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 Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 11:07 am
She had let Kiuma, her travelling companion, go on ahead of her. Baala had given her the promise that she would catch up to her later. This way she was allowing Kiuma to get readjusted to her home... and then Baala would meet up with her again and decide whether she wanted to or did not want to stay in the Pridelands. Oh, but they looked so beautiful. From the borderlands she could see the Prideland's beauty, could see the towering Pride Rock in the distance in all of its majesty. In her mind she could picture herself being content living her for a long while.
But, would she be accepted? This was Kiuma's home, and Kiuma had seemed to want to have her stay... Her chances were high for being welcomed into thes lands, if that was her wish. There was little doubt in her mind that this could be her home... Oh, she wanted to catch up to Kiuma, have someone by her side. She had been an independent lioness since her mother's death, but ever since meeting Kiuma that dependency had been reformed.
Baala sighed, pacing at the border, icy blue eyes looking for a meal. Hunting would distract her, and then she could share the tiny meal with Kiuma. They had become partners, really, and whatever Baala earned, she shared with Kiuma. Their partnership had been good for her. Once, not long ago, she had been scrawny and dirty, something not worth being considered a lioness. But now she was healthy, with strong, lean muscles, glistening dark fur, and eyes alight with intellect. Baala had grown, grown into a stronger lioness who's loyalty would, possibly forever, be Kiuma's.
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Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 11:24 am
The former pridelander male was an observant lion and even in thought, he noticed the pacing lioness at the border. Keeping his body straight and firm, the male looked over her now. Like he, she had been watching the pridelands as well. It appeared as though this pride drew a variety of lions to it, calling out their thoughts and contemplations far too easily.
What did this lioness think about though? Kei barely thought over this. It didn't matter a great deal to him. At this moment in time, the male was more bitter than usual. It had been too long that he blamed this pride for his mother's death. What good could come of joining? It was his mother's request that he find a home with a pride and her former home had been a request. She warned him to be safe and told him about the plague. Though the pride appeared safe at the moment, Kei was still skeptical.
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Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 11:39 am
Her pacing continued for a little while longer before she was made aware of another presence. Her ears twitched, swivelling to the side to catch the sound of his breathing. Not yet did she turn to face him, but her pacing did stop, every muscle in her body tensing. Baala's life had taught her to be cautious, and though there was a high possibility that this stranger was a member of the Pridelands, she would not take the risk of letting her guard down. It would be different if Kiuma was by her side. Kiuma was a large lioness, one who could take care of herself. Baala, in comparison, was smaller and younger. Her growth had been stunted by lack of nutrition. Many times she had faced death, and it had taken its toll. In a fight of brute strength, she would always lose.
Slowly she turned, harsh eyes taking in the male lion. Male. That was where Kei's problems began, he was male. Kiuma had told her not to trust anyone, but above all else... she could not trust a male. Kiuma had been betrayed by one, and Baala had witnessed the damage done to Kiuma because of it. She would not easily become comfortable in Kei's presence, it was destined at that point. She was wary, calculating, watching and waiting for any signs of danger. He was not a part of the Pridelands, she knew this now. He did not look as if he belonged to these lands. This was not his home... and maybe it wasn't her's either.
She remained standing, because to sit would mean that she was comfortable with him, and she was far from that. But, the ice had to be broken, she had to know this lion's intents. If only Kiuma was here... this situation could've been avoided so easily. "Hello," she called out, her voice sweet and because of that sweetness it was a lie in itself. Baala was not, by any means, a sweet little lioness.
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Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 6:50 pm
Despite his challenging life growing up, Kei was surprisingly fit. His independence and strong will had allowed him to become a skilled hunter, though he only caught what he could finish on his own. The lion ensured that he would need no one. He was intelligent and knew that if the pridelands did not accept him, or rather, if he did not accept the pridelands, he would need to spend the remainder of his life on his own. As a rogue lion, there was no one watching your back and helping your survive.
The moment Kei had felt Baala's eyes begin to look over him, he stood only taller. The male had kept his gaze focused on the pridelands, not in thought at this point, but in amusement. Until given the opportune moment, he would continue to act as though he had not seen the female. If she left, without speaking a word, it might be the best for the two of them. This night was not the best to meet Kei for the first time. Harsh memories of his past had the male often shutting his eyes and allowing them to pass. His mother's image seemed to be burnt into his skull and there appeared to be no way in which he could understand the sacrifice she had made in order for him to survive.
