Li Wei:
His introduction to the pride hadn't been a promising one. If not for Maua, it was likely that he'd have experienced yet another premature death at the claws of an angry, defiant mortal. As much as he would have liked to have cast his judgement right then and there, writing this desert-dwelling collection of lions off as completely unworthy of his blessing, he knew better. One individual was just that- one. For all he knew, the patrolling male might have been an oddball. Perhaps he suffered from something that Maua's presense had brought to a rolling boil, it was hard to say.
Regardless, he had to get a better idea of the pride itself before he could deny anything.
There was blood on the wind, angry roars in the distance, and an air of unrest that had him trembling as he walked. His paws hovered just inches from the ground as whifs of cloud swirled around them. The harsh sunlight danced off his scaley back, the dry wind whispered through his golden mane and sent it flying behind him like a banner. Sadly- his form was hardly impressive. Even the smallest adult mortal stood over him, and it was very likely that even a hare standing in the shadow of a hungry hyena trembled less. Get in, find the leader, get out. Fast.
Kenna:
Kenna would have to admit that age... was slowly starting to get to her. She was still strong, granted, and could still hold her own more than well enough to ward most lions from challenging her to duels; they knew better. While she no longer held the power she once had, she didn't really crave it either. She was more than happy to rest in the spot she'd secured herself, watching as her children... and even her children's children climbed ranks.
This was good enough for now.
That thought was prominent on her mind, but despite everything, despite what she told herself, she still felt a need to patroll the lands. She no longer needed to, but she still wanted to. That made all the difference, really. After all, hadn't it been a long trip past the borders that had allowed her to find Jiryan? Patrolling was never to be under rated; one was never sure what could be lingering just beyond the borders, nor how useful or interesting it could be. Case point being now, where... despite the fact the wind was working against her, she could see something in the distance. It was likely the intruder (for his colors were all sorts of wrong) knew she was there; she wanted to see what he'd do before she decided how to handle the situation. Or... she was until the creature moved and Kenna realized that the shinny things on the male's back were scales. The large lioness chuckled to herself as she padded nearer, "How interesting..." this was murmured under her breath as she drew nearer, allowing the other creature the advantage of the wind so that he always knew where she was.
After all, it was foolish to play around with a god, "My, my... what's one of your kind doing here?" her voice was cordial, but she stood a good distance away from Li, her eyes stopping to fall on his horn before they lowered to his eyes. His size was not particularly impressive, but then again... one never quite knew with gods, "What brings you here?"
Li Wei:
Thankfully, the wind stood on his side that afternoon. He scented Kenna long before he caught sight of her- which was suprising. The god trembled in place as the mountain of crimson approached, cool and calculated. Her hide was striped in scars and her build was near monsterous. Thankfully, her pace remained steady and her posture fairly neutral.
Swallowing hard, the god threw his chest out and lifted his horn. It might have been impressive if not for his trembling legs and the quick heaving of his chest.
One bite from that mouth and my head's gone. He reminded himself, eyes going wide. Maua will kill me...again if I...- she was talking. She? Thank the other gods... maybe the ladies were nicer here.
"I-I... I'm...j-j-" He took a deep breath, cleared his throat, and tried frowning. Tried. He looked more nausiated than anything. "I....wish to s-speak to your leader. Please."
Kenna:
The trembling was... also interesting actually. Kenna had never lost sight of religion, and though she didn't really worship others gods aside Finar-si (which she still held in high reguard, albeit quietly), she was not foolish enough to believe gods were non-existant. Oh, no, hardly. They weren't allowed within pridal areas, but frankly, Kenna thought that trying to chase a god out was a bad idea. It was always better to question and figure out what was going on before actually taking action.
"Don't stutter, boy!" this was said as the lioness raised her head up, eyes hooded over, tail flicking from side to side as she watched the boy, "Stuttering is for fools and cowards! Speak up or don't at all!" this was actually not growled, and in fact, sounded more like something a particularly harsh teacher would tell their student. Something about this god (Was he young?) made Kenna realize she wasn't in any inmediate danger. At least not by his claws at least. She lifted her head in the air, scanned the skies and then breathed in the scents around her; something told her this one was alone. At least for now.
The slightly tension that had built as she approached him relaxed almost fully and the lioness took a couple of steps forward again, a feral grin appearing over her features before she chuckled. She shook her head from side to side and then raised her gaze to meet the gods, "Oh, dear boy. I suggest you don't go try to find Kidondo yourself. He would not be particularly pleased to see you. He's suffered quite a bit by the hands of the gods and would, as such, not be a good listener," she hooped up on a boulder that stood a little to their right and lay herself down, an obvious attempt to calm the male down, "Would I be enough to content you? I might not be leader now, but I was once the proud queen of the Safi. There's still a bit of it left in me, I think," she made motion to Li with her head, "Sit. Now then, what is it you're here for?"
Li Wei:
There were some that would argue that he was a fool. It was apparently a very bad idea to wander into this territory without some kind of escort and he'd been clever enough to figure out just why that was. It nearly cost him his backside, but he'd figured it out. There were others who would say he was a great fool. Afterall, gods had little to no reason to fear the mortals. There were some gods that would outright attest to the mortals being their personal playthings. He, however, had been bold enough to learn that mortals could in fact kill gods. Often. He argued, in the back of his own mind, that at least he was clever enough to know he was a fool and bold enough to be a coward in such a territory. If that made any sense.
He was spending too much time with Maua...
"S...sorry...", He ducked into his shoulders. "This is my first time...uh..."
He swallowed again, his large gazele-like ears falling at her words. "I'm...not going to hurt anyone. But...y-yes I just... I need to know... about this pride. Oh shoot..." He threw his chest out, swallowed the growing knot of discomfort, and deepened his voice. "I am the god of peace! And I've come to meet with any that will welcome me!"
