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 Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:21 pm
Alcmene was getting herself into more and more trouble as she got older, and often it seemed to involve that little blue lion, Fafnir. This was right up there with what Unyezi himself had done as a youth, falling for a slave when he was being trained to take the throne had nearly cost him his position. Unyezi had already spoken to Shira and they were undecided about what it would mean if Alcmene did not wake up on the full moon. That was only second in his mind to her health, though. Shira had assured him she should be well enough, she wasn't terribly young anymore and only ate a little bit.
But Ally would get an earful when she woke up.
In the meantime, though, Unyezi was taking her to the one lioness who had experience with this. Khathelela was not watching any rogues currently, but she generally was not hard to find and so the king was off looking for her. His daughter, too heavy to carry by the scruff of the neck anymore, was laying on his back. It was rather slow going.
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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 6:46 pm
Lela had become almost predictable in her ways. She did her job and then mosied around the pride land aimlessly until her services were required again. She always had that prideful look about her, that touch of something more than just any old lioness. It was the body langauge and gaze that said, without too much cockiness or in-your-face feel, 'I'm the sister to the king, the aunt to the heiress, the daughter of a dead warrior and great king, and the product of generations of tradition.' That look pretty much summed up Lela's very existence. She lived for her family, her pride, her traditions, her beliefs, her job. She loved all of it almost equally, with her family holding slightly more weight in her heart. She lived for these things. Because of it, she had become cold over her life. Once upon a time, when she wasn't an adult with adult duties and she had been a warm young lioness, her life stretching out ahead of her full of oppurtunity. She had asumed she'd find herself a mate early and they'd have plenty of kids running around, and she'd have her job as a preistess and she'd love it and she'd love her cubs and she'd love her mate and she'd continue to love everything else as well. Things hadn't worked out that way, had they? She had her job she had thought she'd have, sure, but that was it. All she had left was the pride.
Though the move to this new territory seemed such a long time ago, Lela had never really truely adjusted. Leaving her home had meant so much to her. She'd felt such a connection to the very earth there. It seemed like leaving it, she had left behind all of those generations that had made her what she was now. So, even though she'd already become quite the ice queen with the war, she was now even colder, to the point where just talking to her could give a lion chills.
As she walked around, her mind numb and thoughtless, she spotted a white and blue lion headed her way, with a certain daughter spread over his back. She cocked her head to the side, wondering at first why Alcmene might be riding her father at this age. Then, she realized her neice wasn't moving. "Unyezi?" There was a hitch in her voice as she stared from her brother's face back to the limp body of Ally.
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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:08 pm
It was fortunate when Lela spotted them, because Unyezi was reluctant to pick up the pace once he saw her- and even more reluctant to call to get her attention. He was worried about his daughter, even though there was little to worry about as far as making noise went. It didn't matter what he knew, he was a protective and concerned father and logic wasn't necessarily a huge part of what was going on in his mind.
"Lela," he said when she caught them, unable to help but frown, "She's just asleep, but- but I need your help. She mixed up her plants-" or so the story seemed to be- "she ate something she shouldn't have, I need you to watch her."
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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:23 pm
A seriousness dropped over the lioness, so that she lost what little emotion was peaking through her mask. She straightened out and nodded curtly. This was no longer a conversation with her brother; it was now business. She walked slowly around Unyezi's side and looked over his daugther. She sighed lightly and allowed herself to shake her head as if saying, 'What have you done now, Ally?' "She ate the plant, I see." Well, yes, it did make sense that her brother would seek her out, then. After all, her job was to watch those who ate the plant and slept off the effects. And to watch for what phase they woke under.
A flash of fear went over her eyes, but only for a moment. In a very business-like voice, she turned to the lion and said, "Unyezi... What happens if she doesn't? ..." She didn't dare finish the sentence. Instead, she took a few steps back and shook her head again. If that child didn't wake up under the full moon, what was going to hapen to her? She was the heiress, for goodness sake! Born under a full moon, chosen to be in the high class. If she woke under anything but the full moon, what would it mean? Everything and everyone in the pride would be thrown into turmoil. Everything that Lela held dear would be put to question. And on top of it! What would become of poor Ally? Lela stared from Unyezi back to the sleeping youngster, worry oozing through her cold exterior. "What will we do?"
