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 Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 2:45 am
He dragged his body into the shade and lay panting from exhaustion, his side heaving, his breath hoarse. They hadn’t expected him to survive the ordeal, perhaps, but Rowtag had proved them wrong. Ha! He’d show them. He’d show all of them!
Yet, despite the fact that he had made it this far – close to the edge of the desert land – he certainly was not in good shape. He had not eaten and had spent a lot of energy looking for water, using his Firekin knowledge to track down the precious pools of water that were able to sustain his life until this very moment. His red pelt was practically gold from the sand and his eyes – once a vibrant blue – were dull in his head. His dry tongue curled out of the side of his mouth as he drew his ragged breaths and focused on one thing and one thing alone: survive. The instinct was in him as it was in all. It was strong and it surged through his being, forcing him to press on even when his body screamed at him to give up and let himself fade away. To Rowtag, however, death was not an option. It never had been and it never would. Yet, as the sun beat down and the shade grew less dense around him, he found himself slipping in and out of consciousness.
The flash of desert eyes peeled back to reveal rage and fury. A bloodlust that Rowtag had never seen before in those usually placid eyes of the Regent, Kidondo. Rowtag lay on his belly at his mercy, submissive and pleading, begging them all to listen before they passed judgement. It wasn’t his fault. He hadn’t meant to carry those orders out. He’d been a foolish child when he had forged that promise with Rap. Why couldn’t they understand that? No one had been hurt. No one except an outsider. So why did they bear down on him so harshly? Where was the ‘good’ in that?
“We will not kill you, Rowtag. Death would be a blessing for one who tried to lure assassins to my den. But don’t misunderstand. You will be made to suffer for your treachery to this pride. We welcomed you back, treated you as equals. We did nothing to justify such an attack against us. For your crimes, you face exile. It is agreed. If you ever return here, you will be killed on sight. Do not ever doubt that. I may be a diplomatic lion but we have our limits and rules to preserve. There will be no second chance for you.”
The angry eyes turned away and the lion receded into darkness.
In the black, many glowing eyes winked into being; like ominous stars. Blue, white, green and one pair of flaming gold. Rowtag trembled under those faceless stares and he retreated instinctively away from the flare. The one pair in particular – a fiery golden pair – he realised belonged to his sweetheart. They watched him with hurt and confusion and anger. He tried to reach for those eyes but they must have thought he meant to attack her. The eyes grew teeth and claws and they sank relentlessly into Rowtag’s flesh.
Rowtag startled into wakefulness, trembling with fever and seemingly mad with it. The eyes rolled in his head, seeking to focus onto something and only finding the blue expanse above his head. “Zii!” He called out, his voice rasping painfully in his throat. “Zii’moto…where are you?” Why had she not come to find him? Why was she not here? Did she truly believe that he had meant to hurt her? She had to be made to understand. He would never do that. Not ever. He loved her. Even now he loved her and his heart clenched with pain at that realisation. He had to go back? But how? He was too weak and he couldn’t remember and she might not love him anymore.
He didn’t think he could deal with that.
Panting heavily, he dragged himself to his paws and blinked, his vision wavering as he tried to find his bearings. Then, with swaggered steps he moved out across the land, blinking in confusion at the sudden firmness beneath his paws and the tufts of gold-green grass that spread out in as great an expanse as the desert.
Where was he and…and what was this…this stuff?
One front paw was badly bloodied, sand clumping and sticking to the drying blood that oozed from wounds. One shoulder was badly torn and he limped badly and along the top of his back, score marks were raw and fresh. He was not in a good way. Not at all.
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:26 pm
Most of her family was heading toward the pride. They had finally found a place to settle down and it sounded like an interesting pride however Miw-sher was not ready to be in this pride, not ready at all. She still had a bit of a wandering bone in her body. Yes she wanted to be with her family and actually she was on her way to the pride too but she was purposely taking the wrong way. She already warned them that she would. Okay maybe she was getting a little side tracked but she didn't mind. Not one bit! She had things that she could do at the moment.
She was enjoying her time being alone, she didn't have to share her food that was a start, and she could eat where ever she wanted, and if she wasn't hungry she could just save it for later. That is what she was doing, she had a hare hanging loosely from her maw. She was a very happy creature at the moment, her happy trot showed that. It appeared as if she was going to walk up to her you could hear her purring from a mile away. Although she wasn't purring she was very happy.
