The lion and the lamb ( Maji & Bongani )

[Thalion]

Side Note

An Aim RP between Unaru and Thalion.

Blue = Maji
Brown = Bongani

| Friday, November 16, 2007 |

12:56PM

Night was drawing in quickly, already the distant valley was cloaked in black, the bare trees almost appeared like thin, boney claws reaching for the golden sky. Even in the evening hours, it was warm. Hot, dry, and miserable. Maji had grown thinner, much thinner then he had been. His mane had thinned a bit, though not nearly as much as the younger lions had. Still a shadow of the brilliant creature he had been,
though perhaps better groomed than most. He was still a proud creature.

His eyes took on a predatory glow as he moved through the dry grass, sending waves of the night insects up in the air. He snorted in exhaustion, pulling a small kill along with him. A young buck that had seperated from the herd. It was small, but enough to feed himself and Kisulisuli at least. The others were pretty content on hunting for themselves.

12:59PM

Not too far away a young wildebeest was trying to find a place to sleep and hide. He was visibly shaking and and had tears in the corners of his eyes, the little guy was scared witless. He was not by any other wildebeest, there weren't even any tracks indicating that he had been with any earlier. His head whipped from side to side as he heard even the slightest noises terrified for his life.

1:01PM

The lion moved forward, snorting hard and grunting between his bared teeth. A sudden movement caught his attention not too far off. He released his hold on the buck's throat, dropping the kill at his feet as he turned towards the movement. Another damnable rogue? Perhaps...

He growled a bit, crouching down as he moved forward. Perhaps prey...perhaps another invader. Either way, it was his responsability to look into it, and act on it if needed.

1:04PM

The calf thought he heard a noise in the direction that Maji was in, his head whipped to the side and he tried to find the source of the noise. Unfortunately, he was too young to have much of night vision. He didn't see anything but continued to look in the same direction as he slowly and carefully moved onward.

1:07PM

The lion, however, was very aware of the calf's movement. While the calf was downwind, he was clumsy and panicked, easy to hear and see. It did't take long for Maji to come into range of the calf. However, he hesitated, brow creasing. A calf? By itself? He'd not seen a herd for miles... perhaps it was Baba's herd...

1:10PM

Bongani still remained unaware to Maji's presence unfortunately a fairly easy target for any predator. The calf was breathing panicked and if was made to run would not make it too far from his shortness of breath. He eventually clumsily tripped on a rock and stumbled forward falling to the ground and curling up shaking hoping he hadn't alerted anything to his presence.

1:15PM

Maji's expression softened further, sinking into the pit of his stomach. He was a predator damnit...this was an opportunity. His pride was starving, hell -he- was starving... but at the same time he'd still been hindered in hunting wildebeest in particular. Ever since Baba kept him safe as a cub...

He sighed, reaching a paw up to wipe the blood from his maw as best he could. He'd get slapped for this...he knew it. "Where's your mother?" He called, slowly standing himself up.

1:17PM

Bongani jumped about a foot off the ground and spun around to face the lion who had just given up his position. His eyes were wide and tear filled, his chest was heaving and shaking. "Sh-Sh-Sh-She." He stuttered out still scared speechless by the lion, he tried to move backward only managing to stumble again.

1:18PM

The lion shook his head a bit and stepped out of his hiding place, moving calmly towards the calf. "Yes? Is she nearby?" He glanced around shortly. Everything about his body language suggested being perfectly calm. And even for a lion, his voice was oddly gentle. "It's not safe out here..."

1:20PM

The calf gulped and still looked terrified and ever so slightly confused that the lion hadn't yet tried to attack him. "Sh-Sh-She's...." He stuttered remembering the scenes still burned into his head before ending up unable to take it again and broke down crying in a shivering little ball on the ground.

1:35PM

He winced a bit, giving another slow glance around. Well it wasn't hard to imagine why a calf was alone out here... either by the claws of his own pride or the damnable barbarians that plagued their boarders. The lion brought a paw up to rub at a temple. Lord why him?

"Relax... If I meant to eat you I would have done so already."

1:35PM

The calf somehow didn't seem to be too comforted by this. He was grateful that this lion was not trying to hurt him, however he was still sad and scarred from watching his mother be slaughtered. He tried to slow down his crying seeing the lion become somewhat irritated, he at least knew better than to irritate a lion.

1:41PM

Maji shook his head, walking himself over to the calf, "Get up... let's get you out of the open... the rogues hunt in the night." A simple enough request, though to prey it would sound like a demand. Of course... he had his kill. He couldn't leave it out here. He'd gone too long without a bite.

1:44PM

Bongani looked up at Maji with wide still frightened eyes. He still wasn't sure what the lion was going to do, but again, it was best not to agrivate a lion. He shakily stood up and continued to shiver as he frightenedly awaited Maji's orders.

1:41PM

"One moment." He turned and returned to his kill, picking it up and lifting it up above the grass as best he could manage. It was something the calf would have to live with...the savanah was all about life and death. Life came hard and left easily. Once he was back within veiw of the calf he dropped the kill once more. "Follow me."

1:48PM

Bongani shook even more and looked again petrified seeing the dead buck. However the calf was young, homeless and parentless, and for the moment not being killed by a lion. He wasn't going to disobey. He sniffled a little again but proceded to follow the lion trying to keep his distance from the carcass.

4:10PM

Maji continued forward, obviously a bit hindered by his kill. It was heavy, limp, and kind of awkward to carry by himself. Mistweavers weren't large lions. Actually pretty small when compared to the average size of rogues, the more thick build of the pridelanders, or the towers of muscle and bulk that were the firekin.

