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 Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:09 pm
 The long shadows of the afternoon made the lion’s paw print look deep and huge. Vu crouched over the print, sniffing. His ears rose with a glowing smile. “Dad!”
How long had it been since his father’s last visit? Vu remembered the first time the enormous black lion came to his mother’s den with perfect clarity. Even then, Vu had been in awe of him. Weeks passed in brutal anticipation before he saw his father again. There was so much Vu wanted to say to him. He only managed a few breathless words before his father decided it was time to go, and so Vu was left sitting beside his mother and siblings, watching the hulking black lion lumber into the distance with a funny feeling in his tummy. In Vu’s young life, that funny feeling only came around once in a while. It was an uncomfortable feeling, an almost painful feeling, and he only felt it when his father had to leave. Vu was certain his father had important business to attend to. Why else would he be away so often when other cubs had their fathers around constantly?
When his father came around Vu’s world felt different. Lightning rushed through his blood. The world became a stage. When his father was around, Vu felt like a star. He wanted to shine for him, he wanted to burn. Today, for the first time, Vu would have his father all to himself. Today he would burn brighter than the brightest star and make his dad proud.
Vu hopped from one paw print to the next. They were so far apart that even if he stretched out his neck as far as it could stretch and straightened his tail out like the line of the horizon, he could have never touched two at the same time. His paw looked like a small furry animal trapped in the pit of his father’s paw print. Someday, Vu said to himself, someday I’ll be as big and strong as my dad!
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:18 pm
One moment and the future of strength in the Pridelands seemed to be assured, although that lioness spoke of some other male as well, some, Mrost creature, though her ramblings on that male he left for her to speak to herself. A guard, they were building a secret guard within the Pridelands to protect it, and for this Mrost, so Imara had said, a miniature army of soldiers that would be at his side at war. War, strength, pride, it was all important, especially to future warriors and warrioresses in these lands. His blood was strong, he was strong and should have been his mother's only child, ever, but things changed, but he was strong, in body, blood, mind, and Imara was as well, a fine match, for a mere moment, but then again, warriors were not meant to express emotions, no, that was for the weakest ones.
Ghilt was fairly large in size, his paws pressing into the earth as he walked and brought himself to a pool of water near some cicada trees that were turning brown and limp as the cut and gashes he created with his claws had done quite a deal of damage to the circulation of nutrients within the vegetation, but he didn't mind it. Stronger ones would grow where the weakest fell, yes, if you were strong you live, if your weak, you die, but that was why the Guard of the pridelands would be trained to protect the pride, although not everyone was or held the strength of Ghilt or Imara, or this Mrost lion, they had to be protected, his mother, had to be protected.
Ghilt had affection for his mother, not his siblings, his Imara, and not his children, his childn were tools to be shaped into weapons, and defenders, shaped into the Guard of the Pridelands.
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:34 pm
The fading sun washed its golden light over the giant lion’s pelt. His black fur shone like nothing Vu had ever seen (a warm, black flame?) and his white mane looked like a mantle of pure sunlight. Heart pounding against his ribs, Vu forced himself to slow and catch his breath and collect his thoughts. He hunkered down in the grass and watched his dark father drink. One thing was obvious: Vu had to make a big entrance. He had to be impressive.
Vu stalked through the grass toward the pool. He was not good at stalking. His impatience was his weakness and as he slunk he knocked aside pebbles, snapped twigs, and sometimes stepped too eagerly and bent the grass hard. While his tawny pelt gave him an advantage in the golden grass, he was too noisy and his pace too inconsistent for it to do him any good.
For the most part, Vu was unaware of his weaknesses as a hunter. Although his mother already warned him several times about being quieter when he stalked he lacked the humility to hear all the noise made by his paws.
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:50 pm
Ghilt was still musing over what he could do next to improve, though one might see him as perfect as how he was, there was always room for improvement, there was no perfect, if one was perfect, they would do nothing else to make themselves better, and that was lazy, lazy, lazy, no, he would become and do no such thing. Though his ears flicked and swiveled to listen to pebbles moving, grass being rustled by some small stalking form, or a prey beast wishing to make a quiet getaway, but no, this was something else, and he sighed, held back a frustrated growl and let his dual colored eyes look behind him, eyes narrowed, disappointment flickering in their deep colors reflecting in the sun.
"If you were stalking prey, if would be a mile away by now from you," he spoke aloud, not concerned if it wasn't part of his brood, any child doing such a thing had to be taught right from wrong, and no prey beast would come this close to a lion of his stature.
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 6:04 pm
Hearing his father’s voice, Vu popped his head above the grass line like a log popping to the surface of a lake. He looked around for a prey beast. Then suddenly Vu understood all at once what his father meant. His ears flicked back momentarily in embarrassment. He shook it off, wanting to appear strong in spite of his mistake, bounding through the grass enthusasticly toward his dad.
Every time he saw his father he seemed larger than the time before. On this day, his shadow seemed to reach for miles. Vu stopped short, smiling but a little intimidated. “Hi dad!”
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:15 pm
"I've already established you were here..." Ghilt stopped for a moment, trying to remember the few names Imara had told him, noting the pelt and eye color, Ghilt gave a half-hearted smile, "Vu," Gilt, through everything, only wanted to better the pride and how else to do it by having his strong blood fuel those of the future generation to become strong and protect? However, Ghilt did not, not want anything to do with the raising of children, he was cold, in that manner, and he accepted that fact every morning.
"What are you doing out here all alone? Training are you?" Ghilt sighed and circled the child, looking him up and down, Ghilt had done so much by this age, and he sighed, wondering what feet this child had achieved, if anything.
