It was the weirdest feeling. A feeling of memory, just a hint of a shadow that tickled the back of her mind. Kimana normally pushed aside such feelings, but ever since her meeting with the water lioness had started to try to pull them out. To see what it was that she was trying to remember. Was it so bad that she had to keep making herself forgot the reality? Was she so lost in darkness that she couldn’t find herself? Did she want to?
Normally the lioness would have shaken the feeling off now and started to play around or look for a new source of amusement, some stranger to bother. But now she was quiet. Quiet and thoughtful. Who was she? “Tsk.” She clicked her tongue in her mouth before running her paw over the plant. It wasn’t a normal flower, but an herb. She recognized it too. Now that she thought about it, she had instinctively known to use it to help the stinging in her paw. Was that supposed to relate to her past?
That she knew how to take care of wounds?
The lioness frowned. “I can’t find it!” She let out a roar of frustration, startling several birds from the trees overhead. “Why can’t I know?” She quietly asked the ground before crushing the plant in frustration against her paw. It had been like this for the past several days, a hint would come but then leave her without any new clues towards her past. All she knew was that she had been wandering for a while now and had no idea even where she was.
---------------------------------------------------------
It was rare for Eshe to travel the borders of the pride lands, but after a while, one needed a break from the constant influx of swamp water. Her once luxurious pelt was a muddied tan, with only her clean maw showing the true colors underneath. Still, she was a beauty to behold. Her mother-in-law was constantly teasing her, calling her the perfect opposite to her son. Did they really look that funny together? He was dark, short, and muscular, while as she was bright, tall, and skinny. Compared to her new family…she stuck out.
She yearned for her own family. For cubs to replace the despair in her heart from losing her sister’s and mother. She could only hope that they were living the life she’d always hoped when she made the decision to leave them.
Only the sight of fleeing birds turned her attention to the other lioness. While she may have been roaring to the heavens, all Eshe heard were mottled whispers. “Excuse me?” She called out, “Are you alright?”
----------------------------------------------------------
Kimana nearly jumped in surprise. Who was out here? She laughed softly under her breath though at her own reaction. What was wrong with her? This was how she made others react not herself! The lioness giggled. Jeesh. All this serious thinking lately really made her act different. It was kinda scary…if not intriguing. What would she be like when she remembered? Would she treat others the same?
On that thought the lioness turned to face the one who had surprised her. Blinking Kimana tilted her head to study the other feline. “Are you a swamp creature maybe?” She finally asked with a little tease to her voice. It was obvious that the stranger had been through some sort of muddy area since her pelt was such a color, it did not match her maw at all. Actually the color of the other lioness’s maw was familiar. Such a pink…hmm. The last time she looked her’s kinda looked that way. Kimana giggled, “We have the same maw.” Not that she noticed now, but also the same height and build.
------------------------------------------------
Eshe laughed and shook her head. She hadn’t heard a single word that the other lioness had said, but she read her lips. Day by day that hearing problem of hers was getting worse, but at least she was still able to laugh. “Maybe. My pride is beyond this border, and they make a point of it to stay dirty.”Of course, with all her grace, she couldn’t cover the fact that she was speaking louder than any one lioness should.
Of course, thanks to the other female’s comment, Eshe began to look. “Our spots are the same too, you just can’t see mine. …That’s so weird.”
---------------------------------------------------------
Kimana tilted her head. Why was this lioness speaking so loudly? She couldn’t understand it unless…was she talking loud like a granny who couldn’t hear? Oh! Maybe that was it. She wasn’t speaking loud enough herself. With confidence the lioness raised her voice to near a yell. Anyone passing through may have thought the two either angry or just plain crazy. “A dirty pride then?” She laughed, “I see! Must be a hassle to stay clean there.” She could play in the mud all day herself, it was no bother. But she rather did like her spots.
Wait, what? Kimana stared at the lioness. She had her spots too? Her spots which she cherished because she thought they were unique and like little butterflies on her fur? “That is!” She commented back moving closer, “Can I see them?” In the back of her head a small pain was forming. For now she pushed it aside in curiosity at this stranger’s similar looks. Just what was going on here?
------------------------------------------------------------
Ah! Much better. Eshe’s smile warmed. “Sure! Just hang on one second.” She turned to the side, and started to groom herself. It was nasty work; the swamp muck made her gag, but the payoff was worth it. On a patch of dry land, she sat down to work on her legs, taking as much care with her fur as her mother had done so lovingly all those years ago.
“See?” Eshe looked up at her with a smile. Granted, she wasn’t perfectly clean, but enough so that she could display her coat. Her olive eyes stared. Was that..? No, it couldn’t be. This was…but she…The longer Eshe looked into those eyes, all she could imagine was the sister she had left behind. “Pasha?”
