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 Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 3:33 pm
It had been a long time since Margulis had been well enough to venture outside the pride's borders. Even now she had a shadow, a trapper she had neither asked for nor approved, following on her tail. She wasn't sure if he knew she was aware of it, but it was better not to question. What the pride did they did for their own safety and to some, she was threatening that safety. Still, it was tiresome that she was not wholly trusted in her home. Time had changed many things, and it would continue to do so.
She noted some familiar plants as she trudged along the edge of the forest, but did not stop to gather any. It was comforting to know that the means to her sort of end were still available, even if she had no present need for them. She hoped she wouldn't, but time was also uncertain and fear could be a very powerful motivator.
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 4:49 pm
 Her cubs weren't really cubs anymore. This litter was currently well into its juv stage. Zenobia had decided earlier that morning that it would be a good time for them to encounter their first live prey. Oh, she didn't expect them to be able to do much with it. It would be a novel experience and get them use to the idea that food moved!.
She chuckled and continue walking. Perhaps today she was being more picky than she needed to be. Thus she'd traveled further than she normally might have. Athena, the cub's father, would take excellent care of the trio. Zeno purposely made a bit of noise, hoping to scare something up that would be just right to take back alive.
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 5:05 pm
At the sound of another the lioness faded into the shadow of the trees, watching carefully until she could see the other's approach. She was supposed to be bold, outgoing toward the rogues in the area. That was her job as council, to bolster the pride's strength and forge new relationships. But it still frightened her, she'd grown up in the cloistered pride and it was all she really knew.
The lioness that came into view was not what she had expected. Stark white with subtle markings, and metal glinting off of her. Very peculiar. She knew that many worked with ores, but she'd never seen them used quite like that. "Hello," she said softly, trying to distort her voice so it wasn't obvious where she was hiding.
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 5:35 pm
She had left her normal hunting grounds far behind already in her search. So it sort of surprised her, yet didn't when a soft voice called out 'hello'. Her ear twitched around to see if she had been surrounded. Not that she could tell. Zenobia stopped in her tracks and looked around trying to find the source. It seemed odd to say something if you wanted to stay hidden.
"Greetings voice." A smile tugged at her lips as her eyes wandered over the unfamiliar vegetation. While it made her back prickle not to know what she was facing, she did not detect any malice. Zeno politely waited for the other to make a move so they would feel comfortable.
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 5:43 pm
The lioness looked startled perhaps, but not on the offense. Satisfied, Margulis slid forward, her eyes catching the sunlight as she came to greet the other. "I apologize for the caution," she said softly, her paws shaking just slightly as she stepped, "I'm not used to rogue company, it still worries me. Silly, I know, but I have others to think about."
She took a moment to look closer at this strange lioness. She was beautiful, in a sort of mystical sense. Margulis wondered what she might look like in the moonlight.
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 5:53 pm
Zeno's red eyes caught the movement almost immediantly and she turned gracefully toward the owner of the voice she'd heard. A green lioness. She tilted her head and considered the statement with a knowing look toward the other female. When she spoke it was soft and gentle, like the voice she used with her cubs.
"I take it your pride, or at least you, have not had much experience with rogues? You do not need to apologize. Caution when dealing with the unknown is always the wisest course. Better to be safe than injured or worse. Dead." She gave a smile to take away and dread her words brought.
"However I mean you no harm. My name's Zenobia. Perhaps you know the area and could help me find some small prey."
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 6:04 pm
"Nor I you," Margulis assured the lioness, though she wasn't sure she could do much damage alone. It was more of a signal to her follower to back off. "My name is Margulis and no, I haven't, my kind kept themselves apart from the world for a long time. It was, a mistake," she said softly, her eyes seeming contemplative. There was nothing to change the past, but she would ensure the future was different.
"I don't hunt, in all honesty," she admitted, "But we frequently find small test subjects over this way, through the trees and toward the river. You might be able to catch them, but be wary." She wondered to herself whether it would be wise to warn this lioness about the traps. If she was kind, there would be no problem. But if she wasn't, well, Margulis's authority was hardly stable enough to survive an attack based on her information. Instead she simply added, "There are unseen dangers in the forest."
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 7:04 pm
Zeno nodded happily as the lioness confirmed her guess. Both of them. "It's a pleasure to meet you Margulis." The pale lioness nodded regretfully. Some lessons came hard.
"It might not hurt to learn to hunt," she nodded at the suggestion for what it was. Zeno realized belated that she might have some to hunt for her. Oh well. Test subjects? She wasn't sure what those were but glanced in the direction indicated. If all else failed here, she could go look there.
"I will. Thank you. Would you mind telling me about your pride?" She was curious about the pride that would refrain of interacting with rogues.
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 7:10 pm
"I know how to hunt, in theory, but it's harder in practice," Margulis admitted, "I've been sick and it's made it harder for me to track visually."
Her mind weighed back and forth on the issue. It wouldn't hurt to tell others about her home so long as it was still protected. It might even encourage some truly peaceful prides to approach them. "We do research, in all different fields. We seek to understand the world around us. But in that, we were taken advantage of, it was a dark time."
She was just a cub when all of that had happened but the stories had been told over and over to the youth to instill in them a defensive stance against outsiders. "We are trying to change, now, but some still feel it's the wrong decision," she added with a sigh.
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 8:26 pm
"Oh I see. Will you get better or is this perminate?" Her tail twitched. She didn't want to appear rude, but she couldn't risk catching something that would hinder her eyesight. Or worse passing it off to her offspring. Though if something did befall her or her young, she was positive Athena would protect and care for them.
That would be hard to get over. "If I ever need something researched then I know where to come." Zeno gave the other lioness a friendly smile. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone who I think might harm you about you. I do hope that change brings better time for you and yours." Just then the lioness noticed how long she'd been gone from her cubs.
"I don't wish to appear rude. I've been trying to find my cubs some prey that wiggles. It really is time for me to be getting back. It has been a pleasure meeting you Margulis. May we meet again some day." The lioness gave a friendly nod and turned to leave. She had a long way back home. With luck she'd find something on the way.
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 8:37 pm
"It's permanent," she said sadly, "An after effect of an old illness, long gone now." Margulis didn't like to talk about the plague much, although she knew it was important information for those who hoped to avoid the same in the future. "And thank you, for your concern and your discretion," she added, pushing herself to her feet.
Cubs, that would explain this lioness's caution. "I hope that we do," she agreed, standing in wait until the other was out of sight before she turned back for home.
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