The jungle that Maji preceded to was kind of pathetic really. The ground was hard and dry. There was plenty of golden grass, now having the opportunity to grow now that the leaves of the jungle were mostly gone. The river was very shallow, barely a creek by then.

4:13PM

Bongani followed along still sniffling and shaking. The calf didn't know if the lion was trying to help him or if he was just being stupid and being led along to more lions as a quick meal so that this lion wouldn't have to carry any more weight than he had to.

4:15PM

Maji didn't do much talking, it was kind of difficult with a mouthful of gazelle. Eventually he led the calf to the base of a large cliff, apparently there'd been waterfalls falling from the top. Long dried up now. He glanced up a bit, giving a bit of an agitated grunt around his meat.

Dropping the kill, he turned to the calf. "Wait here... I just need to put this up in the den. I'll be right back."

4:19PM

Bongani kind of nodded as he shrunk down and tried to look for an outcropping of rock or some place he could hide behind while he waited.

4:23PM

Maji nodded, bending himself down to grab onto his kill once more. He then jumped his way up to the first rock ledge and began into one of the caves. He'd not return for quite a bit, and when he did he looked absolutely bushed, though he had a bit more blood around his mouth. of course, he was trying to lick it off as best he could.

4:27PM

Bongani would have peeked out from behind a small boulder as he heard something aproach again. The calf looked like he was still shaking but he wasn't sniffling as much as he had been prior.

4:31PM

Maji sat himself down calmly, kicking what he could from his whiskers. "I apologize..." He stared, gesturing for the calf to come out from his hiding place, "But I cannot help what I am as much as you can help what you are. I can safely assume that your mother fell to a similar fate."

4:33PM

The calf looked uneasy, why was the lion not trying to eat him? Isn't that what lions did to wildebeest? It's what they did to his mother. He nodded a bit again shakily coming out from behind the rock. His head was dipped down and his ears were flat against his head.

4:36PM

"I'm not going to eat you." Maji assured him, settling down on his belly with his paws gently folded in front of him. "When I was a cub, there were no other lions here. I had a wildebeast friend by the name of Baba. He kept me warm at night, kept me company even as I grew. I figured you might be from his herd... they stay close to these lands."

4:40PM

Bongani recognized the name Baba, he was told a while ago that Baba was the name of the herds leader. He was suprised to hear the lions story, it wasn't something he would have though possible. Not speaking still the calf did seem to loosen up just the slightest bit. He also continued to aproach the lion now a little more interested and thinking perhaps the lion wasn't going to kill him.

4:45PM

"You've not said more than a single word." He smiled a bit, tipping his head to one side, "Perhaps we should start off a bit better... my name is Maji. I'm the prince here alongside my half-sister, Masika... best we not introduce you to her just yet."

4:47PM

"I-I-I'm Bongani." He said, now his stutter not from crying but from his seeming constant shaking. He was still scared, for good reason. He was deep in lion territory and whether or not he was with a lion who would not eat him, it was still dangerous. He was quite suprised though to have been helped by a lion prince, out of all the lions he would have thought a prince be the first to see him as a meal for his pride.

4:50PM

Maji smiled a bit more, "Ah, well then Bongani, rest assured it's not on my mind to have you for a meal. Not now or ever. I'd eat fish for the rest of my life if the good storm king didn't see it fit to starve the lands. A test if anything." He chuckled, "But as you can see there's plenty food for you here, and no predators other than my pride."

4:57PM

Bongani still looked a little confused. "Y-Y-You mean I can st-st-stay h-here?" He wasn't expecting this. He didn't know what to expect honestly. He lifted his ears up though as the longer he spent around Maji the more comfortable he began to feel.

4:49PM

Maji nodded, "Yes. I'll have to speak with the others to make sure they let you be. Just be careful. Try not to stray away from me too far. I know that Kisulisuli might be a bit of a tough one to detour... he's a bit more eager than the others when it comes to the hunt."

5:03PM

Bongani began to shake a little more remembering his mother being taken down by a lion and now making sure that he would not go far from Maji at all, especially if that meant safety. "Th-Th-Thank You."

5:05PM

Maji nodded a bit, lifting up one of his paws. They were oddly shaped, not that a calf would really know. Or any prey animal for that matter, the only time they got close enough to a lion's paw to see their shape was moments before death. However, there were no claws displayed. "You can relax. These claws come out very rarely."

5:12PM

Bongani did what instinct told him to do with a protector. He walked over to Maji's side and lay down nestling against him like a calf would to their parent. He knew no better, to him, that is what you did with those that protected you, it made him feel safe.

5:14PM

Maji raised a brow as the calf curled up at his side. How very ironic... if Baba were here he'd likely laugh though for different reasons that his pride would. Never the less, he found himself strangely comforted by the little calf. Perhaps a small exchange by the storm king for the family he had lost.

The lion smiled a bit and stretched himself out a bit, laying his head down on his paws.
 

[Thalion]

Side Note

An Aim RP between Unaru and Thalion.

Blue = Maji
Brown = Bongani
Green = Kisulisuli

| Friday, November 16, 2007 |

6:49M

It had been three days since Maji had come accross the little calf. There was very little he could teach to a wildebeest really... he wasn't a lion. He didn't need to know how to navigate the Mistweaver caves because there was no physical way the calf could even get into the caves to begin with. Perhaps for the best. He didn't have to explain the hsitory because really, it likely wouldn't matter. Hunting was a no. All he had to do was keep an eye on the calf while he grazed and show him where it was safe to get water. he did, however, have to find a decent hiding place for him. Deeper in the former jungle away from the caves in a dry thicket. A good of place as any really... and nessicary. Maji wouldn't bring him on his hunts.