-----------------------------------------
“Great!” Kimana smiled at the lioness, but as the other cleaned her fur and the spots became apparent the ache in the back of her skull started to pound. It was the first time in a while since she had felt such a headache and the lioness quietly whimpered to herself. It was soft though so only she could hear it. Still she winced before sitting down. Maybe it would be better soon.
What was it that was making her hurt so?
“I see…they are lovely.” Managed Kimana loudly with a smile, pleased to see such beautiful spots on a familiar pelt….familiar. Family…familiar. The thoughts roared in the lioness’s mind and she bent her head. “Pa-Pasha?” She repeated though it was mostly a whisper before the pain made her vision blur. Who was Pasha? Her head touched the ground and she pushed her paws to her temples. Ugh, this pain! Why was her head, her heart hurting so?
------------------------------------------
Eshe watched the other female's descent with tense nerves. "Are you alright?" She looked like she was in physical pain, and if this was really who she thought it was, then she had to do something to help! But how could it be? And why didn't she recognize her own sister? Especially after all they'd been through as cubs?
"Pasha!" She slipped over to her side, doing the only thing she knew, and placing her paw's above the other lioness'. "Pasha? Is that you? What's wrong? Tell me what's wrong!"
----------------------------------------------
Kimana winced as she tried to nod her head, "Fi-fine." She managed to stand, but then another wave of pain hit her as she caught the other lioness's gaze. Ouch. Her eyes closed and flashes of something - colors, or pelts where they? Rammed into her mind's eye.
Who was this lioness? A name - it floated there right in her mouth. If only she could form the word then she could give into the pain. But she was afraid. What would that word do to her? Her memories...the pain of them. That one word, so familiar. More familiar than the name Pasha. Pasha. Was that her name? But if that was her name then who was Kimana? Where was she? Oh gods. The lioness bent back down, her body shuddering in pain.
Then a moment of clarity. "Eshe." The word finally escaped and Pasha looked up at her sister. "Eshe." Her eyes closed and when everything went black around her she collasped.
----------------------------------------------
Eshe couldn't believe what she was seeing. She did her best to keep Pasha comfortable, when inside her mind was screaming. Where was her mate? Or a guard? Or anyone who could help?!
When her sister finally said her name and collapsed, the lioness wasted no time in scooping her up onto her back. She couldn't take her back to the pride, they would have her murdered, and she couldn't leave. Eshe shook her head. She'd find a temporary fix.
And that fix was an abandoned den in a dry area. She tucked Pasha in as comfortably as she could. "I have to leave for a while," she whispered, licking her ear affectionately. "But I'll be back, if you stay for a while. I'll make it better Pasha, I swear."
With a hesitant look down at her unconcious sister, Eshe traipsed back to her awaiting family.
Normally the lioness would have shaken the feeling off now and started to play around or look for a new source of amusement, some stranger to bother. But now she was quiet. Quiet and thoughtful. Who was she? “Tsk.” She clicked her tongue in her mouth before running her paw over the plant. It wasn’t a normal flower, but an herb. She recognized it too. Now that she thought about it, she had instinctively known to use it to help the stinging in her paw. Was that supposed to relate to her past?
That she knew how to take care of wounds?
The lioness frowned. “I can’t find it!” She let out a roar of frustration, startling several birds from the trees overhead. “Why can’t I know?” She quietly asked the ground before crushing the plant in frustration against her paw. It had been like this for the past several days, a hint would come but then leave her without any new clues towards her past. All she knew was that she had been wandering for a while now and had no idea even where she was.
---------------------------------------------------------
It was rare for Eshe to travel the borders of the pride lands, but after a while, one needed a break from the constant influx of swamp water. Her once luxurious pelt was a muddied tan, with only her clean maw showing the true colors underneath. Still, she was a beauty to behold. Her mother-in-law was constantly teasing her, calling her the perfect opposite to her son. Did they really look that funny together? He was dark, short, and muscular, while as she was bright, tall, and skinny. Compared to her new family…she stuck out.
She yearned for her own family. For cubs to replace the despair in her heart from losing her sister’s and mother. She could only hope that they were living the life she’d always hoped when she made the decision to leave them.
Only the sight of fleeing birds turned her attention to the other lioness. While she may have been roaring to the heavens, all Eshe heard were mottled whispers. “Excuse me?” She called out, “Are you alright?”
----------------------------------------------------------
Kimana nearly jumped in surprise. Who was out here? She laughed softly under her breath though at her own reaction. What was wrong with her? This was how she made others react not herself! The lioness giggled. Jeesh. All this serious thinking lately really made her act different. It was kinda scary…if not intriguing. What would she be like when she remembered? Would she treat others the same?
On that thought the lioness turned to face the one who had surprised her. Blinking Kimana tilted her head to study the other feline. “Are you a swamp creature maybe?” She finally asked with a little tease to her voice. It was obvious that the stranger had been through some sort of muddy area since her pelt was such a color, it did not match her maw at all. Actually the color of the other lioness’s maw was familiar. Such a pink…hmm. The last time she looked her’s kinda looked that way. Kimana giggled, “We have the same maw.” Not that she noticed now, but also the same height and build.
