|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 3:31 pm
It was ironic to say the least. Kinja's family started in the desert, but back then, she never thought of the hot sands as home. Young and naive, Kinja just wanted Kiu and her cubs even if it meant living somewhere she never really came to know as her true home. When Kiu had passed on and her cubs grown, Kinja had felt as if there was no point to her existence until having another litter showed her the meaning of family and homes. Now, after years spent away and learning hard lessons, Kinja realized where her home was and that home was here.
Red pelt, once vibrant and alluring was now mottled with grey, her may showing the worst of her aging, but Kinja's blue eyes still held a vibrant and worldly sparkle to them. Yes, times have changed Kinja, in more ways than one, but they were times that the old lioness would never exchange for anything. Yes, she missed her dear Kiu, but she knew she'd see him again one day when she reached the heavens. For now, she'd enjoy her life on the earth and enjoy the company of her family and pride.
Memory didn't fail the old lioness as she trekked across the dunes. She knew exactly where she was going and before she knew it, the familiar rock cliffs that marked the pride's center was awaiting on the horizon for her.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 6:32 am
Unconsciously, Azarax's piercing eyes swept the deserts as his paws shifted to the familiar, ever-changing sands that slid beneath his paws. He watched for everything at once, but nothing in particular, and although he didn't show it, every nerve was on end and nothing passed by his scrutiny. He had reached the point where guard duty came naturally to him. It had become second nature - so much so, in fact, that his senses continued to work in overdrive even when his mind drifted.
And drift it did.
Not for the first time, he found himself thinking back over his life. How much had changed since his first, earliest memories. Growing up with the slaves had taught him more than he could have imagined as a cub, and he was ever grateful for the gift he had gained from the harsh childhood. His ability to understand multiple ways of thinking had come from his difficult childhood and his noble heritage. For indeed, there his mother Ripuka had been nothing short of noble, and to be her son, regardless of what she had done in her lifetime, was an honor that he rarely felt he deserved. Even so long after her death, he still felt awe every time he recalled the depth of her love for her children.
A moving shape coaxed him from his reverie, as his eyes landed on the deep red pelt of a lioness coming toward him. The red was dim to his color-challenged eyes, but it was red enough that he could recognize it, and the lioness's build suggested that she could be none other than a Firekin. Still, as he racked his brain for an image, he found he couldn't quite place her face. Strange. He had made a point of recgonizing as many lions as he possibly could - it only made sense, given his position.
Though the rebellion had long since passed into the pride's history, he couldn't help but wonder, friend or foe?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 9:00 am
Amongst the golden sand, the figure of a red lion was not something that would be missed. Lifting her head more, Kinja watched the lion to see if he was going to approach her, but not seeing any movement, Kinja decided to approach him. After all, she didn't want to cause any problems by possibly raising a false alarm of an intruder. Kinja was no fool, she knew if anyone got a bit ambitious and decided to attack before checking she'd be the one hurting the worst. Her old body wouldn't be able to handle too much of a beating.
Slipping over another dune, Kinja finally reached an agreeable talking distance that wouldn't require her to bellow. "Hello." She smiled a tired smile. "I didn't want to cause any problems for anyone." She finally stopped at a resonable distance fromthe lion, not wanting to make him uncomfrtable..if that was possible.
Now closer, Kinja got a better look of the lion. She thought she remembered seeing him during her last visit to the pride but that had been long enough ago that her memory wasn't quite clear. It was obvious she hadn't ever spoken to him, that she was sure of. "I am just returning to the pride." She tilted her head slightly as her smile grew warmer. "I was intending to go see Kidondo to let him know I've returned."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:51 am
Returning? So there was no need to worry. A small smile spread across his face as he dipped his head in greeting. "Welcome back," he said sincerely. "You wouldn't have caused anyone trouble. I just couldn't help but worry. It comes with the territory," he added almost apologetically. Plus, the experiences of his lifetime didn't quite allow him to be able to trust anyone instinctively.
Now that she was closer, he could see her more clearly, and it was obvious that she was old. Unexpectedly, he felt a pang as the realization brought memories of his deceased mother flashing through his head. He had done his best to keep himself from thinking about her - and since Uddhava had left, he had been able to, most of them time.
"If you don't mind me asking, from where are you returning?" His interest in the topic was genuine. Having never been outside the desert, thoughts of what the outside world was like had often crossed his mind. Still, it was unlikely that he ever would leave the sands, even just for a while, and though he had often wondered, he would make do with what little he could learn from new and returning members.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 3:22 pm
"Well it never hurts to be a bit cautious when it comes to the borders and patrols." She chuckled. "The last thing I wanted was to make any lion such as yourself think I was possibly hostile." She winked at him. "An old lioness such as me wouldn't be able to keep up with you youngsters...for long." She chuckled softly.
Kinja smiled a knowing smile at the question presented to her. It wasn't all that uncommon to run into a lion who never left his homeland for any reason, but somehow, Kinja felt a pang of sorrow for them. As much as she had loved her Pridelands, striking out on her own to be with Kiu had been her best decision. She'd certainly encourage anyone to step out of their own pridelands, if only for a short time, to witness whatever the world had to offer. Just because you were born into a pride did not mean you had to dedicate your whole life to it, though many did.
"Well I went out beyond the borders in hoping to see if any of my children were in the vacinity. I know a few of them roam quite a bit." Sighing she shook her head. "I didn't find any of them. I am not worried at all, I am sure at least -one- of them will turn up. Those children of mine are notorious for doing that. Plus, I guess you could say I was a bit...unsure of staying here. There's a lot of old memories in these lands for a lioness my age. Some I wish to forget...but some...expecially the newer ones, made me realize where I belong."
Yes, Kinja now knew where she belonged. Home...home is where she should be and home was now, and probably for the rest of her life, in the Firekin lands with her family.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
