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 Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 2:31 pm
 He was so happy. So incredibly happy. He had all he could ever want. A pride. A home. Friends. And...a mate. And she was the most beautiful and splendid thing he had ever set eyes upon!!
Altair was supposed to have been guarding vigilantly (which he always had done before today, to be fair) was busy daydreaming about his beloved Makhi. New love. So sweet and fresh and ever addictive. He had admitted his feelings for her and she had returned them. And now they were courting - or dating, if you prefer that word - and it felt quite wonderful. Altair certainly wasn't an old lion, but the sensation had him feeling like a teenager again. Bumbling and clumsy and uncertain but happy none-the-less.
He sighed, shifting on his side a little so that he might try and catch a glimpse of her patrolling on the other side of the border--
--The thought of which brought him crumbling back to earth.
"Damn." Remembering that he was currently on duty, Altair swept himself back up onto his paws, shook the grains of sand from his mane and turned to survey the area, almost one hundred percent sure there would be nothing there.
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Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 2:37 pm
She knew what she had to do, it was simple, meet and greet, but could she do it alone? Taking in a breath her chest grew hot as the sand under paw felt warm and almost meltingly hot. Her silver eyes were on teh dunes, the structural shadows in the distance, and over to where her brother no doubt stepped forward onto the land, making his own peace.
They had traveled so far, from their home, her home, her home she never wished to leave. But she had come to terms with it, almost completely. Having Gaddith with her made it easier, but Mwako'Nakama would always have the heart of a Firekin.
Moving over the dunes was easy, she had trained under her father's watchful eye, even though she was the youngest and smallest then. She tried her best, she strove to become great, and now, now here, she wanted to be accepted into these lands as her home. Perhaps, if it was meant to be, then she could send word to her sister, who she missed so much at this moment, almost wishing that the bright orange pelt was next to her, moving together as one over the dunes.
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Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 2:43 pm
But he was wrong. There was someone out there. Someone startlingly close, in fact. He cursed himself and, settling into his role of 'Guardian', pushed off of his hind legs and moved out across the sand to meet her.
She would not be the first rogue he had met on these borders.
There had been pleasant Shararah. Full of quirks and oddities, but pleasant to talk with. He hoped to catch up with her again soon, to see what she had learned about the oddities of this place, and also to tell her of the strange meeting he'd had with the Goddess of Confusion. An unexpected and somewhat irritating meeting, seeing as the deity had seen fit to blunder in on his and Makhi's first date!!
He smiled now to think of it, but had to quickly rid himself of such things. He had a job to do!!
When he was certain she must have spotted him, he paused and called out to her in his typical polite manner.
"Good day to you, Lady. Can I help, at all?"
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Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 2:48 pm
Quickly a voice rose from the sands and she was relieved she would not have to venture too far within the borders. One could never attempt such a feet in the Firekin borders, and she didn't want to test the potential ferocity of the guards here. Nakama offered a smile and came closer to him, he was larger than her, which came to no surprise. Though firekin females could become larger than the average male, she had still been the youngest and runt of the litter.
Sometimes, when thinking of home, she missed her family so much.
"I believe you can help," she bowed her head some, a sign of respect her father once told her. "I've traveled here with my brother, he no doubt is seeking his own way in to meet one such as yourself. We've traveled far from our home, in search of a new land that we may find our place, but we have never wished to venture far from the sands. The sands are like," she tried to find the words, "a reminder of what and who we left behind us. We heard stories, of another pride in the sands, and, came this way," why did she have to be so formal?
Father would have appreciated it, she thought.
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Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 2:56 pm
"So you seek refuge with the Tuait'tekam?" He smiled warmly towards her, somehow reminded of his old home in the way that she spoke. So formal. So polite. For a moment a pang of homesickness tugged at his heart. But it was brief and soon forgotten. That place held too much darkness to bring back such a feeling for more than a few moments.
"If it is sands that you wish for, this place has much." He smiled. "As you can see."
He bowed his head a little. "I am Altair, one of the Guardians here. We patrol the borders for any signs of dangers, but also for those who wish to join. The pride is open to those who are willing to respect the ways of the lions here. If you like, I can lead you to the lands and point you in the direction of someone higher in rank than myself?"
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Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 3:00 pm
"Tuait'tekam," she spoke, as if testing the name off her tongue. It did not have the fierce feel of her home, but, it was lighter, almost golden like the sand and sun. It tasted of new beginnings. "It is a pleasure to meet you Altair, I am Mwako'Nakama," she smiled and took a step closer to him, beside him she stood, ears listening, eyes looking around.
It was so vast and open.
"I would love to see more, and meet others, to gain approval," was there a test she had to do, some sort of display of strength, intelligence, wisdom? Did she have to prepare? She was nervous. She bet Gaddith was already romping over the inner boundaries on the dunes, waiting.
"Is there, any sort of test, I must pass?"
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Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 3:05 pm
He turned to start heading back towards the heart of the lands, moving slowly so that she knew to follow him. And, when she asked her question, he smiled back at her.
"No test as far as I am aware. I joined here myself, quite recently. To be honest, Mwako'makama, so long as you have a good heart and are willing to help the pride in any way you can, then you should have no problem. A pride is always in need of lions to protect its borders or in which to hunt and provide for its young. There will be a place here for you, I am certain."
He tilted his head. "Were there such tests in the pride you were from - if you don't mind me asking."
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Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 3:11 pm
She smiled, it seemed so simple so...easy. Could such a place exist? All she had ever known was her own pride, and her father's demands. She laughed a little and nodded, "Yes, quite a few depending on the situation," she thought of how her siblings, how her father would say to gain a higher place, almost a higher rank, one had to be strong enough to prove one's self if the time arose.
