[SRP] Seeking the Blind Master (Tethys x Gideon)

[Epine de Rose]

You'll find him in the jungle, deep in the dark, where no light reaches...

For all intents and purposes, the lion could only assume he was walking into the heart of enemy territory. Already an eerie silence had fallen upon the surrounding area, and save for the sound of his own paws brushing against the undergrowth, there seemed to be no indication of any signs of life. It was a strange feeling, and it almost felt as though he was suffocating beneath the weight of nothing. Regardless, he had done as he was told and he had come alone, leaving his allies behind.

...One might have argued that this was not the smartest idea for a lion who had a target on his back, but such were the requirements for meeting this 'master'.

Given that those he had met were insistent that the Master would be able to assist him, it had been in his best interests to obey them when they had specified where he should go, who he should bring, and how he should act. Thus the newly promoted Captain had parked his 'ego' at the edge of the jungle and proceeded into its depths. Eventually he would find this entity, the one that they had been adamant about, but until then he had absolutely no idea what he was looking for.

...Would he be one of the enemy? Black as night with piercing red eyes, or would he in fact be ethereal in striking contests to the beasts that sought to case such chaos?

With his contacts refusing to give further information on the subject, the lion could do nothing more than wait and see; though he had very little appreciation for this new sense of vulnerability...  

[Epine de Rose]

He'd watched the pale stranger as he had entered his home. In silence, he had slipped after him, weaving in and out of the undergrowth with such grace that it was now evident the white lion couldn't 'see' him. While he had noted that the stranger was tense and completely exposed, he had not brought any of his kin with him.

Yes, the black lion had watched from the very beginning. From his vantage point he had observed as Tethys parted ways from his companions and slipped beneath the canopy. He had known all along that he would be coming, suffice it to say that he had already received notice of the individual's fateful arrival... But regardless of what he may have been told, he wanted to determine for himself if the creature was worth his salt.

...So far, he wasn't sold.

Tethys hadn't the slightest idea that he was being followed and it seemed that he had no intention of becoming 'aware' either. Was he truly so unaware? Surely the boy had instincts, or were these stifled by something that Gideon simply couldn't see at this point in time?

The black lion followed the intruder for several more minutes, raising a brow as white lion made a number of choices... His chosen directions, his inability to spot certain signs, his inability to feel. One had to wonder how such a thing was possible.

"Have you ever thought, that you might be going the wrong way?" The lion spoke at last, casting his voice across the expanse so that its direction was not immediately apparent.  

[Epine de Rose]

The voice echoed across the once silent expanse, bouncing from tree to tree and rippling across each leaf. It was enough to unsettle the lion and much to his embarrassment he shied away. He didn't completely jump out of his skin, but it did cause him to give a shudder. It was almost as if someone had thrown cold water over him, or they had ruffled his hair just the wrong way to set every nerve on end.

It was not a pleasant feeling.

Had those who sent him here done this deliberately? Did they get a kick out of throwing their targets into such traps? He had half a mind to storm out and throttle them himself... But there was something different about this voice. Granted, the very fact it had spoken was a huge difference and it confirmed that he wasn't in the realms of his enemy, but he certainly wasn't in the realms of a friend either. Quite frankly he didn't know where he was...

"That would imply that I know where I'm going," Tethys replied coolly as he came to a halt and glanced around him. He stilled couldn't see where the voice had come from; it seemed to have come out of thing air.

"Have they sent me to speak with spirits or are you simply making yourself difficult to find." He challenged.  

[Epine de Rose]

"It is always healthy to acknowledge when one has a failing," Gideon replied, holding back a wry smile. White teeth would give his position away, but he had a perfect place from which to watch the younger lion at this point in time.

Tethys was easily unsettled, perhaps it was due to previous experiences, but the fact he was spooked by something he should have known was there indicated that he was blind. Oh, the black lion had no doubt that this young one could see, but he couldn't see the obvious. Somewhere along the line he had lost the ability to use his instincts, or perhaps he had never been required to use them

...It was something that occasionally happened depending on ones upbringing.

He surmised that Tethys had been raised in a safe environment, and while strong and probably very capable, there were certain elements of 'life' that evaded him. One of those in particular was the ability to 'sense' when something was nearby, if he were to survive, that would need to be corrected....

"However if you do not know what you are seeking, then you simply will not find it."

He paused.

"No matter how obvious the answer or location might be," he finished and lapsed in to silence.

Satisfied that the lion was of no threat, the black lion returned from whence he came. The white lion had walked passed the 'door' not once, but twice, and until he realised it was there, Gideon had no intention of wasting his time...

Total Words (Gideon): 521

 

[Epine de Rose]

What was that supposed to mean?

Tethys attempted to cast his gaze in the direction that the final words had been uttered, but nothing was there. He did have to wonder if he had been speaking to spirits, or something not entirely of this world, but if that was the case then why had they stipulated he should come alone. Unless it was a trial, in which case he wasn't supposed to receive help.

"Argh," he spat and strode further into the undergrowth.

Whatever the void had meant, it had seemingly indicated that until he worked out where it 'was', and was therefore solid, he wasn't going to get anywhere. Thus, he set about finding it...even if it took him all god forsaken day...

Total Words (Tethys): 642