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 Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 4:04 pm
She had been looking forward to seeing him, as she usually did, when she woke up to a terrible sight. In the distance loomed an ominous set of clouds and a gust of wind that turned her stomach. She had a bad feeling about that day, but the prospect of seeing him chased away all of her fears and she had been suddenly lightened by a giddy feeling in her stomach. Butterflies replaced the uncomfortable feeling previously occupying her stomach. Besides, how bad could the storm be? She'd seen many before, and none had been so horrible.
But as she set out to find that red and black male, she soon found that the winds blew stronger and the temperature changed noticeably. Looking up and around her, the lanky female soon realized that the storm was now closing in around her, and the foreboding feeling returned.
Cursing, she attempted to escape the storm. But it soon hit, fast and in full force. It raged all around her, skewing her sense of direction. Nevertheless, she refused to be beaten. She ran in one direction, but that felt wrong. She ran in a different direction. Not wanting to go in a circle and feeling herself become more and more frustrated, she finally chose a direction and simply went. But after the storm had passed, or after she had gotten out of it, she noticed that the lands around her were strange. She had never been here before. She didn't think she had gone so far, but some trick must have been played on her. Night was falling and she was lost, without him.
Every night Rin tossed and turned, seized by the same nightmare of that fateful day. Ever since then, she had been trying to find her way back, but no matter how far she traveled, she always seemed to be in strange lands. She was beginning to lose hope.
Today was a bad day for the lioness. Some days she was hopeful, some days she wasn't. Today was a day where hope seemed lost to her. She had recently made a kill and had her share, but the food never seemed satisfying. Her belly was full, but her spirit was empty. Sighing, she found shelter from the mid-day sun underneath a scraggly tree and plopped down, not caring about the dust that settled on her once immaculate fur.
"Duzi," she murmured, before sighing again and attempting to escape her troubles by napping.
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 1:59 pm
 
The onslaught of a new day had caused both father and daughter to venture deeper into the scarce plains, searching for something- anything that seemed edible. Summers scorching heat was beginning to rise and it didn't help much for either of the pair to have black dotting and streaked against their fur. It was uncomfortable and unfortunately shade was scarce but wasn't everything? Water had become even more precious while game was constantly on the move. It was dreadful! Flicking his tail as his body seemed to swagger through the tall grass, Mpinduzi exhaled deeply while paws carefully padded upon the ground.
Tracks. Antelope, perhaps? Deep, crimson orbs narrowed as he lowered his muzzle to the ground, breathing through his mouth as the scents soaked into his maw and nostrils. The trail was old, perhaps a day or two ago.
Damn it.
"Isn' much around now," he sighed, flicking his ears as he settled upon his haunches. "'Erds 'roun' here are on ta' move 'gain." They were behind a day or two and the thought of being so close only knotted Duzi's stomach. Had they not stopped and kept going they wouldn't have missed their opportunity and now- there was nothing to do but continue onwards. It was like a deceitful game of cat and mouse; relying on scents which often became illusive and well covered by the elements and crafty creatures throwing off other pursuers who were on the hunt as well. Those ballsy bastards, Duzi silently scorned. The competition always brought about an interesting turn of events and this happened to be one of them.
Grumbling in his throat while a fanged frown crossed his maw, the male rolled his eyes. "Bet it's those damn dogs 'gain." As his paws flexed unsheathed, restless claws into the dry soil below, Duzi glanced around. "C'mon, Kip. Lets 'ead out, 'kay?"
There was no answer.
"Kip? Kipaku?"
Little did he know that Kip's boredom had led her to allow her paws to wander, drawing her where curiosity was pulling her by her whiskers. While her father was in hot pursuit, the young juvenile had wandered to where a rather pathetic, scraggly tree stood- rocks and ground disheveled as the roots of the tree usurped the ground and its weakened, clustered branches offered little shade from the sweltering heat. But the shade seemed a temporary plus as something more appealing, sensational seemed to take hold of her nostrils.
Those mirror, crimson eyes of her father widened, perking her ears upward as her small frame slithered through the tall grass. Upon the light breeze wafted the scent of blood, flesh- something palette-able which would bring comfort to an empty stomach. A small smirk curled upon her maw as she crept closer while breathing deeply of the intoxicating, pleasant aroma. Food. It only took a moment to find it; a half eaten carcass of an antelope. Amused, she tiptoed closer. But amongst the savory smell of such a find there was something else that wafted heavily around the kill. Someone else was around. Her teeth clenched together as she lowered her head, ears flicking slightly. This was a risk, a ballsy risk! But being her fathers daughter, risks were always so inviting and rather exciting. And the opportunity to fill an empty stomach was a risk worth taking. If anything she was certain that her dad, good ol' Duzi, would give whoever tried to run her out a friendly conversation with paws and claws. The thought only caused her to grin, if only to smirk a little, as she slowly stepped forward to the carcass.
