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 Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 2:54 pm
 Lorelei was not used to seeing so many trees. She tip-toed over the uneven terrain, ears alert. They were walking into the territory of a strange pride – a pride of female warriors, no less. From rumors they had heard, the guards would treat female intruders with a degree of forgiveness however, they still needed to convince them that they were worthy of making the Amazon’s jungle their home.
“There’s another one!” Lorelei whispered, unable to contain her excitement as she bounded ahead, the herb pouch bouncing between her front legs. It was the last relic of the pride they’d left behind. Her object of interest was a yellow flower, seemingly ordinary in appearance, but Lorelei had heard tales of plants like this curing terrible diseases. She sniffed it gently, careful not to disturb the delicate petals.
These lands were rich with incredible herbs and flowers, some new to Lorelei. Most of those she recognized she only knew from legends and rumors and whether their properties were as mystical as the stories surrounding their existence, well, she would test to see.
Oh, but she should leave it alone. The pride might be angry if they found her stealing such a precious resource. She glanced over her shoulder, waiting patiently for her brightly colored grandmother to catch up.
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 1:20 pm
 From some ways behind Sao watched her granddaughter run hither and thither, poking at this that and the other thing. On a normal day she'd be right along side her, nosing about in the underbrush, but like it or not she wasn't that young anymore, and their long travels had winded her. Still, she was only a few yards behind the more lively female, and moved with an easy gait and her head held high.
She could understand Lorelei's interest in the plants growing here. So different from the ones at home. Some of these might have been of use to her once long ago, but the past was the past, and her interests had shifted to those plants specific to aiding pregnant mothers, their children, and their mates (though those drugs usually consisted of sedatives to keep them from having a fit themselves in nervousness.)
"I'm coming, I'm coming. You should probably stay close now, dear." She cleared her throat as she caught up to her dear granddaughter and pressed on. "Hello?" She called, voice twittering like a bird's. "If there's anyone about, we'd like to meet you! Come on out!"
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 1:08 am
Her curiousness turned more amiable, the red queen decided to stay back for a little bit, gliding through the undergrowth while she watched the pair, getting a feel for who they were and what they wanted here as they chatted and walked. It was sort of fascinating, really... Kiuma herself had never met her grandmother, and really hadn't had a fantastically close relationship with her mother while she was alive, so she could only understand the bond between the two from the mother's view, and what she knew was a good deal different than what she saw now.
They were loose... easy with each other. Kiuma's family was run on rules, discipline, pushing to be the best they could be, while still offering affection. This was so much... softer. It made her wonder now, if the daughters she had lost might have had cubs by now... or even if her sons had. What was it like, to be a grandmother? The red lioness kept pace easily, lost in her thoughts for a while before the blue female called out, startling her into stopping.
"You are a very bold pair, walking into strange territory without a care." She said from her shadowed hiding place, a slight step forward letting a shaft of light through the leaves outline her side.
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:27 pm
“Oh grandma,” Lorelei hissed teasingly. “I’m not a little girl anymore. Besides, I’m sure a pride of females wouldn’t jump out and attack us.” Her tone was playful, hiding her unease. The lessons of the rogue lands taught her to expect the unexpected especially from other lions. They were strangers in a strange land. Who knew what kind of strange customs a pride of females would hold? What if there was more to joining their pride than lacking a certain organ between her legs?
Suddenly a voice called to them from the shadows. An old voice, older than Sao and rougher, hardened by the burdens of a long, eventful life, yet powerful and wise. Lorelei stopped instantly and looked. She could only see the speaker’s outline. A beam of light cut through the dense canopy revealing a streak of crimson fur across the old one’s back.
Lorelei was not a fighter – not with claws, at least. For one thing, females in her pride were never taught how to defend themselves. In fact a female with the ability to fight was frowned upon and highly taboo. Even the huntresses, a group of females who were expected to dedicate themselves solely to the act of providing for the pride, as if their job rendered them incapable of caring for their young at the same time, or perhaps it would taint them, only knew enough to take down their prey, but not how to defend themselves in a fight against another lion. That was strictly male business. Being out in the rogue lands for a few weeks taught Lorelei enough to defend herself from hyenas and leopards who tried to challenge her for her meals. She wasn’t as confident as she pretended to be. Besides, physical fighting didn’t interest her as much as battles of logic and reason. So when Kiuma appeared it was only natural that Lorelei’s fur stood on end. She swallowed hard, convincing herself to take one step forward, showing her willingness to trust this stranger.
She would stand strong with diplomacy.
“We are not trespassers. We come in peace,” she said gingerly.
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Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 7:04 pm
Sao chuckled at her granddaughter's antics. "You know you'll always be a little girl to me. Why, I remember when I could have balanced you on my nose with room to spare!" She nosed at Lore comfortingly. Their time in the rogue lands had been hard indeed, but nothing the two hadn't had undue trouble with. They'd made it here after all, hadn't they? Surely they'd find a place here in these lands at last, free from prejudice against her dear Lore, and where she herself could reflect on her lost love in quiet peace, with no one hassling her to find another.
