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 Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:53 pm
 White tipped paws paused in his journey, dark pelt ruffling in the breezing, golden markings glistening in the late day sun. Blue eyes focused in the distance through the white mane that the wind blew into his vission, finding the familuar rock formation that he could see even from this far away.
After what seemed like so long, the lion had reached the borders of the pridelands, the land of his birth, though he was sure it had changed since he had last seen it; he would have been disappointed had it not. Before him was a sea of green grass, a beautiful and prosperious land and a part of him smiled inwardly.
Perhaps another lion in his situation would have hesitated or turned back, but fitting of his name, Bushido was a lion of honor and pride, stopping now was not an option.
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Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 6:55 pm
Sheba had been taking the air route again, her huge white wingspan stretching out across the sky. The air here was fresh and sweet, a rare combination for Africa. Soon the reason for it became aparent-the land ahead was lush and green, but not a rainforest which would have brought storms and humity to the atmosphere. Even from the great height she was at she could see its beauty. She knew what place this was, for it was a living legend; the pridelands.
She tipped the end of her left wing to turn and circle down to land. Somehow she felt walking into such a place would be far more enjoyable and far more productive. She landed gracefully among the sea of green and gold, stirring the stalks of grass with the gusts from the beats of her wings. Once her feathered limbs were folded she lifted herself carefully, a sense of poise restored as she stood on the solid ground. Her violet eyes peered at her surroundings with mild interest. Not far to her right she realized there was a lion near by. From the sky it was hard to tell if there was anyone near, especially when she was flying at high altitudes. She hopes that her landing this time around hadn't startled this individual.
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Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 9:35 pm
Dark ears twitched, swivling toward the nearby goddes, his gaze just shifted enough to see her without turning his head. Unlike most creatures, it had not be a sound or scent that had alerted the dark lion to the presence of another, it was a feeling. His senses highly tuned, at full harmony with his mind, body, and spirit, the lion had felt the air shift with her presence long before the russle of feathers of the soft landing of paws met his ears, before the scent met his nose.
The lion seemed unaffected, completely at peace. But appearances can be deceiving, and though his posture was relaxed, his senses were on full alert as a samurai should be. White tufted tail flicked, as if assessing the situation. He sensed no threat from the lioness, but it would have been unwise to let down his guard. And by the virtue of politeness, he would not ignore her.
"It's beautiful, isn't it."
His voice was soft, kind and elegant with no trace of hesitation or fear, in fact it seemed almost noble, the voice of an honorable soul.
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Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 10:45 am
Bathsheba eyed the mortal who stood before her carefully. She, perhaps more so then others, knew a warrior when she saw one. The way he held himself sang of one and she knew while he appeared relaxed he was ready for anything. After a moment she was able to shift her gaze away, respect forming for the him. She had met many honorable fighters in her lifetime and she knew he was one as well.
"Yes," she replied smoothly, turning her attention to the landscape. "Despite of how everyone seems to talk of it...it is still quite a surprise in itself." In all her time traveling she had never come here. She was not sure why. Perhaps it was because from all the stories she felt this land could take care of itself. Perhaps it was also she wasn't sure how real the place truly was. It was nice to see it wasn't simply a myth.
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Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 2:48 pm
The lion stood silent for a moment, a simple nod of his head in answer to the lioness' statement. Indeed the land was beautiful, astonishingly so, as if it had been blessed by the gods themselves, perhaps it had been.
"It has thrived since last I saw it, more than I could have imagined."
Bushido was the silent type, speaking only when there was something to say, useless words were unfitting of the samurai. But the splendor of the pridelands demmanded to be spoken of, it would have been a dishonor to the land to remain silent.
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Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 3:01 pm
Bathsheba, too, was not one to waste words if she had the choice. But it was more of a learned trait then one she had naturally. She had to admit, however, the land did deserve some verbal phraise. That did not mean that she lost her ability to be observant, however. "This is your homeland?" She ventured to guess smoothly, shifting her gaze to look at him with mildly curious violet eyes. She was curious, for he didn't seem the type to leave his home unless something arose that required his attention.
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Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 6:21 pm
He nodded silently, eyes fixed on the distant pride rock. It would have been easier to remain silent, perhaps for a moment he even thought about it. The past was something he had wished to escape, that he longed to forget. But to say nothing would have been the same as lying, and that would have been a violation of the code and virtues marked on his body.
