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 Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 2:03 pm
"This is it." He introduced, stepping aside and sweeping out a paw in a grand gesture. "The Firekin outpost. Most of the lions with black, white and red on them are my kin. If any approach, Perhaps even all of them, since I haven't seen a Bonelands lion with that colour on them, yet - not without a marking of some other colour, anyway. The rest are the natives. A nice enough bunch, or so they seem." He blinked across at Cahala, head slightly tilted as he watched her for a reaction. "Some are warier than others but, from what I understand, training has already begun."
In truth, the outpost was not much to behold; still new and in its early days. It certainly was not as occupied as it would someday be. One day, Heti imagined this place alive with the sounds of training warriors, Firekin pitted against Bonelands. The huria would come to train here, too, when they came of age and were able to leave their mother's side. It would be a place of energy and excitement and filled with lions wanting to train hard and rise to become all that they could be. And so that is what he told Cahala.
"One day soon - I hope - this will be a flourishing training ground. A hive of activity. What you see here now is just the beginning but someday every young Firekin will want to visit here." And he could say, proudly, that he had been there at the time of its consummation. "To say that they trained here with the Ithambo'hlabathi. I have a good feeling about it. This and our new allies."
He smiled. "In any case, let me give you the grand tour." And he moved down closer, past the empty sparring grounds towards the spring. The rocks gathered here cast a delightful shade across them and, if one looked closely, they might see lions lounging in that shade, sleeping during these hot hours. They'd not arrived at the most sociable of times, that much was clear.
"The ground smoothed out there is where we train and duel. We also have temporary living accommodations, too, which gives enough shelter from most weather I would imagine. The spring belongs to the Firekin, too. After all, water is what we came here for. And, beyond the spring is Boneland territory. We've not wandered far across that border yet. Don't want to stir any trouble so new into the alliance."
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Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 1:06 pm
Following the large lion calmly, soaking up all he had to inform her on, she gave a few small nods from time to time, while her golden eyes scanned the area. Wow... How long had it taken to get this place all figured out? And claimed... Most of the stuff he rambled on about she had no clue as to what he was talking about, mostly when he spoke of different prides, and such, but... she said nothing on the matter.
"Red, white, and black, hm? How interesting only those colours~" she chuckled, "I'm guessing you have a large family then, hm?" she asked. He must have come from a long line then if his lineage was identifiable just by coat colours! Kind of strange just those three types, though...
Her gaze would flit from one area to the next as he explained them, inspecting them from their distance, "Quite a nice little place you guys have going on here." she commented, tail giving a leisurely sway behind her. "Lot of young kids here, then?" It really was an impressive location, loaded with all things necessary to live and thrive.
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Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 6:43 am
"There is a story to the red, black and white if you care to hear? I'm not a storyteller by any means but I know the short version well enough." He paused to tell her in the shade, his eyes moving about the landscape as he narrated.
"They say, many, many generations ago, that there was a Goddess who desired to create a people stronger than any that had walked the plains before. A Goddess who had ambition and fire that exceeded any other. And so, she made her people and gave them gifts so that they might meet her expectations. She made them in her image; in red, black and white, and gifted them with strong blood so that these genes would dominate over others. She gave them her fire, too. A fire that burned bright in their hearts; hot, angry and proud. Then, at last, she chose for them a home; a cruel, unforgiving land that would test them and shape them into the race she wished them to be. A land which would make them stronger than any that had been before them. A land of gold and heat. A land so sparse that hunting would be difficult and water hard to come by. These lions of red, black and white came to revere her. They worshipped her as creator. They roared of their superiority. Of the goddess's blood in their veins. They became arrogant. They became tyrants. Outsiders were killed and enslaved. Prides were wiped out and the land shuddered in the wake of the mere mention of their name. And their name?" His mouth twitched in amusement. "They were known as Firekin."
He shook the mane from his eyes. "A lot has changed since that time, though. There was a plague that wiped out many of the bloodlines. Only three or four of the original ones remain now. Then there was the civil war that divided the pride in which the King was killed by his own son. That son now reigns as regent alongside his mate - who once hailed from a country far from here. And where once outsiders were viewed as weak, the desert is now open for worthy rogues." He gave her a pointed look. "To join us and ensure that the bloodlines do not close entirely."
He glanced back out across the land again. "And the goddess who created us? She has been cast out and the mere mention of her name could bring punishment down upon your head. We make our own strength now. We do not rely on the broken promises of a Goddess who has longed abandoned us."
He shook his head, smiling apologetically. "I speak too much. I'm sorry Lady Cahala. I'm glad you like the outpost. One day soon there will be many children here. There have not been too many litters within our own lands as of late, what with preparations for war. Not enough time to settle into a family life with the Nergui shadowing our borders."
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Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 12:00 pm
Bright golden eyes returned to the accustomed guide beside the lioness, tail curling and brushing along the dry ground, sweeping some dust up from time to time. His explanation caused for Cahala's brows to raise in surprise. Goodness! Such a rich history! Blinking a few times as if to refresh and regain her composure, a shake of her head was given, "Goodness me. I never knew a pride had so much... intricacy's to it." she replied, smirking somewhat. "Such drama." she continued, looking back to eye the few dens that were occupied by sleeping lions. To continue the bloodlines... she had to chuckle softly at that. Her have cubs? it really wasn't something she'd thought much about. But then again, the idea never had the chance to really develop due to her nomadic nature.