Presently he was walking back towards the caves along the dry riverbed, now and then glancing towards the water. If only... perhaps soon.

6:59PM

Bongani had grown quite attached to Maji in the past few days. Having no one left, and normally having virtually no way to survive, he had been saved by a lion and he now realized this. He knew it was strange, but he didn't care as his name implies, he was increadibly grateful to Maji. The calf would not ask for much, he felt it was not his place to ask for anything. That first night he slept on the ledge with Maji he felt safe, and he had from then on trusted Maji fully. Indeed, he was begining to look to Maji as a parent figure no matter how awkward it may have seemed, the calf was still young, and needed to rely on someone to survive.

7:02PM

"You need to keep your wit about you. Don't say anything that might offend someone and definately keep close." Maji sighed a bit, glancing back towards the calf, "I need to have you meet some other members of the pride. If you're to survive here, they need to know that you're not to be eaten." Another cruel fact of life. He was still a calf, still a food source on legs. However, if Maji made it clear that the calf was his territory, the pride would have to respect that. Though... he couldn't even imagine telling Masika. She had her own enterage that had come with her... and she was very much in control of them.

7:05PM

Bongani nodded and drew a little closer to Maji as they walked. The calf was terrified and it showed though he tried to hide it. He was scared, but he trusted Maji.

7:06PM

"Don't show fear." Maji pointed out, taking a step away from the calf as he drew closer. "We can smell it...sometimes it drives us mad. If you look at us head on, show no fear, we loose the urge to attack." He looked forward again, "Baba told me very little of your kind's ways, but that was something I do remember. It's how your kind discourages lion kills. We hunt by sight. If we lose the fear and suprise of the attack, we loose our desire to go after that creature. It makes you appear strong, and if you're strong it's a risk to hunt you. Understand?"

7:08PM

That would be something that would be hard for the calf. He was already fairly skittish, and going to a den of lions was not on his safe list. However he didn't want to disapoint Maji. "I-I-I. . . I'll, try." He said first trying to get his stutter under control.

7:10PM

Maji sighed. This wasn't going to be very easy...that was for sure. "Just...do your best. You're young, you have time. You need to practice though. Your kind is a very dangerous game. when you get older you'll stand taller than any lion and your horns will be just as dangerous as our teeth, your hooves like our claws. Keep that in mind. These lands do have a problem with invaders. I might not be around all the time to keep you safe."

7:13PM

"Kay." Bongani said trying to compose himself. It was sad how quickly children had to grow up, in these times especially. The calf was already more timid than the usual wildebeest, but he had determination.

7:20PM

Maji nodded, "Now, we're going to meet my cousin's son... second cousin I suppose that makes us." Or something to that effect... "His name is Kisulisuli. He's a young male, just got his mane in fully. But he's very dangerous... this land used to be beautiful, he's known it only as a dry and dangerous place."

7:23PM

"Okay." Bongani said again, nervous but trying to stave it off as best as he could. Bongani stayed close and made sure not to have his head down or his ears flat, something that small was already fairly difficult for him. He would try to speak as little as possible.

7:28PM

Maji nodded his approval, turning to step easily accross the small creek. Kisuli liked to stay by the lakebed. Dry as it was, it's where he and his best friend had remained for a while. He was an odd lion... befriending an elephant calf not too long ago. The herd had moved on when the lake dried up. They were too large... and needed far more water. Not to mention all the vegetation they needed for just one of them. "Alright..." he took a deep breath and continued forward.

Kisuli would be easy to spot. A large white and rust-colored lion lounging on a rounded rock facing what might have been a lake bed at one point. Currently it was one of the few places with any green grass still. He seemed content for the moment, sleeping soundly and snoring quite a bit.

7:31PM

Bongani closed his eyes tight for a moment trying to compose himself one last time before the confrontation began. He opened his eyes again and continued to follorw Maji.

7:31PM

Maji glanced back to Bongani, giving him a stern nod. "Just relax." He turned and started down towards the lake bed. "Kisuli." He announced casually, making his way towards the other male.

Suli rolled over, opening his eyes a bit. Obviously still kind of in a daze, "...you're bringing them in live now?" He yawned, sitting himself up to scratch out his mane, "That's new."

7:35PM

Bongani tried his best not to shake or shrink back. The only thing he couldn't control was when he gulped from Suli's words. For who the calf was, and how he normally acted it showed that he was doing his very best.

7:35PM

Maji cleared his throat, closing the distance between himself and the lion. "No. He's not to be eaten... just an orphan we found along our boarders."

"This isn't a time to be soft, Maji." Kisuli growled, rolling himself to his belly and pushing up to a low sit. "We're starving...barely making ends meet as it is. It takes days to find something. An orphaned calf sounds like a gift from the storm king for our bellies."

7:48PM

Bogani's imediate instinct was to try and get the hell out of there, but he just kept repeating Maji's words through his mind. He kept silent, but stayed very close to Maji. The calf apparently had good will power.

7:55PM

"Perhaps it's a test." Maji countered. "Besides... I was friends with prey before I had my mane. It's the least I can do..." He glanced off to one side then back to Suli, "Besdies... you yourself found yourselves friends with a plant eater."

"...an elephant." Suli quirked a brow, "There's no way any of us would have taken one down...."

7:58PM

Bongani remained quiet, he stood there by Maji stiff. He just kept reeling Maji's words through his mind, his mind was set on repeat. The calf was barely even listening to the conversation now.

