Eyal sighed, his ears back as he walked back toward the jungle. He'd been out a rather long time, having been unsuccessful in a hunt. It had frustrated him but he knew he couldn't push himself just yet. He had to heal so he could take his cubs back. He knew that much at least so getting frustrated about loosing larger game wasn't an option just yet. He glanced up at the setting sun, his tail flickering with interest. He lets out a small roar as it heads for the horizon. A tradition between himself and Rotem. He vaguely wondered if he was still doing it. He stopped to stare at it with an amount of loneliness in his eyes. He missed Rotem, his sister, and the rest of the pride more then he fathomed he would. It was like a rip in his stony heart.
Back to more pressing matters. He looks forward concentrating on sneaking back.
"What are you doing?" A familiar voice asked a few feet away from the homesick lion. Siku was lying on top of a sturdy gray boulder, as if she was sunbathing in the little rays that managed to peek through the thick jungle trees. Her tail swished from side to side like a snakes, gliding gracefully over the stone as the huntress eyed her "prey". For some time now she had been housing and healing Eyal under these very trees. Enough time had passed that Siku was showing signs of adolescence, the stage where the cub becomes a young lioness. Ever since Eyal had begun to creep away, Siku began to wait for him to come back. She had grown fond of the male whether he liked it or not, and the reason why still remained unknown. After all, Eyal was grouchy and mean to her and that was definitely not the right mix for friendship.
Eyal winced. s**t. He gazed up at her and snorted. "I was hungry, what do you expect me to do? Lay there all day?" He gripped lifting his head and going to her boulder. "What are YOU doing out here? Aren't you supposed to be in your pride?" He had a feeling she'd known he was sneaking out. She never brought it up and he never made mention. He figured he was safe. Damn it all. He sat down and itched at his mane with a back leg. "I need to return to my pride soon."
Siku rolled her blue eyes at him, her body relaxing against the boulder in the carefree manner the male must have grown used to. "My pride is fine, aren't you supposed to be resting?" She asked, rolling onto her back and staring back at the upside down male. Her expression changed from relaxed to confused at the mention of returning. "But your still healing."
"Resting is for the weak. Something I am not." He responded plopping down by her rock. He knew better then to think she was going to get up anytime soon. He licked at the scar on his shoulder. "My cubs have been born, Siku. I must take them back to my pride as soon as they are able to leave their mother."
"Cubs?" Oops. She had completely forgotten about that. The young lioness rolled herself back onto her belly and scotched closer to the edge, her paw falling to bat at the large male's mane as soon as he was close enough. "So...you're excited to be a dad?" She asked lightheartedly. "It's a big responsibility. Are you ready for it?"
He just stared at her, taking no notice ot her playful nature. Instead he looked away. "Excited? No... Not really. I'm not certain. I never thought about it like that. Just that I was aiding my pride. They are of my blood but they are not for me." He stayed wistfully silent for a moment then gazed back at her. "I am. There are four of them, young girls."
He hesitated for a moment. Young girls like Siku who he'd be leaving. The young lionness would soon be left alone again with her pride. "What will you do in my absence?"
A large frown creased Siku's maw. Eyal's answer to her question about his cubs never sat well in her stomach. Why would someone just want to have cubs to add to their pride? That was wrong. Cubs were meant to broaden family, not ranks. They were meant to bring love and happiness to the mother and father as they gave even more to them. "Eyal...you won't be a good father if you only think of your pride. You need to think of them." A answer didn't come to Eyal when he asked what she would be doing. Siku's anger had shoved that far to the other side of her cranium now. The dark frown that decorated her lips only grew as the lioness's black brows furrowed. Wait a second..."How did you know you had four girls? How far have you been going from the border? You could get yourself killed!"
"I never said I would be a good father. Just a father. I will train them as huntresses." He laid his head against his paws. He was tiring of her controlling anger. After all, he was an adult. He knew what he was doing. She on the other hand caused this entire mess. "They need to be weened but the mother can't stay with them all the time. I have to watch them in her absence. I've been going out to the pride not far from here. The one who idolizes music." He rolled his eyes, not bothering to comment on the getting himself killed part. As if hunting wouldn't do that for him.
He stopped and stared down at his paws. Something felt... off. He glanced at a pebble by his side, watching as it began to jingle up and down. What in the...?
