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 Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:59 am
Most lions would never dream of taking on an adult wildebeast alone, even if it was already partially lame like this proud old male is. But then, most lions aren't Sakata.
After his enlightening meeting with Takatifu the Warleader had struck out in the direction of the herd the hunters had been following. He recalled the report from one Huntleader of an adult male who'd attacked the hunting party when they were about to bring down a younger wildebeast. More importantly, he recalled the part of the report where the party had injured the adult and then fled to avoid further injury themselves.
So now Sakata is hunkered down in the shade of an acacia, watching the injured wildebeast as he approaches the watering hole. The rest of the herd seems to have left him behind - he's clearly favouring the left hind leg - which makes the large prey animal a prime target.
When the wildebeast is in range Sakata makes his move, leaping from his hiding place. Long, powerful strides devour the distance between them, and an excited snarl escapes his throat when the wildebeast notices his presence - too late, it's too late. There's nowhere for the injured beast to run, and in moments the massive lion will be upon it.
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 9:12 am
Alas, poor Sakata had forgotten to look heavenward when he'd charged for the wildebeast. So thus, just as the warleader was about to jump on his prey, a small blue form tackled the male lion with force, almost as if said form had cannonballed at great speed from high up above.
"GOT YOU! TAG!" came the voice from the blue form that had tackled the male, whom turned out to be nothing other than a small, blue hued goddess with a bright, cheerful smile, "You're it! YOU'RE IT!" she proclaimed proudly as she clapped her paws. There must have been something hauntingly familiar to Sakata, no doubt, taken into account he'd only just recently been with Takatifu; both the pure and this goddess looked almost exactly alike, and while Tifu was calm and sweet, both lionesses shared the same shine in their eyes... a hint of insanity.
Another form descended from the sky then, this one much larger than the blue goddess, "Muhali... I've told you not to do that. It's rude," this goddess while almost as obnoxiously bright as Muhali, had a clear elegance that the smaller one lacked. Her eyes, rather than insanity, seemed to talk of the truths of the world, as if she'd been walking amongst the mortals for as long as the earth had been earth. Ageless wisdom radiated from her.
Letting out a small sight, Dili padded towards both lions, "Do forgive her, she gets excited at times," the goddess of Truth had recently left her young ones with her mate and had decided she needed a small trip to clear her mind. On her way, she'd met with her old friend, Irrationality and... well, things had derailed from there. They always did whenever Muhali was involved, it seemed.
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 9:54 am
The startled bleat of the wildebeast was echoed by a surprised grunt from the warleader - a grunt that turned into a snarl, and then quickly subsided when he saw what had just attacked him. Stifling the immediate urge to lunge and attack, to rip into her flesh, Sakata glares after the retreating prey animal. Clearly, the wildebeast was to blame.
"It?" he grumbles, torn between being furious, confused, and honoured at the situation, "Tag? I... oh." Comprehension dawns, then, along with recognition. This is the strange greater spirit who visited so long ago. Takatifu's mother. What was her name? The massive lion looks down at his paws, marking the difference in size between them and the smaller blue lioness, and debates the merits and risks of playing 'tag' with the spirit since that is clearly what she wants... and then the other descends.
Flustered by the presence of not just one, but two greater spirits, Sakata flops back on his haunches. Muhali, that was her name. But who is this other one? "No apologies are needed," he assures the goddess, while glancing warily at Muhali as if expecting another attack at any minute, "I was clearly not meant to complete that hunt." The oddly fatalist remark comes easily from his tongue, as if he's spent a lifetime trusting in the fact that things happen for a reason.
"I forget myself, sorry. I am called Sakata." The lion rises, dipping his head in a bow, "To what do I owe this honour, great spirits?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:09 am
"Awwwwwwwwww~~" the childish whined resounded the Savannah when the fact Sakata was not going to play became obvious. A mock glare was sent towards Audilifu, though Muhali seemed to refuse to descent from her 'prey' and merely lay her head down on the large lion, "You guys are no fun. The point of the game is to run. S'how it goes."
Another sigh was released by the larger goddess, whom took the liberty to step forward, "Well," her eyes trailed after the wildebeest, hooding over with premonition, "It's days are numbered," there was finality within the remark, as if the goddess knew. Then she turned back to Sakata, gracing the lion with a soft smile, "But where are our manners? My name is Audilifu. I rule the realm of Truth, and this..." she gestured towards Muhali whom had, apparently, grown bored of laying there and had taken to nibbling on Sakata's ear, much like a child would have, "Is Muhali. She rules the realm of Irrationality," her voice was deadpan, as if it gave a perfect reason as to why Muhali was like she was, "She's not always like this.... but this is better."