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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:39 pm
Unyezi was used to Lela. He wasn't necessarily happy with the cold turn she'd taken since the move, but he wasn't sure how he could help her. She still did her job, she still was a good aunt and sister.. but worrying about her happiness wasn't the point of this meeting. He stood still as Lela circled him and looked over Ally. He nodded when she mentioned which plant had been ingested, and forcefully cut her off when she asked what would happen.
"I've spoken with Shira, she has said that Alcmene should not be in any physical danger and should wake up before too long," he said very pointedly. They hadn't come to an agreement on what would happen if she did not wake up on the night of the full moon, they didn't know how to approach the situation. Aureole was talking to her now.
"I need you to watch her, to take care of her until she wakes up," he repeated himself, sounding less serious and more worried. He shook his head, the only answer to her second question.
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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:51 pm
Lela stared blankly at her brother, unsure of how to interpret what he was saying. He had completely avoided the most important point in this entire thing. Now, obviously, he was acting like a father here. Lela had a part of her playing the part of the worried aunt, of course, but there was also a part of her that was a concerned tradition-bound member of the royal family. She couldn't help but be annoyed with Unyezi for turning around the conversation she felt a need to have. Perhaps it was because she was dealing with her brother, and it's just so easy to pick at siblings, or perhaps it was because she was clinging to what could possibly be destroyed if Allly didn't wake in about a week and a half. Without even thinking about it, Lela glanced up at the sky.
She greatly considered pushing the topic, but somewhere inside her she pitied her brother. She wasn't completely heartless, after all. There WAS a real Lela under all that ice. "Alright." She conceded and looked back at her neice. "Of course." She sighed again. What a bad habit, she thought after that time. It made her sound so... so strained. She had to make a mental note to stop doing that.
"Should we keep her... hidden?" Even in her current emotional (or lack of) and mental state, Lela was stuck hard on making her family look good. How good would they look when the whole darn pride found out about their heiress's condition? Lela loved her pride, sure, but she knew that once gossip started it got bad and it got bad fast. Lela's mind was already jumping ahead to damage control.
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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 8:03 pm
Unyezi could almost feel his sister's annoyance at him, but if he had to he would pull rank on this one. He would deal with it as necessary, but the only other lion who really had a say it what did or did not suit tradition was Shira. And they were working it out. This wasn't like what he had done, this wasn't something that could be scolded away like his... infatuation... with Nerit. What Ally had done could not be undone, what she had done would have an impact if she woke up at any time other than a full moon.
He took looked upward, and realized it was not a good time for this. The Great Lion's eye was not wide the last couple of days, he had not been watching over Ally. They would have to hope for the best, that it would all work out.
"Yes," he said, looking back when she asked about keeping her hidden, "I need you to keep her somewhere reasonably private, and when she wakes up you are to report to me. And no one else."
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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 8:25 pm
The lioness went through a mental list of secluded places in the area. The first obvious place would be the royal den, but the biggest problem with it was the obviousness of it. There were a few dens scattered around the territory, and a handful more just outside. She weighed the possibilities, staring up at the sky again out of the corner of her eye. This time, though, she wasn't thinking about the Great Lion's eye. It was just a habit to stare up and to the left when she was thinking. Staying in a den somewhere IN the pride was probably the best idea, but then they ran the risk of being discovered. And, no matter where she stayed, she'd be in quite the pickle trying to get food and going for water breaks. There was no way this little girl was going to stay anywhere alone. And hopefully she'd be asleep for a week and a half still.
"Alright. There are a few dens here and there around the territory, as I'm sure you know." She looked back at her brother cautiously. She didn't mention she'd have a slightly difficult time doing this on her own. "We could hide her in one of those. I think it'd be best to stay in the pride borders." She said it with such finality, it was almost tempting her brother to pull rank just because he should be the one making decisions here. However... this was her job, and if he was going to argue it she'd take it down to the death, too. "What are you going to tell the pride? They'll notice Ally suddenly disappearing. Especially her little friend..." Lela knew full well that her niece had befriended Fafnir lately. Surely he'd notice her absence. So would everyone else. There was bound to be talk. Oh goodness. What were they going to do?