Kei's ears caught on to what Baala had said, though he had no quick response. He allowed her gentle voice to ease his memories. Her voice reminded him lightly of his mother, though the mirage soon faded as the male turned to view the small, rogue lioness. Kei's ears remained flat against his head and one yellow orb and one blue stared in Baala's direction. "Hello.." was all he spoke.
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Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 7:22 pm
The feelings associated with a frown floated in her mind, but she refused to let anything show on her face, though her distrust of Kei was obvious. It was not going to be easy to get anything out of him. He was just as unwilling to talk to her as she was to talk to him, but she couldn't turn away. Baala refused to show her defenseless backside to him. It had no teeth and claws, and a well aimed bite could disable her for the rest of her life. She could not simply trust him. Kiuma had told her that the members of the pride were kind lions, but he was not a member, which left her with one big question mark imprinted on his face.
The only thing she could do was keep the conversation rolling in hopes that she could discover more about his personality and his motives for being here. If only he would turn his back and walk away... she would not attack it, and actually discerned such a manuover to be dirty and distasteful. But she did not think he was as willing to show his weak spot to her as she was to him. "I am Baala, and you?" She was tempted to ask why he was here, but she had no right. He had done nothing to prompt such a question out of her, and if she asked it, he could ask it too, and she did not want to share much with him.
Baala only wanted to give him enough about herself so that he would, in the end, reveal more to her. The whole point was to gather more information then the enemy, and yes, Kei was that enemy until he proved otherwise to her. Her trust did not run far, and had in fact dwindled since she met Kiuma. She had needed someone, a companion to talk to and socialize with, before, and now that she had that person there was no reason for her to need anyone else. Baala would not be as open with Kei as she was with Kiuma.
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Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 10:03 am
As Kei spoke, he saw the young rogue lioness comtemplate her next action. Although he was wary of her, Kei was not so distrusting. It was true that they did not know one another and that she was a complete stranger, but Kei felt confident with himself and doubted a small lioness would offer an attack. Perhaps she was a fiesty one? Judging by her appearance, size and the way she held herself, the male assumed not. Assuming was often the downfall to a lion, however.
"Ah. The lioness has a voice," Kei's voice teased her as she finally spoke. Again, the sweet sound of the female's voice reminded him greatly of his mother, but only in vain. He would not see her again and it would do him no good to waste his living thoughts on her. Adjusting his posture, Kei offered a grin before speaking "It is a pleasure to meet you, Baala. I am Kei. Prideless, as you may have already guessed." Kei was not quite certain just why he was offering this information to her, but thought that maybe he just wanted to keep the silence from occuring again between them. It could be seen as a defense mechanism. He keeps Baala talking and she was no way to scheme. Kei laughed at the thought; he did not fear the lioness.
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Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 10:26 am
Baala had more to fear from Kei then he had to fear from her. She was small, had just begun her long journey back to being healthy, even though there already was a great improvement then from the day Kiuma first found her. In comparison to Baala, Kei was huge, could easily overpower her in a fight. The only chance she had of surviving if such a fight occured was if Kiuma came to her rescue, and currently Kiuma was preoccupied. Baala would have to do everything possible to keep a fight from happening. It was time to be defensive more then offensive. In fights she could win, Baala easily jumped into if provoked. But if she couldn't win, she was wise. She knew her place.
"It would seem I have more of a voice then you." Her eyes narrowed subtly in displeasure. Baala did not appreciate being teased. That was certainly not a way to get on Baala's good side, and it seemed like she would rather leave then put up with anymore of his voice and attitude. "I would have to say that it is less of a pleasure to meet you, Kei, but I appreciate the fact that you have been considerate enough to give me your own name. So, it seems we are similar in being Prideless. But many lions are put into he same position." Kei could keep her talking, but her mind and her mouth could separate from one another. She still thought about him, what she could possibly do if he wanted to fight with her. She was small, but she was cunning and intelligent to make up for it.
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Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 10:53 am
Kei awaited the lioness response. He still grinned and as the silence filled the void between them, he glanced up towards the night sky. A thick amount of clouds kept many of the stars hidden and left the sky much darker than usual. Taking a deep breath of the cool air, Kei was pleased. The heat of the day was much to travel in. He could do nothing more than enjoy any pleasant breezes that ruffled through his fur, cooling his skin.
