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 Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:13 pm
It was much hotter out here than in the cool shaded shelter of the swamps where she'd grown. The sun splashed over her pale coat rather than the soft mud and murky water she was so used to. It was bright, and warm. But she was still cold inside. Cold and hard. It was safer that way. It was better that way. No one could hurt her when she was safe behind her walls of ice and iron.
The young lioness padded across the savanna, her ears laid back in silent complaint about the sun that was too hot. All she had to do was find herself a name, and then she could go back. Back to her brother and sister, back to the place where her parents were murdered and her aunt had lied to her.
Maybe she wasn't in much of a rush to return.
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:24 pm
Nicolieus was enjoying a bit of a sunbath. She was laying comfortably upon a rather large rock. Her eyes were closed and her mouth open as she sat there. She looked almost too comfortable in the warm weather. It wasn't too bad. At least, it wasn't as hot as some places she had been. Of course, she enjoyed the cooler weather over heat.
The cooler weather lacked something that this place had. Her monochromatic friend she had grown attached to. She was confused on what exactly that meant. Did she like him as a friend, or was it something more? She was trying to not think about it for the moment. He confused her so much. She opened one of her dark teal eyes open. Peeking at the land around her, before closing it again. Nothing seemed to threaten her bath.
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:34 pm
Imbali wasn't alone. She stared, intrigued, at the odd looking feline that had draped itself over a rock. It wasn't a lion, that was for sure. Having never been outside the swamps before in her fairly young life, she'd not had much experience with other species. But sometimes leopards crossed through their territories, lone hunters looking for new places to seek prey. The adults were the ones who set boundries, so she'd not thought much of it.
It did make sense that there would be others out here though, beyond the shelter of their swamp's boarders. How very interesting. Perhaps she would meet other cats, and those dogs she'd heard about. Once the idea of being out and alone had frightened her. But now... mild interest. That was about it.
"Hello," Imbali greeted dully, looking over the pale form with the dark spots. She at least looked comfortable out here in the sun that seemed scorching to the lioness.
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:42 pm
Nicolieus heard a voice enter her ears. Of course, this made her eyes open and mouth shut. Her face was very placid as she looked at the other. "Hello" she said in a calm and quiet voice. She tapped her tail upon the stone gently as she looked at the other. Her nice relaxing quiet sunbath was over for the moment.
It didn't annoy her, it just wasn't expected. "Enjoying the heat as well?" She asked the other. She didn't seem like she was, but looks could lie to one. It was best to just ask and get it out of the way instead of just assuming. Nicolieus hadn't ran into a real lion before this. Though, she knew what they looked like from watching them afar. Some where quite nasty and mean. While other's were nice and gentle. She just hoped this female wasn't too mean. Nicolieus wasn't exactly the fastest thing out there.
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:47 pm
She seemed rather calm. Or maybe the heat had fried her mind and made her tired. Imbali wasn't sure if that were possible, but she did think she was tireder than she would be if it had been shady and cool.
"I'm used to shadier places," she replied, watching the leopard with interest. She was a bit smaller than some of the males back home, and she seemed nice enough. Certainly not a threat, even though Imbali was now outside the safety of her pride. "You seem to like it though," the lioness noted. Why else would the leopard seem so relaxed in the harsh light? "Do all leopards like the heat?" she couldn't help but wonder. Maybe she'd learn something she could use for her quest.
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:55 pm
She nodded at the other slowly. "I don't mind it, though I prefer a bit more cold weather. Something like in the mountains." Snow, that was what she liked. Though, she was so use to where she was now, that it'd probably be almost too cold for her. She looked away from the other to scan about the land before turning back on to her.
"You know, I can't be too sure about that." She said honestly. "I believe everyone has their own likes and dislikes. I don't think all of us do enjoy a bit of a sunbath."
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 3:02 pm
Imbali nodded as the leopard spoke. Odd, she wouldn't have thought someone who'd seemed to be enjoying the heat so much would prefer the cold. But maybe she was simply adaptable. The lioness liked being wet and muddy as a cub, but had a preference for staying at least somewhat dry now, and keeping her fur clean.
"I suppose that makes the most sense," she agreed when the leopard said everyone had their own likes and dislikes. "I've not seen many leopards myself, I was curious. You're the first I've met in person," she explained, shifting to settle back on her haunches. She was in no rush, the leopard hadn't seemed to be in a rush, and maybe sitting for a quiet conversation would make her feel less hot.
