(AIM RP between Gumi and Kimaria)
Kibela considered herself lucky. War was harsh, and burtal. Many were severely injured. And many more died.
The deep gash running from her mid back down to her thight was her only signifacnt injury. And it was likely to heal well. As long as she stayed still. Which she just couldn't seem to do.
She was up and about, pacing through the sand restlessly and with a light limp, trying to sort through her thoughts.
Kidondo himself, hadn't had much sleep. He'd tried to rest but every time he closed his eyes he was met with visions, flashing terrible visions of his own past. At least, he thought it was his own past.
The prince - no - regent, lifted his head from where he had beenlying out in the sun, warming the healing wounds on his body. They still hurt, but with No's attentions they were starting to heal. Some would scar, most certainly, but majority would heal, the fur returning to wash away the memory of the fight with his father.
And at the thought of his father, his heart twisted and he rose uncomfortably to pace down towards the oasis where he had sat as a cub, listening to Nuri's teachings.
Her body tensed instantly at a flicker of movement to her side, and she was quickly in a couch, crimson hues seeking out what had disturbed her thoughts. Kidondo..?
A frown graced her lips, and she rose carefully, moving forward after him. He, more than any other, should be resting. And no doubt he, more than any other, would be unable to...
Unable to ignore the sense of worry for her leader, she sped into a rather painful trot to catch up to him, voice soft in greeting when she pulled along beside him. " Blood lion... "
He looked up, eyes softening slightly. "Kibela, blood sister." He replied, slowing to a halt and glancing at her brilliant dark pelt and those wonderfully expressive crimson eyes. "I am glad to see you doing well." He had wondered about the female and now a little more of his heart coudl relax knowing she was okay.
When he was healed fully he would take the time to check on all his kin, but until then he felt weary, unable to hold much strength in him. But most of his sudden weakness was born from mind rather than strength and it was likely that the only person who could heal it was himself.
He did what had to be done.
But then there was his sister Kaanga to worry about. He had seen that look on her face, barely recognised her for the grief and confusion. Again hsi chest clenched and he pushed the thoughts away.
"What can I do for you this day? Or are you simply enjoying the sunshine? I, myself, am heading for a drink if you'd like to accompany me."
"If you would not mind the company. I would not be opposed to it. " She gave him a light smile as she fell into step beside him. " I've no tasks. Nor am I particuarly enjoying the sun. I simply felt the need to walk. It can, at times, be a helpful way to organize one's thoughts... At times. "
It didn't seem to be helping he much on this day, but the distraction of conversation would force them from her mind for a while.
" It is not my place to comment. But you seem troubled this day, Kidondo. And every day I have caught a glimpse of you, in fact. The war weight heavily, yes?"
Nodding amiably, he started towards the water, listening to the gentle thrum of her voice as she spoke. Soothing. She had a soothing, kindly, motherly voice. "I agree. Walking aids the mind. It has certainly helped me in the past."
He flicked his tail and glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Was he so easy to read? Yes, probably. It was hard keeping up his stone-edged look. Slowly but surely he was crumbling. He needed to grieve but there was no time to do so and besides, Kidondo had never really been the emotional sort. It was hard for him.
"I am troubled, but not for too much longer I think. The war weighs heavily on me, yes. But I am not the only one to suffer. It's my sister, you see. I was so selfish, thinking I would be the only one to grieve at the loss of my father. I forgot about her and...I don't know what to do. I saw her the day after the fight and...her eyes Kibela. I killed him, yes. But I think she felt the blow of his death far more than I did."
Kibela was one of his most trusted friends. He wouldn't hide things from her.