"I don't know how it was before I was born, but ever since I can remember, I know to come within my home pride, where I traveled from, you had to dual your way in," just like those twins had, and the other bright red lions and lionesses had. "You had to fight one of equal gender and strength, to prove your strength and fire in your heart to become part of the pride. Its so different, to know that no such test is here."
Was it all politics? Or all found in friendship?
"At the very least, I could serve as a guard, or solider, if such a place exists here. My father once told me his family was born for such tasks."
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Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 3:20 pm
"Ah, so you were from a pride of warriors! Can't say I've met too many of them in my time - probably for the best, I would say! Well, I hope you'll find this place to your liking. It's a friendly and peaceful place as far as I'm aware, though it has had its battles in the past."
He pondered a moment. "The title I take. Guardian. It's sort of a double-barrelled role. A Guardian can take the role of a soldier, or alternatively, take the role of the scout. I'm not much of a fighter myself." It was true that Altair had indeed been an assassin, and a very good one at that. But he relied on stealth and sneaking. Out on a battlefield, he'd be useless unless he snuck round when the enemy wasn't looking and took them out one by one, which was a pretty slim chance indeed.
"So, I patrol the borders. Scout out potential threats or allies. It's an interesting job and I enjoy it very much."
He smiled warmly. "You certainly have the quality of a fighter about you. I'm sure a lioness from a warrior pride would be highly valued here."
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Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 3:24 pm
"I just hope that where I hail from would cause no suspicions, in fact," he ears fell backwards a little, remembering the look in her mother's eyes, the moments she last had with her closest sister, the conversation she had had with Kidondo when he found her trying to cover herself in mud. "I can, never return home, so, I don't have ties there anymore, I will send word to my family, of course, but, I would never be able to go back.
I hope that here, what I have been taught and trained to accomplish will serve some use, I want to be on the sand, as a rememberance of my family everyday, so that, in theory, where I step today, perhaps someday, they will step in the future.
The wind carries the sand, carries us, those prone to be born from the golden earth that is pushed and pulled like the waves of oceans. I just hope, as I have been carried here, with my brother, that I can find a place of solace, and permanent residence wouldn't be bad either!" she laughed.
But Guardian, fitted fine, it seemed.
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Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 3:39 pm
He sensed that this female still held a great sorrow about leaving her home and decided it would be best not to ask her too much on it. Even still, he did not think it would be an issue. Where she hailed from should not have any effect on her joining here so long as she had a good heart and meant no ill will towards any lion here.
"Life can bring many surprises. Some good and some not so good. But to truly live is to face those challenges, allow them to shape us, and move on. You are perhaps stronger for making the journey here. And I hope, that by being here, you grow stronger still. You may be apart from your family, but they will always be close if you hold their memories tight." He paused, thinking of his own brother.
"I'm sure you will find your place here just as many others have, Mwako'nakama."
He lifted his head and directed his gaze towards the temple. "Our leader - we call him Pharaoh - goes by the name of Muroki. His Queen is Johari. They are fair rulers indeed. There is also a strong emphasis on religion here. I have yet to get to grips with it completely, however, and if you'd like to learn more, you'd be best speaking with one of the Priests or Priestesses."
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Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 9:11 pm
Muroki and Johari, she would remember. "Most of my family is behind me, in a manner of speaking, but I am grateful my brother is here with me." He had been with her the whole time, even if she hadn't, and he hadn't realized it yet. To think, she was huria for her color, and he was huria for his namesake. She always wondered if her father had planned it to be so, once she had been brought into the sun, exposed.
Mwako'nakama just hoped her family would live on in the firekin as true firekin, and hoped that if her family were to grow, that no other would be cursed with a pelt color of her own, or namesake that would disband them from their home.
Perhaps, then, she could be a lesson of light, a forewarning of the possibilities.
"Is there anything certain, that I am supposed to learn or know first and foremost? Is there anywhere I should not go, anywhere sacred?"
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Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 1:24 pm
"That is good. Family is...it's very important." He nodded, thinking about how one moment of weakness on his part had severed all ties he had once had with his family. It still pained him, but the pain was quicker to ease now.
"Not so much. There are sections of the temple where most cannot tread. The only exceptions being the Pharaoh and the High Priest or Priestess...if I have that correct. Otherwise the pride is fairly open." He nodded. "All the lions and lionesses I met here have been very friendly. There are other species here, too. Mainly animals like jackals that have roles within the pride and are not looked down upon as might be in other prides."
He smiled. "But don't worry, I'm sure you'll get the hang of it in no time."
He pointed. "In that direction lies the water source, the temple - as you can see - sits by the mountains. It is actually a rather beautiful land. I never thought of deserts as beautiful until I cam here."
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Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 1:30 pm
"The desert and sand will always have a special place within me, that, and the sun itself," the fire that gave life to the world, if only she were so fit a flame to ignite beings into the world, and find a peace in herself. The warrior in her wished to fight, to defend her land, to avenge herself, almost, but, she loved her home as well, as she wished to love this land.
The temple was larger than any structure she had witnessed, the mountains, were a glamorous sight. Her silver eyes were bright with excitement, and the possibilities that lay here, awaiting her arrival with the moving sands touched by the wind's grace.
"Am I able to explore a bit, while I search for others, and make myself at ease here?"
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Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 1:33 pm
He smiled, looking across at her as she let her eyes explore the landscape, taking everything in. He hoped that she came to love this land as much as she had loved the land she had left.
He also hoped that her brother was here already, or that he was not far behind. It would help her settle far quicker to have someone she knew at her side.
"I'm sure that will be fine, I'll alert the necessary lions to your arrival and see to it that you're given the run down of everything you need to know."
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