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 Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 1:02 am
Nyoka had been wounded.. Not entirely and utterly useless. She was a strong cheetah but she didn't know nor expect Linje to get aggressive. Holding her down by his weight and nearly breaking her. Some bones were fractored.. The cheetah didn't think the leopard made all of the pains intensional but she was in pain. Pregnant and full term. Ready to give way at any moment. Even full term.. bones fractored.. she ran.. Long and hard.. faster than Linje could ever catch up to. Not frightened for herself but the children she believed to be Dysi's. Her love's. Almost half way there.. she called out to her messenger.. between her and the pride.. She called... or anyone on duty in the ring of forest surrounding the prideland. He usually came around to her near Linje's den.. to help escort her between the pride and linje's den.. She didn't know if she had passed him or not.. but she knew that SOMEONE had to be there. She called out again and then let out a warning growl.. tired... from the running and ended up fainting.
Nanashi had grown used to the new pride, that Nyoka had introduced himself and his family to. They were treated well and they had a type of safety they simply hadn't had in the rogue lands. It was a wonderful thing to know, that they were safe for once. Nanashi could relax a little more, and even Aiko had taken to the pride, likely because the position of entertainer was really perfect for her.
His ears twitched, when a sudden noise caught his attention. He had been wandering the edge of the pride lands, to explore what was now his home, when he heard Nyoka. She was calling for the messanger, but the male was further into the pride, not by the border, at least not at the moment. She sounded...hurt. Nanashi didn't hesitate as he ran towards the noise, his paws hitting the ground hard and firmly.
“Nyoka!” He yelled, trying to scent her, and hoping she would hear him. He spotted her form, sprawled on the savana ground, and his eyes went wide. “Nyoka,” he gasped, as he reached her side. She was injured, and her stomach was swollen and full, but he pushed that fact out of his mind. What had happened to their queen?
When Nyoka awoke...eyes slitted.. and almost hazy when she strained to see her surroundings.. Was Linje near? She didn't know.. but then she growned and closed her eyes.. Now they were surrounded in the richness of the forest ring of protection for the pride. Covered in the thick bush.. she remembered being out in the savannah.. close but not IN the pride lands now.. Where was her messenger.. ? She rose her head.. but failed and let it thump against the ground.. A soft whimper as she hit it. "Mana.." She whispered.. "Mana.. " Assuming it was her messenger whom brought her like he had done so many times before.
Nanashi had dragged the beaten body of his queen, whispering appologes whens he had whimpered in pain, even unconscious, until they were within the safety of the pride. He had fussed over her, waiting for her to wake, but had slipped away from her for a moment, to gather some water. There was a small puddle, from the prior rains, and he scooped up as much as he could into a thick leaf. Dragging it back, he spilt it when he heard her awaken.
Mana. The messanger, she thought it was him? He shook his head, moving back over to her side. “Shh,” he soothed, leaning over her. “Good to see you away. You're safe now. We're in the pride.”
Her face... was tender.. and the look of pain and broken was upon her. Softly her eyes tried to open to the sound of the most familiar of voices to her. The one recorded in her memory as the one sole male that first stepped in to the pride. "Nan." She stated.. but trying to sound less in pain when she had cried out for Mana. Why? The messenger was already loyal to her and he saw her weak already. NO one else did.. "My lands.." She sounded very much in connection to it.. Slowly she raised her head to look up at him with those soft emerald eyes.. "Your here..I thought you.. were Mana. Its good.. to see you..." She gave a huge sigh as though she had talked way too much. She tried to get up ..with wiggling slim arms.."It was you whom broke me home."
Nanashi was surprised at how soft and fragile she looked. He had only seen her as strong and firm, she was a female to be reckoned with. She was someone dangerous, but now, she looked so...broken.