She gave a humm of thought as she turned over his words in her mind, slowly settling herself down as the water's edge. " You are not the first lion I have met with such forsight of the future. " She began after deciding on what she wanted to say. " There was another. When I was very young. She gave me the words that led me to you. "
She couldn't help a slight smile. So long ago, she had thought it strange, and a bit foolish, but she had humored the lioness, and listened to her words. " Follow your heart... But remember where you came from. This is what she told me. "
With a light tilt of her head, she looked over to Kidondo. " I give you her words, and my own to go with them. Your heart led you back to where you started, Kidondo. "
Slowly, her eyes moved back out to the water. " You followed it across many lands until you finally came to this place. What you have done here has effected many people. Some for the better.. And some not. "
" Your sister was effected heavily, as were many family who suffered loss, by death, or by the divide. Like the cuts on your body, those rifts will take time, and caring to heal. "
Again, she looked to him, her gaze stern. " And what you are doing right now... Is picking at those wounds like a naughty little cub. " A light smile graced her lips for the lion she was begining to consider her first friend.
" She will heal... And so will you. "
"A being of forsight?" He replied with a smile. "I am no such creature. I once was, maybe, but that was something I did not want. I left that part of me behind." Though he had to admit, it did sometimes rear its head at the most irritating of times.
"I am glad we found you. You have been a great friend, truly."
"Where I came from..." He murmured in response. "I don't think I'll ever be able to forget. My heart has always been here, despite all its faults. I belonged here, though at the same time I didn't. I saw pain and suffering here, hidden, disguised. But I saw it and it pained me to see it."
He listened to her words, nodding slightly. And then he smiled, he actually smiled. She was right. "You know exactly how to put things into perspective." He flicked his tail. "I guess I worry for her. She's a firekin but she's fragile too and I'm worried she may not forgive me. But yes, you are right, I should let time heal her, just as it will heal me."
He reached the water's edge and lowered his head to drink thirstily. Then, raising it again, maw dripping, he turned to her.
"And how are you finding the desert?"
She smiled at having her point picked up on quite easily. Very few tended to understand her words.
" Exactly.. It is not something that can be forced... " She raised a brow when he came up from his drink, supressing another smile. " Hmm.. Now that I have adapted to the changed balance, I find it quite enjoyable. The Pridelands had been sunny, but they never truly felt warm to me. "
" This land... It is so pleasantly warm. " She said, turning her eyes out across the dunes. " It is not somewhere I ever expected to find myself. But I feel I can be very happy here. "
"I am glad you find the place suitable. Some find it too hot, too savage. And it is a savage land. It's a land built for warriors like us, a land to test us and embrace us and train us as if we were it's children." He blinked. "But it is deceptive and full of trickery. We cannot trust the desert completely, even if we lived her for many, many years. It's changing and shifting, never the same. That is what I love about it."
He nodded. "Only time will tell if the other rogues think the same as you do. But I feel they will do fine. They're all strong and they are Firekin now, just as much as I am."
He sat then and cast a glance around. "Odd, to be back home again after so long without worry someone might attack me." He spoke. "But now, finally, there is some peace here, hope too. I feel it so strongly. The future will be tough but it will be bright too."
"I am less worried about the rogues, and more worried about the traditionalists who have joined you in the end. " She said thoughtfully, curling her tail around her feet. " Within the midst of battle, and ally is and ally. But now that the danger is gone, there are many who may not take kindly to our presance. "
" The peace may be a bit rocky at first. " She smiled weakly. " But with yourself and No working together in the lead, they should become more accepting, yes? "
She would not admit it. But the worry that the rogues who had fought in the war, herself included, would be run from the land was on her mind. Even those who demanded change would often not look favorable upon it when all was said and done.
She could not get a feel for these strangers around her. They thoughts and moods, aside from Kidondo's, were completely foreign.
It left her... Uneasy.
He nodded. "Yes, they'll take time to come to understand, but ultimately they realised that new blood was needed. It will take time, maybe a long time, but I know in the end they will come to accept you. They must if they are to continue living here. Remember, Kibela, you and the rogues are as much a Firekin as they are. You have as much right to be here as they do and I will not overlook any unfavourable behaviour from those who were born here."
And he was firm on that manner. It was something he felt passionatley about, ever since he had met No and realised that rogues were no different. He would never have anyone looking down at her. Ever. And that went the same with the others who had joined them.
I may have changed many things, but I will not give mercy to those who don't deserve it. Those who break rules, knowing full well what they are doing will be punished."
She seemed to be smiling quite a bit today... She was, yet again.
