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 Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 2:06 pm
 Pale blue eyes opened slowly, blinking against the permanent shadows of the deep cave that had been their home for some time now. The few fireflies that flittered about their den lent a gentle yellow glow to the small but cosy space, enough that Arancion could see his mate's dark fur. Not that he needed sight to be assured the other male was close, for they lay side by side, Arathien's warmth pressed along his flank and the younger male's deep, regular breathing filling the den.
Letting his eyes close again he relaxed back into the bed of grass and moss, the nightmare that had plagued his sleep already rapidly fading from his mind to be lost in the shadows of the dream world. No matter how safe they were now, and had been for some time, those days in their old leopard pride still rose up to plague his sleep on a frequent basis. Curling his tail over Arathien's own, the elder leopard sighed softly, letting the warm presence of his mate reassure him. So far he had managed to hide the nightmares from Arathien and he hoped he could continue to do so. He was supposed to be the sensible one of the pair of them...
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 3:09 pm
 Arathian knew better, he was far more aware of his mate then the elder thought. His devil-may-care attitude my be the surface of what most saw in the pride, and even on the council seat when it suited him.
A facade he had carried over when he had been force to be on of the elite guards of the idiot King Kikatili, and his almost more of an idiot son Aina who had left a boy on a throne to young to rule with enemies at his back, like Deamon who could not be trusted as far as he could be thrown. No Arathian's mask was what he chose to wear and when his mate woke beside him, panting and moving closer to him, he knew that was wrong.
" A'maelamin he whispered into the magical darkness of the caves, the fireflies fliting about them, in the language they had known since birth whispering into the dark, just as the torcs that twined around the necks, marking them as mated, forbidden as it had been inther old Pard, before they had found this refuge, ""Mankoi il kaima? Beloved...
What wakes you from your rest?
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 4:00 pm
He should have known better... Arathien had always proven far more astute than the younger male generally let others believe, but Arancion had always been the eldest, always felt responsible, and it was only since they had discovered this unique underground pride that he had finally allowed himself to share that burden with the one he had pledged himself to. But even so, he still tried to protect Arathien from his personal demons, to cover the fact that he had not yet escaped the past.
Shifting his head just enough so that their muzzles touched, he took a deep, slow breath, relaxing against the warmth of his partner. "Amin hiraetha meleth nín..." He breathed softly, tone apologetic. ".. kaima ú-belin." Opening his eyes once again he sighed softly, feeling guilty that he had troubled Arathien with what was an unimportant and rather silly thing.. "Goheno nin, ta naa-il aistysal."
Turning to look at his mate, pale eyes softening in a rare expression only Arathien ever saw on the typically stern-faced male, the elder tried to shake off the lingering feeling of 'wrongness'. This pride had become their haven, their sanctuary, even with the repeated mistakes of the rulers it was still a wondrous place for them, far safer than their old home had ever been. So why were these nightmares returning now?
'I am sorry my love... I can not sleep.'
'Forgive me, it is not important.'
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 11:17 am
Amin dele ten' lle, lle anta kaim," he spoke softly into the night, or the marks that passed for night in the never changing environment that was their home. He laid his neck over his mates, bringing him a little closer to the lee of his body, warming some of the chill with the heat of his own. Wrapping the elder of the two of them in comforting heat.
Tula sinome, let me chase away the demons of the past A'maelamin. They are long gone. We have served this Pride well, as warriors and now as council to the young king. There can be no harm now from our own Pard, now the harm will come only from within and he has our paws to keep hims safe in politics, and our claws and fangs to keep him safe in body."
- I worry about you, you need your sleep
- Come here
-Beloved
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 11:44 am
Arancion sighed softly as the lyrical tongue of their homeland whispered in his ear. Letting the younger male curl around him, he tucked his head across Arathien's paws, his tail looping round his lover's haunches. "Ai cyrn... air'ar byr laor'yn'rolar. Sher si paes, si varah'hal." Closing his pale crystalline eyes he let the silence wrap around them, feeling the heat of his mate slowly relax him. Finally he turned his mind to the current time and of course, the new king. So young and so inexperienced, but at least willing to try. "I fear that particular battle will take several ears." He murmured, thinking of the malcontent from some of the older pride members who remembered, and preferred, Kikatili's rule and the days long past of male supremacy. "I do not regret coming to this place. But sometimes I wonder... was it the right choice? Should we have stayed, tried to reach our Ri?" There had been others there, males and females such as they who had not spoken up and had avoided the beatings that Arancion had not... but they had stayed, and as far as he knew, were still imprisoned under the rule of a harsh and unfair leader.
