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 Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 12:01 pm
 Veri and the mortal Mith had met as agreed and started to travel to the diseased pride. She was still disguised as a mortal and had left her loyal companion snake in the care of a friend to avoid making a scene when they got there. She knew Nemanja would take good care of the snake, but she was still feeling a bit on edge without it. The lack of its familiar presence was unsettling, but she didn't regret leaving the creature behind. Mith'ando had said something about a task he had to perform before they set off, but whatever it had been they didn't discuss it when they met again. He hadn't asked her about her home either and she were grateful for that.
They had made good progress since starting the journey about a week ago. She had set the pace, and Mith seemed to be able to keep up. Veri was far from her own top speed, but she had purposely set a pace that only a very fit mortal could keep up with and her travel companion had passed this test so far.
They would need to stop for a rest soon however, and Veri thought there should be a watering hole nearby. She stopped and tried to pick up the scent of water.
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:14 pm
It had been a rather quiet week of travel. Being a gentleman, he'd let her set the pace they traveled at. He was rather pleased that it wasn't an ambling speed, for though he wasn't filled with pressing urgency to find this pride, he did desire to keep moving that direction. She tended to keep to herself, which he didn't mind. He respected her relative silence, keeping pace with her in companionable silence. Oh, they spoke when necessary, not denying each other conversation by any means. But they did not share much about themselves.
He paused in his tracks for a wide yawn and stretch, arching his back. The msucles along his spine protested faintly, informing him that even he had his limits. He shrugged to himself and padded on. He wasn't out of shape, but he thought perhaps a day of rest might be a good idea. He glanced aside to Veri thoughtfully. She had not complained nor faltered thus far, but perhaps she would also value some downtime.
He cleared his throat quietly before speaking. "If you are in no hurry, my lady," he began, "a day of rest would do me good." He did not insult her by telling her it would do her good as well. He didn't know nearly enough about her to be able to assert such a thing, and it easily could be found insulting. On the flip side, he had no problem admitting an honest weakness. There was no shame in not being godlike in endurance and strength, to his mind. "Perhaps we could stop at the next water?" It was a mild suggestion, offering her to input her thoughts as well.
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:32 pm
"Hmm?" she said and turned her head, "Ah, yes. A day of rest would do us good. It wouldn't be wise to arrive in a weakened state. I think there is water nearby, but I'm not sure how far away it is."
She knew she could spot it in an instant with a bit of birds eye view, but showing her wings and flying ability was not an option. Masquerading as a mortal was not that easy, but she tried her best to pass for one. They'd find the watering hole soon enough, or catch the scent of it when the wind turned just right.
Veri never told Mith, but she appreciated that he wasn't afraid to show weakness. She had met lions so stubborn or proud they would rather drop dead before they admitted they were tired or hurt. Under her influence that could potentially become a problem, and it was good to know that her travel companion wasn't afraid to say so if he was tired. Strong, but not stupidly so. Bit by bit he gained Veri's silent approval, if not her trust just yet.
"Why do you want to visit this pride," she asked, "Most…" she paused, apparently thinking something over, "most lions avoid the lands claimed by Pestilence."
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 3:08 pm
He turned his head this way and that, trying to catch the scent of water. He panted lightly, but could only tell it was within half a day's travel and general direction. It wasn't enough to be absolutely certain, but enough to alter his path just a little. At her question, he nodded his head, as if to himself. He'd been expecting this question for some time, and was glad she'd finally asked it. He wasn't the most private of lions, but he wasn't chatty to the extreme either. He figured if she wanted to know, she'd ask. If she didn't, he'd not burden her with unwanted information about himself. He didn't exactly dislike those who shared various information about their life and experiences unasked for, but he preferred not to be one of those people.
"Since I was a cub," he began quietly, his deep voice a bass rumble, "I have had visions. They have all had the same theme. In them, I see the time of someone's death, and have a sense of what it was that killed them. Most often, what it involves is sickness, disease." He inhaled deeply through his nose, his big chest filling with air and holding it a few moments before letting it out. "It can be a morbid thing, I suppose, but it has become part of who I am. I accept death as a natural part of things, an inevitable occurance. But my visions have also shown me that death does not have to be a tragedy, a painful and grief-stricken event."
He paused to look over at her, gauging her reaction. The topic of death could be a tricky one, and some were sensitive to discussing it. Not everyone was open to talking about death and plainly and calmly as he did. She seemed at least accepting of it, so he continued. "There were times it was the death of the person standing before me. Thankfully I learned to control that aspect of it." He'd seen many of those he'd grown up with die, in his visions. it wasn't very comfortable, for him or for them. To know the person you are talking to has knowledge of how you'll die... it led to many an awkward silence.
