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 Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 10:41 am
Things were cheering up for the queen of the Mwezi'Johari. She was no longer so depressed, though she still refused to speak to her father (and was trying to ignore that he and Nerit had cubs). She had Fafnir again and that meant a great deal to her. She'd been doing a better job with her better mood, she'd been trying to gauge reactions of the pride more carefully and less personally now, listening for any gossip. She'd yet to hear anything negative about Fafnir, which was a great anxiety of hers because of how Fafnir had stayed away to avoid negative attention for the two of them, particularly her.
It was a lovely evening, the full moon could already be seen in the darkening sky. There was no work needing to be done, she was not needed to help the guards as her father had been, Alcmene was free to relax for a little while.
"It's going to be a beautiful night," she commented.
"Mm, yeah!" Biti chirped enthusiastically, though he was becoming less energetic as night approached.
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 11:33 am
Still, there were things about his new predicament that were troubling. His fear of one day ruling the pride at Ally's side was growing ever stronger, but instead of turning his back on it and running away, he was facing it head on with as much courage as he could find. He needed to learn all the things Ally had been raised to know, things she had her whole life to learn, in a short time. There was no way he could even fathom where to start though, and because of that, he needed to ask advice from her. Not as his friend, but as his queen.
With the moon high over head, he made his way to where he knew she would be. His pale eyes skimmed the darkness until he found her, picking out the tiny shape and the high-pitched chatter of her ever-present companion. He made a beeline for that direction, stopping at her side with a slight dip of his head as recognition to her, before flopping down comfortably next to her. A little informal for his status and hers, but he tried hard not to let her title change them - especially not with the obvious future looming before them. "The moon is shining brightly on us tonight," he said pleasantly, staring up at the pale orb.
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 11:58 am
Truthfully, Ally would have been surprised if Fafnir had not come to visit her. It was the simplest thing he could do to prove he wasn't going to abandon her again but it was also the most effective. She expected to see him now, she saw changes in him just as he saw changes in her. When he lay down next to her, she inched a bit closer, leaning on him comfortably.
"Yes," she said, looking up to the sky, "It's a good night, tonight." She looked back down, smiling over at Fafnir, "How was your day?" She had been thinking, they had a lot they needed to talk about, Fafnir had a lot to do.. but she was worried about bringing up the fact that he would be king, worried he would panic and decide he did not want that. For now, she was content not worrying about it.
Biti wasn't surprised to see Fafnir either, he was getting used to the other lion, growing quite attached to him as well. When he arrived, Biti got to his feet and hopped over Ally's paw to rest between her toes where he could see both lions. He chirped a greeting cheerily but otherwise said nothing.
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 12:57 pm
"My day was pretty much like every other," he said with a little shrug. He had spent it hunting, learning the little techniques he still had yet to master. That was when he had realized, more than ever, that these were not quite the things he needed to know (or continue learning) any longer. There were other things that he needed to devote his time to, but he just didn't know precisely what all of those were yet.
"But uh, that's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about tonight," he turned to look down at her with a small tilt of his head, though he did spare a small smile of recognition for the tiny bird. "I've been spending most of my time learning to be a hunter, mastering that skill, but that's.. not where my path is leading anymore."
They both knew, but they rarely voiced it, probably to protect his own feelings no doubt and avoid awkward conversation. Yet, he knew he needed to voice it now, because he'd never figure it out if he waited for her to tell him. Maybe she'd be proud of him for asking instead. "I need to know what I should learn, Ally."
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 1:49 pm
"Oh?" she asked, tilting her head when he said he wanted to talk to her about something. It was either good or bad but it was undoubtedly about one thing, just how he should be spending his days, what he needed to work on, needed to know. Part of her worried he wouldn't want to do it, but she didn't want to get ahead of herself. It was hopeful when he acknowledged that his path was leading away from hunting and towards something else. Immediately she was smiling, she was very happy to hear him say it, acknowledge it.
"You're ready?" she asked, still smiling as she thought about the best way to describe the things he would need to know without making the list seem too overwhelming, "You'll have to make sure you know everybody in the pride. You should at least know faces but names and an idea of ranking would help. You should know everybody in the middle class and all the hunters now and your family is big so you have a good head start."
Ally paused to give him a moment to absorb and respond.