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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 8:53 pm
"Yes, she should be kept within the borders and somewhere with a clear view of the sky, so not too close to the mountains," he agreed, not at all going to argue on the need to stay somewhere safe- and somewhere reasonably out of public view. It wasn't just that he wanted to keep it a secret or trick the pride, he didn't want to worry anybody until there actually was something to worry about.
"Her little friend is why she's like this," Unyezi said, taking the traditional parental view of blaming the other child- though he knew Ally had been the one to ingest the plant of her own free will, Fafnir just seemed to be around when she did these foolish things, "Fafnir knows what happened, as do his parents. My hope is that they will not spread it around. What's most important is to make sure Ally is safe and healthy, and not to cause too much fuss. So long as Aureole and I act as normal, no one should panic. Wonder, maybe, but if we don't let on something is to be worried about it should not get too bad."
He looked around, wondering where to go.
"We'll only worry everybody when we know there is something to worry about," he said, looking back at Lela sadly and feeling he should justify himself now that she was being more sympathetic, "Until we know otherwise, Alcmene will wake up under the full moon, perfectly healthy."
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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 6:11 pm
Lela's mind automatically when to mentally surveying the various dens around the pride that were currently not being used. Since she did a lot of wandering, she had their locations baisically memorized. In her head, she picked one that was near the borders, but not so far off that it was difficult to get to. It was also hardly ever visited. It seemed pretty much perfect for their needs. "Alright. I know where to bring her."
Lela couldn't help but feel a bit of sympathy for the young Fafnir. Poor kid. He must be worried about Ally now, especially since he had a hand in what had happened. She half wanted to have a little chat with this kid, but she knew she'd never pursue the urge.
She was juuuust about to sigh again, but she caught herself. "Alright, Yezi." She looked from Ally to her brother, and suddenly dropped her icey exterior just for this moment. "I'll take care of her. Whatever happens, she will be okay." She smiled and moved forward, nudging him gently on the chin with her forehead. Her heart was telling her that he niece would wake up n the right night and eveything would go on without a hitch. Her more cautious, always have a back up plan sort of brain was telling her she miiiight need to be a little worried. However, she was certain of one thing. On her watch, Ally would be okay. No matter what happened.
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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 6:23 pm
"OK, lead the way," Unyezi said, shifting his weight a bit. Alcmene was not heavy, and he wasn't too concerned with his own comfort though he was getting anxious to get her settled in somewhere. He was also trusting Lela's judgment on where the small lioness would be kept, so long as they did not move without notice anywhere Lela felt most comfortable was adequate. He smiled faintly at his sister when she reassured him.
"If anything happens, Shira knows and can be consulted," he said, his voice as emotionless as he could manage on the topic of what to do if her health took a turn for the worse, "I'm sure Aure and I will be by often.."
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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 6:58 pm
Lela nodded quietly. "We'll just have to keep Shira updated." Lela narrowed her eyes. She was somewhat conflicted on the topic of Shira. The pair were working partners and they got along just fine, sure. However, this was her niece and it was her job to watch sleeping rogues (and in this case hieresses), so she was starting to get a tad annoyed that her brother kept bringing up Shira and what Shira said. Lela might not be quite the expert that the shaman was, but she still knew plenty. It was an illogical annoyance, and she knew that on the surface, but deep down she couldn't help it.
Without jumping on the subject, however, the beige lioness nodded again and turned and began to walk away in the direction of the den she had picked out from her mental list. It wasn't too far away.
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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 7:04 pm
Unyezi could see Lela's annoyance at his mention of Shira, but Shira was the one who knew all of the plants around here and had extensive knowledge of their properties and side effects. Alcmene was too young to be under its influence, and if something went wrong it would be almost necessary that at least Shira and Lela collaborate how to work through it. It was his daughter and he was the king, he would have everybody helping if she needed it.
And there was no point in arguing.
He followed after his sister, taking a guess almost immediately of which den they were going to. Pausing once to shift Ally a bit so she wouldn't fall, he kept up as they went along.
Fin.
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