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 Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:40 pm
Abeni sat hunched over one of the steamy pools, her eyes wide and gold, reflecting the dim light that filled the cave. Her shoulders were tense, her claws nearly outstretched with control emotion. Tell me... Tell me more! She urged the waters, a pained expression crossing her face now. The vision had been so great before... So clear and powerful. But now the gods were blessing her with nothing...
She had seen a large black cat prowling along a river of blood, seeking refugee from the barren lands he walked on. Across the river was fertile land, with many beasts to hunt. He'd tried to cross, and drowned... But she had reached out to him and pulled him away from death, and brought him to blessed lands. Once out of the river the great cat was changed, now larger, and covered in blue fire that matched her own yellow halo.
But she couldn't continue on just that... She didn't know what it meant! All she knew was that... he... was suppose to be here. The lioness sighed wearily and glanced over her shoulder at him, lips curled down. It had been very tiring to drag him back to the priestess' caves from the borders. Still, she did it. The gods had told her too. With a shake of her head she stood, gathering up a large leaf in her mouth that held a bit of hot water in it. She moved over with it carefully and dipped her paw in, then smeared it across the weak male's forehead.
Marik's body lay lifeless on the cold stone floor of the priestess' den. His travels had taken the remainder of his energy and his long treks across the dryest parts of the savannah had left him without food or water for far too long. Thin, frail and lucky to be alive, the male couldn't maintain his body long enough to challenge the dark female who had approached him in the roguelands. She wore a look of mania and seemed to have a goal set in mind. As Marik had opened his mouth to challenge her, the male felt his knees buckle beneath him and his body fall with a thud to the ground.
It had been welcoming at first to accept his exhaustion and go without a fight. The male believed himself to be dead until he felt a warm splash of water reach his forehead. While his fear wished to urge him to his feet, the male could only lazily open his eyes and look out towards the decorated female before him. She was the same female he had come across in the roguelands. What had she done with him?
Forcing his body to rise, Marik lifted his front legs and found that his haunches would not move. Thick gashes adorned his body, evidence that he had not been favored amongst the other rogues of the savannah. There were fresh wounds on his back legs and by the strange angles in which his legs were bent, it was possible that they were broken. Perhaps that was what had finally done him in. While his fur stood on end and his eyes stared suspiciously towards the female, Marik allowed his body to relax and meet the ground again.
"Why have you brought me here?" The male's voice was deep and demanding.
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Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:41 pm
The priestess' eyes were a bit wide and wild as she watched him try to stand. His body was impossibly weak, but still he tried... That was good, very good. Perhaps the gods were right, perhaps he did have potential...
"Because I was told to." She said softly, her voice deep and unconcerned, completely confident in the prophecy she was given. She stepped back from him then, pushing the leaf away. He was obviously hungry, but it wouldn't sit well for him to drink from the blessed pools... The bone necklace that hung around her neck clunk together gently as she moved, her eyes locked on him as she stepped away. "Tell me your name."
Marik remained where he was, eyes following the female's movements as though trying to piece together bits and pieces of who she was and just what it was that she wanted. Rogues had tormented him before, starting fights and attacking him in his sleep. She could have easily done him in when he had fallen, but she chose to bring him to her den and offer him water - if even only a small amount. When she demanded his name, the male's body shifted uncomfortably, stiff and obviously still in pain. A part of him told him that it was foolish to offer any information to the stranger, but the female obviously had the upper hand. Marik was in no position to be disobedient. Perhaps if he behaved she would give him something to eat?
With a grunt, the male whispered, "Marik. And yours?" As we awaited her response, the male shifted again, though this time to make himself more comfortable. Eyeing the dark female, Marik made a few assumptions about her position in the pride and a few others about just what pride he had ended up in. The devilish glimmer in her eyes gave him the impression that this may have been a pride he would have normally avoided.
"My name is Abeni." She said softly, looking him over in a curious manner. "You are injured badly... If you promise to stay here in this cave I will bring you food. Do you agree, mortal?"
She used the term almost cautiously... He was not from these lands, so he was not a demon, at least... not yet. She couldn't help but wonder though. Why would the gods beckon her to steal him away? Perhaps there was a demon resting somewhere within...
She continued to walk backwards slowly, watching him with her entranced golden eyes. "You must not drink from the pools. They are sacred... If you stay, I will help you to fresh water. Sleep, mortal. Sleep and be well."
Marik listened carefully as Abeni spoke. The way she paid great detail to each of her words caught the male's interest and he lifted his head as though to hear her better. It was a strange situation - the one he found himself in. Natural instinct was begging for him to get up and run, but his legs were incapable and his stomach begged him to stay on the off chance that what she said might actually be honest. With a careful nod, Marik glanced towards the sacred pools. "I agree. I will not touch the pools." His words were flat as he returned his gaze to her retreating form.
Only once she had left the den did Marik finally rest his weary head upon his paws. He shut his eyes and curled his tail against his form, but found that sleep would not take him. His startled awakening and confusion had him on edge and unable to trust whatever was to come. What if she brought others? While Marik had no choice but to trust her, the male understood that the female could turn on him at any opportunity.