Without any reservations, the young female began to eat. Ravenously, actually. It seemed that manners had been far long forgotten or never instilled within her. But manners weren't necessary when one was attempting to pull a classic dine and dash.
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:20 pm
Well, she had hoped for a nap. But it seemed that the gods weren't giving her a rest and continued to throw every bad curve at her. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw his face. She remembered his charming smile, his amazing smell, the way he looked at her, the way they would always joke around and have such an amazing time together. She missed him sorely, and her thoughts and dreams never let her forget him.
Not only that, but it was so hot! With every day that passed, Rin felt her fur growing heavier and heavier, weighing her down and keeping in all the heat that she so desperately wanted to rid herself of. Even in the shade, the temperature of the mid-day sun was near unbearable. She could think of nothing better than simply falling asleep and never waking. For, without him, what life did she have? She was fully grown now. She had grown into her awkward legs and she had really blossomed. Where once she was a pretty thing, now she was beautiful, a true lioness. She had the lithe frame of a female, but the build and strength of a hunter. Living on her own had hardened her spirit and body, but it all came together in one graceful being.
Except for one thing: her eyes. Blue they still were, but they lacked the shine and the energy from the younger Rin, the Rin that had Duzi. Her loss chased the smile from her eyes, chased the happiness from her spirit.
Thinking of her life and how it had taken a turn from the worse, doubled with the fact that it was hot, the red lioness sighed and lifted her head from the ground. Her tail flicked around some dirt as she pushed her claws from their sheath. She couldn't stop thinking about him, but it always made her emotional. She felt a mixture of love, sorrow, and anger. Love for Duzi, sorrow for being separated, anger at the gods for doing this to her.
Figuring she'd better move on, she rolled to her paws and she took a moment to glance at her kill. She was about to ponder whether to feed some more, or to leave it, when she noticed a small figure tearing at it. Rin might have gone defensive if it hadn't been such a small thing. Narrowing her blue eyes, she noticed that it looked like a cub! Quickly she looked about. A cub that size wouldn't be alone. Instantly her fur bristled and her blood boiled hot within her veins. She was done with her kill, but it was her hunter's instinct to defend it.
"Kid," she said roughly. Her voice was a bit harsh from lack of use, and she could hardly recognize the sound. "What do you think you're doing?"
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:49 pm
Her mind was focused on her stomachs demand as her small maw crammed whatever she could in every bite and hastily swallowing. That wonderful taste and the sensation of feeling her stomach becoming more wholesome with each swallow was like a sensation of cloud nine, a euphoric happiness which had been missing from her everyday routine. Eating; it was a long lost enjoyed pastime which was all coming back to her now. Kipaku wasn't one who was stick thin as for someone her age she was rather filled out, muscular in build like her father. Duzi was always on the move, teaching her early on the lessons that life had taught him which had caught him off guard and left him at his weakest moments in life. If anything he was ensuring that his only daughter wouldn't be a damn fool, she would be well versed and educated in the ways of the world and life itself. Perhaps teaching her that life wasn't all that blissfully cheery would help solidify a strength within the young girl. Or, well, at least Duzi hoped it would. But it was at that very moment she had lost contact with her surroundings and became engrossed in the blessed find before her and it was just as she tore a rather large chunk of meat free from the kill that the small cub looked upwards and unexpectedly into the eyes of a lioness. Deep, crimson eyes widened slightly as the young female glanced left, then right, and before looking back towards the adult she greedily scarfed the meat she swindled and swallowed.
At the poised question, Kipaku blinked. What did she think she was doing? Trying to survive that's what! But surly that would be a response that would ensure that her hide would be left tanning in the scorching sun, right? Some individuals didn't have much of a tolerance for what they called 'sass' but, to Kip, it was simply wit and blatant honesty. The lioness's words still resounded in her mind, harsh, course perhaps if she hadn't encountered many or was simply pissed off. It was almost like te tone her dad carried when she often woke him up right before the sun rose! Such a thought only stirred a small chuckle before she straightened up, flicking her tail and stood on her paws.
