjoy it, so to imply either just to be polite was out of the question. However, to learn from the experience... that she believed the other could do, and in the scheme of things, that was what was most important.
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 8:57 pm
Kamaria was discouraged when she heard the sigh emit from Katavi. Although the lioness was warning her, she did not seem to have any real interest or concern in Kamaria. Even with this, however, the lioness seemed bothered that she hadn't convinced Kamaria otherwise. Feeling almost guilty for leaving now, Kamaria too released a short sigh.
Feigning a smile, Kamaria lowered herself in a respectful bow while preparing to be back on her way. "Again. I appreciate your words, Katavi. I understand that you mean the best, but I hope you can understand why I must go.. this pride has been all I have ever dreamed about for years. If they are in ruins.. then there may be nothing I can do, but I can't go on living wondering if helping could have changed anyone's life."
Inching forward to continue on her journey, Kamaria had one last question, "Do you have a pride of your own..? If things go poorly, as you believe they will, perhaps I might find you out?" She almost stuttered at the question. During their short conversation neither lioness had shown true interest in the other, but at the thought of being alone, Kamaria knew that she might need someone to speak to.
Katavi, as intimidating as she might have been, would be the best to relate to.
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Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 7:57 pm
"I understand," she said, staring at Kamaria with faraway eyes, but not really looking. Her mind was elsewhere, where she was still running, fighting, shedding blood. "More than you know."
Katavi couldn't help but feel relieved when it seemed Kamaria was leaving at last. Not only was she tired, but now memories - things that she never wanted to revisit - were plowing through her mind at a rapid pace, one piece of her past after another. This other lioness was prying it all out, and frankly, Katavi didn't like it at all.
She attempted to bring her focus back to the lioness in front of her, who seemed to be asking something else, but sure enough long-suppressed memories kept flooding in, distracting her from the present world at hand. And then all she could see was her sister, whom she had decided meant nothing after her death, lying cold and lifeless before her with spilled blood bathing her fur. They had all been so young, so confused...
Katavi snapped back to the present, and her eyes narrowed hostility at Kamaria.
"Just beyond me is the Tononeka, the pride of my mother - the mother that I have now. This is where I have come to stay, but it is not for you," she snapped. "I can see that you don't know what pain is really like yet, nor do you know true strength. This pride is not for you, not yet."
Her pained tone softened somewhat as she added, "But so long as you don't step on our soil, you may seek me out should you wish."
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