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 Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:07 am
 Skuld was in a downright foul mood at the moment. Had her niece been with her she had probably interpreted it as a sign that her aunt was getting better, but Skadi was far away and Skuld firmly believed that she would die out here. The reason of her moodiness was the unpleasant "company" she was currently entertaining. Two vultures had been circling overhead the entire morning and they were now perching on a high rock nearby. It was noon and Skuld was sore, exhausted and more than ready for a nap, but every time she rested her head on her paws the blasted birds hopped closer. She was certain she would meet her end out here, but she'd be damned if she let those scavengers start to nibble before she was already settled in the spirit realm.
"Enough," she roared and rose abruptly, ignoring the flash of pain as she did so, "I'm not dead yet you useless bags of rotting feathers! Go fly into a tree and stop being a stinking waste of space!"
One of the vultures took off, flapping a few times before it settled again, still watching her hungrily. AAARHHHGG!
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Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:27 pm
 A white head was raised inquisitively as the older lioness’ roar echoed all around the pale female who had been steadily approaching Skuld’s position. Silent paws propelled the crouched body forward as she followed the vulture’s movements, drawing closer to what she hoped would be an easy meal. Golden earrings felt heavy when the young lioness’ ears twitched excitedly betraying the female’s curiosity - because that was the nature of the bright lioness - but Fenja’s body was tense with caution for she had been warned that a “conflict” was brewing in the area.
When Fenja realized the vultures’ interest was nothing but a lone lioness, she stood up abruptly and her prism-colored coat shone brightly as she trotted hastily to the darker female, intent on driving the birds away. The winged scavengers, however, didn’t really give her change to show off her powerful roar and simply moved a little further away as they observed the healthy newcomer and appraised the changing circumstances.
“Are you alright…?” Fenja asked quietly, stepping closer to Skuld. It wasn’t long before she froze abruptly, with lowered ears and bristled fur clearly showing her discomfort. She had finally seen the eerie bone mask and it could not be clearer to Fenja that she had had the misfortune of running into a (possibly injured) Mizimu warrior.
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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 6:31 am
The brief moment of satisfaction when the birds moved away was ruined when Skuld realised that she had done nothing to scare them, someone else had. She whirled around to face the other lion but instantly regretted trying to move that quickly.
"Do I look okay to you," she growled as she tried to focus on the bright and unfamiliar lioness. After her recent encounter with unfriendly lions she couldn't help but being suspicious. For all she knew this could be another misled soul that had turned against the Mizimu. Would this one really kill her?
"Looking to finish the job, are you." she snarled, "Wasn't it enough that your two coward friends attacked me without provocation?"
Mouthing off to the lioness might not be the wisest choice, but Skuld wasn't going to beg to be spared. She was old, she was injured, if this was how she was supposed to end she was going to go down fighting with what little strength she had left.
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:41 pm
“No, you don’t.” Fenja replied a little more coldly than she intended.
She was taken aback by Skuld’s aggressive words – though, in retrospect, the pale lioness admitted she should’ve been expecting it – and then stood quite still, a living glimmering statue standing tall with her front paws gracefully crossed and her head raised high. On the contrary, her eyes traveled through the two lionesses’ surroundings, examining every bush, every rock, every scurrying creature, every bird, every shadow or even every leaf the wind blew past them. And only when Fenja was certain that they were completely alone (and that she was completely safe), did her eyes wander back to the injured Mizimu.
To help this lioness would be to interfere with whatever conflict was going on. And who was to say whose side was right? And what if she were to inadvertently side with lions she normally wouldn’t? After all, the dark lioness was injured but she hadn’t been killed and if her opponents were merciful enough to let her walk away... or maybe she’d ran. Who knew? She didn’t and the wisest thing to do was to keep it that way.
“I didn’t realize I’d crossed the border. I don’t know who hurt you, but I’m not… I don’t want to be involved in any of it.” She looked quite determined as she spoke and yet the pale lioness didn’t take one step from her position and refused to meet Skuld’s gaze, looking down to her paws as if suddenly finding the small pebble next to them remarkably interesting.
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Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:59 am
"It's not safe on either side of the border," Skuld said grimly and debated removing her mask again. It was starting to bother her, but she was still not absolutely sure of this lioness and the smooth bone against her forehead made her feel more secure. "You've wandered into a war zone, Child."
It was a very melodramatic statement with a nice ring to it, but Skuld wasn't sure if it was true or not. All she knew was that the Spirits were in turmoil and that the rotten dissenters she had encountered might be part of the explanation for that. Getting back to Mizimu lands would be tricky at best, since the path she had planned to take apparently led through hostile territory. A new plan was in order, but she wasn't sure if she should bother trying. A little while longer at least, for Dumas sake. Should she mention him? The threat of an ally that would soon come back might discourage the female from trying any funny business.
