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 Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 1:53 pm
The weather seemed to shape up as the two walked down the shore line. Pools of water surrounded them as they walked into the sand, their paws occasionally sinking into it. There search for a place to belong was getting more and more tiresome. They had stuck together in their travels, Seema never questioning Timeus moves and he didn't question hers. He had often wondered if they would have been better off finding a place to call home during their travels instead. However he continued forward. Right now they were in unknown territory. Despite being tired from their walk, Timeus stayed completely alert. The sand turned to rocks. There were mountains after that, a perfect place for attackers to be hidden, Timeus thought.
He kept the mountain area in the corner of his eye, just in case anyone decided to come down from it. “I am sorry about the travel Seema. I thought by now we would find a place to call home. We will find a place soon, I am sure of it.” He said to his mate who was walking beside him. Their relationship had been different once their son had died, but it was always a little different then other mated pairs. They never showed any real affection toward the other. Timeus thought their bond was close enough that they didn't need it. During the travel to find their new home, he felt that there was a gap between them. He didn't worry too much about it and decided that it was probably just because of the traveling. Seema would have followed Timeus where ever he was headed. However she had little patience. When he had mentioned that they would be finding a new home, she had expected it not to be quite the adventure. She would have preferred to have found a home by now. Neither of them had any idea where they were. For the most part they were following instincts. The only nice part about the travel was that she got to see sights she had only heard of before.
“We should rest soon.” She said, looking at her mate. The sand made traveling harder and she felt that she could rest her paws. Timeus also probably needed a break, but he would never admit it. “Maybe we could go into the mountains and find a cave? Or we can find a local and ask if there is any place we can rest around here.”
Timeus gave a nod in agreement and the two of them headed toward the mountain.
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Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 3:37 pm
Hroarr was out scouting. He either needed more reavers, or an easy target. There weren't enough of them currently to take on any larger groups, which meant he must search more diligently for groups they could]/i] handle. Exiled and puny as his warband was, he couldn't take the chance just yet of randomly roving. They needed to do this intelligently, not just with brute force. Currently he was roaming between water and mountains, staying closer to the cover of the foothills than to the water. So it was that he saw the two approaching. He had the cover of the scrubby growth on the foothills, so he took a moment to consider.
He didn't recognize them, so they were not scouts from the pride, nor pride members seeking him for any reason. This was an honest relief, as a part of him lived in worry that they'd be hunted down, despite his willingness to go into exile at the new Warlord's direction. He didn't imagine Njal would be very pleased to learn he'd taken up residence with the others in this hideaway owned by the pride. Regardless, here in the roguelands, the sight of two unfamiliar lions was as yet neither boon nor threat. Taking a breath, he stepped out of cover and headed for them both. "Greetings, wanderers," he called. Judgment of their value would come upon speaking with them. Alone, he had to be savvy.
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Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 10:24 pm
Timeus was the first to notice the other lion. He felt himself tense up. The stranger didn't seem to have ill intentions. However Timeus had known others who could seem pleasant one moment only to become a monster the next. He stayed quite knowing Seema would handle this. He wasn't much of a conversationalist.
Instead, he watched and listened. He wanted to be sure this lion was alone. If Seema did ask for help, he wanted to be sure they would be ambushed. Timeus hadn't always been this paranoid, but since entering unknown territory, he felt on edge. He had heard tales about rogues going missing. There was no way he would let anything like that happen to himself or Seema. Seema looked at the lion and gave a half smile. "Hello." She greeted with a nod of her head. "I was wondering if you could tell us where we are? My mate and I have been traveling and I am afraid we might have gotten ourselves in a land we know nothing of. Any help would be appreciated." Timeus could be a pain sometimes, she thought, glancing at her mate. She could tell that he was tensed up, as if expecting to attack. All she could really do was hope that once they were finally 'home' he would relax a little bit.
