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 Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:17 am
Blinking the sleep off her eyes the young lioness yawned. Looking to her left she saw the still sleeping form of her brother. It seemed she had awoken earlier than usual. Gingerly she got up, careful not to disturb her brother’s sleep. At the entrance to their makeshift den she stopped and took a deep breath of the fresh morning air. There was a certain undertone of rain that made her smile. It may rain today. It would be wonderful; the heat of the day was becoming unbearable.
A feeling in her stomach steered her thoughts in another direction. Maha was hungry. She looked back at the sleeping lion in the den. She was supposed to be his bodyguard of sorts during their time in the rogue lands. Would it be right to leave him on his own for even a short time? He was still sleeping too. But so was the rest of the savanna. It was too early and her stomach was rumbling. Making her decision Maha walked away planning to return as soon as possible, possibly with breakfast for both of them.
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:22 am
Another early bird was walking the savannah that morning. Klahan had even managed to catch a little snack for himself. Now belly full and well rested he intended to put a considerable distance behind his back today. He had been away from his home for so long it was becoming too painful to think about. More so with the possibility that his pride was no more. But he had to see for himself what had happened. Somehow he knew that the Mzawa had survived or at least a part of them. And he intended to return to them and help to rebuilt what the rogues had destroyed.
He walked with a determined stride and barely ever paused in his step. One of the things that made him stop for a few seconds were the dark clouds that were gathering fast on the horizon. Rain didn’t bother him much but that looked like a storm would be coming his way.
Not good.
He would have to find shelter if that was indeed the case. A low growl emitted from his throat. What a waste of time that would be.
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:26 am
Maha smiled victoriously and licked the blood off her maw. A large bird was lying at her paws. Those were a difficult prey and every time she succeeded in catching one it made her feel proud. She was never big on hunting, fighting was more like her cup of tea. Checking her surroundings for someone who might be foolish enough to try to take her prey Maha lifted the dead bird and quickly headed for the den where she had left her brother. She had wandered a considerable distance away and she knew it was high time she went back. But it was not to be so for a number of reasons.
The first made itself known with a bright flash of light followed by a deafening thunder. It made Maha wince. Rain I like, storms – not so much. She quickened her pace hoping to outrun the storm and be back at the den before it unleashed itself completely.
But as she emerged from a large bush she saw another thing that delayed her return. A large gray lion was standing a small distance away, eyes locked on the dark clouds that were approaching faster than she’d liked. He didn’t look happy. Maha decided that it would be a bad idea to bump into him and made to return to the cover that the bushes gave and go around him. However when she made the first step back she heard a loud crack. A pained expression came over her face as she cursed her luck. Stupid branch.
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:27 am
Klahan was thinking over his options. He could hide and wait out the storm or risk it and keep on walking. However it seemed like a pretty bad one and he preferred to return home a little later than desired rather than not return at all. He was just thinking how he would like to strangle the god that created storms when a loud cracking sound made his head snap to his left where he saw a dark lioness standing. She had been hunting as it seemed by the bird she was carrying in her jaws. She didn’t seem at all happy that he had noticed her. She was probably thinking that he was going to fight her or something. An amused smile appeared on his lips when that thought crossed his mind. Did he really look that threatening? Han certainly didn’t think so.
However he was not comfortable with someone thinking something like that about him. He was not a thief nor would he fight with a total stranger just because. He approached the young lioness with the intention of putting her fears to rest.
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:30 am
Maha’s heart jumped when the lion slowly turned and headed her way. No, no, no! She didn’t want any problems, not now. And that male was not just large. Now when he approached she saw he was friggin’ huge! She had to be on her best to even stand a chance against that guy.
Despite all that however Maha stood her ground, chin held high. She was not going to run, she wasn’t like that. The closer the lion came she got the feeling he wasn’t going to hurt her. His eyes showed kindness and slight amusement. And as he towered over her, the largest creature of lion origin that the spotted lioness had ever met, he somehow managed to look no more of a threat than a cub no bigger than her paw. What a weird guy.
Dropping the bird in front of her Maha looked him straight in the eyes and said in the calmest voice she could manage. “Hello. Can I help you?” It didn’t come out perfect, but it was good enough.
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:32 am
Klahan tilted his head as he came to a stop before the young lioness. He could smell a hint of fear about her. He really had scared her. And he also noticed how her eyes scanned his form, wide with amazement. It was a reaction that he caused every time he met someone for the first time. It was starting to tick him off to tell the truth. But he had not come over to tell her off for staring.
The way she spoke almost made him chuckle but he decided this wasn’t the smartest thing to do in the current situation. Laughing at her would only make matters worse. Instead he smiled as light-heartedly as he could. “Don’t worry, little one. I’m not going to hurt you.” He hoped she would believe him. He put as much sincerity in his voice as he could.
“I’m just passing trough. Are these lands your home?” Another thunder made him look at the storm clouds behind him. It had started to rain and the rain was intensifying quickly. “I think we should find some shelter. It seems like a pretty bad one is coming.” He said motioning with his head to the dark sky.
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:36 am
Not going to hurt me? He might actually be a good guy. Go figure. Maha felt relieved but tried to hide it. She knew he had probably noticed her fear but she still stifled her sigh of relief. She didn’t like his ‘little’ comment, she was considered a large Fighter girl back in her home, but made no comment about it. To him she probably seemed tiny in comparison to his large form.
