Azrael was unhappy. Not with his lot in life, not with his mate, and not with his pride or cubs. But Azrael had lost two of his own boys and now he could feel the tension in the family dynamic. One son hated him for it, the other two seemed rather oblivious. He supposed he should be thankful for that much. A golden eye ticked to his side, watching his mate as she made her way beside him. He was looking for the river, needing to quench his thirst, and maybe bring Rashida out of her sad shell.
Rashida was tired, and her heart was broken into multiple pieces it seemed. She had lost her cubs. Well not her, but Azrael had been so neglectful that day, that she was sure they were lost forever. Castiel said they were alive, and she wanted to believe that .He had the gift after all, so at least he would know..
Rashida gave a sad smile to Azrael, hoping to reassure him but realizing she was probably making it worse she sighed and looked back at her paws. Hopefully this little walk would make her feel better. Though she doubted it.
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Nita had been in the lands a few days longer then the incoming Pantai, a friend she had met long ago. She was enjoying herself learning about death and how they cared for the bodies after they had gone. But she was lonely. She had picked death over the living more often then not and lions thought she was strange because of it. She sighed and sulked. If only she had know that Pantai had been following close behind her this entire time.
Pantai was full of life and wonderment today. His entire life he’d always wanted to find the Ela. But they were so hidden he couldn’t even sniff out a trace of them. That was until he had caught a glimpse of the pretty mud female he met long ago. He decided he’d follow her to see where she went- and to his luck, right to the Ela. He was even covered in tattoos that he had asked, if not begged another lion to do when he was younger.
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Azrael saw the two newcomers rather quickly, his eyes narrowing. He wasn't a guard for the pride, he was othing more than a hunter, but still he was protective of his mate. If he hadn't been protective before, now he was simply overbearing. The loss of his cubs, had done a great deal of damage tot he already metally wounded male. He stood taller, his chest puffed out and his eyes a cautious gaze. He trusted no one until they gave themselves reason to be trusted.
Rashida was staring at her paws when she looked up at his growl. It was a low sound, and she knew it wasn't a dangerous one. But still she was curious at what he saw. Her eyes saw one female heading towards them, and oddly a male following not far behind. She arched an eyebrow, raising her paw to place it on Azrael's shoulder.
"Az. Calm down dear." She said, voice soft.
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Azrael saw the two newcomers rather quickly, his eyes narrowing. He wasn't a guard for the pride, he was othing more than a hunter, but still he was protective of his mate. If he hadn't been protective before, now he was simply overbearing. The loss of his cubs, had done a great deal of damage tot he already metally wounded male. He stood taller, his chest puffed out and his eyes a cautious gaze. He trusted no one until they gave themselves reason to be trusted.
Rashida was staring at her paws when she looked up at his growl. It was a low sound, and she knew it wasn't a dangerous one. But still she was curious at what he saw. Her eyes saw one female heading towards them, and oddly a male following not far behind. She arched an eyebrow, raising her paw to place it on Azrael's shoulder.
"Az. Calm down dear." She said, voice soft.
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Nita’s ears flattened against her head as the other growled. She wasn’t a fighter. Nor was she big enough to take on any other lion. She was just a small skinny bone collector. “Uh…I’m sorry…am I in the wrong place?” She gulped and wrapped her tail around the side of her body. She knew there were different clans and she was from sky- so perhaps they were hostile towards other clans. “I’m I’m I’m in Sky. I’m sorry if I am in the wrong clan…but I’m new. If you could kindly show me the way I will go back to my clan.” She tried to flatten herself as much as possible.
‘Sky?’ Oh hey that was where he was placed in too. Though he was just as lost as the female in the distance. He could almost swear that he knew her- I mean what other lioness would have such distinguishable mud markings like that. All he knew though was she was in trouble from the looks of it. So he motored on his paws and tried to catch up before something serious happened.
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Rashida's voice was there before Azrael could say something offensive, and she smiled, bowing her head to the female. She held pain in her eyes, and so the smile was almost bittersweet, but still Rashida always knew when to be polite, and it wasn't in her not to be. You could hit her and treat her badly and still she would come back telling you that you were a good, but misunderstood friend.
"No,no. You are in the Sky Clan lands, no worries." She said, voice soft. "But Azrael here, well. We have had a bit of trouble the past few weeks. Do excuse us if we seem rude." She said, almost begging the female not to think this was just the way they were. For all Rashida knew, she was still in Mourning.
Azrael huffed at the request from Rashida but he nodded. He felt himself bristle at the quick approach of the male though, and so he took a step forward.
"Halt, if you value your health." He warned. Rashida glared at him, and he took the stop back, but his eyes were still warning the male to not do anything funny. He really didn't want to fight, but he would protect his mate at all costs.
