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 Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 5:48 am
She had been learning. Managing to wriggle her way into a friendship with the large firekin meant she had learn much about the pride quickly. She was still confused about some things and without a doubt she worried for her safety. She wasn't that closely related to the pride, only be her grandfather and she was sure that wouldn't keep her safe if it came down to it.
She had left Vuvi's den to go for a stroll, he lived along the borders watching for trouble. He had been restless recently sure something was about to happen but she couldn't see why, this pride was harsh and she doubted many would try to attack it though she had been informed of the recent drama.
She let her black tipped paws move over the sands slowly, her senses sharp. She wasn't about to risk getting into trouble, even in the moonlight she was sure that there was no where safe. She had fallen in love with the pride even with the constant fear of being found. The borders were a good place to live.
As she moved her nose twitched. She could smell something. She lowered her body to the sand, lowering her head as far as she could, knowing that the moonlight could reflect of the white markings. She didn't want to be caught. She laid still and listened, she couldn't hear much but she could hear something, she just didn't know what.
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 5:55 am
He wouldn't get any sleep that night.
No, Kidondo had a job to do and he would do it to the best of his abilities. He would watch his people, his new people, and make sure that no harm came to them whilst they rested for the big event. Event, huh, it made it sound like the battle was some sort of festival and that was far from the truth.
His claws would soon be raking the flesh of his own kind, his rage fuelling him to attack the one lion he loved the most.
He paced a few steps and sat at the crest of the dune where the moon was rising slowly from its nest. The night was surprisingly bright and as Kidondo cast his eyes across the moon-soaked desert he remembered, yet again, why he loved this place so much.
His silhoette was sharp against the crescent moon, picking out vivid detail: the movement of his whiksers in the wind, strands of mane blowing from behind his velvet ears.
"And the moon watches over all of us." He whispered.
The wind masked the stranger's scent from him, keeping her masked...for now.
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 6:12 am
Saburi saw the shape emerge and then sit at the top of the dune. She hardly dared to breath. Whoever it was seemed to be on guard and was the right shape to be one of the lions here. Maybe it would be best if she turned around and headed back to the den. She didn't want to get into any trouble or get Vuvi into any trouble.
She moved slowly, raising her body and turning, still not daring to breath. She hoped her paws wouldn't make any sound on the sand beneath them. If she could get far enough away then maybe she could start to run. She just had to go slowly for now. Taking a deep breath she started to move, listenening carefully.
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 6:17 am
But the wind betrayed her as it had betrayed so many before.
Her scent reached Kidondo's nostirls on a playful breeze and he turned with lightning fast reactions. Before him lay his people and behind him...a spy? His keen eyes picked out her form and with a growl at his throat he was leaping after her, the rumbling fury like approaching thunder in his chest.
If this unknown was a spy, he or she could put the whole plan into jeopardy! He sprang towards her nimbly, as if the sand were solid beneath him, his claws unsheathed. He would not kill if he didn't need to, but he would do anything to keep this plan from failing. He and No had struggled too hard for it to end so horribly!
"Halt!" His barked order was hushed so as not to wake anyone up, but firm enough to be heard as he had meant it. "Who goes there?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 6:33 am
She had heard the movement and turned around to see what was happening. She then turned again to run before she heard his command. She stopped and turned to face him.
"I am Saburi." She just gave her name, it wasn't a name that meant fire, or anything that would be traditional to the pride but whether he noticed that she didn't know. She just looked at him, her golden eyes on his large form. Oh please say she could talk her way out of this. She lowered her body so she didn't look at all threatening, the last thing she wanted to do was to anger the stranger.
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 6:42 am
He skidded to a halt, sand clouding behind him before settling again. He looked at her through narrowed eyes, trying to size her up. Who was she? She bore the colours of his kin, the simple yet bold design embelishing her fur. Yet she was smaller than his kin's females, though not by much.
"Saburi, is it?" He took a step closer. "I don't recognise your face or your name. Have I merely grown forgetful?" He lifted his head so that the moonlight could frame his body.
"Look at me. Do you know who I am, Saburi?" This meeting really could go either way, but good or bad, Kidondo needed his answers.
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 6:47 am
She cowered a little as she looked up at him.
"It is and no I do not know who you are. I have never set eyes on you." She didn't know if this was the right answer or not but at least she was being honest. That was good wasn't it? Well she could hope it was anyway! Oh how Vuvi would kill her if he knew what she was upto. He had warned her not to bump into too many others till he had introduced her to the king!