Cold, very cold.
"Imara," he did not refer to Imara as his mother per say, for that would mean him being called father, which every time Vu did, Ghilt winced on the inside, almost a grimace on his jaw, "Will be wondering what you have accomplished, and you have done nothing so far besides call me your father, which is appeasing only to yourself, to show weakness of emotions is a horrible way to start if you are going to become a warrior."
He flicked his tail, stopped circling Vu to stop before him, "Tell me, what prey have you been able to catch so far?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:31 pm
His father’s question stopped him in his tracks. He had been hoping to play a game with his father, like the other cubs did with their fathers, and here he was being asked what he had accomplished? Was it wrong for him to want his father to play with him?
No, Vu thought, feeling a weight on his heart. He felt disappointed and his voice almost cracked when he spoke. Sensing the weakness in his throat, he closed his mouth before he could make a sound and drew himself up, taking in a deep breath. But you’re a warrior, right Vu? Of course you are! You know that! And warriors never cry or get upset about stupid stuff like this. Come on, suck it up! Maybe when he sees how hard you’ve been working he’ll really want to play with you!
The thought that he could still earn his father’s approval comforted him. Controlling his voice, he replied, “Well, I caught a lizard one time. And I train really hard every day even when mom isn’t teaching us. And… um… I’ve been working on my roar. Do you wanna hear? I bet I can scare you!” He smiled a little nervously.
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:36 pm
A lizard? His...no, he would not call this cub his son, his offspring, perhaps, it was more technical, less paternal, yes, that would do fine in Ghilt's mind. Ghilt flicked his tail and watched his son with dual colored eyes and sighed again, watching him, inner turmoil? Good, he hoped for it at least to make this child become stronger with knowing that what he wanted could always be out of his grasp and he would have to work for it, earn it even, even from the lion who fathered his life.
"A lizard? Nothing else? No hares, mice, fish even? No swimming for you yet, do you know how to swim?" Ghilt quirked a brow, he knew Imara would be teaching them well, but now, he wondered, if Vu was taking more time on his own, and this angered Ghilt in his veins, "Have you not been at Imara's side, having her teach you everything, discipline," he muttered, this child needed discipline.
A roar?
This child...roar? Really now...
Ghilt stifled a laugh that wanted to erupt from his throat, "Show me then..."
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:54 pm
“I tried to catch hares and mice but… they’re really fast… a lot faster than me.” Then his father asked if he could swim. He started to nod, but then his father asked something else. He nodded again, quickly this time. “Of course I have! I just train by myself too. You know, in my free time….”
By now he had to force himself to look his father in the eyes. Once he loved the sight of those duel colored eyes, so strong and bright, but they seemed frightening to him now. His legs wanted to fold up and bring him closer to the ground. He shifted his weight to relieve the tension building in his shoulders. Mother told him to never show fear, but this was the first time he actually needed to put that into practice. Even though he felt very afraid that he’d said something wrong, he told himself to be brave and managed to stand up straight and not cower in front of his father. That was the important thing.
He licked his lips, taking his eyes off his father if only to draw strength from within. His father did seem to smile for a second. Maybe he really was starting to feel proud of him. Vu spread his legs as if bracing himself against the enormous force that was about to erupt from his throat, blowing back the grass and knocking branches from the trees.
“RRRRRRRRAAAAWWL!"
Well, the trees didn't fall over and the grass didn't blow. His father's mane didn't even rustle. But that was still pretty impressive for a cub, right?
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:59 pm
Ghilt watched Vu, and for a moment, felt less cold, but the warmth subsided. Vu was so young and naive and had so much to learn yet, if he was going to be a proper warrio, he would need to train harder, play less, and not be emotional, which meant that having close friends and getting too attached to others would be a dangerous thing, especially when battles and enemies could be involved.
"You have a long way to go," he told Vu simply, but the harsh and stinging tone of voice subsided for the moment, "A long way," Ghilt watched Vu, and for a moment, was saddened by how much the cub wanted him to be a father, and how Ghilt didn't want such a thing.
Life was strange that way.
"You will do well to pay attention to Imara, show her respect, show others respect and never let your guard down, ever, and do not do anything stupid, you understand Vu? I will not stand for it..." Ghilt turned from Vu then, his red-eyed son...offspring, and he glanced back with dual colored eyes, calm green and stinging gold, "When you want to learn more...you'll know where to go, for now...don't stop...or you'll become less of what you want to be..." Ghilt turned from him then, and walked away, no guilt or remorse hung in his heart.
Cold, cold licked his heart.
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:28 pm
Vu’s eyes widened and shimmered. That wasn’t good enough? But he’d done his best! He nodded in reply to his father’s advice, afraid to speak, afraid to even move while his father was looking at him. When the black lion – when his father finally disappeared into the growing darkness, Vu lowered his eyes, and very carefully sat on the ground. He took a big, deep breath. A small spot of pain clenched between his shoulders as if one of his siblings were biting him behind the neck. There was not much he could do about the pain. He didn’t want to think about that feeling. He sat there, alone with the cold, still air.
When his muscles eased and his eyes stung a little less he lifted up his head and saw the footprints of his father in the dirt. He lifted his paw and looked at it. Stupid. So stupid. He growled and swatted at the grass with his black claws. The stalks rustled but didn’t break. He snarled and raked his claws through them. The stalks halved part way and bent. Someday…
Someday.
Vu sniffled and looked at all the twinkling stars, the kings of the past. Someone once told him that his red eyes resembled the eyes of a fallen king. A powerful king, a hero. “I’m doing fine,” Vu said, to the stars. “I’ll make my dad proud.”
((End))
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