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 Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:58 pm
 It was always at night that he found himself walking around lost to his thoughts. His mind drifted to everything that had been going on in his life. Nothing particularly interesting actually, something he found himself wondering about. What had he done to keep things from being what most would call exciting, interesting?
He had thought his every day routines from start to finish, planning it to exactly when he would fall asleep. Of course that last little bit wasn't always correct but occasionally it was.
It was then that it occurred to him, perhaps the reason his days were to simple was because he planned them out too carefully. He thought everything through from the moment he woke up to the time he went back to sleep.
He'd always sleep near the opening to be able to be woken by the sun's first rays, something he prided himself on. And he always slept in the exact same spot. And whenever anyone would be in his spot, he'd stare at them expectantly until they moved.
Yes Xipil was always calculating his thoughts, his plans, everything.
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Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:17 pm
Sometimes it scared No to see all the little ways her children often resembled her. Little flashes, here and there. And when they weren't reminding her of herself, she saw little Kidondos. Almost all their short lives had been spent together- and as the cubs grew, reaching the age where the two had first met, she was starting to see it all the more.
So as she walked towards the mouth of the den and caught sight of Xipil quietly seated outside, she couldn't help but be reminded of Ondo. It was a scene...a scene she felt like she had seen, long ago. A smile crossed the black cat's face, and quietly she approached behind her son. When she was close enough, she gently knocked him with the side of her face in greeting.
"It's getting awfully late," No smiled, gently sitting down beside him. The Regent herself had been a bit late coming herself- having spent the majority of the day overseeing some of the guard's sparring sessions.
And such a serious face! A smile crawled across hers. She knew that face.
"Having trouble sleeping?" She asked softly, her head dipping low so it settled just beside her young son.
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Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:31 pm
Ever aware of his surrounds he had not seen his mother sneak up on him until her face touched his. Startled he stepped to the side falling over his paws and landing on the ground. "Ugh." He mumbled as he opened his eyes and shook his head. What had just happened?
Ah! Someone had attacked him!
Instantly the red feline was on his feet whirling around to face his attacker. He heard her voice before his dark blue eyes settled upon her form. Sometimes it was difficult to see her in the shadows from the on-coming night.
"Mother! You startled me!"
He exclaimed as a small smile spread across his lips at the sight of her. He was always happy to see one of his parents, his mother especially. There was something about the black cat that he just simply adored.
Maybe it was just the bond between a mother and her child.
At her question he tilted his head, brow furrowing, and frowned. He wasn't having any trouble, no it simply wasn't time yet. He had determined that he would enter the den, take his spot when the sun fell beneath the horizon.
"Ah, not exactly."
Of course how was he to explain that?
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Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:45 pm
She chuckled as the boy recoiled, her green eyes flashing. Her ways about the night were no secret to the black cat. They were something that served her quite well through childhood and war. But occasionally, she tended to forget to be more mindful of the people she was sneaking up on.
She thrummed pleasantly and settled down. "I am quite the tricky one, yes." She grinned. "Sorry, Xipil."
No paused for a second to yawn, her otherwise shadowy body suddenly pink and white in the fading light. It had been a long day, that was for sure. She was glad though, to have someone to talk to before bed. It sounded like the rest of the family had already taken to it.
"Mm?" She mused, her sleek neck stretching. "Not exactly, huh? Well- I like the night too, myself." The desert was particularly beautiful at night.
"I take it the horde has gone to sleep?" No added, rolling an eye back just to be sure. She caught sight of Ea and Fia, seemingly continuing to wrestle with one another even in sleep. She couldn't see too much further back in the cave, but sensed that Kidondo was likely inside as well. "It's nice to have some quiet. How was your day?" She asked, her ears perking.
Being regent sometimes took time away from her cubs. But No deeply cared about their motions throughout the day. They were all apprentices now- certainly, an important time in their lives. It scared her to death that she might be missing some of it.
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Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:01 pm
He laughed lightly when she apologized. "Only you could do that to me mother." He told her completely believing the statement. He was sure that if his father truly wished to sneak up on him he could but otherwise it was much more difficult for the bright red firekin whom he took after in looks. "Do you suppose that one day I'll be able to sneak up on people the way you do, or close to the way you do?" He inquired before following her gaze into the den.