She paused as something caught her eye, something red on the green grass that she was talking on before. She was really surprised. She wasn't expecting it at all. She paused for a moment staring at it from a distance She was debating on what she was going to do but as she thought about it she decided that she was going to check out. As she approached she realized it was another lion, she looked at him curiously before he started to wander toward the large male arching a brow as she got closer to him. His condition was kind of sad.. she realized that as she looked at him but she was curious of what he was doing out here.
"Are you okay?" She questioned curiously as she arched her brow at him, she hoped he was okay.
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 6:29 am
Rowtag’s head seemed to struggle to lift at the sound of another approaching and, he narrowed his blue eyes in an attempt to help him focus. His vision swayed and as he turned, he staggered and almost fell. Luckily, his determination to stay on his paws saw him taking a few drunken steps towards her. Blinking again in a vain attempt to clear his sight, he saw the white female moving towards him.
But he didn’t truly see her. Not her as a stranger. A rogue. A passer by who had diverted her path to check he was okay. He saw the flaming eyes of his beautiful Zii’moto, her pristine white fur dusted with gold, the dark marking emblazoned there on her throat. He choked with relief to see her and moved swiftly to greet her, rumbling with sheer joy. She’d forgiven him! She’d followed him across the desert to walk the rogue lands at his side. What had happened to change her mind? Had she realised the truth? That he hadn’t meant for any of this to happen.
“I’m better now.” He choked out, pressing the top of his head to her shoulder and releasing a shaky breath. “You came for me…” He continued on. “You came for me.” Suddenly his pains did not hurt so much and the light-headedness seemed to not matter so much. He might pass out here on the non-sand, but he would not be alone. She would be there to watch over him.
“I never meant to hurt you, Zii.” He mumbled.
The poor boy. When he realised that this lioness was not his loved one – if he realised – he’d be crushed all over again.
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:04 am
Miw Still held the hare in her mouth, her words were muffled and as she thought about it she as surprised that she could talk but his condition really surprised her. Out of all of the years that she lived with her mother and father she wasn't used to seeing things such as this. It was a serious surprise and she wasn't that sure of what to do with it. She flicked her tail around a few times before she watched him get up, she dropped the rabbit not sure if she should run or stay, she really wasn't too sure at all. She looked at him curiously as she touched him.
He wasn't as scary anymore, yet he was much, much bigger then her, she was a small lioness and she had never seen some one that size before. She was curious of where he came from. "I don't think you're better sir." She commented as she backed up a little bit as he looked at her. She shook her head a few times before arching her brow and nudging him gently, as he said Zii she was really confused, her name wasn't Zii, and she had never met a Zii before. Or was she a Zii? Maybe it was a name for smoething else. But wait... He didn't hurt him, she was so confused at this point.
"Sir, I am not a Zii... I don't think I am anyway. And you, you are in no shape for this kind of stuff." She paused before thinking about it, water wasn't too far away she remembered seeing it, but she wasn't too sure if she was going to be able to take him some where else, he wasn't sure at all. He would like to be able to but she really wasn't sure.
She stood by his side, pushing against her a tiny bit letting him lean against her before she started to wander some and then smiled some. "Come, come, we need to get you some water then you can eat." She grabbed the hare in front of her and started to start walking. Her father always taught her to help others and so she was going to take advantage of that.
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:13 am
"W-what do you mean?" He stuttered, shaking his head. He appeared somewhat groggy, his eyes struggling to find purchase on hers and he kept blinking in an attempt to bring himself to focus. "You are Zii'moto. You are..." He trailed off, not understanding what she was saying.
It was only when she moved to his side and began encouraging him to walk that he realised she seemed a lot smaller than he remembered. Then again, his memory was fuzzy. Perhaps she'd always been like this. The voice was the same; kind and gentle and patient. That was the voice of his beloved, he was certain. So then why would she deny it? Was it some sort of trick or...or what? He didn't know.
"Okay..." He mumbled, moving slowly onwards, glad for the support that she offered. "Is it very far? I'm...I'm not myself, but...but you already know that."
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:24 am
"I am?" She was still confused at this point, she wasn't too sure if this was true, again unless it was some kind of code word for something, but she wasn't sure if that was it. It couldn't have been it could it? She shook her head, she would figure this out later. She lifted her head and started to remember where she was supposed to go she knew where it was in her mind, she was sure she remembered it being some where. She flicked her hair around a few times then started to walk toward the water source, she made sure to move as slowly as she could.
