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 Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:52 pm
Knowledge was power. That was what he had always thought. Not the power that his title could tease towards, but knowing as much as he could helped him understand, to know, to feel whole.
But what he had just learned was something that shattered his ideals.
Tufah had been using him this whole time. Their friendship meant nothing to her. It was only his title. Something that he was very sensitive about. He had only ever wanted to be treated like everyone else. Learning that his best friend was using to her advantage, though. It nearly broke his heart and through the adolescent into a fury once he found out.
He could barely tell where he was going. His paws were carrying him to a location that he did not know. There was only one thought on his mind; why?
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:37 pm
Tufah was utterly unaware that someone had cottoned onto her plan - through no words of her own, since she'd never told anyone save Tahka and had a been working on her nice reputation since she was but a cub. Maybe her actions, her eagerness in getting her prize and her determination had shined through, given the game away...to someone of a like mind or a suspicious one that might be enough.
While Simi wandered with his thoughts, Tufah flew across the grasslands with a spring in her step. She'd let herself go for the afternoon. No longer did she flirt with rogues out of some twisted loyalty to Simi. And she'd forsaken true fights as scars would have been a clue to her nasty streak and would spoil her looks.
But hunting had always been her favourite anyway. She'd made a kill with a bunch of rogue females and left them to eat. She was heading home happy, a bit tired but feeling glorious. Pity it wouldn't last.
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:04 pm
Simi's pace slowed. He had wandered far from the common areas of his pride, out to where it was more open. He looked out towards the horizon, his mind still spinning. It was hard to concentrate, making his head ache. He didn't know what would stop it, but his adrenaline was still keeping him focused on finding Tufah.
He picked his pace back up, aimlessly wandering around. His paws quickly began to ache, forcing the lion to slow his pace down. If he hadn't at that moment, he might not have noticed his target.
There she is. Go to her, ask her! Why? Why?!
His mind still reeling, he felt a renewed flare of fury mixed with fear. What would she say? How was this going to play out? A piece of him told him to run away, don't do this! He could regret it! But the angry side of him won over, and he appraoched her, his head hanging low and eyes looking dark.
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:11 pm
When she first noticed one of the closest lions (always someone about, only downside of being in such a large pride) was Simi, Tufah'd turned to meet him. Head up, smiling genuinely, full of soft happiness left from fierce joy - and pleased to see him. He was her golden boy, her prize, her intended! Such a good hunt and now bumping into her friend, it was too perfect.
The first few thoughts of seeing if he wanted to go grab a drink then go somewhere formed but were quickly changed to wondering what was wrong. Tufah lowered her own head, trying to get a glance at his face, concerned. Not for herself yet. Something was clearly up.
"Simi? What's wrong?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:17 pm
Simi's pace slowed to something like a crawl, his face slumping downwards. The bangs of his growing-in mane covered most of his eyes, though it would be pointless to look at the moment; they were closed. He felt himself shiver a bit, mainly from fear and anger mixed into an emotion that he couldn't name.
"You..." he said with a shakey voice. He tried so hard to keep his emotions in check, but the harder he tried the harder it was to keep them hidden.
"You use me only for my title, do you not?" he said with a bit of force, taking a step back from Tufah.
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:20 pm
"...pardon?"
Ah. See, this was why Tufah was good at what she did. She'd thought of what would happen if Simi ever found out or guessed - could almost say having back up plans and thinking of possibilities was part of basic scheming 101 - only evil idiots didn't. Her genuine surprise was amplified somewhat and she brought her head back up in a mildly insulted, very confused sort of way. It'd buy her some time to find out if he'd worked it out on his own or someone else'd done this. Tufah's mind raced, thinking swiftly.
"What do you mean by that?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:28 pm
Simi knew that Tufah was not dumb. So hearing her act like she didn't know anything bothered him more than her instantly denying it. He still wanted to know why. He wasn't sure if he believed in either side at this point.
"Why did you do it? I don't understand, Tufah." He drew his own head up slightly, his body level from the head to the beginning of his tail. He took one more step backwards, peering up at her between the bits of mane that still clung to his face.
"I though you were my friend, but I've been told otherwise." He shook his head, but didn't know what else to say. He didn't have much to say, really. His mind still raced with that one, single word. Why?
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:34 pm
"By who?" Tufah frowned. If she had the freedom to display her true feelings it would have been more than that - she'd have snarled and vowed to scratch their prying eyes out. She felt a wave of embaressment at someone noticing and the expected anger and oddly hurt. Hurt Simi hadn't trusted her more despite all she'd done to try to gain his trust and more. And hat tiny spark of fear. Not just at loosing her game.
"So at a few words from who ever you've come to me like this - already accusing...already decided?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:49 pm
Simi's ears flattened themselves against his skull. It was none of her business who told him; it could have been anyone. The fact that he wanted to concentrate on was why he did it. It was true that the lioness who had put a spotlight onto the situation was sweet with her words, only making them more believable in his mind.
"You know I am sensitive about my title, Tufah. To hear what I have always dreaded only fuels my insecurities anymore. Could you really tell me to my face that you are only friends with me because of who I am?" He didn't think she could, but also didn't want to give her the chance to, either.
"I fear a piece of me doubts it, no matter how much I want to. All I want to be known for is myself, not the Prince that everyone else sees me as." He felt another flare of anger surge up into his limbs. He did his best to keep his body from swaying; he didn't know what he might do if he really did lose his patience. It scared him.
