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 Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 2:00 pm
 Su was preening contentedly on a bed of stone, enjoying the late afternoon sun on her back. She'd spent the last hot hours of the day curled up in the cool shade of her den and had only recently roamed out to warm her fur again. From here, on her nice little perch, she had a good view of the heart of the lands and was able to watch the to and fro of pride members as they went about their daily business. She was trying to learn everyone's names and roles - the important ones, anyway - and had almost got it down perfectly. The recent promotions had meant learning even more names but she always felt a sense of achievement when she could safely say that she had memorised them.
Unfortunately, it didn't seem like anyone of all that great importance was out and about today. Or, if they were, they were out towards the borders; maybe seeking water or defending them against these so called monsters of the north.
Su wasn't sure whether she believed the rumours or not. However, at least the Hongshan seemed a cultured bunch. She'd yet to meet any of them properly but she approved greatly of what she had seen so far. They were all survivors of a great tragedy. She supposed the saying 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger' held true in this case. If only some of the more brutish Firekin took a leaf from their book and showed some intellectual interest instead of just kicking up sand from the constant duelling that seemed to go on.
Well, Su counted herself above them. She was no brute. She was lithe, pretty and feminine. A real princessy type. She'd certainly not lower herself to their level by scuffling in the sand. And when her friend Elda had said that she ought to learn some defensive maneuvres, she had simply scoffed and told her that if she needed to learn to fight she had no need of friends - like Elda - who could protect her.
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Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 2:37 pm
Ea was roaming the pride out of sheer boredom. There just seemed to be no one around today to bother him or provide any amusement. Either his father figures, or whatever they wanted to call their connection to him and his siblings, were off to the dueling areas while his mother was out with others as well. He sighed under his breath. He didn’t even have his siblings around to bother him. Oh well. Perhaps it was a sign that he should just find a good spot in the sun where he could take a nap without being disturbed. But the blood in his body was still humming for something – just anything to do. Usually Ea had more control over the spurts of energy that took him. But not today.
So he walked.
It was best to do that instead of waking one of his siblings, else they would stick to him like glue even after he was past the mood to wrestle with them. His golden eyes looked to the sky and the juve squinted at the sun. There was so much going on since he was born. The drought, the refugees that his fathers had traveled in with, and the threat of another pride attacking…Ea just shook his head. He was young, but willing and had the confidence to take on any intruder. If he just had to that was. Still lost in his thoughts the juve found himself climbing higher and higher until he stumbled over another’s tail and slipping grabbed at the nearest perch and pulled himself up. Who? Staring Ea found himself looking at an adolescent lioness.
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Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 2:51 pm
"Hmpfh!" Su's head snapped around and she eyed the dark-pelted juvenile as if he were some dirty peasant. What was he doing? Sneaking up on her and then tripping over her poor tail as if it were nothing but a piece of the scenery? The boy should really look where he was going!! And who was he, anyway? There were a lot of dark-pelted Firekin in the lands nowadays. There were striped Firekin too. But that marking on his hip...
Su couldn't quite place it, though there was a nagging feeling that she should have been able to. In any case, he wasn't the child of anyone important if she couldn't remember it instantly.
With narrowed eyes, she tugged her tail firmly away and tucked it in close against her side so as to keep it from being stumbled over again. Then she fixed him with the best disapproving look she could conjure and said: "You should apologise when you trip over someone, you know." She told him matter-of-factly. "It's only polite." And, with a small sniff, she resettled herself on the flat stone and turned her head back away, casting a somewhat lazy look across the desert.
Still no one of any real interest around. A real shame.
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Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 3:19 pm
Ea pulled back with a frown. What was with this female? She wanted an apology when she was the one who had her tail in the way? Shouldn’t she be happy that he hadn’t stumbled to his death from those rocks? He used to tease his other siblings about the possibility of rolling off of the rocks and into some hole in the desert. He nearly rolled his eyes at her tone. She was definitely one who was high and mighty wasn’t she? Even a juve like him realized that she saw him as lower than herself. It was just his luck that out of all the tails to stumble over he had to stumble over this girl’s tail.
“You want me to apologize?” The juve asked as he jumped down to brush past her and stand in her way again. There was no way that he was going to let her just look off to the desert like he was less than a piece of sand. He tilted his head and studied her, “Really? You really want me to apologize?” He grinned. How funny! But already in the back of his mind an idea was forming. Well if she would insist that he apologized then he guessed he would have to apologize. Pulling himself up the juve who had already obviously inherited his father’s large frame tried to appear much older than he really was, “So…umm do you insist on that apology or what?”
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Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 3:28 pm
And there he was again! Blocking her view of the desert and speaking back to her as if he were something he was not. Who did he think he was, exactly? Even if he was the child of a high-ranking lion surely he had to know that respect had to be earnt? It wasn't born into any more.
Her gold eyes narrowed to give him a haughty look and she crossed her forepaws as if to show how much he was bothering her. Surely he was smart enough to read body language and know when he wasn't wanted? Well...maybe not.
"Yes. I insist. I order you to apologise, in fact." She did her best not to scowl too hard at him (scowling was not ladylike!!!) but it was hard not to. He was being terribly disrespectful to his elders and she was his elder, even if she wasn't fully grown just yet! "Manners is a very important thing and clearly you have not been taught them."