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Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:56 pm
Child… The white lioness tilts her head forward bit, her ears twitch and for a split second Fenja’s expression does indeed look rather… childish.
And despite her better judgment, she smiles a little. Perhaps because she’s beginning to suspect the dark lioness is bit older than she anticipated or maybe because it’s easy to forget the conflict she is so keen to avoid when the two them seem to be alone and safe on the peaceful morning of such a beautiful day. But most of all, being addressed as “child” brings back all sorts of warm memories and feelings - along with things she’d rather have forgotten. She shakes her body in one fluid motion releasing the tension with every bit of dust that leaves her.
“Not so much a child anymore, ma’am.” Fenja says softly looking suddenly relaxed as she drops to a comfortable sitting position aware the way she addressed the older lioness may somewhat contradict her own words. She eyes the vultures in the distance and her smile fades almost immediately.
“Can you move?” She can’t hide the worry in her voice.
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Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 1:57 pm
"Young Spirit," Skuld says, without offering any explanation for this somewhat cryptic statement. Instead she too sits, gingerly mirroring the younger lioness movements. A bit of the tension in the air has lifted and she feels she can afford relaxing just a little bit. Perhaps she can even be generous enough to be a little bit friendlier.
"Yes, I can move," she says, but she would have said that even if every bone in her body had been broken. It can be dangerous to show too much weakness after all. "This wasn't where I was ambushed and I intend to get even further away as soon as I've rested here for a while."
She smiles a little as she notices the worry in the other's voice, and finally removes the mask, and gently puts it down next to the small pile of divining bones she and Duma have managed to salvage.
"I'm Skuld," she announces, "Scryer of the Mizimu'Tungika."
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 2:35 pm
Fenja’s head drops to her shoulder blade. Young spirit? Did the older lioness mean she acted younger than she looked? She felt confused trying to decipher Skuld’s words but smiled when the blue lioness said she could move. The mood was definitely lighter and Fenja couldn’t help but to lounge a little more comfortably when she finally saw the face behind the mask. Still, just below the surface, there was an uneasy feeling she couldn’t let go of.
“What’s a scryer?” she asked before she could help it. “Can you predict the future or something? I thought… you were a warrior. I mean, I heard there was a war and… you had that creepy mask and you’re injured and...” Fenja’s jaws clamped shut and she realized she was babbling. For a moment, she looked simultaneously embarrassed and annoyed.
“I’m Fenja. No title whatsoever.” And the small joke made her mouth open in a toothy grin that seemed to reach her eyes.
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Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:54 am
"Fenja," she says, and mirrors the smile, "Nice to meet you, even if the circumstances could have been better."
It's tempting to feed the young lioness a harmless lie about how she knew they would meet here like this, or that the spirits have already told Skuld her name, or some of the other mysterious and vague statements she likes to spring on unsuspecting victims. It impresses and freaks out cubs, but now might not be the place...
"A Scryer divines the will of the Spirits," she says, "And my preferred method is to use these bones to do so."
She pauses, deliberating how much to tell this girl. Judging by Fenja's reaction she has heard about the Mizimu before, and not from a source that likes what the pride does or talks kindly about it. Still, she might just be a neutral party wandering close to these conflicted lands. Just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"The mask," she says, "Is something I wear in tribute to the spirits. It's not meant to frighten or intimidate."
It does that too, she has to admit, but that's not why she wears it (even if it is a nice side effect).Yes, that explanation will do nicely. There is no use in complicating things further by starting to talk about sacrifices now since some outsiders always tend to take it the wrong way when they first hear about it. As far as she knows Fenja might be one of those, so better be safe than sorry.
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:40 pm
“Spirits…” Fenja speaks softly in a barely audible whisper as if she’s pondering the meaning of the word. Even if she doesn’t immediately ask more questions – and such restraint is particularly hard for the naturally curious bright lioness – the strain is visible in her expression.
Of gods and spirits and gifted beings the bright lioness knows very little and wonders if the topic can be safely discussed with the unmasked lioness. The young traveler doesn’t want to seem rude, prejudiced or just plain ignorant when she knows how fervently some lions will defend their beliefs. She is, after all, the trespasser here.
“Sounds complicated.” She offers simply for lack of better words to express her doubts. “Like a priest of sorts.” And before the small exchange becomes uncomfortable she makes a not-very-discrete subject change. The approaching vultures are still looming close at a safe distance but their constant vigilance is bothering the bright lioness who stands up and after sending a small mischievous grin directed at Skuld, lowers her body to a crouching position and moves closer to the birds before suddenly dashing towards them. Her run is unsuccessful – as she knew it would be – but she relentlessly chases the vultures as they take flight for the briefest of moments only to quickly return to the ground with teasing clacks and calls.
