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 Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 4:13 pm
Tendaji had stopped panicking and focused on the task at hand.
He'd taken the Thrall to a small cave-like formation in the rocks and set her down gently, it provided her with a little shelter and hopefully she would be hidden from prying eyes. Thankfully there was no-one else about, and Tendaji had wondered a little way off the cave, keeping it in eye-sight.
The lioness obviously needed some food, and time was ticking away seemingly more quickly than usual. If she had been out to hunt for her master, he would surely wonder where she was, and then she would probably take another beating for it.
It was times like this that Tendaji wished he was more of a healer, or a hunter. As a fighter he often found his skills in other areas lacking, but tried his best.
His white pelt had been stained red by the blood from the female as he carried her. It certainly looked suspicious, so his first move was to clean it from his back. The water was very cold indeed as he immersed himself, and he had to bite his tongue to remain quiet.
Shooting out from the water, he set about his task, and after a little while he was heading back to the cave with three fish in his mouth. Mouth full, and a hulking mass of soggy fur, he peered into the cave slowly.
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 4:24 pm
By the time he had set her down, Aoife had been almost unconscious. Her body limp as she slithered from his back. Barely aware she managed to curl herself up in the back of the small depression, muzzle tucked under her tail tuft.
Never even realising that he had left, she didn't move when he first returned, but the scent of wet lion and fresh fish gradually pulled her back to wakefulness. Groggy and confused she lifted her delicate head, dark eyes slowly seeking out he source of the scent. Locating him at length she startled, only sluggishly recognising him as the one that had carried her.
By now she was too weak with hunger and blood loss to be scared of him and as soon as he put the fish down, she crawled over and weakly caught one up in her paws. If he wished to punish her for it, she did not much care any more. She just needed to eat, and then sleep.
Unable to summon the energy to feed as a lion normally would, she chewed on the fresh meat. Gradually, as the sun dipped lower in the sky, she worked her way through the fish. Finally falling asleep with the remains of the carcass caught under her paws, her muzzle resting alongside.
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 4:31 pm
Tendaji uttered only a few words whilst the stranger ate. She was obviously distressed and weak, and clearly didn't want a conversation.
"You're alright now.." He clearly hadn't had much practice in reassuring others, and it showed. What did you say to a lioness in this situation? He had assumed she was a Thrall but what if she was wrong. What if she was a Freeborn or a Reaver that had been in an accident? He wasn't to know.
All he knew what that she needed to eat and needed rest, and as long as he was here, he would do all he could to make sure that happened. He was determined she would be okay. It was strange, sitting with a stranger in silence, especially when he had just carried her to safety.
As the sun began to set and the lioness fell asleep he looked at her for a moment. There was something that had just drawn him to her, she was almost ethereal. Cautiously he neared the entrance to the cave and reclined. Spray from the surrounding water was nearing the entrance but he ignored it.
He sat guard, bright eyes watching sharply for any movement in the distance.
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 4:40 pm
It was full dark when the lioness woke. The moon was a slim crescent high above and a chill wind whipped in from the restless ocean. Stirring from where she had passed out, body stiff and sore from the unconventional sleeping position, she raised her head, blinking in confusion
".... Where am I?" Her soft voice was still incredibly shy and timid, but she was awake and aware, and no longer seemed of the verge of collapse. Obviously still nervous she shifted slightly, tucking her body up into a more normal position than simply sprawled across the cave floor. The motion drew her attention t the remains of her fish and after a moment she swallowed down the last few bites. Looking much the better for the meal, small as it had been, and the rest.
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 4:51 pm
Suddenly, Tendaji heard a voice behind him coming from the cave, and whipped his head around, white mane flying about as he shook it dry from spray. Ah, she looked and sounded much better already, although timid, that was good.
He came to sit opposite her, a gentle look in his eyes. It was a look that wasn't often seen, it was usually ferocity, determination... strength.
"You're not far from where I first found you, if you remember. I didn't want to take you too far, but it's quiet here." His eyes flickered to her wounds again. "I am glad you have eaten, you seem... better."
"I'm not out to hurt you, hopefully you would have guessed that by now." He attempted a smile, not knowing whether to pry or what else to say, until finally he asked the question. "Are you a thrall?"
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 5:02 pm
The sudden motion startled her, but she didn't seem as scared now, though it could simply be the meal in her belly. Watching him as he moved closer, her eyes suddenly widened in recognition.