"However, as I grew, I came to realize that many of my visions included individuals from other visions. Over time, I began to recognize generations of families, all connected. A pride of lions and other creatures, whose deaths predominantly were from disease." He paused to think about his own motivations. "I thought.. perhaps there they would accept me." It was startling to voice this, as he hadn't entirely been aware he desired such acceptance. "They might not mind that I have seen their deaths, since it seems death is a normal part of their pridal ways." He'd said more than he meant to, revealed more of himself than intended, but he could not regret it. It felt good to share it with someone who wasn't immediately horrified by the revelation of his visions.
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 2:47 pm
Veri listened in silence as they walked, but her interest could be seen in the way she moved her ears. She nodded as he explained his visions. The concept wasn't strange to her since it was a well-known fact that mortals born to Gods and Goddesses might have visions of the past, present or future. She was aware that at least one of her daughters had the gift, or curse... The how and why of visions wasn't new, but his musings on death interested her greatly. She had never feared death, but then she had little to be afraid of. The essence of Blood would remain, and she knew she would be reborn as long as lions believed in or worshipped some part of what she was.
But how did the mortals take it? Not everyone was afraid of death, apparently. Well, she knew that... Many mortals believed themselves unable to die, and boy did they look stupid when they realised their mistake. But that some mortals would welcome death, despite the fact that they only stayed in this world for the shortest time... It was interesting but hard to understand.
"You can control it, you say," she asked while she figured out how to ask him about all the other things she wanted to know more about, "Can you shut the visions off at will?"
Veri could suppress some of her powers to a certain extent, but if her temper flared she tended to lose that control. She wondered if Mith would be able to see her next death, or her previous one, and what he would think if he did. She supposed he might interpret it as an unrelated vision. Her mortal form was not that different to her true form when it came to colours and markings, but she made much more of an impact with the wings and godly size.
"When you put it that way," she said, choosing her words carefully, "I'm actually looking forward to meeting these lions that have such a natural relationship to death."
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 3:06 pm
He nodded his heavily-maned head slowly. "I can control whether I see a death related to the one in front of me." He tipped his head her way speculatively. "I haven't seen yours because I have not allowed myself to." He turned to look ahead again, voice thoughtful. "But the ones about this pride, I can't seem to change whether or when they come. I assume most if not all are from this pride, but it's possible I have visions of deaths from other prides as well." He padded on for a time, ruminatively quiet. "What makes this pride different is how often I see them. I have come to recognize members of families, or important figures in their pride's hierarchy." It was so strange, recognizing lions he'd never met. There were other species there too, but he didn't broach that subject.
But at her last words he gave her a rather penetrating look. The water was nearby, and he chose not to address his thoughts until they had found it and settled beside the cool water. Scraggly trees with twisted branches shaded them, and it was after they'd drank their fill and were reclining at ease that he again brought up the conversation. "Why does death fascinate you?" he asked plainly, though his voice lacked any forcefulness or aggression. "There are little signs that I can't quite put my claw on that tell me that you have an odd relationship with the idea of death." He pinned his tail down with one large paw and groomed the thick tuft of hair at the end. "Will you tell me your story?" It was a quiet question, a mild request. He kept his eyes on his tail to make it easier for her to decline, if she chose.
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Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 7:17 am
It was interesting to hear about his visions, and she wondered if he knew his divine parent or ancestor. She was aware of where seers came from, but wasn't sure how widespread the knowledge was among mortals. It was also interesting that he couldn't block the death visions from this particular pride, perhaps because they died in a way that was attuned to his particular way of Seeing. Veri was lulled into a false sense of security by the following silence as they approached the water, but his question about her fascination with death almost made her snort water through her nose. She coughed and sat up, trying to look unaffected as he kept talking while fussing with his tail.
It was inevitable, she supposed. She had never been very good as passing as a mortal, but that might have been from lack of practice. She knew some Gods who actually seemed to be more comfortable in their mortal guise, but she had never had any close enough bonds with mortals to really get into it. She wasn't very good at not being herself it seemed. The truth then, or at least part of it. Her story was long enough to fill several lifetimes, so she focused on her curiosity about death.
"I've always wondered," she said, "About what comes after death."
She paused and frowned. No, that was not it either. She knew that she would be reborn, she knew that there was nothing like it for mortals. What she really wondered...
"No," she said and tried again, "That's not it. I think what I really wonder is how people deal with it all. One day you're there, the next day you're gone forever. How do you deal with that? Life is so short and death is forever..."
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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 7:47 am
He rumbled quietly, deep in his chest, half a noise of thoughtfulness and half a wry chuckle. He let his tail go and shook his mane gently, raising his eyes to hers with an openness he'd kept in reserve. Generally he was self-contained, not exactly withholding himself, but not baring himself either. But now, for this moment, he allowed himself to lay bare his inner self.
