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 Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:30 am
On the way to the 'unknown' lands, Ripuka had kept throwing back her head to glance back at her old lands. Her old home. She had tried not to, tried to pretend that there was nothing worth seeing behind her. But the pain of seeing her home growing smaller and smaller...
It reminded her of her childhood, when she had left so long ago to repent for sins.
But this time she had made no sin! She had done everything to the book! She'd even abandoned her own child to be looked upon highly by the Goddess! And yet, there was no Goddess here to aid them and still she trudged on blindly, ever faithful.
And she looked back again, almost as if tormenting herself with the knowledge that she'd probably never return to the land of her ancestors.
And if Jua asked, she'd would have said she was looking back for Wakia, not for the other son she had left behind. That secret, beautiful son who had, despite everything, risked his life to save her from death.
And by the time that terrible journey was over the sun was low in the sky and the day was almost over.
Almost.
But not quite.
No, now she was lying out under the setting sun, groaning in agony, but not from her physical wounds. It was almost as half of her heart had been torn away the further she stepped from home.
Maybe that was what was happening to her, either way she was restless and could not settle. She was tired but she knew sleep wouldn't come. She was just going to lay here, lay here until the cold number her emotions and turned her into a shadow.
And, in the back of her thoughts she wondered where her mate was and whether he had been involved in the battle. If so, she had not seen him. Maybe she had lost him too.
Maybe this was the beginning of the end.
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:47 am
He'd heard, by word of mouth, what had happened in the land of the burning sands. And he'd come running. All he could think of were Ripuka and their children, as he still saw in his mind a lioness young at heart, with two juvenile cubs following her.
When he'd crossed into the desert, it didn't take long for the nearly rust-colored lion to find the trail of paw prints heading west. Like many times before, he did his best to not be seen, especially when blood was probably still boiling.
Rounding a boulder, he spied a familiar fiery-red pelt. He almost approached directly, but opted for caution. He glanced about, and upon seeing nobody, went over. "Ripuka..." He seemed not to notice the wounds, so happy to see her as he was.
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:08 am
Ripuka rose to meet him. Oh, Makaa, he was alive. He was alive. There were no words for the relief that trembled through her. There was so much to ask, so much to say. She reached him, pressed her head beneath his chin and let the shudders of her grief run down the length of her body.
"Oh, Makaa." She breathed, closing her eyes tightly, willing away the bite of the tears that threatened to overwhelm her. "What are we going to do? Everything is ruined, spoiled." She knew this wasn't like her, knew that she should be looking for soloutions rather than dwell in the weight of the problems.
"I'm so glad you're safe." She blurted. "I hadn't seen you, I thought you'd been hurt or...or worse. But nothing can stamp out a true firekin spirit. Nothing." She gripped him fiercely, afraid that if she let go, he'd dissapear.
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:49 am
Using a paw to hold her close, he rested his chin on her head, doing his best to comfort. "I should have come back sooner, to stop this all from happening..." He glanced to the eastern horizon, glaring towards those that had risen up.
As his tail curled, he glanced out. He noticed a familiar dark lion, but it didn't raise any form of alarm, instead giving him a look, then leaving. When nobody else came, he relaxed, grooming Ripuka. That was when he noticed the injuries. "You're hurt..." His fur started to bristle. "Who did it? I'll tear them limb from limb myself!"
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 11:26 am
"Nothing could have stopped it, love, not I, not Kimeti...no one." She closed her eyes, thinking of Kimeti's body left there to be savaged and torn by the traitors and the vultures. Oh, poor Kimeti! She leaned closer to him, desperate for closeness. "There were too few of us, too few. But some remain and we are still alive. That is all that matters for now. We must get strong again and attack. This is not the end."
Who was it she was trying to convince? Herself, maybe?
She flinched under his caress and looked away, shamed. "A slave carved her claws into me. I take no pride in my failings. Old, too old to be of any use. But I will fight again if I must. I will fight until the end." She shook her head. "I would have died, Makaa, if it were not for our tainted son." She looked at him. "The slave was looming over me, she blinded me with sand, my one good eye useless. I should have died by rights on the battle field. And then he came and drove them away."
Hope rose in her voice. "My son...our son...he's with them now." And she sounded almost happy about that.
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Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 6:15 pm
Looking at her tenderly, he nuzzled into her shoulder. "You are not useless, love..." Looking her in the eye, he gave her a look fierce with determination. "You live on so that you may teach the next generations the old ways, to create hope for the pride so we may not die out!"
At the mention of their tainted son, he flicked his ears. "Perhaps that was Finar-si's way.. She appeared to curse us with a son that looked slave, only for him to come back to save those that forsook him."