"I find the night more peaceful than the day," he commented his attention turning to the fleeing sun rays. "It's easier to collect one's thoughts when you have a comforting silence isn't it?" He asked looking back over at her only able to really see her by her brightly colored eyes. "There's more to see as well. Some things you are only able to find when you let day turn to night."
Things such as the stars and the moon.
Of course he wasn't exactly one to go searching for beauty though, he preferred to think about how things came to be and finding little bits of information that not everyone knew. That was what he strived for.
"Ah, yes. Or at least they all went inside with the intention of sleeping," he told her once again glancing towards the den. Hopefully they had been smart enough to not sleep in the spot that he always slept in. Otherwise they would have a cranky sibling amongst them. "Quiet can be comforting."
He shrugged trying to recall what he did exactly. "The same as most days I suppose," he replied with a slight frown. "I accompanied a hunter on their trip and had my hand a smaller game," he told her, reminding himself that he had accomplished his goal of hunting something for the day. "I know I probably should have chosen the type of apprenticeship I wanted to follow already but I am considering trying to be the apprentice of a soldier. Do you think I still can?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:12 pm
No brimmed. "Of course. Kidondo can sneak up on me sometimes. There's always a way to do it. And you know- sometimes, being very obvious has it's advantages." She suggested. "People will look for shadows, but not always what's right in front of them."
"I've always liked the night," She mused. "Back where I was born, it was the only time of the day I ever seemed to fit in. I used to get in a lot of trouble sneaking off to have adventures on my own." She sighed, feeling a slight pang of guilt for her mother's nerves. She was glad none of her own children had yet to inherit her pension for wandering. " Used to drive my mother crazy..."
She rolled an eye back to the den and smiled. "Did they? I'll have to get the report in the morning."
Her face fell a bit, however, when he recounted his day. He seemed... forlorn. Well, maybe that was too harsh a word. But she hated the idea of one of her own being troubled. As he continued, she had a slight burst of pride when he spoke of taking down smaller game. "Fabulous!" She said excitedly, before remembering that he did not seem quite as excited about it. She tried to quell herself- as honestly, it was almost enough to wake Kidondo about. She could preen all day about her son catching something.
"Of course you can," No smiled. "You can be whatever you'd like to be! You'd make a fine soldier if that's what you want. There's no sense rushing decisions."
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Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:38 am
A soft chuckle slipped from Xipil's lips as he imagined his father sneaking up on his mother. "I suppose that is true. Sometimes being too aware of your surroundings can be a person's downfall," he mused with a flick of his tail. If you paid too close attention to what was around you'd forget to look forward.
"I like how calm it is," he told her tilting his head back to glance up at the night sky. His dark blue eyes studied the stars that twinkled overhead. "It gives me time to think without worrying about too many distractions." He stated with a shrug. Dropping his gaze back to his mother he tried to picture her as his age running around in the darkness. "That would be interesting, to have adventures in the dark." He smiled. He probably would never do that, at least until he was older if only because it would distrupt the schedule that he clung to.
"It was a good experience, hunting." He told her with a nod. "At least with this I know that I won't have to rely on other's to survive." Which was incredibly handy. Especially if he ever did decide to go out and travel. There was still so many possibilities for the young male.
"So there is still time?" He asked tilting his head to the side. "Good." He would find a soldier to apprentince under, then perhaps he could help use his cool logic to help in any future battles. If he was ever needed to. That would be nice.
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Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 6:50 pm
She smiled kindly, her ears folding. "You needn't worry about that. If my children are anything, they're survivors. But I'd always help you. Don't worry about things like survival, just yet." With a wider grin, she lightly nudged him with the front side of her paw. "This place, our home. It makes you strong. Even Aunt Kaanga is strong, and heavens knows she's a few screws loose."
"Always time," She thrummed. The weariness of the day was beginning to strike her. So much work to be done, already a list was bubbling into her head. She'd have to talk to Kidondo and.... the black cat yawned.
