|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:17 pm
"Yin-li...??"
The male stared in surprise at the young lioness that he'd cornered. First he'd thought it was an intruder and had immediately set out to drive them out, capture them, kill if necessary, but upon spotting the familiar black and white pelt with those distinct markings--
He'd skidded to a hault when he heard her call that she was with Azarax, but that had been a few moments ago. Now he was finally coming out of his shock. Why was she here? Hadn't he and Ilahle risked their lives to get them out? Last he saw them the whole lot was fleeing towards the jungle at the farthest border!
Yin-li settled onto her belly in submission, ears rocking back on her head.
"Forgive me, I do not mean to intrude or tresspass, I only needed someplace to stay the night."
"... Get up already, Yin. I'm not your master anymore. You don't have to bow to me like I'm some kind of royalty."
He watched as the female finally did as she was asked, told, surprised to see how she had grown, and couldn't stop his eyes from wandering over her new lithe form.
She grew embarrassed under his stare, front paws shifting against the rock. "It's... it's good to see you again, Kadogo'moto..."
"... You too, Yin-li..." He allowed the tiniest of smiles.
---
Early morning was his favorite time of day. Before the sun rose high enough to heat the desert up, when the sky turned blood red with the rising of the flaming sun, banishing night from the land. Azarax had awoken with the sun, as he did most every day, and paused at the mouth of the den to watch the horizon. A few moments, staring out into the far distance, as if, by magic, someone he knew would appear. Someone from the other side.
He knew it was unlikely, very unlikely, and it had become more like a morning ritual than anything. He didn't particularly pour a lot of hope into being able to see some of the Traditionalists turn against tradition, it was simply something he did that made him feel... better. And to any other, it seemed as if he was simply watching the sunrise.
Deciding it was better to let Yin-li sleep on for her journey home, he had left the den in search of some prey, something small for the morning, perhaps. And for some water from the nearest oasis. Another one of those morning rituals. He quite enjoyed being up and about while the sky was still red, when he could still clearly see it for what color it was. After all, it was far more interesting the dull slightly bluish shades of gray. Nobody could blame him for enjoying the flaming red more.
Having hunted and brought down a small goat-like creature, he retraced his own steps, heading back for the cave. If anyone found Yin there, trouble was bound to follow. But he supposed it would be alright. At least, he hoped so. It was only the night, after all, and it was for good reason. It the situation rose all the way up to Kidondo, he was sure the Regent could be convinced.
---
He had been on his morning patrol, a habit he'd keep up with until the guards were fully assigned and had their rota. It had been a shock to see the female, former slave, here, and he was still wary. Who knew what tricks the traditionlists might pull to get their land back, she could be a spy, unwilling or not. No, no, they'd never risk it, unless they had her family captive.
He growled a bit, but shook his head, circling her now with scruitiny and appraisal in his eyes as if he could tell her intentions by visual alone. Trust was not a luxury they could afford outsiders.
"You should NOT be here, the regents would not be pleased, nor the rest of the pride!"
He exhaled roughly, fluffing up, appearing at his staggering full size--
Was he showing off for her?! Wasn't that what Azarax said that was all about? She had no reason to think otherwise, the only other reason he'd have to look big was if he was preparing for a fi-- oh. OH.
"I understand, but, n-no, really, I'm not here for trouble, Kadogo, I'll go." She winced, looking up at him with what, from a distance, could be mistaken as another embarrassed look. "Please, forgive me, really, I'll go. I just wanted to make sure that he was alright, we didn't get to say goodbye when we left."
Kadogo softened just a touch, recalling Ilahle's feelings over this girl's brother when they left as well, and he'd dare not admit it, but he'd missed her and Chen-li just a bit, worried anyway. "... Fine, fine... It -is- good to see you well, but I hope you understand." He rumbled, moving closer more calmly now to look her in the eye, having to look down a ways for it but managing.
---
The scent was definitely Firekin. Having grown up as he had, Azarax had developed a nose for different scents. Catching a scent and running it through his head as "Firekin" or "Not" had become one of those things that simply happened. Like it or not, his mind still separated the Firekin from the rogues in the pride, though really it mattered little to him. They were just scents, after all.
Then it dawned on him. Oh. Crap. Someone had found Yin. And it was not someone he recognized, so he couldn't very well talk himself out of it. Not that he was a particularly gifted talker. Quite the opposite, in fact. Often, he had to leave it up to others to attempt to figure out what he was truly trying to say. Because he couldn't very do it himself.