After a moment he let out a huff and shifted to lick Arathien's paw in apology. "Ai eis mysia jhylaes. Ai vystorare byr sai paer ol si var."
"I know... it is not logical. But the dreams, they remain"
"I am sorry lover. I promised not to dwell on the past."
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 12:27 pm
" The past makes us what we are, and without it, we would not be the felines that stood up to the cruelty that others suffered under Jager's reign. Someone had to, someone had to set there paws down and take that stand, and we did. It cost us, it cost us deeply among the Midnight Pard, we lost family, friends, loved ones...but it was worth it, and I pray every day that others like us, either stood as one, or ran to find their own sanctuary."
" Shi tal byr tali shar pyli, shi tae olia cydi thys si theresi and that future lies with this king, and us guiding and protecting him. He is the future of this Pride. One wrong move, and we will end up with another Midnight Pard, and this time no where to run to."
He licked his mate's ear, " Now sleep, and I will keep watch. Like you once did among the rest of our dark pelted brethren. Rest and know you are safe.
We can not change the past, we may only hope for the future.
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 12:41 pm
He listened, ears flicking back as his mate's breath tickled the fur along his neck. "I know... but I still regret." Sighing softly he tilted his head and pressed his ear and cheek against his lover's chest, listening until the regular rhythm of Arathien's heartbeat slowed and settled his own.
"We wont make a wrong move, we can not let that happen here, or let another Kikatili raise to power. Nahasi has that grey leopard, Basa-Juan... I think the pair of them are falling in love with each other, though Nahasi is young and that Juan is a very quiet male... I can't sense any evil in him." His thoughts had started wandering again but the wet warmth of his mate's tongue pulled him back.
"Diola lle, a'maelamin." Sighing softly he curled up a little closer and closed his eyes, his muzzle resting across Arathien's front limbs as he tried to settle back down. There was a few hours left of the 'night' and they would have another full day in the council come morn.
Thank you my love.
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 1:00 pm
Arathien knew the tender heart that his mate owned better then any other, and knew that those they left behind weighed far to heavily on him then they should.
The Midnight Pard where all dark as they were, the lightest of their pelts perhaps a charcoal grey, it was a harsh Pard, they grew up in a harsh world, in a warrior's world, were more was forbidden then it was allowed. Arancion kind heart, which he learned never to show, often got them both in trouble when he could no longer stand the strain of it, so it was with no surprise that his mate regretted those they could not bring with them.
He licked his ear again, his words a mere breath against it, " When we are sure this king sits firmly on his throne, we will go back. We will go back swiftly, silently, and bring back those few who wish to come. Even the females, they two deserve a place to love as they will. Sor Ai Vystori O jhylaes."
This I promise you , Lover
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 1:12 pm
The tender touch did more to sooth him than another's words could ever have done and he settled more firmly against Arathien. Yet the words that followed made him lift his ad, pale eyes surprised before filling with gratitude. He knew how dangerous such a thing would be, the risk his mate was willing to take in order to sooth Arancion's troubled spirit. And for that, he was beyond grateful. He often wondered why the honorable male beside him had chosen to love him, but he would never question such a miracle.
"Diola lle..." It was all he could manage around the tightness in his throat, not of tears, but of wonder for this male who was his. Leaning forwards he pressed his cheek close to his lover's for a long moment, expression without words just how much he felt for the male. Finally, silent, he curled up against his mate and settled down, finally dropping back to a light slumber, the fears and regret lifted from his shoulders for a time.
Thank you...
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 2:16 pm
Arathien shook his head, and wondered for a moment what the others would think if they could see this seemingly role reversal. The elder of the two, Arancion just seemed like he was the steadier of the two, while Arathien always carried a devil may care attitude with him. A facade he had cultivated since their time in the old Pard. It made felines under estimate him, which was exactly what he wanted.
Sighing, he licked his mate one more time before settling himself around the leopard he had given up so much for, and never regretted any of it, even now. He did as he promised, and stayed awake the whole 'night' guarding his mate's sleep just as Arancion had his more times then he could count.
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