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 Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:24 am
Nyoka looked down from his place around Rokopelli's neck. He had never liked flying but he was slowly feeling himself growing used to it. The little deity had grown stronger with her powers and she flew relatively smoothly now.
Unless of course, a strong wind current beat at them and knocked her concentration. Or a pretty bird or butterfly happened along her path. At those times the snake would hold his breath and hope that he wouldn't meet his end.
However, this flight was a good one. It was smooth, straight and easy going and it gave the shimmering serpent time to glance around the desert. On the distance he could see a patch of blue and green. An oasis. He had missed the lush vibrancy of the jungle where he had been born and just seeing a tiny fraction of greenery brought a sense of comfort to his heart. His colouring had not made him for the desert. He needed grass and foliage and vines. He hoped, then, that they were heading towards it.
They were.
Soon the trees grew bigger and he could pick out the vibrant blue of the water. His tongue flicked between scaled lips, smelling the air which was suddenly filled with life.
"Down there." He hissed. "If there isss life here it will be there." Or will be soon, he thought to himself.
Rokopelli, who had been busy humming away to herself, almost didn't hear the snake's words. She had been so busy thinking about her new, wonderful life that she hadn't even noticed the oasis.
However, she heard Nyoka's words - or the tail end of them - and came back to reality. She wavered a little on her flight path and then glanced down at the snake coiled around her neck.
~Water. You're right. We'll find someone there.~ She spoke directly into the snake's mind, a power she used only with him. She felt terribly guilty if she used it on anyone else.
She lowered herself in the sky and aimed for the trees, hoping to use them to mask herself as she made her descent. She would mask her true self until she was sure she was in the presence of the king.
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 6:49 am
Koya used the flight in order to attempt to assess her situation. She was heading straight into the sort of predicament she had been trying to avoid all of this time. She had wanted to stay away from the mortals, or at least groups of them, until she felt she was ready to go back into society. She hadn't deemed herself ready yet, but she was willing to ignore her rules in order to keep Rokopelli safe.
But what if things went horribly wrong? What if this king and his subjects ended up refusing to keep a goddess in their numbers? She was afraid that Roko wouldn't be able to keep up her illusion long enough, as she was more unexperienced. Koya didn't use her illusion as much as some other deities, but she used it enough and had enough concentration to keep it up for a while. Yet if Roko was revealed, would she reveal herself?
The gray goddess decided that she would. She was following Rokopelli so that she could watch over her and help her out if anything were to go wrong. She decided that she'd do almost anything for Rokopelli.
Lost in her thoughts, she had almost missed the snake's words. But she had smelled water on the air and that brought her back to reality long enough to hear the serpent's main point. Glancing at Roko, she noticed that she had begun lowering herself from the sky. As if on cue, Koya did the same. She would follow the smaller female's lead until it was time for her to act the mother and Roko the child. Until then, she would worry.
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 10:01 am
She cast a glance back at Koya, unaware of the poor Goddesses' inner turmoil. She was aware that something was not quite right with Koya, but she decided that maybe she'd just been alone too long. She knew that being alone had made her slightly kooky too.
Either way, having Koya by her side boosted Roko's confidence and she was secretly over the moon that the grey had decided to stay with her. Koya was pretty much the only true motherly lioness she had ever met. If Roko could choose anyone to stay with, it would have been her.
Smiling cheerfully, she braced herself as she crashed through the trees, using them to slow her descent. Her wings flickered out of sight a moment before she hit the ground. The earth hit her hard, knocking the breath from her lungs and stunning her. The illusion faded and her wings returned as she tried to pick herself up. Her head felt light and fuzzy. She turned around to try and find Koya but her eyes had gone a little wonky too.
"Mummy Koya?"
She fought to gain control of herself, desperate to regain the illusion she had been practising.
Nyoka, angry at the horrific landing, uncoiled himself from her neck and slithered a good few metres away, turning his head to take in their surroundings.
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 10:58 pm
As they neared the trees and all of the branches that they held, Koya braced herself for a crash landing. It had been a long time since she had had to do anything but a simple landing in a wide clearing. This would certainly be a test of her skills. Expecting to crash, she was surprised when she suddenly felt confident, tucking her wings and nearly diving for the ground. She avoided most of the branches of the trees, and when she neared the ground she suddenly unfolded her wings and caught herself before she could hurt herself. So instead of a horribly embarassing fall, she managed to reach the ground somewhat gracefully.
She couldn't remember where she had learned that, but she figured it better not to question it. She was on the ground unharmed, and that was all that mattered. An instant later, her illusion was raised and she looked no more extraordinary than a rock. With a pure gray body and the only other color on her fur being the three black dots under each eye, she looked like just another lioness.
