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 Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 7:48 am
Inch by inch, the lion moved out of his den into the afternoon sun. To be honest, there was no other greater feeling in nature than coming into the warmth after a long, cold nap. Then again, he was still young so life had its surprises. With a loud yawn and a loud crack with his back, the male stood still, grooming himself of misshaped fur that was misplaced during his rest. One may not know it, but he had become a slight stickler about his fur since being around Uncle Ezeoha. Some qualities still stuck around, but became a lot less noticeable as time passed.
Since the start of his den, he had two frequent guests to it, well, ones he liked anyway. The first was his cubhood friend and fellow mischief maker, Safuma. She was the queen’s daughter, but she knew how to get down and dirty to have some fun. She wasn’t like some of the other snobby lions one would imagine. Then there was Lady Rhin’xi, the Goddess of the Hunt. She has come and gone as was the way of the divines he supposed, but he always enjoyed her visits and the company. With their presence around, he made sure to be there, and actually conscious, when they came around.
Oddly, they were never around when the other was…
Ezekiel was growing further into adulthood. His eyes were vibrant and resilient as ever, soulful for every day. His fur was shiny and well kept, his current actions showed why. The reddish brown mane was coming in now, full but not quite there just yet.
“Just a moment… I’ll wait and then off to hunting.”
His belly grumbled. At least now, he had some time to think about what favor Rhin may ask for… what does a divine want?
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Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 8:54 pm
Her absence from the pridelands and Zeki's den had been longer than she'd originally intended, leaving her weary of approaching the male with the favor she'd thought of since she'd began wandering the roguelands once more. While she still maintained the confidence that her request was perfectly legitimate. She was owed a favor, upon which no stipulations had been made, and she had simply thought of something that she rather wanted.
As her dark form crossed the dry grassy patches of the lands she practically called home nowm, Rhin allowed her mind to wander, causing her to meld somewhat unconsciously into the blades of grass around her. Seamless transition between swift moving creature to swaying grasses and wheathered boulder marked her path toward the familiar den. Upon seeing the familiar sights that marked the somewhat close proximity of herself to the male's home she slipped close to the ground, melding closely with the dirt beneath her, attepting to trap her own scent and sound as she approached...wanting to surprised the male for once.
Rhin's steps brought her around the front of the entrance of the den and the sight of the even more mature appearing male whom she called friend. Quiet and deliberate she made her way to his side before allowing herself a deep laugh breaking the illusion that typically she reserved for hunting particularly difficult prey.
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Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 9:07 pm
The air felt different suddenly as if something had disrupted it. Nothing his crimson eyes could tell, it was nothing but grass and dirt. Was he being watched? Stalked? No scent raised in the air, unless he was downwind. It was when that familiar laugh broke out beside him that he jumped in shock to the side. Racing heart and wide eyes, he stared at the female that appeared out of nowhere.
"Lady Rhin! What do you think you're doing!? Are you trying to give me a heart attack!?"
He cried out, a large paw clasped over his beating heart. At least, he hoped it was. How could he have forgotten? Rhin had the ability to make herself one with her surrounding, masking her presence all together. It was her ability as teh Goddess of the Hunt, but what made him feel even more stupid was that he was careless enough to allow her to get so close without him noticing. Best not be losing his touch.
With a deep breath and exhale, Ezekiel raised back up to his paws, moving closer to the female.
"Now, what's the score now? Myself, 1, and you, 2? Now, does that seem fair, Lady Rhin that you get to surprise, and scare me, where as I am afraid to get even with you because you might do it again?"
He smiled softly, that charming and sweet smile of his. Their relationship was great, in his mind, she was a perfect friend and company.
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 9:56 pm
A soft smile spread over her dark maw as she playfully brushed her large shoulder against his, her deep chuckle drifting off as she thought of a particularly snarky way to respond to the over-cocky male.
"I beleive that is perfectly fair as you often match me in most activities, as a goddess I deserve a point or two more of victory in my own specialty. One musn't have uppity young ones such as yourself beating them in everything."
