Maisha was making the round Set had assigned to him. It was...thankfully, not too hard. And he'd been in a good mood since the night before, since his Mother had returned then. It even showed on his face, his smile wide, despite his want to look fierce. He stopped, shook his head, and tried frowning. It didn't work. Damn. Maisha sighed, glad his coat blended in rather well with the tall golden grasses around him.
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Black and blue muzzle lifted, scenting the air automatically. The traces of old scents lay thicker here than they had only afew hours ago, proving what he had suspected when he came to this are... there was a pride here, or at leats, a gruop who stuck around. Not the lone wanderers he had so far encountered. This would be his first hostile pride.. sorry.. first 'unknown' pride.. He only hoped they weren't actually hostile.
It had been tough, learnig how to be alone and prideless out in this new landscape. He had pined for the well known paths of his homeland, his regular, on-the-clock patrols. Familiar faces even if they weren't always perticularly happy. Above all, he missed her. But he could not do anything about any of it. He had a mission, and he had to keep going. He would not, could not, disapoint his Queen.
Suddenly another scent, stronger and fresh, hit him, pulled him from his musings and focused his amber gaze forwards. There was someone here... fairly close by... Sqinting he soon spotted the outline of a lean back and one ear. Lion.. for it was too muscly to be a female. But young at a guess...
Sliabh stood up tall, not wanting to spook the stranger. He knew he looked impossing, taller than most lions and muscular from his job, his dark coat and the almost skull-like marking on his face usually gave others the wrong idea. He had already been challanged for no reason other than he looked dangerous. Not that he blamed the other male, there had been a young lioness with cubs close by.
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Mai's ears perked as he noticed the grasses rustling, and a scent reached him. He tried squashing his good mood again, tried getting into a proper Asikari frame of mind. The orange and white leopon's ears laid back and he brought himself to his full size. For an adolescent, he was large...like most of the pride. He had the lean bulk of a leopard and the height from his father. Unfortunately, he was also rather 'fluffy' looking. And he still couldn't squash his good mood.
"What brings you this way, stranger?" Damn. That didn't sound imposing at all. Especially since the lion not too far away was bigger than him.
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Ahh.. there.. the other stood taller. Orange coat, white face.. kind of soft looking, but a male, and clearly a boarder guard like himself, judging from the stance and the greeting. Being careful to keep his body loose and non-threatening, the dark male lifted his head, gaze focused on the one before him yet keeping the rest of the landscape in his periferal vision. He didn't think there was an ambush, but he wouldn't drop his guard anyway.
"Just passing through." He replied back, glancing round out of habit before returning amber eyes to the youth. "May I ask... what pride owns this land?"
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The leopon calmed a bit at that. The way the other guy held himself, though...it was like a less paranoid version of his Uncle Set. Maisha looked the other male over, careful. Huh...didn't look like a demon. Dark...but there was too much white on the guy. Satisfied with that, Mai spoke up again.
"The Mwako'bi'Giza. If you're passing through, I have to warn you that going through our lands or the lands directly north of us is a foolish idea. The pride to our north is a violent one, and they don't like anyone who has as much in the way of pale colors as you do. Or doesn't show the same inclinations as them."
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Dark ears flicked as the younger male spoke, noting and filing away the apprazing look he recieved. If the boy was auard, then he was on the right track, though he didn't seem ready to fight yet..maybe this land was just a peaceful one? Curious, as he hd found himself to be during most of his journey, he finally moved forwards to a more comfortable spekaing distance. The pride-male didn't seem like he would attack and speaking loud to cover the distance was simply a waste of breath if there was no reason for it.
"Mwaki'bi'Giza?" He repeated, filling away the name in his memory. He would be able to update the pride when he got back, of all these new places. North was violent? he wondered who they were. It sounded like the prides were linked somehow, or at least were on speaking terms, that was strange to him and he wanted to know more. "Non-pride are not allowed within your boarders then? And, who is to the North, if you don't mind my asking?"
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Maisha nodded. "Yup. We were founded to fight the pride north of us, and others like them scattered across the lands." He noted that the larger male came closer, seemed less wary. Okay...he could deal with that. If the other got hostile, Mai could hold him off until one of the other Asikari or the Shuuja or Shetani'msasi got there.
"We don't allow many non-priders in our lands because of that. We never know when WE might be attacked, and we don't want innocents to get caught up in things." He nodded, mostly to himself. "The pride north of us calls themselves the 'Aikanaro'hini'. They are demons in lion form."
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Demons in lion form didn't sound too good, he had to agree and he could see why the young male was on alert. The pride, this one, seemed new then, and he kind of agreed with the brief summery the youth had given him. A pride formed to keep others safe from this.. demon tribe.. It made sence, a lot of sense to the guard in him. Nodding slowly in thought he stayed alert, in reality that state never left him, but he was not so cautious, allowing himself to relax and avoid the risk of mucle cramp. If you stayed tence too long, you would actually hurt something if you then had to move fast.
