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 Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 10:42 pm
 Kornelius: Recovery, for him, was a lot slower and far less comfortable than it had been for Caspian. For one thing, Kornelius had suffered multiple injuries at the claws of his former pride-members. The heat stroke had him unconcious for the majority of the days following his rescue. As a final blow to his body's turnaround, he was hardly a young lion anymore and his body, as with all things, was taking its sweet time in regaining its strength. Caspian had worried over his mentor, pacing restlessly at the mouth of the cave, assisting in treating his wounds, and fetching water every time the elder opened his eyes. It had been a miserable few days and very little improvement was seen for all their efforts. On Kornelius' part, reality came in blurry flashes. He didn't remember opening his eyes, drinking, or chewing on small mouthfuls of meat to sustain himself. He remembered, faintly, the tornado, the flashing jaws of Miraz' goons, and the hot, merciless sun overhead. That dusk, the elder's eyes cracked open once more. However, unlike the other flashes of waking, he was slowly becoming more aware of his surroundings. Clinging to sense, he forced himself to take in details, divert his mind away from his weakened state. Soon his eyes fell on the golden brown back of his former prince.  Caspian: Caspian, oblivious to his mentor's waking, sat miserably at the mouth of the cave. His mind continued to replay the events from the last few days over and over. Miraz had sent his minions out... he'd abused and nearly killed an elder....it was likely a set-up. Kornelius would have been beside himself with worry upon hearing of Caspian's exile. It was likely Miraz allowed him to escape so the others could follow... His eyes gazed, unseeing, out towards the lake in the distance. Gaddith was taking the day off and was likely making a show of himself down by the waters. He loved the attention and delighted in impressing the females of the pride. Caspian's maw twisted. It wasn't a horrible trait- at least he wasn't acting on his shameless flirting. He seemed to mean well enough.  Dafina: Since arriving the goddess had opted to stay for a while. She said she'd come to visit her grandmother anyway, and was going on her own skybound patrols to keep an eye out for more trouble. Since then Dafina and Matifu had to resume their duties, but for Dafina it was a bit harder. She was distracted by thoughts of Kornelius' progress, made more apparent by the fact that Caspian was worried about it so she in turn was thinking about the two quite often. She came by to offer moral support, sometimes she went when the healers, for there weren't many, were busy. Her practice was done for the day so she had first stopped by the lake to meet with Maa-nefer as promised, but afterwards she began making her way towards Caspian and Kornelius' temporary den. Mostly it was his age that had her concerned, especially since she knew they weren't accustomed to the heat that their lands boasted. It had to be taking it's own toll on the elder. "How's he doing...?" She asked Caspian softly once close enough, brown eyes expressing genuine concern as she looked at the golden coated male. Caspian: His posture rose, but only slightly, as Dafina approached him. He tried to little avail to keep his concerns to himself. The pride had done so much for him, it seemed like robbery for him to neglect his duties and mope about as he did. However, after his father's passing, his old mentor had become the only stable role model in his life. His source of knowlege... not only that, but he owed the lion his life. "He's...not moved much." He said quietly, his eyes drifting back over his shoulder. To his great suprise, the purple eyes of the elder stared right back at him. "...professor?" Kornelius: "Or what's left of him." Kornelius chuckled weakly. He didn't spare an ounce of energy to lift himself up or try to settle into a more dignified position on the ground. At a certain age, it was rather pointless to try to save one's dignity over saving one's skin. It would be a slap in the face to all his rescuers to reverse the days...weeks? Hours? Of hard work they'd spent keeping him alive. Dafina: He needn't have tried to hide it, but if she knew she wouldn't blame him for trying. Her ears twitched as Caspian called, leaning enough to look into the room at the old lion on the floor. She excused herself past Caspian to enter the den, wanting to see if there was anything they could do to make him more comfortable. She tried to pretend not to notice that passing so close still gave her a little tingle down her spine-- then was certainly not the time. "Are you thirsty, or hungry?" She asked, keeping her voice down. "If there's anything you want or need, just tell us."
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Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 1:52 am
Caspian:
Caspian excused her past him only to tag along shortly after. He moved quietly, his brow creased in concern. Before he could make the inquiry, Dafina asked after the needs of the elder. He smiled softly, allowing his eyes to drift down to the prone form of his former teacher.
Kornelius:
"A little of both to be honest." Kornelius admitted, "But water for now will due. I don't think food will settle well right now... though more than anything-" He looked past Dafina to his former prince, grief and concern flooding his own features.
"....what happened?"
