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 Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 8:42 pm
Horatio lingered around the slave dens, watching the numerous slaves come and go on their duty. He knew he wasn't old, but as there were a decent number of slaves younger than him, it seemed that the rougher jobs went to them. He was used for more passive things, but he didn't mind. A hunt now and then kept him decently in shape, and there was enough on his mind. It was weird, being a grandfather, and he only hoped that Laelia was happy. The Great Lion watched over her and her siblings more than him and Amalthea, and he could only put faith into His guardianship. So it was a bit of a surprise for Horatio to catch sight of Mazin. He hadn't really expected to see the lion soon. Horatio was only expecting a few naps today, and not a visitor.
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 8:51 pm
Once he had been left at the dens by Aysu and Uthuli, who were both apologetic but had other things to attend to, Mazin had only taken a moment to rest before forcing himself to his feet to find someone to talk to before one of his brothers or his sister found him. He knew exactly where he wanted to go, though, and he was glad when he spotted Horatio nearby. He knew he was looking rough but for all the marks Yareha put on him, most of the bleeding had stopped.
"Hotario," he greeted him weakly, not realizing how quickly he was getting tired- a side effect of both adrenaline and injury, he supposed.
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 8:54 pm
Horatio was ready to give him a warm welcome, but alarm spread across his face. He couldn't help himself, seeing Mazin as something of a son. "Mazin!" Alarm spread to concern as his light blue eyes traces the wounds across his body. "What happened? Are you alright?"
Everything crossed his mind. Hunting accident, a rogue attack, a fight between pride members....not everyone got along, and a slave was an easy target, regardless of what happened or what the rules were. A little roughing up could be easily passed off as a hunting stumble, and nothing more.
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 9:04 pm
It was impossible not to notice Horatio's panic and Mazin tried to put on a reassuring smile but it was shaky at best. When he was close enough, he sat himself down before he could start shaking again and look even worse.
"I'm OK, really," he said, though he would have been happier to be asleep and give it more time before deciding he was just perfect, "Yareha and I crossed paths, I guess he finally snapped."
He smiled sadly.
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 9:08 pm
Horatio listened intently to Mazin, but once Yareha's name was spoken, his eyes narrowed into a hard glare. After what Laelia had felt, having her heart broken, Horatio had no love for the stupid, airheaded male.
"Oh."
Well, it wasn't Mazin's fault. Laelia had chosen to turn to him, and to be honest, Horatio was happier for that choice. They always seemed a little awkward to him, but his relationship with his own mate was a little overwhelming to some. Who was he to judge?
"I trust you," he finally added on. "Has Laelia....seen you yet?" The Great Lion help that idiot once Laelia found out.
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 9:20 pm
He knew he didn't even need to add on the remark about Yareha finally snapping to have the whole story understood, especially by Horatio. Laelia's family was all too aware of her history with that lion and honestly, even Aysu had warned him to be careful after she told him about who fathered Laelia's cubs and he failed to respond.
"No, she hasn't," he said carefully, "I don't want to show up like this and scare the cubs, and I'm sure what Laelia will have to say would be best away from them, too."
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 9:24 pm
Horatio shook his head. "You doubt them. They would not be scared. They would be concerned, worried. Even defensive in in of themselves. Cubs are smarter than you think." Which, in turn, made him agree with Mazin's second point.
"Yes, I do believe that. Their imagination may push the limits of what they overhear. If you need to use our den, by all means." He didn't think Mazin would take him up on the offer, as a slave's den was not as private as it was of other class' dens, but he wanted Mazin to know that he was here for him. And Amalthea would be to, if she was currently here.
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 9:31 pm
Mazin thought about what Horatio said about cubs being smarter than you think but that was part of his worry, letting them learn too much about their parents' lives before they were born.. but he could appreciate what he was told. It was advice like this that made him sorry his parents could not be involved in his family.
"Thank you," he said gratefully, finally smiling for real but only for a moment when he finally got out another concern, "I- I was heading out to visit with Laelia and then cubs when I ran into Yareha. Could you go make sure everything is OK?"
He felt ridiculous worrying about them but what else was he supposed to do in this situation. Besides, he needed to talk to Laelia before she found out some other way.
"And get Laelia here before she hears what happened from someone else?"
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 9:39 pm
Horatio wondered what was going to happen of this. Perhaps nothing. The Great Lion would not step in, and he didn't see those of the higher class worrying about what happened to those in the classes below them. The lower classes would take care of their own.
"Yes," Horatio said with a nod. "You should stay here, in the den. Rest, recover the strength that you'll need to speak to Laelia. I will go seek her out, and send her here to you. Besides, it'll give me a little time to spend with the cubs, just them and me."
Hopefully that would calm what worries were left in Mazin's mind.
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 9:49 pm
Like Horatio, Mazin did not have high hopes for what would come of this. Perhaps if he had been killed there would be certain consequences but he was alive and Yareha was hurt, too. He had witnesses but would that matter in the end? Probably not. And Laelia would know it, too. That was why he needed to talk to her first.
"Thank you," he said, knowing Horatio was going to get Laelia was a huge relief and now that he was safely surrounded by others, he was beginning to let himself give in to fatigue.
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 9:55 pm
"Alright. She'll be here soon, as soon as I find her."
Horatio gave him a good, long look. He was exhausted, in more ways than one. A little nap would do him wonders. After he found Laelia and sent her to the father of her cubs, he would search out Horae. Horae, being part of the guard, would be able to find someone with enough healing skills to Mazin to make sure he properly healed. The last thing anyone needed was for him to develop complications, or get infected.
And with that, he turned to go find his daughter.
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 10:03 pm
"Thank you," he repeated quietly.
It took some effort but Mazin got up to his feet to get better situated, decidedly taking up the offer to stay by Horatio and Amalthea's den while he waited for Laelia to get here though staying out in the sunshine. It was awkward and painful but he managed to get comfortable laying down.
He wasn't sure how long he would get to rest before Laelia showed up but he drifted off to sleep.
Fin!
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