|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 8:42 pm
 Kisogo had gotten up the courage to venture near the pridelands again, but whenever he thought about confronting his mother about his news, his heart did a flip and he lost any shred of hope he had. He had worked the whole situation up to the point that he was imagining her drop dead as soon as he uttered a word, and he was quite fearful it would actually occur. He had just found his mother again, and he couldn't bear the thought of losing her through his own folly. He had tossed around the idea of returning back the Firekin lands and risking his life to find his father, but if he never returned, he didn't know what Koho would do either.
Why did this have to happen to him? Why couldn't his family be whole and happy like it had been in his youth. His parents had loved each other so much. Neither had cared that the other was from such a different pride, that their prides were supposed to be enemies, and they had loved their cubs just as much. Everything had been perfect, and now it was so... not...
The adult lion who had only just recently even learned how to act like an adult, was now worrying himself into grey hairs. He had been pacing back and forth across the border for so long, he was surprised there was still grass where his paws had crossed so many times.... He was far too caught up in his own thoughts to notice anyone else around him, which wasn't exactly the smartest position to be in, but at least a fast death would end his worrying....
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 9:15 pm
 "OOF!" Bombei grunted, jolted from his wandering thoughts as someone...a rather well-sized someone, crashed directly into him, head on. He shook himself, seeing stars for a moment before his eyes uncrossed, and he blinked around at whomever he'd run into. "Sorry there...oh, so sorry!" He nodded to Kisogo apologetically. The younger male didn't seem hurt, which was good. Bombei had been told he had a fearfully hard head 'to keep all his crazy stories from bouncing out of it'. Or something.
That had been why he'd run head on into the fellow too, really. He'd been thinking up a new story, something about the last pride he'd visited with. They were a very interesting batch, and he just KNEW there was something he could do with their history...he'd been so distracted he'd stopped watching where he was headed and -bam!-. That'd teach him to plot and walk at the same time.
"Ah...I'm sorry. I'm Bombei also." A quick look around made him realize with surprise just how far he'd come. This was definitely the edge of a pride's territory. That probably made Kisogo some sort of border patrol. Yikes, if he was mad...well at second glance the male seemed nearly as distressed as himself. Another rogue maybe? "Is something the matter? You look a bit...out of sorts."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 9:56 pm
Kiso had been looking absently as his paws as he had been walking, and only noticed the shadow when the thing causing the shadow connected solidly with forehead, "Urgh!" Stepping back quickly, his muscles tensed from the sudden interruption of his worrying, the male looked about almost frantically before his eyes settled on the cause of the problem. Well, at least it wasn't anyone who knew him, so he could continue avoiding returning to the pride.... Kiso felt rather bad that he had run into the lion, though, and he was surprised when the other apologized.
"Uh, it's fine, I'm pretty sure that I was the one that ran into you, I mean, not on purpose, but I wasn't looking, I mean, I was looking, but not ahead of me, I mean... ugh...." The rapid fire delivery was definitely pinned on the amount of mental stress he was under, and his thoughts just didn't seem able to organize in time for him to speak properly.... And then the grey lion was speaking again and Kiso tried his hardest to listen with full attention, but his thoughts kept worming their way to the front and he had to mentally push them back so as not to seem rude. He hadn't learned how to fight properly yet from his brother, so he would do whatever he could to avoid physical confrontation with a lion who looked a bit heftier than he was....
"I-I'm Kisogo, you can call me Kiso, I mean, you can call me Kisogo if you want to, but Kiso is fine too, since Kisogo can be a bit long, except it's not actually that long...." After a moment of trying to puzzle out what in the world he had just said, the red lion shut his mouth and sat back, fairly certain he was not going to be attacked, and so able to let down his guard and try to give his mind more room to process the conversation. It was very convenient, then, when the conversation turned towards what he was thinking about anyway, so he looked up with truly full attention this time and sighed, "I'm afraid I am.... Which is why I wasn't looking...." Shaking his head, Kiso's rapid statements were soon replaced with troubled silence. He was sure that the lion didn't want to hear the long and complicated story, but he had asked if something was wrong, but he was probably just being polite, but Kiso needed to talk to someone and Malik wasn't around, but talking about his family matters to a stranger would be foolish, but....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 10:23 pm
"Oh not at all! I wasn't looking either, you see." Well that made things a bit easier. Neither had been looking, so it wasn't anyone's fault really. The poor fellow was babbling though. He must have had it rough or something. And he'd admitted to being troubled. That made Bombei sit down. He may not be the wisest fellow, but he knew well that sometimes it just helped to talk about what was bothering you.