"Eatin'. What's it look like, sheila?" Perhaps that wasn't the choicest of things to say but Kip often spoke whatever first popped into her mind. It was, truthfully, a rather bad habit she had acquired. "Shouldn' I ask you the same questi'n? Don't take it the wrong way but ya look like 'ell." Kipaku flicked her tail behind her in a casual manner, head tilting slightly as she shifted the weight from the pads of her feet to her toes. She was well aware that this could get rather ugly quite fast but remained in place, narrowing her eyes up towards the lioness's pools of somber blue.
"Ya' okay?"
The lack of answer on his daughters part only caused the male to become disgruntled, worried and fearing the worst. For a edgy, rough and rumble lion, Duzi was a rather compassionate father who attempted to try his best with taking care of his only daughter. Hell, imagining taking care of more than one wasn't as pleasant and seemed near impossible! Although in a way it amused him to see how much he saw himself embodied within Kipaku'penzi and seeing a similarity between them only infused their bond. Duzi wasn't the perfect Dad, he could openly admit that, but he was trying his damn best but it seemed Kip knew exactly what buttons to push and how to get her way. That scamp! Perhaps this was a curse- of all the torment he laid on his parents he was getting a double dose of it. Duzi only hoped that his daughter would be given the same 'blessing' when she began her own family.
Looking about as his head surfed over the tall grass, the male inhaled a deep breath as his nostrils sorted through the scents. From what he could tell she was close and it wasn't a moment later where two voices surfaced; Kip's and another, a stranger's voice.
The protective streak inside of him caused him to bristle slightly as he stalked through the grass quietly before coming to a vantage point. He tried to remain hidden at best while his eyes narrowed toward the scene unfolding. Kip was, obviously, being Kip while the lioness she was with seemed- familiar? For a moment Duzi furrowed his brows, lips pursing slightly as the cogs of his mind turned. Could it be? No. No. It wasn't. His mind had always played the same trick on him with an unceasing, sick humor. It had gotten to the point where he was starting to see his beloved simply wandering across the plains- often he would chase after her but, as always, her form would disappear before his eyes leaving him feeling obsolete and forlorn.
For now, the male remained secluded within the grass but, strangely, all the while a odd sensation tugged at him silently. Duzi shook his head, irritated, and watched. If any trouble did arise he would give this lioness hell- well, as much as he could at least. She already looked as if she'd been beaten by the elements one too many times.
It was a little scary.
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 3:08 pm
Rin stood, tail lashing from side to side. She wasn't very good with cubs. Actually, this was the first cub she had encountered since... well, most likely this was the first in her life, aside from when she was a cub herself. That was a long time ago, so long ago that she almost couldn't remember what it was like being that small. Her memories of her siblings and her parents were faded and fuzzy. But she was getting sidetracked and her vision was almost lost to her. Yet she recovered herself and focused once again on the small female in front of her.
And, looking at that small but seemingly tough and strong body, something in her mind clicked. She wrinkled her nose and sniffed in, but the wind was blowing the wrong direction. Even if it had been blowing towards her, she doubted she could have smelled the little thing. The stench from the kill would have overwhelmed any other scent around it.
The red lioness felt herself withdrawing back into her mind and her memories. Something about this red and black lioness in front of her tugged at her mind and wouldn't stop. She curled back her lip in frustration, which was originally for herself, but turned into annoyance as she heard the smart answer to her question. This one definitely had a quick tongue and not much respect for her elders. But there was something about her speech, something in the way she said her words. She had heard that before, but for some reason it simply wouldn't form a clear picture in her mind. What was wrong with her?
When she was told that she looked like hell, Rin snapped back into reality and her fur bristled all over again. "What did you say?" she rasped. Man, she really sounded horrible. Did she look horrible too? Like the kid said?
She looked around herself, but there wasn't any water around. Of course. Why did she even bother? She couldn't check her reflection, so she'd never know. The only thing she could do was trust this little stranger and take her word for it. She looked like hell. Sitting, she sighed and looked off to the side. The fight was nearly gone from her, so different from how she was before the storm hit and she was separated from her other half. Looking back at the cub, she noticed that Kip was looking at her, asking if she was okay.
She feigned a smile, but it soon faded. "I'm fine, kid. Take the kill if you want. I'm not hungry." She rose to her paws and was about to leave, but suddenly something clicked.
Blue eyes narrowed at the cub, then widened. She looked like... but it couldn't be. It was simply her imagination, playing tricks on her. She missed Duzi sorely, and was starting to see him in any creature she saw. It couldn't be. Simply couldn't be.
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 3:45 pm
Frustration, annoyance, Kipaku was sensing that the lioness before her wasn't in too tip-top shape. She felt bad, really. Of course it wasn't her problem but as she stood there and knitted her brows the young juvenile felt as if she reminded her of someone, someone of which she had little contact with- someone she hardly knew now. As her ears pinned back with a ruffled expression of guilt, Kip took a step forward.
