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 Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 5:54 am
However brief, the meeting with his Pure has cleared Sakata's mind and helped him to regain his sense of purpose. Armed with the knowledge that she will stand beside him, he moves with renewed confidence. The curious and hurtful behaviour of his mate is far too easy to push out of his mind, especially since she has removed herself both from his presence and that of the pride. With her out of the picture, the Warleader can focus on his current challenge - the eleven cubs Jinichongo has left to his care.
The situation, once seemingly impossible, has become a problem that he can tackle. Step by step, the meticulous lion works through the priorities. First, the cubs need to be fed. This requires the assistance of a nursing lioness. Problem: he needs a nurse-mother that he can trust, especially in the wake of the rebellion. It would not do for an untrustworthy Minder to tend to the next generation of royalty; look at the damage wrought by the poisonous words of Vunjika. No, they must be nursed by someone he can trust not to betray the pride... or, he smirks, by someone who cannot betray the pride. So while his mind wanders over the next steps, his confident strides take him towards the first solution.
Second, the cubs need to be raised. Properly. He will have a full share in their upbringing this time, unlike his eldest litter. And with the assistance of Takatifu (and Hodari, he grudgingly admits) these cubs will be afforded all the opportunity for advancement they could ever desire. And Sakata means to ensure that their desire to advance burns brightly. Competition will lead to a stronger foundation for the pride; he encourages it among the members of the Claw, and he will foster it within his children. And third... well, that is a matter for another time.
His wandering mind comes to a halt just as his footsteps do, outside a barren and neglected den.
"Malaika," the Warleader growls, and he waits impatiently for her to respond to his summons.
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Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 4:37 am
 It had been months. How many months had gone by since her very carefully calculated, marvelously meticulous plan went asunder? An uncanny amount of time had passed, yet the dark lioness could replay the chain of events that should have ended her life back in excruciating detail. Every word, every movement flashed before her as she witnessed her own self from a third person perspective. She saw the flaws, the small yet significant acts she made that betrayed herself. She saw her time with Magadi'Afya, and cursed the multiple problems from being too... close. Had he not requested her specifically to stay by his side during the encounter with Sakata, she would still have been able to speak, for example. That was a rare moment of weakness; she realized she had not been playing that role for her own benefit, but somehow, a minuscule amount of softness had shown in herself after the nights with Magadi--and especially that night--which prompted her adherence to his wish. If her seer powers could actually reverse time instead of just jokingly reminding her of that incident, there would be so many changes...
She would have done so much, and yet, much of her capabilities were rendered useless. She was useless, and through the months, she represented that exact word - or at least to herself. She did absolutely nothing, brushing off the harsh tongues and even harsher claws of the royal nuisances who actually had claws to provoke her. It was easy to brush off whatever harassment came, the lifetime of putting up a false facade holding its benefits. But when would it all end?
Snorting aloud in the darkness of her den, Malaika had been simply awaiting another day in which another stupid royal child would come and jeer, perhaps bite her ear again. If she was lucky, no one would come - not even for food. Those were the best days she had.
But today was not one of those days. She sensed the slight trepidation of the area in front of her place, and assumed it had to have been one of those larger runts. But the voice broke whatever hope she held in that, and brought a mixture of surprise and anxiety out from her. It wasn't his authority, his presence, or the effects of his punishment that daunted her, but the thought of what he wanted from Malaika. But what did she have to give?
She didn't rise at once; in fact, she purposely stayed in the spot she laid on, sharp eyes glaring at the huge shadow in front of her den. No movement came, and her focused and intent eyes were her only acknowledgment to Sakata's sudden company.
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 12:14 pm
When his 'greeting' is met with silence, the Warleader does not respond. Not right away. It may seem a little surprising to the cousin-turned-slave, for surely she would expect his anger. But he remains silent, because he is suddenly struck by a dilemma.
He honestly has no idea what to say to her right now.
This is not a request that Sakata will make. It is an order, and one that he fully expects she will obey. But the sensitivity of the situation is not lost on him, especially considering the loss she has suffered. The loss that makes her especially suitable for the role he wishes her to play. A frown creases his muzzle as he realizes that he has no idea how many cubs were born, dead before they could take a breath. He has only the word of the Minder that tended Malaika to assure him that they were, without question, the spawn of Magadi.
It was punishment from the spirits, without question. All who know of Malaika's loss understand the reason for it. But does she blame the Mizimu'Tungika, and the rough treatment she suffered by Sakata's order? Or does she recognize, herself, that she killed her own unborn offspring through her unforgiveable treachery? So many questions, left unanswered. And thanks to Magadi's rash actions, she will never be able to answer them.
He sighs, shaking his head, and then steels his resolve. "Malaika," the word is a low growl, heavy with promise, "come out where I can see you." If the Minder spoke true, and she had recently borne and lost a litter, then the proof of it would be clear to the eye. If the Minder spoke true, then the betrayer will serve his purpose. But until he knows the answer to that if, he offers no explanation.
