|
|
Post by Aceiro on May 19, 2012 11:37:27 GMT -5
Thried was lying asleep when the visions of his past came to haunt him once more. Instead of the darkness of sleep, he was tormented by those that he had betrayed.
“You! How could you do this?”
Pain stabbed at Thried’s heart as this played back to him.
“Your own king! You do not deserve to be here!”
Even in his sleep he twitched as the king’s paw once again struck him under his right eye.
“You are henceforth exiled upon pain of death from these lands, and mind you we will win this war and you will not be welcome.” With this Thried forced himself awake.
When he finally regained consciousness he looked toward the ocean and sat down and began thinking.
‘How long has it been? How long have I been searching for this, this pride that I continually hear about? This is the work of a scout not a warrior’
Thried sighed recalling the images that forced him to wake up.
‘I am no warrior, I may still fight like one and act like one but I am still banished. How close am I anyway?’
Little did Thried know that he was only about a hundred yards from the border of the territory and covering that distance rather quickly as he started to once more.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kai on May 21, 2012 23:39:56 GMT -5
A pale, figure paced at the edge of the border, limping and clearly favoring it's right forepaw. Hamali found himself unable to sleep, probably from a combination of the pain of his infected wound and the worry about how his sister was going to react to the whole ordeal. He hadn't meant to hide it from her, his mind had just been elsewhere.
His eyes caught movement outside the territory. He could see another creature, a lion. He seriously hoped this wasn't some kind of vicious rogue or invasion attempt, a battle would be hard for him right now. The stranger's body posture didn't appear to be threatening, however. He decided to hold off on sounding the alarm, he wanted to see if he could handle this himself.
|
|
|
|
Post by Aceiro on May 24, 2012 21:55:57 GMT -5
Shaking his head as he walked, trying to un-see of the images that his mind shows him, Thried noticed a figure. He padded on, trying to make it seem that he hadn’t noticed the lion that now stood before him, and said quietly to himself, “Time to see if I am near the pride.” As the pale lion came into a better view, Thried kept his neutral stance, attempting to at least attempt to remain somewhat peaceful. Then he stopped walking and sat down looking not at the lion but instead at the ground.
“Well are you another rogue that wants to challenge me, and if not then is this the pride that I have heard so much about?”
Thried began to visualize his response to the answer of this question, as he did his muscles began to tense and his paws slightly shifted on the ground. Teachings of the past started to resurface and pass silently through his mind. ‘Always strike first, and never let your enemy gain the advantage’ was the first to fly into his consciousness. And with that Thried was preparing for the worst.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kai on May 25, 2012 21:46:39 GMT -5
The lion that appeared was a strange sight to behold. For a moment, one might think that he was some manner of spirit. He was startlingly pale, and his eyes seemed to be completely white. However, it became obvious this unusual lion was not blind when he inclined his head towards the stranger.
"Others talk about Busare? Well, that's something."
He relaxed only slightly, to show that he didn't intend to attack the stranger. By what this lion had said he wasn't looking for a fight, but there was no sense in taking chances. He tried to conceal his wounded paw as best he could.
"I'm no rogue yet. I... live in this pride."
|
|
|
|
Post by Aceiro on May 26, 2012 10:39:45 GMT -5
Finally looking up at the one speaking to him Thried was surprised but did his best not to show it. His body's reaction was to tense up, but after a few seconds his mind took over again and he relaxed. He stood up and looked over his back quickly to make sure nothing was approaching, then turned his head back to this strange lion.
"Yes others talk about, Busare was it? However not willingly, it requires some convincing to get them to open up and say what they know. Which is not much."
As Thried said this he grinned and chuckled before be stated to walk in order to examine this lion even further. The pale pelt and the white eyes were indeed unusual, but it was the fact that this lion was not blind and didn't raise the alarm when Thried approached that had him some what more concerned. He stopped and stared at the lion with his dark red eyes.
"You say you are not a rogue yet, are you planning on becoming one because of your pelt and eyes? I will even admit that they are strange. And if you are truly part of this pride what can you tell me about it?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Kai on May 31, 2012 23:13:28 GMT -5
The ghostly lion gave short, humorless laugh.
"Well, I never plan to become a rogue, but the lions here only have so much tolerance for freaks." He grinned wryly, "They mostly just ignore me, but who knows? My appearance is part of it, but it's a long story..." he trailed off vaguely. He was still keeping an eye on Thried, although it would be hard for the rogue to tell since one couldn't see where he was looking.
"You look normal enough that they might not be bothered by you. The land is nice, there are a couple of good folks here. Most of them are pretty superstitious though." He explained, ignoring the fact that he could be slightly superstitious himself. It was hard to live among a pride like Busare all your life and not pick up some habits.
|
|
|
|
Post by Aceiro on Jun 6, 2012 12:14:59 GMT -5
"I see, well if... if " His voice fades away as he becomes distracted and begins to remember something. But, turning away for a second, Thried literal shook it off and sighed. "Sorry about that, an old memory." He looked back and "As I was saying, If you ever decide to leave then I could help you, but seeing as you aren't I will drop the offer for now."
His ears perked as he listened to the description of the pride and sat down. "You mentioned superstition and I have heard of a feared thing that was here. Could you explain this for me, it is one of those things that even when threatened with death, many did not talk about."
(sorry for the wait, football camp decided to take over my life.)
|
|
|
|
Post by Kai on Jun 9, 2012 15:42:32 GMT -5
The strange lion seemed somewhat taken aback by the offer, as if he wasn't used to being treated nicely.