"You should ask your father about the apprenticeship. He's sparred with the general himself." She grinned. Their children might not inherit any title from their parents- but, No wasn't above using their connections to land their children a nice apprenticeship. "He would know the best soldiers to learn under, if you are interested. It won't be easy though," she cautioned.
No. The life of a firekin wasn't easy at all.
"You think you can take a hit?" She suddenly. She was tired- but, the idea of her son succeeding struck her even more. She wanted him to be sure about his decision. She had to be sure of his decision. "Or land one? Try it." Her tail shifted like a corkscrew. "Your mum didn't get where she is without clawing her way to it. Why don't you show me what you can do?"
She didn't rise- but she lowered her head with a taunting grin; inviting her son to try his best shot on the wily cat.
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Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 9:14 am
"I know." He replied grateful to know that his parents would always be there if he ever needed them. Not everyone had that. He chuckled lightly, something not very common for the young boy. "I'll try not to," he told her. It wouldn't be easy for the boy, after all he was always thinking about events to come, thing that wouldn't happen or could happen. At her next string of words he nodded. It was true he knew that already living here in the Firekin lands was helping him gorw, helpnig him to be stronger. "I can feel it."
"Ah yes, I suppose that I can, he would be able to help me get a good soldier to apprentice under." Xipil was already planning the conversation with his father in his head, he would speak to him in two days he decided, that way it wouldn't interupt any of his already planned plans. "I wouldn't want it if was easy, everything good comes with work." He stated with a firm nod. He wanted to work for everything he got otherwise, to him, there would be no point.
"Yes," he replied without thinking at her question. He was willing to take as brutal of a beating as he needed under any apprenticeship. If he couldn't take a hit what was the point in staying in a pride that did value strength? His eyes widened at his mother's next suggestion. Could he land a hit? Possibly but on his mother? If he didn't keep a close eye on her she would vanish from his point of view and that could be dangerous, if it was anyone other than his mother.
"Possibly. I can always try." Xipil responded sinking into the ground into a crouching position. He kept his blue eyes trained on No. He couldn't lose sight of her. He started to inch forward before springing at her.
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Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 6:24 pm
No grinned as her son spoke. Pride fluttered through her, even as her son crouched and suddenly sprang towards her. She wanted terribly to stand still and let him plow into her. But she wasn't about to let her son get into something he wasn't prepared for. Instead, with a swift bound, No dodged her son's first descent- and rather cheekily thumped him on the bum as he passed by.
"You'll have to be a bit quicker!" She purred. Mischievously, the regent dropped to her elbows, and let her tail thrash at the air in a play bow. "I'm a big opponent. What do you suppose is my weakest point?" She asked.
Even as she danced around him she kept talking. "There's a story about this kind of battle. A long time ago, a very small lion had to defeat a very large one. Luckily you'll never have that problem." She hopped. "Firekin are never small. But, for now! How shall you defeat me?" The black cat asked.
She jumped to the left again, and then froze- leaving herself open for another attack. "Well, other then calling daddy." She remarked. "That would be cheating." [Just in case Kidondo happened to overhear any of this!]
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 12:34 pm
Xipil frowned as his mother dodged him with such ease. It just proved how behind he truly was. He was glad that she wasn't letting him win, he wouldn't have liked that at all. In fact it would have upset him. When she thumped him he let out a squeak and crashed into the ground. Oops, how embarrassing.
Thankful he couldn't blush he scrambled back onto his feet and whirled around determination present in his expression. He was going to land a hit on his mother no matter what. He had to. He was going to prove himself. If he was going to join the firekin army then he needed to do this. He needed to prove he was worthy, that he could handle it. If he couldn't, then he wasn't sure he was worthy of the brand firekin.
"Yes mother," he replied with a firm nod as he moved from side to side. He had to be careful. "You will just have to see," he grinned in response to her question. He'd do it. Somehow. When she moved to the left so did he and when she froze he darted forward just before moving a to the left then pouncing right.
"I don't need father to bail me out!" He stated. He wanted to prove that he was a great lion in his own right, not just because of who his parents were.
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