"Thank you for the warning. I will be sure to avoid the Aikanaro'hini. I do not wish to cause trouble for your pride either... and can fully understand being wary of strangers. Though I am curious. You are a guard, are you not? I am a Guard of the Kitwana'antara, though currently, my mission is otherwise."
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Maisha nodded, glad he hadn't taken the warning amiss. He'd heard stories of rogues who didn't take the warnings so well, didn't understand that the mwako really did have their best intentions at heart.
"I uh..." The adolescent was sheepish now. "I'm in training. My teacher says I'm not done filling out yet, and he doesn't want me to be a full Asikari until I do. Knowing him, he's probably not too far off, making sure I don't get in over my head." He tilted an ear to the side, curious. "The Kitwana'antara? Never heard of 'em before." Then again...he'd never been far outside the pridal lands either.
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The sudden shyness actually brought an understanding smile to the dark male's face. Though that feeling of 'ready' never left him. Sliabh never truly settled outside of his own den and had not been home for some time now. Nor would he... he had a mission that would take months.. a year if he was unlucky. Giving the youth a thoughtful look he seeed to consider something. "Asikari... ? And no, you wouldn't have... we do not usually move outside our own boarders, but my mission is special. I am one of the few who can leave safely. We do not allow it usually."
He paused again and seemed to give the stranger a long, considering look. "You will be ready, I think. When your teacher calls you. You have the basics down. You just lack experience. Have you fought?" The questions were all said in the male's naturally soft, deep voice, curious and oddly.. helpful. Sliabh was not a lion natrually prone to arguments, he had infinate patience and never lost his temper. It was part of what made him so very good at his job. And still alive.
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"Asikari is what we call our guards." He smiled slightly. He rather liked the other male, even if he was an outsider. "Why can only a few of you leave? Are most of you smaller than rogues?" That would make sense. Even though one of the scariest demons out there was a small, conniving little thing, from what he'd heard from the Moto and Maji, one never knew. And it wasn't always a good idea to take a chance.
"I've fought, but only in sparring matches. I've yet to have an actual fight with an outsider." Which, he supposed, was a good thing. But...it wouldn't last forever.
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Nodding faintly in understanding, though he had guessed what the strange word had ment. He realised he was enjoying this talk, learning about an actual pride other than his own. Someone in a smiliar position to him.. Considering the question he knew it wa snot wise o advertise just why his pide was restricted, but he settled for part of the tuth. "They are not strong enough."
Humming softly under his breath he studied the youth again. "Sparring is mch difrent from a real fight. When a rogue ttacks you, its with intent. Yoursparing patrnr wont really be aimin to rip your heart out. an attacker wll. He will go for your most vulnerable spots. Eyes, ears, nose.. underbelly if possible.. thats the fastst way to kill, slice them open from below, is the least potected part of a lion."
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"That's a good reason for being careful who you let outside." He smiled slightly. It was kinda like his little niece...Poor Kipofu. She was blind as could be. "I hope you begin to have stronger members, so you needn't worry so."
Mai listened to the other's advice carefully, nodding. Set had said similar, though not in as much detail. "I'll be careful if a rogue shows a want to fight, than." He'd need to talk to his mother and Set, see if they would teach him how to avoid such attacks. "Thank you for the advice."
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Sliabh allowed himself a small sigh, gaze dropping momentarily. He kne the pride wul not be allowed out for a long time to come. It just wasn't possible. But, maybe what he was doing, th hopefully immune cubs he would take back.. would help a little. Surely... eventually, the curse on his people would fade away. Pulling himself back he nodded.
"If they want to fight, they are usually desperate, or mad. That makes them twice as dangerous. Never forget that it is life or death. Do that, and you should be fine." Falling quiet he gazed about. He didn't wan to cause trouble for this youngster, he seemed like a nice kid. Reminded him of his few guard friends back home. He hoped the boy survived long enough to become strong enough to defend his pride, and himself. But, it seemed like the time had come to move on...
"Thank you for the advice.. I'l stay away from the demons."
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Mai nodded, a sad smile gracing his lips now. "I am glad to give it. The Aikanaro'hini have caused enough sadness in the world. I certainly wouldn't want them to give cause for sadness for those you left back home." He must have had someone, family or friend or mate, that he'd left in the Kitwana'antara. "I wish you a safe journey...and hope you don't run across such mad or desperate creatures as those you say pick fights."
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Sliabh may hae been a socially introverted lion, but even he could see the sadness in the orange stranger. Dipping his head in gratitude he offered the other a smile, the image of a certain dark coated lioness filling himind for a momen. Eva'raja.... he did miss her badly...
"Thank you. And you a good day. I wish you luck in becoming Asikari. Maybe I will pass this way on my return trip." Taking a step away he paused and looked back. "May the spirts protect you and your pride." Finally, he turned away from the youth and the pride's border and set off, resuming his journey, mind full of new thoughts. Soon enough the tall, muscular figure simply faded into the undergrowth and vanished from view.