She looked at him and then nodded. "No far at all." She muttered in between her teeth as she talked, she then turned toward the male and looked forward once more. "The water isn't that far off and then you can have this rabbit, I caught it not that long ago." She chuckled some as she walked then flicked her hair out of her eyes once again, before speaking up once again through her clentched teeth. "Hush you, you're going to hurt yourself if you keep talking." She shook her head that was the least that she wanted to have the male pass out because he was too busy talking, she wouldn't enjoy that.
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:35 am
He fell silent but the thoughts still raged in his mind. He didn't feel right at all. Was it because of his wounds? Would he return to his normal self once he'd had some water and some food? Did he even want to return to his normal self? After all, being who he was had brought pain to himself and to those around him. Perhaps it was better off if he became a different lion. Someone who never made promises. Promises had led to terrible things and he never wanted to be put in that position again. He'd made so many of them, and they'd shattered all in the same day. Every single one. He remembered the pain again. Remembered the shame as he had dragged himself away from his homeland, angry eyes steeled on him.
They had expected him to die out there in the desert.
But he was Rowtag, Firekin and son of the ex-queen Kenna. He would not give up so easily. Perhaps, even now, his mother was pleading with the Regents to have him return and seek forgiveness. Maybe she would come for him and this nightmare would end. But...but with Zii here, the nightmare was at least bearable. After all, she was the only reason he had stayed behind anyway. He'd never meant to hurt her.
The smell of water drew him back to his senses somewhat and he half-collapsed at the bank, lapping thirstily at the water; cleansing his throat of dust. He drank so quickly that he ended up choking himself, pausing to take a breather and clear the liquid that had gotten into his lungs.
"Why did you come?" He asked finally. "Why? Am I...am I forgiven?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:58 am
As they walked Miw-sher was also thinking. She was thinking about what she was doing to do with this male, he seemed confused and lost and she didn't know what to do with him, what was she going to do. She really wasn't too sure at all. But if she was thinking right this was going to set her back from joining her family in the pride. She flicked her tail before looking at the male as he dove at the water.
she was very surprised at this, she wasn't expecting it at all. She really wasn't wanting to stop him with how much he was drinking she looked at him and moved toward him and then patted her paw gently against his back. "Don't drink too fast." She told him before shaking her head, she really wan't to sure of what she was going to do with im. She nudged the hare by his side and then told him. "You can have as much of that as you want but you have to eat slowly." She told him gently before she sat down next to her sitting back on her haunches and then looking at him. "I... was wandering.... and uh... Sir, I really don't even know your name or why I'm forgiving you." She looked at his wounds before she started to cup some water the best she could in her paws and started to try her hardest to clean out his wounds.
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 8:28 am
He turned his bright blue eyes on her and blinked. They seemed a little clearer than they had before. "You...you're not Zii..." The realisation seemed to come as a terrible shock and he looked at her in an expression that could have been described as horror.
But she was Zii'moto! The flaming eyes the...the...no...no, they weren't that alike. Not really. But her voice. It was so like her's. How could this not be Zii'moto? What cruel trick was this?
He growled, suddenly, and the fur along his shoulders stood on end. "Get away!" He snapped, lashing out at the air between them. "Get away from me. I don't know you and I don't need help!" The wounds she had started to clean were burning again and he hissed angrily between his teeth. What was happening to him? Was he going mad?
"Where's Zii?" He demanded. He was certain that she had been there only a moment ago!
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 8:43 am
Miw-Sher was surprised at the sound of the male, she really wasn't expecting this explosion. Not at all, oh what did she get herself into, she looked at the male and backed up some arching a brow as she did. "Whoa, whoa, whoa sir!" She backed up and then stood her ground, she wasn't about to let the male scare her away or for that mater she wasn't about to get hurt by this male who a little less then twice her size, she wasn't really up for that at all. "Sir! I brought you to this water and you need help!" She huffed as she puffed out her chest and moved closer to him, standing up to him and staring him in the eye.
"I don't KNOW who Zii is and I don't know WHERE she is. But you need to calm DOWN!" She had a bit of a temper herself and for that matter she would always stand up for herself, she didn't like being pushed around that was for sure. She looked at him before shaking her head as she looked at his wounds. "You're going to make those worse if you don't settle down and stop what you're doing." she commented before nodding at him, she wasn't very happy that he was doing what he was doing and she realy wanted him to stop. She wasn't about to let him hurt himelf more then he already had she wasn't one to sit back and let things like that happen. But if he was going to fight against her she was going to fight back.
