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 Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 7:43 pm
Upala paced around near the dens where the royals were. She knew that she needed to petition to see the queen, but actually being here was making it hard to breathe. Would it go as planned? Or would Isamu be doomed, and the pair of them breaking rules to save his life?
She couldn't imagine the queen would be so heartless, but Upala didn't want to count on just anything yet.
She asked to be seen, and waited for a moment before being allowed in. Instantly she felt her body shiver with anticipation, keeping her head low and respectful as she followed into where the queen waited.
She shivered a bit, and bowed. "I am Upala, your Majesty." She wasn't sure if she was to speak again before being spoken to, so she waited.
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 7:52 pm
This was just another thing that made her queen. Listening to people's problems.
Atop of the council's small meeting hill inside of the main royal den is where Elisheba sat upright with her wine red tail gracefully swept around to cover her larger paws. Not far off from her sat Barafu-taji and another directly to his left, who could easily be recognized as Noir, a frequently seen face around the colony. Both of the queen's ears were turned forward and her head tipped downward as a bright leopard came walking into her chambers. Upala, the leopardess said her name was. The guard who attended the cave's entrance had told her, had an urgent need to speak with her and it simply could not wait. While it did inconvenience her and her council, the colony was small and everyone's concern was valid and important to Elisheba.
Nodding slowly, she smiled. "Welcome, Upala. I was told you needed to speak with me."
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:08 pm
Upala's eyes shifted between the different leopards present, feeling even more pressure lay upon her shoulders, if that was even possible. She took a deep breath, and let herself exhale slowly. Elisheba would only be fair, and seeing that other ears were hearing this helped her. She couldn't explain why, and was thankful that she didn't necessarily have to answer that thought in her head.
"Yes," she said with another bow to the queen and her council before sitting herself up straight. She had to show how important this was to her, and her posture would help support her nerves. She only hoped that she wouldn't cry. She had to have a brave face for this meeting.
"I fear my mate, the merchant Isamu, has developed a strong chill. We can't seem to warm him up with what furs we have. I fear...he won't make it unless I can get him off the mountain for a couple days."
She bit her lip, unsure if she should say more, and decided to hold back. They may have questions, and she would answer them wholeheartedly. She felt shame in admitting that they didn't seem to have enough furs to warm him up, but everyone needed some furs to keep themselves warm in this cold. No one knew how much more Isamu needed until he grew ill, and Upala only hoped it wasn't too late.
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 1:22 pm
Never did Elisheba turn her gaze from the peachy leopard before her, spilling her plight with an amount of emotion that would have caused her to tear up in her youth. There was no need for her to turn to look to her captain for advice. She knew what needed to be done, but the problem was if she could manage it. Even now, she knew of the shortage of furs that was crippling the colony, especially with winter settling in. Umsindisi would become even more formidable within weeks. A call for furs would be in order, but it would take time. Everything did and the colony didn't have much to spare.
"Upala was it?" Standing from her perch, the queen moved down the sloped sides of the rise and began moving towards her den before glancing over her shoulder, "Walk with me."
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 7:09 pm
The creamy leopard didn't know what to think. Walk with the queen? She would never refuse, but she could feel her heart quickening with that simple phrase.
"Y-yes, your Majesty." She did her best to not bow her head too far down, or to appear too frightened. She didn't assume anything bad, never...but it was still a completely unexpected reply to her plea. She let herself walk smoothly, her breaths helping her stabilize herself. This was a moment for her to make a good impression on Queen Elisheba, so hopefully she could get the help she needed to heal Isamu.
She drew up close to her queen, and nodded to her respectfully.
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 7:55 pm
They were away from the listening ears of her council and her ladies, especially from her brother who was sure to be lurking in the council's den somewhere. Elisheba had lead them into her own chambers, though part of the royal's, it was significantly larger. It was not nearly as dark as would be expected, likely from the sun reflecting off of the snow outside, which still shone that far back. Furs of course covered nearly a quarter of the floors, but even they were old and worn from use. Keeping her back to the nanny, she sighed, her shoulders falling. Rare were the moments she showed weakness and even rarer were those times she showed it front of someone not of her council. Slowly turning her head around to look at Upala, she finally spoke after a prolonged silence.