"Hey, it-" He froze at the mouth of the cave. What was this?
---
Kadogo watched passively as Yin-li suddenly jerked back as though he'd burned her, only her incredulous gaze fell on the tan lion that had joined them now, smelling of fresh kill. Kadogo swiveled his head lazily to narrow his eyes at the male. He recognized him from Uuo's description, the son of old Ripuka, the former storyteller.
"Do you know how reckless it was bringing her into the pride's lands at a time like this? What if Azula or one of her brats had found her instead of me?"
He didn't have to look at her to know that Yin-li had just grown incredibly tense with fear. His mother... she was a terrible force to reckon with, quick to act first and apologize later in this type of situation. It would have been justified, too, and Yin-li realized all of this. She'd had to live under Azula, and act or not, being a "fake-slave" under that lioness was.... punishment in and of itself. That's why he'd volunteered to take Yin-li and Chen-li, swallowing his pride to ask for them.
Yin-li couldn't help the shudder that ran through her at that thought. She didn't want to face Azula as an outsider or slave ever again. She crept away from Kadogo's side and to Azarax's, wishing she could, at least for now, melt into the rock beneath their paws. She just wasn't used to all this yet, she'd have to shake the old slave mindset quickly if she was going to visit Azarax again. "Azarax... this is Kadogo'moto, he... well, he's..."
She fumbled for the words to say, referring to her as her previous master was not likely to gain any approval.
Kado simply snorted, looking from Yin to Azarax calmly.
---
Kadogo'moto. The name sounded familiar, both from a conversation he had had with Yin long ago, and from the very fact that the lion was one of the rebels. Azarax knew many of the other lions by name, though not by sight, having heard them from others' talking and the like. If he remembered correctly, Kadogo'moto was one the Yin hadn't been afraid of. Or something along the lines.
Azula. These names, he remembered.
"You found he-" He stopped. Nope. Not a time to lash out. A better time, he realized, to simply swallow his pride and acknowledge that he had been wrong and had indeed risked a friend's life by allowing her to stay. Which would all be the truth, except that his pride, again, was making it difficult to admit.
Don't blow up. Seriously.
He took a breath and nodded once. "I agree, it was reckless, it was quite irresponsible of me to do so without considering the consequences," He shot Yin a glance. Okay. It was going okay. Don't lose it... "I apologize, and if need be, I will take it up with Regent Kidondo. I shouldn't have done it. I'm sorry, Yin."
Maybe that would be enough, though somehow he doubted it. He wondered what Kadogo was doing here in the first place. How had he found her?
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:20 pm
"Just make sure you rectify the problem." Kadogo shook his head, turning from the two to leave with that, then, leaving the two of them alone once more.
"... It wasn't your fault, Azarax, you shouldn't have to take the blame for me being reckless. I'm sorry." She stopped, looking at him quietly.
---
What problem? Azarax thought silently to himself. He couldn't help but feel resentment toward the other lion, not simply because he felt Kadogo had morphed a non-issue into an issue, but also that the lion had been there at all. For a moment, he had felt something wrench inside him at the sight of the red lion and Yin.
Jealousy, he realized a moment afterward. Flaming hot jealousy that shot through him for no apparent reason. After all, it was just a lion who had discovered Yin, nothing more. And yet, he didn't like it. He knew he had tendencies to be overprotective of those that mattered to him, but he had never felt any sense of possessiveness over another lion before. Mpaji and his family, Azarax knew, he would defend with his life. But possessiveness, never before.
He shrugged and shook his head, though it was because he was puzzling out his strange emotions than that he was angry at her in any way. "It doesn't matter," He said finally. "What was he doing here anyway?"
---
"Mm... I think he was on patrol... and happened to pass by. I was getting fresh air, but he recognized me before anything could happen."
Her ears flicked a bit to and fro, and she was watching him quietly with this... slightly strange gaze. Was she imagining things or was he acting strange?
"But even so, I'm sorry I worried you."
---
"Oh, well. Right, patrol." He muttered, falling back into a normal routine of few words, less emotions. He couldn't really blame Kadogo, then, for being there. He was only doing his duty, and that was really more than Azarax could say for himself. After all, the other lion was right. It had been a risky move, having Yin stay within the lands at so unstable a period of time.