"Also, if it isn't too much to ask, could you point us in the direction of some place to rest? We have been traveling for a ways." Seema said. She didn't like asking so much from someone she didn't know, but she hoped it was a reasonable request. He seemed friendly enough.
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Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2012 1:40 pm
"Well now," he answered in a leisurely manner, "most of this land is unclaimed rogue territory." His eyes shifted between them, but more speculative and thoughtful than distrusting or deceptive. "Most, that is, except where my band and I stay." He strolled closer. "That would be further east from here." He tossed his head the direction indicated, though his eyes remained on them. "We are Stormborn, though only a single band. We can offer you shelter for a time, though."
It was both a testing of the waters concerning their attitude towards the pride, as well as a dangling temptation. What he needed were reavers, fresh blood without the taint of devotion to the current Warlord. He needed strength for his meager band, to continue their ways of viking. Were these the right sort? One advantage to these two would hopefully be the lack of rivalry over potential mates in the small band. With these two already mated, there'd be none of that nonsense. "Do you know much about us?" he inquired mildly, his mane rustling faintly in an errant breeze, swinging the braid looped beneath his ear.
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Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2012 8:16 pm
As the lion talked, Timeus let his full attention go to him. He would occasionally nod as Seema talked. However when the lion mentioned that they were Stormborn, he couldn't help but feel a connection. He had heard tales, sometimes myths, of the famous Stormborn. How strong they were and how bravely they fought. When he was younger he would say that he wanted to become a warrior just like a Stormborn. And now he was finally getting a chance to meet one.
“We would be grateful to have a chance to rest up at your camp.” Timeus spoke up. “Growing up I heard many tales of the Stormborn. It would be an honor to spend some time with you and your band. I will admit though I lack knowledge about the Stormborn, other then how strong of warriors some were. My small pride would tell stories of the Stormborn to inspire the young fighters in the pride, to push them to become the greatest they could be.” He said with a nod. Seema had almost forgotten about the stories of the Stormborn. She had always thought that they were just a made up pride, meant to inspire those who would become the protectors of the pride. It would seem that she was wrong. She had no problems with staying with them for a couple nights, though she was sure that they might have finally found their home. If Timeus were to fit anywhere, she was sure it would be with the Stormborn, and she would happily go anywhere with him.
“I would like to thank you as well for your offer. Is your band out on an expedition right now? We will make sure we stay out of your way while we stay with you and we will assist in hunting if needed.” She said. Seema wandered what the other Stormborn were like. So far this lion seemed very polite. “By the way my name is Seema and Timeus is my mate.”
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Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2012 8:39 pm
Hroarr's brows rose in surprise at the news that stories were told of the pride's reavers in distant lands. The way the male spoke of them, apparently they were the heroes of the stories, rather than the villians as he would have expected. "Oh really? That is certainly flattering," he commented, absorbing this information. His pride, serving as inspiration for young warriors? The idea sort of made his mind spin, but pleasantly so. Perhaps there was hope for them all, if this was the sort of lion to approach him.
He turned his eyes to the female as she spoke, but her first question made him sober. "That... is a long story, and best told after a fresh kill and some rest." He shook his head at her offer, though. "We have thralls who hunt. What I need most is reavers... fighters," he clarified, glancing between the two of them. "Strong lions and lionesses who will stand beside their bothers and sisters in battle, and bring home the bounty they take." His gaze was speculative on the both of them, though more-so on the male, who he now learned was Timeus. "You are welcome to share our camp, our food, and perhaps consider the idea of joining us." There, the offer was out in the open. Would they be the sort to take him up on it? And... what troubled him more than whether they would accept was what they would think when he told them why they were staying semi-permanently out here. Would they leave his band in preference for the pride itself?
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Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 1:06 pm
Joining the Stormborn was such an appealing offer. However he didn't want to agree on anything until he talked to Seema about it. However, sharing camp with them didn't seem like it would cause any issues. He would enjoy getting time to share a meal with the Stormborn. There would be many tales to share, he thought. Once he met more of the band and learned about their travels, he would make a decisions with Seema. Even if they were the Stormborn he grew up admiring, he knew that it might not be the perfect fit for him and Seema.