------------------------------------------------
Eshe laughed and shook her head. She hadn’t heard a single word that the other lioness had said, but she read her lips. Day by day that hearing problem of hers was getting worse, but at least she was still able to laugh. “Maybe. My pride is beyond this border, and they make a point of it to stay dirty.”Of course, with all her grace, she couldn’t cover the fact that she was speaking louder than any one lioness should.
Of course, thanks to the other female’s comment, Eshe began to look. “Our spots are the same too, you just can’t see mine. …That’s so weird.”
---------------------------------------------------------
Kimana tilted her head. Why was this lioness speaking so loudly? She couldn’t understand it unless…was she talking loud like a granny who couldn’t hear? Oh! Maybe that was it. She wasn’t speaking loud enough herself. With confidence the lioness raised her voice to near a yell. Anyone passing through may have thought the two either angry or just plain crazy. “A dirty pride then?” She laughed, “I see! Must be a hassle to stay clean there.” She could play in the mud all day herself, it was no bother. But she rather did like her spots.
Wait, what? Kimana stared at the lioness. She had her spots too? Her spots which she cherished because she thought they were unique and like little butterflies on her fur? “That is!” She commented back moving closer, “Can I see them?” In the back of her head a small pain was forming. For now she pushed it aside in curiosity at this stranger’s similar looks. Just what was going on here?
------------------------------------------------------------
Ah! Much better. Eshe’s smile warmed. “Sure! Just hang on one second.” She turned to the side, and started to groom herself. It was nasty work; the swamp muck made her gag, but the payoff was worth it. On a patch of dry land, she sat down to work on her legs, taking as much care with her fur as her mother had done so lovingly all those years ago.
“See?” Eshe looked up at her with a smile. Granted, she wasn’t perfectly clean, but enough so that she could display her coat. Her olive eyes stared. Was that..? No, it couldn’t be. This was…but she…The longer Eshe looked into those eyes, all she could imagine was the sister she had left behind. “Pasha?”
-----------------------------------------
“Great!” Kimana smiled at the lioness, but as the other cleaned her fur and the spots became apparent the ache in the back of her skull started to pound. It was the first time in a while since she had felt such a headache and the lioness quietly whimpered to herself. It was soft though so only she could hear it. Still she winced before sitting down. Maybe it would be better soon.
What was it that was making her hurt so?
“I see…they are lovely.” Managed Kimana loudly with a smile, pleased to see such beautiful spots on a familiar pelt….familiar. Family…familiar. The thoughts roared in the lioness’s mind and she bent her head. “Pa-Pasha?” She repeated though it was mostly a whisper before the pain made her vision blur. Who was Pasha? Her head touched the ground and she pushed her paws to her temples. Ugh, this pain! Why was her head, her heart hurting so?
------------------------------------------
Eshe watched the other female's descent with tense nerves. "Are you alright?" She looked like she was in physical pain, and if this was really who she thought it was, then she had to do something to help! But how could it be? And why didn't she recognize her own sister? Especially after all they'd been through as cubs?
"Pasha!" She slipped over to her side, doing the only thing she knew, and placing her paw's above the other lioness'. "Pasha? Is that you? What's wrong? Tell me what's wrong!"
----------------------------------------------
Kimana winced as she tried to nod her head, "Fi-fine." She managed to stand, but then another wave of pain hit her as she caught the other lioness's gaze. Ouch. Her eyes closed and flashes of something - colors, or pelts where they? Rammed into her mind's eye.
Who was this lioness? A name - it floated there right in her mouth. If only she could form the word then she could give into the pain. But she was afraid. What would that word do to her? Her memories...the pain of them. That one word, so familiar. More familiar than the name Pasha. Pasha. Was that her name? But if that was her name then who was Kimana? Where was she? Oh gods. The lioness bent back down, her body shuddering in pain.
Then a moment of clarity. "Eshe." The word finally escaped and Pasha looked up at her sister. "Eshe." Her eyes closed and when everything went black around her she collasped.
----------------------------------------------
Eshe couldn't believe what she was seeing. She did her best to keep Pasha comfortable, when inside her mind was screaming. Where was her mate? Or a guard? Or anyone who could help?!
When her sister finally said her name and collapsed, the lioness wasted no time in scooping her up onto her back. She couldn't take her back to the pride, they would have her murdered, and she couldn't leave. Eshe shook her head. She'd find a temporary fix.
And that fix was an abandoned den in a dry area. She tucked Pasha in as comfortably as she could. "I have to leave for a while," she whispered, licking her ear affectionately. "But I'll be back, if you stay for a while. I'll make it better Pasha, I swear."
With a hesitant look down at her unconcious sister, Eshe traipsed back to her awaiting family.
WC: 1588
