|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:08 am
((Takes place after this RP)) They were strange sometimes, the ways of the Spirits. Skuld had thought that traveling outside Mizimu'Tungika territory would bring clarity and answers from the Spirits. Instead she had nearly died, and she wondered if that was what the spirits had planned for her all along. And the blasted bone that had led her to this mess... Gone. Gone together with the others she had brought with her to understand the will of the Spirits. At least she still had her bone mask so she didn't have to feel completely naked, even if her bruises made it hurt to wear it for more than short periods of time.
The mere thought that she might die here, away from home chilled Skuld to the bone. Skadi must have noticed that she was gone by now, and she was torn between wanting her niece to come look for her and wanting her to stay safe within the borders of their homeland.
Skuld grimaced as she shifted to a less uncomfortable position and once again pondered the irony of her situation. Rescued by a spiritless creature. Now that would be something to tell the grandcubs. Not that she had any, and at this rate she might not even live to see Skadi have cubs. She rested her head on her paws and carefully removed her mask. It felt as if the Spirits were mocking her, but Spirits were always hard to understand - even without a splitting headache.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 11:51 am
He'd just been wandering along, through the rogue lands, minding his own business. And then, suddenly, BAM. A nearly-dead lionness just laying there, with some weirdo bone mask on. His first thought had been to run - hey, she wasn't his problem. But, unfortunately, he did have a conscience, and he'd turned around as soon as started heading off, returning to her side. She'd muttered something about spirits, and been rather...hostile, at first. He'd thought she was loopy, like every frickin' creature he seemed to meet.
And now here he was, trotting back towards her with some hare he'd caught. Funny how things worked out, huh? She'd started making sense after a bit, with the spirits - although apparently, he didn't have one. Only lions had one. But he was fine with that - he'd learnt the hard way that he didn't have a lot of things. Spotting something out of the corner of his eye suddenly, Duma frowned, diverting his path a little to approach what appeared to be...bones? Small bones, marked, that were too random to be there from a kill. Glancing around, he shrugged, gathering them up and carrying them back with him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 2:37 pm
One of Skuld's less attractive traits had always been a tendency to be overly dramatic, but it worked better with an audience. Perhaps it would be better if she had just died quietly during the night, Skuld thought to herself. Or if a scavenger had found her and ended her misery, but instead she had woke up to see the odd looking feline that had helped her to move here. She still hadn't figured out exactly what he was, not that it was important since he clearly had no spirit... But it was just adding to the surrealistic feeling that she couldn't place the species of this male. She could ask she supposed, if she ever got to see him again. It might be best if she was just left here, to the mercy of scavengers and mean spirited lions.
But then a tantalising scent reached her nostrils and she had trouble focusing on feeling sorry for herself. Was that? Blood? Food? Hmmmh... She might be persuaded to survive long enough for a last meal if someone was offering.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 8:37 am
Struggling a little with the amount he was carrying, Duma stumbled a little, squeaking through the meat in his jaws, before continuing onwards a little more briskly, wishing to return before darkness fell.
He soon spotted the bright blue patterns that gave away the lion's position, maw stretching into a smile around the hare as he trotted forwards, dropping first the bones with a little growl, following by the hare. Panting somewhat heavily, he managed a bright, beaming smile, cocking his head in concern. "Are you alright?" he asked, wanting to make sure nothing had happened in his absence, "I caught a hare - and found these weird bone things. They reminded me of your mask, so I brought them with me?"
He paused, smile widening a little, "Are they yours?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 2:48 pm
The scent of food was a welcome one, but it was the clatter of bones that made her ears perk up. This creature had found bones? Her bones? It looked like it. It could only be a sign from the Spirits. They hadn't abandoned her after all, and she relaxed a little bit, knowing that she wouldn't die alone at least. The spirits were here, and they had somehow used this mishappen feline as a tool to show themselves.
"They're mine, yes," she said, ignoring the other question for now, "I use them when I read the will of the Spirits. They must have led you to me."
