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 Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 11:25 am
 Sighing softly she gazed down into her turtle shell bowl, a little frown of worry on her brow. Her herb collecting hadn't been going so well of late, many of the plants she picked were now out of season and no longer producing fresh shoots. Though she knew she could still dig for roots, there were a few whose flowers were the only parts she could use and those were gone entirely... something to remember for next year, she needed to make a dried supple for the out of season months. Puffing softly she suddenly heard a wing beat over head and looked up, a smile on her maw. Pahana, her muse, was winging his way through the branches towards her. At least she wouldn't be lost today in her hunt, for her Voice always knew where they were and would guide her. Grinning at her smile he slowed his glide and dropped neatly onto her head, claws carefully gripping her fluffy fringe. "Ello ello. I thought you were out here. So, did you find what you wanted yet?" Hopping forwards he peered down into her bowl, though if he were honest, he had no idea what the bits of green and brown were, or what she did with them. He just knew that as she was out this far into the woods, she would be lost if he wasn't about to guide her. Sometimes being her compass-on-the-wing was an amusing job, and it was kind of nice knowing that he was useful for something, and that she depended on him when her huge mountain of a mate wasn't about to help her.
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Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 12:34 pm
 Giovanni looked down at his mate, worry darkening his hazel eyes. It had been a long trek, months of walking, struggling to survive while avoiding all other life, all lions proved too big a threat, any of them could have been working for the Borgias and as such working as spies sent to track down the last surviving members of the order... hyenas were the same, for he would not put it below the Borgia's to hire the creatures. Leopards and cheetahs were avoided on principle, as the the fewer who knew their location, the safer he and his mate would be. He had got them across the savannah without being spotted, he hoped.. now all that remained was to find somewhere where they could vanish, a place they could live in peace, safe and unnoticed... under the Borgia radar. Sighing softly he glanced around, examining the trees with a critical, killer's gaze. Shadows that could harbor enemies, trunks big enough to shield full grown lions.. all of it was noted and the threat assessed. But he scented nothing dangerous, saw no one else, heard only those sounds natural to a living, thriving forest. Leaning a shoulder into her large mate, Maria released a tired, weary sigh. Her whole body ached, the deep, bone-jarring ache of too many miles and too little rest. Yet she refused to slow them down, would not endanger her beloved husband just because she was weaker than he. Though she knew he did not see it that way, she was not going to make herself a liability.. Lifting her head she squared her shoulders and smiled up at him, though her body was stiff and her eyes held the shadows of the recent horrors. "Soon beloved, we will find a new home soon." Trying to smile encouragingly she bumped his shoulder with her own before resuming their walk, following a nearly invisible path through the trees. She trusted him to keep a look out, for even she accepted that she could not keep up the grueling pace they had set if she was constantly keeping watch as well. That as what he was trained for and for once, she obeyed what common sense told her and let him do it without argument. Girl-power did not extend to fleeing from a murderous pride and their blood-crazed leader.Smiling softly at her he nodded and bent to lick her cheek tenderly. "Yes we will... I promise you that Maria. We can rest soon." Letting her walk on he followed at her hip, head up and ears flickering, constantly assessing and examining the area around them. Suddenly he growled, mane rippling as the fur along his ruff lifted in challenge. Bounding forwards he stood before his mate, dark eyes fixed on the trees ahead.
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Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 11:14 pm
Shaking her head she returned to a forlorn expression. "No... they are all gone and I an out of the paste I made last time. I'm not sure what to do about it..." Sighing softly, worried about the patients back home in the pride that were currently using her paste, she tucked her tail and after picking the sell up by its vine handle, set off deeper into the forest. She assumed that as it was still part of the pride's land, it was safe and she didn't seem concerned about the possibility of meeting any strangers out here.
Pahana nodded before hopping down to settle on her shoulder, red eyes watching her with concern. "Just don't get too worked up about it.. I am sure you will find something that will work just as good, you only need to look for it." Smiling encouragement he started to spread his wings before settling back, deciding that it was best if he stayed with her for the time being. Who knew what kind of trouble she would get into alone.
Suddenly a huge male appeared from behind the leafy foliage, his sheer size startled both Kizingo-zaa natives, Asali shrinking back with her eyes wide, Pahana squawking loudly and flapping in an attempt to avoid tumbling from her shoulder.
"WHAT ON EARTH??!" Flailing he barely managed to keep his grip as Asali shrank under him, trembling and putting herself in the submissive position.
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Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 9:20 am
Standing braced, his mane up on end, lips drawn back in a snarl, he stared hard at the pair of them. One rather... tiny female looking like she was about to have a heart attack, and one small white bird, its feathers puffed up but certainly not much of a threat, it wasn't even a hawk or an eagle. Pausing he briefly wondered if his and Maria's familiars were alright, they had been forced to part ways when the pride went into hiding, but he kept hoping the pair would find their way back to them soon.
