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 Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 12:20 am
..I've been waiting for my whole life!
Everything Shiva'Soheila had been taught. Everything she had practiced and drilled into the heads of her siblings and anyone else who would listen. It was all in preparation of this moment when she, as a Banu would leave the care of her father's harem and become mind, body and soul an asset of her future mate. The one she would prove herself a most valuable asset to, to the point that he would wonder how he'd ever gotten along without her by his side.
Today Shiva'Soheila would be taken away by her Pad.
Every sensation seemed new and crisp, as if this really was the beginning of the rest of her life. The sky had never been more blue or the grass so emerald green. Even the water of the lake at the center of the pride had felt so cold and refreshing that it'd caused her to shiver with delight. She could barely keep herself from singing with joy as she lay in the sun to dry that morning. Grooming silky pastel coat until it glowed with pure perfection. Not a hair out of place.
Shiva had even found time to convince a few birds living on the lands to help her create a collar of flowers for her slender neck. The soft, pink and white petals gently accenting the other colors of her fur, a final finishing touch.
He was sure to drop his jaw when he saw her.
His beautiful banu.
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 12:50 am
..I've been dreading since... I learned what a Banu was.
Atashmah Sayeh still wasn't even sure how it had all come to pass that he was to be become responsible for the daughter of a Vizier. Talk about pressure. He could feel his heart heavy in his chest and dropping like a stone with each step he took on heavy paws. A million thoughts chased around inside his head, circling each other in speedy repetition until they made him dizzy. I barely know her.
The thought tumbled to the forefront of Atash's mind as he recalled the very few, brief instances in which he had interacted with the Vizier, Tariq'r'ad's daughter Shiva'Soheila. If the encounters could even be considered such given the garnet male's penchant for silence and and awkward avoidance of social situations. Strange as it was, the more distanced he became, the more the females of this pride had begun to take interest. They saw... a mystery. A dark horse.
Hell, he'd never understand females.
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 1:12 am
Seconds turned to minutes and minutes to hours as Shiva fidgeted impatiently under the eve of two trees where their branches intertwined. As if the two plants were stretching towards one another to embrace, their efforts creating an elegant archway. It certainly felt as if she'd been waiting all afternoon though the sun had barely moved in the sky. Bright and warm, where it rained in pale beams of heat upon her backside after being filtered the dense canopy overhead.
Every ounce of self-control was forced into keeping still, though every muscle ached to pace in nervous circles. She'd been told to be ready by noon and it was still a little early yet. Too soon to worry right? Right. After all, no Pad would be insane enough to pass up a catch like her. Somehow the thought failed to comfort her. An anxious stomach twisting with jangled nerves, but it was perfectly natural to be nervous on such an important day.
I just have to stay calm. It'll be okay. He'll be here soon. Shiva soothed herself in a whisper, settling for rehearsing a variety of lines she could use for when Atashmah Sayeh finally did arrive.
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:11 am
For as nice a day as it was Atash could barely concentrate on the weather. Tall as he was, it seemed unlikely for anyone to notice given how his shoulders rounded and he stared intently at the ground as if it held the answers to the universe. He knew the landscape well enough to move along his path without fear of running head first into a tree or anything else for that matter. Sensitive ears twitching attentively towards the distinct murmur of a feminine voice. Atash didn't need to see her to know it was Shiva. Reluctantly lifting his gaze just in time to watch the lioness come into view around the last bend.
The young Banu was a vision to behold. A ghostly figure beneath the shade of the forest that attempted to smother her to no avail. Shiva'Soheila was far too tenacious to be muted by anything so ordinary as shadows. The Pesar felt his breath catch, approach stilling instinctively as if he were actually watching an apparition which might have faded had he made himself known to it. Too bad that isn't the case, right?
A familiar voice slithered across his consciousness, followed by several others. But you could make it so.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------It would be easy.
-------------------------------------------...so easy.
You know you could.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Could what? Speak up or shut it. A stoic tone questioned irritably under his breath, feeling the cold chill of dread that seemed to always accompany the strangers that inhabited his mind. The way his muscles twitched and quivered as though jolted by tiny shocks of electricity and his ears swiveled and flicked with the unsettling sensation of being able to hear numerous voices all at once without there being a single person present. So loud at times that they occasionally drowned out the entire world.
Kill her. Kill her.
Kill her. Kill her. Kill her.
