The Past is Haunting

[Aceiro]

When Thried heard the chilling voice come from behind Hamali adrenaline began to pump through his blood. He knew that It was probably not a good thing that the alarm wasn't raised and that they were sitting there talking. With a shallow breath, however, Thried was able to think clearly again and did his best to put down the natural reactions he had when something like this happened and remain steady. He noticed the slight change in pressure in Hamali's stance and assumed that he had been holding it differently to hide an injury. Then looking into the eyes of Mahiri

"Hamali, save your breath. Now Mahiri, If I heard your name correctly, I am curious about the Ghost Lion because, and correct me if I'm wrong, he is powerful and I like to get as much information as I can about those who are hostile. The reason I specifically searched for the Busare Pride is to learn. There were those who knew that there were good fighters here and I never give up the chance to better myself."

Thried hoped that this was enough to get by, he didn't want to explain the rest of why he had specifically tried to get to the Busare Pride. Preparing for the worst, he began to go through an escape route and unintentionally his muscles began to tense up almost in anticipation to get away from a possible fight.

[Narifia]

      Mahiri noted Hamali's sharp intake of breath, but ignored it as if she hadn't noticed. For now. She still had not forgotten about his injury that he had apparently been hiding from her for several days now. Hamali was due for a little disciplinary action, but that would have to wait for later. The stranger opened his mouth to speak, "Hamali, save your breath." Mahiri raised a brow but was otherwise expressionless as Thried offered an explanation of his intentions, making it very hard to gauge what exactly could be running through the stern, stone-faced lioness' mind. She was silent for a few moments after Thried finished speaking as if contemplating all that he had said. Finally, she responded;

      "Admirable. But not entirely convincing. If there are things in your past that you are ashamed of, as you have hinted at, then that means you are likely running from something. That implies trouble, and trouble is not something that Busare needs. You also seem ambitious, and misplaced ambition can lead to trouble as well."

      Mahiri again went silent, and it seemed as though she was taking something that Thried had said deep into consideration. "You don't seem particularly afraid of our Ghost Lion," she observed. "Have you by any chance had a run-in with him before?"

      Mahiri's whiskers twitched ever-so-slightly. It was such a quick and subtle movement that from the distance he was at, Thried wasn't very likely to have noticed. But for Hamali, Mahiri hoped that the message should have been clear: "Pay close attention to what he says." It was a silent signal, from sister to brother, that they could very well be in the presence of one of the monster's spies. Still, although Mahiri was ready for the worst, her stance although rigid was still neutral and non-threatening. What the stranger said next would determine if that would change.

[Aceiro]

At this point Thried knew that what he said would change his future tremendously. Although he could not read either of the lion's faces he knew that the partially pathetic excuses didn't cut it, especially after the response he was given. He was going to respond to the comments about the trouble he might have following him but stoped when he heard the question presented to him. At first he grinned but soon his face returned to seriousness as he though back to when this search started. Taking a second to make sure he had the story correct he responded.

"It is true that I am not afraid of the Ghost Lion but that might have to do with the fact that I'm not superstitious. As for having a 'run-in' with him, I may have. I seem to recall seeing a white lion that matches the description I have found. However I can assure you that any confrontation between us have not been friendly. I seem to remember almost striking out at him. Of course this was a while back."

He sat down trying to relax his muscles and hopeing that this would not harm his chances. He sat there looking from one lion to the next preparing for one of them to leap at him, as he has come to expect from most lions. He also started to feel a small pain in his gut as memories started slowly trickling back in such a way that he could not stop them. Even so he tried his best not to show what was going on by his expression and actions.

[Kai]

Hamali was frozen in place, unsure what to do. After years of training with his sister it was impossible for him to miss her signaling. Could this really be a spy, sent by their father? What more could he want from this place? However, his attention was captured immediately when Thried revealed he may have had an encounter with the Ghost Lion. His expression became suddenly doubtful.

"If you had met him, I doubt you'd consider fear of him simply superstition. I meant it when I said he was dangerous."

[Aceiro]

Thried grinned when he saw a doubtful look on Hamali's face. Almost chuckling to himself he though, 'This proves just how much they don't know about me, well its time to change that.' Still grinning he looked off to his right but tried to keep the two in his peripheral vision.

"I believe you that he is very dangerous, and I can see the doubt on your face that I met him. But there is one thing that I believe to be more dangerous and something to be afraid of: war. That I have gone through. During the war I learned to not be fearful of many things, especially danger."

