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 Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 10:45 am
The dapple of fire that ran down her back seemed to glow beneath the suns rays as the otherwise charcoal lionness loped across the compact sand in search for her 'friend', Xipil. He was a really nice, friendly lion and so grown up! Much better than boys her age who were just immature and...annoying! She was sure her parents would approve of her having Xipil has her newly allocated best friend. He was, after all, a good rolemodel!
Ambitious, kind and brave and strong!
In fact, she didn't even mind about how that little duel had turned out between him and Rowtag. Rowtag had just gotten lucky and she just knew that Xipil would show him a thing or two next time! Even still, to show that she didn't care, and that she was rooting for him, she'd found him a present.
In her jaws she had a flower. A flower that bloomed on the gigantic cacti that lived in the desert. She maaaay have asked someone to get it for her - since she couldn't go get it by herself and disobey her parents - but now she was carrying it to where she thought Xipil lived.
If only she realised that flowers might not be the best present for boys...
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:30 am
The very male that Vesta had set out to find was resting(GASP) beneath a tree, one he had managed to find WITHOUT other lions swarming it. He had found himself to be short of energy lately and he could only conclude that it had to do with the fact that he had exhausted his body to the point it was FORCING him to stop and take a day off and as a result he was stuck lounging beneath the tree.
He sighed, he had dueled three males in the span of...four days and lost two of them. And that last battle, he had taken quite the beating. Now he understood why his sister looked like she was in such a bad shape after dueling with the same male. The loss had been heavy on him but at the same time he was all the more grateful for it.
Losing meant he wasn't doing something right, as a result he needed to fix what he was doing wrong. But before he could do that he needed to sit back and do nothing.
"I do not approve," he mumbled to himself heaving a sigh and settling his head upon his paws.
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:44 am
She almost walked straight past him at first, and if it weren't for her keen nose, she probably would have. She pulled short and turned her head in the direction the wind was telling her to look, and there he was. Fiery and perfect, sitting there beneath that tree!
She hoped he wasn't sad or moping or anything! If he was, then she'd definately have to change that! He was one of the best fighters and so dedicated. It wouldn't be too long before he was able to beat any lion here!
She turned and moved towards him, the flower still hanging in her mouth as she went to greet him. As her mouth was full, she gave a bright little chirp instead and drew both ears upright towards him, her tail waving.
And then, when she was close enough, she hopped forwards another step, set the flower down and said, brightly; "Hello Xipil! What're you doing laying around here, for?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 10:33 am
Xipil saw his young friend long before she ever saw him. The male had an almost perfect memory and it was hard to forget the little one, he didn't have very many 'friends'. The young adult was more of a solitary creature rather than a social one, which suited him just fine. He would rather be alone than let someone disrupt him with nonsense.
Yet today was different, as well as were the circumstances with his friends. Today he wanted some company. He needed something better to do with his time than just sit lazing around. He was a man..er..lion of action and to be forced, by his own body no less, to take a break and be lazy... Well it didn't bode well for his mind.
He shifted as Vesta approached him, a small smile crossing his maw as she dropped the flower before him. He looked down at the flower quizzically unsure of the reasons she placed it in front of him.
"Hello Vesta," he greeted pleasantly nodding his head at her. "Relaxing against my will," he told her with a frown and a shake of his head. He was not pleased about his predicament, but at least he had a distraction. For now.
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Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 12:59 pm
She beamed up at him, admiration shining in her bright eyes. "Relaxing against your will?" She giggled, smothering the sound into a paw. "I thought relaxing was supposed to be fun, Xipil? You make it sound like work!" She made a little 'tut-tut' noise and then took a small step closer.
"Well, I'm glad you're not busy training today. That means I can spend some time with you and not feel bad about keeping you from work." She wriggled her nose a little and then prodded the cactus flower gently with a paw.