He sure was friendly this one, Skuld mused. The Spirits could certainly have found worse company for her last days.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 2:32 am
They were hers? Oh, that was alright then. He'd done something right. She seemed more interested in them than the food, and this only sparked the male's curiousity. Why were they so special, huh? Smiling brightly, he sat himself down, watching her carefully. "Spirits? ...What're they?" He asked, frowning a little. He'd never heard of 'spirits' before. They were obviously quite important to her, though.
Led him to her? ...He'd just been wandering and had found her. Nothing special.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 4:49 am
It wasn't a surprise to Skuld that the creature knew nothing about the Spirits. In fact, it made sense considering he didn't have a one of his own, and she took a moment to deliberate how she best could explain it to him. She had pulled one of her larger bones closer and played with it absentmindedly while she thought.
"The spirits are everywhere," she started, "And while we can't see them they influence our lives and leave us helpful signs if you care to look for them. They are the Spirits of deceased lions and can be helpful or mischievous or evil, all depending on the nature of the Spirit."
She studied Dumanla thoughtfully, trying to ignore the naked feeling of not wearing her mask. She had a hard time telling if he was fully grown or not, but she supposed it didn't matter. His eyes were kind at least, and in her vulnerable position she really appreciated that. It would be all to easy for him to end her misery here and now, but despite the fact that she felt the Spirit realm closing in on her she wasn't too keen on crossing over before she had to. A violent death might leave her spirit lost and wandering this place forever, a truly haunting prospect.
"When a lion dies their Spirit joins the spirit realm," she explained, "And when the time is right it will be reborn. The colour of the coat of a lion can tell you a lot about the age of their Spirit and the life they've led. Obviously, one should always strive to please the Spirits. Even a Spiritless creature like yourself can in rare cases be gifted with a Spirit if they please the spirits during their life."
Was it too much for him to grasp, she wondered. As a spiritless creature she half expected him to be less intelligent and gifted than a lion. But he had much better hunting luck than the Mizimu hunters had had lately, she mused and felt saliva fill her mouth as she drew in the delicious scent of the hare.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:08 am
She seemed to be settling down a bit, which was good. She wasn't as hostile as she had been when he'd first found her - maybe she was getting used to his company. He watched her fiddle with the bones, wondering for a moment what exactly they were, or what creature they were from, before he turned his gaze to her, smiling brightly as she began to speak.
He listened as she spoke about the spirits, nodding to show that he understood. These spirits...it sounded like quite a logical idea. He imagined it would be nice, to have a spirit. He didn't think he had one, though. Surely he'd know, if he had a spirit? And she said lions...only deceased lions. His ears flickered back for a moment, "So...I don't have one? 'Cause I'm not a lion? ...Right?"
Oh, colours? Well, he supposed that made sense too. Striving to please the spirits seemed a sensible thing to do, too, especially if they were as powerful as she was suggesting. But oh, he could get a spirit? If he pleased them? He blinked, slightly surprised, but soon broke into a wide grin as he reached down, nudging the hare closer to her, "It all makes sense. So I can get a spirit?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:29 am
Skuld couldn't help but smile. He was catching on quickly, and sounded eager to get a Spirit. Perhaps best not to give him too high hopes about this... A hardworking spiritless follower could certainly get a spirit, but a spiritless creature wandering the lands didn't have the knowledge or guidance to please the spirits.
"Well..." she said, and had to tear her gaze off the hare to look at him when she talked to him, "It's not easy, and it's not common, but stranger things have happened. We do have spiritless felines in my pride, and they work hard to gain the favour of the Spirits. Most of them are mere Followers, but some hunt or scout for us, especially in wartime. Some of them even seek to father half-spirited cubs, hoping to get ones suitable for sacrifice to further their chances."
But that wouldn't be an option for this one, she mused. Skuld had lived a long enough life and she had never seen a mixed anything get a litter of cubs. She knew half lions who had tried before their inevitable Sacrifice, but knew no one who had succeeded, and she wondered if the Spirits cursed the half spirited with infertility for some reason.
"Half lions have only half a spirit," she explained, realising she might not have been completely clear about the meaning of half-spirited, "Was that hare for me?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:47 am
Oh, she was smiling! His own smile brightened at the sight, Duma pleased he was giving her reason to be happy. Oh, so it wasn't a common-occurance, non-lions getting a spirit? But it was possible? But hard work - ugh, Duma wasn't one for hard work. But still, maybe it could be fun work? Like his Mamma, travelling around and singing? Just following the spirits sounded boring. Perhaps hunting or scouting would be interesting...But wait, did you have to be in the pride to have a spirit? Or just a lion?
