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 Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 2:28 pm
He's nervous.
It's not like him, and it's certainly not a side of him that anyone else in the pride would ever see, but Sakata is nervous. She's been a lot more active than usual recently, and the slight ache in his shoulders stands as silent testimony to that fact. How many times has he had to fight to keep his position, now? Snarling and growling under his breath, the massive lion takes a swipe at a nearby rock to vent his rage. How dare she?! Nobody else in the pride is as fit to rule as he is, nobody. Yet she taunts him ceaselessly, and the spirits... oh, the spirits. According to her, they jabber on and on and on about how the pride needs change, the pride needs a strong ruler, the---
Biting off the end of another snarl, Sakata comes to an abrupt halt. He flops onto his haunches, forcing himself to calm. It wouldn't do to let the new pure see him like this, no.
It was easy enough for the warleader to slip away from the rest of the pride, since he has a habit of hunting alone. Tracking Takatifu down to tell her of the rendezvous location and time was a little more problematic, but he managed to do that as well. And now he's here, in the shadows of a rocky outcropping, waiting for the arrival of the new pure.
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 2:41 pm
Takatifu was silent. This, in itself, was not unusual, for the lioness could often time be found sitting down in a random field, looking off towards the distance, silent, seemingly listening. However, was was indeed unusual, was the fact her features betrayed a hint of frustration, perhaps sadness. Most of the members of the pride that were used to dealing with her knew her for her upbeat nature and the way she brought a bright, cheerful smile forth for all to see, no matter how grim the situation might be.
A frown covered her features, eyes narrowing somewhat as she padded towards the location Sakata had proposed for their encounter. She hadn't wanted to believe the nagging voice at the back of her mind, but somehow, recent turn of events only seemed to hint all the more at what she'd been suspecting for quite some time now.
As she reached the appointed outcropping, the Pure slowed her pace, eyes holding an almost serious tone to them as she found the warleader, "Sakata," she said, sitting herself before him. The seriousness was lost soon enough however, almost as if a mask had slipped on, "How might I do you of service?" it would just not do to show the world or anyone in it what was troubling her... for it was a serious matter indeed.
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:29 pm
Ah, she made it. The lion rises briefly to welcome her - and look beyond, to see if she was followed - and then settles down again. Situated as he is in the shadows, it would be easy for a casual observer to overlook him. And with Tifu's habit of staring into the distance, that makes this little encounter as innocuous as possible.
"Takatifu," he rumbles, "or should I say Pure instead? I'm not sure how you feel about formality." And then words fail him, briefly. Sakata has never been known for his verbosity. In fact, he's not known for anything but his brutal fighting ability and ability to lead. Most members of the pride - including the queen - think of him as little better than a mindless brute. But now he is here, with the new Pure, and he's faced with a dilemma. Can he afford to trust her? Can he afford not to?
But then Sakata has never been one for deliberating. He knows what he must do. So while he regards her, his gaze - which is normally so bland as to seem nearly vacant - suddenly becomes shrewd, calculating. A silhouette on the horizon captures his attention, and he looks away. "We have a serious matter to discuss today."
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:13 pm
Blinking, the lioness tilted her head to one side, almost as if briefly curious, or perhaps confused. She'd always been under the impression he was little more than a brute with no brains. However, the fact he'd called out for her and set up the meeting contradicted what she knew. It was as if the male had something in his mind that he wished to share, yet seemed hesitant to do so, "You may call me by name," she answered, curiosity nibbling at her still.
One would have thought that being faced by the one that had killed her brother not that long ago... would have set forth some sort of fury. However, either she was holding up a very good front, or she didn't particularly seem to care, "Go on," she encouraged him, the tone in her voice calm, almost sweet. Then again, Takatifu was known for being a gentle soul, "I'm listening," if the fact he'd called her out hadn't roused her curiosity enough, the spark of keen intelligence in his eyes sure as hell did. She wanted to know what was so important that needed them to be alone.