Kill her. Kill her. The words echoed between his ears, a seething sort of drone that caused everything inside Atash to tense with uncertainty. He didn't trust himself not with anyone, not when his paws were stained with the blood of the innocent. Others who had the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, crossing paths with the red moon child.
How could he have possibly thought this would work? Shiva hadn't seen him yet, perhaps he could escape before she noticed he'd ever come. In time she would forget and Atash had no doubt that she would be swept up in no time by another Pad soon to follow in his paw prints.
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Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 1:40 am
Too Late.
Shiva had been so distracted with her own one-sided conversation that she had nearly missed the dark Pesar lurking nearby. Almost. He seemed as distracted as she had been and she wondered what had caused him to hesitate where he had. Quietly admiring the tall male's lean frame. Atash was slowly growing out of his lanky, awkward stage. Long limbs were becoming fuller with the solidifying musculature as he grew and his mane was coming in, thick and a rich, dark color like the dorsal side of his base coat.
He was handsome in a peculiar, somewhat haunting sort of way and there was a quiet strength about him that had drawn as much interest from other Banus as it had piqued the interest of the Vizier's daughter. Her heart quickening with elation as, for a brief instant in her excitement, the young female forgot to act with the demure grace she had been practicing since a cub. Bounding towards Atashmah Sayeh with a beaming smile , nuzzling up beneath his jaw as she spoke. Atash! I'm so excited to see you, I feel like I've been waiting forever! I'm ready to come home with you!
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Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:31 am
Startled out of the depth of his own mind by the sudden, unexpected warmth of another body, Atashmah recoiled sharply. Paws scraping against the ground, nearly tripping over his own tail in his hurry to escape the gentle touch, his growl strangled by the panic that threatened to suffocate him. He couldn't be here with her, like this. Don't touch me!
'Tash couldn't even bare to look at her, garnet hues cast aside in search of anything to focus on but Shiva. He knew he was about to shatter her dreams. Nothing good ever came of Sayeh. The sooner they all learned that, the better off everyone would be. Turning from her to return down the path the same way he had come, trying hard to ignore the laughter which rattled his brain mockingly. Taunting him. Look, I.. can't do this. I don't want a Banu. You need to go home.
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Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:31 pm
It was jarring, not just physically but mentally as well, to suddenly be thrusted off as if she were the embodiment of some kind of soul-sucking plague. Stumbling forward gracelessly in the vacant space that was left by Atashmah’s violently sharp recoil. If Shiva wasn’t so swift on her paws she would have hit her nose in the dirt. Shock evident on her face as she righted herself. Even though the space between them was only a few feet, somehow, it felt as though the strange male had placed a canyon before her. An unfathomable distance that she would never be able to breach, because he didn’t want her to.
The young banu felt her heart sink, jumbled nerves of excitement quickly twisting into a knot of anxiety. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Not how it should have happened.
Calm down Shiva, you’ve forgotten yourself, but you can fix this. I know you can. A firm, strong voice coached Shiva from deep within the hollows of her mind. The same critical tone that had been constantly judging her since she was little. Both a curse and a blessing for nobody was harder on the tiger maiden than Shiva’soheila herself.
I.. you can’t mean that. I didn't mean to act inappropriately but--- Though still reeling Shiva was already forcing herself to gather her wits and compose herself. Her excitement had obviously caused her to act inappropriately, but she would prove she was as good a catch as any. No, better. She would redeem herself! Offering a deep bow of submission to show her severe apology.
My Pad, forgive me. I let my emotions get the better of me. It won’t happen again. With her nose nearly touching the tops of her paws she could smell the dry earth so near her face. Slowly straightening into a more proper form before she quietly took up several jogging steps. Following close behind the garnet male, but remaining always just in his shadow.
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 12:27 am
Damnit! Why couldn’t she understand? Why didn’t she do as she was bade like a good banu? Why was she so damn persistent?! He could hear her voice, strong willed and determined, rubbing his fur the wrong way. Atash just wanted her to go. To run away crying the way he’d hoped she would.
He should have known better.
That wasn’t the kind of lioness Shiva was.
As her paws gently fell in stride with his own, the troubled male felt his skin begin to crawl as if thousands of ants marched through his fur. Muscles seized and spasmed under the landscape of his pelt. Seeming to make the mountains come alive and that crimson moon to flicker ominously. Voice boiling over before he could find the strength to stop himself.