"You are looking at it wrong," he stated plainly. "This is something I struggled with for a long while as well. All this death in my visions, how could I not wonder, dread, puzzle over that very thing." For a flash, he looked very tired and very empty, like the guttering embers of a dying fire. "It was hard, being so young and pondering such painful and unanswerable questions." The moment passed, and he again was focused on her. "But that is the wrong aspect to be considering. People do not, or should not, live in anticipation of death." He shook his head, harder this time, his mane tumbling about his face.
"To live with death as the goal and end-all is to not live at all. Anyone who keeps his eyes trained on such a finality, as unavoidable as it may be, fails to see what living is about." He paused to consider an example, and decided upon the most obvious one. "You and I are on a journey together. We both will end up, hopefully, at the same destination. If we spent our entire journey focused solely upon our goal, think of all we would miss!" He smiled at her, more brightly than usual. "We would lose the chase to get to know one another. We would miss savoring water and shade as a welcome rest. We would miss the sight of a single hawk, soaring upon a warm breeze in the blue sky."
He stopped there, though the list of things to enjoy and remember later could have gone on endlessly. If they traveled single-mindedly, he would have not appreciated her quiet company, nor her intelligent conversation. "The journey, and not just the goal, should be the focus. It would be foolish to live as if we could not or would not die. But to live as if we were already dying is to cheapen the life bestowed upon us." Having had his say, he lowered his eyes, gently lowering his everyday shields again, closing off his true self in favor of the more comfortable, less intense version.
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Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 1:00 pm
It was interesting to see the change in the male when he met her eyes. Veri felt the intensity as he spoke. She was more used to seeing this kind of presence in Gods and Goddesses when they got into something they really felt for. It usually happened when the God in question had a chance to talk about a topic closely related to their own domain. She supposed she shouldn't be surprised that mortals could feel strongly about things too.The meaning of life... and death was apparently close to Mith's heart.
His answer wasn't fully satisfying to her, but that might well be because she hadn't asked the question she really wanted to ask. But if she had asked 'How do mortals deal with it?' she might as well just drop her guise and unfold her wings. This was how Mith dealt with it, and she could understand his reasoning. Veri knew a lot about traveling, and she supposed a journey didn't have to be less satisfying just because it was short. A quick run had its charms too, after all.
It pleased her that he seemed to enjoy their journey together, and that the diseased pride wasn't his single focus. Veri didn't usually surround herself with followers or worshippers, and a travel companion wasn't even close to one of those, but it was still nice to be appreciated. She closed her eyes in a slow blink, fluffed her wings up and then shook them out. For someone who knew her the bird like motion was a telltale sign that she was content and relaxed. And then she realised what she had done. Ah, rats. Well, she had never been good at keeping up the charade for longer periods of time. She opened her eyes again and looked at Mith'ando, as if she'd meant to morph into her true form all along.
"Speaking of getting to know each other," she said, keeping her face straight.
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 9:49 am
The normally unflappable Mith'ando was caught completely off-guard by the sudden change in the lioness beside him. Black wings appeared from her white back, fluffed and spread, and then she looked at him as if it was the most natural and normal thing for such to happen. For just a moment, his breath and voice both caught in his throat, leaving him speechless and breathless. He couldn't help but stare for a moment, eyes roving her whole body as if to adjust his mental image of her.
Well! This certainly put a different spin on things. He shuddered his pelt, ending with shaking his mane out. Then he gave her a rueful smile that had lost none of its companionship. "I am honored you feel comfortable with revealing yourself to me, my lady." He bowed his head deeply. "It was not something I would have suspected at all, though it does explain your question." Indeed, it made more sense now in retrospect that she was so curious and baffled by dealing with a mortal concern such as death. "Though my answer to you really isn't any different. We deal with death by living to our fullest. When the time comes, individuals handle it in their own way. None is exactly the same as another. It all depends on what was most important to them in life, and how they felt they lived."
That was a vague answer in the extreme, but to list all the possibilities would take a very long time. He supposed he could expound on it, if she liked. He was comfortable talking about it, but it wasn't his first choice of conversation topic. His gaze sharpened and he leaned forward slightly, ears swept forward and whiskers spread with interest. "If you dont mind my asking, my lady, what are you goddess of?" It probably should have been obvious, but he felt it was wiser, more polite, and definitely diplomatic to ask rather than assume.
