Ulimi stiffened his upper lip, attempting to hide a tear from escaping his eye as he took one last look at his home. He was leaving for various reasons, though he supposed the most obvious was that he had been kicked out. Most likely due to his nasty tongue, but he could care less. If those lions didn't like the things he had to say, they should fix the problems. But instead, he was the solution. To kick him from the pride, meant they no longer had to face their problems head on. Perhaps it was a good choice, but he would never see it that way. Instead he would grow to pity them for their lack of strength, lack of will, and most of all their lack of dignity. But in the mean time, he had to get a move on. If he remained within the lands after sunset he would surely be hunted. And though he would likely win the battle, did he really want to put himself through that situation? The answer was a resounding No.
Forcing his feet to react to his mind, the male trudged forward, hiding the tricking tears with wisps of his mane. He would pull through this, he had to, not only for his sake. But for the sake of further generations. For if he were ever to have cubs, he would never want them to be cowards like their grandparents, he would want them to be champions. Perfect beyond even the scope of which he could detect. He would do everything for them, encourage them, strengthen them, and well everything a parent would typically do. Everything his parents had never done for him. His children would have honorable names, nothing they should have to hide from like he did.
Biting his tongue heavily, to prevent further tears, the male found himself rooted in place. HIs feet refusing to go any farther. He didn't want to leave, he wanted to stay and help make his pride a better place. A place he didn't expect to be wiped out any day now. But he didn't have a choice, he just had to make himself realize that. Because truthfull he had no choice. Inhaling a deep breath the male began to mutter to himself trying to gain the confidence he needed to set out on his own. "Just go, things will be easier without these fools bogging you down. Just pick up your feet, one foot in front of the other. Come on Ulimi, you can do this!" Slowly, his feet began to inch from the grass once more, releasing the pent up stress from his heart and allowing him to move once more. A relieved sigh, that blew all of the air from his lungs came next, bringing all of his excess baggage with him. This truly was it, exactly what he needed to free him from the prison he had been born into. A bittersweet smile, crawled across his face as he trudged on, his tail dragging miserably behind him.
----
The male awoke with a start the next morning, his joints achy, and his mind in shambles. Looking down at his paws he could see small tears along the pads, and filthy thorns entangled in his fur. Grimacing, he attempted to recall the events from the evening before, but for the most part it had all become a blur. He remembered the speech, the escort, and the inevitable breakdown. He remembered his strengthened resolve, and he remembered his refusal. His refusal. That was it, once he'd gotten himself into that state of mind he had absolutely refused to stop, he had pushed on, through the exhaustion and through the pain. His mind lost on a million pointless topics as he tried to focus on what he would do next. Truly he had no clue, he was on his own now, he could do whatever he wanted. But he only wanted one thing. His heart churned in pain as he felt the hole inside of him grow bigger. Then, for the first time since his exile it hit him. He truly was alone, he had no one. Suddenly the area he had crashed in seemed a whole lot more spacious, and empty.
"Alone. No, I refuse to be alone."
Looking down once more, and attempting to ignore the pain in his chest, Ulimi contemplated just how long he could push on before he found himself incapable of going any farther. By the looks of his abrasions he had a ways he could go, but was it really worth risking? Should he stay and let the wounds heal? He just didn't know. But not continuing would make him weak.. "I am NOT WEAK!" He roared at the top of his lungs, scattering many a bird from their nests among the trees. The ruffling of the birds sppoked him for a moment, and he quickly jerked to attention prepared for whatever may be approaching, birds being the last thing to cross his mind. "Feh - cowards." He grumbled, pushing himself to his feet and ignoring the fight his muscles put up. "I'll show them who's the weak one." He growled again, his pace picking up as he left the shade of the trees behind, and headed into the vast unknown. Whatever lie ahead, was unknown, but he knew what lay behind him and he welcomed the unknown more than he welcomed that. "Give me your best shot." The famous last words of a lion to fearful to admit his own defeat. But was he truly defeated? Could you really defeat something so confident and strong in will? He didn't think so, and he was out to prove that he was - as always - right about everything. Without a single look back, Ulimi straightened his stance, ruffled his mane one last time and continued onwards.
Wordcount: 1020
Forcing his feet to react to his mind, the male trudged forward, hiding the tricking tears with wisps of his mane. He would pull through this, he had to, not only for his sake. But for the sake of further generations. For if he were ever to have cubs, he would never want them to be cowards like their grandparents, he would want them to be champions. Perfect beyond even the scope of which he could detect. He would do everything for them, encourage them, strengthen them, and well everything a parent would typically do. Everything his parents had never done for him. His children would have honorable names, nothing they should have to hide from like he did.
Biting his tongue heavily, to prevent further tears, the male found himself rooted in place. HIs feet refusing to go any farther. He didn't want to leave, he wanted to stay and help make his pride a better place. A place he didn't expect to be wiped out any day now. But he didn't have a choice, he just had to make himself realize that. Because truthfull he had no choice. Inhaling a deep breath the male began to mutter to himself trying to gain the confidence he needed to set out on his own. "Just go, things will be easier without these fools bogging you down. Just pick up your feet, one foot in front of the other. Come on Ulimi, you can do this!" Slowly, his feet began to inch from the grass once more, releasing the pent up stress from his heart and allowing him to move once more. A relieved sigh, that blew all of the air from his lungs came next, bringing all of his excess baggage with him. This truly was it, exactly what he needed to free him from the prison he had been born into. A bittersweet smile, crawled across his face as he trudged on, his tail dragging miserably behind him.
----
The male awoke with a start the next morning, his joints achy, and his mind in shambles. Looking down at his paws he could see small tears along the pads, and filthy thorns entangled in his fur. Grimacing, he attempted to recall the events from the evening before, but for the most part it had all become a blur. He remembered the speech, the escort, and the inevitable breakdown. He remembered his strengthened resolve, and he remembered his refusal. His refusal. That was it, once he'd gotten himself into that state of mind he had absolutely refused to stop, he had pushed on, through the exhaustion and through the pain. His mind lost on a million pointless topics as he tried to focus on what he would do next. Truly he had no clue, he was on his own now, he could do whatever he wanted. But he only wanted one thing. His heart churned in pain as he felt the hole inside of him grow bigger. Then, for the first time since his exile it hit him. He truly was alone, he had no one. Suddenly the area he had crashed in seemed a whole lot more spacious, and empty.
"Alone. No, I refuse to be alone."
Looking down once more, and attempting to ignore the pain in his chest, Ulimi contemplated just how long he could push on before he found himself incapable of going any farther. By the looks of his abrasions he had a ways he could go, but was it really worth risking? Should he stay and let the wounds heal? He just didn't know. But not continuing would make him weak.. "I am NOT WEAK!" He roared at the top of his lungs, scattering many a bird from their nests among the trees. The ruffling of the birds sppoked him for a moment, and he quickly jerked to attention prepared for whatever may be approaching, birds being the last thing to cross his mind. "Feh - cowards." He grumbled, pushing himself to his feet and ignoring the fight his muscles put up. "I'll show them who's the weak one." He growled again, his pace picking up as he left the shade of the trees behind, and headed into the vast unknown. Whatever lie ahead, was unknown, but he knew what lay behind him and he welcomed the unknown more than he welcomed that. "Give me your best shot." The famous last words of a lion to fearful to admit his own defeat. But was he truly defeated? Could you really defeat something so confident and strong in will? He didn't think so, and he was out to prove that he was - as always - right about everything. Without a single look back, Ulimi straightened his stance, ruffled his mane one last time and continued onwards.
Wordcount: 1020