"Yes, this is the land of my birth, though I have not seen it since I was a cub."
There was a touch of sorrow in his voice, easily missed, though his posture gave no idication of it. Disowned from his dark family by his mother, it had been a release, but would he ever truly be free of them?
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Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 1:30 pm
"You seem very loyal," she murmured, "to a place in which you have not spent most of your life." It was not an accusation, meerly an observation. She had seen many claim loyalty or duty towards a homeland or pride before. But very rarely was it one that an individual had little contact with. It took quite a strength of will and high moral standards to do such a thing. So her respect for him continued, for it was obvious he deserved it.
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Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 4:14 pm
"I do as my honor commands."
Perhaps it could be seen as loyalty, and being one of the virtues it was certainly part of his motivation. But his true purpose was one of honor, a quest to wipe away the disgrace and darkness of those who had borne him into the world.
Some might have thought it odd, to so dedicate oneself to redemption for acts perpetrated by another, especially by a family that had disowned him. But to the samurai, honor stood above all, he could not leave the tarnish in his blood.
His ear flicked, the wind billowing past him, carrying the scents and sounds of all those it had passed as it ruffled his white mane. The air had begun to cool as the sun fell further in the sky, day fading into twilight.
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Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 1:21 pm
"I see," Sheba replied simply. Honor had always been something that had puzzled her. It overlapped so often the things she understood, yet failed to be them completely. People who do the most drastic things for honor. Honor very much reminded her of pride...and yet it wasn't quite that far along. It was different. And in all honesty...she didn't want to try to muse over the whole issue right now. It wasn't important and it required far to much effort. "That is very admirable," she murmured. For in most cases this was true.
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Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 2:03 pm
"Perhaps, but it is the right thing to do, therefore how could I not?"
His head turned enough to look at the lioness, the hints of a smile on his maw. Honor wasn't really all that difficult to understand was it? For despite the virtues and conceptions, in the end that was in honor came down to, doing the right thing. It did not discriminate between good and evil for even in the darkness there were those who followed honor.
Indeed, he was not one to be admired, for anyone was capable of such acts. Even the smallest of creatures possessed their own nobility. Whether it be giving one's life to save another, or simply sharing a piece of meat with a passing stranger, they all possessed their own honor.
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 11:26 am
As one faced with the complex task of having to understand the lines drawn between morals and other untangable things it was often more difficult then it seemed. Ah, if only the world were as simple as he said. It'd make things much easier. Sheba smiled a little and shook her head ever so slightly, "Well...perhaps that is true, but you'd be surprised how many choose not to at as such." It was true. She had seen many an individual do the wrong thing, honor or no. It was just how life ran sometimes.
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Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 12:11 am
"Not so surprised as you might think. I have seen many fall, even the strongest and noble often give in or flee. But I have also seen the most humble rise to great strength."
His tail swayed behind him, blue eyes blurred by the white mane that ruffled on the breeze. Honor was an interesting thing, simple in it's complexity, often defying description, but yet it was a feeling that was so strong it made perfect sense.
He took a few steps forward, toward the pridelands and the rock at it's heart. It was there that his task lay, his home, and there he would make amends for the dark deeds of his blood.
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Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 4:15 pm
"Well then it easy to imagine someone might not, even if it does make very little sense," Sheba commented simply. She saw him make movements towards entering the pride and did not not follow. She meerly watched with a calm gaze, her white wings folded neatly at her side. He needed no goddess trailing after him. Besides, it just wasn't polite to do so. Time waited for her, as it did all deities. She could go explore the lands another time.
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Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 1:03 pm
"Unfortunate, but true."
He nodded, eyes looking to the ground for a a brief moment before his head lifted again. It was a pity how many turned away, even when the right thing was something so simple as a kind word or a scrap of food when they themselves had plenty to share. It was disheartening and sometimes even the black lion wanted to give up, to take the easy way out. But would he truly be able to live if he did so? Thus he continued his path, persevering amidst the temptations.
"My home is calling me, I must return."
For the first time he turned, blue eyes focused fulling on the winged lioness, a smile tugging on his maw as his head dipped in a respectful bow.
"I thank you for you time, I am sure we will meet again."
His words were honest and true. Had she chosen to follow he would not have objected, but he was certain their paths would cross again.
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