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 3:08 pm
She let out a small hmmm as she listened to the other. It was funny, they both were similar in some aspects of their lives. "You, as well, as the only lion I've ever spoke to." She said. Her face still showed no change at all. She was always like this, though. It was rare to see a smile, or a frown upon her face. " There is always a first for everything." she added.
Nicki was at ease, seeing as the female didn't seem to be a threat. "I'm Nicolieus." She told the other. "You may or may not call me Nicki, though. That's up to you." Her name was odd for her gender, or at least that's what she had been told before.
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 3:13 pm
Imbali nodded, it was a strange coincidence that they were both each other's first. How very interesting indeed. Maybe it was the work of the spirits? Maybe this would help her find her true name? But what might it be? If she found it, how would she know?
"It is interesting to meet you, Nicki," she said simply, after all, it was honest. "You may call me Imbali if you wish. It is what my mother called me, but it is not my name. I have not yet found that," the lioness explained. Did leopards have Naming Quests? She didn't know. Better to tell her why she didn't give her true name, after all, she didn't wish to imply that she didn't trust the stranger. She simply couldn't share what she didn't know.
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 3:19 pm
Nicolieus didn't really fully understand the female. "Not your name? Aren't you suppose to keep the one your mother gives you?" She asked curiously. Her ears perked up a bit as she looked at the other. Curiosity always got the better of her. "I can't say I quite understand what you're saying on that one." She said honestly.
Did lions always have to get their own names? Or was there something different about this one that Nicki hadn't realized yet? It made her want to stick around, even though she wasn't going to go anywhere any time soon.
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 3:26 pm
Imbali shrugged faintly at the questions. "I don't know if it's like this outside of my pride, but the names our mothers give us are just temporary. They're for what we are as children. When we grow up, we must find the name that really belongs to us, the name that the spirits have chosen. I don't know what my name is yet, I've only just begun to look," she explained, her tail curling lightly around her paws as she spoke. "I do not know where I will find it or what it will sound like, I only know that it will be my true name and with it I will return to my pride as who I truly am."
If she found the name. If she decided to go back. There was only hurt there. All people did was lie to the people they loved it seemed. They lied, or they went away forever, leaving her all alone and sad. The only way not to be sad, was not to be with people. It wasn't hard to figure out.
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 3:34 pm
That was sure interesting to hear. Nicki never knew something like that could exist. She pondered on what the other had told her. "No, it's not like that for most. Or at least everyone I have met. They get a name, and it's what they are stuck with." She told the lioness. "But, not everything is run by spirits. Many don't believe in them." Her included, but Nicki wasn't going to say that. She didn't think it'd be right to say something like that.
After all, she didn't want to upset her. She seemed nice enough, and Nicki didn't want to see the bad side of anyone. Unless if it was the better side of someone.
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 3:41 pm
"...people...don't believe in the spirits?" Imbali repeated, a note of disbelief evident in her tone. That was...so strange... "Then...what do they believe in?" she asked. Surely there must be something. How horrible to not have anything to trust, in a world where so much hurt. The spirits were the only thing that was always there, that she could always turn to. How sad it would be to not have them.
"That's so...so strange..." She wasn't angry because of this, just confused. If the people out here didn't believe in the spirits, then how was she going to find her name? It was like being a leaf that floated all alone down a little creek...
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 3:50 pm
She thought about it for a moment. What did she believe in? Stars. They told a lot if you knew where to look. "Well, the stuff around them. Stars, trees, the land." She told the other carefully. "Gods" She added with a nod. There was many things to believe in, it was interesting in everything that could possibly be believed in and trusted.
"I find it interesting the many things others show about their life style, to be honest." She said with a nod. She noticed the other seemed a little off on the idea of not everyone believing spirits. She wondered if there were a lot of prides like that. Only thinking that their way was the best, never really taking in another's point of view. It seemed almost stupid. Though, she'd never admit that.
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 3:58 pm
"I...guess..." Imbali said slowly, looking around herself. It had been confusing as a cub when mommy- no, not her mother. Her mother had died. When her aunt who'd claimed to be her mother had told her about spirits. She hadn't understood. How could something she couldn't see or touch or taste or hear be real? But now she understood, she could feel them all around her. Or she had, once. When she was small still.
It felt like they'd gone away a bit now. Now that everything had gone cold.
"That does make some sense," Imbali agreed finally. "Though I'm not sure what you mean by 'gods'..." she added uncertainly. It was a word she wasn't familiar with, she thought she'd heard it but couldn't really recall...
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