"You'll need to know certain things about the plants around here and their uses, but not nearly as much as the shaman," she said, then added with a laugh as she recalled their last misadventure, "You've seen that it can be kind of tricky, but we need to know enough in case something were ever to happen to the Shaman."
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 7:50 pm
The smile on her face was enough to reassure him that he was doing the right thing. The way she simply looked so proud, so happy with him, it was enough to make the fear he had slowly fade away - at least for now. He knew nothing would ever truly make it go away, not until he was doing what he was meant to and was used to it, but just the way her eyes shone so brightly at his mention was almost enough.
"Everyone?" he let out a little nervous laugh, his tail flickering behind him slowly. He did have the largest family here, he knew that, and he knew all the middle class and hunters by now fairly well, but to add onto that seemed to be pushing his limits. He could try though, for her. "I guess I can try that, I mean, I have.. a little while to learn." He definitely didn't seem to be too sure of himself, but he wasn't shying away from it.
"The, uh, plants?" He frowned and looked down at her with narrowed eyes. His only experience with those had not been so fortunate, but he simply nodded. The proposition of the plants seemed to unsettle him a little, because of what had happened, but he again only nodded. "I guess that makes sense. If something were to happen with them, then we'd have to.. train a new Shaman."
He looked nervous again, but his smile lingered, just because of her own.
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 8:02 pm
"Yes, everyone," Ally said with a giggle at the face he made, "I know there are a lot of lions but we don't have to know everybody by name exactly. We should be able to recognize those who live here to help us recognize trespassers, if we really need anymore information on them we can ask a historian."
She gave him a funny smile, realizing a more difficult task he would have than watching lower classed members of the pride.
"You'll have to meet each of the priests, know them more personally," she said, "And their apprentices, of course. There is one young priest, two young apprentices, three if you count my sister's apprenticeship to the shaman. You'll have to acquaint yourself with her, too, and Shira isn't exactly a delight. She'll help you learn about the plants, too."
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 12:16 pm
He groaned lightly as she repeated that he would, in fact, have to know everyone, though her small giggle did do a little to make a faint smile flicker at the corner of his lips. "So I have historians, and you, to back me up if I fail terribly at this?" He was trying to make a joke in order to hide his sheer unease, but he looked down at his paws despite it. He had known it was going to be hard, but this seemed to be almost daunting. Everyone? She had had her whole life to study for this, he had, at best, a few months.
His nose wrinkled a little as she spoke about all the priests, and especially her sister. "Well, at least there aren't more of them," he said softly, sitting his head down on his paws. He wasn't looking forward to that, however, by any means.
"It's going to take me forever," he said, almost sulking, reminiscent of his cubhood behavior no doubt.
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 12:27 pm
"You have us to back you up until you get it down," she said, correcting him and headbutting against him playfully at the pessimism he showed, "You won't fail, you'll do marvelously."
Ally leaned back a bit and looked at him, beaming even as he rested his head on his paws. He was so silly sometimes, he needed more confidence. There was no rush, these were not terribly difficult tasks ahead of him, at least not getting names and faces straight. The confidence was going to be the hardest thing.
"That is going to be the most important thing," she said, nudging at him, "You have to look and act confident. You can't second guess yourself, especially in public."
Biti had been quiet throughout the conversation but as soon as Fafnir started sulking and put his head down on his paws the little chick was up on his own feet and hopped over Ally's paw again to stand in front of the lion's face. He beamed at Fafnir encouragingly as well, then looked up at Ally when she commented, looking back to Fafnir with a cheery chirp and nod.
"Yeah!" he agreed, trying to be helpful, "I have t'learn stuff like that, too."
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 12:54 pm
Ally's confidence in him was a lot more than he felt in himself, but with her backing him up, he felt a little more like this wasn't completely hopeless. For a long time, he had been wondering how on earth anyone could expect he, a male trained to be a hunter and with no self esteem, to grow confident enough to lead a pride. It was times like this that he was counting himself lucky that he would have Ally at his side.
"It's a lot easier said than done, you know," he muttered, pouting a bit as he did so, though he was finding it hard to remain in his sulking attitude as she loomed over him with that smile. It was even harder as the small bird hopped out in front of him, and despite how hard he was trying, his frown vanished and was replaced with a light chuckle. "I know you're right," he smiled weakly and reached out with a paw to gently poke at the bird in a playful manner. "I'm just not used to this, all of this responsibility." He glanced up over his shoulder as Ally as she nudged him. "It was never really my destiny, you know? At least, as far as I knew. Guess the Great Lion has a funny way of doing things."