She'd, after all, seen the rare occasion when Muhali was brought down from the clouds of bliss.... it was not a pretty sight. In fact, it was a downright scary one, for it was from irrationality that insanity was born. While it was true Muhali usually swayed towards the greater good... it was from her realm that many killers were born.
"We were just passing by!" came Muhali's chirp, "I like this place," it was as simple as that. Apparently, anyhow, "It gives good vibes. I like vibes."
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:51 am
If anyone else in the pride were to come across this spectacle they would likely think they must be leaning towards insanity themselves - the proud Warleader with a strange, blue, winged lioness upon his back, nibbling at his ears. Unable to stop himself, his ears flick to and fro in a futile attempt to evade her teeth.
"We've met Muhali before, she graced my pride with her presence many seasons past." He nods at the introductions, giving his ears a short reprieve from Irrationality's teeth, and settles down again at a respectful distance from Truth. The revelation of Muhali's domain brings a small seed of dread to his belly, but he does not show it, and Audilifu... well, how could she be anything but a spirit of truth? That makes perfect sense.
"But I think this is the first time you've been to the lands of the Mizimu'Tungika, unless I am mistaken? You are welcome here, of course." Unbidden, a quiet growl escapes him when Muhali's teeth find his flesh and n** a little too hard. "Both of you. Although I'm afraid I'm a little old for games, Muhali. There are a few cubs back with the pride right now, if you wanted to visit them."
He pauses, tilting his head to the side. Oh, right. He'd killed her son recently. That's a liiiiittle awkward, perhaps, but if he doesn't mention it... "And your daughters would be pleased to see you, I'm sure."
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:37 am
The goddess of Truth arched a brow at the lion's words, a small ghost of a smile threatening to tug at her maw, "Did she now?" she turned to look at Muhali, whom lifted her head.
"I DUNNO!" came the happy chirp from the blue goddess.
Somehow, Dili was hardly surprised. That much was obvious by the way the pink lioness rolled her eyes at her companion's answer, "Ah well, it's probably Muhali can't even remember gracing these lands with her presence," a pause as she pondered, "I don't think she remembers what she did YESTERDAY, much less what she did moons ago."
"I was me!" came the eloquent response as Muhali finally released the Warleader's ears.
Again Dili let out a sigh, but waved her companion's responses away with a flick of a wrist. Turning back to Sakata, the goddess eyed him, almost as if evaluating him, "It is. I've never been to these lands. Not all appreciate my presence," her eyes narrowed a notch, and a hint of the true lioness laying under all the smiles and charm was visible; Dili had always seen herself a creature with dual nature. Truth could be good or bad. It just depended the situation, "My presence affects mortals. They can not lie when I am there," a small smirk showed over her features, "It's actually pretty amusing to play Truth or Dare with mortals," needless to say, she'd always gotten a kick out of such games.
Muhali seemed unfazed by the growl he'd offered, but crawled over the Warleader's head to look him in the eye. Upside down though. For a moment, the insanity seems gone from her eyes and something shines through it all; a keen intelligence, a hint of something else, but then it's gone, fogged, and the smile returns, "Yayyyy! Cubs!" a pause as she looked confused, "I have daughters? What daughters?" she gasped in shock, all the while upside down, "YAYYYYYYY Can I play with them then? Can I can I can I can I can I?"
Dili's ear twitched, the ghost of the smile finally playing on her, "She has kids?" she considered that for a moment, "Now that I'd like to see. Muhali, despite her usual attitude... is actually extremely powerful. I would not dare challenge her in battle."
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:51 am
"She has," he confirms, and then can't help but grin a little as he glances upwards to indicate the lioness on his back, "unless there are other striped blue great spirits among your kin, of course." Sakata seems to be relaxing a little, even if he is in his first real face-to-face meeting with a spirit. Two spirits. Oh, but he cannot help but be amused at the irony of his earlier question to Takatifu - 'how close to the spirits are you?' - when compared to his situation now.
"Unable to lie? I can see how that would bother some." Sakata replies blandly - clearly, he is not one of those who would be bothered by it. And the devious part of his nature can't help but think of how such a trait would be useful. Having this bright spirit nearby during a conflict with the Queen could be quite entertaining... and enlightening.
Muhali's movement and stare capture his full attention, then, and he squints when a glimpse of something more can be seen for a moment... but then it is gone, and her over-reaction (and forgetfulness) have startled him again. Struggling against the natural instinct to shake his head and throw her off, the effort it takes to control himself is evident in the tensing of his shoulders. But he remains still, moving only to offer a short nod in response.