Siku scowled and immediately began to pout. This lion was ridiculous. Sometimes she just couldn't stand him! Sure she had plenty of patience stacked up thanks to her parents, but nothing lasts forever. Eyal seemed to just have a rock for a head. Nothing she ever said really got through to him. "You're unbelievable, you know that?" She grumbled with a great disdain. "I know my headaches will leave as soon as you go." Upon the great rock the small vibrations that had the little pebbles dancing were not felt by Kisikusiku.
Eyal wasn't paying attention. He was watching the earth and feeling it rumble beneath his paws. He stood up quickly, starting to back up. A fissure appeared in the ground as it gave a loud roar as it started. "SIKU!" He yelled, looking at the young cub in horror. "RUN! Run for the trees!" He yelled as it all started to come crashing appart.
Siku arched a brow as Eyal suddenly leaped to his feet. For a moment she didn't understand what the problem was. Everything seemed fine until the boulder she was lying upon shook as though it was but a leaf in the breeze. Even though she screamed the young lioness did not hear her cry over the mighty roar from the earth. It was breaking! Siku couldn't believe the sight she was seeing. What was happening? Were the Gods angry at her? Had she said something wrong? Her wide eyes met Eyal's with great fear as her body froze. She couldn't move, she was too scared to. It was all happening so fast. Once more she was but a statue before the danger, just like before. All her courage, her strength, her pride, zapped in an instant.
Eyal returned her fear for he himself had never been caught or seen an earthquake. The fissure traveled between them shattering to what seemed like the very center of the earth as parts lifted and crashed while others seemed to sink into the ground its self. His eyes widened as everything began to crumble around them so loud it made his ears hurt. He jumped over the small rift and scrambled to her side, scooping her up in his jaws. He started to run as fast as he could with her weight, trying to avoid the smashing rocks and his protesting leg and shoulder. Instinctively he fled where the roots of trees would fight to hold the earth together as it raged against its self. There was a roar as he dropped Siku as a rock sheered his side and sent him to the ground. He pulled himself up slowly and shaking his head turned to look at her.
Once again he lept into action, ignoring the pain and focusing on saving Siku. His mind blank save for that purpose. It seemed to be ending, the tremors slowing as he scooped her up once again and he found the edge of the fissure, another shock wave raging against the stone in an epic battle. He jumped, placing her on top. He couldn't take her weight any more. It was slowing them down rather then helping. "Run!" He demanded bunting her with his muzzle. "Run as far as you can! I'm right behind you!"
Siku only saw bits and pieces of the terror that played in their escape. Her eyes had immediately closed when she felt the tight grasp of Eyal's jaws upon her body. Flashes that she believed to be the ground darted past her as she was bounced harshly with each and every moment Eyal's paws hit the ground. The youth felt sick and wanted to cry, to scream, to beg for the comfort of her parents. She didn't know what was happening even as the cub met the ground. It hurt beyond belief! Her whole body was on fire. Suddenly the youth was dragged from the dusty Savannah floor and placed back in Eyal's jaws. But this time the safety net did not last. Siku was back on the ground in only moments. Survival instinct took in this time when her paws reached the floor. She was running before she even opened her eyes. Off! Away! Faster! Harder! The danger she had to escape, she had to live! Siku wanted to live!
"Keep running! Don't stop!" Eyal limped after her, blood coming from both the wound on his side and the deeper gash in his hind leg. He was panting, trailing far behind the cub. Then it happened. There was a roar as everything fell out from underneath the male and he disappeared into a cloud of dust, into the gouge the earthquake had created.
Then all was silent. Eyal laid on his side. Unable to move, eyes closed. His fast breathing had slowed to the point where it appeared he wasn't even to start with.
Siku ran just as her body and Eyal had been screaming for her to do. She ran fast, and far, until all she could see behind her when she stopped was dust. Seconds past, long and drawling. Any second now Eyal would appear from the haze, running towards her with his immense power. He was okay, they would be fine. As soon as they were back together she'd go back to her pride. Mother and Father, Usiku, all her sisters, they would be there and welcoming her home. Everything was okay...everything was okay....