“Careful!” He snapped abruptly, though not cruely, as she attempted to raise herself up onto her feet. He nudged her, pressing against her side, so if she wished to stand, she could lean on him. “It is good to see you as well. I must admit I feared the worst when I saw you,” he said, with a soft sigh. He peered across at her, “but you are stronger than you look, it seems.” He glanced at her various cuts and injuries. “Are you sure you should be standing? You need to rest.” He didn't want to nudge her back to the ground, out of fear that she would fall and injur her further.
The cheetah closed her eyes once more. Absorbing him for a moment before she felt his nudge.. She opened her eyes.. serious. But so broken and tender. "I would not be Queen if I could not take such minor blows." She grunted. Almost angry.. "Yes.... rest.. but I need to find out of my lands have been disturbed.. or any enemies.." So many things she wanted to accomplish so many things.. but thats when her vision went in a blurr again and leaned against him with almost all her weight. Putting her chin on his shoulder.. A sigh..Her butt falling to the ground and a groan of pain from her stomach. "I feel..sick"
Nanashi stood firm as she lent against him, but scowled at the idea that she would go examine her pride lands. He panicked as she sat down, and watched her worriedly. “You are not going anywhere,” he told her firmly, standing before her as he began to nudge and check her legs and sides for sore sports, to discover what bones were broken and which were just sprained. “The pride is safe, there has been no invasions or enemies approaching. If there was, Baride and Bugie can take on anyone who approaches.” He was assured that his brothers could defend the pride, if worse came to worse. “You must rest now,” he said, trying to gently nudge her to lay back down. She would do herself harm, staying upright, but he didn't put enough force behind his move to knock her over. “You will harm yourself..” he paused, before adding softly, taking a guess, “and your cubs if you don't rest.”
She snarled.. but low. Warning him.. but accepting his words in some way.. She was not for OTHERS telling her what to do .. but he had been different. Like Dysi.. But different. She slowly followed his nudge and at least laid but sit laying up.. Looking up at him... almost as if she were trusting him to take care of her. Something that Mana clearly only did very rarely. IF she let him. Her ears went down.. now she was hungry.. and thirsty.. "I see.. you trust your brothers- very well. I'll stay put for now." She stated. Then a growl came from her stomach along with a kick and her squeeking to retain a scream.
Nanashi was worried. He was not a good healer, and was not aware of the various herbs that could be used to help her heal, but he could do what he could to help her. He politely ignored her stiffled scream, allowing her to maintain her dignity if nothing else. “It is not a matter of trust,” Nanashi protested lightly, moving back towards the leaf he had partially dragged over. There was a little water remaining in the base of the bowl like plant piece, and he dragged it closer, so she could reach it while lying down. He had no food to offer her, but scanned the surrounding forest, trying to spy some prey for them. “I know my brother's abilities, and they are strong. If we fall under attack, they will stay strong and protect us.” He was not as strong a fighter as Baride and Bugie, but he could hold his own. He knew if someone attacked, he could protect Nyoka, at least long enough for her to get away from further danger.
"Mmm. Family." She nodded in agreeing slightly with him.. noticing he didnt take too much note of her scream.. so she .. with low inner pride now.. she took a few laps.Surprisingly she did not flinch like her body ailed for her to do. Another growl roared out of her- the source. Her stomach. "What fowl... god now chuckles of what I am right now.. and they have done to me.. and made me frail and sick. I wonder...and hope to show them how I feel. In death." She sprouted threats to the god of motherhood and the god whom gave teh spark of light~ of the decisions in making her pregnant.. "Is it obvious that I am.." She questioned him. Only her eyes looking up at him in a serious matter. Her tail flicking.. dangerous eerie of what it would do next and would it would modivate its owner to do as well.
Nanashi was pleased when she drank some water, knowing it would not help her heal, but would likely stop her from perishing from dehydration. He listened to her threat with mild amusement and glad they were not directed towards him, else he would be very worried, and afraid for his life. When she glanced up at him, asking her question, he felt the need to take a step back, but didn't. She was injured and could not attack him, not at the moment.