"Two daughters... Takatifu, and her sister. Her name escapes me, but I'm sure they'd both be happy to meet you," he grins, those sharp fangs right in Muhali's face thanks to her awkward upside-down position, "and could possibly be convinced to play. They're both adults, now, and full members of the pride. Takatifu has even been chosen for our highest honour. You would be proud of her."
A quick wink answers Audilifu's comment about Irrationality's power - and the amount of restraint that Sakata has shown thus far shows just how much he respects it. While Truth is a mighty force, one who does not lie has little to fear... but Irrationality is another matter entirely. The happy-go-lucky spirit on his head could turn at any moment, and thus he is extremely wary of her power.
"Would you like me to take you to them?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:09 pm
"Muhali," the bright goddess had seen the way the poor male was struggling, even now, to not through the smaller lioness off, and thus decided to save him, "I think that's enough," that said, she reached forward with spread wings and grasped the petite goddess by the fluff of her neck, picking her up much like a mother would it's child, placing her on the ground, "I think Sakata is tired. You wouldn't want him to tire, would you? That's not how you play, is it?"
Muhali, now on the floor, seemed to ponder this for a moment, then looked up at her companion, "Can we play a game later then? With monsters and evil and good and a battle!" power crackled around her form for a moment, the shadows shifting momentarily as the goddess' smile turned almost manaical.
"Later, love. Later. Not here," she patted the smaller goddess, "We'll find the right... mortals to play that game with, later," it was obvious then that the two goddess were pretty used to 'teaming up' for such reasons, and that this was not the first time, or the last time, they would be out seeking to play some sort of 'game'. Indeed, they usually chose to teach lessons to those they deemed 'in need' of them.
With that, Irrationality seemed appeased and clapped her paws, "I'll go meet my daughters then! I didn't know I ha-" an insect chose that moment to fly past the goddess' eyes and she followed the creature's movements keenly, "OooOOooooOooOoh...."
"I think it might be enlightening to meet them now, yes," Adulifu winked back at the lion, "So long we're not imposing. Don't you think, 'Hali? Wouldn't you like to meet your daughters?"
"Mmmmm?" the insect had come and gone and Muhali turned back towards the other two lions present, a big smile on her face, "What daughters? I didn't know I had any daughters!" she gasped in shock once more, making it clear that... well, it was probable she'd forget all about Takatifu and her sister when the visit was over. But then again, that was Irrationality's nature.
Dili rolled her eyes again and made motion for Sakata to lead the way, "Believe me," she drawled, "You rather see her like this then when she's lucid."
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:02 pm
After Muhali has been safely removed Sakata takes a step back (to avoid being re-mounted) and settles back upon his haunches. And then he is promptly glad to have seated himself, upon seeing Irrationality's display. Only a startled widening of his eyes betrays the impact that little show had on him. As if he needed further warning of the spirits' power!
The interaction between the two is interesting, and it gives the Warleader time to think. Two great spirits, both 'just passing by' right after his fateful talk with Takatifu. One of those spirits is even her mother! Surely this must be a sign. While Sakata has never had personal interaction with the spirits (before today, at least) he has always lived his life as if they were guiding him. So far as he is concerned, the only thing that could support his chosen path more clearly is if one of these spirits suddenly turned to him and said 'you are right.'
"Somehow I don't doubt that at all," he nods, in complete agreement. And at the bright spirit's signal he rises, casting one last glance in the direction that the wildebeast fled, and then begins to lead the odd pair back to his pride. He'll have to send some hunters out after that injured animal, before some hyenas come and steal it away. Waste not, want not.
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:18 pm
It wasn't clear whether or not Muhali understood the situation, but she was easily guided, prompted by Dili, whom nudged her once. Sadly for Sakata, neither of these goddesses were mind readers. At least not fully anyhow, and while it was true they had 'just been passing by', Audilifu had always found that Muhali's actions were guided by something she could not fully understand.
The lithe goddess' had chosen today's path, and perhaps in doing so, had had a deeper intention than Truth cared to realise. Not like it mattered though... mortal pridal affairs were always deeply entertaining. Besides, Karma was, without a doubt, taking good care of her children while she was gone. She could afford to stick around for a day or two, in hopes of learning more about this pride. It deeply interested her that Sakata had not only been unafraid of them, but had readily accepted them with such ease. Usually mortals were skittish around her, but not this one.
It would be fun, to say the least.
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