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 Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 2:37 pm
"Come on, come on, up we get. I've no time to hang around this morning." The jackal gave the lioness a hard shove to wake her from her slumber and then stood back to see if it was enough to stir her fully.
To most, he could seem rather mean and cold, but Yuma was not really either of those. He just lacked a sense of humour, lacked patience, lacked normal social skills. But, a good carer he certainly was. Sometimes his charge needed more force to get her up and about and today was one of these days. Besides that, she seemed to be improving and was less skittish than she had been. She'd even gone off to the water hole by herself the other day! (He didn't realise that she'd actually found another to escort her). In any case, his worries of her had soon be eased when she returned to the den to find him pacing back and forth, deciding on the best course of action.
So, yes, despite seeming somewhat harsh, it was clear he was growing attached to the silent female with the mysterious past.
Anya, stretching, gave Yuma a somewhat grumpy face before rising slowly, taking the time to stretch each limb before moving out slowly into the sun. She was still careful with her steps, still scanned the desert before making a move, but she certainly didn't seem frightened that someone was to leap upon her and attempt to kill her.
After that she sat and lifted a paw to groom her scarred face. It was still sore but healing well now.
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Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 6:21 am
Legs burning the lion ran towards the pride from across the red desert sands. It was warm and clear - no wind to scatter the sand in his face- and so Runako had decided to go for a run. It was times like these that allowed him more time to think and mull over things.
Usually it was about the pride or his brother.
But lately the lion kept thinking back to the incident at the oasis. Who exactly was that lioness? Shaking his head he tried to push her out of his thoughts, but somehow still ended up seeing her in front of him. "Stop that." He growled to himself before stumbling over a rock hidden by the sands. Rolling the lion found himself looking up at the familiar lioness. Startled it took him a minute to roll over, "So you aren't a mirage after all." He whispered peeking over at her sheepishly.
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Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 12:31 pm
She practically squealed in fear as a lion came tumbling out of nowhere, clearly having tripped over something hidden in the sand. She had flattened herself to the sand in a split second, but now that her eyes were open, she could see who it was.
Runako!
She smiled somewhat hesitantly and rose cautiously back onto her paws, nodding a little in response.
"Mirage? Mirage?" Yuma interrupted, trotting up to stand beside the lioness and peer up at the male lion. "Wait, hang on a moment..." He glanced between the two, head canted questioningly.
"You're not afraid of him?"
As Anya shook her head, the jackal brightened, his tail wagging a little. "Well, this is a surprise." He snorted happily. "I am Yuma and this lady...well, I call her Tuli."
Swahili for silent.
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Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 12:54 pm
The lion pulled back before seeing her smile. Instantly a smile lit his face as he looked back at her. So she did remember him! Runako's tail flicked in the air happily before the jackel made him jump in surprise.
"Oh-hello." Runako tilted his head before nodding, "Nice to meet you, Yuma." He paused at hearing the jackel give the lioness a name. Tuli? "So you call her Tuli?" He finally asked though his soft gaze was on the lioness. "Is that okay with you - I mean for me to call you Tuli?" He asked quietly before blinking, "Oh! I never did get to tell you my name. I'm...Runako."
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Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 1:03 pm
She smiled, nodding, glad that he didn't seem to be offended at how she had run off the last time they had met. He was perhaps the first lion she had actually relaxed around since the incident.
She nodded fiercely, not minding the name at all. She had no way of telling them her real name, in any case, and Tuli - at the very least - was a pretty one.
She lowered her head and gave Yuma an affectionate nudge. She really was very fond of the canine helper.
Yuma nodded. "I'm Tuli's...uh...caretaker, if you will. She was assigned to me until she feels comfortable enough here in the lands." He nodded firmly, wondering whether - if that time came - she would start speaking again.
"Apparently, seeing as how she didn't run away at the sight of you, she certainly is improving." He wrinkled his snout. "Are you new here, Runako? Can't say I've seen you before."
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Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 3:50 pm
Runako smiled, "Alright, Tuli it is then." Or at least until he could figure out exactly what her real name was...but maybe it was actually Tuli? Shaking his head slightly the lion attempted to push the thoughts out of his mind.
"Ah. I'm glad that there's someone here for her." Runako sat back and nodded at the jackal, "Not that I don't think you can take care of yourself-" He quickly added sheepishly peeking at her before looking back to Yuma. Flushing he remembered his first encounter with her and how that one had ended. So was she really improving? He looked over at her curiously before pausing at the jackal's question, "New? Yeah - I mean, I've been around but yes I haven't been an actual member for that long."
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Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 12:42 pm
Anya was content to sit and listen to them talk, glancing fondly between the both of them. She rather liked this Runako and he was one of the first male lions she had come across who had convinced her that his intentions were only good.
She took heart in this, feeling that she was finally making some progress with her confidence and setting the past behind her.
"Hopefully she will not need me forever. The plan is to bring her back to her normal self. I would very much want to learn her real name sometime, and to see her happy rather than a nervous wreck. She was found out in rogue lands by an avian, half-dead and frightened to death. The avian brought her here, hoping that she might feel safer in a pride where she could be protected from the ones who hurt her."
His tail slowed in its waving as he regarded her thoughtfully.
"Until that day, however, I will be her voice as best as I can be." He turned his bright eyes to the lion again. "It is nice to meet you, Runako. And better still to know that Tuli has finally found a friend here."
