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 Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 1:15 am
Takatifu'moja:
Tifu yawned as she paused on the top of a grassy hill, looking around. She closed her eyes, trying to remember what she had seen, almost tempted to ask Suli to allow her to try and See again, to see if she could get another vision of his friend to better help figure out where the other lion was. She was going in the right direction, she knew, she had a good feeling... Goddess forbid she was leading him in the wrong direction. Oh, what if his friend had gone somewhere else? She frowned and her ears set back, eyes closing slightly. No, she wasn't tired. Well, maybe just a little.
Kisulisuli:
They had been walking all day. It hadn't been easy on an empty stomach, but Suli had gone days without so much as a mouse to nibble on in the past, one day without a meal was hardly torture. He walked on with little indication of his fategue.
The walk had been a brisk, silent one. He wasn't the most chatty of individuals. Any questions he had for the lioness were best shared once he was in a better mood to tolerate her answers. So far their 'getting to know eachother' had hardly been a pleasant series of experiences.
It wasn't until he glanced over, noting the lioness' heavy eyelids that he spoke. "Getting tired already?"
Takatifu'moja:
"No, not at..." Tifu started to say, but sighed and dipped her head. Part of the problem was the silence. Without the conversation she normally had when traveling long distances, she became bored and ultimately tired. Why did she have such bad taste in traveling companions? It'd taken a while to get her father to talk to her at length during their travels. "Yeah, I guess a little."
Her head came up and she blinked a couple of times before opening them to a more normal size. She looked around again and thought she saw some other creatures not far from them.
"It's a longshot, but maybe we could ask if others have seen your friends," she glanced at him, head tilted a bit. "I mean I could ask."
Kisulisuli:
"...ask...directions." He stopped walking entirely to offer her a hard, almost cold look at her suggestion. "Ask rogues? Are you serious. Or perhaps we should ask a rhino! Ooh ooh... or a monkey!"
He snorted, shook his mane out, and started forward again. "Good idea... I don't even think we're near anything anyway. You must be so tired you're seeing things..."
Takatifu'moja:
Tifu's eyes narrowed at him, clearly in no mood to deal with his sarcasm and belittling attitude towards her "faith" in others.
"You know what, never mind. I tried to help and get nothing but grief out of you. Do whatever you want, I don't care anymore," she snapped and turned in the direction of where she had thought she saw others, walking that way. Oh, she was sure a part of her didn't mean it. She was just really annoyed and frustrated at herself for saying she'd help and having no real idea on where any of Suli's friends might be.
The fact that he was being such a jerk about it didn't help matters.
Kisulisuli:
The lion stopped and turned his head as Tifu stormed off. He lifted a brow after her. Where the hell did she think she was going? "Ditching out on your promise already? It's a little soon don't you think?"
He waited a moment longer, groaned, then turned to trudge after her. Stupid females...always had to have their way. "Where are you going?"
Takatifu'moja:
Tifu grumbled a bit when Suli came up beside her and she shook her head.
"I already told you where I was going, didn't I? I'm going to, as you so eloquently put it, ask directions," she huffed back, stopping again to glare at him a bit.
"Anything else snarky you have to say?" she asked, eyes narrowed at him. Oh, he was a bit bigger than her, and much more stocky, but at that moment she was completely and utterly fearless. Being annoyed did that to her, but she was never that annoyed.
Why in the world did this lion seem to bring out the worst in her?
Kisulisuli:
"Don't you think that's a little bit....brash?" He took a few quick steps forward and swung his body around to face her- and effectively put himself between her and her unspoken destination. "Just walking up to other rogues? What if they're aggressive? Look it's just a bad idea."
Takatifu'moja:
Tifu snorted.
"It's never stopped me in the past." Which was true. She'd met other seers and the female her father had taken an interest in, even a goddess. Heck, she'd met her father and Suli by doing the exact same thing.
"It's called meeting new creatures. How in the world did you make friends in the first place? Someone had to meet a stranger. Did you ever think about that?" she asked, tilting her head a bit to one side.
Kisulisuli:
"It's called living in a pride." He countered sharply, "You know..there's multiple creatures of your own species in your territory. You get to know them, you protect them, and you grow as a clan. None of this traveling about hoping that rogues are friendly."
He came to a slow stop and tipped his head. "...I think I smell something."
Takatifu'moja:
"Or you live in a pride, bred and groomed to be the religious leader and then outcast because orphans are sent into the wilderness to be taken into the wings of the goddess. I think I like rogues more," Tifu replied curtly and then blinking at him. She tilted her head a bit more and her nose twitched.
