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 Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 6:53 am
As the sun touched the brim of the sand dune, caressing the sand into brilliant golds and oranges, a feline lifted it's head from the sand, sleepily shaking, maw gaping into an incredibly yawn. Finar-si, in her guise as Karama, was waking to a new day.
She was back in all-too-familiar territory again, so she deemed the deception necessary - and useful. It was high time she check on her kin, and maybe even play around with the pride - or, if rumor is right, prides - again. An influx of new little seers in the pride should stir things up, and especially with that handsome mortal ... she licked her lips, bemused.
Not like she trusted any of her children ... but the last litter certainly had broken up the monotony in the pride. And who would have guessed what would have happened? So many changes ... she applauded her offspring at the same time that she had to damn them for it. Forget her, would they?
Well. She'd see about that.
The wine-red lioness stretched, then rose languidly, getting all the kinks of sleep out of her muscles before rolling down the sand dune. She'd have to find out who was currently leading the side who were supposedly still loyal to Her, and see if she could insinuate herself into the pride once more.
The new day found Kenna aware, laying quietly on top of a rock near the heart of her pride's territory. She hadn't been able to sleep that night; her mind was occupied with far too many questions. So many questions... and such few answers. As far as the Queen was concerned, the Safi were knee deep in trouble, and not even the fact she was now pregnant was making her happy. Her cubs.... her children, would be witness to the downfall of her pride. She was sure of it, and her recent dreams were not helping her mood.
Shifting slightly on her perch to aid the weight of her stomach, she gaze towards the horizon. The last thing she expected was to see a red pelted lioness approaching. A brow arched slightly, waiting for the feline to approach, bemused; she'd not seen this one before. Had she?
No. She hadn't. She knew all her pride members, and this approaching lioness was not from the Safi. From the Simo perhaps? She'd wait and see. The pelt was right; that's all that mattered as far as first glances went.
Movement catches her attention; despite being in a world where the dunes constantly shift and move, the movement of the living is so drastically out-of-place in the desert that Finar-si's attention is immediately directed toward Kenna. Her ears perk, warily, but she moves forward with a purposeful step, lightly jogging over the sand, still cool from the night.
As she gets closer, still watching Kenna, she realizes that this lioness isn't one she knows, either. Another stranger, like the lion had been ... damn, she didn't know her pride anymore. She wonders, briefly, if anyone of the previous generation - or was it two? - were still alive. Pity if they weren't, but it happened. She'd just have to take time to learn new names and personalities, which was always a bit of a pain. You couldn't tell what buttons to push if you just met someone ...
She gives a very old-fashioned nod, more of a bow, of greeting, purple eyes slyly eyeing the other as she does so. "Greetings to you, fire-sister," she says softly, lightly.
In her youth, it was possible Kenna would have been rude or offered a growl of disdain. But not now; she'd grown, and had slowly learnt that hostility was not always the way. Specially in such times of need, "Greetings," she drawled as she offered a mild nod back, though made no movement to get off the rock, for in all honesty, she was late in her pregnancy and shifting was already enough of a pain, "I do not know you," it was a blunt statement, though it actually, amusingly enough, held no real warning. For now, anyhow.
If this lioness was an old member coming back... well, it would help her pride's situation. New, pure blood was something rare these days. The pride's morals, rules and traditions were slowly being blown off over the sand. Things were going to have to change soon enough, but if she could grasp onto them, for the sake of others, for just a bit longer, the Queen was willing, "Are you returning home from a journey?" this was not rare, actually. She'd greeted more than one lost soul back into their small, tattered pride, "I'm afraid, if you are, that these lands and out pride have seen better days," the warning was issued forth though, just in case.
The lioness was heavily pregnant; idly, Finar-si wondered what line they were from.
"Not precisely a journey," she murmured, settling back graciously onto her hindquarters; not too close to the lioness, but she doubts she'll have too much trouble with Kenna in her current state. Still, it never hurt to be careful. "I am a priestess of Finar-si," she said, eyes narrowing as she watches the other for a reaction. If this other is a rebel ... well, Fin doesn't want to find that side at the moment anyway. But if she's traditional, then it would be useful to declare her own alliance early. "My name is Karama ... " See if there's a reaction to the name, as well. "I have been in the deeper recesses of the lands, living on my own in meditation. And yes, I realize," she says, with a faint smile of whimsy. "Finar-si has told me of the dark clouds shadowing the pride; and the hard times yet to come."
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Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 7:28 am
A graceful brow arches at Karama's claim; it's not the Kenna does not believe the other lioness, but rather, that she's slightly surprised by it. This was new. No one had ever claimed to be the Goddess' priestess before, "Are you now?" the words were drawled, but not mocking, indicating Kenna's interest, "I wonder," she murmured, "What Her will is. There are very few of us left that still admire her. Love her. And even those few are losing their faith," it had been heart breaking to see Ripuka lose her faith, and the queen still remembered practically seeing it die in the old lioness' eyes... the spark forever lost, "Times are changing."
The irony was great, she knew it was.
If anything, it was clear by now that Kenna was no rebel, and the fact Karama spoke of Finar-si made it obvious back that she was no rebel either. There was no reaction to Karama's name, except a mild narrowing of the Queen's eyes; it rang a bell... but sadly, that story had been kept from her, "I am Kenna. Queen of the True Firekin, Makadari's granddaughter."
