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 Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 6:42 am
The day had grown old by the time Kimeti returned from his prowl around the desert. He had taken it upon himself to scan the boundaries of the pride's land several times a week while others checked the days that he was not checking. It was a system that worked well and kept the King busy enough to pass the long, hot days at a reasonable pace. The pride had grown large enough now that jobs could be easily divided among pride members and no one was forced to take up two tasks. Life in the desert was only getting more comfortable for everyone and Kimeti couldn't help but feel pride at the thought. Finally the pride was back on it's paws again.
Cresting over a dune, the King arrived at the main lounging and communal area of the pride. The grainy ground was worn down to the point that ones paws no longer got sucked up by the sand. It was pounded down into one solida mass which make traveling easier on the legs. HE glanced around, saying his hellos to the pride members that were lounging about before slipping off towards his den. The sun had begun to set and Kimeti was expecting his son to be waiting for him. It was time to play a bit of catch up.
Kimeti had missed a great deal of Kidondo's life when the youngseter decided to go out and explore the world beyond the desert. As much as Kimeti wasn't fond of the idea he hadn't opposed his son's wishes. Now that Kidondo was back, Kimeti wanted to know everything his son had to tell him.
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 6:50 am
Kidondo was waiting in Kimeti's den, fidgeting somewhat as he waited. He was nervous about this little chat in case he made a slip up with his intentions. If he let out one wrong word it could spell disaster and his plans would be ruined.
He got up from his lounging position and padded back and forth a few times, maw open as he panted quietly.
He had to act calm, respectful and knowledgable. Tell his father how the other lands could never match the desert - which was true. Kidondo had never been so happy to feel sand under his paws.
He stopped his pacing and moved across the den to peer outside, the sun was dissapearing now and sure enough he spotted his father.
Giving a small chuff of greeting Kidondo bowed his head and backed up inside the den, standing to attention whilst he awaited his father's entrance.
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 7:16 am
Kimeti caught sight of his son as the young lion looked out from the den. Kimeti returned the chuffed greeting before he padded up and into the cool air of the den. Shaking his head he dislodged stray bits of sand from his mane. The unwanted grains were enogh to drive the king insane with scratching, especially if those damn dust mites managed to lodge themselves in his black mane.
Golden eyes flicked over to Kidondo. With a smile the King walked over to his son and lifted a mighty paw, embracing his son in a hug. It wasn't something Kimeti would do publicly. He want a lion to show public displays of affection but in the cover of his own den, the King had no qualms. "It's good to have you back."
Kimeti let go of Kidondo and padded over to his usual place of lounging. Sitting himself down, he faced Kidondo and awaited his son to join him before continuing. "I hope your journey went well for you." He eyes his son's frame. "You appear to be a good health and you've certainly bulked up quite a bit while away from the desert. Now tell me what you saw and experience."
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 7:48 am
The affectionate gesture took the young prince by complete surprise and if it was Kimeti's attention to make him feel guilty the King had suceeded.
The adolescent felt his heart sink down into his paws and for a moment he almost lost the idea altogether. He loved his father and being here in such close proximity made him realise that Kimeti cared too.
Maybe...just maybe he could make his father understand.
He swallowed back a lump in his throat and tried to gather himself, forcing the fearful expression from his face as Kimeti released him. Then slowly he lowered himself into a sitting position and turned his blank eyes towards his father.
A seer he may have been but with his judgement clouded he could see nothing of use. The future was stormy but he had no idea whether the lightning would strike or not.
"Of course father." He replied, "I saw many things, things that I could hardly believe. The inferiors...so many of them and their vile hides. I see now why we distance ourselves from them. There were lions whose fur was blue. As blue as the water." He wrinkled his snout in fake disgust, for though he cherished the red pelt of his kind he did not hate others for their colours. He would not have rogues like that in his pride either though, he did have some of the traditional values in him. "I could not even bring myself to capture them and call them slave." He huffed. "There are some outsiders who do not even deserve to be our slaves. That is why I journeyed further. I wanted to find a slave who I deemed worthy enough to be in our presence."
"I found my slave in a land ruled by even more inferior beasts. Slobbering, mangy dogs who lived amongst the bones. Nyenas. They don't deserve to live anywhere but that filthy graveyard." He huffed. "The slave showed courage in the face of those mutts which is why I forced her to come here."
Oh lies...what terrible lies.
No wasn't here to be a slave. She never would.
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Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 12:32 pm
Kimeti nodded after his son spoke. He soaked in the information like a sponge for unlike his son, he was never able to wander from the deser tto explore the outer prides that surely surrounded the desert. That chance had never been there for him so he'd been forced to contend with the stories that were brought in from the outside by members who had sought out refuge from the plague. All their stories were interesting and all of them spoke of the colorful hides some lions bore. Blue, green, purples and many other varaties that just made the King cringe. No only those of the powerful bold colors black, red and the occasional white were worthy colors.
