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 Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:04 am
 Blinking into the hot rays of the sun, Uddhava hunkered down in the golden grasses, hoping beyond anything else that it covered him enough not to be noticed. The world was so big. So different. So...scary! Nothing could have prepared him for the expanse of the land, the varied terrains and the numbers of different animals that walked here.
In the desert there were lions - of course - the odd lizard and snake and of course, the rare herds that passed by. But here there were colourful birds, wildebeast, other cats that varied in shape and size. And the colours of their pelts!
No wonder he'd been told he'd fit in out here. Here, in this land, there were lions who were not just black, red and white. They were yellow - like him - and some were brighter even than that!
It was still scary, though, and that was why he was hiding, for the scents of lions in this area was strong and he wasn't prepared to move until it was night and he could slip away unseen.
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:35 am
 The decision to leave the Pridelands had not been an easy one for her grandmother, what with six little cubs to consider being in tow, but when Amavasi, her granddaughter, agreed to travel with them to find new lands to call home that choice became easier.
Amavasi was watching the cubs, Kimya had set out to hunt. She blended in a little better with her brown tawny colors and black spots than Amavasi did with her black coat and blacker spots, at least in these pale grasses. So many little mouths to feed! Hopefully though, they'd find a place to call home again soon, and thankfully they weren't so far out from the Pridelands, yet, that hunting was difficult. In fact, the only reason that Kimya was stopping now was because she thought she scented someone. She paused, not too far from Uddhava, but upwind, and took a sniff
Was someone else out here on the hunt...?
"..."
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:38 am
Oh no! Someone was there! This was NOT good. Not good at all. What if she looked over? What if she could smell him? What if she was mean and tried to scratch him? He'd have to try and fight back, but what if he couldn't? What if got beat up bad by a girl?
He groaned and then clapped a paw over his mouth.
To look at him, you would never guess that he was a Firekin. The only trace of his heritage was in the few strands of red in his mane. Other than that, he was a runt, yellow and...totally NOT a warrior.
He stirred and tried to creep backwards, away from the lioness and into safety. Sadly, somewhere behind him a bird had been looking for worms and now it had seen the lion and had taken flight, shrieking in fear.
Uddhava stopped dead. Heart pounding. This was bad...really bad.
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:46 am
Kimya might have worried, if not for all the obvious signs that whoever was "stalking" and skulking about, wasn't very good at it. If the intention was to scare her then the groan certainly ruined those chances, and if the intent was to take her by surprise then the startled bird shot those odds too. Kimya calmly turned her head in that direction, an action that might have seemed creepy to the one trying so desperately to hide, yet there was no malice in her movements, no tension.
"Is someone out there?"
Her nose told her that this one was grown, and male. She'd encountered her fair share of timid males, so the concept was hardly new to her. Still, to try to make him feel at ease she didn't approach outright, but smiled softly and tried the truth instead, maybe if he could see her he'd see she was being earnest.
"... Don't worry, I don't plan to hurt you, I just couldn't help but notice you here and wondered if I was intruding on someone's territory... I'm only looking to feed my little ones, and they certainly don't fancy the taste of lion..."
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:48 am
Should he trust her?
Well...her voice sounded kind and she didn't appear angry or upset by him being here. Clearly, it wasn't her territory either, else she wouldn't ask if it was his.
He drew in a shaky breath, and after taking the moment to calm himself, he stood very, very slowly and blinked across at her, seeming more cub than adult at that moment.
"Um...sorry." He blundered. "I...I didn't mean to keep you from your...hunting." His ears dipped sheepishly and he lowered his vibrant-green eyes, fearing he might anger her. "I'll...I can go." He continued quickly, taking another step back.
His ancestors would be turning in their graves.
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:54 am
Ah, there he was, her phantom audience. Kimya smiled as she turned vivid blue eyes onto him, a gentle purr starting to rumble in her chest-- Well, a lion's purr anyway. She felt motherly towards any lost soul that crossed her path, in spite of all her previous experiences with rogues using, abusing, and/or leaving her. They all had their reasons, and as she at least had the blessing of parenthood to show for each encounter she couldn't bring herself to be resentful or distrusting. Had that not been her just a few short years ago, after all?
"There's no need for that, please... Don't feel put out on my account. I'm Kimya'ukilia, and you, rogue-brother?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:57 am
"Oh. Um. I'm Uddhava." He always felt a tug at his heart when he introduced himself. He had waited a long time for his name, yearning for it. Longing for it. And then, his mother had given to him his name, just before she had passed away.
With it brought much joy and much sadness.
"Actually...I wonder if you could help me. I'm a little lost." He looked back at his paws, embarrassed. "I sort of blundered across the land without much thought to where I'm going but now...now I'm thinking I should...should find a home." He continued hurriedly.
"And...well...there seems to be more lions around here, from what I can tell..."
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:04 am
"It's quite alright. You look as if you could use a bite to eat yourself, maybe you'd like to accompany me and we can discuss your quest along the way? As to your question... well, that depends... there are many... many different prides in this land, some lions cohabitate with other species, others are harsh warriors..."
Somehow she couldn't quite see him fitting in with the Firekin though, and not to mention his coat was more that of a Prideland gold. Kimya canted her head to one side, for it reminded her of one of her older daughters, and that made her feel even more motherly towards him. How long had he been alone she wondered?
"What type of home do you think you'd like to find?" She inquired, drawing closer casually, trying to keep her movements calm and well measured so that he wouldn't startle.
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:08 am
He smiled a little, nodding and slowly stepping towards her. He kept his distnace, though, and waited to follow her on her way, his eyes flicking between her and the horizon. He wasn't sure whether he would midn living with other species. It was a different idea, but one that he wasn't completely set against.