Narrowing his eyes he finally settled back, limbs loosening and his mane flattening, though he remained ready, poised to defend his mate. "Who are you?" He questioned, his naturally low voice gone growly and dangerous.
Maria had been just as shocked as the little brown female as her mate lunged forwards, blocking her path. But she recovered an awful lot faster and even before Giovanni growled his queston, she had shouldered past him and looked the younger female over curiously. "Well now.... we didn't expect to see anyone out here... " Pausing she glanced back at her bristling mate and smiled indulgently. "Don't mind him, he is a bit possessive is all. Now dear... I don't suppose you would mind telling us were we actually are?" If this was some pride's land they would either have to leave quickly, or maybe this was finally somewhere they could stop.. settle down and catch their breath. The idea of having her own den again, or not spending their days walking on raw paws and looking over their shoulders made her chest ache. Maybe... maybe they could finally find a home again...
Giovanni blinked as his mate boldly stepped past him an started to interrogate the stranger. With a huff and an amused shake of his head he moved to stand beside her, his dark eyes warm with his love for her. There had been more than one reason why he had courted the beautiful Noblewoman... She had been as wild, as stubborn and as bull-headed as himself. And age had not dimmed that glorious spirit of hers at all.
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Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 8:26 am
She couldn't stop her shaking, eyes wide as she stared past the female at the large male.. he was.. huge, with strange looking armor and a red sash that reminded her of the stories of the pirate pride.. didn't they wear sashes like that? But.. they didn't seem like pirates, and what would pirates be doing all the way out here anyway? Oh.. the ocean... But still.. the female certainly wasn't a pirate.. Asali having finally let her gaze leave the terrifying male to run over the graceful, confident lioness with him. Focusing on her as she was far less scary than the male, Asali barely managed a shaky smile, but had at least stopped cowering quite so badly before them, though her head and tail were still down, body slinking.
Oh.. she had been talking.. Focusing quickly Asali blinked, then licked her lips as she struggled to find her voice which had fled her in her fright. "I-Im Asali... a healer.. t-this is the Kizingo-zaa." Pausing she tried to gather er scattered courage, what little she possessed and lifted her head just a fraction, though her gaze remained low, submissive. "We are a pride living on the shore... peaceful..." Sneaking a glance at the male she knew instinctively that he was a warrior...
Pahana had reclaimed his perch on Asali's back, red eyes narrowed at the pair of strangers, feathers bristling as if they were fur. But he was shrewd enough to know that neither of the two newcomers were about to attack, rather, they both had the look of travelers, weary, touchy.. possibly displaced from their own pride for some reason or another... though the male was huge he didn't have that look of craziness that a male out of control possessed.. he was simply protective.. probably over-protective but not a crazed killer at the least. Letting his feathers smooth down he still kept a sharp eye on the pair of them, beak and claws ready to defend himself and Asali if necessary.
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Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 5:42 am
Maria Listened to the young female stutter and struggle to reply. Smiling warmly at her in encouragement as she completely ignored her own mate. He could well take care of himself and she knew he looked particularly fearsome anyway, covered in scars as he was, with that shadow of death in his eyes. Never mind that he had practically pounced the poor young thing before them, it was enough to give even a brave a lioness a good fright. So she waited patiently until the young stranger could gather herself up again.
The healer's not very subtle hint that the pride here was peaceful amused her as it was obvious the female was trying to protect her home from these 'scary strangers', though it was music to her ears as it meant that maybe... just maybe, they could finally find a home here. She knew Giovanni wanted nothing to do with war or fighting, they had both had enough of that in their lives, but she also knew that if he saw someone in need, he would not hesitate to help and thus, blow his cover and eventually he would betray himself as being far more than a simple wandering warrior....
"The Kizingo-zaa.... do you accept outsiders? We wish to find a home and live quietly. We are both getting older and the rogue lands are for those with younger legs than ours..."
Giovanni waited quietly, listening to his mate as she spoke with the young stranger. Having fully relaxed now, as there was certainly no threat from either the small lioness of her feathered friend, he was content to let Maria deal with the situation, as had always been better at socializing than he, and instead h watched the forest around them, alert but not on edge, enjoying this thick, leafy green place as it felt relaxed, tranquil.... things he had rarely felt in his past life.
