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 Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 5:52 am
 Glancing up from her paws she stopped on the path she had been carefully following. Lucivar had asked her to learn her way around and she had a list of simple tasks to do that would help her find her way and give her an excuse to ask for directions if she needed it. Currently she was trying to find where food was stored, as while Lucivar hadn't wanted anything, she herself hadn't been eating lately, too busy trying to get used to her new home and recovering from the leopard attack. Now however her stomach was making its emptiness known.
Glancing back over her shoulder she stepped off the path, fairly sure she had found the right tumble of boulders that was her landmark. But a little further on and she wasn't so sure. Stopping again she gazed down the hillside, hoping to find someone who looked like they wouldn't mind her bothering them with a question, but so far the only lions she had seen were all rather busy-looking..
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 12:45 pm
 Skydas had not expected that becoming one of the Stormborn would free up so much of his time. There was no need for him to hunt - thralls did that. There was no need for him to do much of anything, really, if he didn't want to. Most of the lions he knew around the pride were warriors and spent their free time training or carousing. Sky enjoyed carousing well enough, but the fighting got boring, and listening to stories about fighting got even more boring.
In fact, if it wasn't for his will of iron, he would probably have grown quite squishy around the middle like his brother Kardas, who was still a thrall. Sky occasionally felt guilty, like he ought to do something to see that his brother was raised at least to freeborn status, but he and Kardas had been living separate lives for a long time now, and if Kardas wanted to change his lot in life, Sky felt it was up to him to do so.
His thoughts of his brother were interrupted, however, when he saw a lioness with a pelt like the night sky, yet unlike his own, looking somewhat bemused.
"One day I will kill you," he greeted her, smirking. The Stormborn had some ridiculous phrases.
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 2:46 pm
Having been preoccupied looking around for someone to ask directions from, the sudden voice from close by startled her, as she had been craning her neck to the side in her search. Though a moment later just what had been said registered and she squeeked in shock, eyes widening. "I um!" Wait... wasn't that somthin Lucivar had told her about.... one of the sayings this pride used?
Trying to swallow her pulse back down to a normal level she blushed, though hoped it wasn't obvious under her fur. "Uh... Hello." Blinking at him she struggled to think of an appropriate reply but came up blank. Instead she shifted slightly, offering him a shy smile. "Sorry... I'm new here... " Though it was probably obvious to him, she knew she looked lost and possibly a little bit vacant. Sighing mentally she tried to gather her frayed wits. She wanted to make a good impression on the pride members here. It had just been such a strange and frightening experience. First being attacked by a random stranger, then rescued in such spectacular fashion by no less than six reavers. She didn't regret accepting the Captain's invitation to join the pride. Certainly not with the crazy leopard following her all the way to the pride's boundary. Only leaving after they had crossed over and several other patrolling reavers had turned up.
Now it seemed she would never leave the pride again, but she wasn't upset. It was a fresh start and she was hopeful for the future.
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Mwana." She smiled softly, bobbing her head politely.
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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 7:53 am
Sky watched as the lioness oriented herself and figured out what to say to him. Perhaps he should have just greeted her like a normal person instead. It wasn't as if he had any hereditary claim to the pride's traditions, after all. Except, of course, his brother had cubs with a lioness here, so there was at least some family of his here, besides his brother. Maybe he had a little bit of a claim to the pride's traditions.
"Nothing to apologize for," he said dismissively. "Being new is no crime."
He wondered, as he looked at her starry pelt, whether she was freeborn or thrall. There was no way he could tell just by looking at someone, although lions who had belonged to the pride all their lives seemed to have a knack for it. He'd been told there was something about the bearing of a thrall that was obvious, whether they were newly captured or born to their rank. He looked for that something in Mwana, but without much luck.
"Mwana," he repeated. "I'm Skydas. How new are you?"Tanakako What kind of relationship do you suppose they would have after this initial meeting? Since I assume they won't go from here to bed. XD
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Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 2:45 pm
Smiling softly she was very glad this male didn't seem bothered at all by her lack of knowledge and obliviousness to the pride's ways. Instead she bobbed her head gratefully.
"Thank you." Her soft voice was light and gentle, her gratitude warm within the tones. It was at least clear she was no reaver, for she was far too tender-hearted for any such role. "It is a pleasure to meet you Skydas." She offered in reply, another shy smile curling across her muzzle. "I only arrived a week ago. Captain Lucivar brought me here..." She did not know how well known her saviour was, but he had told her she was safe as she was under his protection, so she guessed that meant he was at least somewhat known about the pride. Though he had also said not to go anywhere near a male called Ragnvard.
