(AIM Log between Keantha and I.)
Makoto padded around the pridal border with a hopeful gaze. This was it. As soon as she saw a lioness approach she was going to beg for admittance until they gave in, then do her best to prove her worth. Too much had happened in the young lioness’ life for her to back down now. No, if anything, Makoto’s muscular walk strengthened with resolve each time her paws hit the ground. She didn’t dare go any further without an invitation, but she was anxious. She couldn’t STAND being on her own. She needed, no, she craved to do something. ANYTHING. Anything was better than living on her own with him….
Ebere chuckled softly to herself as she again slipped away from the den she shared with her beloved and their daughters. Honestly one day Hippy would catch her and whip her hiney, but till that time the mint green lioness would continue her ramblings in the forest. Her golden eyes were bright as she traveled towards the edge of the pride's lands.
Sharp blue eyes found the mint lioness almost instantly. She straightened her spine, and tried to appear as friendly as possible, though for Makoto, that was near impossible. Her face was set in a firm scowl and her entire body screamed ‘touch me and die’. “Hey, you!” She called out, padding closer. Still, she stuck close to the border. “Do you live in this pride? Are you Antianeira?”
Ebere's head jerked up startled for a moment, drawing a deep breath to scream if need be, then let it out in a sigh seeing the youngester. "Woo, you scared me little one. What in the world are you doing out here alone?" Her tone was warm and gentle as she immedatly moved to look the young female over and make sure she was not hurt .
Makoto kept down the urge to scoff, but instead deepened her scowl. “I’m too old to be a ‘little one’.” Even if the other female was older than her, a lioness in her prime, by the looks of things, she wouldn’t stand being talked down to like a cub. The way she was getting the once over was weird enough on it’s own. “What are you looking for?” She shook her head .”And why are YOU doing out here all alone? I’ve been here long enough to know that you guys have had male trouble for a while, so it seems kind of stupid to be wandering the border alone.”
Reassured that she was uninjuried, Ebere chuckled, "Sweetling my daughters are older than you." It wasn't so much condescending as very maternal. "As for my being out here alone, I often take time by myself to gather my thoughts and pray for guidence." Her gold eyes turned a little sad thinking of the suffering of her sisters.
Her beefy head shook as she sighed. It wasn’t every day that she met someone this patient, and it took it’s toll on her. If anything, it helped her to center herself and dig out the reason why she was here in the first place. “Even so, I’m fully grown.” Makoto stood straight and tall, her neon tail tuft scraping the ground. “Maybe I could walk with you? That way you’re not left unprotected and you can put in a good word for me.” Smooth girl, real smooth. “I…wish to join. My sister would have been with me if she were not already in the spirit world.” Her expression softened. “Males made her life hell, and a male is what took her from me. If I can help it, I would like to be in a place where I don’t have to see one for the rest of my days.”
"Ah," the one word held a wealth of understanding and sympathy. "I understand the lose of loved one. I lost my entire family." Even all these years later, her heart still ached at the memory of her family. Shaking her head, she smiled at the young girl, "Yes please come sit with me. Tell me of your sister and we can make her a marker among our fallen."
“You would… do that? For someone you’ve never met?” Still, even as she asked it, she knew the answer. Makoto was talented at reading others, and she could tell that the empathy this lioness held was true. “She was my world. It was she that took me under her wing when our parents could not, and it was she that protected me when I could barely open my eyes.” Makoto smiled softly. “I’m not happy that she’s gone, but I AM happy that she found peace in death.”
"Of course I would." Ebere chuckled softly, "Besides, it is one of my responsibilities to keep the shrines clean and tended, to add the fallen sisters, and to give those of us that live a place to come and talk to them."
“You’re a priestess.” Makoto made the realization easily. She’d thought as much when the other lioness began to talk of markers and honoring the dead. “I didn’t know that the pride had a priestess. There is much I have to learn, then.” She murmured, uneasy because of her folly. How could she not have known? Was her sister’s information that faulty?
"That I am. I am High Priestess, but please my name is Ebere," The air of calm serenity could no be faked, nor could the welcome that was so clear in her eyes and in her voice. "It's a privelage and a joy to help others, but you are right, before I came there was not a priestess among the pride."