He shook his head, glancing to the east. But he was with the rebels... As a passing thought, he wondered if Bodaway was with them, too. He didn't see the oddly plucky old lion anywhere. Maybe he was dead...
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Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:28 am
She smiled weakly. "You are right, I still have the same purpose I have always done. But what should I do if there are no cubs to teach? Most of us have grown now. There are no cubs and juveniles amongst us. As far as I'm aware, ever the royal family have no mates to speak of." She leaned against him, pressing herself tightly to him, wishing she could find an answer to solve her problems.
Maybe matchmaking?
"Maybe you're right. I like to hope so. He was born to save his mother...and then fated to live on the other side." She shook her head. "I wish he were with us now, truly."
And she pulled herself away to look at him. "Even still, I'm glad he's safe and sound and away from the others. I love my kin but my son...he comes first."
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Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:31 am
Danzi nodded, nuzzling Ripuka. "When things settle down, there'll be cubs again..." He smiled at her, tail curling. "They'll be waiting on somebody to teach them the traditions of the pride, and who better than you?"
Ears flicking, he glanced to the east again. Why couldn't he avoid doing that...? Because one of his sons was there. "Perhaps... One day we may meet him again... Maybe not on this plain of existence, but... Someday..."
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Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 12:41 am
"Thank you Makaa." She purred. "Besides, we have a beautiful son and daughter, no doubt they'll find mates. We can encourage them in that, perhaps." She sighed deeply. To be a grandmother...it would be a wonderful feeling.
And at his words Ripuka realised that the likelihood of seeing Azarax again was next to nothing. Not unless she wished to seek death and she stumbled upon rebel lands. No, they may as well have been living on different worlds altogether.
"I hope you're right." She whispered.
Then she turned her eyes up to him. "Makaa. I think we should introduce you to the future queen. She may not know of you and rules are going to be strict. I wouldn't want them to mistake you for a stranger. When the time comes, I will find Queen Kenna and explain to her your situation." She smiled. "Hopefully she will not mind your wandering ways."
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:52 pm
Though he didn't let it on, Danzi felt a deep and terrible sinking in the very pit of his stomach. Meet the queen? What if she saw him for the lion he really was? It would put Ripuka and their children in danger. But he couldn't really say no... "Perhaps when the blood has cooled, we should meet her. Now may not be the best time."
As his tail curled, he thought about the idea of being a grandparent. And his thoughts promptly went to his older daughter's children. The orange lion was glad he had no blood relations here besides his children. But then.... He looked at himself, scrutinizing his own mane. "Do I have a gray hair...?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:30 am
"Very well. It's probably for the best." She tucked her head against him and sighed deeply. "But I have faith she'll understand. Besides, you've already been here for such a long time you're almost a full member in any case." She replied.
Then she laughed and batted his nose with a paw. "Don't be ridiculous. You are far from being old, Makaa." She snorted but her good eye sparkled. "But I think this war has made everyone feel old. I know I do. It's a weariness...and not to mention the pain of my wounds. I don't think my leg will ever heal properly, curse the beast that did them!"
She pondered on this a moment. "This has been the longest day for the Firekin. The longest and most disastrous. I just hope Finar-Si saw our unwavering strength in the face of all the traitors and returns to help us."
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Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:16 am
He smiled, letting out a chuckle. "I have, haven't I?" He groomed her ear gently, rumbling at the idea. Him, a member..
His thoughts were interrupted by the bat at his nose. A laugh escaped, "It certainly feels that way!" He stopped laughing, though, at the mention of the war. "It may yet make others feel old... Cubs will have to grow up fast.. As to your leg.." He gently nuzzled her. "You may enjoy a life of being taken care of, at the least."
Providing a shoulder to lean on, he sighed. "The long day will end eventually, and a new day will dawn. The weak have been weeded from the pride and left the strong, though." He offered a smile, trying to help her see a bright side to it.
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Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:31 am
"Nonsense." She chuckled, reaching up to give him a tender lick on his nose. "I'm not past it yet. I'll continue serving this pride until the last breath leaves my lungs." She purred. "And so will you if I know you at all."
She would find a quiet moment with the Queen and see if she could get Makaa in her good books.
And then his words took her from his thoughts and she cast him a gentle look with her one good eye. "Yes. Yes, you're right. We have lived to fight again another day. Let us trust that Lady Finar-Si knows what she is doing. She will return and when she does we will be ready to rise again."
She leaned against him, feeling a surge of hope. Things always did seem better with family around.
Things didn't seem so hopeless.
fin/
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