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Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 7:06 am
Asali couldn’t help but sneak glances at the male, grateful he was no longer paying such fearsome attention to her. He was massive, covered in scars that seemed old and faded as if he had been through something horrible and survived. That alone made his ‘dangerous’ factor go up a level. But as she listened to the female, she slowly came to realise that, while both of them were clearly powerful and experienced, they weren’t looking for trouble. Asali was a healer and that had taught her to notice the little things, and the fact that he stood quietly looking around not as if expecting an attack, but enjoying the view of the forest, and that his mate was confident but relaxed and focused on her rather than her mate. Nodding she replied in her soft, gentle voice. “We do. All are welcome so long as you abide by the rule, ‘Harm none within the pride’.” Smiling shyly she glanced at them both again. They didn’t seem unable to survive on the outside, not like herself who had barely made it here. But it was obvious something had sent them wandering, they had that look of travellers with no settled life.. a little worn, a little thin, like there was a weight on their shoulders that they had been carrying for a long time. She wanted to help them and she made up her mind to take them back to the pride. ... or rather, have Pahana lead them all back as she had absolutely no idea where she was....
The little white bird had been watching the pair before them as Asali and the lioness conversed. Small little red eyes sought out anything that would betray either of them, any malicious intentions or hints at instability... yet there were none, they seemed older, weary as if from a long journey and tired... ye below that it was obvious the female was an old noble, she had the mannerisms of a refined family. The male.. he was harder to read, so many layers, so many different nuisance.. but Pahana couldn't get a bad or unsettled vibe from him.
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Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 7:07 am
Maria’s smile warmed as the young healer replied, a sense of relief sweeping through her, making her almost weak in the legs. Subtly she leaned her flank into her mate’s solid frame. Finally... finally they could stop and rest... “That is one rule we are more than happy to live by.” Hadn’t that been one of the central tenants of their old pride? As strange as it seemed for a pride of assassins to be bound by it, though theirs had possessed one solid difference, ‘harm not the innocent’.. the guilty were fair game. Looking up at Giovanni who was watching her, she smiled warmly. Their gazes met and there was no need for words between them. Turning back to the healer, Maria smiled softly to her. “We would be very grateful if we could join your pride.”
Giovanni had been listening, even with his attention apparently turned away from the two lionesses and directed outwards into the forest. When the young healer offered them the single rule he turned and regarded them both, the shy yet gentle nature of the healer and the calm confidence of his mate. If the small lioness could survive in that pride as she was, so innocent and helpless... then it would be safe for them... Not in the way of claws and fangs, for he was confident in both of their abilities to fight, but in the manner of their souls.. they would not need to kill again, they would not be looking over their shoulders, they could rest, and maybe they could learn how to live again... Meeting his mate’s gaze he knew they both wanted the same thing.
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Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 7:08 am
Asali watched them, sensing that something had passed between them with just that one look. It made her dream of having her own mate with whom she could talk to with just her eyes. How amazing would it be to know another person so well that she knew their thoughts, and that he knew hers..? The longing the thought brought to her chest made her drop her own gaze to her paws, resisting the urge to shift in place. It was the older female’s voice that drew her attention back, eyes widening a little before a bright, excited smile curled over her muzzle. “Ok!” She chirruped, revealing her youth for a single moment before catching herself and blushing. Turning to Pahana she tipped her head hopefully.
The bird had been sat silently, watching the strangers as the female spoke with his Asali. He had come to the same conclusion as her, that they were no threat to them for e time being, but as a very small avian he was still more suspicious than his bonded. When Asali looked u a him ehe sighed and rolled his eyes. “One day you are going to get into trouble young missy...” he grumbled affectionately, before launching himself into the air and spreading his wings. His small size allowed him to fly low, ducking and weaving through the trees, so Asali and her two new companions could follow him.
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Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 7:17 am
The pair of them shared another look as the young female agreed, but then turned to peer at her bird familiar. Yet after a moment all was explained as the bird leeaped up and took to the wing. Maria hid a chuckle as Giovanni arched a brow in question. It seemed their little healer-guide was as lost as they were... at least she now knew why the lioness carried a bird about on her back.. a mobile route-finder... how useful. Maybe she and Gio should get their familiars to do that once the four of them were reunited... the thought leached a little of the happiness from the moment. She really hoped both birds were alright. After they split up she had worried constantly, yet both were predators in their own right, surely they would be fine until they could catch up with her and Giovanni?
As the pride pair moved off he started to follow, but paused at the look on his mate's maw. Gently he leaned down and licked her cheek, a silent gesture of comfort that made her turn and look up at him, her eyes warm with her love. Smiling gently he returned that look full-force. Yes, things had been difficult, dangerous for them for far too long... but maybe they could start a new chapter in their lives.. find a home, create a family, live the rest of the lives in peace and security... and he was sure their two bird scouts would return and do the same.. Gently he brushed his flank against Maria's and then followed the little brown healer, his mate stepping out at his side.
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