"Didn' mean ta' ruffle ya' fur, miss. But somethin's not clickin' though- ya' don' look so good and yet ya don' want ta' eat?" For a moment she was silent, thinking as if she was struck with a realization, "That's jus' like m' Dad! He hasn' eaten since we left ta' Pridelands an can't stop thinkin' 'bout this sheila; a lioness o' whom he got separated from 'cause of some storm an' all o' ta' earf'quakes! He said she's beautiful, a spitfire that took afta' 'is own sarcastic, rowdy 'eart." She tilted her head slightly, peering up towards the lioness. "Ya' kinda' look like 'er o' at least from how he described her," she mused, ambling a bit closer as she clicked her tongue against the roof of her maw while weaving in between and around the older lioness's legs.
Before it had seemed as if it was simply another cruel joke not only put on for show by the Gods but by his own daughter as well. Duzi found his face to sink into one of his paws as he sighed, ears flattening against his skull as his chest tightened. Why did this persist? He felt choked for words, even a conscious thought as he only silently pleaded that the torment at paw would cease. The male glanced from behind the tall grass, watching for whatever would come of the situation- hoping that it would end abruptly. Duzi himself was tired, fatigued from the restless nights he endured and from the lack of food; whatever he came across his instincts, as well was logic, gave it to Kip so that she could grow without hindrance nor be short of full stature. Although there were times where there had been plenty for two it seemed as if Mpinduzi could never stomach food, it was unappetizing and left him feeling empty; pains from the past could not be satisfied, not even with nutrients that increased his strength, the will to go on. Even while his thoughts drawled on, Duzi couldn't so easily tear his restless stare away from the lioness before him. Again, was this torment soon to end? He grumbled as a gentle breeze caressed his face if only mocking him with faux affection.
Meanwhile Kip continued her survey. "Creamy fur, fiery reds, bluest fo'get-me-not eyes," she checked off aloud before scampering back to sit atop the kill, "ya definitely fit ta' description!"
Oh yes, of course a random lioness would happen to fit Rin's description. It seemed this was a hell of a new low for whatever deity was thoroughly enjoying this. The damn, ballsy, blaggers. His teeth ground together as he lowered his face into the ground, pressing it into the dirt. "Makeitstopmakeitstop," he mumbled, flicking his tail irritatedly from side to side. Even more irritated than before, Duzi inhaled a deep breath through his clenched jowls and nostrils but something seemed to strike more than a familiar chord, something felt as if it was awakened from a deep slumber. As his face remained pressed into the ground, Duzi knitted his brows as his mouth opened slightly.
That scent- that scent! Many times before he sweared he had caught a whiff of it drifting across the meandering breeze from time to time but this time, now, it seemed impossible. Why should he, of all times, believe his senses to be true? Hadn't he already gone through the pain time and time again? The mere thought of it caused a disgruntled, bitter expression to flash across his maw. Although there were certainly countless times of despair and letdown this, he felt, was different. Why? It was hard to explain but often the male didn't argue with a gut feeling such as the one which continued to twist and turn his stomach. Slowly, the male lifted his head up from the dirt, staring at the lioness before him.
Kip preened, grinning nearly from ear to ear as she stood atop the carcass. "You ju' haf'ta be-"
"Rin," another voice finished. Its tone was slightly gruff yet warm, it was a voice that seemed compassionate and wounded at the same time; silently pleading that this wasn't a dream nor some illusion cast by the sweltering heat of the African sun. Slowly, the dark red and black striped male rose from the tall grass, taking all but a single step forward. His posture was slightly tense, apprehensive even. Duzi's brows wrinkled slightly as his nostrils twitched and solemn, dull orbs of crimson sparked a flicker of life within a broken soul.
Kips maw dropped. Not only had her father been silently watching her this whole time but this was- no, this was the lioness of whom he had always talked about? Looking back and forth from the two, the young juvenile gaped.
"... You are pretty...."
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 4:03 pm
Rin felt the eyes of the younger female staring at her, looking her over, noting every detail and every stray strand of fur. She suddenly became self-conscious, suddenly aware of how long it had been since she had ever really cared to groom herself. She must look a mess, quite a sight for anyone who had been around clean, normal company lately.