"It doesn't matter," He said again with yet another small shrug. He was used to this, talking little and keeping most of his thoughts and feelings to himself. He had grown up with it, and it was only natural that he fell back on it when he came across a new and unknown situation.
"Uh, listen," He began. Then paused, realizing he had nothing to follow it up with. "Uhm, nevermind."
---
No, Azarax, what is it? Please... talk to me."
Yin-li's expression was that of concern for the way he kept to two word replies and didn't finish his own thoughts. She was worried that something was wrong or he may be upset with her and just being nice to spare her feelings. She shook her head.
"Whatever it is, I can handle it. What is it?"
---
"I don't know, really," He said, bewildered. Although to be fair, he wasn't completely unused to the feeling. The feeling of having something to say, but not really knowing what. He was a rather taciturn lion by nature anyway, and whenever such situations arose, they never truly bothered him. He didn't care, after all, if he had something to say that he didn't know how to, because speaking little was what he was comfortable with. He didn't feel the need to absolutely have to get his thoughts and feelings out into the open.
No, it was more the funky feeling he had had when he'd just arrived back. That puzzled him more than the loss of words. The latter, he had experienced plenty of times, and had never paid it any attention. That was more than he could say for the former.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:17 pm
"Alright..." She wasn't sure what else to say, somehow the situation felt awkward suddenly.
Her eyes drifted and eventually landed on the kill he'd brought back.
"Is that for us?"
---
He glanced down at the kill he had brought, having completely forgotten it moments ago. "Oh, yea," He nodded, heading toward it to pick it up and bring it farther into the den. "It's easier to hunt in the morning." He added, by way of explaining what he had been doing leaving the den so soon after sunrise anyway.
"And I figured, it's a pretty long trip back home for you, so, it'd be better to eat first before leaving," He dropped the goat and had a seat, gazing down at it for a moment. He wasn't the most skilled hunter. He was far more talented in hand to hand combat, much preferring to be attacked in return as opposed to having to run after something to attack.
---
Yin-li nodded, getting closer to Azarax and the kill, settling down with not completely intentional grace, suddenly feeling a bit wary of how she carried herself. As she settled down she looked at him first. "You should eat first though, it was your kill." She shifted to settle down on her stomach, but giving him the room he'd need.
---
"Oh, well, sure," He said, tucking into the goat. It wasn't characteristic of him to judge a meal. It was food for fuel, that was all it was. Whether it was tough or tender didn't factor into the equation, and he was rather grateful of that. Much better that he could, and most likely would, eat anything than wouldn't. If there was anything he disliked, it was a picky eater. Food was a gift, and it didn't sit well with the tan lion to pick and choose and grumble about what didn't necessarily have to be there.
Once he had had his fill, he scooted away from the carcass and glanced over at Yin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:53 pm
She watched Azarax as he fed himself, wondering idly if maybe she or Kadogo had done or said something to trigger that reaction earlier, but couldn't come up with any ideas, really. Was it just a feeling after all? Hm... odd.
She couldn't help it as her eyes roamed further along his form, taking in the tan and the red that had been the dominant colors in her life since her eyes could open, aside from blue and black and white, and ocassional splashes of gray. Azarax couldn't have been more beautiful to her, for he was the color of home.
Her staring quickly stopped though when he looked her way. Yin-li sent him a grateful smile before moving in closer to start to eat.
---
He waited until she had finished, and rose to his paws, glancing out of the mouth of the cave and out across the sand as he did so. “I guess you need to head back soon?” He said, eyeing the border far off in the distance. It would be smart, he knew, to make it there in a hurry. Like Kadogo had said earlier, some of the other rebels were less forgiving. Especially in a time when the pride was still unstable.
“I’ll walk with you,” He added, looking back at Yin. It was safer that way, after all.
---
Once she'd finished cleaning her paws she got up, even then grooming the fur around her muzzle with a quiet nod. Moving in to stand at his side Yin-li rumbled softly.
"Thank you."
She looked ahead, uncertainly averting her eyes, unsure as to why she still felt so awkward, but understanding at least that she didn't want to have to say goodbye already. Still, unable to find words just yet she walked with him in silence, trying to pinpoint the feelings stirring up inside of her, conflicting and strange.
---
They neared the border, with the sun still yet to near its peak. It was still rather early in the day then. Azarax felt his heart sink. For all the awkwardness that Kadogo’s appearance had put between the two of them, it was still better to have a friend nearby than be alone. Though, he supposed, being alone wasn’t the most correct term. He was still with a pride, after all.