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 1:24 pm
"I know," Ally said, "It's more exciting sounding when you're little, being told that someday you'll be a queen. I've been taught everything I need to know and I will make sure you learn everything you need to know." She paused, they were talking about it more seriously than they had before, Fafnir was the one who brought it up but he was clearly still full of doubt.
"You have a paw in your own destiny, since you smartened up, you are going to be king," she said, her tone serious but she was still smiling, "You worrying about any of this says to me you'll be a good one. We have certain responsibilities but we have the rank to pass them off as we see fit, good rulers accept their responsibilities and want to be involved."
She wanted Fafnir to really cheer up, to gain confidence. In the end, they would be equals and they would outrank everybody except Shira and no matter what anybody said or did, they would have that.
Biti squeaked when he was poked at, tumbling over dramatically and scrambling back upright with a chirping laugh. The conversation took a serious turn, which he was rarely ever fond of, but he had already learned to stay quiet and polite. Still with a small smile, he hopped onto Fafnir's paw and settled there while the two lions talked.
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 2:31 pm
"Yeah, being a King sounds a lot more grand before you know all the responsibilities that come along with the job," he managed a chuckle and a small smile for the worried female at his side. He knew she was trying hard to get him to come around, out of this silly little funk he had dug himself into. He hadn't come this far just to let his lack of confidence get the best of him.
"I have to trust you," he said with a nod, "and trust myself too." He drew a deep breath as he admitted to that, smiling down with a glimpse of affection for the little bird as he leaped up onto his paw. "Maybe it's just a natural reaction for anyone in this position," he shrugged slightly, and picked his head up so he could brush it lightly against Ally's side.
"I'm committed to this, no matter my worries," he nodded at this, as if to emphasize it, "I'm committed to you, like I promised."
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 8:45 pm
"Good, good," she nodded along with him, particularly pleased to hear he trusted himself, "You have time. Not only to learn but to adjust to the change in position and perspective." It was not something Ally had had, she'd had her entire youth to learn but no chance between learning and assuming the throne to feel ready and accept what would come. She would happily wait for Fafnir to say he was ready before they made anything official, though the whole pride was expecting and waiting for it by now.
"We can go over some of the pride members if you want," Ally suggested, nuzzling and leaning against him affectionately, "A lot of the pride, if you aren't related to them, I am."
Now quite comfortable, and the conversation toning down a bit, Biti started to drift in and out of consciousness. He had seen some of the pride members since Alcmene took him in. Hanging out with the queen was a good way to become familiar with the pride and certain members. He was not as good at staying up late into the night as the lions were, though, and with his interest in the conversation waning it was not surprise he was falling asleep.
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 9:52 pm
"You're right," he said with a nod, smiling as he turned his eyes up to look at the moon. He knew she'd allow him as much time as he needed to make the transition, but he couldn't help but feel guilty that she was shouldering the whole pride on her own right now, with the added pressure of the pride itself wanting him to step up to his now expected role. He couldn't rush things and miss out on what he needed to learn, but he could try his hardest to do his best as quickly as possible.
"We can do that tomorrow," he said softly, leaning his head atop hers as she nuzzled against his form and leaned into him. His eyes fell down onto the small, sleepy bird, his smile growing softly affectionate. "I think we should just enjoy tonight, and leave duty for tomorrow."
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 10:06 pm
Alcmene certainly understood pressure and she was more than aware of the pride's general feeling on the situation. She seemed to be largely supported, no one openly spoke out against the situation but generally the pride looked for stability, for certainty. Until everything was made official, they didn't have that. Ally's confidence in it, though, was increasing all the time. Fafnir was doing an excellent job convincing her, but she found it extremely difficult to doubt him.
"Well," she said with a sigh, resting her head comfortably against his mane, glancing up at him, then to the now bright moon above them, "As long as we don't make a habit out of it."
Nodding off into sleep, Biti almost fell over-- waking just enough to slowly turn a full circle before settling into Fafnir's paw and tucking his head down against his chest comfortably. He was out for the night.
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