As Kip took a step forward, so Rin took a step back, almost instinctively. She wasn't in the mood to be around anyone right now. All she wanted to do was disappear. If it wasn't Duzi, it wasn't worth the light of day. Yet there was something vaguely familiar in this cub, and she simply couldn't draw herself away. Something deep within her was telling her that if she walked away now, she would suffer worse pain and worse regret than before. And if she did, it would be all her fault, not the fault of the gods. So she stayed put, although her mind raged against itself in an attempt to come to an answer about why she was attracted to this cub.
"Well," she began, then cleared her throat. "I already ate." It didn't seem to help. Her voice was still rough. She probably looked and sounded more like a mane-less male than the female she was born as.
Then, as Kip began to describe how alike she was to her father, who got separated from a female by a storm, the red lioness nearly stopped breathing. Perhaps she was imagining it, but it suddenly all made sense. This cub in front of her reminded her so much of someone she lost so long ago, someone her heart had been yearning for, someone who had been haunting her dreams ever since the day they had been separated. And if indeed he was the father of this child, then that perhaps meant he had found someone else. She had been gone too long, and now it was too late. Her ears flattened against her skull in absolute submission. The gods had won over, and she had lost her love.
But, if that were so, then some things didn't make sense. Why would he tell his cub of her if he had found love in another? And by the way Kip was describing her, down to a tee, it sounded like a lover describing his one and only. Rin felt so lost and so confused.
She couldn't take it. It just couldn't be real. This was some trick being played, and she was talking to a mirage. It was the heat, getting to her. The lack of proper food and rest. Yes, that was it.
"You must be mistaken," she said softly, attempting to back away as the cub wound about her legs. "Please," she begged, "this isn't real."
Yet then she heard it. His voice, calling her name. It had been so long since she had heard it, but it was nearly unchanged. It was still the same deep, soothing sound that had comforted and wooed her so long ago. Ages ago, it felt like. She almost couldn't move, but somehow managed to turn her head towards him, blue eyes full of hurt and sorrow. But standing there, after so long, was the love of her life. He was there, standing in front of her. She could see him, hear him, feel his presence. She pleaded to the gods that this wouldn't be an illusion. She had suffered too much.
All she could do for a full minute was stare. It was almost as if she didn't believe he were really there, but suddenly something in her stirred, and she smiled. It was real this time, and her eyes began to recover their luster.
"Duzi," she whispered. Her legs felt like water, and she couldn't stand any longer. She tried to step forward, but sank down to the ground instead.
"It's really you. After so long... it's you."
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 4:52 pm
Staring at her Duzi felt as if his frame was soon to collapse, giving way to all of the downfalls and rushing emotions that plunged themselves into his veins. At that very moment he swore that his heart found its way into his chest as if to plead for her, screaming, weeping with true conviction- emotion that had been lost for so long yet had never been forgotten. He swallowed, trying to temper down the mixing emotions inside of him. Duzi wanted to speak, to say something but his tongue felt like a brick lodged within his maw while everything he wanted to say was spewing out of his brain at speeds that were too fast to convey with lips alone. Seeing here there in front of him only illuminated a genuine, tender smile to curl across his maw. He hadn't known how long he had been without seeing her, smelling her, touching her- but he was going to break that wretched, unbearable repetition which plagued him day to day. Today there was a break in the cycle- something had finally given and, at last, Duzi had found his lover. Inside of him his spirits kindled, creating an unseen blaze while his luster and moral shot skyward. Without hesitation after his deep, crimson orbs had soaked in her figure the male leaped forward and suddenly wrapped his paws around her, taking her into his grasp as their bodies seemed to fall down with the momentum. Duzi was gentle, careful not to be too reckless but at the same time his paws only begged him not to let go. There was a fear which resided with him, a fear which worried that such a thing could happen again- they could become separated from one another but he would be damned if he let that happen again! The heartbreak and unseen woulds that severed his heart were too much to bear and even so he feared that the hurt had yet to begin its healing process.
As his conscious mind only began to truly register that this was no dream, the male pressed his face into his mates fur. "I though' I lost ya'," he breathed, his breath trembling as he looked into her eyes shaking his head. "I kep' searchin' an' even though' that I'd neva' see ya' again but.. somehow I thin' one o' ta' Gods mus'ta 'ad given us some slack." He closed his eyes, brushing his muzzle against the side of her cheek. The heart inside of hs chest pitter-pattered like a birds whose wings were restored with flight- pounding against the cavity of his chest as he slowly opened his eyes, trying to savor the moment; a moment which Duzi had believed would never come.
"'M sorry, 'm sorry," for a male who was both sturdy and rather rugged as Duzi, he couldn't help but begin to weep. He wept for happiness but, at the same time, he wept because of guilt.
