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 Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 3:20 pm
"Hmm," he hummed out slowly in tune with the strange lullaby crashing up from the ocean shore, shutting his bright eyes and letting the breeze from the sea whip his pale blue mane around. He could hear the sound of the ocean whispering beneath the waves, calling out to him with soothing sounds.
The ocean would never let him walk away from his life here, his duty, it kept him tied down and reminded him that he did this not for himself - but other lions. So why hadn't his father's muse done the same for him? With that thought heavy on his mind, the pale lion opened his eyes with a sigh, then pushed himself up to his feet so he could head back towards the pride. Sometimes a little too much alone time could lead him to bad places.
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Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 3:30 pm
For the first time in a long time, Idril was feeling restless. Lounging about in the sun didn't have the same appeal as it usually did. And she didn't feel like chatting up any of the other lionesses. The white lioness' skin itched and twitched with restless energy. She wanted to do something, perhaps a romp in the sea so she could ponder the strange, soft voices that she was beginning to hear from the little flowers that grew within the pride's lands.
Shaking her head irritably, she rolled to her feet and paced towards the shore. Quiet meditation wasn't her usual recourse, but at the moment, it sounded like the best idea.
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Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 4:08 pm
Rive hadn't really expected to encounter anyone else until he got back closer to the pride, but then again, in the Kizingo'Zaa why was he using logic to begin with? He encountered so many surprises every day that nothing should have surprised him anymore.
"Hello there," he called out as a lioness came into view rather suddenly, as pale as he was against the sand beneath their paws. He spared a glance for the markings up her leg, noting how they were similar to his own and yet extremely different at the same time. Did they represent the sea like his were supposed to? Or were they just some coincidence? He was fairly certain that she was new to the pride after all, as he'd never seen her before.
That was a speculation for another time, because his pridely duties seemed to be catching up to him faster than he was ready for them to. "You're new to the pride, aren't you?" He'd be courteous regardless, because they were duties after all.
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 1:08 pm
"Hello yourself," Idril replied with a hint of an impertinent chin lift to hide her startlement and nearly walking into a strange lion. Smiling and halting her stride, she bowed her head gravely, eyes sparkling with mischief.
"I am indeed new. Sewti was gracious enough to invite me in and explain some things. My name is Idril. And if you see a cub bumbling about who looks a little like me, that is my son, Moqui."
She allowed herself a moment to study the male, admiring his pale colors and they way he held himself. Polite, he was. Politeness was always a virtue, so she would do her best to preserve it.
For now.
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 1:19 pm
"Ah, Sewti," he smiled slightly at the name and glanced around them slowly as if he expected the pale lioness to emerge at any moment. It wouldn't have surprised him, not with the way she was always making her 'rounds'. A foreign concept to a King that ruled a passive pride. "That fiery lioness is actually my aunt."
He dipped his head slightly, a picture of perfect manners although not so much one to show his emotions openly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Idril, my name is Rive." It was a little despairing that he knew so few of the new members in the pride. He made a mental note to introduce himself to more of them, though that could be hard in a sanctuary that mostly let lions wander in as they pleased.
"I'm afraid I haven't seen your son, however," his smile lessened a little here as concern for one of his members took hold, "he isn't missing is he?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 1:28 pm
Idril's smile widened a tiny bit as she noted the control behind the words. THen, as Rive set out his question about little Moqui, the lioness threw her head back and laughed heartily.
"Missing? Hardly! He knows not to leave the lands and he seems content to wander and learn. WHen we want each other we find each other, pass a pleasant moment talking and then we go on our way, Rive."
Though she didn't verbally acknowledge his words concerning Sewti, she filed them away mentally. Instead, she tilted her head to the side and narrowed her eyes.
"So what do you do around here, Rive? I'll admit that i come out here frequently to rest in the sun and I've never seen you about. And d'you ever smile more than that polite little smile?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 1:47 pm
"Oh, well," his concern dwindled as she laughed, though he didn't seem to find as much amusement in it as she did. He did manage that same small, polite little smile - a corner of his lips lifting in response to her own delight. He wasn't rude, and he wasn't upset, it was just another duty to him to make sure all members were present and accounted for.
"Oh, well, I'm the Story Keeper so that probably explains why I don't sit around in the sun very often. It can be a busy job and all." He didn't introduce himself as such because he wasn't after the fame and glory - not from his pride members anyway. If his father ever returned it might be a different story, not that he'd ever admit it to himself. "I try to interact with as many members as possible, but I find myself rather busy taking care of a lot of things. It's a laid back pride but there are still things to be done." He nodded at this, as if it were simply the way of the world, and then her second question seemed to hit him rather suddenly.
His expression faltered for a moment, eyes widening a fraction and the weight he carried lifting to show him for how young he actually was. No wizened elder here - a young male in an old lion's facade. Then he tugged it all back into place and only smiled with the softest little laugh. "I suppose on a good day I might," but since he hadn't yet, it meant today obviously wasn't.
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 1:56 pm
Though not terribly wise, Idril was still a good observer and she knew some of the little signs to watch for in others. And the lightning fast dropping of his mask of serenity told her plenty. He was far closer to her own age then she'd first thought. For a moment, she felt a stirring of pity, and then a stirring of contempt. She still wasn't sure what exactly a Story Keeper did, but Rive clearly wasn't getting much joy of it. And he was young! So why wasn't he trying to enjoy himself? Though she'd never tried it herself, she knew of others who managed to balance work and play nicely.