For a moment she didn't seem to know how to react, but finally a faint blush warmed the white fur of her cheeks as she dipped her head. "I am very greatfull, and in debted to you." Though his words did seem to calm her, she was still clearly wary. And as well she might be, given the state he had found her in and the obvious mistreatment she was suffering.
Dropping her gaze as he spoke, she seemed reluctant to reply for a moment but finally she slowly nodded her head. "Yes, sir... I belong to Captain Ragnvard." Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke his name. This was clearly her tormentor.
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 5:12 pm
She was polite, and though it was probably something reinforced by her master, it seemed to be something natural, and not forced. Tendaji found that sweet.
"There is no need to call me sir, please." He brushed it aside, as pleasant as the formality was, he didn't feel like he needed it coming from her.
Captain Ragnvard... Hm, it wasn't a familiar name, then again, he was new.
"And he did this to you, the Captain?" He cocked a brow. He didn't wish to bring up any painful memories, nor to torment the poor lioness. He wanted to find out more about her. In truth, he found an overwhelming urge to protect her.
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 5:18 pm
His request obviously surprised her as she looked back up at him, head tilting slightly but she nodded. "Yes... umm.. Ok."
Nodding again she sighed softly, settling her muzzle delicately across her crossed forelegs. "Yes, I do not obey fast enough, nor am I a very good huntress... He does not like to be kept waiting, but I am not very good at catching fish." Considering her home pride had been beside a large lake that was perhaps an embarrassing thing to admit to, but then she had been the Queen-in-waiting, and hunting had not been one of her more important lessons...
What had been, was manners, and she had entirely forgotten her's it would seem. Blushing again, this time from embarrassment, she lifted her head before struggling to stand on legs still too weak to hold her. "I am Aoife, Priness of the Tuaith... Or was." She seemed to recall her present state and dropped her gaze. A displaces princess was entirely useless. A fact Aoife had learned the hard way since her capture.
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 4:55 pm
A princess, wow, no wonder she was so beautiful.
He found his eyes lingering on her for longer than entirely necessary, with no words coming from his mouth. He cleared his throat gently, not wishing to pry into a past life that could be so raw, so painful.
"There's more to life than catching fish." Tendaji was rather glad the female hadn't been around to see his failed attempts at catching the fish before he'd managed to secure one. They were slippery little creatures that seemed to worm from underneath his claws.
Shuddering a little from the damp, he eyed the exit of their small den precariously. Perhaps it was time to get going.
"What are you going to say to him, when you get back?" He found his eyes wondering onto her injuries again. The males voice was small and gentler than usual, laced with sympathy, and also a strange feeling of awe that the lioness seemed to bestow upon him. "I would hate for you to get hurt, perhaps we can find you some fish to take?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2015 3:30 am
Now that she was awake and slightly more aware than earlier, she noticed his lingering glances and bowed her head shyly. She was hardly the lioness she had been. Made thin and bedragled by her captivity. Not to mention the new scars she sported from Ragnvard's claws. His comment pulled her gaze back up to her pale saviour and she smiled softly. A gentle amusement warming her haunted eyes. "Not if you are Captain Ragnvard... " Her words held the tiniest note of playfulness, a hint at the lioness who had once lived, a gentle soul. Not beaten and degraded as she was now. The very fact she could still smile despite her situation was impressive. Sighing as she remembered just where she was and who she had to answer to, she lowered her head sadly. "A couple of fish would greatly please him." She replied, glancing up once more, a grateful expression on her bruised features. Though she didn;t explain that she was going to be beaten for taking so long, it wasn't worth making the kind stranger worry so. She would endure as she had been doing, and this little interlude had given her the strength to continue on. She really hoped she would see this male again, and soon... Though she longed to know his name, but wasn't sure if she was allowed to ask.
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Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2015 6:49 am
Tendaji could see a hint of playfullness underneath the lionesses beaten exterior and smiled gently. It was so difficult a concept to understand that some of the Stormborn would beat their thralls to loss of personality, loss of spirit.
He had always considered the notion of a thrall to be there to help. Yes, perhaps with the odd delegation of a job that you didn't want, and to work hard as they should, but never to be played with and broken as you pleased. Tendaji was discovering more about himself as time went on. He realised he hadn't yet told the lioness his name, but perhaps that was for the best, if her master was to find out what he had done, there could be severe consequences for both of them.
"Okay then, Aoife, let's go get you some fish." He grinned playfully. ((End))
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