8:05PM

"He's not to be eaten." He said again, this time in a sharper tone, "We've accepted help from a cheetah before, and it's paid off for us. The wildebeest are powerful creatures. It may prove to further help us out. If the storm king sees fit, the land will be strong enoguh to support a herd, and it'll be their land to protect as well as ours."

"I swear you get the most hairbrained ideas...you spend too much time in that cave." He groaned, moving off the rock to inspect the calf. "Hm...barely a mouthful anyway." He reached a paw over to poke at the calf's side, "You got a name there, sticks?"

8:12PM

Bogani stiffened up even more at the lion coming over and prodding him. What? What did he ask? Wait, huh? They wanted him to talk? TALK?! ". . .Taller older BIG HORNS, tall, not scared, NOT SCARED." Bogani spurted out not even sure himself what he was saying. He was conciensieous to what he was saying he just couldn't control his mouth. He'd have to work on that.

8:15PM

Suli smirked, the reaction was amusing... though maybe he could step it up a notch. Maji turned around but not quickly enough unfortunately. Suli opened his mouth and let out a loud but playful roar towards the calf. He thought he was brave? He'd see.

8:20PM

RUN! HIDE! NOW! Was Bongani's first thoughts, 'No...NO, cannot dissapoint Maji. CAN'T DISAPOINT MAJI." Bongani closed his eyes tight, he stood there, yes stood. It was quite suprising. He was shaking quite a bit, and tears started to form in the corner of his eyes, but he stayed. He stood there not even so much as taking a step back.

8:26PM

Suli lifted his head, giving a short snort. "Well then... seems we got a little trooper then." He chuckled, giving a short shrug. "Whatever... not like he's eating our food or anything."

Maji was less than impressed with Suli's behavior. "...that's as much of approval as you'll get out of him." He explained quietly. "Just mind yourself around him. He's not a bad lion...just very protective of us."

8:34PM

Bongani still had his eyes shut. He wasn't sure why he felt like he had to do it, but something told him he should. "M-M-M. . .My, name, is, Bogani." He said slowly stopping his stutter again. Bogani had finally answered Suli's question. It was a huge step for him. He spoke to a lion, a lion other than Maji. He still wouldn't dare venture away from Maji, but he was starting to get some of his fear under control.

8:40PM

"He's gone." Maji laughed a bit, nodding back to where Suli had been. The younger lion was on his way out towards the forest. Likely to get himself the meal of the week. "But... very impressive."

8:40PM

Hearing Maji say that Suli was gone the calf opened his eyes and looked around. Confirming that the lion was indeed gone Bogani promptly collapsed onto the ground trying to return to his normal breathing. "I'm sorry Maji." Bogani said feeling that he didn't quite do as well as he should have. "I showed I was scared...I tried not to." He said sullenly.

8:40PM

"You did fine." He chuckled a bit. Really he had. Kisulisuli made a habbit of looking more like a bully than he really was. It was mostly talk. Not something to be taken seriously. "I wouldn't worry about it too much. There's time for you to grow. I didn't know how to roar until I was an adolecent." Kind of embarassing actually...

8:50PM

Bongoni wasn't aware to that fact, he wasn't quite sure what Maji meant when he told him how old he was when he learned how to roar. After calming down a bit the calf stood back up and resumed his position next to Maji.  

[Thalion]

Side Note

An Aim RP between Unaru and Thalion.

Blue = Maji
Brown = Bongani

| Friday, November 21, 2007 |

10:00PM

Maji woke himself up with a long yawn, fangs fully exposed as his tounge flopped out of his maw for a moment. As the yawn came to a close he rose himself up and stretched out his front paws, pushing his claws out in front of him and arching his back, eventually kicking both legs out behind him and finishing with a shake of his silvery mane. He'd been waking up sore recently, sleeping outside of the caves to keep an eye on Bongani. He hadn't slept outside for the longest time... but it kind of took priority over sleeping in comfort in his own cave.

10:06PM

Bongani started to stir feeling Maji move from him. The calf had found comfort in sleeping with Maji, it made him feel safe and he was starting to look at Maji as more and more of a father figure. The calf was quite meek and innocent especially for these times, it wasn't hard for him to grow attached to Maji even though he was a lion. Bongani slowly opened his eyes after a bit and looked about ears flicking about.

10:08PM

Maji sat himself upright and began clawing through his mane. For a male he was very nitpicky with his looks, working his mane until it laid neatly against him rather than fluffed out and matted from his night. He paused and licked at a paw, glancing to the Wildebeest as he roused. "...did you sleep well?"

10:16PM

Bongani looked up at Maji grogilly "Mhmm, did you daddy?" He asked wearily before his mind snapping into gear and he realized what he said. "I-I-I'm sorry, it wasn't r-right of m-m-me." Bongani said quickly getting to his hooves apologizing. The calf could only imagine how low of a kick it must of been for a wildebeest to be calling a lion his father.

10:20PM

"It's fine." Maji chuckled, "You're still just a cub. I don't mind completely. Just mind yourself around the others. My position here is fragile as it is." He had concerns about that more and more. If they didn't see him as a strong leader they could drive him away...and he didn't quite trust the lands to anyone else.

10:24PM

"Kay." Bongani said lowering his head still feeling fairly embarressed. In the back of his mind however, Bongani was thrilled that Maji didn't mind too much, even if he couldn't say it infront of others, it still gave him the feeling of not being so alone. He didn't much understand what Maji meant about his position but he wasn't going to pry.

10:26PM

He smiled over to the calf, getting himself to his paws, "Are you hungry? You should get something to eat and drink before we do anything today. Remember, you're a growing cub. You need all the food you can get right now. Especially in this place. Keep up your strength."