"Oh? Was I not imagining things after all?" she asked in an almost sarcastic tone. She shouldn't be tart, but it was pay-back for him being so mean. She let out a sigh and sat down, curling her tail around her side.
Kisulisuli:
His ears rolled back against his mane. They could discuss the difference between prides and cults later- now wasn't the time. His tail flicked sharply behind him, snapping against his heels as his bright orange eyes narrowed and began scanning the long grass ahead of them.
It wasn't lion..whatever it was. And it was moving quickly, circling them- perhaps there was more than one.
Fakhir:
"State your buisness." A quiet, angery voice chimed from just off to their left. The grass moved only slightly, but other than that whomever the voice belonged to seemed perfectly content with keeping out of sight.
Takatifu'moja:
Tifu turned her head in the direction of the voice but didn't actively search for its owner. Just gave whomever it was the respect of looking at him/her when speaking.
"Well, we were looking for someone and I thought I had seen some other creatures I might be able to ask for information, but at the moment we're arguing," she explained, her body tensing ever so slightly.
She wasn't a fighter, not in a long run, but even the meekest of creatures could fight back when they had to. And the tone of the unknown creature was enough to put her on her guard. She would certainly be annoyed if it turned out Suli was right after all. He'd probably rub it in, too.
Kisulisuli:
Suli reached over to jab at her shoulder for the third insult in a row. Woman. Even in the face of potential danger they just -had- to have the last word. "-She's- arguing. We didn't smell any territory markers to... we'll just be moving along."
Fakhir:
The voice fell silent for a moment. Two lions... just looking for directions. It seemed a little odd, and far-fetched, but it wasn't impossible.
"...Looking for someone. Who?"
Takatifu'moja:
Tifu glared at Suli for jabbing her, then turned back to the voice.
"Another lion. He's kind of the color of skies before the storm-clouds roll in, with a white mane," she answered the voice and returned her attention to Suli.
"I don't remember if you told me his name. That would be a helpful piece of information to know." She was still tired and her annoyance, anger, and frustration started to wane away, showing as the heated tone started to creep from her voice.
Kisulisuli:
Suli growled, lifting the corner of his lips to expose a few of his teeth. It was an empty threat, but it would get his annoyance accross just fine.
At her prompting, he looked back towards the voice. "His name is Maji. He's...got markings on him. One looks like a lightning bolt."
Fakhir:
"Oh him...", the source of the voice slowly lifted its head up from the tall grass. A hyena, average in size but impressive in build, turned to them and nodded his head back behind him. "He's the old mistweaver prince... this way. Maybe you can get him to move along."
Takatifu'moja:
Tifu's eyes widened as the hyena emerged and commented on Suli's friend. A smile broke on her face and she turned back to Suli. Oh, she could rub his nose in it, oh yes she could. But... No, that wouldn't be right. She was just relieved that she had managed to complete the task she had set out to accomplish.
"Oh, could you take us to him?" she asked, looking from the hyena to Suli.
Kisulisuli:
Suli's mouth fell open. Just like that? They asked the first animal they bumped into and just like that- they'd found Maji. Or...someone that looked like him. He snapped his mouth shut and shot a wordless warning over to Tifu. He'd not believe it till he saw it.
Fakhir:
"I can." The hyena nodded back behind him again. "You first. Try anything funny and you'll learn what your insides look like."
Takatifu'moja:
Tifu rolled her eyes a bit at Suli and did her best to smile sweetly in return. Let him be suspicious.
"I promise we have no intentions of hurting you, unless you attack first," she sighed in return to the hyena as she stood and stepped into a walk in the direction he had motioned in. Good faith, always holding others in good faith.
No doubt she would apologize to Suli later for losing her temper. Or maybe she wouldn't. It had been his fault after all.
Kisulisuli:
Suli tensed further as the hyena insisted upon he and Tifu leading the group. It made sense- the hyena likely didn't trust him any father than he could toss them, Suli felt the same way. But they were guests in their...territory
The lion stepped forward, slowly and tightly, and eyed the hyena as he passed.
Fakhir:
The hyena eyed Suli right back, his dark, trained eyes took careful account of the two lions.
Takatifu'moja:
Tifu slowed a bit until she was beside Suli rather than in front of him, keeping herself between the two males. She yawned again and shook her head, fighting off the fatigue as it came back. With the rush brought on from getting angry at Suli burned out, she was back to square one. But at least the might have found one of Suli's friends.
"It's not far, is it?"