Sniffing a little, she sat and gave Rive her best Mother Glare.
"Laid back to be sure. So what is there to do that keeps you from taking time for yourself and enjoying it? Tell me. And when was the last time you took the time to smile or laugh and REALLY mean it? Not those polite little smiles and chuckles. I mean, good, hearty, happy ones."
Idril kept her pale eyes trained on the lion. Granted, he didn't really owe her an explanation, but she suspected that he couldn't bear to be rude, so he would stay as long as she spoke.
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 2:32 pm
He hadn't really been planning to get caught up by a lioness like this but he was too polite to just walk off when she wanted to have a conversation - not matter how invasive the conversation was. So, despite his wishes he gave her a suffering smile and sat down as well, submitting himself to her interrogations.
"Well, there are all the pride reformations, though most of those are done. I'm still spending a lot of time listening to my grandmother tell me about all the pride customs that were lost," here there was a slight hint of irritation but he didn't go into detail about it, "and I need to prepare for the longest night festival which is already running behind." His smile dipped a little at this, but he didn't go into detail about this either.
He paused for a long time before he answers her last question. It was mostly because he couldn't remember the last time he had laughed truly and really meant it. "Maybe when I was a cub," he said softly, but it was obvious he was thinking, "with my siblings." He stopped then and just watched her rather calmly, as if he were waiting for another question.
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 2:44 pm
Snorting, Idril waved a paw dismissively, her irritation plain.
"Tcah! If you have to think about it that hard, you clearly haven't done it enough. And tell me, is it your grandmother who keeps you to such a schedule or is it you? Would she really begrudge you a little time to yourself to have fun?"
She paused for a moment, considering. How was it in a pride like this where the most pressing business was sunning, that she had managed to meet what was likely the only truly responsible one in the bunch.
"I will admit that planning a festival would be time consuming. But only if you don't allow others to help you. So, do you? Ask for help that is. You, my good sir, seem entirely too serious and withdrawn. Skive off for an afternoon and just have fun. It won't be the end of the world if you do."
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 3:10 pm
"No, it's not my grandmother, that lady wouldn't ask a soul to do a thing," and his voice was quite gentle as he said this. He thought the world of her obviously, that much was clear. "I do these things because it's my duty to the pride, if I didn't do it who would?" No one, that's who, he'd seen that before.
He was growing a little tired of the third degree, only because she was voicing all the concerns he had deep down somewhere in his conscience. "As a matter of fact, I'm not really supposed to be doing this one alone, but my uncle has been too busy with his new cubs and I don't want to bother him." The Song Keeper was supposed to help him pick out the shadowed hag for the festival, but all those cubs.. Sewti and Nili were quite busy.
"Why does it concern you so much, if you don't mind me asking?" His smile had faded and he was studying her rather seriously now. "Apart from grandmother, most members don't notice how busy I am, which is fine by me."
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 10:39 am
Idril considered his question for a moment before gracing him with a sardonic smile.
"Well, clearly, SOMEONE has to look out for you since you seem bent on staying serious and overworked. So why shouldn't I let myself be concerned? In this pride of lions who just want to enjoy myself, you're the only one trying to work."
She allowed her own expression to become serious.
"Why work yourself to an early grave if you don't have to?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 11:49 am
Her answer, surprisingly, made him smile. It wasn't a full blown, happy smile, but it was still a surprised and pleasant one. Answers one didn't expect could do that sort of thing, at least if they were the good type of answer.
"Because even in a pride all about enjoying yourself, someone has to make sure that everything is in place to let that happen," he shrugged a little at this and glanced out at the ocean, as if something were suddenly calling his attention - whispering something in his ear. He listened for a moment and then turned his attention back towards the pale lioness before him.
"I have to say you're a breath of fresh air, though. Most lions here take for granted what this life offers and forget who makes it possible," he sighed here, his ears twitching as if some voice in the back of his mind had just reprimanded him for his words, "not that I can blame them for thinking so, we offer that kind of life here."
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 1:08 pm
Idril noted the smile and smirked. Well, it wasn't one of those smiles that made others want to join in, but it was a start. And though she might not agree with Rive's obvious work ethic, she could respect his stance. It was a start.
"Perhaps so," she murmured, stretching out and yawning, "but it still seems to me that you could relax once in a while and do somethign you enjoy. I doubt the world would end if you took a few moments to gambol through the surf or smell the flowers."
Or maybe it would, but what would be the point in worrying about it? No, as far as Idril was concerned, life was there to live and enjoy.
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 3:30 pm
"Perhaps not," he said thoughtfully, turning his gaze up to the sky as if it might part and give him all the answers he needed. Was there solace in the clouds? Perhaps, if he thought they were speaking secrets to him.
"I take time to rest once in a while, but it is hard to do that all the time when I have a whole pride of lions that depend on me. The muses would not be pleased if I were to slack off." Perhaps that sounded like a logical excuse, but he was also determined to prove he was better than his father.
He dropped his gaze from the sky then, as if said father's face might appear with a scowl. It was a knee-jerk reaction to the thought, making him snap his head down to look back at her suddenly. "One day, maybe I'll have the luxury of being able to enjoy the pride as others do. My grandparents have retired to a simple life after all."
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