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 Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:42 am
The night sky was littered with them. Each tiny speck winked down upon the world below, each King watching over the beings that still inhabited the earth. Some old, some young, but the Kings of old watched them all. Kinja knew her King, Kiu, was up there, watching her. Waiting for the day that she would join him in the heavens and they could once again be reunited. Oh, that day was far too off in Kinja's mind. The sooner she saw Kiu again, the sooner things would be alright again. She could bury her head within his thick mane and forget all that had happened to her. It would all have just been a bad dream and Kiu would be there to comfort her. Oh when would that day come?
Laying in the short grass within view of the den, Kinja gazed at the stars. Praying that one day soon he one wish would be answered. But, a feeling og guilt washed over her as her mind drifted to that of her cubs. They were still young, barely able to hunt yet. She couldn't possibly leave them now. No, she would wait with patience until her young ones were older and gone to start their own lives in the cold, harsh world. With a pang of regret, she wondered if they were ready for such a life. The world as they know it was not what it truly was. In reality it was cold, unforgiving...heartbreaking. With a sigh a tear ran down the lionesses cheek. The world would never be kind to anyone. She had unfortunately been thrown through the worst thing that the Gods could come up with.
Gods...Goddesses! They were nothing but trouble! Hestia was a perfect example of such. Ever since meeting that bird her world had been turned upside down and things went downhill. Oh, don't get her wrong, Kinja absolutely enjoyed her time with Kiu and wouldn't give it up for anything. But the lioness was certain that the bird Goddess had something to do with all the tragic events that took placein Kinja's life.
To say Kinja was none-to-pleased with the immortals would be an understatement. This she feared, would be her demise when she goes to meet her love in the heavens.
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:56 am
Hakan stirred from his sleep and raised his head, turning to gaze over his siblings. His sister was tucked up against his side, her breathing slow and steady as she slept. Kamal was not too far away and as Hakan turned his head further to try and locate his mother he realised with a jolt that she was gone.
As he moved he was careful not to disturb Kimya's sleep. The little guardian moving quietly to the entrance so that he could peer out across the freeland.
A wave of relief hit him at seeing his mother there, her body a dark shape that stood out amongst the celestial beauty above them. It truly was a beautiful night and until now Hakan had never really noticed just how wonderful stars were.
They reflected in the dark pools of his eyes as he moved across the ground, his dark body hidden well as he moved with a shadow-like quality. He knew the land well enough so that he could avoid the rocks that might trip him, taking note of the serene feeling. The air was cool but pleasant and even the ground beneath his paws was comfortable. The chirping of the night insects was soft music to his ears and despite the fact that Hakan had never been out in the dark that much he had already learned to love it.
"Mother?" His voice was a quiet whisper as he drew up to stand beside her, leaning sideways to brush gently against her hindleg. "Are you okay?"
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:15 am
The dark form slipping fron the den went unnoticed by the lioness. Her mind and senses pulled away from the physical being of the world at that moment. It wasn't until the voice of her eldest flittered to her ears did Kinja pull herself away from the stars. "Hakan." She smiled softly at him. "Yes, I am fine. Just...thinking."
She shifted so the young male could situate himself next to her should he please. Her tail uncurling itself from around her body to lay behind her, out of the way of any paw stepping. "What are you doing up. You should long be asleep by now."
That was an amusing thought really. Of course her children would be eager to explore the night. It wasn't something she allowed them to do in their cub hood and the alluring sensation of the unknown could be almost impossible to resist. Kinja knew that all too well.
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:21 am
He smiled and gazed up at his mother with eyes that shimmered with the reflections of the stars. "It's a good time to think. Nice an' peaceful at this time of night." He turned his head to glance around him, taking note of how much different everything looked in the dark. It was creepy but alluring all at the same time, as if adventuring into a whole different world altogether.
"I woke up and you weren't there. I came to make sure you were okay." He spoke softly, his own tail rising up at the tip to wave gently at the air. "Don't want anything bad to happen to yah ever, plus I gotta make sure I protect yah. I am the oldest male around 'ere." He laughed quietly and puffed out his chest, wishing that he was bigger.
Taking one look at how small his paw was when it was next to his mother's made him realise he still had a lot more growing to do.
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:31 am
Kinja's serene face fell as Hakan's words and shimmering eyes shifted back to the stars above. Kinja had lived the life of a Firekin for quite a long time, but she had never truly embraced their religion. The bit she did was more of a survival technique than anything. No, Kinja...or Kimondo still truly believed in the Prideland religion. It was the one that made the most sense to her and the one which was most promising.
"Hakan..." Her voice was soft and held a hint of sadness. "Do you know what the stars are?" She questioned. Eyes drifting from the heavens to her offspring. "They are the Kings of old. Each one watches over all of use down here once they pass away. One day Hakan, I will join them in the heavens." She smiled slightly at the thought. "One day I will no longer be here by your side but watching you from above. There, my young one, my mate and I will watch you, your sister and your brother and do all that we can to ensure your life is one full of joy and love."
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:37 am
On the inside, Hakan's heart sunk, and on the outside his ears drooped and eyes widened as he shook his head and got to his paws, turning to face her head on. He saw himself reflected in her blue eyes and saw the sadness and fear that dwelled in his own face.