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Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 3:52 pm
Hah. This girl really was something. Ea didn’t bother to care about ranks nor did he automatically bow to someone who hadn’t earned any real respect from him. Normally he would try to be polite around strangers, but already he was set against it with this female. Gritting his teeth he gave her a small smile, “Oh you order me to apologize do you?”
Maybe it was because of who his father was, but the thought of someone actually trying to order him around made the juve’s blood boil.
Still he managed to keep that uncaring look on his face. He would not let this girl get the upper hand on him. Xennek had already taught him that anger was not good in battle. It weakened your defense and made you clumsy when it was let loose. Instead you had to pin it down and control it to fuel your attacks not make them unbalanced and worthless. “But alright then since you insist.” Without pause Ea jumped around side of her and bent towards her tail, “Forgive me, princess.” He commented to the tail before looking back towards the female, “Oooh? It seems your tail is so nice compared to you.” He would show her manners. Spitting out the taste of dust to the side the male moved back around towards her, “Happy now? I would say your tail is.” Sarcasm dripped from the juve’s voice and his golden gaze gleamed with faint amusement. Even though it was not a shade of midnight blue like his father’s the look he gave was identical to the older lion’s.
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Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 4:09 pm
Su couldn't believe what she was seeing or hearing. The little kid was clearly trying to make her angry? But she wouldn't let him get to her, right? Right?! Was it so wrong to want an apology? To expect some manners? She gritted her teeth to hold back some quick remark and leapt to her paws, turning to face him. Oh yes, he was going to grow up into such a nice lion, just like all the rest of the brainless brutes around here! Was there really no hope for any of them?
None at all?!
"No. I am not happy." She responded, doing her best to lift her head high and, thus, tower over him. "You should learn your place. Do you not know who I am?" And if he didn't, she was about to tell him. "My name is Su, daughter of the Regents and apprenticed to become a Magistrate." It really did feel good saying that. "Are you old enough to understand the ranking system of the pride yet, because that makes me an important lioness."
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Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 4:34 pm
A flicker of a grin escaped the juve. She was definitely getting irked at him. Somehow just the feeling that he might have managed to get her a bit roused amused him. It was always nice to know that those who were so high and mighty had tempers too. His golden eyes gleamed as he listened to her reply, “But it was your tail that I hurt. Should I apologize to the rock instead for my claws digging into it as I tried to not fall? Rocks can have feelings too.” More than she probably had.
He rolled his eyes at her declaration. “And my name is Ea. Son of such and such entitled to something or the other as well.” Pointedly he snickered at her name before stretching out in front of her. At the same time his head did a little bob, as if he were mimicking bowing to the older lioness. “So I guess I’ll just keep calling ya princess then.” He grinned that snarky grin that lit his features with a mischievous light, “Always expected something…well more about a princess though ya know?” He moved around her before sighing, “Guess like my da says no use in bein’ picky ‘bout things.”
Ea looked to the side towards the expanse of desert before climbing up another rock above her. Hah. Now who was higher up? He looked back at her with that grin again before turning away.
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Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 4:41 pm
Oh she could really have shoved him straight off that rock right then. She even imagined the surprise on his face as he fell off and landed on the sand. That would sure have shown him. If only Elda had been here! Then she could have ordered the soldier to teach him a lesson.
"I will be a magistrate, not a princess." She corrected, getting huffy now. What was wrong with this kid? Had he really not been taught any respect? Was there a punishment for what he was doing now? Some law he had broken which meant he had to pay for what he had done? If there wasn't, there should have been! She would be an important figure in the pride someday and what would he be?
A brainless soldier, maybe?
"And my name is Su. You'd probably be wise to remember it." It wasn't exactly a hard name to remember, either. Short and simple but very memorable! "And don't turn your back when I'm talking to you! Who did you say your parents were? I think I should have a word with them about your attitude."
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Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 4:52 pm
Ea just shrugged. Magistrate in the future, but princess for now. Plus she might as well been high born since she was aiming so big. Did even soldiers get the chance to move up in the ranks that far? Could his father move up that far? Ea shook his head. Not that Xennek would be interested in a bigger rank...but then again....nah. Surely not. He prefered doing his own thing than working with others right? Still Ea felt a flicker of pride all the members of his family were strong warriors in his opinion. Not that he would ever tell them that.
Looking back over at Su he chuckled. “Be wise, huh? Gotcha, princess.” The juve just shook his head with amusement as she went on. “Sorry but I’d rather not waste their time or hearing.” He moved to walk away but suddenly paused to look back towards her, “Firekin. The sun and the desert are my parents.” Laughing the juve slipped down the rocks gracefully before walking away and out of sight. Though if Su could see his face she would see that grin turned into a full out smile. What a girl!
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Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 4:58 pm
Her claws curled into the rock as he gave his 'smart-mouthed' replies and even as he turned to walk away, she could not find the words to shout at him further. She sputtered for a moment before setting her jaw and glaring at his back as he went.
The desert and the sun, indeed!
Giving a loud sniff of displeasure, she whirled away so her back was to his departing figure and gave the desert a hard glare. Still no one of importance there. Not even a family member in sight!! But she needed to do something and she worried that he might change his mind and come back if she simply lay back down on the rock. So, with a low growl, she leapt off of her platform and stalked out across the sand, the fur on her neck smoothing only when she had put enough distance between her and that unfortunate meeting spot.
Hopefully she'd never have to see him again.
/fin.
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