Gazing up at Skydas she tried to work out who he was in this pride. Was he like Lucivar and his fighters? His markings were so very handsome and actually reminded her quite a bit of her own family, only his reflected the night sky in such amazing detail. Where as her coat had always been more speckled than star-like.
Unable to work out if he was a reaver she still assumed he was someone very knowledgeable, as he seemed very confident and comfortable.
"May I ask a question?" She asked, her voice once again shy, rose-hued gaze a little uncertain.
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2015 8:37 am
Sky continued to look at the lioness with the intention of figuring out what her rank was before she actually told him. She was what the pride called an outlander, obviously, which meant she had either won an askorun challenge to enter the pride, or had been brought back as a thrall. He did not think she looked much like the warrior type, but he had been surprised a few times already by lions who were more bellicose than they appeared.
It was not a surprise, then, to learn that she had been brought to the pride by a captain named Lucivar. Sky was not familiar with that captain, but he was not familiar with most of the captains in the pride. His brother had been taken as a thrall by the warlord, before he became the warlord, but Sky claimed no familiarity with Ruzski because of that. The only captain he knew he could pick out of a crowd any time was Hroarr, and that was because they had history.
"Ask," Sky replied with a quick grin as he settled back on his haunches, anticipating that this conversation might become drawn out.
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2015 3:24 am
Offering another shy smile she mirrored his movement, settling back on her quarters with no little relief. It was a large pride and she had been walking all around it for the past few days, mostly getting herself hopelessly lost. She still missed her home in the desert and longed for the well known tunnels and passages of her ruins. Pushing the thoughts back down she glanced about, motioning to the area around them.
“Umm.. I don’t know where we are, and I was trying to find the food store…” Flushing slightly she dropped her gaze, but ended up peeking up at him from under her fringe. She should really know such a basic piece of information, but everything had happened so fast, she was still mentally reeling from all the changes her life had suddenly taken. She just hoped this male didn’t consider her stupid or silly for it.
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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 7:16 am
"Oh, that's easy enough," Sky said with one of the easy smiles he had spent so much time practicing in his youth.
"I'm a little surprised you can't find your way there by the smell." He was teasing her in saying that, but that didn't mean it wasn't true. The place where the thralls brought their slain prey to be taken by any freeborn who had a hunger was easy enough to find by the scent of blood with underlying rot. Sometimes things weren't taken before they could spoil, after all, and sometimes thralls weren't as assiduous about clearing that mess away as they ought to be.
"But perhaps you're still new enough that the salt in the air from the water is still distracting?" he suggested. "Either way, I can take you there, if you want. It is no trouble."
Besides, it would give him a little more time to lay on the charm. Thrall or not, Sky did not hold with taking lionesses against their wills, but he was coming to the conclusion that he would not mind spending some consensual time with Mwana, if he could sweet talk her into it. If? When!
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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 7:56 am
Mwana couldn’t help but return his smile. He really was a very nice male, and didn’t seem to mind helping her out no matter the fact that she was quite sure her questions were silly, and that she was lost in what must be a rather obvious area to him.
Blushing at his gentle teasing she dipped her head shyly. “Indeed, the entire land smells strange to me… and.. there is the smell of old blood nearly everywhere..” She confessed, glancing around as if the lingering scent would be visible to them. Turning back to him as he offered to be her escort she smiled at him with sincere gratitude, clearly very relieved.
“Thank you so very much. I did not mean to inconvenience you, though I dearly appreciate your help.” Her posture relaxed immensely now that she was no longer wandering about like a lost cub and she smiled at him again, all warm eyes and grateful expression.
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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 8:01 am
Sky managed not to make a face when Mwana said that the smell of old blood was nearly everywhere. That seemed a touch melodramatic to him. But then, perhaps she had led a very sheltered life before being brought to the pride, and had only ever smelled blood around mealtimes. Whatever. He was not really all that concerned about it, although he did file her words away in case they came in handy later. Like if he could steer her away from a particularly gruesome sight that would offend her sensibilities and thereby come off looking more like someone she'd fancy.
"It really is no trouble. I haven't eaten yet today, so we'll be accomplishing two things." Or more, depending on how good an impression he managed to make along the way. "But we'd best hurry. If you've a hungry freeborn at home waiting for you to bring back their meal, I'd hate for you to be accused of dawdling. Perhaps you'd like me to return with you to explain things?"