Fakhir:
"Not too far." The hyena answered shortly. He watched the two ahead of him quietly, stalking a good few yards behind them as they went. The female was a bit smaller, she dragged her paws a bit, and her walk was heavy. Likely fategued. The male was small but stocky with muscle. He was a little on the thin side, his fur a little dull as well.
Kisulisuli:
"Oh, too tired to see if you're right? We can save it for the morning- that way you can savor it."
Takatifu'moja:
"'m not too-" Tifu turned to Suli to frown at him again.
"What makes you think I'm so adamant about being right? I told you I'd help and that's what I'm doing. In my way. Don't really care if it's right or wrong, it's how I know," she replied, leaving off with a shake of her head and a sigh. Whatever, as soon as they found this Maji guy, she could go back to.... To what, wandering about on her own? Go find her father and travel with him again? Not many options available.
Kisulisuli:
"You're tired." He smirked, "I suppose the big tough lady rogue has issues keeping on her paws during long trips." He ignored her question- and the angry comments following- and continued ahead. He could smell other creatures by then, one was...strangely familar.
Fakhir:
"You really don't know how to talk to woman...", Fakhir grumbled, half amused, half stating an observation.
Takatifu'moja:
Tifu snorted at Suli's rude observations. And decided to ignore them. What could she say in response? Yeah, she was tired, that's just how it was. She had always set the pace with her father, and they'd never been in a hurry to get anywhere, so they never traveled far or fast. In the past few days, she seemed to be doing both. A good rest was all she needed, really.
"No, he doesn't. All he ever does is tell me I'm wrong or that whatever I'm doing is unwise," she told the hyena over her shoulder.
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Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 1:05 am
Kisulisuli:
"Because most of the time you -are- wrong and you -do- act unwisely. Walking up to random rogues and trusting that the 'inner good' that everyone must have will save you if they happen to be hostile." He snorted, "You've just been insanely lucky up to this point, that's all."
Fakhir:
The hyena lifted an eyebrow. "Speaking with random rogues... you must be a confident fighter in order to do that. The savannah has filled itself with brutes and monsters of every sort."
Kisulisuli:
"Finally, we hear some sense!" The lion tossed his head up in the air and groaned.
Takatifu'moja:
Tifu frowned even more at Suli's words and groaned when the hyena agreed with him. She figured she COULD fight but she'd never really had to. So she doubted she'd be any good at it. She wanted to believe in the good in others, but how could she ever begin to try when everyone seemed intent on crushing her ideals? Yes, she knew there were bad creatures out there. But you never knew if someone needed help, or wanted a friend if you didn't try to meet them. How else was one ever supposed to make friends or find someone to care about? Her mother had approached a random rogue, and made her. Her father had found a random rogue, and now she might someday have another mother.
"Just because you have such a pessimistic outlook on everything, doesn't mean I have to," she mumbled, looking ahead of herself through narrowed eyes. "Are we almost there?"
Fakhir:
"The lady reminds me of a...female friend of mine." Neha...the hynea wouldn't survive a day on her own if she was tied to the trunk of a tree in his mind. She was over-enthusiastic, always looking on the bright side of things, preaching about love and peace, and flowers, and such nonsense.
"The key to anything is tact." He came to a stop and nodded ahead. The small party had come to a very small watering hole formed from a muddy puddle. A white cheetah with a crimson mane lounged near the waters. A gold and crimson device lay across his back and neck- a man's tool.
Not too far from him, the stormy-pelted lion lay napping. One of his paws had dipped into the water- perhaps an unspoken comfort to the former mistweaver.
Kisulisuli:
Suli had opened his mouth to add his own thoughts but the hyena's sudden stop cut him off. He turned, suspicious at first, to the watering hole. His expression went from hard and aggrivated to almost lost and confused. If that was Maji- he had been through a lot. His previously soft, almost pitiful form had filled out to a well muscled, sturdy one. His once silky fur had roughed out and it was lanced with a few scars here and there.
Takatifu'moja:
"True, but one won't learn what they can do, or meet new people if they don't try to," Tifu added on to the hyena's remark and stopped when he did, looking up. The cheetah she didn't recognize, but the napping lion... She smiled softly and sat down. Maji was actually the first creature from one of her visions that she had ever seen in the flesh for the first time afterwards. All other times, her visions involved whom she was touching and someone connected to them whom she had never met. For all she knew, she could have been wrong in his appearance, just getting enough right to confirm she Saw him.
But, no. This was the lion she had seen. He'd changed, but that was to be expected. Slowly, her head turned to look at Suli, judging his reaction.
