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 Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:31 pm
Stepping into the sunlight, anybody could gasp in awe at the breathtaking beauty of the area. The way the dunes rose out of the grasses, the way the rocks jutted up, the gold hue of everything as the sun kissed the earth with its warming light. From the smallest animal up to the mighty lion, anybody could be brought to their knees at the sight of the desert edge territory.
As his paws splayed over the small mini-dune, Danzi inhaled the warm air of the desert's edge. Around his paws, there was a mixing of rock, sand, and grass, a blending of two different worlds. It somehow made him think of the rebels that had claimed the eastern desert, a blending of Firekin and carefully selected rogues.
While Firekin by blood he was not, his mind and seemingly his very spirit had become Firekin enough to crush the dune under his paw at the thought of the rebels. A shadow out of the corner of his eye motioned him towards a place he'd felt afraid to go to. Now, though... Seeing Ripuka, seeing how their children had grown... He wanted to meet Kenna, queen of the Motoujamii-Safi. Not as Danzi, but as Makaa'kali. In these lands, always Makaa'kali.
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 12:20 am
Ripuka wasn't nervous, not in the slightest.
She had believed from the beginning that her mate was Makaa'kali. Maybe it was her mind, riddled with madness from the painful life she had led. Either way, she had no doubts that the lion who walked at her side was a majestic Firekin.
He had the size, the colouring and the mind and she loved him. Dearly loved him. She couldn't imagine life without him, couldn't imagine a single day when she couldn't glance a look into his handsome face. Old, he'd said he was. She didn't see an old lion. She saw only a wise lion who hadn't buckled under pressure, who stood by the pride now even after their decline. He was proof that there was still hope in making a come back.
She drew closer and rubbed her side along him, hoping he'd take comfort from the contact. "Don't worry, Makaa." She spoke softly. "Lord Kimeti never minded your presence, what is to say that Queen Kenna will not?"
What would she do if Makaa was refused? Where did her future lie then? No, she shrugged the thought away. She couldn't think like that.
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:22 pm
Danzi couldn't help but smile, rubbing his forehead into Ripuka's shoulder. "Lord Kimeti was also pre-occupied. I don't thing Her Majesty Kenna has much to occupy her attention away from others who she's never met before." Then again, here he was going right to her.
As they neared what Danzi had found out from Jua to be the royal dens, the rust-orange lion looked about. He could see the evidence of the queen's residence there, as well as her brothers and sisters and parents. And the bits of blue fur here and there, nothing more than individual strands shed on their own time, told him even the queen's personal slave was there, too. Evidence was there, too, that the queen was there now, even in the absence of her family.
Remembering to keep his head high, but not higher than Kenna's might be, he stepped towards the dens.
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Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 7:48 am
"Well, you're hardly a stranger to me. Hopefully my unblemished reputation will hold you in good stead." She jested, buffeting her head up against his chin playfully.
Then, as they neared the den she moved ahead, moving surprisingly swift despite her prominent limp.
"Your Majesty?" She queried gently. "It is your loyal follower Ripuka and her mate Makaa come to speak with you, if we may."
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Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:44 pm
As it was, Danzi was right; Kenna did indeed have a bit more time in her paws than Kimeti had had the pleasure of ever obtaining, however, that did not mean she wasted a moment. When the queen wasn't pondering (it was extremely important to think of ways to get back the land she knew was hers and her kin's by legitimate right), she was hunting, or otherwise getting to know those few lions that were still loyal to the firekin ways. It was mildly upsetting how... their numbers had seemed to thin ever since the rebellion.
Kenna had taken to laying upon a random boulder within the darkness of her den; she'd sent Zap away, her mind in need of peace as she pondered away; but no solution to her current problem came. She'd been right about ready to get up in order to patrol the lands when a voice penetrated her thoughts, cutting through the fog of her mind. Brilliant red eyes gazed through the darkness of the den before she got up, her form moving to the mouth of the cave, enough so that the sun could illuminate her pelt.
