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 Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 12:49 pm
Perhaps it'd make him more confident, instead of brooding and moody. Perhaps. He needed confidence, and this was the only way. Stretching out with a wide yawn, the gray male shook the red dust from his coat. Crimson eyes scanned the horizon. It was deserted, as he had expected. There never was much activity around here, he was used to it, but it was disheartening.
With a heavy hearted sigh, the cloudy lion moved out of his little dug out, squinting at the blazing sunrise. He folded his ears back as he moved forward. Mwovu had his mind set, he needed to find the leader of their pride, whoever was the wisest, whoever could understand. He didn't feel comfortable just leaving without word. He'd be back, for sure, he just didn't know when.
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Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:20 pm
Tawa'di Kanati was quite easy to find, normally. He had a favourite spot, one that was easy to remember. His rock. The elder was sprawled on the top of it, giving up his 'regal eldership' for a much more comfortable position. Sure, the rock was a bit cold now, but when the sun finished it's morning stretch, and the rays flooded the lands, it would be so warm, and oh so good.
Tawa'di's mind flickered through what he needed to do today. He needed to return to the stargrove soon, to see if the goddess of the wind had indeed returned. Oooh, it was something that her certainly didn't want to do, but there were always things that you didn't want to do. Especially when you were leader.
Gathering himself up, he resituatied into a better-looking position, one much more respectable then paws and a tail hanging everywhere. His ears flicked forward as he caught the flash of something. Someone wanted to find him today. He didn't know who, but there was a shape of something...a vision. Well, then, that settled that. Tawa'di would wait here for a while longer to see if his vision was indeed true, which they normally where.
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Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:39 pm
Mwovu wasn't exactly positive about who he was looking for, not in the least bit, but he felt his heart would lead him in the right direction. With that train of thought, the male just let his tired paws take over, zoning out as his dainty paws stirred up the dust. It was so quiet, so peaceful here, Mwovu loved it. Having to leave, if only for a while, brought sharp pangs of guilt to the young male's conscience.
It was a while before the male got anywhere that wasn't the middle of nowhere. By now, the sun was up and shining rather brightly. The land was starting to warm, evaporating the dew off of the study mountain shrubs. Mwovu paused momentarily, everything looked like it was in a haze. The gray male smiled, very faintly, taking in a deep breath before moving onward.
After that, it was only a matter of minutes before Mwovu spotted the shape of another in the distance. His stomach felt like it jumped to his throat as he steadily increased his pace. It felt like he had been wandering around forever, but it had only been an hour or so. As he traipsed onward, the shape of an elder male, laying regally upon a rock came unto his sights. Mwovu sighed, extremely glad to have found someone, at last, perhaps this male would know who he could talk to. The dark male slowed, coming to a halt merely feet before the elder. He dipped his head slightly in greeting,
"Hello... I'm Mwovu... Mwovu'Waya. I was hoping to find someone. A leader, or someone, with whom I can speak to..."
His crimson eyes darted about in a nervous way as he spoke, he voice gruf and obviously under used. Mwovu wasn't much of a 'people person', or so to speak. It wasn't always very easy for him to articulate his feelings. Perhaps someday he would get over that.
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Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:48 am
"Aaaah, so it is you." The nvwati slowly raised his head to let his eyes fall on his visitor. It had taken him longer then he thought for the dark male to find him, but no matter, as he was finally here. Tawa'di gathered himself up, sitting up a bit taller, as waiting had loosened his posture.
"Well, Mwovu, it's interesting enough that you're looking for this leader of our pride. Even moreso, since you've just happened to stumble upon him." The old lion's eyes glimmered for a moment with humor before continuing. "Tawa'di Kanati, elder nvwati and fill in leader of our pride. Is there something I can help you with today?"
His green eyes studied the coat of his fellow pride member, scanning over his tattoos quickly. The elder didn't manage to get too much out of them, but maybe he could get more out of Mwovu's mouth.
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:00 pm
Mwovu's delicate head quirked slightly to the side as the elder first spoke. What he meant by that, Mwovu wasn't sure. Had this older male been... expecting him? Surely, that couldn't be the case. However, it was enough for Mwovu to mull over to keep him silent for a few moments more, a distant stare in his crimson eyes. But, almost as quickly as he had entered this daze, he snapped out of it, the elder's voice snapping him out of his own troubled thoughts. As Tawa'di spoke, introducing himself, Mwovu's solemn face seemed to light up. There was a sense of accomplishment and pride in his piercing eyes.
"Ah! Most excellent. Luck is surely on my side today, nvwati."
A happier tone rang in the small lion's husky voice, his mood obviously improved from a few short moments ago. Though this joyful attitude wouldn't last too long, Mwovu would relish in this moment of a fateful find. In a very elegant manner, Mwovu softly sat down near the elder's rock, taking care into not stir the dust up from the rusty colored ground. Deep red eyes slid up to the nvwati, slowly, respectfully; the lion holding himself in a more serious fashion. Firmly, he decided to fill the elder in on his current situation.
