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 Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 5:00 pm
 Days were quite now for Aoha. His father had returned to his mate, the one who had originally left him because of Aoha and his sisters, so he was left alone. Not that he didn't like it, it was just, well, lonely.
As he padded beside a narrow winding stream he looked to the sky. Was there a purpose for him? All he knew how to do was take care of suffering souls like his father's. But now that his was mended, who was he to help now? Heaving a sigh he looked to his paws, his mind clouded with thought.
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 5:15 pm
Aldebaran was curled alongside the side of the river, staring thoughtfully into the rushing waters as the fish darted past, the reflection of the stars above rippling alongside them. His own reflection was nearly lost to the sky, only the hues of eternal sunset allowing him to stand on his own.
He almost wished he could blend into the stars above. It would be better than this. His mismatched eyes were downcast, heavy with emotion. Hades wasn't coming back. As he'd watched Hydra grow into a beautiful lioness before him (and into a reflection of her father), hard as he'd tried to wait, he knew now without a doubt. His mate wasn't coming back for him. His daughter was gone, the other was grown. Hydra still stood by him, but he knew it was only a matter of him before she struck out on her own. It was in her nature, and she couldn't be blamed for that.
He'd never known a family before. Never had anyone care for him before. Then, he'd found Hades. He'd felt things he'd never felt before. And somehow, against all odds and all logic, they'd made two miracles together.
Now it had all crashed and burned. A fallen star. And he was alone again.
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 5:39 pm
As his feet continued to plod on, Aoha's mind continued to whirl with questions. Some he knew the answer to, others he knew the answer but wasn't willing to accept the answer, while others were so unclear that he had no answer for. If Aoha hadn't been so caught up with thinking he would have noticed Aldebaran far sooner then his did.
What woke Aoha to reality was that he was now stumbling into the deepening stream instead of walking beside it. "Ooy!" He grunted as he pulled his soaking foot from the cool waters. Glaring at the water as if it had done the deed instead of Aoha and his senselessness movements. It was then he saw the sunset colored coat of Aldebaran.
Slowly his eyes scanned his paws, to his shoulder, up his neck to the full mane and beautiful face of Aldebaran. The only thing ruining the picture was the obviously clouded eyes of someone who was depressed. This is it. Aoha had found his next case.
"Erm... Sorry.. I uh, didn't mean to disturb you. Lost my footing." He said, as if he needed a reason to explain why his foot was soaked. He couldn't tear his eyes away, this lion was.... awe inspiring.
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 6:13 pm
The star-lit lion gasped when he heard the grunt, followed by a loud splash, scrambling up into a sitting position with his mis-matched eyes wide and his heart pounding out of sheer surprise. Some of it began to ebb as he caught sight of the source. Another lion. Light brown, white markings etched over underlying lean muscle.
And a pair of vivid blue eyes, just... watching. That gaze caught him off-guard. The last lion who'd ever looked at him like that was -- no, it wasn't the same. Hades' eyes, from the start, had been hungry. Burning. There was more underneath, but that was what he remembered the most, those red orbs boring into every inch of him.
This male's eyes were different. Cool like the waters, bright and sparkling as he gazed upon him. Baran didn't quite know what to make of it, or why he felt so nervous beneath it. Not that he was afraid of this lion (even if he had every reason to be). Just --
It took him a moment to realize the other male was finally speaking. Aldebaran smiled a lopsided grin, shaking his head slowly. "You didn't disturb me." His voice was deep, but soft around the edges. "Accidents happen. ... I know that first-hand, " he admitted. He wasn't the most graceful lion in the world. Especially when it came to hunting. He'd only really begun to thrive at it when Hades had -- did everything go back to him? "Are you alright?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 6:33 pm
Aoha adverted his eyes to his foot for a moment, more-so to remember what he had done. Just looking at this lion had washed away any questions that had been lingering in his mind, as well as any speech that he may have been capable of earlier. It took a moment to figure out that he was being asked a question and what that question entailed took a little longer to register.
"Err... just a little wet. Nothing major." He said as he let his gaze slid back over Aldebaran and up to his eyes. They were mis-matched but that didn't take away any vaule of the over-all piece, if anything it added to the pure beauty of it. Aoha couldn't help but let his gaze look him over once more, never before had he seen such a body. This lion held himself in a different way, he wasn't the power-seeking kind, nor was he the lifeless whelp his father had been. No, this lion... was... heavenly.
Realizing he was staring... again... Aoha drug his eyes back to Aldebaran's and gave him a crooked smile. "I'm Aoha. Thankfully my manners havn't slipped me." He chuckled lightly but in his mind he wondered what kind of lion he was... Aoha wouldn't doubt he was godly.
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 6:51 pm
"That's... that's good." Those eyes held something he'd never seen before. His interactions with other lions had always been limited, few and far between. He'd seen disgust. And he'd seen affection. Love. Lust. But he knew nothing of the sheer reverence those eyes held. Never before had anyone gazed upon him as though he were a work of art. Somehow, even if he didn't quite understand, it flustered him. He understood whatever it was in that gaze, it was heavy, and it was directed at him.
Still, it didn't stop him from smiling back, even if the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. There weren't many things to smile about nowadays. But he still tried. "Aoha. It's... nice to meet you, Aoha."
He'd gotten better at introductions, if nothing else. Even if he didn't dip his head like half the more polite lions would have; it wasn't that he was trying to be rude. He simply didn't know any better, a hint of naivety even now. "I'm Aldebaran. It's... sort of a mouthful, I know. Just Baran is fine."