Embedded within his soul was a fierce loyalty, a devotion to the one of whom he had, at last, reunited with, and such a fierce loyalty that had became devastated from separation had faulted. The last thing he would do was hide it from her which was pointless- he had to tell her. With every passing day after he had left the Pridelands Duzi sought forgiveness for the route of stupidity he had chosen. He had been unfaithful and was a father- a father to cubs of whom he didn't quite know except for the one which had persistently followed him. It killed him inside to think that he had dreamed of that moment with Rin but, instead, he had shared it with a lioness of whom had captured a heart which he had no right to give. The large male shook his head before turning it away.
"I did somethun' stupid, Marra," he began. "Something that I wish I'd neva'-"
"Daddy?" A curious, small voice interrupted. Kipaku, for the moment, was slowly realizing that the lioness from her fathers stories were right in front of her. She was happy inside but, at the same time, had begun to understand how she came about. It must have seemed odd and very un-paternal for a father's daughter to understand how she was brought about but Kip had a level head on her shoulders- she was an individual who wanted the truth; fairy tales and happy endings were something that were surreal, something that could happen in everyday life but were saved for a few special moments. This, she knew, was one of them. "It's not ya' fault," she added, offering a slightly sheepish smile. "You always' said that it just... ya'know, happened?"
Duzi chuckled if only for a moment as he shook his head, biting his lower lip before he looked into the eyes of his lover. "I made a mistake wid' anotha' lioness," his tone was hushed in a whisper. "I was weak, I wasn' thinkin! I can't undo the pas' but I'm willin' ta' do whateva' it will take to gain back your trust an' not lose you again, Rin." The male pursed his lips, releasing his hold from the lioness as he stared into her eyes, perhaps searching for an answer and a reaction to what would no doubt be painful news. He had been a fool- a fool at a weak point of his life that needed something, someone. Rin had every right to hate him, to be ashamed for what he did but coming to rest with the possibility that she could reject him and turn away from him here and now was unsettling- it made him feel sick to his stomach.
"I fough' fo' ya' once Rin an' I swear I'll figh' fo' ya' again. Havin' ta' live this lon' withou' ya was near impossible and knowin' that I hav'ta spend the res' o' my life withou' ya' because of my stupidity is somethin' I can't life wif."
His chest ached, paws feeling as if weights had been strapped to them. The deep, crimson and black streaked male furrowed his brows and frowned, gritting his teeth.
"Say somethin'.... Rin. Please."
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 5:30 pm
This was the one moment she had hoped for, dreamed for. The figure haunting her dreams had now materialized right before her and she was so close to him. She was looking at him, smelling him, feeling him move closer and wrap himself around her. It was absolute bliss. In that moment, all of the world melted away and all that she knew was him. The only two beings in the entire universe were her and him, together and united once again. It felt so right, like a void had been filled within her. There was no such thing as sorrow, no such thing as loss or suffering. All that existed now was pure happiness.
And when he began talking, Rin simply melted into him. His words, his voice, it soothed her like nothing else could. She was at peace, and she felt like nothing could ever go wrong again. When she was with him, everything was good, everything was perfect. She couldn't keep her eyes from watering, and soon she was weeping softly, trying to stay strongn and tough for him, like she always had been.
But when he started weeping, she simply couldn't hold back. There was too much emotion in this reunion to keep it all locked away behind a mask of stone. She let herself break, and she nuzzled herself deeper into his fur. She bathed in his smell and felt her life as she knew it would end if she were separated from him again.
"I'm here Duzi. You don't need to search any longer, I'm here. I'll never leave you again. Those cursed gods! They'll never take you away from me again, I promise it." She felt the fire being rekindled within her. The fight was coming back, because now she had something to fight for. He had been taken away from her once before, and she would be damned if she let anything come between them again. This was her love, hers alone, and no one could ever take him from her again.
Yet then it came. The foreboding feeling Rin had felt when she finally realized who the cub resembled. She felt that bad feeling in her stomach, the gut wrenching feeling. It made her uneasy, and she sat back and waited for him to explain.
"Duzi, what--" But then she remembered his daughter. That little cub she'd found scavenging on her kill. Blue eyes turned to that small red lioness, and for a moment she felt scared. That wasn't her cub, but it was his. Something in that just felt wrong. They were supposed to have a family together. That was supposed to be their cub. Not just his. She felt lost again, somehow separated from him even though he was less than a foot away. A distance had just been created between them, and she didn't like it. He had lain with another female and they had created new creatures together. She felt betrayed in a way, somehow thrown out, like she wasn't good enough. He had a family somewhere, kids that were his. She simply couldn't stop going over it again and again in her mind. His kids.