She slowed to a stop with a smile when the red lioness appeared. "My, you are rather large, aren't you?" She chuckled. "And fit too. I promise you we mean no trouble. In fact, if you're of the pride of this area then we're for the very opposite. Do calm down love, I'm sure she's got a heart big enough to match her size." she waved down Lore with a quick lick. She of course was wary, but it didn't do to show fear or worry with those you hoped to live with. If there was one thing she'd learned growing up in their old pride it as how to guard her emotions, and to appear how she felt she needed to for others' sakes.
"I'm Sao. This is my granddaughter, Lorelei. We've been wandering quite a while...if you don't mind, could you perhaps find us some water before we go on much more? I'm afraid my old bones are starting to get weak, and I could use a rest." She smiled cheerily to the red lioness, for all intents and purposes completely at ease.
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Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:09 pm
Kiuma quirked an eyebrow at the pair, rather surprised herself at what she'd found.
"My father was large." She said simply, wondering at the blue female's seeming nonchalance with someone who could be a potential threat to the safety of her and her granddaughter... "And fit comes with constant activity." The comment about her heart gave her slight pause. The red lioness had earned her name many times over and as far as she knew, no one had ever called her kind-hearted. There was something entirely odd about these two, but the Sao female was amusing, at the least. It did a lot to sooth her instinctive mistrust of anything new.
"Before I allow you to go farther, I would like to know your purpose here. We get visitors, but only rarely, and you were very obviously traveling with a destination in mind. Your gender is a benefit to you, but its hardly a guarantee that what you speak is truth." Stepping forward, she let the shadows fall away to reveal herself more fully. They had given their names, it was only fair she return the courtesy.
"My name is Kiuma."
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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 5:45 pm
Lorelei’s eyes widened as Kiuma came fully into view. The sight of her left no doubt in Lorelei’s mind: this was a warrior pride of a kind she had never seen before, a pride of strong females who walked with blood under their claws. Yet she knew, deep in her heart, that Sao was right about Kiuma. The red female looked at them with an open heart. She drew a deep breath and prepared to speak:
“We come from a pride where females are… not treated as equals.” In her excitement, she was not entirely sure how to explain. She and Sao were not treated badly by their mates, no, but they were oppressed by their pride. “My grandmother and I had always been out of place there, but we kept our beliefs secret, except to each other. We both had our own reasons for leaving but decided to travel together, because we’re family.
“I left because I could no longer pretend to agree with their ideals. Our pride punished anyone who did not follow their superstitious beliefs. I would have been killed if I ever spoke out as an atheist, which was shameful enough – to be forced to play along with their stupid ideas about God cursing females with the pain of childbirth, that our only purpose is to bare cubs and give them pleasure. But the real reason I left is that….” She hesitated, casting an uncertain glance at her aunt before turning back to Kiuma, eyes full of hope. “They believed that it was a mortal sin for a female to lie with another female. I have lain with another female and I do not think it is so, but for this my pride would also kill me, so I was double-damned.
“We’ve heard that your pride is accepting of many beliefs, Kiuma. I am not much of a warrior, but my knowledge of medicinal herbs is extensive. If you allow us to join your pride, I will make your best warriors even stronger, heal the sick and treat the injured. My grandmother can also guide your females through labor.” She hoped she had not said too much at once. She turned to Sao, assuming she would want to tell her own story.
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Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 8:47 am
Sao was content for a few moments to watch the interaction between the large female and her Lore. So far so good..."Kiuma," she repeated, getting the feel of the name. "A fitting name for someone so strong, I suppose." She trailed off as Lore began her tale. Occasionally she would nod or make some other noise of affirmation.
When her turn did come she shrugged. "It is as my granddaughter says. Our home pride was not the kindest to females. I hold no grudge against them, it was all they knew. Poor fools. Still, my life there was not too harsh. My father was kindly and indulgent. The mate I was given too was my dearest friend." She paused a moment, fond thoughts of the long-gone male distracting her. "Still, I chose to leave. Females cannot be without a male to own them, and when my dear fellow could not be saved I was left alone. My father had gone as well, so it fell to the council to...place me." She fumbled with the terms, trying to think how best to explain.
"I didn't want another male. They wouldn't let me keep my job, keep helping people without one though. Again, they were poor fools. When my Lore came to me and I learned what she'd gone through I decided to go away, and take her with me. I do not think the men of our pride thought females would be capable of leaving. They likely think we're dead by now." She smiled at the notion, and chuckled. "I can use the healer's arts as well, though I have not in many seasons. My skills lie in the dealings of mothers. Conception, carrying, birthing, and the care of the newborn are what I am good at now. If you'd have us we'd be more than happy to do what we can for you."
