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 Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 11:43 am
Zenoni searched feverishly for Kiburi, not sure of what he would find. Images of her bloody torn body on the sand flashed continuesly in his mind, but he tried to block them out. She was ok. She was alive. He padded slowly to the place were he had first met the red lioness, panting from running in the heat for so long. He saw no sign of his friend, or the lioness, which meant Kiburi had made it out alive. If the lioness had killed her, she would have probably let her body to rot and to be feasted on by the birds. He searched around for any sign of where she might have gone, but found none. His head was pounding, and his limbs were exasted. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the cave he had first met Kiburi in. He would go there to regain his strength, and then go looking once again for Kiburi. He had to find her. She had saved him, sacrificed herself inplace of him. She was amazing, and he owed her his life. He floped in the entrance of the cave, shutting his eyes and moaning in agony.
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Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 4:30 am
The scent of lion's blood could be detected faintly from within the den and if one peered into the gloom they might have caught the faint shimmer of a pale body hidden behind the jut of a rock. For it was here in this den that Kiburi had dragged herself to, hoping that Zenoni would be here.
She still worried for his safety, wondered if maybe the lioness had gone after him to finish him off. She shook her head and let her head loll slowly to the side, her torn maw burning as if it was on fire. The bleeding had eased a little but the pain was still there and though Kib did not regret her actions she did regret not being stronger. For how could she protect the slaves if she was weakened with injury?
The faint padding of approaching paws caught at her ears and with a small whimper she remained very still, holding her breath as she realised that whatever was approaching had stopped at the entrance. Terror gripped her and if she had been able to she probably would have tried to run away. She tried to scent the air but it hurt to do so and filled her nostrils with nothing but her own blood.
Yet where her sense of smell had failed, her ears were able to stand in. For the pained cry that reached them could belong to none other than Zenoni.
He'd been hurt!
She'd failed!
Almost instantly she was dragging herself to her paws and limping forwards with a motion that was painful even to look at. "Zezzie! Zezzie!" Her voice was full of fear and as she limped out of the gloom her blood splattered body was revealed. "Zezzie, please don't be h-hurt."
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Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 8:41 am
Zenoni had been in the cave no longer than a minute, when he started to get a suspicion that he wasnt alone. He shifted a bit, his ears flattening to his skull, and his expression uncomfortable. What if it was a firekin? He tried to keep his gaze steady, and not look at the back of the cave, for fear that the creature in the back might see him. But it was too late. As he heard the rustle at the back, he sprang to his feet, ready for anything, or so he thought. His eyes widened at the sight of Kiburi, a torn bloody mess. He stood shocked for a moment, unabile to belive that it was her. But as she spoke, he knew it was. "K-kiburi?!" He lunged towards her, imediately cleaning off the blood. "Im fine Kiburi. Im fine. Oh why did you have to do that?" He said as he cleaned off her wounds. "Lay down, your hurt. Oh Kiburi."
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Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 8:53 am
He was okay! He was truly okay!
Her legs wobbled and as relief swept over her she let herself down to lay upon the ground, listening to him speak with tears beading in her eyes. Why had she done it? Well that was obvious. Her heart had told her to and her mother had always told her to follow her heart in such matters as these.
"Because." She spoke softly, letting her eyes fall closed as she tried to ignore the pain from her wounds. "Because I couldn't s-stand to s-see you hurt. Y-you're my friend Zezzie." She tried to give him a weak smile but found that it hurt too much to do so. "I'm so g-glad you're okay." And she truly was. Zenoni was a dear friend to her, perhaps because he had ties with the pridelands that had once been her home or maybe because he understood how she felt.
Other slaves tended to be rogues, but not them. They knew what a real pride was supposed to be like and so they suffered more when thrown into a situation like this. "You have to l-live Zezzie. You have to live so y-you can see your fam-family again."
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 6:45 pm
"So do you." He said, his voice trying to stay calm. He layed down next to her, still licking at her wounds. "We'll get home someday Kiburi, but for now, try and stay out of trouble." He said, forcing an uneasy grin. She was so kind...he was so selfish. If it wasnt for him she woulndt be in this mess. "Kiburi...thankyou. For everything. You've saved me from a fate worse from death. If it werent for you, I dont know how i'd survive here." He gave her a small lick on the maw, and a grin. "We Pridelanders gotta stick together."
