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 Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 5:09 pm
They’d found two dead youngsters, once-slaves killed as warnings by the birds and left too close for comfort to his Dawnwalkers. It had sparked Muroki’s darker side and heedless of the danger, he’d rushed into attack the birds that’d come to drop off the horrific gift of a third corpse. With cubs in the Clan again, the sight of the vultures handing the poor little thing…it had been a blind rush of rage into what had clearly been an ambush.
Now as he lay in the coolest, deepest den they had at the main Oasis, ill with fever, he wished he hadn’t allowed their tactics to work. Still, this was a good day health-wise. The golden-tan king lay awake and as he was mulling over what he remembered was licking at his infected, aching wound. The source of his weakness was a very deep gouge and unknown to him, the bird who’d inflicted it had buried his beak as far as he could and left a sharp stone lodged there. Buzzards heads are suited to burrowing into flesh and with so many talons trying to bring him down and beaks going for his eyes…
Everything else was almost healed! He sighed, growled and shifted and inch or two, only to lick his wound again. Johari and Laini were glorious, his queen never more admired by him and his ‘sister’ a font of strength. They were looking after the pride and his sorry tail too. But he wanted to be up, Jua burn it all!
In his pain and frustration, he was as short tempered as when he’d first come to the Unity Walkers.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 5:29 pm
 She could certainly understand and relate to her love's pain, and had felt a similar anger at the vulture's "warnings". That in and of itself spoke volumes, since Johari had not angered before, so deeply that it actually ached, but she wished that things had happened differently. Even so, she knew there was no sense in bemoaning the past.
Muroki's scent grew stronger in her nose as she brought him a choice piece of the pride's most recent hunt to share. Finding excuses to cover her grown appetite was getting more and more difficult, and she knew soon the other members of the pride might start to suspect. She only hoped yet again that the battle with those cursed birds would be done with before that time that the truth came to light.
"Muroki..." She called in softly, voice questioning just a bit to see if he were awake without rousing him in the event that he was.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 5:36 pm
"I'm here. Not like I can go anywhere." He grumbled and he took great care in sitting up, trying to not be laying down again when someone visited. Muroki knew that everyone knew he was weak as a kitten from his illness but he still tried to save face whenever he could. He couldn't even scent who it was after sniffing at his wound so closely and hadn't caught the soft call well enough for the voice...pathetic...
But the sight of Johari did bring a smile to his face and drove away most of the bitter anger. He did love her so.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 5:44 pm
Her response was not to get hurt or upset, she simply understood as she always did. If Johari had one strong point that never needed any tending or work it was her well of compassion, it ran very deep, deeper than any mortal eye could fathom in physical distance. It must be difficult to have come this long and this far to revive his home, only to find himself unable to even move about as he had gotten so accustomed to doing. Yet, even with that understanding she never once had and never would look at him with pity, for she knew he didn't need it, wouldn't want it. Muroki wasn't conceited or arrogant as others, but he was proud all the same, a patriotism for his birth lands and respect for his pride members. He was strong, certainly strong enough to lick this eventually, and she wouldn't belittle him by feeling sorry.
Her purring came with an offer of comfort and companionship as it always did, and as she entered the living space that the two were occupying she brought the kill to rest at his paws, licking the blood from her muzzle as she brushed her head affectionately against his. "You're feeling well?" She asked, noting that he had the strength to stand with no visible discomfort, a good sign. How she couldn't help but worry at times... Keeping faith was easy enough, given her trust in him, but it didn't make seeing him in pain any easier.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 5:56 pm
"Well enough." He scoffed, sarcastic, before he thought better of it.
His golden ears flicked down so they were flat, ashamed. This was Johari. Muroki had fallen in love with her for a large part because she was so kind and compassionate – a true golden hearted girl. While he knew she would understand his anger and resentment of being ill, probably better than he did himself because she was so insightful, it didn’t mean he should take it out on her. Or the others. Laini probably recognised him easily as the lion who’d snapped at conversations about the weather these days.
“Well enough, dear one.” Muroki said again and tried out a little purr, returning the affectionate gesture after that pause. A lick to her cheek for good measure in apology. He noted how well she seemed and was glad. No resentment there!
“And how’re you? You seem to be glowing these days – hunting season must be going well”.
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Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 10:04 am
The sandy female smiled again at the apologetic lick, settling down on her haunches beside him to keep him company while he ate. She laughed a little, at the glowing comment, inwardly nervous that he might put two-and-two together before she could tell him. That wouldn't be pretty, if he knew that she planned to fight anyway, or at least she couldn't see that being pretty.
"It is, though I think part of that is the clan's way of preparing..." She nosed his cheek gently, mindful to avoid any wounds that might be tender with healing still. "You should eat, before it gets cold and the flies come looking." She suggested as she groomed his muzzle a bit just out of affection, rather than any need to clean.
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Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 10:13 am
"Thanks love. I wish I could have hunted with you and the others...even a full on trek to the floodplains." Muroki said, giving her another nuzzle before picking up the food then laying down so he could eat his meat in comfort. Left his paws free to clasp it and - honestly - it was still early days for him to be up for too long despite his fever breaking.
While he ate he asked after a few small Clan issues offhandedly, like how someone was doing and if any more birds had come 'visiting'. Fortunately they'd not brought anymore slave carcasses since the fight with Muroki. That done, he turned his attention back to Johari properly.
"Can you stay a while? I've missed you."
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Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 2:20 pm
"I'm sure you'll be able to again soon, you're strong... and much too stubborn to let this keep you down." She teased fondly, chuckling a bit as she got more comfortable at his side as well, their flanks in steady contact and her tail slipping over to tangle with his. As his questions rose so came her answers, so and so was doing just fine, they said to send their regards, the scouts had no news of anymore warnings being left, no more bodies being found, so the murders had stopped since the fight with Muroki. She waited patiently for the chance to arise to let him know of the plans and progress on reclaiming the temple. Soon they would begin raids of sorts, to weaken strong points in the birds' defense and to hopefully find some slaves to free while they were there.
But that was talk for a time when they weren't simply enjoying one another, or when he wanted to hear it, perhaps even just later on today.
"Of course, you don't even have to ask," Well, technically yes, since there were times when she had to tend to things for the pride, but on a slow day like this, there was nothing to preoccupy her time, and even when there was, if he did ask she'd stop for him if he really wanted her to. "I've missed you too..."
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Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 2:29 pm
"Been busy being the queen-cat you are."
He sighed again but without the grumpy growl. Fed and warm at her side, he was content despite it all. Muroki hoped Johari knew how proud he was of her. Well, he'd always adored his mate but lately, when he was well enough to go what was going on, he'd been impressed with how she ran the pride. Compassionate, beautiful and kind - and fair and clever enough to handle their current situation as well. Muroki had no idea how he'd managed to win the heart of such a gem as Johari.
"Soon as I can, I'll take you out to the beauty spot by the smallest oasis again. Or maybe just wander by the Chione on the first hunting trip possible." He proposed, rather than talking buisness again.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:52 am
"I would like that..." She purred softly as she rested against him, enjoying his warmth despite the heat of the desert.
Soon, soon they'd be an even bigger family, once the temple was reclaimed. She couldn't wait to be able to give Muroki the good news. He'd be so thrilled! Until then, though, until the temple halls were reclaimed, it'd have to wait.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:00 am
Muroki lifted his head so he could smooth some of her fur, affectionately. Soon as he regained his full strength, he'd spend a few days with Jo and making sure everyone was fine. Until then...~
END
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