Specially seeing as how he was constantly on the look out, as if afraid someone would catch them talking. Or rather, not afraid, but concerned.
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:33 pm
"Mradi'eusi was a good Second," He states abruptly, glancing askance at the Pure to gauge her reaction. "and he would have been a good Warleader as well, if the spirits had truly called for a new leader."
And this is where Sakata skirts disaster. He pauses, squinting into the distance, and then turns to look directly into the smaller lioness' eyes. "But the spirits didn't call for a challenge. The Queen did." The reasons for that accusation remain unspoken, but Tifu would have had to be living with her head under a rock to be ignorant of the unending conflict between the Warleader and the Queen. Over the past year it seems like each changing of the season has brought a new challenge for the position of Warleader.
After allowing that blasphemous statement to sink in, he continues, his voice lowered as if he fears being overheard. "The last Pure, do you know why she was sacrificed?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:53 pm
His words were followed by a pause, during which the Pure's eyes hooded over, her expression becoming somewhat sombre as the mask she'd been wearing slipped, "Yes," she simply said. Her gaze, which had remain on the war leader, drifted off towards the horizon, "It was not his time," the statement could have meant a number of things, but given the conversation at hand and whom she was talking to, the message was clear.
I do not blame you.
When Takatifu's eyes returned to the male, the hint of sadness, bitterness even, was still there, but it was not directed at him, "Even though it was not his time, my brother died an honorable death. The spirits will welcome him," it was that thought that had kept her quiet since the incident, for while her brother was no longer with them, she knew he had secured himself a place amongst the spirits, "We do as we're told. We can not fight that," she was generalising, but it was clear she was talking about Sakata himself; he'd merely done what he had to do. She could not fault him for that.
The time for the challenge had been wrong.
Ah, but his last statement caught her by surprise. For a moment, the lioness very much resembled a confused cub, "Did the spirits not call for it?" after all, that was the role of the Pure. The Pure was meant to be the greatest offering the pride could serve for the spirits to take. To think that a Pure would be sacrificed for any other reason than the one that was meant to... was preposterous.
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 5:07 pm
Impassive and silent, the Warleader watches the play of emotions across her face. She's more complicated than he had given her credit for, he realizes. But then her brother had been a surprise as well, both in his loyalty and his abilities. He had fought well, and Sakata was honoured to have sent him to the spirits.
The youthful surprise that she can't suppress brings a little chuckle rumbling from deep within his chest, and he can't help but voice it. "Ah, I'm sorry Takatifu, I meant no offense," he relaxes his stance a little, finally trusting in the remote nature of this location to protect them, "it's just refreshing to see such innocence, forgive me."
And now, as if that little chuckle has opened the door behind which he locks away his emotions, the brute smirks.
"Tell me, Takatifu. If the spirits will call for a new Warleader at the Queen's behest, could they not do the same for the Pure?" But he does not give her a chance to answer that question, and instead adds another - seemingly unrelated - tidbit of information. "Your predecessor... she was very useful to me." And indeed, many within the pride knew of how close they were.
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 5:53 pm
Alas, no offense was taken. If anything, his chuckle only served to stress the confusion the lioness felt even further. Takatifu went as far as tilting her head comically to one side, as if the movement would help her grasp the logic of the situation. Rather than respond to him, the lioness remain silent, awaiting his explanation.
As his words washed over her, she found herself opening her mouth as if about to talk. when no sound came out, she snapped it shut again, only to repeat the process one more time before it sunk in.
Oh. Oooh... oh.
It was just like she'd thought then. Somehow, that only made everything that much worse though, and as the lioness turned her eyes at Sakata again, there was no surprise in them. Almost as if he'd only just confirmed what she'd known all along, "How dreadful..." not because the previous Pure had died, oh no, but rather, because her death had been a waste. A waste the pride could certainly not afford to indulge in, "Such a pity," she continued, shaking her head a bit, "Such a waste... but we do as we're told," she paused her, lifting her head once more to face him, "Or do we?" somehow, now that she'd spoken to him... she had the inkling of a notion he had something thought up. Not only that, but that he was much more intelligent than anyone really gave him credit for.