Kenna:
The lioness had been watching him from her perch on the rock, her eyes fixed on his form as he ducked his shoulder. However, there was a distinct change and suddenly the young male (he had to be young - no ageless being was this... well.... stumbling or cute) brought his chest up and bellowed the words. His reward was a smirk which was, in no way, meant to be mocking, "Good boy," she drawled, "You may rest now, boy. You did well," that said though, the smirk vanished and seriousness replaced it; her expression seemed to betray that yes, she had been a queen in another time and could adress this sort of matters, "I welcome you," she drawled out, "But I still think it is unwise you cross the borders. More for your safety than our own."
Her eyes narrowed slightly and she snorted, shaking her head from side to side, "Despite your words, I can't offer you sanctuary. I can not help you in. The Regents are law here, and they do not want interfearence from gods, whatsoever, even if your intentions might be good," which she had little doubt they were. After all, the poor boy was trembling like a leaf and she couldn't phantom why he'd want to lie. He didn't seem like the kind that would be foolish enough to come here unless he had a damned good reason, "Now then, tell me. Am I not enough for you? I can tell you about the pride and it's origins. I can tell you of it's past and it's present, but... peace has never been particularly prominent in these lands," a brow arched as she leaned forward, her head settling on a paw which she raised in the air so she could lean it on, "So then, are you still interested, boy? What do you intend to do with your newly gained knowledge, if I may ask?"
Li Wei:
The lioness' command was good enough for him. Deflating, Li dropped his bum to the ground, the clouds around his form vanishing. He wasn't entirely sure how a god was supposed to act, speak, or make his demands. Judging by his performance in his past lives, he wasn't very good at it before either. Else he might have been an older, wiser god by then and he might have handled his current situation much better and with a hint more dignity.
Disapointment coated his features as he was denied entry into the land. So he'd come across yet another war-like pride. He shook his head slowly, sadly. "No no... you're fine I just... It's my job, that's all. If your pride has no place for me to rest in safty, peace cannot bring its blessings. The smell of blood is very strong here. I....can't say I'm suprised, but I cannot deny anyone the oppertunity..."
He smiled a little sadly. "Well...if there's no place for peace, then he should move on I suppose."
Kenna:
"That is understandable," she drawled out, her head nodding once, twice before she watching him more carefully. If anything, Kenna had always been a keen observer and liked to gather as much information from all the situations she was in as posible. She'd never really talked to a god one on one, aside from that one time she'd spoken to Finar si,and this was... well, this felt rather vastly different, actually, "We've not had peace in these lands for a long, long time. We're much too stubborn," she snorted, "Warriors. We had a hard time remembering that strength isn't always just violence, violence, violence. You're safe here, boy," not with her, oh no, she wouldn't really go out of her way to save him, but... her ears flicked behind her, as did her gaze, her eyes narrowing just a notch.
Someone else was there, lurking, but not willing to show themselves. Kenna did not know whom this was, but they felt much diferent than the male in front of her. Something about the aura she felt seemed to threaten her bodily harm if she dared touch the young god, "But honestly," she turned back to Li, her head resting safely on her paw, "Why the rush, little one? Do you have no further questions? No further need for my assitence?" a small, mock-sigh escaped her maw as she eyed the male, "Surely you're not trying to get away so soon. Why not talk? There's much that can e learned from ... interesting encounter, is there not?"
Li Wei:
"Pardon my saying but... don't warriors fight to preserve the peace of their prides? To... give strength the weak? To secure food and comfort for their comrades? I..." He looked to one side, his eyes flicking over the nearby sands. He felt it too, but unlike Kenna he knew the source. Where most would be afraid, perhaps even out of their right mind, he found a strange comfort in the presense.
"A...god friend of me told me. I wouldn't know what a warrior thinks. I'm meant to hide behind them." He shrugged. "Perhaps... you could speak to your pride? I don't like...denying a blessing. Even stubborn, a pride could benefit from a little peace."
He made a small noise in the back of his throat. "Please don't take offense, but the smell of blood makes me uncomfortable... I nearly lost my tail earlier today. I dare not risk an extended stay."
Kenna:
"Hmmmm... I suposse they do," she drawled out as he looked down at the god, "I suposse they did. At least at the begining, they did. Now, we fight to maintain ouselves strong. We fight to make sure we remain on top, so when times of conflict come along... we can secure our victory," her stance was relaxed despite the fact she could still feel the fact they were being watched; after all, something told Kenna that this other presence wouldn't be keen on interfering unless she tried to harm Peace and well... she had no intention of doing so, "Some of us lose sight of what's truthfully important. Some of us don't. It's a hard balance, little one, and these lands are rough, even for those of us that have been born here."
She chuckled slightly, watching the other god, noting he too seemed to have spotted the other presence, "Ahhh... your friend sounds like a wise one. Would make for an interesting talk, no doubt," her eyes slid behind them and she narrowed them again before offering Li a fangy smirk, "You can tell your other friend not to be so tense. I have no want or need to harm you. Why would I? You're offering me the most interesting conversation and honestly... attacking a god seems like a foolish thing to do, even for a firekin."
Another grin, this one slightly more feral as she stood up and lowered herself from the rock, "Hmmm... that might have had to do with your pose, boy," she used her front paw, hitting the young god's chest with the back of it, "Chest in. Stand straighter. You're hardly imposing when you slouch," this was growled, but not in a menacing tone, "You know, half of it is having a good stance and managing to pull it off. That wards off unnecesary attacks," she circled the god like a teacher would as she spoke, "If you can impose respect on those around you, it will make your... job a lot easier."