10:30PM

"Kay." Bongani said perking his head up and smiling back at Maji before scampering off to graze and drink. Bongani wasn't slow in eating his breakfast, the calf didn't much like being away from Maji for too long of a period of time, even if it were for something so simple as eating.

10:39PM

Maji walked himself after the calf as he galloped off to graze. He helped himself to a sunning spot to relax and wake himself up further, warming the night's chill from his coat as he watched. He dazed with his eyes half open, kind of turning a few situations over in his mind. He had to talk to Masika soon as he could manage...

10:47PM

Bongani finished chewing on his grass as he headed over to the streams edge to get a drink. Once he finished he spotted something on the bank of the stream, it was an enourmous shell of a nut, he'd seen one of them before but didn't think of any use for it until now. He glanced back towards Maji before going over to the nut shell and swishing it around the water to clean it off as best he could before he filled it up with water and dragged it over to Maji. The calf did his best to not spill much water and therefore took his time in bringing it over. He placed it in front of Maji with a smile, "I thought maybe you'd be thirsty." Bongani said trying to be helpful.

10:49PM

Maji glanced up as the calf approached again, an ear rotating forward and a soft smile coming to his maw. It would be hard to believe that that very maw was responsible for many deaths of herbivores, or of anything in fact. He hardly looked fierce. "Well well..." He chuckled again, rolling himself up to a sit. "Very clever indeed. We use these to collect water and paint in fact."

10:54PM

Bongani smiled again at the praise, he was glad that he was able to do something right. Though the word 'paint' confused him, he hadn't heard it before. Perhaps it was some sort of fruit or vegetable. "Paint?" He asked a little curious.

10:55PM

"Yes." Maji said simply, lowering a paw to pick up the shell and bring it to his mouth for him to lap at. This might have struck Bongani as odd... he didn't act like a lion at all. "Our people use paint to write. It lets us keep our history and track our family lines."  

[Thalion]

Quote:

Aim chat rp between GunSniper, Thalion, and Unaru

Thalion:
It was later in the afternoon, kind of a dangerous time of the day for a wildebeest as it was the primary time for hunters to rouse for the hunt. The heat of the day was cooling off rather quickly. In days past it would have brought mist rising up from the ground towards the sky, part of why the pride was named 'mistweavers'. It was uncommon knowledge that they worshiped the moon as much as the water and storms. The moon brought the mists, it brought a cooling light to the serene nighttime.

"Now, keep your wit about you." Maji warned, as he did with Kisulisuli, "I do not know how Obi will react to you unfortunately. He was found not too far from where I found you, having lost both his parents. You two have quite a lot in common."

GunSniper:
Obi had been away for quite some time. He had been on a search of his lost family. What he found was the truth, they were gone. Moved away, died, either way they were far gone. Obi grew homesick and wished to see Maji greatly. As he walked on he saw Maji's poofy mane and begun to run as fast as his powerful legs could carry him. A smile wide on his face.

Unaru:
"Kay." Bongani said still very much nervous but held it back much like the time he did with Suli. The calf walked along with Maji trying to phsyc himself up for the meeting between him and this other new lion. Not too far in the distance though Bongani started to see movement, he jerked his head to that direction and saw OH DEAR GOD a lion was bounding right for them. Bongani startled and scared for his life darted behind Maji.

Thalion:
Maji chuckled, glancing down to Bongani. "Relax." He assured the calf, turning towards Obi and ran right back at him. Not this time... The older lion jumped himself upwards, catching the ground just in time to spin himself around and throw a padded paw towards his 'son's' back. "Nice try."

GunSniper:
Obi rolled out of the way. The Grin widening on his maw. His own paw came at Maji. "Ha!"

Unaru:
Bongani stood a little off to the side still nervous but trying not to show it. It looked like Maji knew this lion, perhaps he was the one he was supposed to meet. Bongani approached a couple of hoof steps but did nothing more unsure of just what was going to happen.

Thalion:
Maji leaned himself back away from the paw, lifting one of his own, as if ready to strike once more. His tail flicked behind him and while he had kind of a dangerous look on his face, the grin betrayed it as a simple playful one. "You're getting better." He chuckled, trying to stifle a laugh.

GunSniper:
Obi took this oppertunity to fulon tackle his dad. He wrapped his paws around his waist and pushed forward with a powerful spring of his legs. His tail also flailing around behind him.

Unaru:
At the sudden pouncing Bongani backtracked a bit, he was very confused and unsure to this whole thing. He watched uneasily but focused, he was intent on not running away.

Thalion:
Maji smirked, rolling to his back and used the motion to send his hind feet right up into Obi's gut to throw him right off again.

GunSniper:
Obi flew off, but he didn't panic as he had the first time this trick was plaid on him. Instead he shifted his weight so he could flip back around and charge Maji agian. He was about to exicute his perfect plan when he caught sight of the Wildebeest. He came to a halt almost isntantly. It was alone, no parents, nothing. Juts a young prey watching the wrestling match. Obi streightened up. "Dad, a new friend of yours?" He did his best to keep his fangs hidden. They, however, would flash every nw and than when he talked.

Unaru:
Bongani remained silent as he did last time, doing as was instructed that he not do any talking unless spoken to. The calf teetered a bit more towards Maji's side however once he realized the lion was speaking about him.

Thalion:
Maji rolled himself back to his belly, tail flicking playfully behind him. Great now his mane was all dusty again... well it couldn't be helped. Not with younger lions bouncing all over the place. "Indeed. I feel you and he might get along. I found him very near to where I found you."

GunSniper:
Obi remained still. He feared that any step closer and the little beast would be frightened. "I see. He looked at Maji as he spoke, than back to the little one.