Swiveling her head about, she searched for Rokopelli. The smaller female had gone down first, and she wasn't sure what sort of experience she held. Had she gotten hurt?
Upon hearing Roko call, the now-mortal-looking goddess turned about and followed her voice. "I'm here, Roko," she called reassuringly. "Are you okay?" she continued talking, hoping that she would find her before someone else did.
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 5:45 am
Leaving the snake behind, Roko pushed through the trees, emerging a few paces from where Koya was. Seeing that the Goddess looked mortal, Rokopelli remembered that she was supposed to be looking mortal too. So she paused, closed her eyes, drew in a few calming breaths and focused.
She wasn't sure where the magic came from, whether it was deep in her soul or from around her. All she knew was that finding it's source was becoming easier and easier. She teased the power and suddenly her image wobbled. Her bi-coloured eyes opened, their contrasting colours feverishly glowing and then her wings faded. It took a lot of effort, but practising had certainly made it incredibly easier.
Once her masquerade was in place she bounded towards her mother, enjoying the clink of the beads around her throat. "We're fine. You look really pretty without wings Koya." Because Koya's wings were so beautifully big, Roko often found herself gazing at them, comparing their span to her own. Now, however, the simplistic, elegant figure of Koya was not drawn away by the wings. She wondered briefly if she looked better as a mortal too. Yes she still had her pretty jewellery but she didn't have those blinding wings. Sometimes she thought them far too colourful, though she did enjoy seeing what colours her wings held when she had nothing else to do.
"Nyoka said we'll probably find someone here. Pelli thinks so too, what about you mummy?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 10:17 am
Hearing the foliage rustle a few feet to her side, Koya turned and was relieved when she noticed Rokopelli coming closer. But she still appeared as a goddess. Looking around, she desperately hoped that no one was watching them from hiding. She was about to say something to the other goddess, but it seemed that she needn't say anything as she noticed the rainbow wings start to disappear.
Not as nervous anymore, Koya smiled at Roko as she headed over to her and licked at her ears. She would be acting as her mother when they encountered the mortal pride, but for some reason Koya felt it was more than just pretend for her. She felt a real connection to Rokopelli, even if the other wasn't aware of it. Was it because she had failed with her own cub and now wanted to make up for it? Whatever it was, she almost believed that Rokopelli really was her own daughter.
"You look very pretty yourself," she purred.
When asked if she thought if they would find anyone here, she paused and looked around. Her ears swiveled on her head and her nose twitched. There was fresh water and plenty of tree growth, seemingly an ideal place for lions to make their home. Yet she managed to catch no scents of mortals.
"There has to be someone around here," she agreed. "This is a lush place, and no lion would pass up a chance for a healthy home." Looking back to Roko, she nodded her head. "Did you want to do some exploring? The mortals aren't going to come to us," she chuckled.
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 12:16 am
"Us? Pretty?" Roko beamed at that and bounced lightly on the tips of her paws. As far as Roko was concerned, Koya was going to be her mummy now and forever. Nothing could change that, not even if a millenia passed.
"Okay, let's go look." She started to head past Koya, remembering Nyoka a split second after.
"Oh, where is snakey?" She span back to face the other direction, flicking her tail high. "Nyoka!!!!" Well if someone hadn't known they were here before, they certainly would now. Rokopelli, not even realising that shouting might not be such a good idea, reverted to her mindspeech.
~Where are you Nyoka? Aren't you coming?~
No response.
Her little face wrinkled up into a frown, which was an unusual expression for her. "Oh fine then." She turned back sharply and whisking up her nose, began trotting off through the foliage. "He can just stay and sulk."
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Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:12 am
Koya smiled at Rokopelli. She was glad she had decided to stay with her. She missed the joy and excitement of having the company of someone younger than herself. It chased away her depressed feelings and replaced them with something a little more cheerful. Her eyes no longer had a sad gleam to them.
She began to follow Roko, but stopped when Nyoka was remembered. The gray female wrinkled her face in a strange expression. She wasn't too fond of the snake, but felt that she tolerated him because it appeared as if he had looked after Rokopelli while she had been away. When Rokopelli nearly shouted the snake's name, Koya flinched then looked about herself. Had anyone been in earshot and heard that? It was pretty loud...
Well, she thought to herself, they were trying to be found out anyways. That was why they had begun walking, so that they might find someone. If someone came to them at the shout, wouldn't that just give them the same results? Unless they came running, ready to fight because they thought it was an intruder. But if they had heard that, they would have heard Rokopelli's child voice. Certainly they wouldn't' think that a threat.