"Kisogo...which do you prefer? I'll happily call you either." To be jittery about even his name...something really must be bothering the poor boy. "Is it something to do with the pride?" He nodded his chin in the direction of the towering rock structure he guessed to be the local lions' home. "I'm nothing but a wandering fellow who' obviously too curious for his own good, but if there's something I can do to help...even just listen maybe? I'll gladly do it." He didn't have anywhere else to be, really, and he'd come so far today, he'd made good time. He'd reach his destination shortly, if all went well, so he could afford a small delay.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 2:15 pm
Kiso nodded to the lion, relieved that he wasn't angry. The other seemed just as happy that there was no fault in either of them, which Kiso only noticed in passing, since he really didn't have brain space to guess the other's moods. But then he sat down, which startled Kisogo a bit, since it reinforced the statements Bombei then made. He seemed serious about listening to Kiso, which was not something the red lion was used to. In the pride, someone always had to do something, so there was rarely opportunity to sit and talk without a purpose. Or without a purpose for the good of the pride.... Well, that wasn't true, the pridelands had become rather lazy in the past moons, but that didn't mean that anyone wanted to listen to his worries, even if he was of royal blood.... And it wasn't like he could actually discuss his family matters with some in the lands anyway, since they might go tell Koho and then she would definitely freak.
Kiso tried to focus on the question, even though it was a fairly simple on, "Kiso is fine." He seemed to almost spit it out in his attempt to process everything as quickly as possible. Then Bombei asked the question Kiso needed to hear, and the lion once again actually focused those amber eyes on the grey lion. "Uhh... yeah, actually, well, sort of...." Sighing once more and looking at the lion's posture, Kiso actually believed that he was willing to listen, which was disconcerting and helpful all at the same time. This was a stranger, and he would likely never see him again, so why not?
"Well, you see...." Racing through the events of the last few days, Kiso realized that none of it would make sense unless he started at the beginning. So he did, "My mother, Koho, is the half-sister to the late King of the pride lands," Kiso indicated the land behind him, since it seemed that Bombei was even a stranger to that, "And so she is royalty. There is another pride that lives in the desert," at which point he indicated off in the distance where grass gave way to sand, "Called the Firekin."
Pausing now, Kiso was working on remembering the stories he had been told as a cub, since he obviously hadn't been around to see what was going on before his parents met. "The Firekin and the Pridelanders are enemies, mostly because the Firekin are a hateful and malicious group of lions, and the Pridelanders are welcoming of all species. The Firekin will take anyone not of their royal blood and make them slaves, you see, or kill them...." Kiso paused once more to let that sink in, then looked at the lion to see if he had anything he wanted to say, or if he looked bored, in which case Kiso would make some excuse to leave. He seemed to be finally calming down though, for one thing his words weren't rapid fire anymore.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:52 pm
Bombei listened impassively to Kisongo's story, following his nods and gestures when needed, putting bits of the story together already. The fact that for a moment at least the other male had been talking in third person concerned him a bit...But it seemed to pass when he got his thoughts together, and Bombei was able to better relax.
So his mother was a part-royal and...his father was from another tribe, a forbidden romance across warring borders? He could understand why that would make tension. Especially if the Firekin were as bad as Kiso said (and Bombei imagined they were, as this was not the first time he'd heard about them.) Still, there must have been some good in at least one, to have taken a Pridelander mate...unless...well he'd not think on that path. Better not to wonder about acts of violence of that nature.
"And yet you were born. What made your mother go to the Firekin, or your father to the Pridelanders? And what caused them to...split?" He felt nosy asking, but given that Kiso was in fact outside the Prideland borders, and in such a state over going in for whatever reason, it made all signs point to some error or danger in the past that had caused him to either grow up out of his mother's lands, or otherwise feel anxious about residing there. "Or are they still well and together, and you are fretful for some other reason?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:00 pm
As Kiso watched the grey lion for a reaction, he was happily surprised that the other accepted his story and inquired further. He had been so worried to get hopeful of having someone to talk to just to have it dashed, but this lion really was listening... And helping Kiso keep the story organized. It was such a tangled web of interlocking stories, that Kiso couldn't be sure that a listener was following him if he just babbled on. It was really a strange story as well....