“No.” She answered truthfully. His blue eyes held a lot of honesty. Maha felt she could trust the gray stranger. “My home is far away from here. I’m a traveler too. My name is Maha.” She smiled as she introduced herself. She didn’t know if he had heard her since right then he had looked away. “Oh…You are right.” It seemed her brother was going to have to wait out the storm on his own. “Well, I just passed a rather suitable place. Come, follow me.” She picked up her catch and entered the bushes again.
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:40 am
Klahan’s smile widened. It seemed she believed him. And she was a traveler too. No wonder she had gotten that scared, it sounded like she was away from home for the first time. She had probably thought these were his lands and that she would be caught trespassing.
“Okay, lead the way.” He followed her into the thick bushes she had come out from. “I’m Klahan by the way. Nice to meet you Maha.” He added, showing that he had heard her even if his focus hadn’t been on her at that particular moment. She seemed like a pleasant girl, now that her apprehensiveness was gone. Good since they were going to be stuck together for a good few hours.
“This really is a good place.” He told her when they finally reached the den Maha had passed by before. Well, more like yelled at her, the storm had gotten pretty wild by now. He waited for her to enter first and shook the water off his fur once inside. Han was pleased to see that there would be more than enough room for both of them. Otherwise he would have gotten a lot more wet.
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:43 am
“Likewise, Klahan.” Maha said. Or tried to say. With the bird in her mouth it sounded more like ‘Lahwus, Khuhun.’
She was very glad when she could finally enter the den, which was delightfully empty but still in pretty good shape. The previous owners must have left only recently. “Glad you like it.” She stretched out on the floor in her corner, getting comfortable for waiting the storm out. “Do you want some?” Maha motioned towards the bird. She wanted to eat her catch now, seeing no point in waiting several hours to share it with her brother. It wouldn’t be nearly as tasty and she couldn’t stand her empty stomach any longer.
“So…where are you traveling to? Do you have a family or something?”
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:48 am
Klahan chuckled at her attempt to talk with her mouth full. He laid down across from her and said he didn’t want any food. “I’ve already eaten.” He explained.
Klahan stared at her for several moments before deciding there was no harm in telling her where he was going. “I’m traveling back to the lands of my pride. We were attacked, you see, and I was forced to flee. I was gravely injured.” He went on telling her about the rogue group that had attacked his home lands. He told her how he had been cut off from the rest of the pride because he was returning from the rogue lands at the time the attack had happened. He couldn’t fight his way to the other warriors and in order to save his life and come back to fight another day he had to run. It had been hard to leave them.
“I don’t have any living blood relatives,” he said slowly “but I consider the whole pride my family. Do you understand?” He asked assuming that as a rogue the idea might be a bit far-fetched for her to understand.
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:51 am
“Suit yourself.” Maha said as she started plucking the feathers off before taking a bite. A leopard back home had taught her to do that. Before she ate the bird along with the feathers and everything and that was not very good for the stomach.
As she ate she listened to Klahan’s story intently. He had been trough a lot and she could see how much it pained him that he had had to abandon his pride. The scars that covered his body showed her just how close to death he had been. “You were lucky to survive.” She remarked, eyeing a particularly nasty one on his chest. “They left you in pretty bad shape, didn’t they?”
Maha chuckled at his question. “Of course I understand silly. I was also born in a pride. I know exactly what you mean.” She saw the question in his eyes so she elaborated. “I am on my Rite of Passage right now. I will return once I have completed the task given to me.” Once she had three valuable pieces of information she could head back home. Maybe he could help me with that.
“Your pride…Tell me more about it. It would be a good way to pass the time, don’t you think? And I’ll tell you about my homeland.” She suggested.
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:54 am
“Oh. Good.” Han felt a bit silly, but what else was he supposed to think. Thankfully Maha didn’t seem offended or anything.
“Yes, I was.” He nodded. “I was on the brink of death when a rogue lioness found me. She nursed me back to health and here I am. I would have never made it if it wasn’t for her.” He smiled as he thought back to his time spent with the kind female. He wished he could have repaid her somehow. But he was needed elsewhere.
“That is actually a very good idea.” Klahan smiled and began telling her about the Mzawa’kondo, the Warriors. About their beliefs and their Code of Honor. He talked for hours about his homeland and his place in the pride.
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:56 am
In turn Maha told him all about the Simbafutaji, the once traveling nomads who had found a place they belonged. She told it as a story with the skill she had inherited from her mother. Kamaria of course was much better at telling stories, but Maha also had a way with words. She talked a lot about the sea. She missed it so much, it was her favorite thing about the pride lands.
By the time she was finished the storm had reduced to a drizzle. “I think we can go now. My brother is waiting for me. He must be worried.” Maha went outside and lifted her head to meet the light drops of rain. She relished in the feeling for a moment before turning to Klahan. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Klahan of the Mzawa’kondo. I hope your tale ends well.” With that she turned and hurried across open savannah to Kobe.
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:59 am
Klahan followed Maha outside, though not as happy about the rain as she was. “It was a pleasure for me too.” Klahan smiled. “Thank you and good luck with your task as well.”
The large gray lion followed the spotted female as she disappeared amongst the tall long-grass. What an interesting creature. With that amused smile on his face again, Klahan started his long trek back home.
- End -
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