She moved to her feet carefully to have a comfortable stretch. " I feel relieved. I was begining to miss that spark of fire in your eyes, Kidondo. But the more we speak, the more I notice it flare to life. "
Indeed, he was looking far more like himself than before. Less troubled as his mind was directed to different issues, as he was given things to think on, other than the loss.
" Did you know, speaking is another good way to clear your thoughts, sometimes without you even realizing. And applying your mind to the presant. To things you can do. Things you can fix. It is a very good way to restore energy, and hope. "
"Oh, it's still there. Just sometimes it flickers a little and other times it doesn't." Time. Time was all he needed, but time was short. He needed to start appointing and he needed to keep things in order.
He nodded. "There are lots of things to be done. Things are going to change here. But first thing is first, I need a council. Once the council is formed I can look to the army." He paused. "I'm just concerned that too much change at once might frighten them off."
He shrugged. "But they have been warned. I just need to tackle this in the right way. Approach those who are worthy for a higher rank than others."
" It is, perhaps, better to do it all at once. Things are already fully up-turned in their lived. Gradual changes will make it that much harder for them to settle. When they are starting to become used to their lived again, it would discontent them for something to change. To tackle it all before they have the chance to settle will cause fewer problems in the end. "
" There was little time to ask such things before. You told me much of the firekin before the war. But I know little of your plans. What is this council? "
"Maybe you're right." He smiled. "What would I do without you and No in my life? I thought I was wise once, until I met her, and then I met another and feel truly outclassed." He paused. "It just shows that every succesful male must have a great female at his side, or in my case, many."
"The council." He replied. "Will be a way to make things fair. The coundil will be formed of myself and No, as rulers of the pride. Ideally, there would be two others, ones of different backgrounds. I'm hoping one will be from the outside and another will have been born here. With that council will be the general, the one who will oversee the army."
He continued briskly. "Basically, the council will meet to discuss, solve problems and take action. It will be made so all sides of the argument can be heard."
She couldn't stop the laugh that burst forward at his first words, shaking her head in amusement. Calming quickly, her ears perked, listening to the details of this council.
" That is a very good again. With a mix of the old and new Firekin in charge, it will make the acceptance of the previous rogues that much easier. " Honestly, she was a bit interested in the possitions herself. But she did not need to be on a council to provide her advice, help and guidance to Kidondo.
" It is far different from any Pride I have ever seen, or heard of. An equal council. " She smiled, tilting her head. " You are perhaps the only leader to ever live, who is so willing to share his power. "
He smiled. "I'm glad you are for the idea. It seemed the only way to bring some equality amongst us. I just hope it works how I wish it would."
He tilted his head curiously. "Maybe if I was like my father, I would not wish to share. Mabye I take after my mother - I do not know. But from the moment I was born, from the moment I learned I was the heir, I felt troubled. I did not want such responsibility. I simply wanted to live and love. It was only when I noticed how terrible things were that I realised I had to make a stand - a stand which would lead to me ruling if it was successful."
He paused and glanced at her. "To be honest, I'd be glad of a council, glad of help. I can't do this alone, I need co-operation and I need others to speak too."
" It takes a strong man to lead. And a stronger man to request help leading. I believe you could do it on your own. You are strong, Kidondo. But, you should never have to. The lions here believe in you, atleast in their own ways. They fought for the change that you want to bring them. One way or another, everyone will work together, to make sure these changes work. "
" It will probably bring you a great deal of frustration though. No matter how much help there is. In those times, you are more than welcome to seek me out. If you find our talks as soothing as I do, at least. "
"Thank you Kibela. It means a lot to me, those words. Sometimes I do wonder whether I'm living in a dream world, but if you see sense in some of my thoughts, I can't be going too far wrong." He stood then and turned back towards the densite.
"Our talks always bring problems out, brings soloutions. I'm ever thankful for your advice, Kibela."
Then, with a curt nod, the male knew he had best get back. He had wounds to heal and No to talk to. He was eager to start getting things into place, but somehow, he felt tired now. Sleep would be welcome.
"Now, I think I will rest. If you need anything you know where to find me and if I need a chat, I'll come and look for you."