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:53 pm
When silence was met with silence, had Malaika contained more motivation for expression, she would have been surprised. She waited, agitated breath rising in apprehension of the mysterious visit. It almost seemed like Sakata was going to go away - as if he had originally come to visit to insult her, but decided he had done enough to her. It was a foolish thought, but one she entertained nonetheless. Sakata's actions were erratic and by now, unfortunately celebrated within the pride. A scowl remained on her face when she heard her name again, but in the slightest different tone.
She could not understand why the fat oaf needed her, in her weakly state, to come out and see him. Perhaps he had gotten too fat and lazy to come into the den he placed her in himself. Malaika just wished to be left alone, but knew that if she did not come out to the second call, she would experience more hassle than if she had submitted to the command.
Her paws dragged very slowly from her place, the pain of her experience with the war had long since numbed away. The memory was still fresh, however, and nothing the warleader could have done to her now for her lack of promptness would be more painful than that.
She came out, eyes still able to throw sharp daggers at Sakata, and a continual growl rose from her body. She scraped the dirt on the ground before her towards Sakata to remind him of her displeasure and despisal, though it did not reach him. What do you want from me, her eyes seemed to say as she continued her growl and glare.
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 6:47 am
The unspoken message hidden behind her gaze goes unnoticed for now - because the Warleader is not looking at her eyes. Instead, his own gaze rakes across her form, searching for the tell-tale signs of recent childbirth. And... there. Perfect. A self-satisfied grin creeps across his muzzle, his 'mask' discarded for now. He chuckles quietly, noticing her derisive little scuff of dirt, and settles upon his haunches. One thing is clear. Sakata does not intend to leave soon, not nearly as soon as she would hope.
But he does not speak, not yet. Instead, he makes a curious gesture - a wave of one paw, inviting her to sit as if she were... well, not quite an equal, of course, but at least a member of the pride. Nobody else is here to see the courtesy he offers her, but she must know him well enough to understand that he would not make such an offer now if he was not willing to make it again, before an audience. He waits; will she accept the gesture as intended? But after a time he does speak, regardless of her reaction to the offer to sit.
"I would not have done that," Sakata begins, nodding towards her muzzle, her mangled tongue, "I know why he did, I know there were secrets of his that you could have shared with us in some attempt to redeem yourself. But remember that it was not my actions that lead to your unjust punishment." He cannot apologize for what the Dhati king did, nor will he apologize for the punishment he ordered. But a little bit of bribery never hurt, right? "If... circumstances change between us, Malaika, perhaps one day I will reward you with the opportunity to take from him, as he took from you."
But how could circumstances change? That is the question she must be asking herself, he imagines. After a betrayal such as hers, and given her own crippled state, what could she possibly have to offer? The Warleader does not make her wait long for an answer to those unspoken questions. "It was your ambition that led to your downfall," he states blandly, "but ambition is not a bad thing, not when tempered wisely; look at what I have done with my ambitions! Still, I cannot even guess what led you to try your ambition against the will of the spirits. Arrogance? A misunderstanding? If only you could tell me..." Sakata shrugs, then lowers his head to meet her gaze squarely. Since she cannot reply in words, he must be ready to read her intent in her eyes, her gestures, her bearing. Will she accept his offer, or will he have to make it an order?
"I'm here to offer you a chance to feed your ambition, Malaika. An opportunity to regain a place of honour among the Mizimu'Tungika."
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Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2011 1:53 am
Malaika felt violated as she noticed Sakata going over her form with his ominous orange eyes. What was worse, he smiled after doing his "inspection". At this time, Malaika pondered whether lashing out at him with whatever she had for kicks would render her life more pitiful, or add some amusement to her long, long death.
She didn't have to think on it, for only a fool would trifle with the grand of all fools. Sakata. As he sat down, she flinched rather violently than that action should receive; Sakata's presence was very, very threatening, and very, very straining on her mental condition, that the thought of him sitting down for a nice chitchat made her feel excruciatingly pained.
Malaika rendered herself blind to his offer to settle down; she would not have it. She knew no matter her reaction, he would go on with what he desired anyways. Did he want to use her body? To fill it with fat cubs as he did with all others in the pride? He might as well; she was his to do whatever he pleased, and the thought tortured her every living second.
But Sakata was showing some form of compassion. What was this? Sakata was coaxing her by presenting a seemingly reasonable offer? One that Malaika, if given in any other circumstances, would have taken up? Her heart pounded. There was some kind of tomfoolery coming from Sakata's intentions. She did not like anything that was coming from his disproportioned, ugly, fat mouth. Comparing the two of them? Malaika could not take it. She narrowed her eyes during Sakata's ramble, raising herself to a defensive stance. A low hiss started in her throat, and oh, she could not bear the strong desire to just swipe at Sakata's face, to pluck an eyeball out...
Sadly, Malaika was not stupid, either, and knew she could not do that with a clawless paw. But she simply stood there, glaring with all her full hatred at Sakata, letting his words come at indifferent ears.
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