"It was not too long ago I found these lands again. I was born before the Long Journey, to the wolf clan. But when the Darkfire came, I was lost... To the pride at least. I slavery to them, I remained through my early adolescent times, before I found the courage and fled. However, I feel... I feel a part of me was lost. Now, here, I stand before you, trying to find the strength to leave again... To find what I lost. It's out there... Somewhere."
With a long, heavy sigh, Mwovu's eyes darted away from the earth toned lion before him. Retelling his story always put him into such a somber mood. Of course, he'd only given him the gist of it all, not wanting to burden the elder with the toughts, or even the time I would take Mwovu to form everything into words. Tilting his chin up, Mwovu once again found eye contact with Tawa'di,
"I want to know if I'll still be welcome to return. I... I don't know how long I'll be gone..."
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:36 pm
The old lion smiled warmly, offering a nod to the black lion before him. It was understanding, how he might become nervous that one might think they were never allowed to return to their lands. But that was not so for The Ela'wadiyi, especially with what Tawa'di believed. All were welcome, but even moreso those of the blood. Blood that had thinned from all their trials they had gone through just recently, especially the migration. Many had gotten lost along the way, and may never return.
"Mwovu, I understand your concern," he began, closing his eyes for a moment. He took the moment to gather his thoughts before continuing. "But remember, if you do decide to seek what you need, you will always be welcome here to return. This is your home if you choose it to be, and no one can take that from you."
A true fact that Tawa'di felt needed to be emphasised more. If this was your home, you were always welcome, even if it took years. Perhaps even past Tawa'di's time, but he would always be welcome here.
"Though you do not know what you seek, Mwovu, do you have a place to aim for? Perhaps a creature, even? Do you seek to find out more about the Darkfire, or more about the life outside of our pride?" Tawa'di was curious, as he always was, but he also wanted to see if he could assist the young lion in any way that he could.
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 7:59 pm
Mwovu returned Tawa'di's smile with a light, warmy one of his own. With a gentle nod, the dark male stayed quiet for a while longer. The elder's words had lifted quite a weight off of his already very burdened shoulders. It had been difficult to think that he wouldn't be able to return. He loved his home, it was all he had left. Mwovu had been tied in with his family very deeply, he'd put every bit of his being into that. But they were all gone, dead, or so he thought. The pride was every thing to the gruff animal.
"Thank you. Thank you. I wish for my journey to not be drastically long. My heart is torn. It wishes to stay; it wishes to go."
With a shake of his head, Mwovu chuckled ever so quietly. He had a feeling that he was sounding rather mindless, and indecisive, but he couldn't put away his feelings just like that. To know the pride would be here, waiting, ready to recieve him again, it was comforting.
Tawa'di's question posed quite a stirr of thoughts in the lion's head. What was he looking for? For answers? For what? To change his heart. To change his pelt. But who could do that? And the Darkfire, did they still exist? Perhaps the elder would know?
"Is there anyone out there that knows more of the Darkfire? All I know of them is their cruelty. What I truely seek, I suppose, is someone to change me. For new friends along the way, those who can heal a wounded soul, and a being that can work the impossible. To change me back to as I used to be, before the Darkfire. To a cloud marked lion. To what I was before I rotted away."
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 8:25 pm
Tawa'di was a bit concerned on how he felt that the Darkfire pride was nothing but cruelty. He debated for a moment whether to fill him in with a short, brieft history lesson about them. The next moment, he decided to go on with it. "The Darkfire pride were not only built on cruelty, Mwovu. When they had first asked us for their help, they were just as weak as we are today. The corrupted minds of the young was what really started their cruelty against us." The old lion shifted his limbs around before looking back at the dark lion. Did he feel like he stuck out because of his black coat? He was not the only one in the history of the pride to carry a black coat, but he was the only one left surviving that did.
"Aye, Mwovu, I have no doubt that they still exist. Though to seek them out directly might not be the best way to discover more about them. Perhaps that is a beast best left untouched. Focus not to the past, but to the future. You are sure to suceed in what you want with a strong heart and your head held high."
Tawa'di was unsure of what else to speak of. He wanted to help him more, but he also didn't know what the young lion knew of of the outside world. Tawa'di stared at Mwovu, a bit blankly, as he let his mind sort through the options he had before him.
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 8:51 pm
As Tawa'di spoke of the Darkfire, Mwovu shut his eyes tightly, his body growing rigid. It all brought back such uncomfortable thoughts. He'd belonged to them, for the monsters to do as they pleased. It was a part of him he could never forget, no matter how much he wished it. It was even tattooed onto him, a part of his history. The band on his back leg, a symbol of the shackles he'd been kept in. He wanted to believe they weren't all evil, wanted to see the best in the situation, but his experience didn't allow him to. With a shudder, Mwovu's eyes snapped open suddenly,
"However, the cruelty is all I can remember. It's seared into my mind. Forgive me, elder, I cannot forget..."