Unaru:
Bongani remained silent, he was however quite relived that this lion's first idea wasn't 'lunch' well not verbally anyhow. It made it a bit easier to relax. Perhaps it wasn't a bad idea to introduce him to Suli first.

Thalion:
Maji nodded between Obi and Bongani. "Well Obi? Go introduce yourself. He'll be staying with us from now on. Best start off on the right foot."

GunSniper:
Obi looked back at his Dad. That would be a good idea, it was probably more awkward for him to just stand there. "Just as you heard, I'm Obi." He took a few steps closer.

Unaru:
"M-M..." He started before catching his stutter. "My name is, Bongani." He said finding it wasn't as hard to share his name with Obi as it was with Suli. Seeing that the lion seemed to be making an advancement though cautiously, the calf was sharp he picked up on that Obi was trying to not scare him. Feeling a little calmer Bongani took a couple of steps forward as well.

GunSniper:
Obi smiled. "So, we have a lot in common." He could see Bongani being a good friend, and that was pretty interesting. "It's good to meet you." He bowed to the little beast and took a seat.

Thalion:
Maji chuckled, "Not all the lions here are like Kisulisuli. And none of them are anything like those...beasts that patrol the freelands between here and the other prides."

Unaru:
Bongani smiled a little bit feeling a little more at ease. The wildebeest's demeanor though was certaintly not the calmest, however he wasn't reciting things Maji had told him like the last time he met a new lion.

"G-Good...Good to meet you too." Bongani said still not sure if Maji wanted him to control his little stutter or if it was safe now. Either way Bongani did the polite thing and sit down across from Obi.

GunSniper:
Obi looked over to Maji. "Has he meet the others?"

Thalion:
"Only Kisulisuli...", he sighed a bit, crossing his paws in front of him, "I'm afraid Suli's still not in the best of moods when he's hungry... it's been far too long. Unlike you, Obi, Suli remembers when this place was a paradise."

GunSniper:
Obi looked down at his paws. He arrived here just as things were getting pretty bad for this place. "We will make it a paradise again." He spoke boldly as he looked up at his father. He was willing to sacrifice his own life for this quest.

Thalion:
Maji nodded a bit, "Indeed. We've taken the first step. the invaders are gone and we've begun gathering the true members back to the lands. Soon, I pray, the storm king will turn his eyes back here and find that we are worthy of his bounty once more."

GunSniper:
Obi nodded than looked to Bon. It must have been getting awkward standing there and not being understanding the conversation. "I haven't see this place in its glory, but it will get there and we'll both get to see it." He smiled.

Unaru:
Bongani looked back over to Obi and smiled as well. "T-That...That would be...nice." Bongani said trying to imagine a paradise, unfortunetly as a child and one of a prey species, of course his idea of a paradise would be lions and wildebeest being able to live as friends.

Thalion:
Maji nodded a bit, getting himself to his paws. "Obi. I'll have to ask that you keep an eye on Bongani. I've not hunted in days." The hunt was no place for a youngling. Especially one that was potentially very similar to whatever was unfortunate enough to be on the menu. "I can't quite trust that the rest of the pride will let him be."

GunSniper:
Obi nodded and walked to the little one's side. "I'll take care of him. You go hunt."

Thalion:
Maji nodded and glanced to Bongani, "I trust this is an acceptable arrangement?" He wouldn't bring the calf with him on a hunt, and any longer and he might not have the energy to hunt forh imself.

 

[Thalion]

Quote:

Aim RP between GunSniper and Thalion
Blue = Maji
Olive = Obi

Maji stood at the boarder of the valley, ears pressed back against his mane as he starred outwards. The dry season was nearly over. If the Storm King was merciful, he'd return the rain to them shortly and bring life back to the valley. If not then there seemed little other option...they'd have to leave.

The choice weighed heavy on him though he spoke little of it. None of the other members should have to bear such knowledge.

Obi walked up behind Maji slowly and surveyed the border. He already knew what was on his father's mind. It was a constant occurrence. "Whatever happens, I'm behind you all the way..." He spoke with a bold tone. He meant every word.


Maji nodded a bit. "Whatever happens... I'm afraid our fates hang on the rains now." He glanced upwards towards the sky. Not a cloud to be seen, not even a whisp. "If it gets any worse, the herds will move farther away and it'll be too difficult to return here time and again..."

"What does the storm god want? We have been so loyal to him." Obi frowned, in confusion not anger. He learned to not bare anger toward the gods.

"It may be a test...weeding out the true followers from the false ones. It may be a final purge of the outsiders. No one can say what the gods think." He sighed a bit and turned himself around, walking back towards the parched lands. "We can only assume."


Obi followed listening intently. "They are almost all gone... only a matter of time." Obi focused forward. "I prey they find a better light to their lives."

"The outsiders?" Maji almost growled it. "They brought this curse upon us, took the resources we had and abused them." He shook his head, "Damn the lot of them..."

Obi's eyes widened. He never heard his father talk like that. Obi had meant that he hopped they would repent and find a better call for their lives. He had a hard time wishing condemnation on the lot of them, no matter how bad and rotten they were. Even if he was forced to kill one he would wish mercy in the next life.

"I only wish they were not so cruel..."

"That's their way." He said simply, "We were betrayed, Obi... by a lioness I took in under my own paw. She was homeless and she betrayed us... bore cubs for a demonic lion who sought these lands as his new breeding grounds for blood... she brough in a mate- a female mate! Unheard of. Unacceptable..."

Obi growled. "Their actions lead to destruction, if only they knew..." He sighed. The thought was disgusting and made him want to vomit. The frown and bearing of his teeth was the visual for that.
"That is not the way the gods intended it..."