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 6:18 pm
Mirroring her movements, Sakata tilts his head a little to the other side. And he watches, while the connections are made and logic gaps are leaped. He watches, eyes narrowed ever so slightly, while the young spiritborn Pure lioness reacts in precisely the way he had been hoping for.
He chuffs gently, a quiet sigh of relief and resignation, and rises from his shadowed shelter to pad closer to the lioness. "We do," Sakata confirms, his voice a deep bass rumble, "but we do as the spirits tell us." A puff of dust is released into the air as he lowers himself to the ground, sprawling out lazily. With one extended claw he traces patterns in the dirt, tilting his head a little to look up at the Pure.
"Tell me, Takatifu. How close to the spirits do you feel? Do they speak clearly to you?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:39 am
Takatifu had always been a particularly strong seer, having visions almost on a daily basis. However, it hadn't yet driven her mad, for some reason. Or maybe it had, but it'd happened so long ago that there was no real change in her behavior. It was hard to tell, for though the lioness was eccentric, she'd always carried out her duties for the pride, and had never once driven anyone that had come to consult her, wrong. She was social, in her own strange way and pleasing to be around, but that might have been derived from the fact her mother was the Goddess of irrationality.
Muhali lived in pure, unadulterated bliss. Perhaps some small amount of that bliss had passed on down to her daughter in some way.
"They do," she said simply as she lowered herself down to join the lion, still a fair, comfortable, polite distance away from him, "The wall between us is thin. I can hear if I stop to listen. It never matters where. They always whisper. That's how I knew it was not my brother's time.... but I told no one," the reason she hadn't was obvious; for one, she'd thought that maybe she'd been wrong in the supposition (after all, the Queen was meant to be more attuned to the spirits' will), and for seconds... well, going against the Queen's words was simply not done.
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:51 am
Pleased to hear that answer, Sakata allows himself to share a small, secret smile. He nods, as if he'd expected that, and stops tracing patterns in the dirt for a brief moment so that he may speak seriously. "It is good that you told no one."
And then he sighs, turning his gaze away and folding his paws over each other. Heavy brows furrow in a pensive look, an expression that seems so unusual for the massive lion given his usually impassive (and almost vacant) facade. He remains silent for several moments, deep in thought, but this time the extended silence doesn't seem to be a symptom of a slow mind. Finally, he nods again. Once, curtly, confirming his chosen course of action.
"I am loyal," Sakata begins, his deep voice rumbling forth in a firm tone, "I am loyal to the will of the spirits. I have killed for them, and I will kill for them again. I will meet every challenge they ask of me, and when it is time I will be defeated by my successor." Then he pauses, narrowing his eyes. "I am loyal to the will of the spirits, but I find myself wondering if the will of the spirits is being... shared with the pride."
Unfortunately, this admission doesn't solve anything. He knows that all he's done is given voice to the doubts she's expressed, confirming that even the Warleader believes that the Queen may be manipulating the spirits words to suit her whims.
"And what is worse, I do not see a way for myself, alone, to change anything."
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 6:04 am
The mild sadness returned to her features as the Warleader spoke. As far as she knew, there was no way to change what was going on, even if what they thought was going on was.... really indeed happening. Voicing such a suspicion was simply not done. Not only because it was a sure call suicide, but because it was simply not correct to do so, "Ah," she said softly, "I wondered that myself, after my brother died. It is not his loss I mourn, but the fact we are losing valuable members needlessly," she looked off towards the distance then, the vacant expression she usually wore back in place, as if she were looking at something only she could see. Then again, maybe she was, "I find myself worried that when the time we do need those valuable members comes... we shall no longer have them. That will surely be disastrous."