"Makaa?" she had not yet met that one; such a thing was odd, after all, the queen was sure she'd counted all the members of her now shamefully small pride. There was no sneer within her words though, instead, she turned to look at the male, hooded gaze traveling up and down his form; the colors were right and Ripuka... was one of the oldest, most loyal followers of the kin of fire, "I do not... think I know you," she told the male, then turned to Ripuka herself, "Why is this? Was he gone on a hunting trip?" after a moment though, she seemed to dismiss this thought and rolled her shoulders into what might have seemed a small shrug, "You said you needed to talk to me?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 8:43 pm
Stepping forward, Danzi dared not to hesitate before the queen. "I am Makaa'kali. My parents left the lands when the plagues came, and I regret to say I was born away from our homelands. But it does not make me any less proud." He bowed his head, then looked back up. "I have made sure that our pride is still feared and held in awe" He bowed full-body. "I return home permanently to serve you, my queen."
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Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 5:36 am
Ripuka nodded and turned as her mate moved forwards to respond to Queen Kenna.
She smiled as she watched him, dazzling in colour, proud in heart. She was proud to be at his side, to stand as his mate when he could have chosen any other. She tipped her head in response and spoke then,
“He has been here a while, My Queen, even during Kimeti’s reign. But the King was so pressured by the pride and the traitorous actions of his own offspring that I did not have the courage to approach and take more of his time.”
She paused. “Makaa and I have two children, My Queen; Jua and Wakia. They are in adulthood now, both strong and wise. We wish to have another litter; to help with our numbers and to seal our relationship. That is why we seek you out, My Queen.”
She moved closer to her mate and bowed her head. “We seek full acceptance for Makaa’kali.”
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Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:13 am
The queen felt her lids hood over her eyes slightly, and for a long stretch of time, she merely regarded the male, as if concidering him, or his words. Or maybe she wasn't doing either of those things, for after all, the large red female, despite being strong and a dangerous foe... was not entirely... well upstairs. She was a bit mental, to say the least, not that that seemed to make ruling the pride any more difficult, for Kenna was efficient even in her mild insanity, "Hmmm..." her eyes closed and then reopened as she turned towards Ripuka, "I will take both your words. Yours specialy, Ripuka. My mother has told me about you, and I know not anyone more fiercely loyal than you. I will allow this. Both his oficial entry into our lands and kin, and the okay to your mating."
After all, numbers were numbers, and could very well help them gain back their lost land, "May the goddess bless you both and us in taking back what is rightfully ours."
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Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:18 am
Danzi-- No, Makaa'kali, bowed his head. "Thank you, my queen." When he looked up, his eyes held a fierce deterimination. "We will ensure that our cubs grow up to be strong warriors, and vanquish our foes." His tail curling, ears moving back, he closed his eyes for a moment. "And the traitorous snakes will be driven from our lands, their tails between their legs like cowardly, skulking hyenas." Looking to Ripuka, he smiled. "And they will carry in their hearts the pride of being Finar-si's children."
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Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:25 am
Ripuka wouldn't admit it, but she was nervous as she waited on the answer. She watched Kenna's expression, though not directly - for Ripuka would never look her Queen straight in the eye. Yet, despite being a rather observant lioness, she could not tell what Kenna was thinking.
Then the words came and Ripuka felt a whoosh of breath leave her lungs. "My Queen, I shall follow you and Finar-Si until I breathe my very last." She felt pride then, a pride awaken in her that had been forgotten since their defeat.
This was why she had remained loyal. She was respected and she was useful. What other pride would an old girl like her be, other than a nuisance. No. Here is where she belonged.
"Thank you, truly." She leaned gratefully against her mate. "My body is old, sometimes I feel I might be going mad. I know, however, that my time will soon be at an end in this world. Yet, whilst I am still alive and in good enough health, I wish to help the Firekin in any way I can."