“We will take you up on your offer and we will keep in mind your other offer to join up.” Timeus said, glancing at Seema. She gave him a small nod. It would be interesting to see how things played out, Seema thought. She was thankful that they ran into the lion when they did. It was about time they got a chance to move forward with their lives, instead of traveling from one place to the next. This was their chance to settle down. “Thank you for your kindness.” She said with a small smile. Her stomach could use some filling. She hadn't heard of a thrall before but she would be glad when they brought them food. “How far is your band from here?” She asked, looking at the direction he pointed in earlier. She was tired of walking and hoped it wasn't too far. Either way she wouldn't complain. She would never let herself become an annoyance.
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Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:22 pm
He nodded acceptance of their answers, of both invitations, and turned towards what currently was home. "It isn't far. Even at a slow pace, we'd arrive well before nightfall." His eyes narrowed as he looked towards home, then motioned with a paw. "Look there, that's one of my thralls, bringing home some of our dinner." In the distance, a small white gleam that was a lioness was loping at a parallel to them, heading in the same direction, though far, far distant. The body that he knew was dangling from her jaws was not visible at this distance though, meaning it wasn't anything very big. That was just as well, since that was Isi, who was more valuable for her ability to heal wounds, and he'd cautioned her against taking on large prey.
"Will the two of you stay long? And where are you headed?" he asked them as they padded along together. He didn't direct the question to either of them specifically, leaving it hanging for whomever to answer. He preferred to give females the respect of an equal, rather than doing as the new Warlord was. Though smaller, females were just as likely to rip the throat from an opponent as a male was, and perhaps do it smarter than any male might. Thus he did not give this female the indignity of only addressing her mate.
Belatedly he realized he had not introduced himself, despite the fact that they had done so. Folding his ears slightly, he gave each of them an apologetic look. "Forgive my lack of manners. I am Hroarr, Captain of this band. Should you need anything or have a problem, come to me. Otherwise, one of my warband can be of assistance as well." He had full faith in those following him, as few as they were.
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Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 12:49 pm
Seema nodded her head. She was sure they could get there before she got too tired. Her eyes watched the thrall. Another time she would ask about thralls, for now she wanted to get to the camp. She had asked her share of questions already, she thought. There would be time for more questions later. She felt that Timeus would be eager to get to the camp as well.
“We will stay as long as we are welcomed, or when the desire to travel strikes us again.” Seema said. “As for where we are headed, well, we do not entirely know. We are searching for a new place to settle down.” She glanced at Timeus wondering if she should go on. After a moment, she decided it would be best if she kept the story to themselves until later.
She gave Hroarr a smile. “It is understandable. It is a pleasure to meet you and we will remember that.”Timeus nodded his head in agreement. “We will make sure we do not overstay our welcome.” He said. Timeus wanted to spend enough time to get to know the Stormborn ways, but he also did not want to anger his host. He would stay as long as he could without being a burdon.
“I will enjoy meeting your warband.” Timeus said. He was sure that eventually Seema and him would fit in with the rest of them. It wouldn't be instant he was sure of that. They hadn't been in a group for such along time, that it would take some time for them to click with this band. “We are ready to go any time you are.”
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Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 4:00 pm
He bowed his head graciously at the indication they were ready to travel, turning to head towards home. "Perhaps while you stay," he mentioned casually, "you could train with my Reavers. I'm sure they would appreciate the practice, and perhaps you could learn something you had not known before." He didn't mind using their admiration of the Stormborn fighters as a lure to entice them to remain and become part of his warband. He couldn't say just yet if they were indeed the sort that would remain with them and become reliable reavers under his command... but he had a feeling that they likely would. Time would tell. For now, he led them towards the outpost without further conversation, but a companionable silence in anticipation of the coming meal.
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