Though Rhin's slight smirk maintained, her gaze had turned toward the horizon as she spoke. Her thoughts drifted here and there for a moment before snapping back to the moment and conversation at hand
"So what sort of adventures have you gotten yourself into in my rather extended absence, m'dear?" Large violet eyes returning to the more mature looking male than the one she remembered meeting sometime ago, "Aside from growing up of course."
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 9:58 pm
Zeki smiled and nosed her softly for her shoulder rub. She was quite affectionate, but he was not about to refuse it. She was as beautiful and active as ever, she hasn't changed over her absence, but every visit seemed different.
"So true, how rude of me. You won fair and square, but you shouldn't use your Goddess status as a reason," Zeki chuckled softly with a soft smirk. "You won on your won skills."
Upon the compliment about his growing, he couldn't help but fluff his chest a little, running his paw over the small mane he was growing. She seemed a little interested in that, if she was than she can do what she wanted, he wasn't the shy type. Besides, she was close enough to him as is.
"Adventures? Nothing much, I haven't done too much aside from hunting and running, meeting up with friends. How about you, Lady Rhin?"
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 9:59 pm
With his question returned she practically beamed at the male, tail flicking lightly in excitement. It hadn't occured to her that she'd not gotten to tell her odd story regarding the lion accompanied by a human.
"I have had the oddest of outings as of late," her smile cocky at having a story worth telling, "I've actually seen the animal that walks on two legs."
She felt a bit as if she were a cub still, telling others of a particularly large rabbit that she'd captured. This had been a rare oddity in a particularly long life, and therefor she reveled in what she felt was a deffinant unique-ness. That, and considering the favor she would soon be asking, Rhin was certainly happy to be the more worldly, dominate member of the conversation
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 10:00 pm
Zeki's brow cocked as he turned to her fully. A creature that walked on two legs? Oh, those were rather rare. Birds kinda hopped around. Monkeys did too, but they used their hands, does that count? The male turned his head with question, smiling a little. There were still sme things he didn't know about.
"What did they look like? Are they good prey?"
His mind still wondered what this favor was or when she was going to ask it. If he did it first then it was one less thing to think about. If anything, he would rather spend his time with Rhin worry free and without something on his mind. When one forgets to do something and realizes it later, it becomes a bothersome reminder to do it later. He wanted his time with Rhin to be worry free.
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 10:01 pm
"Well, it was large...like a big hairless monkey, and it was accompanied by a lion...so I unfortunately can't attest to it as prey," with another thought her grin faltered, "it carried a big stick though."
The goddess allowed her mind to wander over that afternoon, religiously avoiding the underlying topic of their meeting. Her request, though valid, she felt was awkward and might lead to an uncomfortable conversation. Truly the last thing she wanted was for something to be awkward between herself and Zeki, as he was her most steady friend, mortal or otherwise.
Silence, while not rare to Rhin, was often something she controlled and she now found herself looking for a way or either not bring up her request at all or barrel headlong into it without worry or trepidation.
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 10:08 pm
"Oh... those... I have heard of those before. They are predators like us, ones we should stay away from. They hunt in like groups like us and they have been able to kill our kind. And those sticks are what they use..."
He paused and thought. What was he told about them again? Kinari said soemthing about how cruel they were. But what he could not remember was why he was afraid of them too, aside that they could kill lions too. What predator was crazy enough to attack lions? Aside crocodiles and hyenas.
"I guess their claws aren't too good and their teeth aren't good enough to hold onto their prey. Weird, huh?"
Ezekiel paused and looked at her, his eyes looking over at her from the corner of his eye. What was curious was that she wasn't talking. Strange since she normally doesn't suddenly stop talking. Was something the matter? Being teh male and upon his code, he used the chance to do what he does. The male moved over to her giving her a soft nuzzle and a lick.
"something the matter?"
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 10:09 pm
Rhin absorbed Zeki's words idlely, her mind still not on the subject that just moments ago had made her completely giddy. At the sudden physical contact however the goddess' eyes snapped back to her companion, staring him in the eye, a bit startled, before returning his nuzzle.
This topic would have to be breached at somepoint, it might as well be now.
"This one was different, he laid down his stick and bowed...he was also alone," while she felt no need to protect this kinds people as a whole Rhin felt as an individual she would speak up on his behalf before continuing, "So, anyway..."