He tended to be open-minded about things like that.
However, the idea of moving into a warrior pride was scary and laughable. No. He was not a warrior, and though he asumed most prides did have guards to protect their lands, he wanted a non-combatant role so that he wouldn't shame himself for a second time.
"I...I come from a desert." He spoke up softly. "So...someplace hot would be nice. Someplace...someplace where the land has gold beneath your feet. But...but I'm not sure if another place like that exists...so, maybe someplace small...tucked away. Peaceful." He looked up at her and flicked an ear nervously.
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:24 am
Kimya considered this as she moved to set the pace, able to tell for herself that he needed to be led rather than to lead. Motherhood had taught her that skill but otherwise this would have been a strange concept for her, to be leading anyone around. Her mind churned over the conversations she'd had with Mosi, Ayato, and Tai, three friends she'd made in the Pridelands. They all had stories of various places... especially Tai, who had traveled so much.
"Small and tucked away... I know of a jungle that's said to house a secluded pride going by the name of the 'Unity Walkers'... but if it's a desert that you seek, perhaps the Dawn Walkers instead. They're a desert pride, someone was just in the Pridelands not all that long ago, seeking recruits to return to bring new life into the lands there."
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:27 am
His ears picked up.
So she might have some suggestions? He daren't even begin to believe it! And better yet, they were good suggestions! Suggestions that truly filled him with hope. He wasn't going to be wandering around alone for the rest of his life, never able to find a place to call home. He couldn't imagine anything more terrible than spending a life walking and walking and never finding a destination.
He nodded. "Dawn Walkers." He repeated softly. "And they're...they're looking for new members?" Even better! It almost seemed fated! "They're...they're not a warrior pride, are they? I, um, don't think I'd be much good at that..."
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:36 am
As they trekked she kept her senses open for the scent of prey, a herd of Zebra would be ideal, they generally didn't see well and didn't have horns, though their hooves could be dangerous enough if one wasn't wise about it.
The sound of hope in his voice prompted her to go on, glad that she was able to suggest something that pleased him so well.
"No, not particularly. They have such roles, but they don't have a history of battles as I was told. Matifu, I believe was his name. He was actually originally a member of the Unity Walkers, he said too. I can't imagine someone from that pride leaving such a peaceful place just to go join a bunch of warriors, especially at his age." She laughed softly at the idea, for Matifu, as massive in size as he was, was a teddy bear indeed. "It sounded like they had a lot to offer, scribes, nannies, scholars, priests, hunters, guardians, and goodness! Come to think of it, their pharoh, their ruler took shelter with the Unity Walkers and he said their queen is a Unity Walker native too, the recruiter's niece, no less! I hadn't thought about it till now, but it sounds a lot like a very peaceful place to have so many members from there. Maybe that's just the place for you?"
She glanced over at Uddhava, realizing she'd said quite a bit, but once she'd found one common tie there seemed to be even more. -SHE- was quite curious to see it now herself!
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:40 am
He seemed to be relaxing now, quite happy to let her talk and listen to her describe this land. This was a good lioness, he decided. He was glad to have bumped into one who was so willing to help him, a stranger no less!
With a rumbling purr, he dipped his head gratefully.
"It sounds almost too wonderful to be true. I might not be a good fighter, but I'm sure there is something I could do in a pride with such varied tasks." He let his tail flick behind him. Perhaps his mother would be sad to see him not even attempting to be a warrior. Or perhaps she'd be happy to see him living his life the way he wanted.
Sometimes he wished he'd known his mother better to determine which of those was right.
"Your name was, Kimya'ukilia? Thank you very much for helping." He blinked. "Perhaps I could try and help you hunt...you know...to pay you back?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:48 am
"Hmm, it does, doesn't it? But it's not the only place like it. Take it from someone who spent the better part of her life in one." She chuckled softly, for even if she wanted this change of scenery so desperately, the Pridelands too were a dream, at least until the series of bad events. Murders, foiled cubnappings, kidnap... "The pride that my children and children's children are leaving is such a place. Lush green grass as far as the eye can see, in the summer, dozens upon dozens of pride members, plentiful food and water, mild temperatures, and a gentle hearted royal family. Your coat actually reminds me of the royal line from there. You could almost be the brother of a friend of mine."
Though she glanced at him, making sure to read for signs of discomfort at any point in the conversation, she didn't want to upset him.
"There are also prides to be avoided. My family and I are looking for a new place to call home too, just a change of scenery after so long in the same place, you see. Maybe we shall come with you to see the Dawn walkers."
She was sure that a place like that would suit her granddaughter's fighting spirit.
"Yes, you can shorten it if you'd like, Uddhava." She smiled. "You're welcome to if you wish, but don't feel obligated. This world can't run without kindness. Mine is just kindness for the sake of kindness. Take that where and when you can, I'm sad to say that there aren't many who give it so freely."
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 11:55 am
He blinked, strangely amused by that. "Yellow is a royal colour in another pride?" To think that some would cherish yellow when his own pride had sneered at it. This world was certainly new and strange. "But yellow isn't a good colour." He shook his head. "Not on a lion, anyway."
Uddhava, in fact, seemed to be getting used to her company. He certainly seemed to be coming out of his shell a little bit.
"It would be wonderful to travel with someone else. I...I don't like being alone. It's dangerous and...well...there's no one to talk to. It's...sad." He replied. And it was, for despite the fact he hadn't been accepted by everyone, he did have friends at his old pride and he'd never been by himself if he hadn't wanted to.
"Then let's repay kindness with kindness. I'll come with you and see if I can be of any help." And then he continued. "Do you have a big family, then?"
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