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Posted: Tue May 30, 2006 3:42 am
She smiled and released a small breath, ears folding back to lay against her head. There was something calming about his voice that made her forget about her wounds. Almost. It reminded her a little of how she felt with her brother although it was different.
For one thing Zenoni wasn't her brother and he made her feel quite different than Mchele - though she couldn't quite put a claw on it. Her heart gave a little tremor as he licked at her maw and without realising it a purr started at the back of her throat.
"Someday...y-yes." She opened her eyes to stare at Zezzie's, finding herself almost enchanted by them. They were such an unusual colour and so stunning, they were what she would remember most about him. "I have to g-get home so I can keep my promise. I told my f-family that I'd go b-back to see them."
At his last comment she smiled, her heart warming at the reminder that she wasn't alone, that Zezzie knew how she felt better than anyone else.
The purr laced through her words as she raised her head and pressed the top of her muzzle up beneath the curve of his chin. "I'm glad you're h-here with me Zezzie." She felt the soft, warm fur pressed against the side of her face and breathed in his scent, making sure to memorize every detail.
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Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:55 am
When Zenoni heard her last sentance, something in him changed. He no longer was the vain spoiled little cub back in the pridelands. He was a Firekin slave, and he had someone to protect. Kiburi had already saved his life once. If anymore harm came to her, he wasnt sure what he would do. He welcomed the nuzzle with a soft purr, returning it happily. "I promise to protect you Kiburi." He said in a wisper, staring into her slate blue eyes, realizing for the first time how lovely they were. They reminded him of home.
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Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 10:19 am
The silence that passed between them as their eyes met was one that was both wonderful and awkward. She felt herself drowning in that violet ocean and momentarily forgot to breath. Then suddenly she realised just where she was and gave a small and embarrassed sounding cough, dragging her eyes away to gaze at the entrance to the den.
What was happening to her?
She tried to steady the rapid beating of her heart that seemed to be trying to burst its way through her chest. Though whilst she wouldn't openly admit it, this was a feeling she quite liked. It made her feel extremely alive and that was something she was thankful for.
"We...we can p-protect one another." She agreed, her voice shaking for a completely different reason. She was not afraid, no. She was...she was...
Drawing in another shaky breath she tried to calm her mind and found herself leaning sideways so she could press herself against Zenoni once more. What made Zenoni different from the others? Why was it that her heart raced when she was near him? No other lions had made her feel this way...not really. Surely...surely she couldn't be...!? Her ears twitched back and suddenly she turned her face to bury it against his earthy-brown shoulder, eyes falling closed as she breathed in his scent.
She was suddenly frightened. Afraid of her own feelings and what they could mean.
"I-I don't know why. But t-thinking about y-you being h-hurt makes me more sad and s-scared than any-anything else." She tried to swallow the lump in her throat, her voice muffled against his fur.
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Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 8:44 am
Zenoni nuzzled the top of her head, feeling a sudden sense of home. It made him feel happy and sad at the same time. "Its settled then, we'll protect each other." Zenoni wispered. He was feeling strange for some reason, like everytime he looked at her this strange feeling would come over him, and he didnt know what it was. He tried to push the feeling aside, but it kept comeing back, so he finnally gave in, nuzzling the lionesses soft sandy fur, letting a small purr escape. "You dont have to be afraid anymore Kiburi. I promise you ill do all I can to protect you and myself. Someday we'll be free. I promise you that."
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Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 9:12 am
"Agreed." She smiled fondly, settling more comfortably beside him. "I-I'm glad I met y-you Zezzie. Very glad." She moved again, this time to lay down, feeling suddenly tired and safe. Just having him there made her feel protected.
Freedom...that was a lovely thought.
"S-suddenly I'm feeling r-really sleepy." She murmured softly, resting her maw in her front paws. "Do y-you mind if I take a n-nap?" But she was asleep before she even heard his answer, this time dreaming pleasantly about her family.
Being with this male brought Kiburi a greater peace than she could ever have imagined.
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