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 12:19 am
Kiuma found it both amusing and discomforting that the pair should so eagerly share their life story with someone they knew nothing about, though she'd indirectly linked herself with the reclusive pride they seemed to be searching for. Why share all this with a lowly scout, if that had been what she truly was, when you'd do better to tell it to someone who could do something about it?
Inwardly, the red lioness shrugged it off as another oddity of the two, stemming probably from the background they'd told her of.
"The pride of females that lives here would share your views, I think, and would accept you eagerly into their ranks. Still, I wonder what good it would do them if I showed you their den site..." She took on a thoughtful look, though she smirked to herself as she half-teased the pair. "What good are a pair that flee from trouble and hardship? With no males to care for the pride, life is not an easy one... who's to say you might not slip off the moment you find yourselves pressed to do things you've never done before, expected to carry more than your weight, and fight tooth and claw for the pride? We are no fair-weather friends, and we expect no less from those that wish to join us."
Hopefully, she would give them something to think about. Kiuma hated weakness, in herself more than anything, and in her pride as an extension of herself. She might give sanctuary to a female fleeing prosecution, but the life of an Amazon was not an easy one... Would that be enough to deter them, make them hesitate, or only make them more determined?
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 5:14 pm
“Are you suggesting that it was… easy for us to leave?” Lorelei exclaimed, struggling to control her indignation. She wanted to swipe at this female for even suggesting that their trials had been easy. Easy! Where should she begin?
“Do you think we had some male escort us the whole way? We’ve been traveling for weeks on our own and never once thought of turning back to that oppressive place. We’ve risked our lives to come here, haven’t we? Haven’t I risked death by lying with a female only – only to brave the wilderness as well?” She bristled in fury. “I may not be much of a warrior, but I can sure as hell fight tooth and claw for my dreams, if that’s what you want.”
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 7:30 am
Sao moved as if to speak, then blinked as Lorelei's words came exploding out. Part of her wanted to shush the dear girl, but the other part just let her run on. It was true, she thought. Leaving hadn't been an easy choice, and though the purple lioness was well in her prime and quite strong, her own old bones had slowed them down and made things a bit harder. She was still spry, but not that spry.
"We've more to offer than just claws and teeth, now dear do un-curl your lip, I know you're mad but snarling at her isn't the way to get your point across." She changed targets to her granddaughter and back again, "And what've your warrior when they're hurt? I for one might not be able to fight as well as you, but I do think you'd want someone able to put you back together again, right? And for me at least, I'm too old for this traveling business. Better to die here with my claws out than just roll over on the trail, or however you'd like me to phrase that." She smiled, the whiter fur of her face wrinkling a bit.
"I guess your question should be 'what would I lose by not taking them to the dens' rather than 'what would you gain'."
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 10:37 am
A fierce smile split Kiuma's face and she turned to face the pair, her face cut with slashes of black tattooing.
"That is what I'd hoped to hear, Sisters." She said with a rough huff of laughter. "That is what an Amazon would say. Stand strong, stand proud, and be willing to give it all for what you support. I think you two will fit in well here, if that's your attitude."
The queen turned back towards the dens, but her words floated back behind her. "You can go and choose a den in the cliff. Any one not taken you can have, or you can share the main den with whoever is there. Whatever skills you have, you can exercise here, though everyone is expected to take a turn patroling the borders. Look around, introduce yourselves. I'm sure I'll see you again soon." Kiuma didn't stop and drifted to the river, forging her way across to join her 'family' on the the other side, letting the pair come as they pleased.
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 4:43 pm
Lorelei growled softly under her breath and straightened her posture, looking rather militant. As Sao continued her eyes flickered over her paws briefly. Her grandmother managed to be much more to the point than she was when anger momentarily blinded her. The older lioness echoed her thoughts in far more clarity than she had expressed them. They had much to offer Kiuma’s pride.
When Kiuma seemed happy with their response Lorelei’s ears perked with excitement. As the older lioness walked off Lorelei turned to her grandmother and grinned ecstatically. They had made it. At long last, they were part of a pride again! She turned toward the river, “We won’t let you down, Kiuma!”
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 4:58 pm
Sao grinned back at the red lioness...the queen, from what she'd pieced together, and turned to regard her granddaughter with a hearty cackle. "We'll do our best, of course. And as for dens...well we'll see when we get there. Healers need a bit of room, so thank you for giving us our choice. Lorelei now dear, you don't worry about sharing with me. You go where you like, with whom you like. I don't think I'll be in the main den, you know."
She trotted after the red lion, a sight more energetic than she'd seemed a few moments before. "I told you it'd go just swimmingly dear! Swimmingly!" She chittered as she waded into the water with another laugh. Things were finally looking up.
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