There was sorrow in Mwovu's tone as his eyes dropped, no longer being able to look Tawa'di straight in the eyes. He felt ashamed that he hadn't been able to push the memories back. But that was what his journey would be about. Not to forget, but to move on. To live with it. With a firm shake of his head, Mwovu spoke, but still didn't restablish eye contact,
"No. Never. I don't want to see them again. I've had my fill of all the Darkfire entail. I would rather just hear stories... Stories from those as wise as you."
Having said that, Mwovu found the courage to raise his eyes to the old lion. He wanted to know more, but he didn't want to come face to face with the pride ever again. It was the shadow hovering at the back of his mind, and he wanted it to remain there. In his mind. He wanted his body cleansed of them, however. The fact that his pelt was black wouldn't have bothered him if it had been what he had born with. The black color, to him, was only indicative of the emotional baggage he carried. The pain, the contempt, reclusiveness. And it wasn't at all that Mwovu was ignorant to the world around him. He'd traveled far in his life time, there was no doubt, he'd learned; he just wasn't willing to let anyone in, or let what was inside his mind out. He was working though, trying to change it.
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Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:09 am
Tawa'di understood where the young male came from. He offered a nod, accompanied by a deep sigh, hiw own memories off many he knew dying at the claws of the Darkfire. "Each one of us cannot forget the Darkfire pride, those of us that were there when they killed us with their claws, their sicknesses, and chased us out of our homes." He paused for a moment to swallow before continuing. "So I can forgive you, especially you, for the things you cannot forget. Just do not forget that there was a better time when they were our friends, and so do not generalize all of them to be the devils you encountered."
His tail tuft flopped a bit behind him, the elder glancing up to the sky as if he was toying with the idea of rain. Without a cloud in the sky though, it perhaps wasn't what he was thinking about. "These stories though, perhaps would better wait until you finish with your quest. I am certain that you will finish it and come back a full lion."
The nvwati knew of many stories of the Darkfire pride, but a piece of him felt that Mwovu would not hear them with the same heart as he would if he had finished this quest of his. It seemed to deal with something of the pride, something that perhaps was with his coat colour. Tawa'di wasn't sure just what it was before hand, but perhaps the Darkfire had dyed it? A possibility, and not surprising, since they had stolen much of the old Ela'wadiyi pride's things, so maybe they had gotten ahold of their tattooing materials. Disconcering, but there wasn't a thing that he could do about it now. Just encourage Mwovu as best he could.
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Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 10:04 am
For a while, Mwovu sat quietly, ruminating on the words of wisdom the nvwati was offering him. The flutter of a breeze blew by, rustling the scraggly shrubs, stirring up the rusty earth in elegant patterns, and breaking the silence of the situation. Mwovu perked up his head, looking slightly more confidant than when he'd come. He wouldn't forget, he could never forget. To forgive? He wasn't sure. Though it was a highly unlikey situation that he would. Perhaps, if he learned more, he'd try not to judge. With the words of his elder truely taken to heart, Mwovu nodded firmly,
"I will do my best to do so..."
Tawa'di's confidence in him completing his quest was uplifting. Having others believe in him, well, that was something new. But it was an enjoyable feeling. Mwovu'd be back, restored to his previous glory, his previous demeanor. He'd make his pride proud. Instead of cowering he was ready to take action. Now, with the nvwati's blessing and reassurance that the pride would still be here when he returned, Mwovu was slightly less afraid to leave. Standing swiftly in a motion to leave, he gazed up at Tawa'di in admiration.
"Thank you for all of your help, it would be best that I set off as soon as I can. I will return as fast as my heart allows me to do so, I give you my word. I will seek you out when I do. You will see, elder, I will be a changed lion. I will not fail."
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Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 10:30 am
Tawa'di smiled warmly at the lion before him. Already, he seemed to of grown in just the moment it took to exchange words. Funny how just a little bit of encouragement could bring out the best in lions. It was true, even in his own old age; he never thought that he would be something like a decent leader, but here he was, giving everyone as much faith in the pride as he himself held. They had survived their great journey, and even the plague that had hit after they settled into these lands. And they were still here, small, sure, but strong and alive.
"I will wait for your return, then, Mwovu Waya. I will see then just how you have turned into a great lion." His green eyes did not waver away from Mwovu's own, a small sparkle in them as he supressed a grin at the black maned lion. There was no doubt in his words that Mwovu would finish his task and return. "I pray that the wind guides you to what your heart seeks. Do not look back once you leave, though. You must face this task head on."
He pulled himself up on all fours, gently guiding his paws to the soft earth below. He was a little short, but old age seemed to have a habit of shrinking you a little when you began to gray out. He glanced over at the adolescent lion before him, giving another bow of his head. "Farewell, then, Mwovu."
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