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 1:35 pm
Veri was glad to have dropped the act, and was happily ignoring the fact that she hadn't exactly done it on purpose. Mith'ando was visibly surprised, but he didn't run away or fall to his knees in worship. She appreciated his calm. Excessive fear or worship would just have annoyed her, but she enjoyed his respectful manner. Mith had acted as a gentleman while he still thought she was a regular lioness, and he didn't act differently now.
"I'm Veri," she said in a formal greeting, "Goddess of Blood. It's nice to be able to stretch my wings a little..."
She did just that, extending first one wing and then the other before folding them neatly again. Veri wasn't vain enough to assume that everyone knew who she was, and didn't mind him asking. When meeting other Gods and Goddesses she sometimes asked, and sometimes got a feeling for what their domain might be. The prouder domains were easy to offend and as a cub she had been berated for not instantly knowing the name and domain of a 'famous' good. She still made a point to "forget" his name when they met, but they didn't bump into each other very often.
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Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 9:55 pm
He watched her intently as she stretched her wings. He imagined it must make them stiff to hide them away.... but that also brought up the question of how did she hide them away? As curious as this made him, he refrained from asking such an infantile question. How she did it simply wasn't important, all things considered. Her domain, though... now that was of great interest. He leaned back, his eyes defocusing a bit as he pondered the worship that likely was presented for such as she. He wrinkled one cheek in distaste, but nodded his head. "I'm sure there are many who see the great value of blood and would offer you devotion because of it." He didn't think some of such devotion was very savory, but to each their own..
His face reflected a sudden thoughtfulness. This did put a new spin on her wanting to go to the diseased pride with him. As well as on the fact that she was choosing to travel with him. He cast her a sideways smile, something caught between shy and playful. "In light of this, though, I am surprised you chose to tread the ground with me rather than just fly there on your own." It was clear he wanted to know why she'd chosen such, but he wasn't going to ask. If she chose not to tell him, so be it. It changed nothing, really. It did put their friendship into a new catagory for certain, but the basis for that friendship was unchanged and unshaken. Wings and powers or no, she was still the same individual he'd gotten to know, and he was certainly the same as he had been. Only the situation was different now.
One thing was for sure, though. The trip there certainly looked to be more lively now.
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Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 4:10 pm
She noticed the twitch and wondered what caused it. Maybe a bad association to blood? Her domain wasn't easy to define as 'good' or 'evil' but most carnevores had pretty good associations to it. They spilled the blood of their prey on a regular basis after all. Some prides took the worship of blood to its extremes, and she needed to be in a certain mood to visit those. But if she hit the right mood it was usually enjoyable visits.
"It would be hard to show you the way if I didn't walk with you," she pointed out, "Wouldn't it?"
She frowned and looked pensive for a moment before speaking again.
"I might not enter the pride with you," she said, "It could be... potentially bad."
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Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 4:35 pm
"True," he nodded his shaggy head. "But you did not have to promise to take me there yourself either." The corners of his mouth curved upwards as he added, "You could have sent your snake to show me and eat me if I spoke ill of you." He cast her an amused glance, indicating he was teasing her. At the more serious turn of the conversation though, he regarded her thoughtfully.
"Is it them you worry for?" His gaze was penetrating, seeking truth in her eyes. Clearly it couldn't be for herself that she fretted... she was a goddess! "Would you harm them?" His brows drew together in consternation and confusion. The female he'd traveled this far with was not the sort to act rashly or blatantly harm an innocent life. All the senarios that ran through his mind didn't fit, or seem worthy of her concern. What could possibly bother her so?
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Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 4:09 pm
"I don't think it could eat you," she said and tilted her head as if to size him up, "A cub perhaps, or a juvenile, but not a grown lion. And you're decent sized for a mortal."
Her face was completely serious as she said this, but soon enough a small smile broke through her deadpan expression. She was joking too, except perhaps about the cub part. The snake was large enough to gobble one down should it feel so inclined. She didn't know what it fed on when it went hunting alone, but she hadn't been hunted down by angry parents yet, so probably not lion cubs.
"I might harm them, yes," she said, and this time she stayed serious, "At least the weaker ones. I prefer to avoid spending too much time with lions that are not strong enough to handle my influence."
She watched him intently, trying to figure out how much to tell him and how. It had taken her long to grow into her blood specific powers, and she didn't have them all figured out yet. She might be able to suppress her influence on mortals if she tried, but it would be draining and she didn't fancy walking around with a constant headache so she had never tried. And it would be hard to tell if it worked... No, better to stay away from weak mortals unless she wanted to harm them.
"Blood flows more freely in my presence," she said, trying to find an explanation that he would understand. She made a motion with a paw, as if to claw him, but without getting close enough to harm him, "If you should get a small wound it would bleed more and stay open longer than if I wasn’t here. Weak lions that stay near me for longer periods of time might grow weaker. Bleed out inside."
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