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 Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:14 pm
The chill creeping in was evident to all around, including the world-weary. Cubs cuddled in their dens to their mothers, brothers, sisters... Birds nestled down, chicks hidden by the feathers of their mothers. A heavy mist, a prelude to an impending storm, blanketed the evening land. Shivering under the tree they'd taken refuge under, Shin watched it all. He'd learned from a hare, one he'd seen with Kabichi's sister, that demons lived in the lands they skirted. Vampires were on another side, just waiting in the shadows. He'd not slept the whole time, afraid of what would come from the dark. Slowly, his eyes turned to the unburdened mind near by, sleeping peacefully depsite the dangers. In the distance, thunder rumbled.
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:16 pm
When she had smelled the Kusini'mwezi, the lioness had nearly gone there. But the young male, as dark as night, kept her from it. He wouldn't say why, but he didn't want her to go there. Further south, skirting between two deep and foreboding jungles, a new home waited. He told her it was safe. She didn't doubt him, she doubted nobody. Sitting up and yawning, the monochromatic lioness smiled. "Cubs wake up..." She looked around, blinking, then folded her ears back. No, no cubs... That was right, they'd grown up, hadn't they? She let out a dissapointed sound, slowly rising.
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:21 pm
Looking over, Shin stood up. "You're awake now...?" When the lioness nodded, he smiled, leading her along. "Come on, we have a way to go yet..." He didn't like passing so close to either pride. Every step, he'd felt eyes watching him... He'd felt HIS eyes watching him. In the dark of night, Shin had even heard him... He'd heard Toshiro, his father... The curse of his life. Glancing towards the home of the vampires, he swallowed. They had to get away from the danger, and soon.
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:26 pm
Humming to herself, Ishara pranced as best she could. A lame leg, though, stopped her from truly prancing, truly running. She couldn't do much more than walk, but there was still life in her. By human standards, she wasn't really all that old, but by lion standards, she was starting to get there. There were many who were far older, but even if she was... She didn't let it show. She had her lucid moments, when she spoke to Shin... She knew, deep in her muddled mind and heart, that he was the cub of one of her cubs. As they left the trees behind, she paused, smiling. "I hear you, cub!"
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:31 pm
Shin stopped, looking back. His eyes scanned the grasses and trees, just looking for some sign of a dark shadow. He saw nothing, though, no movement, no sign of his father. The black lion swallowed, then urged his grandmother on. "Come on, Grandma... We can't stay here... The cubs are calling..." It was a lie, sort of... He knew there were cubs there, or at least... One of HER cubs. He'd seen Shotonin leave with Mioyo, so he knew... The young lion had to be there, to make sure Ishara stayed safe.
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:32 pm
Giggling to herself, she followed after. Every step took them further away from the jungles of the more dangerous prides, and closer to... What? Where were they going again? She paused, considering this in her mind. Oh, yes, to the big red lion! Shin had said so! She paused again, looking around. Where were her cubs...? Where was little Hewa, little Shotonin? She frowned, sitting down. "I can't find my cubs!"
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:36 pm
He couldn't help cringing, stopping near Ishara. "Come on, Grandma... It's not safe here..." He looked one way, then the other. Demons on one side, vampires on the other... "They're big cubs now, they can take care of themselves.." He glanced at the trees again, quivering. Could they smell his fear?
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:41 pm
She tilted her head, looking at Shin. "Big cubs... Yes... That's right..." She stood, glancing again to the jungles. After a moment, she let out a single roar, one last call to her grown cubs. Green eyes, starting to mist over, blinked a few times. The tactic, if small, worked to keep tears at bay. One last look, and she turned away, starting southward.
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:44 pm
Shin, too, spared a glance back. From the jungle so full of dangerous vampires, a single roar he knew all too well answered. It challenged, it demanded, it downright made his skin crawl. Swallowing, the dark-haired male watched the trees. After a moment, he took a deep breath, letting out a long, loud, and surprisingly deep roar, conveying to his father a message of warning. Follow, and die. Tail flicking, he turned and urged the lioness foreward. "Lets go... Mioyo's waiting..."
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:48 pm
Her troubles quickly forgotten, Ishara smiled. "Okay..." The limp in her step was evident, though by now ignored by her. She'd lived with it so long now... The only grimaces, now and then, came as her skin pulled at old scars, left by hyenas and lions alike. The more distance traveled, though... The more comfortable she got.
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