Kei was now taken back by Baala's sudden anger. He had, infact, teased the lioness, but in a rather polite manner. In fact, all he had done was smiled and mention that she was rather quiet. Temporarily losing his composure, Kei backed up and looked her over. She was speaking a great deal now. It appeared as though the large rogue lion had hit a deep nerve that left her stinging. Unused to the company of others, the male was not certain whether it would be wiser to apologise for any misunderstandings or allow her to leave. Surely he would not mind if she left. He had no attachment to the female.
Feeling up to the challenge, the male spoke again, "And just why has it not been a pleasure to meet me? Have I not, kept my distance and spoke as politely to you, as I could?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 12:11 pm
Baala was not the easiest of lionesses to get along with. Her life had greatly transformed her. If she had been born to a pride, it was clear she would've been different, more trusting, would've excused his insult to her for what it as, a gentle teasing. Baala had the kind of personality that could be molded depending upon her environment. Her environment had not been kind to her, and in return she was not kind to many other creatures. It was simply life, and Baala rolled along with it in her own way. The only other creature that she cared about offending was Kiuma, and Kei being new and being inevitably male had a long way to go before he got Baala even close to liking him. It was probably a task one would rather not undertake. It was too much effort for just the trust of one lioness.
"You have kept good enough distance, and have even managed to be polite... as much as you can be. But, you have to understand that I am easily offended. I don't appreciate being teased." Her voice was flat, eyes level with his own, almost a challenge, a dare to say something she found insulting again. At times she could forget that she was the weaker lion of the two, especially when she was made upset. It was clearly seen from the small scars, almost hidden on her body, that she had fought before and lost. But, for a little bit she seemed to realize that she was challenging him, and shaking her head she gave him a rueful smile.
"Please, don't do it again. It makes me unreasonably upset." She wasn't looking for a fight... and had to tell herself that with every second that passed.
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Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 12:27 pm
Kei, having no idea what he was in for, only intended to apologise for upsetting the female. He wished to make his intentions clear and show that he meant no harm. Having also lived a life of solitude as a rogue, Kei understood the distance and mistrust that Baala obviously felt towards him. What he did not understand, however, was why she took such a great offense to his words. Kei had been careful not to offend and though he teased her, he found it usually led to an awkward smile and perhaps a blush. This female, he noticed, was clearly not fond of Kei.. and perhaps, males in general?
Noticing that his words kept the female a moment longer, Kei nodded and listened to what she spoke. She was fairly open now, expressing clearly what had bothered her. Kei was thankful for this because guessing just wasn't going to get either of them anywhere. Her smile caused the much larger male to smile in return. "I apologise offending you. That was not my intention at all. I simply wished to comment that you had been quiet. Indeed, I understand I haven't been the most vocal as well. I am unused to company." Kei, feeling as though now he was rambling became quiet and felt his own face become warm.
To her final wish, the male lowered his head respectfully and answered, "I will not tease you again."
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Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 12:41 pm
Kei was beginning to lead her into thinking that she had him under her paws. He had seen that she was upset, and immediately he had looked for a way to apologize and make her feel better. Was he just desperate for the company and didn't want a conflict as much as she didn't want one? A little bit of her warmed up to him at that moment, if only because she felt he was becoming subservient to her. If she could control him just a little bit for the duration of the conversation, nothing wrong would happen. She'd walk away without a scratch, and maybe a pleasant memory of a male. But that was still a long ways away from right now, a goal that may never be accomplished. Baala was impatient, and didn't want to trust Kei so readily. With her reluctance it woud make things difficult.
"I accept your apology, and I will trust you to not do it again." But, that was about the extent of her trust. If it would reach further... well, that was a question that could only be answered with time. "No, you haven't been much more talkative then myself. I could even call you quiet, in the politest way possible. But, I think we develop a more reserved nature due to our lifestyles. Pridelanders, I have discovered, are quite the talkative bunch." She detested them just a little for how easy they were when conversing with strangers. None of them had really learned the ability to distrust. They were so easy, so open, and even perhaps a little lazy. It was... horrible. Baala never wanted to turn into one of them.
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 11:43 am
Though Kei was giving a very obedient impression, the truth was that the male did not want to have a lone lioness become angered on his account. The roguelands were already dangerous enough without losing your temper and running off to make yourself a clear target to anyone around you. Kei would feel awful, even though he did not know Baala well, to know that she became wounded on his account. Keeping the obedient front for now to appease her, the male hoped they could continue their conversation and perhaps leave on better terms. Had Baala been a male, Kei might have cared less about what happened to her.