"My father, Mwali, came to the Pridelands to escape from the evils of his pride. He is not evil, you see, he is a very good lion, actually. He fell in love with my mother and eventually she accepted him as well, and she does love him now, very much. But there was trouble in the Firekin land, and Mwali was the second son in the royal line, so when his brother died, he was officially the King of the pride." At this point, what happened was only a guess to Kiso, since he had not accompanied the group that had gone to the Firekin lands, and he had not spoken to any who had returned. It was not a subject any in the pride felt justified in broaching.
"A group of lions went with Mwali to the Firekin lands, so that he could try to help his family and pride, my mother included in that group. I didn't go, I was just a cub. My mother never returned from that expedition, well, not until just recently. That group left many dry seasons ago, so my mother must have been living as a rogue all those seasons. My siblings and I grew up without parents, most of them left, I stayed in the Pride Lands in hopes of someone returning. Eventually my mother did come back, but she is very old now...." Kiso sighed, getting to the part of the story that was more difficult, and much much more confusing.
"Malik, my eldest brother, led the Firekin rebellion, splitting the pride into the evil lions and those of Firekin blood who are not evil. I have just come back from the border of his lands, which are adjacent to the traditional Firekin's lands. He told me that my father is now the King of the evil Firekin pride, and has turned evil himself.... My mother is still very much in love with him, and sent me out to try to find him. I'm afraid that the pain of this truth would break her...." Kiso had to stop at that moment, for the emotion that had built in him was choking off his vocal cords. He did not cry, at least not yet, but if he tried to speak his voice would crack, he knew it.... There was so much more to his worry, but it was less concrete, full of what ifs and dependent on so many other lions' actions.... It was too much for one lion to figure out really...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:45 pm
Bombei listened dutifully, nodding occasionally or grimacing, but not saying or doing much beyond that. It was indeed a sad story, especially to think of Kisogo's poor mother, waiting to hear, and knowing she could get only bad news.
"Are you sure he's become evil? Could not he be trying to lead a revolt from within, destroy the evil pride's power by becoming it?" He cocked his head, trying to think. Situations like this weren't unknown in mythology, but hearing about it happening in the real world, that was a different matter. Especially knowing there were lives at stake. Still, all he could do was think, listen, and perhaps offer some advice.
"I understand how you must feel rather torn over this...if your father was as good as you say, and now is evil, it will indeed be a crushing blow to your mother...but were I her, I would rather hear it from my son than find out later, or be left to forever wonder. Not telling her may hurt her more in the long run." Aside from that there wasn't much he could offer by way of advice. He remained seated, happy to listen more though, and at the sight of Kiso choking up he reached out, patting the fellow gently with one paw.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 2:22 pm
Kiso had gathered control of his emotions once more, and smiled weakly at the pat that Bombei had offered in sympathy. He was not a bad lion at all, perhaps even a possible friend, if he stuck around long enough. That was the trouble with befriending rogues, after all. They just up an leave one day without a backward glance. Some of Kiso's misgivings were likely because his mother had done just that, gone for more seasons than Kiso could remember, but that was not the matter at hand.
Shaking his head, Kiso sighed, "No, there already has been a rebellion, led by my brother, Malik. He fought our father in the battle that ensued, and our father hurt him badly. He led those with kind hearts to form a new pride outside of the Firekin lands, and my father stayed with those bloodthirsty rats...." Kisogo was a lion who was rarely angry, but all of a sudden he realized how good it felt to be angry at his father and blame him for the emotional pain that the entire family was going through. Mwali had been the one to leave his family for those Firekin cowards. "He leads the pride's evil ways. He mated with one of the Firekin lionesses and has a new family now!" The red lion was nearly shouting there was so much passion in his voice.
Those angry eyes had traveled to the Firekin lands off in the distance in his haste to blame his father, but now they lashed back to Bombei's sympathetic expression and mellowed once more. He nodded slightly, "You're right.... I know you're right.... I just.... I just don't want to hurt her at all...."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 10:27 pm
And of course, though Kis couldn't know it, Bombei planned only to stay a day in the area at most. His goal lay on the far side of the pridelands though, so should the red male wish to talk more he had only to circle the pride until he found him.