Father half-spirited cubs? Duma glanced downwards, ears laying against his head. Yeah, right. Murdoc had been sure to tell him how that'd never happen. He was a freak, and freaks weren't allowed children. Murdoc was a dumnbass, though. He'd show him, he would. Maybe if he got a spirit, that'd prove he wasn't some half-breed freak.
She asked about the hare and he looked up, smiling and nodding. "Yeah. You need to eat, get your strength."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 7:53 am
She tore into the hare with relish, and the food in her mouth was the only thing keeping her from pointing out that she wasn't likely to "regain her strength". Well, that and the optimistic look on his face. His smile brought her comfort, oddly enough, and she didn't want to make him sad by snapping at him. And while it might have been fairer not to let his hare go to waste on her she was hungry... And he looked glad enough to see her eating.
"Aren't you going to eat," she asked, remembering her manners before she wolfed down the entire hare, "I shouldn't take your entire kill."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 11:21 am
He couldn't help but smile a little as she tore into the hare, eagerly gulping it up. t was good that she was eating - one had to eat to stay strong, and she certainly needed her strength, what with the condition she was in. She paused, querying whether he was going to eat, and he shook his head, brightening his smile.
"Nah, I'm fine! I'll eat later - you eat it, you're hungry."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 6:59 am
Skuld didn't have to be asked twice and the hare was soon gone. The male might regret giving it to her later, but that wasn't her problem. Going hungry in favour of a weak, dying female might be a learning experience for him. Or the first step on the road toward something more than a spiritless creature? She liked to think that she would help him from the Spirit realm if she could. His kindness made her feel a strong sense of gratitude, and with some food in her belly her aches seemed duller and less bothersome. There wasn't much she could do for him in return given her current condition, except perhaps give him a few words of wisdom for the road.
"You should try to travel to the Mizimu'Tungika lands later," she said, resting her head on her paws as she spoke, "We hold a good territory and it's safe from scavengers. You'd have to work for your living but it's not a bad place to live. I could tell you who to talk to, and what to say to them. I'm sure my niece would want to know about my fate."
Yes. Skadi would help this boy out, she was sure of it. The girl had a kind heart and a kind soul, and she regretted that they had parted ways with harsh words. Only the spirits knew if that was their last meeting in this world.
But before giving him directions for a safe trip to her pride she wanted enjoy his company some more. Dying alone was not something she looked forward to, and so far Duma didn't seem to mind entertaining her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:43 am
Woa. She was...a quick eater, apparently. Duma's face showed surprise at first, before he quickly wiped that away, smiling sweetly instead in an attempt to lift her mood. Smiling makes others happy - that was what his mother said. He shuffled a little closer, hoping his body heat might help her warm up as the wind picked up, blowing a cold breeze over the vulnerable area they were in. She began to speak, suggesting ideas to him. Travel to the lands? ...Maybe he would. But as he realized the tone in which she was speaking - a tone in which she suggested she wouldn't be here. She growled softly at the sudden realization, shaking his head fiercely.
"Nooo! I'll travel to them, but with you! Your fate will be to live - I'll make sure of it. We can start travelling now - the food will give you strength to stand, and you can lean on me for support."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:52 pm
It might be a sign of weakness, but Skuld couldn't resist snuggling closer. Being close to someone, even if that someone was a spiritless creature, brought more comfort than could be explained just by the transferred body heat. As warmth started to seep back into her bones her body started to feel better too. She almost regretted talking like that. Duma stopped smiling when he got worried, and she had never meant to make him upset.
"It's quite the journey," she said, trying to smooth it over by hinting that she might come with him, "As much as I'd like to get home I don't think I can do that today."
She looked around, her spirits falling somewhat as she noted the exposed nature of her resting place. If those lions came back... But she was so very tired.
"But we should try to get away from here before nightfall," she mused, "I just need to rest for a bit first."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