So they were able to put a goddess in her place. That was quite a feat! And very commendable to the lioness. Independence was a key trait that she held important. Mostly because she had to be as such in order to survive as a rouge. For the moment, Cahala's mind was drifting, and mulling over all this grand amount of information spilled onto her, eyes distant, tail tuft the only movement she gave. But the males final prompting drew her out of her trance, ears twitching, and gaze turning to him once more. Charming smile returning, she gave a small shrug, "You'd make a good story teller, I can tell~" she teased, a wink given to add to the tone. Taking a few steps ahead of him to get more of a look around, she sniffed the air, and at the ground to pick up a few of the scents from the various lions stationed here. And that's when a curious question popped into her mind. Peeking over her shoulder, she smiled lightly, "Have you any children, Heti? Perhaps a partner to help strengthen your numbers, hm?" perhaps it was too personal a question, but... she couldn't help curiosity! It was only natural~
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Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:46 pm
He laughed. Intricacy was right. "Firekin do love their drama. I think they'd wither away without something to fight over or complain about. It keeps up alive and kicking."
He shook his head fiercely at her compliment and batted the air in front of her with an outstretched paw. "No, no. Just you wait. We have a few extraordinarily good storytellers back home. Most of that history happened before I was even born, perhaps before my father was even born. The pride was very small until the rule about joining rogues was relaxed. If the Nergui had come and attacked back then...they would have found little trouble in taking what we had."
He leapt down a small incline and passed into the shade of an overhanging rock and stopped to throw his head back around to look at her. "C-children? Well...no. No, I don't." He flustered a little, his tail curling. "There was someone...but I'm not sure whether she likes me that way and...well...let's just say it's complicated." He smiled. "In any case, I'll be putting those sorts of things aside until my duty here is done. What about you? Have you ever had any children? Or a mate, perhaps?"
In the shade, a sleeping lioness stirred, grumbling under her breath at the sound of the voices nearby.
[OOC note: Heti does indeed have children as a result of a fling with a female he has a crush on, though he doesn't know they exist yet since he hasn't been back to the lands. They'll be gifted out during plots some point soon!]
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Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:08 pm
She playfully mimicked his paw batting, "Well you make for a good back-up storyteller." she rephrased with a chuckle. If he wasn't what was deemed a storyteller in his pride... she couldn't even imagine what the 'real deal's' were like! Perhaps a bit too much for her to take on.
Letting him walk ahead of her, still taking in this new habitat, her ears flipped up from his sudden reply. Looking back at him, she had to withhold a laugh of her own, instead giggling softly, tail flickering with great interest. "Oh?" she asked slowly, prowling towards him with amused narrowed eyes. So he had his eye on someone? Poo~ A scoff came from her, and her head was lifted high, "I surely doubt that. You're a strong, handsome, and quite charming male. I don't see how a female could deny an attraction to you~" she casually informed, "Have you asked her how she feels? Or have you confessed your feelings to her? A female likes to be admired, and know she is~" taking to his side again, she gave a soft sigh, "No, no~ haven't had a male interested in me for something more than a night of refreshing himself, which..." she glanced to him with a wry smile, "I do not approve of. I am a lady, after all." She glanced to the stirring lioness calmly, "Perhaps someday though..~"
{Ah I see.}
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 11:38 am
He wriggled uncomfortably, much like an adolescent being quizzed on girls by his mother. Once Cahala got into the lands she would find many more fine and fierce Firekin than he. "My father says I'm too weak." And that was only one of the kindest of insults. He'd recently been called a spineless traitor, too, but he wasn't about to share that with her lest she be put off of him. "I might look strong but I'm not the strongest. Wait and see, Lady Cahala. Once you go into the desert you will see many fine Firekin amongst our number."
Had he confessed his feelings? Well there was that one time...but no words had been given as such. No declarations of undying love and promises for becoming life-mates. It had been a foolish thing, perhaps, but he had admired her for a ferocity that he could never have. Armada was his opposite, perhaps. Fiery and fierce and stubborn, as untamed and wild as a Firekin should be. He cared for her deeply but...but...she was a hard female to read and he never could believe himself good enough to stand at her side as her mate. "No. I haven't. I don't think I will, either. We're set on different paths within the same pride." And with war, who was to say what might happen. A few weeks from now and he might very well be dead. The thought was somewhat distressing and he shoved it away. "I care for her but I won't be a burden. There is work to be done, after all."
He smiled, perhaps a little sadly. "Then we are both out of luck in love, perhaps." Although he could always keep hoping that when he returned to the lands after his time had run out here, that Armada might meet him with a smile and everything would be as it should.
"You'll find many a suitor within the Firekin, I should think. Some are more noble than others. Firekin can be as fierce in love as they can in war." It was true that flings did happen in the lands but amongst that number were also life-partnerships that had flourished and burned no matter what had been thrown at them. He wanted something like that himself someday.
The stirring female finally pulled herself upright, yawning as she got to her paws and stepped out into the sunshine. Her eyes were dull from fatigue and she moved with a stiffness that told of hours walking. Her name was Elda, a newly appointed Sentinel serving under Moto'Seide just as Heti was - though his was only a temporary thing.
This female was large and bulky, with thick, muscled limbs and a heavy brow. She could not be considered beautiful and the wind-roughened fur ingrained with sand from her recent excursion to the desert and back looked as if it needed a good grooming. She shook herself to let more gold grains fly and then fixed them with a half-focused stare.
"She is Ithambo'hlabathi?" The female rumbled, her voice like gravel.
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