Kisulisuli:
Suli was frozen in place, biting on his lower lip. Thankfully, Maji hadn't noticed him. It had been so long... so long. And here he thought the reunion would be easy. What was he supposed to say? The pride had fallen apart, only Dama and the very, very few that remained loyal to her remained in the rules. She'd rubbed their traditions in the dirt and spent her days lounging in the sun, basking in false glory.
And he'd just left. Most of them had, and to boot- he'd lost track of Obi.
Takatifu'moja:
Tifu's smile grew slightly more... tender, one could suppose as she looked at the lion. Suli didn't seem to know what to do. It wasn't her place, she shouldn't go telling him what to do or anything, but, well, she was used to tough meetings.
So she nudged Suli's shoulder softly and looked up at him.
"Go on. If there's nothing to say, don't say anything." That was all she said. That was all she knew. There had been a few times when she had been in just that situation. And nothing had ever needed to be said.
Kisulisuli:
Suli glared down at her out of instinct. He obviously wasn't used to any kind of contact, forceful shoving least of all. He quickly capped his aggrivation and sighed. Might as well. It seemed that Maji had overheard Tifu's whispering and was rousing himself out of his nap.
The lion cleared his throat and stepped forward. "...Maji?"
Maji:
The older lion turned his head sharply, eyes flooded with confusion. He knew that voice. It was older, gruffer, but he knew it quite well. It took but a moment for him to spot the large dusty-maned lion slowly making his way around the watering hole.
"Kisulisuli... gods be praised, you're alive..."
Kisulisuli:
"Minus the gods part, I could say the same thing about you."
Takatifu'moja:
Tifu only held her smile when he glared down at her, knowing that at least this once, she was in the right. While Suli approached his friend, she stretched out and put her head on her paws, letting her eyelids settle into a very relaxed, almost half-closed state, watching them. A feeling of accomplishment went through her at how pleased both males seemed. She had done that, helped bring them back together. Maybe her visions weren't so bad after... She frowned just a little bit. No. She couldn't start thinking that way. She would remain adamant about her decision. She'd goofed when she nudged Suli just then, but no more. She didn't want to see any more painful memories or harmful revelations.
Fakhir:
Fakir watched, his expression stoney as ever. THe reuinion meant very little to him. He knew the blue lion but only well enough to know his name and his past somewhat. It was no longer any of the troupe's concern.
He cleared his throat and glanced over to Tifu. "You may consider training here for a time if you're to be in the wild much longer."
Takatifu'moja:
Tifu glanced at the hyena.
"Training? I don't understand. Despite what that big... Suli says, I'm very capable of surviving. I've this long, haven't I? I can track, hunt, take down pray, find water and shelter. I'm not as helpless or naive as he makes me out to be. Just hopeful, I guess," she replied, letting out a short snort from her nose in annoyance. Sure, she was a bit inexperienced in the being a lone traveler part, but that didn't mean she was completely untrained. Her father HAD shown to that.
Fakhir:
"It was meerly a suggestion." He snapped. "It never hurts to be stronger. " Though Neha had refused his suggestion time and time again on the matter. Heaven forbid she and the lioness ever got a chance to meet.
"Well." He looked over to Suli and Maji. Both were speaking in low voices. It wasn't their affair anyway. "While they catch up, do you need a place to rest?"
Takatifu'moja:
Tifu's ears fell slightly when he snapped at her.
"I'm sorry, I know it was a suggestion, I think I'm just tired," she apologized and looked around her a bit.
"I think... that would be nice," she decided and stood slowly. At first she thought to stay there, in case... well, in case what? There really wasn't much she could be needed for. Suli still had one more friend out there, but in truth, she had really only promised to help find Maji. His other friend, she had no idea where he was. So, really, she could maybe even head back in the direction she had last seen her father in. Or just leave altogether. Suli wouldn't be needing her help anymore.
Fakhir:
"Hm." He nodded and gave a sharp nod to one side. Universal for 'follow me'. Without a second word, he turned and loped towards the east of the waterhole. There was plenty of grass to lay under for shade, it was long enough at least.
"Here, get some rest." He grunted. "I'll have your friend informed where you are."
Takatifu'moja:
Tifu ran after him, happy for shade to lie in.
"Thank you," she said and curled up not too far in the grass. Her friend. She should have corrected the male, Suli wasn't her friend. Well, she didn't think she was one of his, anyways. No doubt she was not much more than a means to the end of finding his own friends, and an annoying one at that, by the way he acted.
With that thought in her mind, she let her eyes close and darkness enfold her senses in a light blanket.
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