"I brought you a present, too. Do you like it?" She looked back at him, eyes innocent and yet expectant of his joy at such a pretty gift. "I...had to ask for help to get it, but it is pretty, isn't it, Xipil?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:48 pm
"For me relaxing is the opposite of fun," he replied shrugging. It wasn't that it wasn't nice it just wasn't...the 'norm' for him. "Well that isn't correct," he sighed unsure of how best to phrase his feelings about the situation. "It just isn't something that I am used to," he explained as best he could.
When she spoke he tilted his head to the side, she hadn't wanted to disrupt him? That was thoughtful of her. "You needn't worry about that," he told her with a grin. "I will always make time for you," he stated with a firm nod. That was something that he was sure of, there would always be time for those that needed it from him.
"A present?" He echoed features twisting in confusion when he looked down at the flower. Oh! he thought staring at the plant. He wasn't sure how he should respond. She seemed so excited about it.
"It...It is very pretty Vesta," he replied trying to sound enthusiastic about it but honestly it wasn't exactly his type of thing.
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 10:23 am
She giggled again. "You are weird, Xipil." Then she continued briskly. "Well, I'll just have to try and teach you how to do more relaxing, then you will be used to it." At his next statement her eyes sparkled with joy. He'd always make time for her? Truly?! What a wonderful thing to say!
"Thank you! I'd always make time for you, too. We are friends, after all."
And then she nodded, nudging forward the present with a paw. "Uh huh. I love flowers and they're so rare here. That makes them even more special, doesn't it? When I'm big and strong and a fully fledged water-seeker, I will seek flowers, too. The place needs brightening up a little, don't you think?"
And she shuffled closer. "So you really do like it, then?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 11:43 am
"Perhaps that you are the weird one Vesta and I am the normal one," he replied chuckling softly. The little female was able to bring out a softer, more 'playful' side of the firekin something that was rare. Xipil was definitely more reserved than the rest of his family.
He was a quiet thinker and liked to keep to himself when he could. He didn't mind socialization but it wasn't top priority on his to-do list.
He looked back down at the flower studying it for a minute, he sighed unsure of how he should respond to her. "Well," he began sucking in a breath. "I think that it is..unusual and I thank you for thinking of me," he told her smiling sheepishly.
He wasn't good at stuff like this. "It is pretty though."
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 11:48 am
"Maybe I'm weird." She considered it, somewhat seriously. "Maybe we're all weird. In any case, being weird isn't bad. It means we're extra special!"
Her face heated with a blush as he complimented the gift and she bobbed happily on the tips of her paws. "In any case, let's not waste the day just lying around. You want to do something? My parents won't mind if you're with me, since you can protect me from the bad things, right?"
It seemed odd that one who was so afraid of the scary things in the world that she would want to become a water-seeker. Really, she just wanted to make her parents proud of her.
She reached out with her two, small paws and tugged at one of his. "Come on, Xipil, let's go!"
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 8:15 pm
"I suppose that is what makes the world interesting," he commented thoughtfully in response. "Extra special?" He echoed chuckling. "I guess you could say that," he shrugged not sure if he agreed with the statement or not. Though he couldn't argue that there were some special creatures out there.
He frowned slightly pushing his paws against the sand to sit up. "It depends on what you want to do," he told her wincing as his muscles ached from the movement. "I can protect you," he agreed nodding firmly.
He looked down as she tugged on his paw. He shook his head as he looked back up to her. "Okay, okay," he said as he stood. "Let's go."
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 1:04 pm
"We could go for a walk?" She replied easily. "Walking is good for you! But not far. Just around here, maybe?" She tipped her head, a little concerned about him wincing. "We'll walk slow. That way your legs wont hurt so much, okay?" She gave a little purr and trotted forwards, her gait bouncy.
"Do you ever wonder what the world is like out there, Xipil? I've heard stories about a very green land. It's hard to imagine, isn't it? A world with no sand." She tipped her head a little to look at him. "I wonder...I wonder if the Firekin who chose to leave are okay out there?"
She often thought about things like that. About that which had happened before she had even been born. The stories saddened her greatly but she did not truly understand the reasoning for their departure.