Keeping his eyes shut, the male feigned sleep awaiting Abeni's return.
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Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:42 pm
Abeni returned some time later. By this time the sun was low in the sky, threatening to sink down past the horizion. The lioness had managed to catch a reasonably sized baby deer, which she now dragged back. By this time she was nearly as exhausted as Marik. Dragging him back, then hunting, and dragging the dead deer back was stealing away valuable strength.
She carried it into the cave, trying to look stronger than she felt. It wouldn't do to give the male a bad impression of her... She wanted to appear noble in order to guide him better, reveal to him his potential... The meal was dropped in front of him and she watched him with a tilted head, ears and tail twitching.
"Here. Wake up and eat."
In order to appear as though he was actually sleeping, Marik stirred slowly at first and then carefully opened his eyes and released a large fake yawn. The male stretched to the best of his ability, squinting his eyes when he found his body was still stiff and sore. The rest, mocked or not, was actually somewhat satisfying. The male spent such a long amount of time traveling that to be able to relax, even on edge, was enough to lift his spirits.
When the smell of fresh meat finally reached his nose, Marik nearly jumped upright. Lifting his upper body, the male adjusted his legs to assume a somewhat seated position. He licked his lips hungrily and watched the meat before him famished. Despite his hunger, Marik found himself unable to eat the stranger's kill. Looking towards Abeni curiously, he questioned her, "Will you not eat first?" It was typical in lion culture for the female's to be the dominant hunters and males always ate first, but this was not Marik's den, pride or home and this kill was not his.
Abeni watched him 'awaken', and if she noticed that it was an act, she said nothing. Her expression was calm, still trying to keep the act of nobleness up, even though she would have been very happy to collapse onto the rock and sleep herself. But she couldn't. Not now, when her god's work needed to be done.
"No, you eat. I am not the one that needs it desperately. I will hunt again tomorrow and be renewed." She finally settled down, getting comfortable a few feet away from him. She laid on her stomach with her paws crossed in front of her, heah held high as she watched him.
Abeni's answer did not fully convince Marik, but he didn't need to be told twice. Returning to the ground, the male crept forward towards the dead deer and began to eat eagerly. He tore at the flesh and gulped down large chunks. His body had been starved and now was not a time to concern himself with manners. Swallowing hard, Marik continued to eat, shutting his eyes and enjoying the sensation of warm blood trickling down his throat. A typical lion would have his fill rather quickly and leave the carcass to be finished by another of the pride, Marik, desperate and uncertain of his next meal, continued on until his stomach ached and the deer remained little more than a hide and skeleton.
The deer had been young and the meat was incredible. Pulling back from the feast, the lion licked at a blood stained muzzle. His eyes quickly averted towards where Abeni lay and he became curious again. What interested the female so much in the dying rogue? Why had she taken him there and given him fresh food that she worked hard to hunt down herself?
Licking his muzzle again, the lion swallowed and broke the silence, "I can assume you won't let me go once i'm well?" In his circumstances it was bold to ask, but the male would not live naively about what was to become of him.
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Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:03 pm
She didn't seem bothered by his poor manners, having expected him to be ravenous. Her eyes grew heavier as he ate, her attention wavering. The priestess became lost in thought... Pondering the male's fate, and still trying to decide why he was here. There had to be a purpose...
When he finished and looked back to her her eyes widened to normal and she nodded to him. He was smart, and not naive... This was good.
"No. You may not leave until I say you may."
Marik listened carefully to Abeni's words, lowering his body and getting the remainder of the blood off of his muzzle. While the male hadn't imagined Abeni's intentions could be pure, he was not fully prepared for he idea of slavery. Was that what she intended for him? Keeping his body low, the male made himself comfortable, body full and ready for a true sleep. Keeping his gaze locked on the female, Marik spoke, "I appreciate the meal." His voice was deep and almost bitter sounding. Abeni had saved his life, but as a slave Marik believed he would only be living half a life.
Shifting his gaze away from the female, the large male rested his head atop his paws and curled up to finally sleep. As he awaited exhaustion to overcome him once again, the male thought carefully of a way in which he'd be able to escape. Once his energy was regained and his body was revived there would be nothing to stop him from leaving once Abeni's back was turned.
Abeni was please when he didn't automaticly argue with her... but then again, he didn't sound too happy either. She'd deal with it when it came... Surely if she asked Iar he'd be sure that her new slave would stay put. But... was he even really a slave? If he refused his demon nature he'd have to be. There would be no other way to keep him a part of the pride. And he could not leave, not for a while at least.
For now... She could relax and mule over her thoughts in peace. He was much too weak to overpower her now. In the morning she'd go and speak to Iar and get his approval... if he thought it was a prophecy from the gods, surely he'd agree. She'd make him see the truth.
The lioness let out a long, quiet yawn, her eyes watering a bit. The male's sleep was rubbing off on her. Soon she had rested her chin down on her paws as well, and her eyes drifted closed... And sleep claimed her, her dreams telling the same vision over and over again.
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