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 Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 9:25 am
It was a bright day, one that gave Moto hope. It was a good omen...so far her journey had not been plagued by bad winds, rains, or anything equally annoying. The golden lioness took in the scent of what was around her. She'd gone ahead to gather plants she was desperately low on, while Serithi watched the cubs. It was good to be with Serithi again, after all the time away from him while she healed under Kiuma's watchful eye. She smiled at the thought of her friend...
And it reminded her to be alert. One never knew where a demon might lurk, and she was out in the rogue lands once more with a mission.
Moto knew full well she could not take down an entire pride on her own. No...she needed others.
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Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 10:24 am
She had to know if the rumors were true, that was all Xinavane knew for certain. She had heard word of the demon pride, and the evil's it had done against other lions... and it made her blood boil. It was everything she hated about prides... and so much more, but she had then heard the rumors about something else.
Something which was either just as important, or possibly more so. A pride of demon hunters. A pride which would strike out against the wicked and unjust... and if they were real, then she knew once and for all that she was not alone. The occasional lion, or other creature who wished to fight the cruel and the evil had never been enough.
An entire pride who wanted to find a way to raze the truly evil... true demons... That was everything Xinavane had ever wanted. She needed to find them. She needed to know there were more like her.
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Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 9:18 pm
Moto's ears pricked forward as a scent caught her nose. Lion...probably female...Now was she friend or foe? Demons rarely came out during the day, and Moto doubted the rumors of her plans had reached them yet. She forgot the plant-gathering and stalked forward, curious but cautious.
When she saw the other, she eased a bit. Female, younger than her...
Moto stood to her full size, nearly large as a Pridelander. "Good day, young one."
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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:12 pm
Xinavane turned around, suprised by the voice. No one snuck up on her. No one... so how could... She looked at the lioness in front of her carefully. She was big, bigger than Xinavane was -though she was young still and had not finished growing- and covered in... scars. A warrior then, or an assassin? Evil, or good? That was the question...
...like her, or like the ones she sought to kill?
"Good day to you as well, ma'am." Xinavane said, nodding her head politely, looking her over again... the other lioness had not attacked her. Could that mean she was some kind of warrior then? Perhaps a scout? No... more noble than a scout...
...could this be a member of the pride she had heard rumors of?
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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:51 pm
Moto watched how the other reacted, intrigued. The other had sized her up...was still sizing her up. Strange...but comforting, in a way. That this dark child before her did not seem to take things at face value.
"I am rather sorry I snuck up on you. But I am a curious creature." And a desperate one, looking for help. "And my curiosity has only grown. I've not seen one your age so calculating before." Not since herself.
Perhaps...Moto would talk a little more, then inquire...
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:00 am
"One can never be to careful..." Xinavane said quietly, watching the other lioness carefully... though thus far the other female seemed to mean her no harm. That was good to know, but like she had said: Taking things at face value could be dangerous... "I had heard there were demons about."
Now... how would the other lioness react to that? Was she one of the demon pride that others of the area had come to fear... or was she one of those who hunted them? Or did she have nothing to do with either rumored pride? It was hard to say.
"And I would say that I am also... a somewhat curious creature." She said with a small grin.
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:40 am
At the mention of demons and not 'being too careful', Moto's eyes widened. Either this child was a demon...or she was of the sort Moto had been seeking. Her orange-amber eyes looked the other over again. She did not hold herself with the arrogance of a demon. So perhaps she was one of the ones she sought.
"The demons rarely come out at day...and if they do, I am there to offer them a chance to redeem themselves...or to die." She made a bow, still keeping an eye on the other lioness.
"I am Moto'nyota, and I am building a pride to combat the demons."
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:48 am
Xinavane's ears perked forward, her interest sparking instantly, "Really? So you're the one I've heard of? The one creating a pride..." Her eyes narrowed, "But how do I know what you have told me is true? What if you're... one of them."