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 11:54 am
"Sure," he replied not particularly caring what they did. One way or another it would involve him up and about moving around. His muscles ached but not so badly that he was incapable of doing anything. He just couldn't go running, or doing crazy things, he had to take it easy. "You don't have to worry about me," he told her with a soft smile. "I'll be fine, promise."
He trotted behind her listening to what she had to say. "I have thought about and have come to the conclusion that I prefer the heat of the desert, it's perfect for testing yourself," he explained with a firm nod. "It is an environment that not everyone is capable of surviving. It is harsh and often unforgiving," he told her looking at his surrounding. "It takes true strength to survive in a place that many would perish in."
He chuckled at how she felt about a world without sand. "I am sure they are fine. They made the decision to leave, just as we make the decision to remain here. I am sure it is not so different, perhaps a little cooler during the day?"
Of course he was very aware that there were many born into the firekin who were not given the choice to stay. It was not an easy thing to understand but it was tradition and they simply followed it.
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:03 pm
She smiled up at him with eyes that said: Of course I'll worry about you. You're my friend! But she never said anything. Just smiled her quiet smile and continued on, nodding a little to herself.
She listened to him as he spoke. He really had no desire to see the outside world? Nor want to travel amongst the sea of green? She had to admit she was curious. But luckily, despite her strong curiosity she had a timidness that prevented her from acting on it. "You're right." She continued. "The desert is the best. That's why we're a good, strong pride. Even still, I wish I could see a land of green, if only once! I want to be a water-seeker, but...I don't think I'll ever be going so far as to leave the boundary of the sands."
She glanced up at him. "Maybe they'll return someday. If they do, do you think they would be welcome?" She often found herself confused by Firekin rules. "I hope they would...it only seems right."
She blinked, realising that Xipil's parents were the regent and her saying such things might upset or annoy him. "Not that it's my decision!" She hastened. "I mean...I don't understand about politics." Her face heated with embarrassment.
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:16 pm
"You can do what ever you set your mind to," he stated at her comment about wanting to be a water-seeker. "As you grow courage will come to you, you will be able to cross the boarders some day," he told her confidently. He was positive that if she truly wanted to see the sea of green she would be able to.
"Anything is possible until proven otherwise."
He frowned when they went back to the topic of departed firekin. "No, no it is fine Vesta," he began heaving a sigh. Being the son of the regents meant that he was aware of things that some where not or even more aware of just what the common knowledge really meant.
"It depends, some are not given the choice to stay or go," he explained shaking his head. "We are a strong, proud pride but we are also committed to keeping specific colors here," he said pausing in their walk. "Those that do not fit the colors are in a way forced to leave, and are not permitted to return."
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:26 pm
She nodded. Maybe one day she would get enough confidence to be able to go into the world herself, to see the green, the flowers, the great lakes of water. It was a dream and she would think of it and hope for it. And, if it never happened, then perhaps it was for the best. Some dreams, after all, were not to come true.
"Specific colours." She murmured softly. "Yes...Father mentioned that before." She turned her head, sadly. She adored the sandy colour of her father's pelt and had often wished she had a little of his colour on her fur. But he had told her it was good that she did not.
She couldn't bear the thought of leaving and it saddened her greatly to think that it happened to others. "I suppose there is a reason for everything." She replied. "
Crossing their path, on her way to the water, Fia glanced across the sand to spot her brother and a little one with him. Who was that girl? A child of Azarax, was it? Yes, she thought so.
She paused, lifted her head and called out to her. "Brother! Glad to see you're not training for a change." A mischievious grin stretched its way across her face. "Your future mate will appreciate you taking a break now and then." Her eyes twinkled with amusement. She had not forgotten what she had told Xipil - that she would find him a girl. She didn't seem at all bothered that she was interrupting his conversation with the cub. He was probably just taking her home. Maybe she was lost.
"And don't worry. I'm still looking for a girl for you!"
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