Siku breathed heavily, her body shaking with each intake of air. Her gasps were loud and shrilled like a bird's call as her lungs begged for the sweetness of air. The young huntress's limbs burned and ached as she stood waiting for Eyal. He had to be coming out...He had to! Yet when the male didn't reveal himself in a heroic manner, Siku found herself racing back to the destruction. Back to where she had just experienced fear and pain. Eyal was there, and she'd find him! She'd rescue him now.
Eyal was laying in plain view where his tumble had left a path. He was covered in dust and rocks. The ground beneath him was muddy as the settled dirt soaked up his blood. He opened his eyes for a few seconds his vision clouded, going in and out of focus. Where was she? Where was Siku? Was she safe? Did she make it out? He tried to rouse himself but his body wouldn't obey. He wanted to make a sound, a roar, anything to find her location but none of it would leave his mind.
His eyes stared to close. What of his cubs? Would the mother get tired of waiting and raise them on her own? Why... why was he even asking these questions? It didn't make sense. The world wasn't making sense. It was all convoluted, moving slowly like a dream or a leaf on water. Just drifting softly in and out of his head in whispers. He struggled to keep his eyes open but he couldn't. It was too hard. Too much energy. His head was in so much pain that he couldn't keep awake if he tried.
Siku... Keep running... I'm right behind you... The thought repeated in his head over and over until he slipped away into unconsciousness.
A distressed roar echoed across the broken rubble that once had been apart of the vast land. The patter of paws against upturned earth followed the cry. Siku was on her way. Her calls came again and again. He had to be around here somewhere! The dust slowly rolled away in a passing breeze, giving the lass a better view. It was then that she saw him, wedge into a slit in the ground. She was afraid to know the truth. He was limp, his eyes were closed. No longer did his emerald eyes meet hers. He was still. Eyal was....dead?
Siku shuddered and shook away the thought with one good swift shake of her head. No! He was okay! He was just a little banged up. The youth drew close to the ground before she crept into the sunken in earth where her hero laid. "Eyal...?" She asked very softly. Her heart ached to hear an answer. She wanted to hear his negative comments, something that told her he was still alive. "Eyal...please." Siku lowered her head into the brilliantly colored mane. The salty smell of blood and musty earth raced across her senses when she met with the matted fur. Yet the young one didn't move away from him. "Wake up, please Eyal. Please."
Eyal felt himself slipping into the dark. there was nothing to hang onto. Nothing to take him back to where he'd once been. He hardly remembered what that was. His paws hit soft grass and he saw Rotem, a cub and grinning at him, he took off and Eyal chased after him. They were kids again. It had all been some horrid nightmare. Nothing had changed between them. He hadn't become king and left him by himself. There had been no great explosion with the hurt.
All a dream...
It faded and he saw something else, something more dear to him. His father and mother calling him from a long day of play where his sister was already waiting. His mother was still alive. He could tell her of the dream and she would understand, comfort him. He brushed against her leg, nuzzling her lovingly. "Eyal..." She whispered, "Eyal... please wake up..."
That wasn't her voice, his dull brained realized. It was someone elses's. Someone he knew... He couldn't draw a face to it. Wake up? Wake up from what? The dream was over... It took a long time but his green eyes finally slipped open. He could feel her next to him. Feel someone.
"I tried...." His voice was horse, cracking. "I tried... I can't... get up..."
Siku's heart fluttered like a bird when it awoke at sun rise. Her ears perked when his voice drifted over her. The youth raised her head away from him, her eyes immediately falling to look down at Eyal. The beautiful green that she had grown so used to stared back at her. That voice was his...he was alive. He was alive! "Eyal! You're alive!" She cried with joy just before quieting down. Certainly it was a bad time to scream and shout. Eyal was in bad shape...terrible terrible shape. "Stay with me...o-okay? You need to stay awake." She whispered under her breath as her paws patted his mane.
He closed his eyes again briefly. She was alright. Her voice was an indication of that. Good... He seemed to sag inward, exhausted. "I'm tired..." He responded trying to lift his head. "Let me sleep here... for a while, Siku... I'll be up soon..." It was as if he as speaking the air, as if he couldn't really see her. "I'll get up... soon... this wounds... they're nothing. You'll see runt... I'll be up before you know it... I'll be..." He trailed off his body shivering. He felt cold and heavy.
