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 Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 12:23 am
It would have been a nice day, were it not for the warm breeze blowing through the lands. But...well, sadly, the nice clear day was hot as hell thanks to it. And Zalag's earthy coat did nothing to aid her in cooling off while she made a round of the borders. Most old lionesses might have keeled over from the heat...but she was hardy, stubborn, and far from weak. She couldn't afford to be weak. Not with so many lives relying on her guidance. Her grandcubs included.
She was still so proud of them. Her granddaughter and grandson were her pride and joy lately, the proof of how merciful the gods could be, and how they rewarded the faithful. They were becoming quite the leaders themselves, and that made her smile a bit. At least until scents she didn't recognize reached her nose. Lions. And not lions in the pride. The Battle Matriarch was suddenly in battle mode, eyes, ears, and nose alert and muscles tensed if she had to fight.
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Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 10:08 am
Many moons and miles separated this moment from the moment when the'd first met. Much had happened between then and now. The cub they had found in the middle of nowhere had grown and found her own way in life. Raska the genet still was with them, currently nestled comfortably in Tangir's mane right above his shoulders. Her smaller lifespan was beginning to show, for the small animal was decidedly less spry and enduring than she had been. It grieved Delphia to think about losing her very dear friend. Where would they be without her? She had been what brought she and Tangir together, and she had been what helped the tiny cub Xieros to relax and trust them. The genet's life was vital to Delphia, that of sister to sister. She sighed and moved her gaze to her mate's eyes, saying nothing but communicating her worries nonethelss. Tangir caught the look, and knew what was troubling Delphia. Raska was plenty healthy, but not so young anymore. Delphia wasn't so young herself, but the lioness could expect to live for many more years yet. He spared a moment to smile inwardly with pride at his mate. She was tough, capable, gentle, and wonderful all around. Woe to the stranger who happened to open those floodgates, for he would expound on her virtues for lengthy periods of time, given the chance!
Raska, however, was only a small predator, more delicate than a lion, and she had certainly been through a lot in her short life. She often complained that the changes in weather made her old wounds hurt. Today was a good day for her, for the weather was not only stable, but warm. The warmth seemed to ease any discomfort the genet felt, but both he and Delphia knew they couldn't keep up this way. Traveling constantly was becoming less feasible, if they wished to keep Raska with them. Soon it would come to a choice... pick a defensible den and settle down for a long while, or find a pride that suited them and allowed smaller predators as well. Tangir was somewhat skeptical of this last option, but who knew what the future held?
Neither one of them were aware of the border they approached, nor of the lioness who was downwind of them.
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Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 1:16 pm
Zalag was still getting used to their new home, but she wasn't about to let that disadvantage hinder her from ensuring her pride's safety. She padded towards the scent, low to the ground and paws careful to avoid spots where there was more sand than rock. She frowned at the pair of lions approaching and stood fully, the only signs of her age the grey in her fur and the shagginess of the fur around her muzzle, paws, and belly.
"You are approaching pridal borders." No need to say they were a pride made mostly of old lionesses and young cubs at the moment.
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Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 1:26 pm
They both stopped immediately upon being challenged. Delphia noted that Tangir looked wary, but not defensive, and felt appreciation for his discretion. They shared another wordless look, and Delphia was the one who stepped forward, two steps only. "Honored mother, we apologize for trespassing without permission given." She kept her body language relaxed and her tone respectful. This lioness had not gotten the grey in her muzzle without having fought for her longevity. "Does this pride allow travelers brief rest, perhaps on the edges of the pride's territory and protection?" A rest with others guarding would be welcome, if they could manage it. "We can hunt for ourselves, off the pridal lands." It seemed prudent not to ask to impose upon a strange pride any more than was absolutely necessary. If need be, they could even just move on, given they were told where the border was so they could skirt it.
Tangir stayed quiet, letting his mate handle speaking to the aging lioness, female to female. Obviously if it had been a male who had challenged them, it would have been Tangir who spoke first. Whether or not he'd have done so with aggression or not was a moment-by-moment call that Delphia always trusted him to make. He felt Raska stirring upon his shoulders though as her rocking nest stopped its motion. He held still as the genet shifted her weight, then climbed up onto his head. She was a small thing, so the weight was negligible. He briefly wondered what the lioness would think of a critter suddenly appearing out of his mane atop his head. This too was a reaction they watched carefully, for any pride that did not welcome smaller creatures was not a place they could remain for even a brief stay.
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Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 2:19 pm
The Battle Matriarch had NOT been expecting their responses. She relaxed just a tad, looking them over. And nodded. "We will not turn away those who need shelter and rest. But it won't be in the main denning area. We can show you to a secondary den, however, within the borderlands." She would not make the same mistakes as her former pride in turning rogues who needed rest away. Her eye was caught by the small creature climbing onto the lion's head, raising a brow, but showing no other reaction. Apparently, she thought the little one part of the lions' group.
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Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 12:35 pm
Delphia bowed her head graciously. "Thank you kindly for your courtesy," she replied to the offer. She cast a warm smile at her mate and turned to follow the older female. "Perhaps you wouldn't mind telling us some about your pride? I'd like to know more about those who are gracious to rogues like us." True enough. They'd met some nasty prides that both Delphia and Tangir had avidly warned others from. They far preferred to find the groups that welcomed and harbored strangers, and had spread the word about them as well. There were a few that had sheltered them, but were unwilling to have their existence spread. That had been easy enough to honor as well. The only one likely to find out was their daughter, who often sought them out.