There was always the chance that she would have been dead already if the lioness in front of her was a demon... but she knew some creatures could trick others into traps, and then kill them once they had gained their trust...
...but she still couldn't shake the idea... the hope, that maybe this lioness was the one she sought. The one who could help to change the world...
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:58 am
Moto smiled sadly. "I will not deny I have demon blood. My own sister is one of those...insane things. But I refuse to become one of them. I shall always be a healer...and the demon pride is a festering wound that must be cut open and drained." She made a motion to the scars littering her body.
"What urged me to start the pride was the cause of these scars...My sister wished to take my cubs, I would not let her. In the end, she still managed to take one of them, and I was too wounded to give chase..." Her eyes hardened. "But she failed in killing me. And she will rue her mistake, because that fight made me see exactly what a menace her pride is. And I will not let others suffer the same loss I have."
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 10:45 am
Xinavane lowered her head and snarled lightly, "Then we have something in common... though not from the same pride, I have known evil lions who chased my family and I from our home, attempting to kill us all. Though I cannot find them now... I have sworn to help others who have been plauged by the wicked... and demons are most certainly the breed that disgust me the most."
She nodded and bowed her head forward, "My name is Xinavane. I have been seeking you, Moto'nyota, and your pride... because I want to help you however I can. I may be young... but I have experienced first hand what evil creatures left in power can do. If I can be of any help to you, I will do what you ask of me." She looked up at the other lioness, "I want to help to make this world a better place... and to clear the infection that is demon kind."
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:32 am
Someone that knew of the evils of the world...someone that was following the rumors, seeking her fledgling pride. Moto smiled at the other. "You are young, yes...but you are strong, Xinavane. I can see it in the way you hold your head, the way you stand..." In fact..."You remind me of the earth beneath our feet."
Perhaps...she had the perfect place for this one. She was young...but she understood the importance of keeping evil out. "You know that to hunt the demons, we must ensure the civilians and young are protected, and the pride fed, yes?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:41 am
"Of course," Xinavane said, lifting her head and nodding, "they are the ones who will need protection most... for they are the ones who cannot defend themselves. And the innocent must be kept from fighting... and a pride must be fed. Otherwise, how could it have the strength to go on?"
It was all true, and she certainly believed it. The pride had to eat, or they would be useless against a demon attack. And civilians... cubs for that matter, they would only be caught in the cross-fire. Having them in danger... no. No that could not be allowed. The innocent had to be protected. That was the entire point of fighting demons in the first place.
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:51 am
Moto nodded. Yes, she was perfect. "Beneath my mate and I, there are three who ensure that we do not grow power-hungry or foolish. And beneath them are four who represent the elements of this world. It is the Ardhi, the Earth's duty to ensure the caretakers of the pride are not demons or other harm-bringers in disguise, that the guards are alert and do not grow complacent, and that the hunters do not slack in their duties." She sighed. "It is a great responsibility...but we are still small."
She smiled. "If you are interested, there is time to grow into it...ease into it as we grow."
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:57 am
Xinavane's eyes seemed to brighten at the prospect, "So... I will be able to help? I can do something for the pride?" She barely needed to consider the offer, though she most certainly did so anyway. A lot of responsibility... and perhaps she would not be on the front lines, but she would be doing good. She would protect the pride from any who might harm it...
She had not been old enough or strong enough to protect her family... but now... Now she would be. She wouldn't let them down.
"I'll do it. I would give anything to be your Ardhi, and protect the pride from demons who may harm it... I will keep those who follow you safe, I swear it. Just tell me what to do." She said, her voice determined in every sense.
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 12:07 pm
Moto's own smile brightened. "Yes. You can do something for the pride." She purred and turned the direction her family was in. "We must gather others first, and then we shall settle in pridal lands. If you'll come with me, you can meet those of the pride so far. There are many cubs as of now...but I hope to change that soon."
They needed more adults...but the cubs were treasured. They were the future of the pride...the future of the world.
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