She blinked her good eye slowly. "If there is ever anything you need, don't hesitate to ask it of our family. There is no royal blood in our veins - as you can see from our pelts - but we are honourable and loyal."
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Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:30 am
"Our bodies grow old, but no one will ever extinguish the fire in our souls. We will fight till we die. That is what I was taught, and that is what we will teach the world," she nodded at both lions then, and paused just briefly, "I am curious though.... Ripuka, Makaa, you mentioned you had children? Grown now, I suppose. Are they with us still?" she was not about to judge them if they weren't; the traitorous rebels had tainted so many good soul with lies... she was curious though, "I just wish for that what is ours rightfully. This place... it does not feel like home and it disgusts me to know were were pushed out against our will."
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Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:36 am
He smiled, proud of their children. "Yes, they are still here. Jua'taka and Wakia... They're busy hunting or patrolling, but they're here..." Or whatever else they did in their free time... It made him subconsciously wonder if either of them was planning on springing a surprise on them. Fighting was one thing, but to be surprised like that would be a whole other game. He mentally shook the thought from his head. "They should be ready, though, should any rebels come into our... Temporary lands."
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Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:49 am
The question dragged Ripuka back to the past, kicking and screaming. She loved her children.
All of them.
She listened to Makaa give their names and felt a pang in her heart for her middle-child; Azarax. The child who had saved her life, the child who she longed to love freely but could not. Ever since his birth Ripuka had been battling with maternal instincts. Madness, that had always underlined Ripuka's wisdom, had threatened to consume her. Yet she'd shoved it away for the sake of her remaining children, for the sake of her future.
No one could ever find out about him.
"Yes. As Makaa says, Wakia and Jua are with us now. I could not be more proud of them if I tried. They know all the traditions, our history, I saw to that myself. Wakia, as all boys, is off by himself now that he is grown, but Jua still comes to pay a visit every day. They have darker pelts than most of us, but our markings are imprinted on them. You'll know them when you see them."
She curled a lip. "The rebels are violating the lands meant for us. Leaving that place was leaving behind a part of my soul. We cannot let them get away with what they have done. Slaves, rogues, inferiors..." She shook her head, feeling that familiar anger returning.
And yet, her son...her son was there.
If they returned. If they attacked and won, what would happen to him?
"My Queen, do you have a plan to reclaim what is rightfully ours?"
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Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 11:36 am
While it was well hidden, Kenna was above all, a female, and something underlying... something just barely out of reach told her that not all had been said; maybe it'd been the shade within Ripuka's eyes, or perhaps just the way she'd answered. Whatever it was though, that had alerted the queen that something was missing, was not pursued, "Very well, that seems fine," despite her words, she did turn to look the older female in the eye, her own red colored ones narrowed for just a beat; perhaps... the old story teller would tell her the full story some day. Some day, but not now.
A sigh, a hiss of a sound escaping her lips, "I don't know. As much as it repulses me, they now have the advantage of number, and I can not send my kin into a suicide mission. The pride and our people's safety... their survival is above all, even if this land does not feel right. We'll figure something out in due time," her eyes strayed heavenward for a moment, narrowed, "Perhaps it's a lesson to be learnt. A task that the Goddess has sent forth. We shall prevail."
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Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 11:52 am
A growl escaped his throat, eyes narrow. "Their advantage won't be advantage for long. Their blood mixes with that of rogues. While our blood lines will stay pure and strong, theirs will become diluted and weak." Oh, the irony of HIM saying that...
He tilted his head, listening to some distant call. The wind gently tugged on his mane... But he ignored it, ignored the siren call of wandering paws. It was time for him to stay in one place. If he had his way... He'd be buried in the sand. A different call, that of his stomach, had him smiling. "I think it's about time to eat..." He bowed his head to Kenna. "Your majesty, it was a pleasure talking with you." He looked at Ripuka, smiling. "Shall we?"
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