“Forgive me. I didn’t show you proper respect.” Makoto bowed her head. Priestess she may not have heard of, but she knew that a High Priestess was something to respect. And it helped that her sister’s information hadn’t been wrong - this lioness had just thrown a wrench in it. “It’s been a pleasure talking with you, Ebere. My name’s Makoto, and hopefully I haven’t offended you too badly.”
She threw her head back laughing happily, "Oh sweetie, Hippy is meaner than that when we fight." Her gold eyes danced with amusement, "I knew you meant no harm. "
“Whose Hippy? Your mate?” Why did that name ring a bell? Something kept nagging her, but she couldn’t figure out what. Maybe it was the name of the lioness who had spoken with her sister? A friend? Makoto couldn’t place her claw on it, but something wasn’t adding up.
"Aye, hard head wench she may be, but she is mine to love." Her voice was filled with love for her sweetheart. Flicking an ear, she chuckled, "Stubborn she may be, but she is a good female, a caring mate, and a hell of a queen."
At first, Makoto was lightly smiling because of the love she heard from Ebere, and then, as soon as the word ‘queen’ was spoken her face instantly said ‘oh s**t’. This was…this was the… “So you lied. You’re not just the High Priestess, you’re also the Queen’s consort.” She could have DIED. “Oh hell….” Makoto ran a paw over her face before something dawned on her. “If that’s true, then you REALLY shouldn’t be walking around on your own. Don’t you have a guard or something?”
Tilting her head with a faint frown when she called her a liar, though understand dawned at the next words. "Yes I am Hippy's consort, but I am also the High priestess." Her ears canted back some at the fussing, "No, I do not need one. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself sweetie."
“Not to sound pissy, but I’ve heard bigger lioness’ say that and they’ve gotten pretty messed up.” Makoto shook her head with a resigned sigh. “Look, don’t worry about me. I’m a protector, it’s what I do. I fight, I kill and I protect. You’re spiritual and this is….well, this is me.”
Again Ebere laughed, "Oh honey...I was six months gone with cub when we drove the males from our lands." Had she really just said she was in battle while pregant. "Just because I am a healer, does not mean I cannot fight when I must."
“That is ******** stupid!” Makoto couldn’t help it; she snapped and instant regret flashed on her face. Still, she was angry enough at that statement to spit nails. “You could have…and they…it’s a wonder you’re cubs weren’t hurt. Gods.” She pinched the bridge of her nose with her claws.
Ebere's smile was gentle, "There was no choice. I could no more stand by while they were abused than Hippy. There were and are still too few of us, everyone had to fight if we were to save each other."
“Well, I’m here now, so just let me do it, okay?” Makoto was blunt and meaningful. “And when I fall then you can come in, got it?”
Ebere chuckled, the tip of her tail twitching amused, "So you are to be my personal guard now?"
“Might as well.” She grinned. “That is, if you’ll have me. I figure I’ll need a rank at some time or another anyway.”
"You will need to speak to Hippy first." She would not take someone to guard her if Hippy was not comfortable with it.
“Can do. The last thing I want to do is go behind the Queen’s back.” Which was true. “I’ve already spoken out of line enough times tonight to warrant my beating, and I’d rather not dig my own grave while I’m at it.”
That earned her another chuckle and an amused look, "Alright then young one, yes I will accept you as my guard provided my mate approves. Come, she and the girls should be wakeing up soon." Considering she seemed rather short when sitting down, it would be a surpise when she stood up to see she was actually quiet tall, though slender.
And a surprise it was. Makoto hadn’t been expecting the height that Ebere possessed. If anything, it gave her a commanding presence. One that was exceedingly feminine, but also strong. When the younger lioness stood, her stance came a few inches below the Consort’s, but her muscular frame made up for it. She’d met few males that could compare. “Lead the way and I shall follow.”
Ebere paused a moment hearing more than the light words, sensing the truth under them. Accepting Makoto as her guard had bound the younger female to her. She smiled gently wondering what Hippy would say about her adopting people again.
(WC: 1,767)
