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 Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:54 am
It was horribly hot out on the savannah with the midday sun scorching down. Asherah lay in the thickest grass she could find, the stalks like a tunnel around her. She was black furred and while her beautiful white markings reflected it, most of her coat soaked up the heat. It left her uncomfortable and panting and wishing she was back home with Ewan and their sons. With narrowed eyes she glared out through the thinner grass. Urgh, she hated being caught out in the open on days like this! She’d just had to take a day off from being a full time mother, to have a little ‘holiday’.
It was no good. It was too hot out in the open. It’d be better for her in the long run, she supposed, if she made a dash for that distant tree. She’d not wanted to run earlier, being tired, but it had to be better than staying here.
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:55 am
Dabbled shade played on Asali’ side. The female purred very softly and her upturned paws flexed. Her claws kneaded the air as if making a bed more comfortable but she was very comfy were she was. It was just another sign of pleasure. The mix of shade and sun was pleasant for her, being a honey-coloured lioness. She’d been basking in the full light all morning and had predicted perfectly where the shadows would move so she was more covered as midday came and no breeze stirred to disturb her.
Oh yes, she was gooood.
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:56 am
Asherah streaked towards the tree, not enjoying the run as she usually would. Normally feeling her burst of speed, feeling the air rush by and the flex of her muscles doing what they were supposed to do… it felt good. What felt good now was slowing down to a walk and reaching the trunk of the tree. The deepest spot of shade was cool and welcome. She started to circle round knowing the other side would have more shade but froze.
Dusty paws in the air and head back there sprawled a lioness, clearly relaxed to the max out at the edge of the shadows. Asherah decided that she’d not disturb her – they were atleast five lengths away from each other, and surely it wouldn’t annoy the stranger if she settled on the other side of the trunk.
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:57 am
Both queen cats slept.
After a while however, Asali stretched out her paws and with a flick of her tail rolled onto her belly. Lazily she cleaned a forepaw and slowly woke up properly. The purr that rumbled in her throat sleepily creased and she got to her paws for another stretch. Mmmm, lovely. Nothing better than a good laze and a nap on such a hot afternoon.
Blue-grey eyes studied the brillant blue sky and searched for clouds, finding only a scattering moving way up high. It was around mid afternoon now, from the position of the sun, and a bit cooler with a light breeze. But she may as well stay here until night time – then it was hunting time.
She could idle away the time with a proper wash or – wait. Whose scent was that? It was being brought by the new breeze a distance of only metres! Asali just had to go see.
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:00 pm
Asherah had coiled herself round and was dreaming of her family. Between her paws, within the c of her body, was their son’s cradle. And around her c, Ewan made a larger C, his presence warm comfort. Of course soon they planned to move again and their growing boys were strong and big enough to make the choice to stay or go, so it wouldn’t last forever.
But as someone softly called hello at her she woke. Like many creatures even when she was asleep she was semi alert. And with the dream of her young ones fresh on her mind, Asherah woke with a growl in her voice.
“Whose there?”
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:02 pm
“Calm down – just a traveller whose tree you’ve fallen asleep under.” Asali said sweetly, though she caimed the tree as hers. This dark female could pick a fight if she wanted but Asali had been here first and had done nothing aggressive. Unless waking someone up was a crime these days…. Still. She remained relaxed and kept her body language casual.
“Is your family near here? I didn’t think anyone was close by.” She didn’t want to provoke this black one, who smelt of a den and a mate and children. A mother can be more vicious than anything else. And she wanted a good new start for herself, not enemies.
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:05 pm
“My apologies. Maybe I should have woken you before, when I arrived, but I was tired and didn’t wish to disturb you.” If it wasn’t for Asherah’s slightly cautious and friendly tone, her remarks could have been taken as pointed. Now she was fully awake the dainty female was as shy as ever.
“My name is Asherah. My mate and children are a not that far, but not that close. And your mate?” She’d sniffed delicately in the other females direction and thought she’d smelt a male’s scent mixed with hers.
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:05 pm
“Not my mate. Just an unwanted memory and he’s far away now.” She shrugged, brushing off the thought like a fly. Asali would definitely have a bath later. She didn’t want anything of her past about her, thanks very much.
“I’m Msimbo’Asali, a storyteller and weaver.”