"Indeed not." He shook his head, "Not at all....and either way they sought our destruction. They didn't plan for the gods to intervene the way they did though...I met with the mother of this lion. He idolized the firekin, wished to build an empire on their beliefs and on our backs."

Again, Obi huffed and growled. "I'm amazed how they can think this way. Where did all this come from." Obi shook his head. "It makes me fear finding my own mate... and even so I would not wish to raise my cubs, your grand cubs, in such a horid time as this." Though he longed to have a family, he was wise and not driven by his male bits.


"Cubs...", he frowned a bit. His own offspring would be adults by now. Their manes grown in if there were any males, sleek beautiful creatures if female. He winced slightly at the thought. He'd never know his true offspring... it was highly unlikely that Ciyari would be that kind. "It's been long since this pride has seen cubs of its own."


Obi looked over at Maji and saw the pain on his face. Worry covered his face. He had forgotten that that word caused him that much pain.
"I'm sorry I will never be able to provide that for you." Obi sighed and looked forward. He knew we was not of the mistweaver's blood. At most he could provide half bloods, but never a full blooded cub for this land.

"Blood only runs as thick as the heart allows it to, Obi." He glanced over, "There are some features that carry through the Mistweaver line." He lifted his paw as an example, flexing the small 'thumb' that had made them so capable with creating. "However, you have been accepted into this pride. In my eyes you're as mistweaver as the storm king himself."

Obi looked at his not so flexible thumb. His writing was... not so good. He had a hard time with it and there were many gaps in his lessons. But he knew how to read just fine and his writing was somewhat readable to those who could.
He smiled at Maji's statement, and he took it to heart.
"Thank you."

"Don't let anyone tell you otherwise." He smiled a bit, throwing a playful paw out to toss at Obi's mane, "You've served here faithfully, providing enough meat for us to eat, and you've helped keep the boarders secure. We can ask no more of you than that."

"I won't, I'll defend this honor." Obi shook his fluffy mane. It was actually quite a bit more puffy than his biological father's. The area had an affect on this. He playfully pawed at Maji's mane as well.

"Now now." Maji chuckled, running a paw over his mane to smooth it back out. "I do have to keep some level of dignity."

Obi cocked an eyebrow with a grin soon following. Without warning he leapt for his father. It's nuggie time.

Maji hadn't been expecting that. He managed to glance over just in time to see the mass of brown and blond hurl itself in his direction. The most he managed in way of a defense was a paw swinging out to block any attempts on his face.

Obi swong his arm as best he could around Maji's neck. His other paw moved up and continually rubbed the top of Maji's head. It was as best a lion could do for a nuggie.
Obi was laughing so hard, mostly amused that it actually worked.

Maji roared in protest, not a sound intended for startling Obi in any way, just one of surprise and discomfort in the gesture. His paws flailed around helplessly in an attempt to bat Obi off of him. He'd spent nearly an hour on his mane!

Obi leapt back and shook off. The roar did startle him a little.
"I think it looks good..." Obi smiled, his tail flopping from side to side. He could never understand why one would spend so much time on a mane.

 

[Thalion]

Quote:

Self RP.
Taban & Maji

It had been a long trek to say the least. There was a lot of savannah in-between the Mistweaver valley, now more or less like a big dust bowl really, and the other prides. Taban hadn’t cared to stray too far into the pride lands. It was a mess, an absolute mess. But there was news from that area to report none the less. The Mistweavers were an ally to him, rather, his former pride. The cheetah found it difficult to shake old loyalties however. Especially with a pride as fascinating as this one. It had opportunity. If he kept his good favor with the prince, soon to be king, he’d definitely have another powerful ally under his belt so to speak. Ambitions unspoken still, but he had the means to accomplish anything he decided upon.

News of Nyek’s death as well, that would put the valley to ease. It was unlikely that Moses would return. He’d allowed himself to be marked by that devil. Weather or not the tyrant’s pride remained was of little concern. Without their leader they were nothing more than a band of brainwashed mindless cubs. Overgrown and dangerous, true, but they’d not been allowed to think on their own. They’d even been told who they could or couldn’t breed with. A disgrace of a pride. Without a leader, idiots were just that- idiots. A large group, but still idiots.

He knew nothing of the firekin, he’d have to look into that later. That bit of information would be more valuable, however. It was dangerous beyond words to tread into the desert of those monsters.

Eventually, Taban found himself crossing the thin line of trees between the freelands and the Mistweaver valley. He remembered it back in its glory. Towering trees with thick, healthy bark bearing large, green leaves. It had been horribly humid, not uncomfortably so, but humid none the less, it had tasted of fresh water and smelled of damp soil and stone. There was a constant roar of water from over the valley walls and the babbling of thing streams that ran from those falls. A mist had sprayed the land in the later hours and in the early morning, giving the valley its name no doubt.

Now it was almost pathetic. The trees were bare, pale skeletons of their former selves. The soil was dry and cracked, grinding uncomfortably at the cheetah’s paws. Rocks were far more apparent, the dry plant life cracked and crinkled, sometimes even poked at passers by. The roaring had died away completely, replaced by an almost mournful howling of wind through the dry boughs, the creaking of branches as the hardened wood scraped against itself. No birds sung out here, only the scraping of parasites echoed these days. Termites and the like.

Even the cliffs of the mist weavers were sad sights now. Taban had once looked upon them with awe. Truly a palace among dens. At one time proud waterfalls cascaded over the silvery stones, creating patterns along their face and falling down into massive rivers that fed the lake and stretched out far beyond the valley. Moss had grown along the surfaces, small budding flowers, vines, and ferns of all types hung over the mouths of the cave. At one point it had been a proud sight, painted by the paws of its keepers. Now…they were dry rocks. A pile of them. And not at all a pleasant climb.