Feeling a headache coming on with all of the wondering she was doing, Koya shook her head in an attempt to shake her thoughts.
"He'll find us again," she reassured Roko. "He can just follow our scents." Content to leave the snake behind for the time being, the mortal-looking goddess followed once more behind Roko, playing a nervous mother as her cub bounced ahead just in case anyone was watching.
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:41 pm
The Oasis was in fact a string of pools, like a lush necklace of green jewels in the gold of the desert sands. The pair had landed at the one that was the furtherest from where the clan had settled, which was fortunate for them - else they'd have been seen before now. As it was, most of the mortal lions were along the other end, maybe a few were scattered around...including Muroki with Kainda, for he was 'taking her for a walk'.
Well, not really. He was just walking with her as a companion and because his wolf-bonded was pregnant and smaller than a lion. Muroki was worried the vultures would dare to go after her if she wandered alone. And the gods knew the maned wolf was fond of walks, following her nose and having a little run around their territory. The Dawnwalker king didn't mind at all tagging along.
They weren't too far from the goddesses and surely, they were on a collision course.
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 2:00 am
Rokopelli, unaware of the battles going on in poor Koya's mind, just smiled up at her. She, too, looked odd without her wings. Her body seemed long and slender without them and she walked on legs long and gangly. It appeared as if a strong gust would send her flying off her paws. However, the jewellery clasped around her remained and that appeared as if it had enough power to weigh her down despite it all.
"Yup, for a creature without a nose he sure cam smellses good." She trotted up ahead of the grey, rubbing her cheek along the Koya's front legs as she went. By looks they weren't really familiar but their mannerisms were all that one would expect from mother and daughter. Besides, Roko didnt think it weird anyhow. Her mother had looked nothing like her either. Maybe...maybe she looked like her father. The thought startled her. She'd never thought about her father before. Until now she had thought nothing of her parents, especially him. Maybe he wasn't so bad?
She paused, turned to Koya to ask her about a father when the snake rustled through the grass.
Nyoka, slithered towards them with surprising speed for one without legs. He paused in front of the girls and lifted himself up, hissing and spitting. "They're coming!" He warned, his golden, slit eyes darting between them. "Two of them. A lion and a..." He paused, trying to find the word. "Dog." His whole body shuddered. He didn't like strange furry creatures and he certainly didn't like dogs. They were far more curious than cats as far as he was concerned and he didn't want a big nose sniffing at him.
"Let me up." He demanded and before Rokopelli could reply the snake had slithered up a foreleg and curled tighly around her neck. For a moment his sides heaved and then his breathing slowed, his eyes closed. And for anyone who didn't know, he appeared another peice of Rokopelli's jewellery -- except for the smell of serpent evident in the air.
"Did you hear that Mummy?" Rokopelli glanced up into Koya's kindly eyes. "Let's go!" Without thinking it might be dangerous she started off, murmering to Nyoka as she went. "Don't bite them, okay? Be friends, friends."
At Nyoka's answering hiss she nodded, satisfied and linked her mind with his, that way if he spoke she would hear it.
However, doing too things at once made her falter, her wings flickered but then dissapeared out of sight again and fearfully, he withdrew from her telepathy. She'd have to let Nyoka's words fall on a deaf mind for now.
"Hello? Hello?" She pushed between the trees and came to a halt, seeing the pair that Nyoka had spoken about. "Doggy!" She squeaked. She'd never seen such a creature before, but Nyoka had told her all about them. They didn't look as mean as he had said.
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Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 6:47 am
Koya nodded absently at the other female, knowing very well that snakes had a good sense of smell. The creatures were amazingly adapted and could survive harsh conditions despite them being legless and seemingly noseless and earless. Knowing the snake would find them sooner or later, the gray female kept her senses alert for other things, or perhaps other lions. She knew that with such a supply of water as this there had to be someone living here.
As Rokopelli rubbed herself on Koya's legs, she smiled and rumbled affectionately, lowering her head to nuzzle and lick the smaller female before she went off ahead. For a moment, looking after her as Rokopelli wandered about excitedly, Koya felt as if Roko truly were her daughter. Suddenly determined, she knew she would risk everything in order to keep her safe.
And when the snake came slithering back, hissing that someone was coming, Koya felt that it was time to be on the defensive. Nodding, she flattened her ears and tensed her muscles. "I heard, Roko," she replied quietly, surprised that her voice was steady. Inside, she was shaking terribly. She was about to be thrust into the world of mortals and she wasn't quite sure she was ready. "Roko, why don't we--" she began, but as the other female sped off with a call back to her 'mother', she noticed her words falling on deaf ears. There was too much excitement, and Rokopelli had sped off into a situation that could possibly be dangerous.