A mild snort was released, but it was not directed at the priestess, "There is little to no ... more pure blood left. We're dieing, sister. Has Finar-si told you that? What would She have us do?" her eyes, red like her pelt looked off towards the horizon, "Meanwhile, the Rebels grow in numbers and strength."
She still wondered... had they made a mistake?
The wine-red lioness tosses her shoulder back into a slow shrug. "Our pride was getting too complacent; every once and awhile, the weak - in belief or strength - must be culled. Those who are truly devoted to Her will ride out the storm. It is for that same reason why Her pride is in the desert; it is a test of our own strength, both mental and physical. Other prides may live on the plains and in the grasslands, where food is abundant; but when times come hard, they fail. Our pride may be going through hard times, but it will rise again, stronger than ever." A flicker of an idea set in. Perhaps she could conveniently 'prophesize' that one of Kenna's own children, or one of another litter to be born, would become a warlord or lady, and retake the whole pride ... of course, she'd have to wait until the cubs were actually born, and pick a strong one. It would be interesting to see the pride plan around that, and so much more fun if this little war continued through generations, even if one of the prides had to leave the lands ... hmm. She'd have to keep that in mind.
"The Rebels will have their day," she added, darkly, a clouded expression settling on her brow. She would make her children pay for what they had done. Ingrateful things.
A brief flicker of surprise crossed her face at Kenna's introduction. "So I owe my loyalty to your grace, if you would have me," she said, easily. Definitely not a rebel ... and she also doesn't know who's mother 'Karama' is, which is helpful. "We are very distant cousins, then ... my great-grandfather was Makadari's grandfather." A very distant relation ... or supposedly. She was, in truth, related to all pure-bloods, but if Kenna thought she would be helpful in breeding, the lie was a good one to upload.
"I do not know yet. All She has given me are warnings, forebodings ... when Finar-si is ready, She will provide a solution. Waiting is never easy, your grace, but have patience. Perhaps She will talk to you yourself, if your faith is strong."
Her eyes shifted back to the priestess, narrowing a notch once more, "Indeed?" she considered the words spoken before her eyes closed, "That is easy to say, but the reality is still harsh. We can survive, but not for long," when her eyes reopened, they lay on Karama once more, "There is no more pure bloods for us to mate with. My children.. the next generation... they are all cousins to the other cubs in the pride. Tell me, Karama, what is Her word about that? How can that change?" it couldn't, really.
They would either have to conform and let rogues in, or die. Were they wrong? Where they REALLY wrong? Had they made a mistake? The queen was torn between her loyalties to her pride... her ideals, and the reality of the situation at hand.
So the lioness, was, indeed a pure blooded. Not only that, but family, and distant enough that if she were to breed within their lands, she would produce cubs that could mate with the current ones. It would help keep the pride alive for a generation further; perhaps time enough to think of some other, better way out of their problems, "Our kin is always welcome in our lands, so long they are strong, and still believe," a pause followed as she shifted her position so she could slink down from the rock and give the lioness a more formal greeting.
As the queen lowered herself down to the ground, the fact she was due any day now was obvious, "We do not have many slaves left, nor many members. It is merely me, my family, and a few others. But you are welcomed to stay. Specially if you are Her voice," after a moment, she turned to look away, "I had a dream once, that Finar-si would appear. But I am still waiting. Watching as the Rebels grow stronger... and we grow weaker. I hope, for our sake, that you are right."
There were that few left? She had known they were in poor straights, but she hadn't thought they were that badly off ... there was no way the pride could survive with just a few bloodlines. No wonder Kenna was concerned. As much as she considered the pride her own personal toy, Finar-si was reluctant to toss all these lives to the wind, and if the other side didn't believe in her, well ...
She bowed her head, as if agreeing with Keena's words. "I shall pray more, then, your grace. As I said, She has only given me warnings. Be strong, and have faith ... if things get bad enough, She will appear. It has happened, in our history." A pause. "It is said that seer blood is not uncommon in our kin ... perhaps your dream was a true one. Look to your pride as well as you may, your grace, and believe. A solution will arise, and you will live to see your children will rule over a magnificant pride once more ... I promise you."
Things would get better. She would see to it.
Another careful bow, and the soft hint of a smile touches the female's lips. "I will leave you to your rest, Queen Kenna, and I must greet the remaining true pride members, but I shall return."
The queen saw the other lioness' expression change; perhaps her visions had not told her just how dire the situation was? She hoped, with all her heart that they could find an answer to the problem in time. Sadly... time was something she was all too aware she lacked. They were seriously running out of time and out of options, "Faith," she told the priestess, "Is all that I have left," after all, she had done her job and was having a litter of cubs, albeit with slightly diluted blood. So long the cubs were born strong and of the right pelts though, perhaps there was still hope, "I can only hope," she said, "I can only hope," and she bowed her head once more at the priestess whom came with words of hope.
Hope was what Kenna needed at the current moment.
"Fair well, Karama," came the final good bye, and this said, the queen turned around to leave, no doubt heading towards her den and her mate. She did, indeed, need her rest.
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