For a long while she could only sit there, speechless, as the truth finally hit her. He said he would do anything to get her back and win her trust again, but right then her heart was wounded almost beyond repair. Not only had she lost him, but when she found him again she had to learn that he had found someone else to have a family with, when he was supposed to have a family with her.
It was all wrong.
She could only look at him. He begged her to say something, but what was there to say? She was hurt.
"I... don't know what to say, Duzi. I love you, but I'm hurt by what you did. You... you had cubs, Duzi. And they aren't mine. We were supposed to start a family!" Her eyes watered up all over again, but this time from the pain in her heart. It felt like someone had just clawed it out, and it was covered in dirt on the ground.
She pulled away from him, for once, and could only stand there, looking at him with those blue eyes.
"She was supposed to be ours."
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 6:37 pm
A genius didn't need to know that words couldn't, nor would they, come so easily. It was more than obvious that Rin was hurt while Duzi sat there his heart ached, solacing with grief for the things which he had done and the pains which he had caused on either side of the spectrum of Kimya and Rin. He swallowed as her words were not ill, bitter towards him but upset, depressed in the fact that he had fallen to a level which had brought disappointment to his mate. Such a thing only weighed him down, making the reality of it all harder to bear; Duzi was a good guy but when faced with a situation where he had no outlet for the emotions that were left with no outlet he had become weak- formidable by no standards as, with the situation, he had let himself fall into the paws of his own downfall, his own mistake. There was no one else to blame but himself. The only good that had come from it was his daughter, a support system that had helped him journey through the unbearable moments but, even so, he still wished that she was theirs, he and Rin's. A breath stifled from his maw, trembling from out of his nostrils as he found the strength to look back towards his lover, back into those pools of blue which only read deepest level of sadness. Duzi flicked his ears as he bit down upon his lower lip.
Hearing that she loved him was comforting but knowing that he had hurt her only brought about a swell of pain to him. Considering what had happened Duzi didn't expect her to forgive him, or completely forgive him, as the consequences of such action were beyond repair and couldn't be erased. His cubs were not Rins. They were Kimya's. Looking back now if he had only waited, if he hadn't let himself become susceptible to temptation the moment right now would have been completely different. But whose to say that the past would have still brought this moment to him? The factors and possibilities, along with their outcomes, were too much to even fathom at the moment.
Watching as her eyes welted with tears only stirred the darkened, gloomy feelings inside of him; the feelings where Duzi was sure that he was now the b*****d scum of all males to walk the earth- a lowly, disheartened heathen, the very type which the male despised. While his mates heart felt as if it was clawed out of her chest and thrown on the ground, riddled with dirt, Duzi was attempting to clean it off and put it back into her chest, reconnecting it with her dejected and forlorn body. Perhaps it would take time to connect heart and spirit with the lioness's tired and broken body but whatever it took Duzi would see to it- the undertaking would be his and he would put the fragmented pieces back together.
He wanted to speak, there was so much he wanted to say! Oh how he wished that they were theirs but he couldn't- it felt as if his tongue was immovable and his thoughts were disjointed. The cure to loneliness he sought was now filling its price- a price of which Duzi had never expected, or, had he known, wanted.
Silently Kipaku watched, looking from her father towards her fathers lover as deepen orbs of crimson glistened with the hint of tears that resisted to fall. They were fighting- she didn't like it at all.
I.. I jus' want this ta' work, somehow," the male softly spoke, his brows knitting together as a breath exhaled from out of his maw with a deep sigh. "I'll do whateva' it takes."
Seeing either of them unhappy was starting to make her upset and frustrated. Deep down there was a part of her that wanted a normal family- a mom and a dad just like other cubs had. She had thought she was so close until her father told the truth- a remarkable move in honesty yet it seemed to only move in the opposite direction. She frowned, almost gritting her tiny jowls together as she became more upset and frantically looked from Duzi to Rin, back and forth.
"I jus' wan' ta' know that somehow we can get through this...togetha'. I don' wanna do it withou' ya, Rin."
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 7:02 pm
It was a bittersweet moment for the heartbroken female. On the one paw, she felt herself completely elated at finally having been reunited with her love again. But on the other paw, she felt crushed at the news that he had started a family without her. He hadn't been able to wait for her, and he had fallen to the comforts and sweet nothings of another female, someone far off and clearly still not with him. He left her behind for one night to spend it with someone else, an action that cost both him and her dearly. He had taken one cub, but how many others were there? Rin didn't even want to think about how many lovely children he had created. Seeing one was enough.