The next order of business was the mention of dogs. Hyena's to be exact. "How interesting. Canines living in lion territory. I've heard stories of them but not once have I heard of lions and hyenas living in same quarters." Kimeti let another thought pass through his head befor ehe shoved it to the side for later thought. For now he was more interested in this slave that Kidondo brought back.
"Your slave. She appears to be in good health. I assume she'sa fairly good huntress and has been providing well for you since you've found her?"
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Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:18 am
He nodded firmly. "Me either father. Lions who allow their lands to cross with that of the hyenas do not deserve to be called felines. The stench and disease those things must breed was enough to make my stomach churn." He huffed, "I am thankful that such weak beasts cannot hope to reach this corner of the desert."
He turned one ear idly to the side as he spoke of No, chosing his words carefully. "In fact if the black inferior had not chased off one of those dogs I would have considered her too pathetic to bring back with me." Then with a small nod he continued, "She is in good health, though I don't expect that to last. The inferiors never do seem to get the hang of living here, though that works to our advantage I suppose. What weakens them strengthens us."
"One thing in my slave's favour is her hunting skill, she has been providing well, though perhaps that is because the herds are more plentiful outside the desert." He turned the conversation to the topic of prey, "It sickens me that the outsiders are blessed with such plentiful supplies." He hissed, "they drink the water until they are fit for bursting and they leave half-eaten carcasses out in the sun to spoil. They waste the bounties of the world with their greed. Are they not taught to respect such things?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 6:58 am
"Good. I am glad you picked a slave who is at least able to pull her weight around the pride. I much dislike those slaves brought here who hold no skills and just lazy about the pride lands. Those are the lions who recieve the brunt end of my claws." He growled out lowly.
As he listened to his son complain about the world beyond the desert Kimeti listened intently before answering his son's question. "Why be taught such things when they do not need to worry about it. They have plentiful water and prey. They musn't need to worry about what they save for there will, in their mind, always be something to replace it. Once dhtey shall meet their end. Water and prey are not always going to be bountiful. They rely on the rains and one day the rain may not come. What then of their land of plenty? No, we are better equiped here int he desert. We will outlive all others because of our hardiness."
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Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:41 am
Talking like this with his father was a wonderful experience. Never before had he felt a bond, a connection, and yet as he stared into his father's proud, kingly face a horrible guilt crept into Kidondo's soul. It began to eat away at him and his mind filled with the whisperings of his fears.
He will hate you. Never forgive you. He will kill you. You will fight. You will kill. Traitor. Traitor. TRAITOR!
The prince closed his eyes and shook his head very slightly, trying not to show that somewhere in his mind an argument was raging. It was true! His father would hate him! He knew that now and it killed him. He was not going against traditions to spite Kimeti. He would never do that. He adored his father, admired his strength and his honour, and yet...and yet he could not see the path he was taking was wrong.
His father's last words twisted his gut and his ears drooped very slightly. They would outlive the outsiders? They would outlive the rogues who intermingled? The ones who had endless bloodlines in which to link.
Realising that he should say something he raised his head to glance into his father's face, and in the reflection of his father's eyes he saw something.
A vision.
In them he saw the desert, spread out across the world like a sea of gold. On the horizon the peaks of the Firekin land's mountains clawed viciously at the sky, their dark forms like voids in space when compared to the gold and blue around them.
As he looked closer the peaks themselves seemed to be on fire and the roars of agony screamed in his ears. Dying. Suffering. His people were burning!
And from the flames rose a brilliant red lioness with wings spread wide about her. Her colours resembled the firekin themselves but the look on her face terrified Kidondo. It seemed blank, emotionless and she seemed to be fleeing.
Finar-si.
He shook his head and darted his gaze from his father's face, feeling a tremor of fear down his spine. What did that vision mean? Did it mean they were cursed by the Gods? Forgotten by Finar-si? No. He knew what it meant. If they continued down the path of blind worship they would die.
Or did it mean something else?
Could it mean the lack of faith had chased Finar-si away? Caused their ruin? No. No. No. He would not believe that.
Despising his ability to recieve such visions the young lion swept himself up onto his paws. Something was clearly wrong with him but again his emotional casing had fallen over him.
"I will make sure my slave does not lose her worth." He replied, "if she shows a hint of laziness I shall tear out her throat. As for the outsiders..." He paused, "you are right. The rain falls steadily now and all is right with the seasons. But one day the rain will be gone and they will dry up beneath the sun. That will not happen to us." He bowed his head towards his father and moved towards the entrance.
"Forgive me father. I wish to meet with my siblings. It has been long since I have spoken with them and I have missed them dearly. If you need me, I am only a roar away." He paused a moment for his father to respond and backed up towards the entrance.
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