"Your mate, his situation is dire, yes?" Of course it was, why else would she be here? "Do you have someone to watch you? To make sure you're not ambushed why lower on the mountain? I'm sure you're aware of the risks and aware that help may not come if you need it."
"You are...not the only one who has come to me with such a plight." No, there were others who were freezing. Their fur supply was not sufficient, not with the survivors that were recovering, rejoining colony life and the rogues just now joining it. "You're here looking for my permission to leave Umsindisi. My permission you have, but all of those in my care need protection."
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 8:11 pm
This was a completely unexpected turn of events, but it only made Upala feel more loyalty to her queen. To hear words of true sympathy, or true concern...it cemented Upala's feelings in her original pledge to join this colony. This was her true home now.
"He is not adjusting to the cold as well as I have, I fear. We've done our best to warm him, my servant and I, but it hasn't been quite enough. I think if we can get him warmed enough to stabilize his temperature he may be alright." Her tail swished up against her side, wrapping around her forepaws as she sat down.
"My servant and I would be with him, and we will take our stash of dried meat to minimize the need to hunt." She had done her best to prepare for this plea, so that she could sway a decision to her favor. She did not think it would come this easily, even with all the risks attached to it.
The permission was given, but Upala felt...sadness. Pity? It seemed that Isamu wasn't the only one having a hard time with the cold. "I...understand, your Majesty. I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 8:51 pm
The queen nodded as she listened to the peach-pelted leopard speak to her. At least they would not be alone. The lions and those of their blood in the colony were wonderful protectors, she would give them that. "It sounds like you have this completely planned out. Good. It will minimize the chances of things going wrong, but to make that chance even smaller I would have the captain accompany you three to the base of the mountain." Barafu-taji would not be pleased with having to make that long of a trip, but she knew he wouldn't say no to her.
Silently, Elisheba moved to her own fur pile and removed one. It was smaller than the rest. Moving back to the nanny, she gently laid it across Upala's back. It was one of her own cloaks, but it was still something. "It's not much, but it is something. May it keep you warm on your travels. Shan Furen guide your paws, Upala."
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:06 pm
It seemed like everything went well. Upala was so excited to run back and tell Isamu and Zhaleh that yes, everything was wonderful! But social constructs kept her from doing just that. She would be respectful while here, and only once she was with her mate would she explain that they would make him better, with permission from the queen.
She was ready to bow to her queen when she felt the weight of a soft fur rest on her back. "T-thank you. The warmth that your Majesty offers me and mine will keep us safe as we heal." She smiled brightly at Elisheba. "We should be ready shortly, and I appreciate you having the captain escort us there."
She tried to not tremble at the small fur given to her, one that was in better shape than any of the ones she and Isamu owned, however small it was. This would help him as they moved to the base of the mountain immensely.
"I appreciate....all of this."
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:11 pm
Sitting on the floor of her chambers, the leopard breathed heavily, as she tried to keep her composure in front of Upala. She was just a nanny, and one who had already seen the queen more fragile than Elisheba would have originally liked. Smiling at the other's words, Elisheba nodded to her. "Then you best be off. The journey down the mountain is a long one." Though it was only long because of the caution needed to make it safely to the base.
That was her way of dismissing the leopard, saying goodbye to a pelt she had known for all too long. It was a pelt she knew Barafu-taji would recognize, that many of the members of the colony would. How could they not recognize the pelt that one laid upon king Heinrich's back?
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:17 pm
Upala bowed to Elisheba before turning to leave whence she came. The sweet little nanny had no idea the pelt that laid upon her back, only joining the colony after the avalanche that decimated it. She was just thankful to have one more small pelt to add to her pile, something to help Isamu recover and resume his merchant duties.
Hopefully, hopefully...everything would go well.
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