None the less, he was quite used to scaling stones, moving through caves, and walking over narrow ledges. The cheetah almost made it look easy. He knew the rocks well enough. The caves not so much but he hardly had any need to go poking around in the halls of the mist weavers. He knew which room he was to report to and wait in, and that was his destination. He couldn’t help but marvel at the writing on the walls however. The pictures, the maps, the charts. Such advanced knowledge… perhaps that was why he felt obligated to remain in service of their prince. Such knowledge was fascinating and without the Mistweavers, that wonderful knowledge would be lost. In return, they’d teach him to write. To read…he could record stories and keep maps of his own. The possibilities were endless.

As the cheetah turned a corner, he caught sight of the silvery blue prince already waiting in the main chamber for him. He looked worn out, thinner than he remembered just a few weeks back, and tired. Very tired.

“Ah Taban.” Maji stood himself up slowly, settling back on his haunches, “I’ve been expecting you for quite some time.”

“My apologies for the delay.” The cheetah dipped his head a bit, “But you cannot hurry observations. You’ll run the risk of losing valuable information.”

“Indeed.” He smiled a bit, motioning for the cheetah to take a seat, There was a small pool in the cave fed by an underground stream. Just enough to keep the pride quenched. “You must be tired.”

“It was a long trip I’ll admit.” Taban dipped his head down to lap at the water for a moment, just enough to wet his throat, “But well worth the effort.”

“So you come bearing news then?”

“Indeed.” The cheetah sat himself back up, wiping his chin with the back of his paw. “And not at all pleasant news at that.”

The lion’s expression sank a bit, both ears fell back down against his mane. “Well I cannot say I am surprised to hear that though it would be a lie to say that I had hoped otherwise.”

“Expect the worst, hope for the best.” The cheetah reminded him, lifting a paw.”

“Yes yes…”, Maji waved a paw to dismiss the advice. He’d heard it quite a bit in recent days. “Tell me what you’ve heard.”

“Very well.” Taban stood himself back up, walking himself in a small circle, “From here I traveled back into the caves of the spider, the Anansi. In the darkness of the underground my mentor-father brought together all the members of the web to tell the tales of what we had come across in our recent days. I had little to report having spent much of my time here. However, our sky-spider by the name of Bai-Feng came to us with grave news from the pride lands, home of the golden lions.”

Maji nodded quietly. The pride lands, he knew little of them. Masika had some connection there. He’d heard little of that however, he and Masika weren’t exactly on the most friendly of terms.

“The lion that plagued our boarders had passed into the pride.” Taban sighed a bit and seated himself, “Though I must say that I am disappointed to hear that the following transpired in the middle of the pride’s lands…the largest pride known in the savannah… I do pray that my lord is much wiser than the lions of the pride lands… for the king was struck down by the pink pelted lion in the middle of his own pride’s lands at the watering hole. His tail removed for a trophy for the would-by tyrant.”

If possible, Maji’s complexion became slightly more pale. “How could this have happened? The middle of his lands? How could such an abomination sneak up on him like that?” It seemed outrageous, as far-fetched as many of the Anansi’s stories had been. Tales of how it had been a human’s fingerprints that created the leopard’s spots and how the cheetah chased the goddess of the wind herself to regain their roar. All of it far-fetched. “You speak the truth?”

“One thing about the tales of storytellers and the songs of bards, m’lord,” Taban warned, “While fanciful in words, there is always truth in the foundation of the tales and songs. What I tell you was taken from the mouth of our own scout.”

“This does not bode well…”, Maji looked very much like he was having difficulty digesting something. Masika had come from the pride lands…the news likely would sicken and enrage her. From the way she spoke of the lands, Maji wasn’t under the impression that the pride was made up of either blind lions or lions who had lost their wit… but from the cheetah’s story it sounded very close to reality if that was the case.

“Did you manage to find Moses?” Maji added quietly.

“Ah yes, another tale I feel I should tale to you, good prince.” Taban chuckled, his maw pulling back in a cool smile.

“Very well… should I lay down for this one?”

“If your highness pleases.” Taban shrugged, “Now then…months past along our boarders I encountered the would-be tyrant as a young lion just coming into his mane. It was then that I first became aware of his ambitions for this land. Of course, I was but a cub and while I was young, I still had my wit about me. I learned much but revealed little. When the tyrant returned, now a full grown brute stalking our boarders, it was the young cub Moses who came to meet with him. I watched silently from the brush of our boarders, still young, but older and grown more into my legs so to speak. When Moses extended his loyalty to the would-be tyrant I emerged, playing off the same interest. A lion I claimed to be, posing a fool as the lion sized me up. A harmless fool- but one he felt he could use. He allowed me to follow with the idea that I would become but another humble slave.”

Maji frowned and nodded, he knew of Moses’ treachery… it was almost insulting.

“We were shown to a land hidden beyond the white sands. His pride was nothing but young lions and cubs taken from the breasts of their mothers far too young. Brainwashed, forced to breed with one another to raise his numbers. Each of them marked with three pointed scars along their shoulder.”

“So they mark themselves.. It should be easy to identify them then.” Maji nodded, “Very good work, Taban. Your information is always appreciated.”

“For the comforts you allow me here it’s the least I can do.” Taban shrugged a bit.

“And yet you do not wish to be a part of this pride?”

“No.” He said simply, “I do not belong to anyone at the moment. A tactition does what he feels is right, no matter who it is for.”