"No!" The wounded male could feel two paws pressing against the side of his head, pressing down to keep his attention. "You need to stay awake, if you close your eyes, I....I might...." The words 'loose you' never came. Siku was biting back tears before she could utter those awful words. "P-Please...Eyal. You need to stay awake with me. You saved me twice, I owe you one more time until we're even! Eyal!" She sobbed, her body lowering to press against him to give him some warmth from her being. "You're a war chief! You're not supposed to go this way!"
The sharp pain in the side of his head made him jerk back awake. She was crying for him? He could hear it in her voice. He struggled, fighting until he could lift his head. She was right. He was a war chief. It wasn't his time. He couldn't go so easily without a fight. What had he been thinking letting the pain win over.
He shifted, bringing his muzzle to her, nudging her with a gentleness he'd never shown. He gave her a lick with his rough tongue. It'll be alright. The gesture seemed to say. Just hold on.
He rested his muzzle down beside her. "I'll stay awake..." He murmured. "Long enough to take you home..."
Siku gasped against her torn sobs when she felt Eyal's gentle touch against her face. There was no time to recover from that shock for another one followed soon after. Her racing heart slowly descended from the high staircase it had climbed when Eyal reassured her in a way she never thought he was capable of. "Eyal..." Her soft voice whimpered. "Thank you...." She then rested close to him, her head beside his as her eyes watched him carefully. His reassurance had saved her from going over the edge, but there was still a lot to worry about with his injuries. She'd have to watch him and make sure he'd stick with that unsaid promise.
"No problem, runt..." He responded tiredly. The mud had caked the more dangerous wound, stopping the bleeding. He just needed to rest. Then he'd be fine.
He lay there for a very long time. He rested, responding when Siku prodded him sometimes incoherently.
After the sun had long since set and was even well on his way to rising once again he started to stir, trying to lift himself up. He needed to get her home and get out of this dangerous place."Siku... lets' go... " He told the cub, pushing himself to his shaky feet.
Siku had fallen into the world of dreams by the time Eyal finally stirred from his slumber. She grunted and groaned in protest when the body heat of her own personal hero disappeared. The cub rolled onto the ground, her should support gone to soon to catch herself in time. "What?" The young one asked as a paw came up to bat away the sleep dust caught in her eyes. "Eyal...let's wait...till the sun is up in the sky." Siku suggested, urging him to give her more time for sleep. After all she hadn't gotten many hours to rest her mind and body. For most of the night the little one had stayed up to look after Eyal. She had to make sure he survived the night, if he didn't it would have been all her fault. When the time came that Eyal showed signs of life, that he was going to make it, that was when Siku succumbed to sleep. Yet that miraculous time had not come until the the first bird of morning chirped.
: Eyal took a few steps further. "We need to go. This place isn't safe. The earth might rip open again..." He doesn't get very far before his legs give out on him and he lands back down. He too is tired and has come to that realization. He looks back at her, his tail flickering.
Slowly Siku rose up and took a few steps forward to follow after him. Her head was hung low and her tail dragged behind her. Poor little Siku was tired and was ready to be defeated by exhaustion. By now the normally large wide eyes resembled the half moon. "See..." Siku began as she strode over to Eyal's fallen form once he had hit the ground. As she spoke her voice was just as dull as her eyes. "We need..." Siku yawned and slowly began to sink back onto the ground. "Sleep..."
Eyal glanced over then rested his head down. she was right. After a few hours of sleep he awoke again and looked around, letting out a roar in his yawn. He looked down at the young cub and gave a lick to her back to rouse her. "Sun's up."
The small cub groaned and drew her small paws against her belly. "Not high enough." Was his reply from the sleepy cub. She still wasn't ready to get up and move. Her legs still ached and her body begged for a day or more of rest.
"We need to move." He said pushing himself up. Without much warning, he picked her up in his jaws and tried to get out of the gouge
.
Siku moaned at the contact but said not a word after. Her eyes remained closed as Eyal lifted her form up and away from her resting place. If he wanted to move out he'd have to drag her since this little cub wasn't moving until she got to sleep a little bit longer.
Eyal finally made it out and started toward the jungle. It was taking a lot out of him to keep walking but he wouldn't stop. He finally makes it to the jungle line and refuses to quit. Once he's back to the place where she had first healed him, he collapses again in a fit of exhaustion, putting her down and and resting.