Kei chuckled lightly when Baala began to tell Kei just about everything he had done wrong in their earlier conversation. The male was willing to cease his teasing, but no matter the impression he gave, he wouldn't change for Baala.
When Baala brought up conversation about the pridelands, Kei's ears perked. He had heard little about the pridelands, but knew that was where his mother had come from. At the sudden negative direction Baala brought the information regarding the pride, Kei chuckled again and decided it wouldn't hurt to agree. After all, he knew little about them. "Yes, I have heard. They are a large group of lions that hunt together and ensure that no one is without food or shelter. Sound like a horrible bunch of lions," His tone was somewhat sarcastic and he knew this wouldn't go well. Backtracking, he also added, "But yes. I have heard in a pride, the females do the hunting while the males remain at the den in order to recieve the food once they return. I could not imagine someone else hunting for me." Kei was honest in what he said. He had grown up hunting for himself.
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Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 8:39 am
Baala would not suffer the consequences of losing her head in the roguelands, or in any lands. Her travelling companion seemed to always keep a close eye on her and protect her from starvation, thirst, and danger. Baala was safe so long as Kiuma was with her, and it was evident that Baala would never willingly leave Kiuma's side permanently. The times she spent away from the lioness were always short, and after them Baala's first mission was to return to the red lioness so that Kiuma knew she was fine and not lying around somewhere dead. Baala had a distinct loyalty to that one lioness, and it was a loyalty that was not so easily shattered into a billion little pieces. It was something that would last until the day she died.
She hears the sarcastic note in her voice, and she gives him an irritated look before wiping it clean off of her face. "It is just that most of the lions in this pride don't deserve to be part of it. Only a number of them hunt, and most of the others lounge about and are freeloaders." It was just more then the male lions that were lazy, but Baala decided that she didn't have to mention it. Kiuma was the one who had influenced her so greatly in concern with the Pridelands. Kiuma had told her that she would be a welcome addition... and she could envision herself living here and being happy. But, she was not going to hunt for food for other lions who did not aid her to begin with. And that was possibly a big problem for Baala if she chose to stay here. "Then you are slightly better then the lions here. I, personally, will not hunt for someone else who hasn't done anything for me in return."
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Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 6:37 pm
Although Kei was not aware of this, it was ironic that Baala's loyalty to her friend, Kiuma, resembled a pride in some senses. The two lionesses were faithful to one another, assisted in hunting and were very protective. Many of the same qualities were why lions chose to band together in groups. That protection was doubled and soon tripled as more and more lions came together. If Kei knew of this Kiuma, he might tell Baala about this connection. While, he only knew of Baala's dislike for male lions as well as the pridelands, he found her views slightly skewed.
Noticing that his words had irritated the small lioness once again, Kei could only smile and watch her amusingly. During their conversation, the lioness was beginning to grow on Kei. She was irritable and very opinionated, but she was passionate and Kei admired this. Glancing back in the direction that he assumed to the pridelands, Kei spoke again, "Do the lions there, not choose their own positions? The King and Queen must surely ensure that there are enough hunters. I have heard that there are more things that the others do. If they are not hunters, they surely must do something else to ensure that the pride remain a whole."
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 8:00 pm
"They choose their own positions, which is possibly the root of the problem. Too many want to be nannies, and too few want to hunt. Most of the population is too young to do anything. They breed constantly, not realizing that this could eventually doom them. They can't feed everyone when there are so few to hunt for those who can't hunt for themselves." She was making it quite clear how opinionated she could be. Baala had never been a lioness to keep things to herself, and the only reason it had happened before was because she was alone and had been suffering through the loss of her mother. Recently, though, she had opened up again. She told everyone what was on her mind, and if they didn't like it, well, they could meet her claws. She sharpened them regularly.
"The only positions I'm aware of is nanny or hunteress. I guess that's all they really need in so large a pride, everyone else just fills up whatever roll needs to be filled up naturally. It's still... not the way I think this pride should be working. There are even two heirs, and in the future that will make ruling this pride even more difficult. Two lions mean two different opinions. I really just don't agree with how this pride is being run." She shakes her head, closing her eyes briefly as her bangs sweep in front of them. The Pridelands were friendly and welcoming... but too many rogues were accepted, rogues that did not help the pride out one bit. It almost made her wish for a more stable pride to live in. But, this pride was also Kiuma's... and so she sort of did like it.
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