"We appreciate the offer," added Tangir sincerely. "We've been traveling for a long while since our last safe stop, and could use some rest." It wasn't as if he did all the guarding and hunting, for he and Delphia took the responsibilities on as a team, rather than owrrying about gender roles. They each worked equally hard to keep them all fed and safe. Thus he was as glad for his mate as for himself for the respite. "I am Tangir, my mate is Delphia, and our friend here is Raska. We offer whatever service we can provide to you and your pride for taking us in." It was a pretty typical offer, service in exchange for shelter, and one they always honored. What good was accepting a gift and not giving liberally in return?
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 7:08 am
These rogues were full of surprises. Perhaps...perhaps there was a reason she'd been at this place along the borders when they came. "It is a pleasure to meet you both. I am Zalag, Battle Matriarch of this pride." She motioned for the both of them to follow her. "This place is the Zagmuk. We are a pride that has risen from the ashes of another, given a second chance by the gods to prove ourselves, to show we have not turned away from them as others in our original pride did." She looked back, and smiled a bit. "If you are in need of rest, we need nothing from you until you've had it. Then we can talk of exchanges."
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 8:15 pm
Delphia shared a glance of concern with her mate. Angering the gods was not something one did lightly, nor that one did without punishment. They had no desire to involve themselves with a pride that might still be under the dark eye of any of the deities. That look shared was an agreement to learn more, just in case it required a swift exit after resting briefly. "How long ago was this?" she asked quietly, her voice denoting how serious she found the described situation.
Tangir nodded minutely at his mate, wordlessly understanding her meaning and concern. He moved unconsciously closer to her, protective to his core, and added his own question. "What gods do you appeal to now, and which were slighted by the previous pride?" These were vital questions. Some gods were more forgiving than others. Some took vengeance to extremes. He did not want them to be around if one chose this time to strike back at the pride, regardless of their righteous intentions.
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 8:37 pm
Zalag sighed, shaking her head. "All of them were slighted, I fear. Save maybe those who rule over Greed, Vanity, Hatred, and like things." She understood that the pair might worry. She did not blame them. "The gods laid down their punishment three or four moons ago now, striking down those who had turned from them and sparing those of us who had stayed faithful or had not had a chance to truly live yet. Now...we give thanks to the gods as it is needed, but those we give the most thanks to are those that oversee us daily. Ki of the earth beneath our paws, Enki of the water we drink, Utu of the sun and Nanna of the moon who light the days and nights, Eria of the desert who provides us with a home and prey, and Anat who gives us the strength and cunning to bring down our prey." That last was especially important for the fact many of their members, their hunters, were young and small.
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:46 pm
This was reassuring news, to some extent. It seemed that logical gods were being given their due now, and the darker ones avoided. However, the event of retribution was startlingly recent. Delphia pondered on what the lioness had said. The faithful and the young. "The rest are gone?" she mused aloud in amazement. The implication was stunning. "How many of you are left?" she inquired with some alarm on their behalf. Her soft heart would not permit her to do anything but be concerned for their well-being. Why, were they strong enough to care for themselves currently?
Tangir was wary, speaking of gods thusly, and the knowledge that this pride had suffered such attention from those enigmatic beings so recently sat ill with him. Still, he couldn't help flashing a look of love at his mate for her worry. It was very like her to put others before herself in the end. So he stayed quiet and followed her lead, knowing he would be unable to convince her to leave if there was need of their help here.
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:54 pm
"Not many of us were left..." Even her mate had fallen. Her cubs, many of her grandcubs...She had only a single granddaughter and grandson left..."We are slowly gaining strength back, however. During our Exodus from the old lands, we found ourselves with others joining us. Others who had lost their families or homes, those who had been hurt or abandoned." They took them all in. "It's not been easy but...we have made it. And we pray it is the gods' will that we one day thrive again." And never again would they forget to give thanks. Never.
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:24 pm
Delphia was deeply moved by the lioness' story. It was so tragic, so pitiful, and yet so enduring and touching. This pride was trying to make things right, and needed help to survive and grow. They had never discussed joining a pride, not really. She glanced at her mate wordlessly, wondering whether to speak her desire or wait to talk about it later. Her heart cried out to help these people, to help right the wrongs and to be part of a new beginning, a new flourishing.
He had no trouble reading the look, the depth of concern, the strength of longing. No, they had not really pondered staying in one place for an extended stay, but clearly this was something she wanted. He wasn't entirely certain he was ready to permanently settle here, to remain until his death... but that being said, he had no qualms about staying for a long while to help these poor souls get back on their paws and find joy in life again.
"If you would permit us, Battle Matriarch Zalag, we would like to stay here." He turned solemn eyes upon the older lioness. "We would like to assist your pride in regaining vitality and safety." He smiled, if a bit nervously, yet with honesty. "If you'll have us, I'm sure we can help Zagmuk grow strong once more, beneath the watchful eyes of the gods."
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Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 11:52 am
Zalag had not been expecting what Tangir said. But...it was welcome. It sounded like the Gods had brought their little pride two strong bodies to bolster their numbers. She...would not deny them. The old lioness smiled slightly. "You are welcome to stay. You are most welcome." And their little pride would grow. "Once you're rested, myself and the Family Matriarch can teach you more about the pride." Yes...they would grow, and they would thrive. Thank the gods.
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