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 Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 6:58 pm
Standing on a rock outcrop, Jua'taka watched the sun going down. She inhaled the air, gold eyes closing for a moment. She pretended, for a moment, that they were elsewhere. That they were back in their own lands, that tradition had won the battle and the war and rebellion had been punished. She imagined a pride with more slaves than they knew what to do with... And she imagined she was what everyone believed her to be.
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 7:02 pm
Watching from a distance, he wasn't sure if he should approach. The last time he'd seen his younger daughter... She'd denounced him. Had she changed her mind now? Taking a deep breath, the rust-colored male approached, stopping next to her. She'd grown... A lot. But she was beautiful to him, as any daughter was beautiful to their father. The setting sun glinted off the ornaments she wore around her neck and from her ears, even off the feathers from her ornamentation.
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 7:04 pm
Opening her eyes, Jua looked over. She only half-glared, then allowed her gaze to soften. In their time most of need... He'd come. He'd come out of worry, not out of wanting something. She knew... She could see it in those green eyes, the eyes no Firekin she'd ever seen posess. "You're a better Firekin than most REAL Firekin..." She didn't elaborate on what she meant. He'd know without explanation.
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 7:05 pm
He tilted his head, regarding her. After a moment, he smiled. "You've known this whole time... That's why you 'refused thy father'." Where had he heard that phrase, exactly...? Oh, yes, that odd rogue that he swore looked like he was related to Bodaway somehow... He mentally shook his head, regarding Jua. "Do you still hate me?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 7:20 pm
She could only shrug, looking at the horizon again. "I've known my whole life. But... No, I don't still hate you. A bit angry at you, but not hateful. You have more honor than most I've met." More than the rebels... Her claws dug into the rock under paw, leaving shallow gauges. The traitorious beasts... Cowards... She glared eastward, lip raising in a snarl.
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 7:25 pm
Looking east, Danzi considered the sentiments of the Traditionalists. He was no Firekin by birth, but... Even he had to find something worth keeping in their old traditions. He'd never considered if slavery was right or wrong, just that it WAS. Green eyes turned south, towards the Pridelands. There was a happy place, pretty much a utopia. It was perfect, in essence. And it was boring. Here, there were many facets to life, so many ranks, as well as slavery. It was... Almost refreshing to him. "I'm glad, then..." He looked at Jua again, tail curling before he sat down. "So what happens now, Jua? Do I get to start looking for grey hairs?" A grin cracked on his face, making his joking clear.
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 7:35 pm
She could only gape at him. After a moment, she frowned. "Maybe when the right male shows himself. Besides.. You would have to approve..." She gave him a look, quite seirous. "After all, I AM your daughter, your little girl... Shouldn't you approve of who has my paw?" Her tail curled before she, too, sat down. "Now, though... We wait to see how things settle down..."
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 7:40 pm
He nodded, looking at the horizon. Some things could wait. Making sure everybody was present and accounted for was important. Afte a moment, he looked at his sister. "So, how's your brother? I haven't seen him..." Or her other brother, for that matter. He'd have to go visit the Rebels just to see his other son... IF he could get in without getting killed. It was a miracle to him he was even HERE and not dead.
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 7:45 pm
Jua shrugged, tail flicking. "Wakia's... I don't know where. I don't keep track of him. Not my job." He was probably meeting with the lioness he liked... On the other side. After a moment, she tilted her head. "Azarax, on the other paw, is doing well, I imagine." She looked at him, giving him a flat look. "He knows everything."
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 7:49 pm
Shock passed over Danzi's face. Azarax... Knew...? He swallowed, just imagining his youngest son coming to kill him. When he looked back at Jua, he noticed her amused look. "What? If he knows, he can easily blame me for having the coat he has." It WAS his fault, after all... He still blamed himself that his son was the same tan as his markings.
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 7:50 pm
She ony shook her head. "He's not mad at you. I don't think he blames you. Even the purest of Firekin have the oddest things come up. One couple had a daughter who was as brown as the dirt under our paws. There was nothing they could do to help that happening. You can help how Azarax looks as much as we can help being born who and what we are." She sighed, then got up. "Sometimes... We're born in the wrong place... Azarax was I guess born in the right place... He saved Mother's very life. If it wasn't for that thrown gene... She'd be dead right now."
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 7:52 pm
Letting out a sigh of relief, Danzi stood up. "It's good he's not mad..." He tilted his head, considering her words. It was true, wasn't it? If it weren't for him... Ripuka would cease to be. He frowned, shaking his head. "You have some deep thoughts and words for one so young, Jua." He went up to her, smiling. "It makes you who you are, though. Slave or master... Or even free lion with no master.. We can all be in the right or wrong place at the right or wrong time... There's no avoiding it, is there?" He licked her forhead, then started back towards the den. "It's late and time to rest..."
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 7:54 pm
The motion of affection had her bristling, but Jua made no outward sign of it bothering her. As she watched the male walk off, she considered her options. If she wanted to... She could kill him now, tell everyone he'd been a traitor spy. But really... She didn't have it in her. Taking one last look in the distance, she frowned. After a moment, she turned east, letting out a long, low roar. A last goodnight, to her brother she barely knew. If he'd been born a propper Firekin color... They'd have no mother. Maw closing, the lioness turned and headed after her father.
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