It occurred to him that he might be pushing his generosity and Nice Guy bit a little far in making this last offer, but she could always refuse him. In the mean time, he set off in the direction of their destination, cocking his head to indicate that she ought to come with him.
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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 8:08 am
Smiling again she nodded before hurrying to catch up with him. Falling into step at his side she shook her head slowly. "No freeborn, Lucivar sent me out to find my own meal. And to start learning my way around. I was attacked while out hunting and haven't really been in much of a mind to eat since arriving." She had indeed lived a fairly sheltered life, or perhapse blessed was a better term. As the violent leopard attack had been the first time she had really been in serious trouble. The huge shift from her old home to rogue and now as a thrall in this new place, it had thrown her off balance for a little bit. Not that she was particularly distressed by her circumstances, but it was taking a little bit to stop feeling out of sorts.
Looking up at him again she amiled softly, this time a shy expression. For he was being so kind that she wondered if he would allow her to ask more questinos. Though she did not wish to annoy him after he had been so generous.
"I haven't really been told what my duties are to be... " She confessed, looking a little confused again as they walked.
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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 8:21 am
"That's...open-minded of him," Sky remarked, thinking of Lucivar allowing her to just wander the pride to learn her way around. He had not heard of another freeborn allowing their thralls that sort of time to settle in. The whole thing made him wonder how soft-hearted a captain her owner must be.
"I'm sorry to hear you were attacked. It's unusual to see that sort of thing near the stronghold, though. Unless your attackers are Stormborn on patrol, that is. Most other lions know to keep away from this area, or risk being enthralled." He shrugged. "At least you'll be safe from that here, under a captain's protection."
More and more, as she spoke, Sky had to force himself to pay attention to what she was saying, instead of just blatantly looking her over. The somewhat alarmingly large lionesses of old Stormborn stock weren't really all that appealing to him, but Mwana definitely was. It would not do, however, to allow himself to become distracted by that so early in their acquaintance, however. Particularly not while she was being so earnest and open. Lionesses got very touchy if you obviously ignored them when they were sharing, he had learned.
"You'll find out soon enough, I expect," he said lightly. "I haven't noticed that freeborn around here take thralls unless they have a use for them."
He refrained from mentioning that in many instances the use freeborn found for their thralls, particularly male freeborn with female thralls, was bed-warming. He didn't think she would find that piece of information very reassuring.
"Anyway, we're nearly there." Which was true. There were almost always a lot of lions around the area, which was another thing that made it easy to locate, in addition to the smell of fresh (and not-so-fresh) prey.
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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 8:29 am
She blinked at his comment. "It is?" Considering she had so little experience with the pride thus far she had no basis for comparison. But all his reavers had seemed nice enough.
As they walked she explained about how she had been attacked by a crazed leopard, clearly mad for he had continued to fight even after Lucivar and his band had turned up, though they had driven him off with ease. The band had been out reaving when they found her and had cut short their trip in order to escourt her back to their pride, for the leopard had followed from a long distance off but would certainly have killed her the minute she was left alone again. Thus she had come as a willing thrall for safety and now belonged to Lucivar's blind wife. To be her guide and friend. A situation Mwana was perfectly happy with.
Nodding she sniffed the air, noticing indeed how it had changed, even to her shock-dulled senses. "I hope so. I don't like being useless. I was a priestess back home.." Distracted by the sight of so many large lions in so small a space she eased closer to him as they came upon the store. Until they were almost touching with each step.
Still, with a brave smile she didn't hesitate as he led her through the crowd so they could eat. Her hunger finally sharp enough to push aside her fatigue.
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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 10:40 am
"You'll see," was all Sky could really think to say in answer to her question. He did not want to get into the myriad ways thralls' freedoms were curtailed. That was not a conversation that would put him in a good light, he was fairly certain.
He did not fail to notice that she pressed closer to him in the presence of other lions, and that fact did not fail to please him.
"That sounds interesting, being a priestess. Perhaps sometime you can tell me about that," he said. This time he actually was interested in learning more. Before coming to the Stormborn he had gotten around a great deal, and he would be interested in learning if she had come from one of the prides he used to trade with.
"Anyway, I'll leave you here, if you don't mind. I've just remembered that I was supposed to be looking after my brother's cubs for a time."
Lies. He had actually forgotten that he'd previously claimed to be hungry, and he certainly didn't want anything to do with Kardas' brood. Still, it made a nice excuse to leave while she still seemed interested in him.
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