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“Oh. That’s good to know I’m in the right place.” She still curled herself as tight as she could; even the thought of fight scared her. But the foot steps behind her distracted her for a moment and she turned her head to see a beach pelted male with his own ‘creative’ set of tattoos. “P-p-pantai?” She caught her breath for a moment looking him over. Boy had he grown since she had seen him. They had only been scrappy adolescents when they had met the last time. Both far too involved with what they were doing to even notice that they could make an attractive pair. “N-no wait. Don’t hurt him. I know him.”
Pantai was relieved that the lioness he thought was Nita- WAS really Nita. Now that he knew it made him all the more defensive to the male that continued to be hostile towards her. “I’ll stop moving if you stop scaring the poor lady.” He pointed at Nita who was almost flat to the ground now. “I mean really aren’t we all part of the same pride? And for shame you scare a female like that.” He raised a brow and held his position as not to threaten the already cross male.
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"I wasn't talking to her. I was talking to you." He said, eyeing the male, and feeling himself grow a bit angry. It didnt matter how much Rashida prodded him back if he was truly upset, so he did his best to breathe in deeply.
"I have no intention of harming a female. What type of male do you take me for?"
Rashida pushed at him with her paw. "Azrael, stop. Now." She demanded, and her tone was serious for the first time in a while. The last thing she needed were for others disliking them. She hated the thought!
Azrael noticed he meant no fight, as his stance told him such. He lowered his own, his tail the only thing twitching side to side. Eyes were still cautious, but he allowed the other to speak to Rashida. Her ever present body guard, he was unwilling to leave her alone.
"I am Rashida, this is Azrael." She said again, bowing her head. "No need to fear, really. You see we just lost two of our boys. Sadly we are both a little on edge. "
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Pantai still looked at the male frustrated. Sure he meant no physical harm and HE could see that; but obviously Nita didn’t understand that his intentions were harmless. He wanted to keep defending her but the female cut his come-back short. Well that would make anyone cross- and he felt bad for the pair. “I’m Pantai- and I’m sorry for your loss. If there is anything I can do for you; don’t be afraid to ask.” He tipped his muzzled low in gesture for his sorrow.
Nita clung to the ground grateful that Pantai had come when he did. She was so afraid she was going to get chased out of the pride. People were so superstitious around others who studied death like she did, and when she heard about the loss of the pair she straightened up. “Though they are lost in life if you care for one’s bones that have passed it will allow them peace in the after-life.” She took some special water she had been carrying and nudged it towards the pair. “It will help preserve the bones.”
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Azrael felt his chest harden with the thought of washing his sons bones. They were alive, he knew it. Their seer son, he had told them so. He had to know, right? And if he was wrong.. They still had no bones to wash and Azrael felt his demeanor get colder than before, though he sat and looked down at his golden paws. He looked over his tattoos, following them over his body until they stopped. Buying his time so that he didn't say something hurtful, or piss Rashida off further.
Rashida smiled softly, though her smile was sad now, her eyes taking on the look like she might cry. But her voice never wavered, she was strong like that.
"Oh.. Thank you, you both are so kind to say such things. But you see.. One of our remaining boys, he has said that he saw they are still alive. They are merely lost from us, out in the world." She sighed, and looked past them both. Then her eyes held hope.
"You haven't seen two little wing marked cubs have you?"
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Nita shook her head. “N-no I haven’t.” Then again she hadn’t been paying much heed to lost cubs. The conversation not on death she clammed up again and now furtherly retreated behind Pantai.
Pantai also shook his head. “Nope…and I have been to a great deal of prides in my life time; Firekin, Dawnwalkers, Swampies- and none have I seen such cubs. But if I would have seen a pair I would have let you known right away.” He felt better he could stand between the pair and Nita. It was obviously she didn’t take introductions too well. Not that it was much of an introduction when somebody tried to scare you half to death.
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Rashida's face fell, and she nodded with a sigh. She supposed it was too much a gift for someone to have seen them.. For someone to have known they were around, and to know who they were. She hoped htey were happy. Alive was one thing, but she wanted them to be thriving, not just alive. The thought of them being hurt sent a chill through her spine and she shook it off. She couldn't think that way now. Looking up at the female who retreated behind the male, she sighed. She supposed Azrael had not been too welcoming, and so she looked at him,
Azrael looked back at Rashida, and nosed her gently. Normally not one for displays of affection around others he still couldnt help but smile at her. She was so sad, and looking into her eyes made him want to weep. He had to give her more babies, because if she didnt..He knew they were doomed.
"Come, Rashida. We have to return home. Castiel and the others are awaiting your return. You know he will worry." He said calmly, looking towards the others.
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Nita poked her nose out from behind Panti, she was obviously glad that the pair had left. “P-panti?” She whispered out in a mute above audible. “H-have you been following me?” She had wondered why she always felt a shadow behind her at all times.
Panti just nodded his head. “Yep. Hope you don’t mind. You just have better adventures then I do. And well you might lead us both to the Ela…and- YOU DID.” He nuzzled her gleefully which felt aquward and comforting all at the same time. “Well anyway lets get settled in…we are both in sky are we not?”