“Bloody scavengers! That should keep them away for a while.” As she faces Skuld again, chest weaving rapidly, narrowed eyes shining, mouth open in an open smile with a dripping tongue lolling out of the corner of her lips – the perfect portrait of blissful fatigue – the approaching vultures are already demonstrating how futile her actions were.
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Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 11:08 am
The Mizimu belief system is not complicated at all to someone born into it, but Skuld knows that outsiders doesn't find it very straightforward just as she have had a hard time grasping other religions. Priest? Skuld tries to think about lions of different belief she's encountered before and comes to the conclusion that priest isn't quite right, but perhaps close enough.
Skuld can't help but grin back at the younger lioness when she returns. Chasing vultures is usually more or less pointless but she appreciates the gesture, and is perceptive enough to pick up on the hint that a change of subject is needed. Fair enough, because this reminds her...
"Only vulture I've ever managed to catch up with was stuck in a half eaten carcass," she said, "Can you imagine that?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 7:38 pm
The bright lioness tilted her head to the side with a half-serious expression.
“Actually, I think I can!” Fenja answered promptly with a low guttural chuckle marking the end of the sentence. She was relieved Skuld had dropped the previous subject so quickly but the easy escape also sparked her curiosity. Why was there a war in the first place? And how bad were things at the moment?
Her mind was already moving through an infinite number of possibilities. Two siblings fighting for the leadership of a pride. Invaders versus natives. A misunderstanding? How complicated would the conversation get if she were to ask the questions that she had bubbling beneath the surface?
“Are you going home now? Do you have good healers there?” No, not yet. Caution first. All Fenja knew right now was that this lioness belonged to a faction named Mizimu. Any other information might mark the end of the little exchange. No need to give such a pleasant chat a bitter end.
And she knew – perhaps better than most – how curiosity could ruin the most perfect of events.
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Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 6:44 am
"Home," Skuld said, unable to keep the longing out of her eyes, "Yes, I'm going home... Working on it."
A healthy lioness would have be able to run to Mizimu lands in less than a day, but Skuld was weak now. On top of that she wasn't sure where the rebels had staked out their territory or how far they extended their patrols. And she would rather take long, long detours than run into the enemy again. The journey back seemed to take forever, and there were times when she doubted her ability to get back at all. Without help she wouldn't even have come this far and she was grateful that the spirits had led Dumanla to her.
"I will be cared for when I get home," she said vaguely, wondering if her injuries would prevent her from becoming a decent sacrifice. She hoped that the Spirits would let her serve her pride for a bit longer than this, but if she had to die she would rather die honourably.
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Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 8:35 pm
Fenja looked a bit worried when she saw Skuld’s expression as the word “home” left the blue lioness’ mouth. She sat in a rather uncomfortable looking position and appeared as if she were about to stand up again at any moment.
“I’m sorry… normally I’d offer to take you there. But you know…” she looked slightly abashed and, for an instant, refused to both meet the older lioness’s eyes and finish the sentence. She felt this meeting was drawing to an end and leaving an injured lioness alone was definitely more than enough to guilt her into silence… of course, being Fenja, quiet was hardly one of her most prominent traits.
“Do you think it’s going to take long? I mean… the fight? The war?” She hated uncomfortable silences and hated creating them even more. So there was tiny hint of a playful smile when she delivered the next question. “Are you winning?”
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Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 3:52 am
"I understand," she said with a solemn nod, and then said what the other would not. "It would not be very wise for a pretty young thing like you to escort an injured lioness into a war zone. You are unknown to both sides and could easily be mistaken for an enemy."
From what Haini had told her she suspected that the stinking rebels might assume that Fenja was an escaped Sacrifice and take her into custody for her own safety. And her own people... Well, every unknown lion or lioness was a potential rebel or rebel spy, and the more hot headed among the Claw might leap to her throat first and let her intestines answer any questions later. And even if the Spirits later declared that she hadn't been a rebel it would have been an unnecessary loss of life.
Skuld didn't answer the next question right away. She hadn't thought much about how long it would take to satisfy the Spirit's cry for blood. The hard times and starvation leading up to this war seemed to have gone on for a very long time and she hoped this trial of faith would be over soon.
"Our Warriors are stronger," she finally said, "And we have strong Spirits on our side in this conflict."
It wasn't a straight answer, but Skuld believed in her heart that they would win. The Mizimu'Tungika was right and the rebels were simply warping the messages of the Spirits. They should be winning, but she wasn't sure if she'd live to see the end of the war.
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