She briefly shuffled her forepaw against the dirt before convincing herself to continue.
"I still have a favor I am owed from you, correct?"
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 10:10 pm
Interesting... this one showed her respect. Of course, she was a Goddess and she should be respected to start with. It was amazing how Rhin knew so much about everything. She was immortal, of course, and that meant she lived very long to learn and remember. It was awe inspiring in some of the things she spoke about. He wondered if he would be able to know so much like her, or at least some of it.
The favor... that subject finally rose up. Perhaps he could get her to think of one.
"Yeah, for beating me on the second leg of the race back from the baobao tree to my den. You let me win the first time to the tree and you won it on the way back. Did you forget about it?"
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 10:19 pm
"Oh no, I've not forgotten. The favor I've thought to ask you is just an odd subject to discuss I'd think," her paw was now idlely carving into the dirt, a smooth dark line below her paw, "It's occured to me to think of another, but this is what I want...this is a favor that would be important to me."
In order to continue Rhin would have to inform the young one of her plans to roam farther than the pridelands and roguelands though. It was her nature to not stay in one place all that long, but she knew most mortals did not take a friend's departure easily.
"I may be leaving her for some time...I feel the draw to head elsewhere. Some time has past since I've seen many of the territories and prides and I miss the travel a bit. As my friend you've been company that I didn't think I wanted, and it's made me rather attached to the company of others." The dirt below her paw had become rather well disheveled and Rhin stopped the task to focus on how she phrased her request, "My favor is that you provide me with some form of company throughout my travels...though I know you cannot leave this place."
Rhin's low voice had a particularly serious tone as she waited to see if he could peice together her request.
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 10:29 pm
An odd subject? Well, it must be a very odd on... looking down at her paws, it seemed like it was something on her mind for a while. If she tried to think of another and could not settle on it, then this must have been very important and serious. So what could it possibly be? Was it something that would take time? Was it something that required lots of work and travel? Was it going to be easy? He looked at her softly and smiled, whatever it was, he was prepared to fulfill it to the best of his abilities. He wasn't one to disappoint.
"So... you are going to go away again?" he questioned. Obviously, she was a Goddess, traveling about was her job, her wings made things easier for her. But it made him hurt a little that she was going away again, her visits were one of the few things that he looked forward to everyday. Either way, he listened closely to her words, nodding to show that he understood. Well, until she finished. Was she...?
"Lady Rhin... Rhin... Are you asking me to... you know, what I'm think you're asking me?"
His furr fluffed a little. After that night with Safuma... was this right? His code... the set of ideas that he lived his life by was to keep his word. He gave it and he was honor bound to it. But was she honestly asking?
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 10:46 pm
His reaction did nothing to ease her, though it was not as if she expected him to be completely understanding and she certainly didn't expect him to have anticipated this sort of request. Still, Rhin had hoped for a more resolute responce, all the same, it was too late to show doubt, the hardest part of the conversation had passed...of course now the goddess was on unknown grounds. She'd never been involved, be it strictly for reproduction, with a male in anyway but slight flirtation.
"Yes, I'm thinking that you and I are on the same page and I would understand if you'd need time to think, I have a lifetime of time on my hands." With that she chuckled a bit to cover any sign of awkward disharmony that may be starting.
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 10:52 pm
Now to put his teaching into action once more. Ezekiel smiled charmingly, moving closer to her. Softly licking her, nuzzling her, purring for her. She was beautiful, he would admit. It was just an honor to know her. It was absolutely grand that they were friends. But this? With a Goddess? A mortal family with a Goddess... he had thought about it so many times before and here was his chance to start one with her. Though she will be gone and taking them with her, he will still have them out there. Rhin would take care of them. He had faith in her and their relationship. Zeki gave a soft lick, purring.
"Alright. I gave you my word and I intend to fulfil it. You ask me to do something very special... and it is an honor," everything about this Goddess was an honor... His voice low, almost a whisper, his paw over hers. "I'll give you my cubs, I'll give you company on your travels and a constant reminder that you will always have someone to come back to when you are lost."
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