“Look,” He said finally, wondering how to phrase his words. After all, he didn’t know what he was trying to say. But an urge to somehow say it welled up inside him. So he had to give it a shot. “I have this feeling…”
---
She offered silence in reply, not wanting to disturb his train of thought though somehow she also had the urge to speak out once he had trailed off. She looked at him with black eyes, patient, as usual, but curious and somewhat eager.
---
The silence was not helping. Where usually, silence was his friend, he felt it weighing down on him, trying to squeeze words out. What the hell. Confusion was not truly an emotion Azarax was used to. Whenever he had questions, he had gotten the answers, either by asking Mpaji, or muddling through it himself. Now, he figured, there were no answers. If he couldn’t even describe what he was confused about, how could he expect someone else to have the answer?
He glanced at her, having planned it to be brief, but his gaze stuck, and he noticed for the first time just how dark her black eyes were. He could lose himself staring into them, he realized. Then it struck it. So that was what it was.
“I think… well, I kinda like you…” He trailed off again. Wow. That was inspiriing…
---
Those coal orbs widened in surprise at that. It was a shocking concept, somehow. He... "kinda" liked her, he liked her, kinda, and it fell into place then that she "kinda liked" him too.
"Oh..." Came that intelligent answer, stunned for a moment and left in short supply of words. "I mean, you... Really...?"
It was an innocent enough statement, in all honesty. There wasn't really anything life changing about such a confession, but all the same it was so out of the blue, these realizations, that it felt like the sand under their paws might just shift and swallow them up, was this what a first time crush (or first time "like", as it were) felt like? She felt so silly for being left in such a tizzy over it!
"You too...?"
---
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 7:33 pm
You too. That meant he wasn't an idiot, right? He didn't know. He was new to this, after all, and if it hadn't been for what had happened, never would have figured it out on his own. He supposed he had Kadogo to thank for that.
"Uh," He managed with a small smile. Now, was it supposed to be this awkward? He didn't know about Yin, but new and unexplored territory generally boded ill for him. Lack of inexperience, and all that.
He stood, wondering how else to react. Maybe she would know. But then, he was older than Yin was, so he wasn't particularly counting on it.
---
As if reading his thoughts, Yin-li laughed a bit, looking delightedly embarrassed, glancing up from her paws to Azarax, back again, and then back at Azarax with a fading chuckle.
"It would be easier if these things came a little more clearly labeled wouldn't it? Everyone always makes it sound so simple."
Her ears rocked gently atop her head, and just a bit uncertainly she took a few steps forward to close the small gap between them.
"Maybe we should take it slow... and just let whatever happens happen...?"
---
He nodded, smiling. "Yea," He agreed. He supposed that once he warmed up to it, he would be readily back to his old self. Or at least, the old self he was when he was with her. But the stark newness of it all, the wading into unfamiliar territory, made him cautious, unsteady. It took a while to get used to.
"Yea, okay," He said, once more agreeing, as she neared. He leaned toward her and gently rubbed his nose against her cheek. Whoa. Physical contact. He wasn't quite used to that either, but, it felt right. Or, at least, more right than he would have thought.
"You're beautiful, you know that?" He added, meaning every word. And that, too, felt right.
---
Gradually she relaxed in light of the way he semed to let the idea sink in. She was smiling quietly by the time he leaned in and touched her, and she blinked in surprise, but found she didn't at all mind it. In fact, she enjoyed the touch. A bit shy yet she moved in close anyway, brushing her head underneath his chin, shivering a bit at the feeling of his mane enveloping her head and neck.
She might've stayed there for a while longer when she heard his compliment, and he probably felt her ears rock back on her head with a feline blush. She was at a loss for words though, what do you say to something like that?
"I-- Thank you..."
---
For a while, he simply stood there, letting the odd feeling of whatever this was sink in. All this newness. Yes, it would definitely take some getting used to. He wished Yin wouldn't need to leave, return to her family. But he put that down with wishful thinking. It wasn't likely she would move here on her own, was it?
He nuzzled the top of her head, feeling the same protectiveness washing over him. He wasn't ever going to let anyone hurt her, he knew that. And life, once again, was changing. Once more, it was shifting from beneath his paws, without his having wished for it, nor asked for it. But it was change for the good, and such change, one rarely had to wish for.
Once more, life was taking a turn for the good.
((end rp?))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