Without even thinking herself, she sped off after the other. "Roko!" she called desperately. She prayed silently that nothing would happen to her. Running after her, she caught sight of her just as her illusion faltered. Panic rushed through Koya then relief as she noticed the illusion put back into place.
When Rokopelli stopped, Koya, panting and as worried as a mother could get, stopped beside her and checked her over quickly. Seeing she hadn't come into contact with another yet, she looking about frantically. Someone was nearby and--
Upon hearing Roko squeak about a dog, her head whipped around and she finally spotted the 'they' Nyoka had been hissing about. She hissed herself, lowering herself down. So far the others didn't appear threatening, but there was no telling what would happen. And as she noticed that the 'dog' was pregnant, she grew even more cautious. A mother would certainly do anything to protect her cubs, and as she noticed that the wolf and lion were walking together, she figured the male would do anything to help.
Laying there, hopeless, she let luck guide them.
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 5:26 am
Kainda's head shot up from where she'd stopped to sniff at something and following her first instinct without thinking, which was to bristle. Tail n' hackles up. She was more aggressive now she was pupheavy than she'd ever been - except maybe when she'd been tracking down a mate in the first place. It was more out of being startled than anything.
"Kainda." Muroki said, cutting across the start of her growl, making her stop to look at him. Two seconds of aggression was not a good impression to give a youngster! Though, now he turned to smile at Rokopelli he couldn't place her. The younger lions he though he knew, atleast by sight, because he'd been so concerned about them. Heatstroke, vultures, the threats were worse for them.
"Hello?" He said nicely, noting how Kainda relaxed at his side. Good girl.
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:05 am
The juvenile froze on the spot, her bi-coloured eyes wide with fright. Nyoka was right about something after all. She swallowed, felt Nyoka tighten around her neck and took a few steps back, hoping Koya had stayed with her. She didn't want to be left alone with growling doggies.
The lion, who apparently governed some sort of authority, quieted the dog however, and those few seconds of nervousness were gone.
The little goddess relaxed a little and stepped towards them again, ever curious. One forepaw hung in the air, uncertain that it wanted to take her any closer to those jaws full of teeth. Nyoka moved again and Roko was afraid the snake might go for their faces.
"Hello! Hello!" She chirped, her eyes darting back to the large lion. She liked him. He had a nice pelt and strong eyes. He smelt of sand and warmth.
"Doggy won't...be growly anymore?" She took another nervous step, looking back at Koya who seemed nervous too. Well, nevermind, she was sure it was a misunderstanding.
"We're Rokopelli and this is our mummy Koya." She beamed and waved her tail happily. "We're looking for a pride that's supposed to be around here." She wondered if she should mention the two Goddesses that had told her, but for some reason she couldn't remember there names or what they looked like.
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 11:27 am
Koya had remained tense ever since the two strangers had walked onto the scene. When the to-be mother growled, she had feared that the male lion beside her might grow defensive and attack anything that moved. But, completely opposite to her prediction, the male instead calmed the female down and seemed to be rather friendly and easy going. Still, the plain lioness was cautious.
When Roko called out to the others, bright blue eyes watched them carefully. Any sudden movements that seemed in the least bit aggressive would have Koya on the run.
She had intended to stay hidden for a while, thinking that perhaps the two strangers would be more accepting of a little cub more than they would be of a fully grown lioness. Especially since, being a goddess, she already seemed bigger than was normal, even when her illusion was up. But when Roko mentioned her mum, the gray lioness took a deep breath and raised herself up so that she was standing properly. She attempted not to look threatening as she stepped closer to Rokopelli, their fur nearly touching, and nodded her head politely at them.
Remaining silent after that, she waited for the others to make the next move.
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 12:38 pm
"I won't - sorry, was just startled. And you may call me Kainda." The wolf offered pleasantly and apologetically, from beside Muroki. She smiled, trying not to freak at the appearance of Koya. She'd grown up to be bonded to a lion and he was beside her, she knew lions well, she was in no danger, her precious pups weren't in danger...calm Kainda. Calm.
"Good to meet you Rokopelli" Muroki replied, though his gaze moved to the large female as he said it. Something seemed a little odd but nothing he could put a paw on. Still. He smiled at her as well, as welcoming as he ever was despite the way his curiousity had prickled.
"And your mother. I'm Muroki, king of the only pride in these lands."
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