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:06 pm
“Oh stories! How nice. My talents are just speed and agility.” Asherah sat up. She was smaller and more dainty than Asali. Litheness and limberness didn’t seem as wistful and romantic as being a story teller! How lucky the other girl was. Ash had always had her own way of looking at the world and her secrets, but the most creative thing she’d ever done was write/draw with mud, like the Mistweavers she’d once lived with. (She discounted her mad ravings from the days when Asherah was out of her mind – that was insanity not creativity).
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:08 pm
“I wouldn’t knock those talents. I’m nimble enough, but nothing special when it comes to running.” It was Asali’s turn to shrug and smile. She had but an average build, though fighting and hunting did keep her in good shape. If she could run as fast as she expected this girl could, she’d see more of the world in less time. Learn more stories in less time. The grass is always greener in someone else’s pridal lands, as they say.
“Anyway…if you’re in no hurry to get back to your young ones, how about a trade?”
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:10 pm
“A trade?” She tilted her head. Not like you could trade talents! But then that would be such a cubbish thing to suggest. Asali must have meant stories. She knew a few and enjoyed telling them to her young ones. Hopefully one would be good enough…
“I’d like that. I don’t need to go back until dawn.”
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:12 pm
“Prefect! I know histories, cub tales, stories, myths, you name it.” She beamed, eager to hear what this female had to tell. She always looked forward to telling her own tale and already hr mine flitted through the hundreds she knew. Which one would suit...
“We can have one now, hunt later, then hear the other over the meal if you’d like. I definitely need to hunt, since I’ve not eaten for a few days, and I’d welcome the company.” And the help catching a good dinner into the deal too, haha.
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:13 pm
“Mine are short, good for breaking up while we dine. Would you care to go first? And shall we move out to the edge of the shade? With this breeze, it’ll be quite cool under here.” Asherah suggested, getting to her paws and leading the way to a comfy spot. They both settled down, kneading at the earth and grass until they had pleasant places to lay. Sphinx like, together.
“Now. I’ll begin. This is a story of two lions, who like us, had talents that differed. But unlike us, one had talents that while admirable, consumed him heart and soul.”
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:14 pm
"Once there were two lions, and they set out through the wilderness to find a pride to join. One lion was huge, and delighted in killing when he hunted and thought of nothing but strength. The other was more sensitive, compassionate and kind.
The first lion carried with him a haunch of meat in his mouth while the second took nothing from the pride they left.
As they walked, the strong lion grew to hate the smaller lion and hated how he chatted to other travellers on the way.
Eventually they came to a desert they had to cross...and the smaller lion grew hungry. Eventually he asked 'friend, may I please have a bite of meat?' and because the strong lion hated him he said 'only if you give me one of your eyes'.
And so he took it.
Later, the stronger lion chased him away from a small waterhole and again the smaller lion asked 'please friend, may I have some water?'. And he gave his other eye to the stronger lion.
As they continued their journey they heard of a pride in which the king needed a soldier and a storyteller and they set out towards it. But the stronger lion resented how happy the smaller was even though he was blind. So he left him in the desert to die and went to become a soldier for the good king.
Meanwhile the smaller lion grew weak...weak enough he lay down as if to die. Buzzards came and not knowing he was an intelligent and sensitive lion, squarked mockingly in their harsh voices - in their own language no less - "a pity he doesn't know those flowers over here can cure any wound, haha! Lion meat for us tonight."
But he understood and wearily he got up, rubbed his face against the flowers and lo! New eyes shone in his face, and he thanked the birds, though they had meant no kindness.
He rested on the way to the good pride and he moved so that he hurt no ants hen he lay down. He hunted, but spared a mother at her babes request. He chatted to others as he travelled.
And when he got to the good pride he became their story teller. But lo, the stronger lion still hated him and told their new king lies. The king as told the smaller lion was a god and asked of him, on pain of death, to proform mericals.
First he was told to sort salt grains from sand grains, so that the pride might lick up the tastey salt as a treat without having sand. And lo! Because he was kind, the ants helped him.
Then he was asked to lure a rabid hyena into a trap to that the soldiers might kill him. And lo, the baby zebra let the hyena chase him unto their jaws.
And lastly the kind charged him to find where his daughter had strayed to, for she loved to travel and he missed her. And because the lion had chatted to her on the road, he found her. They fell in love and so he became a prince.
The king grew angry when he realised the strong lion had lied and tried to kill his new son in law, who while not a god, was a good lion. So he tore out his eyes and sent him into the desert, as he had done to the smaller lion.
But! The stronger lion remembered that he had the good lions eyes still, and placed them in his own face. And looking at his on paws, he cried.
For through a good lions eyes, he could see what a monster he truely was."
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:15 pm
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