“No,” he told her, honestly. “It's not overly obvious, but you are...larger around the waist now.” Her stomach had swollen up, but due to her small size, it still wasn't obvious. “I guessed, and hoped you would not kill me if I had gotten it wrong,” he said, with a slight snicker. “I am glad I guessed correctly.”
Watching him .. every aspect of him to better learn how he was but then it happened.... Softly.. she brewed up a smile. With a soft tender laugh to follow."I guess you have guessed right... though sadly..." She planted her ears. "Sadly they are not yours...I would have been prouder then." A white lie.. but one to get her closer to what Nanashi was.. To show him specialty.. "It hurts.. and they make me want to hunt all day.. but unfortunately.. i only bit a lil bit off a zebra before having to leave so abruptly back here. " She tried to explain.. "Though I am glad in some ways that I retained at least a lil form.. til now." Taking a lap then laying completely.. waving her tail from one side to the next content now.. in a way.
Nanashi had expected that they were not his, but, like many others would come to expect, simply assumed that they would be Dysi's, seeing as he was the favoured Royal and very much one of Nyoka's favourites. Of course, having cubs of his own was something he had wanted, very much now that he had met Nyoka, but, he knew there will be other times. “They will be cared for in the pride none the less,” he told her, sounding quite serious and perhaps a little hurt, but he didn't dwell on that emotion. He perked up at her confession of little food and shook his head. “A little Zebra? That won't feed those cubs. Allow me to hunt for you, I will bring something here so you may eat while you gather your strength.” He was a good hunter, and it wouldn't take him long, though he didn't dare go far to get larger prey. She would have to be content with a small gazelle or a hare.
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Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 3:36 am
"Do you think so..?" She looked to him hopeful. In some ways.. Dysi would be here number one.. but for herself. If she were to pick love or wealth... She'd pick wealth. Unknowning on what would really happen if she did pick wealth over all. She'd have to forget Dysi for a short time and focus on her pride.. but the babies would be a constant reminder of him.. and hope that he would come for their birth. "No no. Nanashi. A BITE of a zebra." She corrected him~ with a know it all but a kindred childish way. "Do you want me to put my life in your hands.. enough for you to hunt for me. Alone. By your self.." She said now serious.. but hinting at something MORE. If he were to show her.. a side of him. What allured him to her.. She wanted to know.. if she could really depend on him.. but he had came to her rescue ... Probably thinking more on the matter when or if he would leave to go find her food.
Nanashi inclined his head at her question. She looked like a child, seeking reassurance. A very pregnant innocent at the moment, who was looking for assurance that her children would be loved. It was a sad thought. “I'm believe so,” Nanashi said firmly. “No one would dare say a word against the cubs of our Queen.” If they did, Nanashi would deal with them. Nyoka had been kind, and allowed his family safety, and he would make sure no one threatened the safety of her own family in return.
He chuckled lightly at her correction. “I stand corrected,” he remarked, eying her, and weighing his response carefully. There was something important about how he responded, it had to be said in just the right way. “Your life will be under no threat, if you allow me to hunt for you,” he said carefully. “I will be back with food in very little time.” He began to move away, and if she said nothing to stall him, he would slip away to hunt as quickly as he could.
Nyoka eyed him. The sweet tender of a mother.. he found in her.. and she slowly started to find it within her as well.. just because Mana had made it clear that loyalty was all. Now nanashi was slowly starting to show her the same.. When he said no harm would come to her cubs.. She closed her eyes.. Absorbing it for just a moment. Then looked from the water to him again.. Was ... he vowing that he would protect her? In some ways.. she would hope so. But she would wait til he revealed it to her to make a correct analyzes. "....Then go." Giving him encouragement with her strong but few words.. Only when he left would she have REAL time to think about what she thought. Spending on and off times within the pride. Telling them that she had still.. unfinished ties.. and now that she broke free.. She would now live with and around them. What she would soon call Family.