Looking at that one child now, she could see the striking resemblance between father and daughter. They both had those same fiery eyes, the same red coat and black markings, although hers were spots and his were stripes. Yet that didn't stop them from being recognizable as family. She wondered if their cubs would look so beautiful, if they did end up having cubs together. Right now, she wasn't sure she quite wanted that anymore.
Never had she been more conflicted as right there. She had practically avoided contact with others of her species, but it seemed he had done quite the opposite. It reminded her how different they could be, but she also remembered how alike they were. How they would always play fight and be such balls of spitfire towards each other. Their sarcastic humor and unique ways of just being themselves around each other. She remembered why she fell in love with him, and that was the one thing that made her keep faith in him. He had made a mistake, one she might not be able to forget so easily, but if she knew one thing for certain it was that she didn't want to lose him. She couldn't lose him, not again.
Watching him, the hurt still in her eyes, she slowly nodded. "I'm not saying this can be fixed any time soon, but I do want to work through it. Together, with you. And I know you've made some mistakes, were feeling lonely, whatever the case may be... but I also know that you stick to your word, and that you will do what it takes to make things right again."
Her blue eyes flitted towards his daughter again. Something pained her every time she looked at Kip, but she was already learning to deal. It would be a long road, but she would travel it together with Duzi and... his daughter.
"You don't have to do it alone, Duzi. I love you, and I'm staying with you. The hurt and wounds will heal, and we'll get through it together."
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 8:34 pm
A day that he only prayed would come had and with it brought rejoicing as well as its share of sorrows. The aches and sleepless nights wondering, searching had finally come to this moment- a moment which Duzi still could never fully prepare for. This reunion of lost souls, former lovers, seemed to bring rise to old feelings and the mismatched placement of time and what each of the lovers had done with it. From Rin's appearance, and from her past attitude and personality, Duzi only imagined that her hell bent determination hadn't distracted her from looking for him. And what had he done? Quite the opposite. He was ashamed of himself, of what he had done, but unfortunately there was no Deity or being who could undo the past. The large red and black male remained uncertain of what was to happen, as to what would become of this. Would Rin even want a family with him? Duzi's ears flattened against his skull while he subconsciously bit down upon his lower lip.
He didn't know.
That pain, that sign of hurt that laid trapped within her eyes continued to seize at his heart- gripping it in such a way that not even the right words could soothe such an ache. The only remedy he knew of was time and perseverance; Duzi would have to win her trust back, prove himself in all things, and ways, possible. Before he had fought tooth and nail for her to give him the time of day and, now, it would be he who would vie for attention, struggling to clear his name and the slate which dragged behind him entwined within the past. Come hell or high water, he'd do it all if it meant he could stay with her.
Looking back, Duzi knitted his brows as his head slowly nodded, ears flattened somewhat against his skull. "I don' think it can be fix'd any time soon, Marra," he commented, entwined with his term of endearment. "As much as I wish it could I thin' it's a long road 'head o' us." His tone was soft, contemplative while his accent laced each word with appreciation for her as well as an awareness to what exactly the road ahead would entail.
From looking between the two, Kip straightened up as her ears flicked- watching the two as her fiery orbs glanced over toward the lioness from time to time. Everything that her father had told her was true and even with standing before Rin Kipaku had a small wonderment as well as a curiosity that pertained to who exactly this 'Rin' was. Duzi had always spoken so highly of her and told stories that were exciting as well as contentious concerning both male and female. There was a part of her that was hesitant although another part of her that was anticipating that the best had yet to come; perhaps with Rin around things would change for the better. Being a tomboy, the young female did somewhat fret over having to share time with her father with the other lioness but she was certain, sooner or later, she'd get use to it. If Rin was anything like her father had said then she was certain that within time she'd be wrestling and roughhousing with both Duzi and Rin.
Somehow it will all work out, Kip assured herself silently.
Rin's gentle, kind words brought him some relief. He felt as if he could breathe just a bit easier and a weight, one of many, was lifted from off of his chest. Duzi took a step forward as the distance between he and his lover closed and swayed his tail downward as it searched out and entwined itself around that of the lioness's. A humble, thrumming purr emitted from his chest as he nuzzled into the ruff of her neck.
"I love ya', Rin. 'M gonna do whateva' it takes... I swear it. Than'ya for.. not givin' up on me, Marra."
His chest tightened as he buried his head within her fur, eyes closed as he leaned against her. The wounds, in time, would heal but the real journey and test of devotion and love between the two was only beginning.
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