Caspian:
Caspian, finding it hard to meet the elder's eyes, turned his head. "Perhaps we should discuss that when you are feeling better."
Dafina:
Food was not easily kept on hand, but water was. Since it was his only request she was able to retrieve it while he and Caspian had their exchange.
Not much was kept in his room, but the supply was refilled regularly. Much like she had for Caspian during his days healing she filled the shell and easily returned with it, setting it down within Kornelius' reach. Her eyes darted towards Caspian at his words. It wasn't her place, she also didn't want to be intruding.
"Here, Kornelius. Would you like some help?"
Kornelius:
"Oh no... you will tell me what happened." The elder rolled himself onto his belly and slowly brought the shell closer to himself. His throat was painfully dry and sore. His entire body ached- he wasn't about to deal with the headache of trying to come to his own conclusions.
He smiled over to Dafina and shook his head. "No, but thank you. A little movement on my part might be good for me."
Caspian:
"I...ran. Like you said." He began, his eyes going distant. "Behind me... Glozelle and his men came. I managed to put some distance between myself and them by fording a river, but soon enough, they were on my tail. I had no choice but to turn to the desert."
Kornelius:
"Only dead lions-"
Caspian:
"I know. And they know...which is likely why they did not follow me." He lifted his eyes, glanced over to Dafina and brought a small smile to his maw. "But... I was rescued."
Kornelius:
"Thank the mane for that. You were reckless."
Dafina:
She had to smile a bit. The bond between the two was impossible to miss, like parent and child almost. She made sure to keep an eye on the elder as he drank. He probably already knew it and didn't need her to watch for it but she wanted to be certain he'd pace himself. She smiled back and nodded at his decision, for the moment slipping her tail down to wrap around her paws neatly. She didn't interrupt the conversation, focused on her task until she felt Caspian's look, then Dafina met his eye and pretty much missed Kornelius' reply. She smiled back quietly.
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Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 2:13 am
Caspian:
Caspian's whiskers flushed and he looked right back to his teacher, finding only a critical, calculating look. Feeling caught between a rock and a hard place, he continued.
"I was...found on the boarders of this pride. Dafina-", He nodded to the lioness at his side. "And a few others nursed me back to health....they gave me a place here."
Kornelius:
"Hm...", The elder took a few laps from his shell, allowing the water to seep into his aching throat and calm the burning.
"Is that why you stay here now? Because you were taken in? Or...is there something else? You have a kingdom that is without a fair ruler."
Dafina:
Her nose twitched a little. That was cute, that reaction just then. Her attention slowly came back around to the conversation as Caspian explained. At Kornelius' words she cast a worried glance to Caspian. Naturally there was the chance, the likelihood (and rightfully so) that he'd want to return to reclaim his home some day, she hadn't let herself think about the what-if's much, it seldom did much good. What about Capian though? Would his teacher's words bring up scars that hadn't even started healing yet? Would he decide to go...?
It was either to avoid staring or because she didn't want him to see the conflicting emotion in her eyes, but Dafina shut her eyes quietly, a reflective look on her face just a bit betraying her own worries.
Caspian:
"If I return, they may still be without a just ruler." Caspian pointed out quietly. His father had been killed when he was just a youth, leaving him with no guidence in how to maintain a pride, protect the boarders, and keep watch over his citizens. Miraz had taken the responsibility and had shooed Caspian away to his studies whenever the oppertunity presented itself.
Kornelius:
"Perhaps, perhaps not." The elder reasoned. "However, having a young, inexperienced ruler is far better than having an experienced tyrant."
Dafina:
Much better, in fact, when put that way. Her thoughts went to Muroki and Johari, neither of whom had had any training in leading, and finally she couldn't keep entirely quiet anymore. "I don't mean to pry... but Caspian, you should know that the pharoh and his mate weren't born or raised of royalty themselves." Well, Muroki was a nephew of the king, but he'd been raised into a hunter's family, his bonded familiar once would have been proof of that, and Johari was "just" a huntress from a recovering pride herself. "They had one another, though, and their friends. This place is flourishing again, now. With supporters at your side. I'm sure that you would make a very good king."
It wasn't that she wanted to see him go, but she'd have to be blind not to have noticed how it was hurting him to know all that had happened since his flight from home, the crimes of his uncle Miraz.