From what he had seen and heard, Thried thought he knew that he had met the ghost lion. The fact that he was still alive surprised him, and once he realized this he felt some fear, yet tried not to show it. Then he thought back to his training, both self imposed and from his trainer all that time ago, and tried to push it down.

[Kai]

"Fear keeps one alive." He said. "I've heard stories of lions without fear who rush into battle, and they turn up dead faster than most."

Hamali's doubt didn't entirely disappear, but now he was just conflicted. Mahiri didn't seem to trust Thried at all, and if he was being honest he had no reason to either. Still, Hamali liked him. He hadn't judged him solely on his freakish appearance, unlike most of the lions he had lived his whole life with. Clearly the situation was getting tense, one hasty action could have them at eachother's throats. He very much hoped he wouldn't feel forced to fight Thried.

[Narifia]

      Mahiri listened to their conversation and scrutinized Thried carefully; every facial expression, every telling inflection of his voice made the image of Thried's character a little more complete. Finally, Mahiri stepped forward. "Well spoken, Hamali. Fear is our life blood, and if you're going to be of any use to us here, you'll do well to learn its ways. Especially in the case of our Ghost Lion. To an outsider he may seem superstition, but for those of us who have survived his demonic influence, he is more than real."

      She padded closer to Thried and met him eye to eye. There was less suspicion in her demeanor, and though it was still there one could tell that the air about her had changed. She spoke to him as if to a respected individual of another pride, still not more than a stranger but not a hostile intruder either. "So you've experienced war, have you? Now the picture is a little bit more clear. But how about a war of the mind, a war with an enemy whose attacks you cannot see? Have you ever fought blindly? Even if you have, then you have only an inkling of what our Ghost Lion is like." Mahiri's voice had taken on a chilling edge as she described the Ghost Lion's power. It curdled her blood to even think about it, but she could tell that this stranger had no clue as to the gravity of what she was saying. The chill in her voice dropped and took on a more matter-of-fact tone as she added, "I don't believe you've truly met him, for if you had you wouldn't be so nonchalant about the encounter. But I do believe that you are a warrior as you say. I can see it in your eyes."

      Another brief moment of pause passed by as Mahiri contemplated what to do with Thried. Finally she turned briskly and commanded, "Come. I will take you to our king." Mahiri walked towards Busare, and it was clear that Thried was expected to follow. As she walked by Hamali she quietly said, "It may be best for you to disappear for a time. Perhaps you should go keep Masikitiko company while I take our guest to see King Hadhi." It was an order rather than a suggestion, solidified by a firm glare directly into Hamali's pale eyes. Mahiri didn't need to tell him to go and have his wounded paw tended to; he knew what she meant and she knew it, and if he didn't, well, she would deal with that later.

[Aceiro]

Thried sat there and nodded at both comments that were made about fear. He had no words to respond, for he had always been told to ignore fear and respect what was meant to be feared. It felt to him as though fear is what inspires this pride. If this is true he thought then maybe the rumors about the ocean are true.

When Mahiri came up to him and began speaking to him as if a highly respected individual he was confused, but when the conversation changed from war to the ghost lion and her voice sharpened to the cold edge, he felt fear set in again and started to believe that this was how they were taught to use fear. When Mahiri's voice dropped and she made her comment about him seeing the ghost lion and him being a warrior, Thried glanced down at the ground and looked to Hamali before returning his gaze to Mahiri. "Nothing escapes your gaze does it? I will continue to believe what I saw until proven otherwise but I will keep an open mind."

Then when Threid was told to follow he got up and followed behind. He did not try to keep up as an equal but instead followed behind at a small distance. Looking to Hamali as they passed him, he gave a half-hearted smile before trying to remove emotion from his face and continuing to silently follow Mahiri.

[Kai]

Hamali felt half-relieved as the tension between Mahiri and Thried seemed to dissipate. He tried, and failed, to look emotionless and he nodded obediently to Mahiri's instructions. His fur prickled at the way she stared at him, he knew that just because he had managed to avoid confronting this situation so far did not mean he had escaped it. This storm would come to a head, and soon.

He was heartened slightly by Thried's small smile as he watched them walk away. If King Hadhi allowed him to stay Hamali thought he might actually have someone new to talk to. His thoughts were interrupted by the stinging feeling in his paw.

"Zebra dung" he muttered, clenching his teeth slightly. He really did need to see Masi, to get this nasty would rechecked. With nobody else in sight, he didn't bother to hide his limping gait as he departed to find the pride's healer.

Continued On: "King Class"