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 Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:33 am
W/C 1,331
Hari hated her pride, but she didn't necessarily hate all prides. They had their charm, specifically in the way that she didn't have to hunt for her own food. Not that the joy of killing something weaker than you wasn't good for kicks every now and then, but it was more fun when you didn't have to do it.
She didn't expect Ohahira to do all the work here. --Okay, so maybe she had. The mouthy thing was more resistant than she'd expected. Her initial impression was that Uzulu had beaten her into crazy, but obedient beast that could double as a body guard and a servant.
Can't even do that right, Hari thought, rolling her eyes. She may have said it to herself if her mouth was not full of a gutted hare, dangling lifelessly from her jaws. The corpse plopped to the ground when the sound of battle first drifted into her ears.
What in the world...?
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:34 am
Ohahira had no interest in hunting for Hari. Had she been offered the chance to slaughter something, she'd have taken it. The thrill of the hunt was the only comfort she'd had in the Firekin, and often it still carried that trait. But Hari hadn't suggested she go kill something, she'd made a request to get her food. The other female refused solely on principle.
But the more she thought about it, the more agitated she became. Maybe she should have gone. There was that urge to strike something, anything, that she just couldn't shake. When her daughter showed up again, it was as if fate itself was going, 'Hey, hit this around.'
So she did.
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:35 am
Hari watched the scene with raised brows. No, this wasn't the sound of battle. This wasn't even a fight. That scrawny thing was getting punted back and forth like a pebble. Was she even trying to fight back? It was hard to tell from this angle, and Hari knew should she draw closer she risked getting caught up in the crossfire. Her new 'friend' didn't exactly keep the most aware of minds when she got worked up.
Still, she decided to at least attempt reason, calling over, "Ohahira, dearest, who are you maiming over there? What could that little thing have possibly done to you?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:36 am
The assumption Hahi would have struck Hari had she gotten too close was correct. Assuming she wouldn't hear something being yelled at her was not. She disregarded it for a time, not answering until Tanana was shoved far enough away her mother had to bound a few steps away to reach her. With such a distance she had enough time to offer a brief explanation: "Horrid child."
From then on, she was not so much talking to Hari as ranting for the sake of it. Her attacks began to favor her claws instead of her teeth. She snarled with heavy breaths shaking her body. "Spawn of that man! That lackey of Uzulu's! Forced on me! I hate them!"
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:37 am
Spawn of...
Wait. Was this one of their children? Hari inspected her closely. Yes, that had to be it, but she didn't favor her mother. Her appearance must have leaned toward her father. Whoever he was, she didn't really care. The space in between Ohahira and Tanana was one the former would never completely cross.
Just as she was about to strike the runt again, Hari slid in between the one-sided squabble, speaking loudly and clearly. If she was struck, she would handle it. If this wasn't going to distract her from the bloodshed, nothing would.
"I've caught Uzulu."
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:38 am
Ohahira would not have stopped for anything. She wouldn't stop striking Tanana even after she was dead. She wouldn't spare Hari, either, for daring to get in her way. She'd never had thought otherwise unless she had said that.
That name.
Uzulu.
Instead of leaving Hari with some nice scars to show off, her paw slammed into the ground, a low, meaningful growl rising from her throat. She uttered but one word: "Where?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:39 am
Hari smiled, quite pleased with herself. There was plenty of time to stroke her ego later. First things first. Impatience was something the two of them shared. "He's been captured by Mwokoti, trapped in a cave in the Mtaishi lands. I paid him a personal visit. He'll be weakened for quite a while, but he won't die on his own. I'd say we've got a good three days before he's in good enough shape to escape. I assume you'll be more than glad to help me with his welcoming party."
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:39 am
It was then Tanana made noise for the first time. Being beaten and tossed around, she had made not a sound. Even her breathing was soundless. Hearing the story, she could no longer remain silent, no matter what the risks were.
"You... You've caught Uzulu? Who are you?" The lioness wheezed and swayed on her feet, streaks of blood running down one of her eye too swelled to open anyway. The other was still wide open. She could see the resemblance, and whispered it to the wind, "You look just like her..."
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:40 am
"Not just like her," Hari corrected, sounding offended. For once, her tone was true; she really was offended. What bothered her most was probably that it wasn't exactly a false claim. Minus her eyes and some other, minor differences, Hari was the mirror image of her mother. Tch.
Carefully, she circled Tanana, a favorite move of hers when her plan was in work. She stopped beside the poor, poor dear, helping her up and allowing her to lean on her once she did so. "Yes, I do. I'm her daughter. Don't think badly of me. She wronged me as well. You see, some of the Gods gamble with our lives, use us as bargaining chips same as the Firekin used your family in trade. My mother lost a bet with the Goddess there, and she enslaved me as well. I was freed in the rebellion same as you."
For added effect, Hari sighed, as if recalling horrible memories. "I can give you revenge now against your captor, at least. And he has one of your siblings with him. Ure. We'll be leaving tomorrow morning."
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:41 am
Revenge? Against Uzulu? How could Tanana not consider it? But there was no way she could take him by herself. Did that mean this lioness was offering to aid her in combat? It wasn't very smart to trust someone who seemed so well aquainted with her mother, but...
Ure was with him? Ure was still with Uzulu?
That alone changed everything. It didn't matter who she was anymore. If it meant finding one of her siblings, getting a little closer to her goal, she would do it. "Fine, I'll help you. Once I tell my..." Tell her what? Tiruan? What was he? "...I'll return shortly."
That was good enough for now.
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:42 am
Hari wouldn't admit it, but sometimes the abrasive nature of her new cohort still took her by surprise. Sure, she was violent too, but not so mindlessly so. Had she been left to her own devices, Ohahira surely would have been killed soon. She was so lucky to have her. She just needed a little reminder of it.
The seer knocked her off with a swift kick. Her recovery was better than her awareness today. "Calm down, you nutcase. You're going to need her. You know you can't take this b*****d on your own. The two of you together should be fine."
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:44 am
This answer didn't soothe the angry lioness any. Ohahira growled again, then once more, pacing, pacing, pacing back and forth. This subject sent her spiraling into a state where it was hard to think; hard to even breathe. "Tanana, help. Ha. Useless thing. Why can't you help?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:45 am
To that, all Hari could do was grin. She stretched out, brushing her paw over the fur on her stomach.
"Because, Ohahira. We wouldn't want him to risk harming his own kin, now would we?"
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