Her eyes turned to Sakata then, and she repeated what he had said, "I am loyal to the will of the spirits. I am loyal to the pride. I will never question my role; I was born to perform it, and in time I will join the spirits once more, having fulfilled my role," she paused then, her head tilting almost innocently, childishly to one side in obvious curiosity, "Do you see a way of changing it if you are not alone?" because if he did... she honestly wanted to hear it, "I will aide you, so long it's for the good of the pride, and it is following the spirits' will. I will fulfill my role."
Having said that, she fell silent for a bit, her ears flicking left and right, as if listening to something or other before focusing back on Sakata, "What do you have in mind?" if anything, he'd won her over.
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 6:14 am
"Mmmm," he rumbles, flexing his claws as he stretches languidly upon the ground. This could not have gone any better for him, and it's very difficult to keep from seeming too outwardly pleased. Fortunately, Sakata has years of experience at his back - after all, the entire pride thinks he is a slow-witted fighting machine - so he presents a thoughtful expression to the Pure.
Moving with the casual grace of one who is innately familiar with the workings of his own body, Sakata rises from his sprawl and shakes himself to remove the bulk of the dirt that clung to his fur. "Knowing that I am no longer alone will give me... the freedom to think. To plan. And with you at my side, to share the true will of the spirits, we can find a solution." Quiet confidence rings in his voice, his gaze steady.
"I do not know what we will do, what we even can do, but I do know that our loyalty will not go unrewarded."
And now a note of caution enters his tone, and he lowers his head to speak seriously with the reclining lioness. "This must remain a secret. If she knows that you support me..." he trails off, leaving the rest unspoken, "I'm sure she expects that you will resent me for the death of your brother. The pride will expect it, as they will expect that I will distrust you."
Sakata grins, baring his fangs. "Let us give them what they expect."
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 6:58 am
Even as he stood, the Pure remain on the ground, watching him. It was no wonder the pride thought him to be a daft, fighting machine; the male was sly enough he'd been able to hide it. He was experienced, she could tell. While that knowledge should have unsettled her, she found herself instead, trusting him, if for no other reason than the fact she saw no real need to distrust him. There were no warnings from the whispers she constantly heard, and as such, no need for alarm.
At least for now.
Besides, it was almost fulfilling to know there was someone beside her that knew what was going on... that had suspected it for as long, if not longer than she had. There was comfort in the knowledge she was no longer alone, "We do what we do," she told him, and then finally stood up to join him, "We do what we must," she nodded along with his words. It seemed prudent to keep it a secret, "That, I can do," despite her innocent looks, she'd managed to keep the pride thinking she was a complete airhead and did not mind her brother's dead in the least.
When in truth... she had. She'd just kept quiet.
"I can give them what they want," she told him as she nodded, lowering her head to him in a sign of respect before turning around. Before walking off though, she paused, looking over her shoulder, "If you ever need insight on something, do not hesitate to come to me," and with those final words, she walked away, the same far away look still plastered on her face, as if the meeting she'd just had... had never even happened.
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 7:09 am
Perfect. It was almost perfect, and while that might have made any other lion fear that it was too perfect, Sakata sees this as a sign. The spirits themselves must be blessing this union, these early seeds of a plan.
Instead of filling him with elation, however, this knowledge throws a heavy burden over his shoulders. For a moment, the large Warleader looks... tired. It will be a long, hard road. But now he does not have to tread it alone. And in time, perhaps, others will join with them. Now that he has a compass, his own access to the spirits, he can begin to trust in more than himself and the spirits.
Her offer is welcome, and earns another rare smile. "You know where to find me if you need me," he rumbles, "and if I have need of you, I will find a way to arrange a meeting, like this one. Sakata dips his head in a mirrored show of respect - she is the Pure, after all - and then dons his usual blank facade.
Bright eyes watch as she departs, and then continue to stare into the distance. Only after a 'safe' period of time has passed does he emerge from the shadows of the rocks. But the Warleader does not return to the pride, not yet. It's time for a hunt, time to feel the last heartbeats of a preybeast subside within the clenching of his jaws. Time to do what he does best - fight, and kill.--fin--
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