Bombei sighed his sympathies and bowed his head a ways. "A pity that he truly has gone that way." The mention of Mwali re-mating to a lioness of the 'evil' pride brought on a fresh wave of sympathy for the fellow before him. Abandoned, abused, and finally replaced...it was a great shame. And an outrage. It was good Kiso was showing his anger. Keeping it bottled up did no one good and him only harm.
Of course, he did still have to tell his mother. "I understand but...I wonder if you would like to let your mother go on thinking there is a chance Mwati will return to her? If he has taken a second mate, and has no intention of returning, isn't it better to hurt her, but give her the chance to find someone else? Otherwise, from what you've told me of her, I fear she would remain alone, waiting for a return that never comes."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:06 pm
Kisogo's emotions were starting to settle after his storytelling had finished. He realized as he thought about it, that he had never told such a story in its entirety before. For one thing it was just so long, and for another, since he had come back from the Firekin lands, he hadn't seen many lions who he would have a conversation with.... As Bombei spoke, Kiso simply nodding, there was little he could add to such a statement. Kiso was glad he had met this rogue, and even if he never saw him again, it would be all right. Even as Bombei spoke about the inevitable, Kiso knew what his actions would be. What the grey lion said was true, and Kiso's mother was not an idiot. She would know something was wrong whether the red lion returned or not. If Kisogo did not return, that would cause more trouble to Koho, since she would have lost her youngest son all over again. Kiso couldn't, wouldn't, let that happen.
Looking up once more, the lion's amber eyes connected with Bombei's. "I don't know how long she would wait, but I suspect you are correct. You are right on both scores, I must return to her." Sighing to himself, his eyes affixed on a point beyond the fluffy grey mane, somewhere inside the borders of the pride lands, where Koho waited in vain. It wouldn't be completely in vain though, since Kiso would return, he knew that now. The lion's expression changed, however, as he looked back to Bombei. Even though it had only been part of a day that he had known this lion, Kiso was remiss to leave him. There was some quality about him that was hard to find in the pride lands' lions. With that thought in mind, Kiso spoke again, "I'm sure you will be welcome to travel through the pride lands, and if you ever do, please look for me and my family, you are always welcome to share a meal with us."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:05 am
Bombei nodded and slumped a bit in relief when Kiso finally decided that he would return to his mother. That was right, that was what was needed. It was a pity the family was to remain broken, but better it was only split in two, and not three with Kiso's disappearance. He himself felt a slight resistance to leave...and he shook himself. It had been ages, years and years since he'd stayed in one place more than a day or two. Even the thought of wanting to settle someplace was unnerving. He'd spent so long roaming, thinking of stopping for good was simply strange. In a moment it was gone though, and his feet twinged, eager to move over the land again.
"Thank you for allowing me passage. I tend to wander around constantly, so knowing I'm welcome makes life a bit easier, a little less worrisome." He looked about, as if trying to get his bearings in the sea of grass and brush. "Do you maybe know the way to...well I'm not sure what they're called, but there's some hilly areas, and lions...small lions, with tattoos all over? I heard it's how they tell stories, and, being a storyteller, I wanted to meet them...but so far I'm having a hard time finding any trace of them. Any information would be wonderful."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 1:42 pm
Kisogo, now much calmed down, nodded welcome to the lion. A rogue, so it was unlikely Kiso would see him again, but he almost hoped that the grey lion would take Kiso's offer up at some point in the future. At the question, the red lion was quite remorse to have no helpful information, "Uh... I'm afraid I've seen no lions like that...." Indicating the Firekin lands, Kiso continued, "I've only ever journeyed between the pridelands and the firekin lands though, so it is completely possible that I simply haven't journeyed far enough from home to find them...." Shaking his head though, Kisogo gave a shrug, "But I have no idea where you might find them..."
He was sorry he couldn't help his new friend, but the description of the lions was something completely foreign to Kiso. He had never seen lions that tat-ooed themselves, what did that even mean anyway? It was a mystery that would remain, unfortunately, because the sun's position was telling the red lion that it was time to finish his journey home. His mother would be back from taking care of cubs during a hunt, and he had the best chance of finding her now before the meal started.... He just hoped that this long discussion had helped him find the right answer, he couldn't bear the thought of causing his mother worse harm...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