Nanashi slipped from the collection of trees after she had spoken, waiting until her permission had been given before he left. He crept away, his paws silent and cautious. He didn't dare leave for long, or travel far, and found only a small collection of aging gazelles lazing nearby, chewing grass. He was a strong hunter, so it was easy for him to slip into the familiar routine of catching prey. While he stalked closer to the prey, he thought of his Queen. She was strong, usually, but now she was weak. Had anyone else been around, they would have likely taken advantage of her mostly defenseless position, but Nanashi didn't think of that. He would uset his opportunity for his own gain, yes, but he wouldn't hurt her. He was going to repay her for her help in his family.
He threw himself at the closest gazelle, latching his jaw around the hooved animal before it had time to realise he was there. It was only one powerful clamp of his jaw that ended the creatures life, and he began to tug it back towards where he had left Nyoka. It took him little under a few minutes to take down the creature and take it back towards her. He dropped the kill beside her, his breath coming out in light pants, though he remained collected in appearance. “It is old, but the meat is still good,” he admitted. The creatures meat with be slightly tough, but still perfectly edible. He would have gone further, to collect a younger meal, but hadn't dared leave her alone for too long.
Nyoka hadn't had a FULL time like she liked..to think over things before he surprised her with a meal not to quickly within reach. Surprised he was so quick.. and looked to him. Those eyes that was usually collected were now scrambling for what she had felt. What her next move would be.. When he promptly setted the beast in front of her. She took a quick glance before nodding. "You.. have hunted. -paused - Gave me water... what do you want in return?" Now turning the tables ... If she was going to trust him FULLY.. with her life.. with her pride.. he would have to past some tests.. and the first he past without her even knowing.. but she wanted to know. Was he truely loyal? What DID he want from her.. and if she provoked him enough.. She looked.. rather serious but beautiful all at once. Every movement she did.. was for perfection.. no matter how much she ailed on the inside to tackle the dead meat.. and eat it whole. She reframed herself from doing so.. for her pride and dignity.
Nanashi was pleased that he was able to return so quickly and after making sure she could reach it, he settled himself not far away to keep watch over her, staying alert in case someone attempted to approach them. He paused, when she spoke to him. She looked beautiful when she was being serious, even being pregnant, but she was beautiful most of the time anyway. He paused, eying her seriously in return. This was not the time to joke.
“What I want?” He asked slowly, his eyes looking passed her without real intent. “There is something I want,” he admitted seriously. “I want you to get better. I want you to heal, and then I want you to take care of the pride once more.” He knew her, knew her strengths. She would lead the pride to greatness, and no one else could do it as well as she could. That was all he wanted. Safety, and a home for his family. “That is all I want.”
She looked at him almost parplexed..but still retained that destainted look to her. When he admitted her wanted something.. she felt a hint of betrayal.. but upon hearing him.. and acknowledging what he was saying. The things she had been wanting to do.. he was telling her that ~ was the only thing he wanted? .... Somewhat disappointed in another form but pleased in the rest. Growing a bit fonder of him... trying to believe in such words. But she didn't get this far for assuming and believing what everyone said. "Is that ALL you want.. Nanashi." Her tail twisted.. and curled inwardly.. Finding no other tail to suffrocate. He was NOT a healer.. she would need to heal herself in cases such as these. Mana would have helped her.. aided her and shut his mouth the whole time. But she did not find an acute attraction to him. More.. like a left paw.. that she leaned on. Nanashi.. she had left him in charge multiple times.. while she was gone .. and that only furthered her thoughts about him. Watching him from afar.. watching every detail. This was what she did best.. to find weakness... to find out what he liked.. what he wanted.. but was yet to sit and talk for too long with him.
She needed to get better at that.. She wanted to build a bond..even if its only a pridal level to know whats going on. Though she cared little about others. The ones she did care for. She cared for in an afar .. way..He was in her line of fire when it came to caring from afar.. but now. In her time of need.. and weakness.. he did not fight her. Did not try anything.. except help her. This kindness.. she didn't know.. but wanted to. Find it ni someone other than Dysi.