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:12 pm
Shyness. That was something Aoha knew, and knew well. He had met enough lions that he could probably count them on his paw, before he met Baran he could count them on his tailfeathers. Slowly lowering his hind end, he came to a sitting postion, his gaze still locked with Baran's.
"Baran it is then." He said with a nod. He wasn't much for formal greetings, he was no wiser. He father was a horrible teacher. Anything he knew came mostly from instinct and the generosity of his sister Teysu. His smile... it could have knocked him over, that was if it had truely been from his heart. There was a great sadness in Baran's eyes. It didn't take a genius to see that.
"Are you here alone?" He asked curiously but then mentally kicked himself, it was obvious he had been here alone before he had stumbled upon him. Perhaps that was the cause of such sadness, he knew that was the reason to his father's depression... perhaps Baran had just been stranded by a mate. It was this thought that hung heavy on his heart. Anyone that could have hurt this lion must have been cruel indeed...
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:27 pm
It didn't look like Aoha was planning to leave any time soon. Truthfully? Even if he was feeling shy, and whether he knew what to make of the other male or not - he was relieved. Someone to talk to meant something to take his mind off his... situation. Aoha seemed friendly enough. What could it hurt?
But then there was the question, and it was hard to keep that smile in place as he nodded, the jagged edges of his shattered heart digging deeper still into his chest. "Yes. Well, yes and no. My daughter's likely close by. She's grown, though. Trying to strike out on her own." Hydra had none of the problems hunting that he'd had. But then, she was Hades' child. She took to kills like a fish to water, relishing the thrill and the bloodshed. She'd grown into a strong, willful lioness that he couldn't help but be proud of.
She'd been just as hurt by their broken family as he was. He could tell; she just had a very different way of coping.
"And what of you?" he asked, tilting his head to a side, glittering mane falling into his eyes. He didn't scent any other lions, nobody and nothing else bar the faintest trace of Hydra's stale scent.
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:45 pm
Noticing the change in Baran as he answered struck Aoha, his insides churning. He never felt this way about his father's depression... why was he suddenly so aware of how Baran was reacting? His heart kicked up a notch in speed as he heard Baran's answer. Daughter? That meant that... A part of him was instantly disappointed.
"Your daughter?" He said, raising his head, catching the slightest unfamiliar scent in the air. "Hopefully I am not intruding on anything." He said softly/ He hadn't spoken to another lion in a very long time.
"Myself, I'm wandering. My father returned to his mate and left me to myself..." He said a little bitter. Sure his father had loved him, but it was no where near the love he had for Givenna, his sister, let alone his mate Nox. The hair ont he back of his neck rose slightly. How Nox had hated him... he wondered if she still did.
Returning his gaze to Baran, the far-sightedness gone from his own eyes, he felt immediately relieved. How this lion had a strange affect on him.
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 8:13 pm
"No, " Aldebaran supplied in a heartbeat, more quickly and insistently than he'd intended it to be. If he hadn't known any better, it almost sounded like there was a hint of desperation lacing it. He averted his eyes, shaking his head slowly as he answered again, more calmly, "No... no, you're not. I like company." There was nothing to intrude on anymore. There was nothing here anymore. But he still stayed. Maybe because part of him still hoped against all hopes that maybe Hades would - but he wouldn't. He hadn't, why would he now?
He swallowed a sudden lump on his throat as Aoha spoke, forcing himself to focus. A light frown was etched across the starry male's muzzle as he took in what his new found companion said, along with the hint of bitterness lacing his otherwise warm, soothing voice. "He left you? ... why?" He'd never known a father. Or a mother. Or anything. But he knew how they were supposed to be. He'd tried to be that for Hydra and Sextans the best he knew how. They weren't supposed to just leave their children behind.
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 8:44 pm
Aoha perked up a little at the suddeness of his answer. At least his company was wanted. He had to agree, he liked to company too. Aoha was constantly taking in Baran's reactions and emotions that played along his face. But there was one emotion... one Baran was hiding, he could sense it. Perhaps if he stayed here long enough he would find out and ease him of the trouble.
The frown didn't suite Aldebaran's face at all. Aoha preferred his smile much more. "If you don't mind, it's a rather lengthy tale." He said, looking to his feet. This was the only thing he was ashamed of, how he was born and what came of it.
Looking to Aldebaran for encouragement he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "My father, Mekare, had a mate by the name of Nox. The two of them lived deep in the forrest that hid the ruins in which they lived. Together they had my brother and sister, Caedmon and Givenna. The happy family lived in bliss... until my father messed up. One day he came back with three new bundles of burdens and Nox was beyond anger. She was seething with hate for Mekare. He was cast out with Givenna and Nox took Caedmon and left." He paused then, his gaze had fallen to his paws. Sliding to a laying position he sighed and looked back up to Baran, shame burning in his eyes.
"The five of us, my two sisters, Teysu and Aika, and I were frowned upon by Givenna at first but soon enough she realized my depressed father was no one to take care of us. She raised us as best she could and took off when she was old enough, Mekare was the one who had ruined her perfect life. Mekare and us. He would disappear for days at a time when we were older. My sisters didn't know what to do. Aika hated father and left as soon as she could. Teysu stuck around a little longer before leaving as well. I stayed merely to take care of my father. He could do nothing for himself. Everything made him think of Nox." Aoha closed his eyes. The pain he felt from being alone was eating at him again. "But for some miraculous reason Nox took Mekare back. Last I knew Givenna had found them too. The happy family is once more back at the ruins, I'm here forgotten about." He said, finishing lamely. He couldn't bring himself to look up to Baran. He felt worthless now, not worthy enough to be in the presence of someone so beautiful when he was a dead flower of some misfortunate accident.
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