He was sure, now, that it would only be a matter of time before she found her voice again.
"We were just heading out for the morning. You are welcome to join us, if you wish."
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Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 12:54 pm
"Ah." Runako's gaze softened as he looked over at the lioness. He would love to know her real name as well. Not to mention seeing her happy. Already he was thinking - what could he do to help? To make Tuli happy?
He frowned when Yuma mentioned the ones who had hurt the lioness. If he ever found out who it was that had scarred such a beautiful face, that lion wouldn't get away with it. Runako looked back to Yuma with a smile, "It's nice to meet you as well." He looked sheepish at being called a friend and looked over at her with his silent question. Did she consider him a friend? The thought made the lilac lion rather happy.
"Of course!" Runako blurted out before taking a breath and nodding at the jackal, "I mean if it's no problem then I would love to join you two."
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Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:02 am
Anya's eyes brightened and with a nod and a small flourish, stepped out to stand beside the male, glancing back at Yuma expectantly.
Yuma - encouraged by this act - gave a short nod. "Certainly not a problem. You seem to do her good. Well, if that's decided, let us go! We were going to be heading first to see if the hunting party has brought anything back, and then onto the temple. Anya is ready to begin her training as an Artisan."
He smiled warmly, which was unusual for the jackal, clearly he was happy that things were looking up for his lioness companion. "And you, Runako? Are you a Guardian, perhaps?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 2:03 pm
His gaze brightening the lion smiled at her before looking back to Yuma. "Sounds good to me." He commented softly before blinking, "An artisan?" Runako smiled, "That's great. The artisans really bring beauty into our pride. Unlike me whose talent is accidentally breaking things rather than creating them. Would- would it be okay if I watch you sometime?" Shyly he looked over at Tuli.
Hearing the jackal correctly guess his role the lion nodded. "That I am."
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 8:17 am
She was grinning at him, her silent chuckle bringing a sparkle to her eyes that had not been there since she had arrived in the lands. Yes. It was clear that finding dear friends was going to be the key to her finding herself again.
She flushed under his compliments and, after a bit of thought, nodded, though she hoped she'd be more practised by then. She didn't want to seem like a total idiot and mess it up when she had an audience! The shame of it!
Yuma was already preparing to encourage Anya to spend more time getting to know others, particularly this young male who seemed to have impressed himself upon the young female.
"A good job indeed. Clumsy or not." Yuma laughed. "You help keep us all safe, though I have to say since I have been here, I have never felt unprotected, even when the pride was much smaller. It is heartening to see how much it has grown since my coming. So many new litters. So many new arrivals."
His tail wagged. "The temple thrums with life whereas once it was almost lost to us."
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 11:50 am
He grinned back while his eyes gleamed with quiet laughter. "Great! I'll make sure not to get to close just in case." He added with a playful wink before looking back over to the jackal.
"Thank you." The lilac lion smiled, "It's the least I can do for this pride that has become home to me." He nodded thoughtfully at Yuma's comment. This pride really had been through some rough times before, but now a light of hope was on this desert sanctuary. He was happy to witness all the new comers and litters that brought such life to the temple. "It's amazing how things can change with time." He agreed though his gaze flickered over to the silent lioness.
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 1:49 pm
"So you were a rogue before? Or did you come from another pride? What was it that lured you here? Forgive my curiosity if you don't wish to answer. I myself left my homelands and family to seek a greater purpose. I did not want to just...plod on and on as some do. I sought the rogue lands until I came here. It was refreshing to find a place where I was respected, and so I came to settle and threw myself into work amongst the lions who lived here in the temple."
He turned his eyes towards the pink and white female. "And of course, as you've probably gathered, Tuli came here to recover from her...wounds."
He brushed fondly against the female lioness. "It seems to be working well."
Anya met the lion's gaze somewhat shyly, smiling a little as she realised that she was indeed beginning to heal. Her fear was slowly beginning to dissipate.
Without warning, she lowered her head and brushed a tongue across the jackal's head, 'mussing' up his fur and laughing silently at his huffy expression.
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Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 10:37 am
Runako looked at the jackel thoughtfully, "I was a rogue before and was seperated from my family early on due to some...family issues." He paused before adding with a hint of bitter humor, "I was lured here because I was tired and wanted to rest. Then the pride just grew on me." It was true, though he never expected to find a pride in the sands that gave him another type of peace other than what he had originally sought out in the desert.
The lion smiled faintly, "It does." The exchange between the lioness and the jackel made him grin happily. It was nice seeing her like this rather than what he had originally found that day outside the oasis.
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Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 3:51 am
"Some might think it fate, to hear your story. I was never much a believer in fate, but I must say, looking at the world now, there have been so many coincidences it almost seems silly to think of them as such."
He blinked. "Now, I'm starting to think things happen for a reason."
Anya nodded, smiling. She believed exactly the same.
Ahead of them the temple loomed and she paused briefly to look up at it. It was a magnificent thing, though it had disturbed her at first, with its straight and unnatural lines. However, now it was a great source of comfort and knowledge.
Giving Yuma a nudge, she bid them farewell with a small bow of her head. Then, she moved away towards the temple for a lesson.
With a smile, Yuma turned back to the male lion, nodding appreciatively. "She likes you a lot." He stated, though by now that was obvious. "She needs people like us to look out for her whilst she heals. I've no doubt, seeing her like that, she'll soon open up. It'll happen quicker, the more there is of us to be there for her."
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