"Thank you, stranger. It's unusually kind of you to offer. I have obligations to fulfill, however."
Hamali sat down as well, tail flicking idly as he listened to the rogue's inquiry.
"Looks like his reputation has gone beyond Busare. I can't say I'm surprised." He began.
"They're probably talking about the ghost lion. He was a ghostly-looking creature with strange powers. He used to live here." he explained shortly.
|
|
|
|
Post by Aceiro on Jun 10, 2012 14:25:36 GMT -5
Thried nodded at the explanation and was trying to place the many pieces of this puzzle together.
"I think all so called powers are just tricks of the mind, And let me guess your pelt color and other features somewhat resemble this ghost lion that most are living in fear of."
Something clicked in his mind and he felt superstition for one of the first times in his life. "Are you some how related to this ghost lion?" He realized that it would explain almost every thing about this lion, the fact that he was different and why the pride ignored him.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kai on Jun 10, 2012 21:40:37 GMT -5
The young lion cast his gaze downward, his expression somewhere between bitterness and shame. His feelings on the matter were written all over his face, and he knew it. He had never been adept at concealing his emotions It would be pointless to deny it, so he nodded.
"He is... my father." He spat out the last word like he had found maggots in his dinner. "Unfortunately."
He peered at the stranger from behind the white fringe of mane that had fallen over his eyes.
"Even if his powers were a trick of the mind, he's caused a lot of pain here. He's a sly, treacherous demon and he's dangerous. If you ever see him, you'd be smart not to stick around."
|
|
|
|
Post by Aceiro on Jun 14, 2012 16:14:31 GMT -5
Thried was surprised that he had been able to piece that much together, it had been a while since he was able to do something like that. But even though he was proud for himself he still felt bad for the lion he now spoke to. And as he watched him put his head down, Thried began to understand just how bad this ghost was.
"I apologize for bringing it up and thanks for the warning, although I don' t know about not sticking around. I have done some stupid things in my life and I probably deserve to die."
He stood up and tried to keep the memories down and although he tried his best to hide it a small pain of sorrow crossed his face.
"Anyway, back to why I am here. I was wondering if it would be possible for me to stay with the pride for a small amount of time. I have been traveling for a long time in search of this pride and I would be willing to offer any services I can provide."
He had hoped that the change of subject would be enough to somewhat pick up this strange ones mood from the dark place he had unintentionally brought it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kai on Jun 19, 2012 21:22:57 GMT -5
I have done some stupid things in my life and I probably deserve to die.
A note of surprise crossed the lion's features at this stranger's strong words. He was naturally curious about this but thought better of asking him to elaborate. They both seemed to have a history that caused them pain.
"I'm pretty sure they'd be willing to let you stay for a while. They may not like me, but I'm a special case. I'll just have to find another pride member to escort you in. It won't get you any points to be walking in with the pride reject." he explained.
"I'm Hamali, by the way."
|
|
|
|
Post by Aceiro on Jun 22, 2012 0:29:38 GMT -5
Thried was relieved that this mysterious lion before him did not pursue his past further. Images were already appearing within Thried's mind as he stood there, images that he would prefer not see again.
"Nice to put a name with a face, I'm Thried, and I agree. If they already are..." he paused trying to find the right word, "suspicious of you, then not only would I not be accepted as well, but you would not gain any popularity either."
He momentarily stopped trying to think of how this would work.
"Do you have someone in mind and are they within the territory more or are they on watch?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Narifia on Jun 23, 2012 22:19:06 GMT -5
"On watch, most assuredly."
The blunt, cold statement came from the tangle of undergrowth and vegetation on the sandy terrace just slightly above and to the left of the two lions. A dark, golden-tan furred lioness emerged from her post, dropping down from the small terrace just a few feet away from Hamali. She stalked up next to the pale lion and stood with him side-by-side, her stance rigid and militaristic as she stared hard at Thried.
"You've come a long way seeking Busare in particular only to be looking for a short stay," Mahiri said, suspicion blunt in her voice. It was obvious that she had been listening to them for quite some time, if not the entire time they had been conversing. She continued, "The only services that are useful here are being taken care of by our own. That being said I doubt that there is much you could offer us."
Mahiri's orange-red eyes never left Thried as she issued a scolding, albeit quieter statement directly to her brother, "Hamali. This one asks too many questions for his own good. Nyambi only knows what his intentions are here. You would do well to be more discriminating of prying strangers."
Having said that, she raised her voice again and addressed Thried one more time. "I don't particularly care where you're from or what you've done. What I do want to know is why you are so curious about our infamous Ghost Lion, and why you searched specifically for the Busare Pride."
|
|
|
|
Post by Kai on Jun 23, 2012 23:10:07 GMT -5
Hamali's fur prickled and his ears pinned back as his sister's voice sounded suddenly out of the darkness. What a fool he had been, he hadn't detected her at all! She had already been displeased with him before and this was not going to help. In a brief moment of confusion he put too much pressure on his injured paw and involuntarily gave a sharp intake of breath. He tried to disguise it from both of them by speaking immediately.
"M-Mahiri, I..." he began, but trailed off dumbly, maw agape in mid-sentence for a moment.
He knew she was right. This lion was a stranger and he had no idea what his true intentions were, but for some reason he wanted to trust him. Maybe it was because Thried had been nice to him, however slightly. Perhaps he was just so overwhelmed by the pride hating him that he was drawn in by the tiniest show of friendliness, or just something that wasn't disdain. The only friends he had were his sister and the healer, was it wrong to want more? Or did these feelings just make him too easily mislead?
|
|