Are you stupid? Get this through your thick skull, I don’t want you. I never wanted you. The words that fell from his mouth were his, but at the same time... they weren’t. There was a callousness to them. A cruel sadism that possessed every intention of cutting to the quick with their frankness.
You want to hurt her--------------------
...like you hurt everyone.
It was barely a flash of a thought, but a moments blindness was all that was needed. Claws meant for eviscerating prey were suddenly hooked beneath skin, the plush, wide pads of his paws cushioned against soft fur. Atash was standing over a small body. Shiva’s body. As he pinned her to the ground forcefully. Muzzle wrinkled to reveal fangs that seemed to beg for blood. The idea that they would think I’d want you as a banu makes me sick. This entire engagement is a joke. You are a joke.
Retracting his claws, the burden of Atashmah’s paw shifted to weigh heavily upon her surprisingly fragile neck. And if you can’t follow a simple order you can just... die.
N-NO! Shrewd, red eyes once cutting and filled with a malicious gleam quickly grew round and horrified. What was this? What the hell was he doing? His head was so clouded and empty as he leapt backwards. I.. I.. I’m sorry!
...s..so.. sorry. Shrinking in fear the young pesar turned tail and began to run. As far away as he could get. As quickly as his limbs would carry him.
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 4:28 am
Shiva watched the conflicted lion waver and suddenly become a different creature entirely. It was easy to see it in Atash’s eyes that he harbored demons. Suddenly becoming so hard and merciless as he lashed out at her like a crack of lightning. The breath squeezed from her lungs as every ounce of the growing male hit her with the force of a charging rhino. Pinning her. Dust rising in a curtain around them from the sheer strength with which Shiva was thrown to the ground. Hard enough that even she couldn’t control herself enough not to wince. Lifting her gaze to meet the one that stared right through her, sharp and humorless. As if he were staring at something completely insignificant.
In comparison to the physical assault, it was terrifying. Growled words of scorn cut deeper than Atashmah’s claws could ever reach. It wasn’t true, was it? How could she not be wanted? Shiva had always done everything right. She’d always had all the right answers. She was perfect. A skilled hunter with the voice of a songbird. She was obedient and enthusiastic and punctual with her chores, not to mention beautiful.
Yet here she was. Being turned away before evening being given the chance to prove her worth.
Why didn’t Atash want to love her?
Was she incapable of being loved?
Swallowing under the paw that bore down upon her windpipe, Shiva nearly strangled on her own unshed tears.
I’m.. a joke?
It was mortifying to think that things could have turned so suddenly. Her life had been so promising until now and she couldn’t understand what he wanted. Should she have struggled? Did he want her to put up a fight or did he want her to submit? Shiva barely knew how to handle the situation. Pleasing a Pad was simple in theory, but what was she to do now? How did she get back into Atashmah’s good graces? If she had ever been there to begin with.
And then--all too abruptly--he was back.
Stuttering and mumbling a weak apology. Trembling as he backed away, head ducked low between his shoulders. Running away like a coward. Jarred by the entire situation, Shiva’soheila was slow to pick herself up off the ground. Even slower to shake the dust from her coat as she fought down the sting of tears and followed her new Pad home.
What else could she do? Shiva couldn’t go home. She couldn’t face her mother, but she especially couldn’t look her father in the eye and tell him.
He never wanted me.
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 4:43 am
What was he doing? This was insane. He was insane. I don’t want to hurt anyone anymore.
It was the singular thought that raced through his head as he dashed across the pride lands, the wind tugging at his hair. Dragging it back from his face, not that it mattered. Atash couldn’t pull his face off the ground. Ears pinned so tightly to his skull that they were lost in the thicket of his blossoming mane. Closing out the rest of the world.
I’m scared. Could anyone blame him? He’d always faced this burden on his own, there wasn’t much of a choice in the matter. There was no way that anyone else would have been able to understand. Atashmah Sayeh was the harbinger of misfortune and anyone who got to close was ultimately affected. How the hell was he supposed to take on the responsibility of caring for a banu when he was the thing they should be most wary of?
Ducking his head lower, the young lion forced himself to pick up speed and return to the edge of the lands he called home, where he felt most comfortable. And where he was most out of the way. Hopefully Shiva would leave things as they were and return to her father... but what if she didn’t? A frown of dismay pulling at the corners of his muzzle at the thought of it. Please... don’t follow me!
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 4:45 am
Shiva'soheila: 1.432
Atashmah Sayeh: 1.389
Total Word Count: 2.821
SELF RP COMPLETE
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