Nanashi had felt proud of his answer, because it had been true, but he had a feeling that she did not quite believe him. A good plan. She would be vulnerable, had she believed him immediately. It made his respect for her rise, when he thought it couldn't have higher than it had been. He paused, when she questioned him. Did he? Did he want more than simply her to rule? Yes.
“It is all I need,” he told her, honestly. “I want far more, but I can live without my wants filled.” He got to his feet, carefully checking the water that was still beside her, to make sure she had more if she wanted them. “I want my family to be safe, and cared for, and that will happen only with you in power, so perhaps I am being selfish, wanting you to rule for longer.” He returned to his watchful spot nearby, ears cocked to keep watch for any new noises in the nearby vicinity. “I am a selfish creature, when it comes to family, I must admit, but given time, the pride may become like my family.” He shrugged lightly. “My family and I are loyal creatures, when someone wins our loyalty.”
She lifted herself in a laying up position.. and slowly rising.. Her body just as fragile now as it has ever been. Still wobbley..and sat.. proudly.. lifting up her head in a regal manner. Not because she had an ego to fill.. because she didn't. Ego mattered lil if not for her survival first. Vanity was another thing. "If that is what you call selfish.. it sickens me. Such kindess~ if that is all you want." She dipped her head lower..almost hunching. "Have I won your unrelantive loyalty.. Nanashi.." an ear went up as she eyed him. Snipping at a piece of the stomach meat.. She was proper to not FULLY indulge herself.. but she simply took small pieces.. It filled her if she took time with the lil pieces. Then she looked up at him. After swallowing. "Entertain me.. what are your wants.. now that you have my word of your needs."
Nanashi watched her with a protective air as she began to eat, keeping his eyes on her incase she wobbled or fell while she was sitting. He was impressed that she had managed to lift herself up at all, let alone that she was now able to feed her hungry stomach. He had tensed when she had mentioned that he had sickened her, before relaxing slightly. “Sickens you? I'm afraid you will be sick often then, around me. My family is my world,” he tilted his jaw, undaunted by her dislike of his love. He adored his family and would give anything to keep them safe. He blinked at her question, and carefully eyed her. “I gave you my loyalty when I put my family's safety in your paws, my Queen,” he said pointedly. “You have my loyalty now and forever.” He shook his head, giving a laught. “My wants? You would find them sickening. I want my family to be happy, content at very least. I want my sister to settle, and to stop acting a fool, and my brothers to find a place within our new home. They are strong, but need protection still.” He eyed her, before adding, quite dangerously, “I want someone to call my own, someone strong and beautiful.”
She had to have understood his ways.. and by now she knew him.. a bit too well in his rountines but personally. The only way she could accomplish that was to be closer to him. "Oh?" She bent down and slowly took another lap of meat..Nudging her jaws on the rough meat. Finally she took another small piece then stopped. Taking in air as she was finding it hard to multitask. "Those are all selfless... except the last one." She pointed out as she bent down once more.. letting the silence heighten his awareness.. of her extending explaination she thought of his last statement. She closed her eyes..and ate calmly.. She didnt want to move her paws too much.. for it would be hard to heal if she kept it in use. So she continued to taking bites.. little ones. Cutely in some way.. trying to retain her royal look.. she stopped for a brief moment. "I will have to get used to being sick often then. As from now on. You will be living in my den." Serious. But she did not look at him. Her eyes opened to show how serious this cheetah was. No room for arguing the matter.. then went to take larger bites of the meat.. in now what seemed to be a less tenser air around them. "Though~ flatteries get you no where." She noted like an off to the side comment between a long session of calm after a bite. Then went back to her attention on feeding the hungry children that are now sink in her stomach.
Nanashi did not think of his actions of selfless. He thought it was selfish of himself, craving the consistency of his family life to remain the same, or get better. He wanted them all settled, so he wouldn't have to worry about them as much anymore. He was selfish in his wants of them to settle, even if Nyoka could not see them.
He froze, when she mentioned, seriously but almost off-handedly in between her small bites, that he would stay in her den. He eyed her, knowing he had no choice but to agree, unless he wanted to take his family and run from the pride. No one said No to Nyoka, not even he, who was helping her, could say No.