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:05 pm
"Yes, I could." Tufah shot back, even though she wasn't putting it to the test. She could say it but who knew if it'd ring true enough when Simi was angry and she wasn't doing as well at keeping her temper in check for once.
"Have I ever treated you like a prince, after I found you disliked it? And if you're sensitive about your title, imagine being known for far less desirable reasons. I'm surprised no one started such a rumor sooner, there's been others before this..." Which was true.
The rusty fur she and Tahka shared, being Tiah's daughter, the fact Taka was her grandfather - they'd given her problems before. Really, Tufah thought, no wonder she'd become bad. She'd had to. Being told by cubs you wanted to play tag with they'd been told to avoid you wasn't a fun memory of childhood.
"And I thought I'd found a friend who'd trust me regardless. I lost everyone save you and Haiba when I said I didn't want to leave our home. To be a princess in my own right, actually, in my family's new lands. So much for lusting after titles!"
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:30 pm
"Just because you may not have treated me like a prince does not mean that you still only thought of me as one." It was simple enough in his mind. It seemed like everyone he had talked to otherwise treated him like something he wasn't. Perhaps Tufah had not, but there was still the slim chance that she was still thinking about it. Perhaps being a close friend of one of the royals meant something to her, but he didn't want any of it.
He didn't know what so say to the other things she said, but the whole idea that she had sacrificed so much just for him didn't make sense. She'd leave her whole family for a friendship? Simi wasn't sure if even he could do all of that, and that statement only strengthened his suspisions. "So you would stay here, only for me? Throwing away everything? Even the strongest friendships cannot be stronger than family bonded together by blood."
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:43 pm
"...pardon? When did I say I stayed just for you? I stayed because this is my home. My point was I'd just lost my mother, most of my family left and I love this stupid place so much I couldn't follow. It would have broken my heart."
Another truth. She'd been a wreck then, a shadow of herself that'd barely eaten and never left one of her mother's old haunts. Tufah could not leave the Pridelands sooner than she stopped breathing the air - she loved her home so. Not even the lure of power had managed to tempt her to the Outlands. She'd planned on ghosting Tiah for the rest of her life, staying close to where her mother'd live in the lands they'd both loved.
Then Simi had come along.
"Right now I can't believe who I let pick up the pieces. You were so important, my dearest friend, only true companion and you don't even realise do you? Never did. Why I expected you to care about me and trust me back is beyond me!" Then the half truths with a little twist.
Tufah almost sneered. He probably wouldn't get it now either. His innocent nievity had become less of a charm and a challenge and was just a pain the the tail. Along with his stupidity. Besides, she was making a lot of sense. He didn't act like a prince. Simi was no prize. Why had she treasured him so and worked so hard for nothing?
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:35 pm
While Tufah was trying to hide her frustreations physically, Simi was starting to lose control over it. He felt himself grow more frusterated at Tufah, and it was obviously with the way that he would shift away from her, a small inch at a time.
He sneered at her, his head lowered again in frustration and shame. He was thoroughly confused now, emotions running through him without any control. W hat was he supposed to say? His head swirled with possible ideas, of lies and truth, of deciet and humility.
All he wanted to do was curl up and let it all go away, but he had gotten himself in too deep now.
"And I the same! I had trusted you with everything, but I still feel like I have been betrayed by the old friend I carried in my heart!"
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:46 pm
"Yeah, you feel it. You have no actual proof however. Just because someone's told you lies, you believe them over me, without even talking to me about it. You come here, accusing and rude and....I don't deserve this. Not after spending so long being loyal and the best friend I know how to be." Tufah snarled. Something she'd never done to another Pridelander before, not since cub hood battles and the odd game. Her odd mix of emotions wasn't helping her at all.
In fact some of them infuriated her further. Since she did she feel sort of bad about it, where the hell was the guilt coming from? Since when did she actually truely care what Simi thought of her, beyond the chase? It was just shame of being caught that was all! A merry ruse but she'd been caught. That was all that made her loose control. It was over and she didn't care to repair it. It wasn't worth it.
"This shows just how much you carried me in your heart if I can be dislodged so easily - you obviously don't trust me and so I can't trust you. Good bye,prince Simi. I hope your precious title'll keep you company since I won't any longer." As she snapped off her onyx necklace and chucked it down, it was a matter of opinion if she meant the gem or the title or whatever screwed up feeling she had for him.
"You can keep it! I don't want it!"
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:14 pm
Everything that Tufah had been saying didn't seem to stick in his mind. No, he still didn't seem to get the answer he wanted from his question: why? It was all he could think about, his eyes still staring at Tufah, though he didn't see her. What was this? Was this how some others felt when they let their emotions get the better of them? He hoped not, because it was absolutely terrifying.
It only shook him when she tore off the pendant she had worn for so long. It was then where his world narrowed down to nothing but the black gem. It swirled around in his mind as he stared at it, the words feeling like they were so far off, and not aimed at him.
It was when he felt something snap. He stood over the gem, ignoring it now. He opened his mouth to unleash a roar at Tufah, fury fully controlling his actions now. His adrenaline kept his heart racing, his head spinning, feeling like he was someone else, or that someone else was controlling his body. It was what fury was; rage that she had done that.
"You are all the same!" he growled, still feeling the weird effects of actually roaring at someone. It was a frightening posion. "No one can look over it. I hate it. I hate it!"
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