"No mother, that can't happen." What was all this? What did the stars have to do with her dying? To his horror he found a sheen of tears cover the surface of his eyes and he sniffled quietly. "I won't let it happen, ever." He swallowed back the lump in his throat. "I'll protect you from danger, I won't let anyone hurt you. I don't want you to be a star, I want you here. I want you with me forever. I love you so please, please don't say you're going to leave."
He didn't understand the ways of mortality, didn't understand that no matter how strong he became he could not protect Kinja from old age.
"I need you."
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:53 am
Kinja watched as her son openly defied what would happen to his mother. With a sad smile Kinja reached up a paw and wrappe dit around his neck pulling him closer so that their forheads were touching. "Hakan. I don't even think the Gods themselves could keep me froming joining Kiu in the sky. And truthfully my son, I wouldn't want them to. I've lived along life and have had many children. I doubt all of them will remember or even think of me, but I know that you, Hakan, will never forget. That, my son, is enough to make me happy and feel like I've done at least something here in my time on Earth." She paused and pulled her head away from his and reached up with the back of her paw to wipe away the few stray tears that were able to leak from her son's eyes. "Hakan, when I am gone. I ask you to take care of your brother and sister. I hope that you are all old enough by the time I pass away to live on your own, but I would feel much better knowing that should I leave before I am completely ready, that my cubs will stick together."
The stars above twinkled down upon the mother and cub. The Kings watching the heartbreak that the young one was feeling and the oddly peaceful expression and feelings that were of the mother. The old lioness had accepted her fate and was ready to welcome the Goddess of Death with open paws, but how would the child take it? The world was still a new place for them and death soemthing they only witnessed upon hunting. No one close to them or anything that mattered had fallen to death's grasp. It was very likely their first taste of death would be through their mother's demise. Hopefully the young ones would be able to go on after such an event.
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:03 am
Hakan listened to his mother and snuffled, wiping at hisnose with his paw. He didn't understand, why was she going to die? Why couldn't he stop it from happening? His heart felt like it had been stabbed with ice.
Yet some of her words briefly drew his attention from her, for she mentioend a mate and children, had she had other cubs that he didn't know about? He wanted to ask but right now his mother's life was far more important.
"I'll never forget you, ever! You're my mother. I could never forget you, never, never, never!" He shivered but took comfort from the closeness. "I don't want you to go...please, please tell me what I can do to save you..." He suddenly realised that such a request was pointless, somehow he realised that she would die eventually, just as he would someday. "I'll take care of them I promise. I'll make sure they don't get hurt. It's my duty."
"It's not fair, why do we have to die? I want to keep you here, those stars and this Kiu can do without you."
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Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 7:44 am
Kinja smiled at Hakan. "Hakan, it's all part of the Circle of Life." She turned to him. "You and I eat atelope. When we die our bodied become the grass they eat. It's on going circle that's been going on for eternity." She purred as she drew him close to her once again, tongue running against his ever growing mane. "Please, Hakan. Don't be sad. I am ready for when my life will end. I've lived long and I wish to join my loved ones who've pass on before me. Like you I have lost my parents. Don't you think I want to see them again?" She looked into her soons sad pools that were misty and watery from the tearshe shed. "Besides," She prompted. "It will only be a short farewell. We will see each other again in the heavens."
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Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 8:17 am
He listened to her words with a breaking heart, afraid of what she was saying but curious too. What was it like to die? Did it hurt? What did it promise? Could one really see those who died when they too passed away? It gave him something to look forward to and yet thinking of life without his mother scared him to the bone. He wanted to protect her but now that seemed like it wasn't possible. He wanted her with him forever but again the day of loss would not go away. With each day, hour, minute their lives ebbed away and he could feel a sudden urge and desire to make the most of it whislt it lasted.
"Then until that day I'll protect yah." He said, trying his best to gain control of his emotion. He snuggled up against his mother's side, taking comfort in her presence. "I'll take care of Kimya and Kamal and I'll make sure nothing happens to 'em. I promise."
"But please mother...don't go just yet. We need yah." The last words were a whisper that was closely followed by a yawn. His mind said he wasn't tired but his body knew he was.
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Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 4:16 pm
She smiled. "I have no plans on leaving any of you anytime soon." She licked his cheek before turning her eyes back up to the stars, smiling weakly as one twinkled extra brightly. That was the star she favored as Kiu. It may not be him, but she wished to believe it was. There was no harm in such a thought really. It just gave her hope and a small sense of calm when she looked upon. 'One day...' She thought to herself. 'One day we'll be together again, my love.'
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 2:59 am
He nodded and snuggled further against her, feeling somewhat closer to his mother now than he ever had. He understood that one day she wouldn't be around but knew that when the time came he'd be ready to keep his promise and protect his brother and sister. He was sure that with his increasing strength and growth that he'd be able to protect and care for her if need be.
Yet despite the realisation that death was impending, memories of his mother hunting, her brilliant red form strong and beautiful, he couldn't help but think she was still in her prime. To Hakan she was a Goddess and everything about her seemed immortal.
"I love you mother." He whispered, getting to his paws and rubbing the side of his face against her side. He'd remain with her a little longer and then depart to the den to leave the lioness to her star gazing.
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