He smirked lightly at her comment of flatteries, and shook his head, hard pressed to believe how this conversation had changed. “Flatteries, my Queen?” He asked lightly. “Is that what you call telling the truth?” It wasn't just a line, it was true. He knew he needed to say something about her comment of her den, but there wasn't nothing to say. His silent acceptance was enough to portray his feelings towards the matter. He would be of use to Nyoka as long as he could, to ensure his family's safety and would help her whenever he could, not purely for his family's sake, though he wouldn't admit to that...yet. She was an entrancing mix of strength and vulnerablity, and Nanashi's loyalty was hers to use and do as she wished with.
Heh. Charming this boy was.. and only would she catch him off guard in her den will she know the truths about him. Any female could. If she wasn't all for her own pleasures. Nawing on the meat until she coudl swallow.. "Truth is only a suttle form of a lie." She quoted that from her adoptive father. She lapped more.. until almost half the stomach's skin was off.. and the guts had made their way to her very still paws.. Holding her up vaguely..She lifted her paw... but as soon as it got remotely past her a few inches.. she winced.. "If I were with mana.. I'd have him carry me to the pride." She rolled her eyes.. She had down that to a hyena before. Just flopped on his back and there they went. Not yet testing it on the messenger. "In some way I don't want to go back to the pride like 'this'. Maybe when it is dark.. and i can hide in the den.." She said.. now lifting herself up again and wincing as she pulled the paw close to her.. and start to lick it - trying to get it cleaned from the blood.
He tilted his head to the side at her words, but couldnt' resist the urge to challenge her slightly. “Or is a lie only a twisted form of truth?” He queried lightly, but didn't challenge her further. Lies and truth were difficult subjects, and no one really knew right from wrong with them, it seemed.
He moved closer to her, seeing her wince and knew she would still be in pain. “I can carry you home, if you wish, or I can stay with you until darkness falls. My brothers will not worry until morning if I do not return, so no one will miss me, should I need to stay with you.” He didn't want to leave her on her own, it was dangerous for her, but it could be dangerous to move her as well.
She looked up at him with a mildy bitc* like look. "Oh? I'll let you think that one over and tell me the result." She remarked at his challenege. Like saying 'let me know how that goes for you' while she struggled to get up on all fours now.. And in a swooping motion sorta took a quick drink before trying to strech. Clearing hearing bones crack and manuever as with the sound.. did not play any role.. She didn't even much wince.. just closed her eyes now to retain the pain.. "Im afraid if i let ~you~ carry me, you'll crumble from my now.. huge size." She said sorta embaressed like.. though she retained a calm about her even through that. "Night would be the only time we can move..and try to get me inside my den without anyone noticing.. what hapened to me. If they see their queen like this.. I would be a ruin. Come.. closer.." And when he did she would lean most of her weight on him via her shoulder.. Trying to catch her breath. "Lay with me a while..let the night come sooner." She whispered.. her ears going back. It sounded romantic but having him as a pillow sounded utterly tempting.
Nanashi's breath caught in his throat at the idea of lying with this proud woman, but he knew it would be nothing more than that. Simply lying beside her. She was injured and heavy in pregnancy. He was content with what he had accomplished tonight though. He would lie beside the queen of the pride, and he would stay within her den from this night on. It was progress and he had moved up in the pride, he would be more than simply a member now. What he would be, he wasn't sure, but it would be a high rank, he was certain.
He moved beside her, laying down with a grace that was rarely seen but often observed while he was hunting. “It would be my honor,” he remarked softly, not lying. He laid next to her, as she settled herself for the night, though he didn't think either would sleep well. He would stay awake, to watch over her and defend her, in her injured state, and well, he couldn't imagine Nyoka doing anything as truly vulnerable as sleeping while out in the open, but he was happy.
He had a place in the pride, and he had gained his female. Beauty and strong that she was, he was hers now.
- F I N -
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