"You are in no condition to be resiting help."
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 9:06 am
He blew out his breath and glared silently at her. He hadn't really expected her to stand up to his burst of outrage. Normally others attacked back or fled. She was doing neither. Simply standing her ground and demanding that he stop being an idiot.
So much like Zii...
His resolve faltered, and with a low growl, he flopped down onto his stomach and turned his head away from her. If she wasn't going to run away, then he'd just ignore her. Except...now he'd spotted the dead hare and his stomach immediately protested. He was hungry but if he ate it, then that would mean he was accepting her help. Which, for the record, he wasn't!!
He was being rather childish...
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 9:31 am
She was glad to see that he was going to stop trying to attack her, that was something nice, she was glad she wasn't going to be attacked, on the other hand she could see him still being stubborn and resisting her help. This was something that she wasn't going to enjoy she could see it but she didn't just want to leave. She knew that that wasn't right so she wasn't about to do what she taught was wrong. She flicked her hair out of her eyes before pushing the rabbit closer to him and then looking around him. Before sighing and then shaking her head. "You are stubborn sir."
She then looked him over. "Look, if you don't stop being stubborn you're just going to get more hurt or die." she paused for a second before speaking again. "What is your name?" She then paused once again before speaking up. "Is everyone where you come from this big?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 1:39 pm
An ear turned backwards - the only sign that he was listening - and it was a long moment before he gave a reply. Somehow the silence was comforting to him and he was afraid that by speaking, he'd get himself into a confused mess again. And he was confused... Eventually, however, he realised he could answer her questions. He knew his name, at least.
"Rowtag."
He drew in another hissing breath. "I won't die." He said this just as stubbornly; as if it were impossible. "Not now. Not later. Not ever." He would linger on, despite his pains, despite his faults. Condemned to wander the world, but never step back on the lands of his raising. And why? Because of a foolish decision he had made as a child and his want to heal the pride of his family turned beggars.
"Big...we were...all big. Some...some bigger than me." He shuddered. "Their claws sharper. Into flesh. Drawing blood." He began to breath a little faster and was on his paws again, eyes darting nervously from side to side. "You. Did they send you? Are you here to do what they could not?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 10:38 am
A smile grew on Miw's face as the male said his name. "Well, Rowtag, my name is Miw-sher." She smiled as she said her name, she loved her name it was something that made her happy she felt it was something that she should be proud of. She wondered what his meant or if he had a nickname. She was really curious in general about him. How did he end up looking like this. what was another thing that she was interested in.
She looked at him before shaking her head a little annoyed at what he just said. "Well, sir Rowtag," she started a little matter-a-factually. "Everyone ends up dying, eventually they end up dying. You could die tomorrow, or today, or years from now, you never really know." she laughed light heartedly before she nodded, that was something that she embraced and because of that she liked to live the way she felt like. "And in this condition you have an even greater chance of dying." She nodded at the idea it was true. She looked toward the water before lapping up some water.
"Really? Wow..." She didn't notice him getting more nervous, she really wasn't paying too much attention to that however she was starting to look over his wounds curious of what she could do to help him. "They sound huge." She commented before thinking about it she was really smaller then she thought she was, she knew she was small but she didn't know that there were some that were that big.
She started laughing at his question, she felt a little rude but she coudln't help it. "If the're all that big why would they send some one as small as me!" She chuckled some before she nudged him gently just as a warning. "Hold still." She looked closely at one of his wounds before sighing. "We need to take you some where and get some herbs and take care of what you have going on right there." She nodded at the idea then sat back on her haunches some. "Really though, I have no clue of these people you are talking about. I was not sent by them."
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:49 pm
He snorted loudly, narrowing his eyes. What was all this 'sir' nonsense? She was awfully polite considering he was nothing but a torn up stranger with anger management issues. "I die when I say I die." He snapped. Glancing once more at his wounds, standing still as she moved to inspect them. What was she, now? A medic? He blinked, eyes growing distant again and he sat heavily, puffing out a breath of air.
"Herbs later." He mumbled under his breath. "Sleep now."
As he spoke he started to sink down to his stomach, casting her another wavering glance. "You are small." He continued. "All outsiders must be tiny in comparison..." He groaned and after a long moment of silence, set his head across a foreleg and lifted his eyes to look at her.
"I...I think you are not one of them, after all." His eyes drifted closed again, his pain eased by the healthy drink of water.
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