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Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 12:36 pm
Caspian:
He didn't look any more comforted by Dafina's words. Both she and Kornelius had a point...anything was better than a tyrant, and it wasn't always a matter of age and experience when it came to a worthy ruler. A small part of him longed to return, but at the same time he knew he faced pretty difficult odds. For one, he had no supporters. He couldn't ask any one of his new friends to accompany him, abandoning their pride and risking death. Kornelius had barely escaped with his life. With a grimace, he realized the elder might still meet his end in his current state.
He glanced over his shoulder as a voice called out for Dafina. Apparently, there was another in need of mending.
"Go on... I will keep watch here."
Dafina:
Caspian likely wouldn't notice, but Kornelius might, the look of some form of disappointment that flickered across her eyes as she watched Caspian a bit sadly. She too was pulled from her thoughts when she was called so that by the time she looked to Caspian again that look was gone. She seemed calm instead, if not reserved.
"All right. I'll be back." The golden girl replied, rising to all four paws with a nod of her head to Kornelius, then moved to slip out of the make shift den with just a bit of her usual confidence missing from her step.
Caspian:
Caspian nodded quietly, his eyes too set on the ground to note the suprising change in poise and posture. After a few long, silent moments he laid himself down on the ground and brought a paw to his forehead.
"...Professor... I cannot face my uncle right now. Miraz has grown strong... he sent his men here, and that was only a fraction of one unit."
Kornelius:
"I know that, lad, however.. you cannot sit here forever and allow his influence to spread. As his strength increases, so will his territory." The elder lion pushed the now empty water shell away and slowly shifted his weight so he was laying on his belly, facing his former prince.
"Other prides will fall under his influence. Good lords and kings will die at his claws. Their traditions will have the life wrung out of them just as ours was. The gods, the golden days, the just kings of our past- all that will be lost if you remain here."
Caspian:
Caspian's expression grew more and more grave, his ears falling against his mane and his eyes burning into the ground. "I cannot face his armies alone."
Kornelius:
"Perhaps not. Certainly not alone, but if you simply sit here and accept that, nothing will be resolved. Start growing stronger, start finding those you can trust, boy. Start recruiting allies and good, noble lions to fight for this cause."
Caspian:
"I cannot fight for a cause that is not theirs! This is their home, their pride is healthy and flourishing! Their culture is...." He winced away from saying strong. There were points in their culture he couldn't agree with, and individuals displaying behaviors he'd label as downright sinful. "...their traditions are in place."
Kornelius:
"I understand that as well...but as Miraz bided his time and brought strength from the outside, so too must you." He rolled his shoulder, working a tight knot out of it as best he could manage. "A god came to your aid."
Caspian:
"A goddess came to their aid." He corrected him softly.
Kornelius:
"A goddess that Miraz does not believe exists." Kornelius pointed out. "A goddess is one of many. In the old days, we lived alongside the gods, boy. They were our friends, they were our saviors, our protectors. When we turned our back on them, they turned their backs on us."
Caspian:
His eyes went wide as tension rippled over his body. "You want me... to appeal to the gods for help? By the mane, professor, I'm just a mortal!"
Kornelius:
"A mortal with a just cause. A mortal who seeks to restore the relationship between the divine and the mortals. A mortal who, despite all odds, survived what should have been a death sentance. This is not your place, your heart is not here....though it seems your heart is beginning to drift towards someone..."
Caspian:
"Not now, professor..."
Kornelius:
"You need to be honest with yourself." Korenlius offered gently. "You know who you are, who you were born to be, and what you were born to be. You were spared from your uncle's paw, you learned what most of your pride would reject, and when it came time to end your life- you were yet again spared. This does not happen by chance. You of all lions should know that."
Caspian:
True to himself...
He could almost hear his father in the back of his mind. A strong, proud lion with noble intentions... but their ideals had been distorted generations before him. His pride had become diluded. Filled with slander and pride well before Caspian VIII, his late grandfather...
Kornelius:
"You must give me time."
Caspian:
"You have it. It's not my life that hangs in the balance, you know. But there is wisdom in doing a task right. Even at this cost."
Dafina:
She returned shortly after going, it was going to take longer than she thought, since her mother wanted to speak to her after, and someone was asking for help in the artisan training quarters. As she brought herself back towards the den she unintentionally heard Caspian's request for time. She couldn't help but wonder what they had spoken about...
"Caspian, Kornelius?"
She called ahead to warn them she approached, a moment later rounding the corner of the doorway, but not entering.
"I'm sorry, it looks like I'll be longer than I thought. I'll come back later to see how you're doing." She spoke to the Elder, but then cast a glance to Caspian, offered both a small smile, and once more took her leave surprisingly quick.
What on Earth was that just now?
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