"I am sorry, have I done something wrong? I was out on a stroll, I get a little restless." She could at least try and blag her way out of it couldn't she?
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 6:52 am
"So you're not a pureblood. A slave, then?" He relaxed somewhat but not too much, that didn't mean she was safe. She could still alert her master to the lions that were resting just off of the border, though why any slave would do that was beyond him.
"What are you doing away from the pride, Saburi? Were you running? Or were you returning? Has rumour of our coming spread here? Do they know we are here? A slave would not be allowed to take a leisurely stroll out of waking hours." He advanced again, desperate for answers. What would he do if they had been discovered? The end of their surprise attack could mean the end of everything.
Suddenly Kidondo realised how delicate the thread was that held their plan together. One wrong move and it would break.
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 6:57 am
She was about to answer when all these other questions came out and confused her greatly. She did however feel as if she could tell the truth though, he was from the outside it seemed.
"I am not a pureblood nor a slave. My grandfather was a pureblood, bred with a rogue and so I was as well. I came here as a cub and lost some memories, I thought coming back might be able to rekindle them. However instead I have learnt much about the pride and I know my life is hanging at the end of a thread." She paused to take a breath before carrying on.
"Why are you here? Clearly you don't want to be found out either. Who are you?" She was starting to feel a little more brave now that she knew she wasn't the only one trying not to be found out be the pride.
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 7:03 am
He listened, allowing a long stretch of silence to come between her words and his own. He needed to think now. He didn't and couldn't kill her, she was an innocent, swept up into this plot of his. Her life was too precious to be snubbed out like a candle.
He allowed himself to sit and he curled his tail to cradle the tuft in his forepaws. A thoughtful expression passed over his face then.
"I am Kidondo, eldest son of Kimeti, banished from the lands but returned again to free my people from their own doom. Behind me lies the warriors who will help my cause. I will trust you now Saburi because I have no reason not to. Tomorrow, we will attack and we will bring back our people from despair."
He looked at her sternly. "Spill a word of this and you forfeit not only my life, but the lives of those with me along with the lives of those hidden in the pride, ready to rise up against my father." He looked at her. "You've put me in a difficult situation. But let me ask; you have seen the Firekin as they are now and probably know the difficulties to face, would you be happy to see change?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 7:20 am
She listened, she had heard of him, told he was dangerous by Vuvi but he did not seem it. Also she found what he was saying somewhat harsh.
"What is it you are planning? Surely attacking the pride will just bring death and misery. Sure things need to change, the way they treat the slaves is appaling but fighting surely isn't the way to deal with it!" She was torn now what to do, either she handed all these lions over or let there be a chance that Vuvi may die. How hard this was.
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 7:25 am
"Trust me Saburi, if there were any other way I would be grateful for it. I tried hinting to my father and when that did not work I begged him to see sense. But he would not. He would have killed me then, if I had not accepted my banishment." Kidondo shook his head grimly. "No, my people are warriors, they are stubborn and proud and they will not be moved by words alone. I will have to fight alongside my warriors and force them to see sense. Even still we will not kill if we don't have to. I will not needlessly kill those I love."
He paused and his expression softened. "If you'd prefer to stay out of the way when the fighting begins, you may stay at the borders and wait with us until the time comes. I would not wish you any harm, nor any other slave or innocent who cannot or will not fight."
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 7:29 am
She looked at him and believed him.
"I do not agree with the fighting and I will stay here with you till you leave. I will be about if you need help in anyway. I am sick of fearing for my life constantly. I will not fight though, I can't possibly take part in something that may end a life." She looked away from him and towards where the den was that she should have been sleeping in.
"Bye Vuvi... good luck." She whispered quietly before turning back to Kidondo. "Where are the others?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 7:37 am
Kidondo smiled kindly, almost fatherly. Suddenly this Saburi had become a daughter to protect, someone innocent and gentle, someone who should never see such violence. He would shield her as much as physically possible.
"I will protect you as long as I remain standing Saburi and if I suceed I will give you the choice and you may join us so long as your heart is in it."
He directed her to the others with his paw, where the warriors slept and with them, his mate. He wanted to be back by No's side, warm and snug. Being beside her was the only way he could sleep restfully. "They lay behind the slope of the dune, come, we have dwindered here too long and the night grows shorter with every passing moment."
He moved to lead her to the safe circle of the rebels. "Have no fear Saburi, no harm will come to you whilst I keep watch."
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