Welcome to Gaia! ::

Maluuni was enjoying her first taste of freedom in...well, since she'd been born, really. The air seemed cleaner, the sun seemed brighter...But, the knowledge of what she'd grown up learning made her feel as if running away had been wrong. Living had been wrong. She knew what her name meant. Her parents had told it to her often enough, and her caretaker/master after their pride was decimated made sure she knew very well. She was a 'Cursed Thing', because of the brilliant red in her fur.
She sighed and curled up in the shade of the sparse trees. It could have been worse. She could still be with Mwenye. The pride could have survived and she would have been dead. She looked back up to the clear sky. Maybe if it rained, the red would be washed off her fur...


Indira had spent a long period of time in the realm of the gods, not interested in flying down to the mortal world. She had long ago grown tired of them trying to use her; she was a *goddess*! Goddesses weren't to be used by mortals! But after so long, she began to grow bored. Other gods didn't do much to amuse her, and her powers did nothing to impress them. She began to long for the awe and admiration that mortals had once given her. And so, the goddess finally decided to make anoher journey down to earth. The warm dirt felt odd under her paws after the cool, smooth ground on the mountain. She stretched her wings and loped along. She had forgotten all the sights and smells, all the activity... it was good to be back.


Maluuni blinked as she brought her gaze back to the savannah. Wings? Was there some sort of large bird coming her way? She stood, curiosity taking over. Once she was on her feet, she noticed said wings were attached to a feline body, as far as she could tell. A feline with wings? The thought confused her until something Mwenye had taught her clicked in her head.
'The gods have wings, so they may travel through the skies.' The small lioness panicked and made her way up one of the scrawny trees. Surely a god would be furious at seeing a cursed one fully grown!


Indira's eyes caught movement a she gazed along the old familiar land, and a smile alighted on her lips. She slowly made her way towards the tree the lioness had climbed into, wings folded to her back and tail swishing behind her contendedly. She tilted her head back, peering into the branches, and smiled. "There is no need to hide; I will not harm you."

Maluuni thought it almost strange the Goddess of Beauty would not find her markings cursed. And then she realized that maybe...she had never been to her pride? She never remembered Mwenye teaching about Beauty...Maluuni's smile grew less awkward. "My birth pride found red a cursed color, because it represents the fire that could destroy our home." She was safe now, though. No rival pride, no Mwenye, no shaman to kill her. "It is an honor to meet you, Lady Indira."


Indira nodded understandingly. That sort of thing has not been uncommon in many prides when she had last visited the mortal realm, either. "Superstition does not rule beauty." She assured Maluuni, somewhat loftily. Then her iciness melted, and she smiled again, almost absent-mindedly. "It is most pleasant to meet you, as well, Maluuni." She stood, stretching her wings before refolding them. "Come, walk with me."


Maluuni nodded and stood, following the goddess. Superstition does not rule beauty...she liked that idea. And coming from the goddess of Beauty..."And no one would know that better than you, right?" Her voice was still meek, but the fear was gone. "Though...why have you come to the land of mortals? Surely most gods are more beautiful than mortals..." Not all though. Even Maluuni knew that even gods could be ugly...She highly doubted Disease was a looker.


Indira waited for the lioness to catch up with her, then started off across the savannah, slowly and thoughtfully. "Indeed." She answered, amusement evident in her voice. However, at the next question, she paused, pondering how to answer. "...Gods are not more beautiful in general than mortals." She said finally. "Though gods are much more arrogant." She added, offering Maluuni a knowing smile. "They're... different. The mortal lands can be... refreshing."

"Yes...I would not be alive if they still existed...I suppose it's selfish to think that way...but I can't help but feel...relieved at times." Maluuni knew that she was far from what Mwenye had called a 'saint', but she felt she had no reason to mourn her pride's deaths. "If...if I find a group that would accept me, I would certainly join them. Until then...rabbits have worked well enough."


"In my experience, many prides do not resent the color red." Indira said assuringly. "In fact, I recall at least one that worships it. I am sure you will be able to find some companions." She smiled. "You seem personable enough, and you're able to hunt. I see no reason why anyone would turn down your assistance."


A pride that worshiped red?! "Do...do you know what sort of pride it was?" She certainly didn't want to end up in something like her old pride...She didn't want to look down on anyone. "And, thank you. When it was just Mwenye and I, I learned to hunt because he was too large to hunt in a forest. In the forest...one has to be patient and agile." Maybe that's why the other predators looked at her strangely when they saw her hunt rabbits. Quick they were...but Maluuni was patient and stealthy.


Indira shook her head. "It was long ago, they may well be dispersed or dead by now. They were quite large when I was last here, conquering other prides and enslaving them." She said this without much emotion, merely giving Maluuni information. "In any case, the majority of lions I have met have nothing against red, so I doubt you will have much trouble. Many rogues seek companions to hunt and travel with." She looked back at Maluuni admiringly. To perservere when one was considered hideous and ill luck by everyone around, well, that took courage.

"Ah...sorry m-Indira." She smiled and kept up with the other once more, her steps a little more sure. "I'm feeling better, actually. Talking with you..." She thought for a moment, trying to find the words. "Talking with you has made me feel less...well, cursed." Her smile grew a bit. "My fur...maybe my birth pride was wrong about it, and it is not some dark omen. After all...they died by fang, not fire."


Indira allowed herself a self-satisfied grin. Had Maluuni seen it, she might have been taken aback slightly. It wasn't an elegant or beautiful grin; it was rather.. harsh. "Perhaps indeed." She agreed. "And fire is fickle. It doesn't care the color of the creatures it kills." She added with a flick of her tail. "I am glad you're feeling better."


Maluuni nodded. "Yes...thank you, Indira." The lioness stopped quite suddenly, ears alert. "Ah...If you do not mind...I believe I found myself a meal." She gave a last bow. "I am glad I met you, Indira!" With that, the lioness stalked off through the grasses, ears back and emerald eyes focused on the rabbits she had heard. It had been a blessed day indeed. Maybe it would get better still.


The goddess lowered her head in return, effectively dismissing Maluuni to go and do her hunting. She could imagine how difficult it must be to have to catch and kill one's own food all the time. Staying silent as not to scare Maluuni's prospective meal, she spread her wings and launched herself into the sky.