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 Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:37 am
Kidondo rarely had time to just sit and think nowadays. Not with all the demands that others put on him. Not with all the demands he put on himself. Rarely did a day go by when he wasn't out helping the guards or the soldiers or the water-seekers and no job was ever seen as too 'beneath' him. Kidondo had always been the type of lion who would never ask anyone to do something that he wouldn't do himself. He would earn his water just like every other pride member would have to and, likely, he'd be the first to go without if that time came.
He'd not spoken much on his feelings of what was going on in the pride. But those who knew him would only need to look into his eyes to know that he was troubled. In recent times they seemed to lack the glint of confidence that had always resided there. But how could he be confident when they faced an enemy they could not fight the 'Firekin' way and when they were threatened by some invisible force that had yet to show itself? They did not know their enemies and that, alone, was enough to unsettle the large lion.
That and the fact that his world was crumbling away and there was nothing he could do about it. Nothing but hope on the appearance of a rain cloud. And hope was nothing if there was no action that could give it wings.
He and No had worked so hard to achieve all that they had. They had risked their lives on numerous occasions, spent days --weeks, even!-- on plans for a better Motoujamii. These plans had borne ripe fruit and because of their work - and the work of those that lived in the desert- life in the Firekin had taken root and blossomed once more. But now all of that had been threatened and he had been forced to sit by and see his people weaken. He wouldn't call it 'suffering' yet, but in time it would become just that. And he worried desperately that everything he had come to love would fall apart and he would be able to do nothing but stand by and watch it.
So that was why he worked. That was why he patrolled the borders, joined in the hunting parties and helped dig the trenches. It gave him some control and it felt like he was fighting, even if he was on the loosing side.
That day the sun felt particularly hot and he was resting in a band of shade cast by a broken pillar of rock. His eyes were slightly squinted against the bright light reflected from the dunes. The wind had drawn waves into the sand that day and he watched the holes of his paw-prints fill with alarming swiftness. Soon there would be no trace of the steps that had taken him there to where he now lay, pondering on the next task of the day and where he might be most needed.
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:42 pm
The day was already far more busy than No would have preferred. She'd spent the better half of the morning trying to convince some further responsibilities into that hellion of a daughter named Ea. She knew Ea had a good heart, and would ultimately do what she asked. [Or there'd be hell to pay.] But it agitated her to no end that Ea seemed to enjoy simply throwing a fit for the sake of giving her a migraine. Nothing could ever be simple, not even small family matters.
Which was why she was not surprised to see Kidondo looking so down. Stress levels had been running high in the pride, and they were no exception. No herself could be downright volatile when she wanted to be... but in some ways, she was built for stress. She found herself able to wall off a more emotional side of herself and focus squarely on what was needed to survive. Voting to share water rights had gone about as well as she had expected... but she supported the pride's decision none the less.
"Its far too early to look so morose," the black cat said with a small smile, approaching from the bright light. A little shade would do her well. With a huff, she collapsed down in the sand beside him, resting her back against his. Her paws immediately stung in quiet thank you. "Our daughter may be the cause for all my grays."
Not that she had any, but she had a sense that she was growing them by the bushels.
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:48 pm
Life was hard. That fact can never been overridden. Things moved and changed like the shifting of the sands that the Firekin has made their home upon. It was a constant reminder that the Gods would do as they see fit and test the mortals to their utmost limit. And test they did.
The lack of water, at first, had been of no concern to Kinja. During her days as reigning monarch she had seen weeks go by without a drop of rain, but for a scant few weeks to turn into months, well, that was something to be distressed over. The clouds overhead, the few that there were, held so little water that they themselves were nothing but wisps in the sky. Unfortunately, the lack of water was creating quite a stir and tempers were flying, which wasn't to be unexpected amongst the hot headed Firekin.
Having just returned from her first drink at the mud hole granted to her for the day, Kinja sought out her own patch of shade to rest in when the hulking form of another lion caught her attention. A small smile graced the old lionesses graying maw as she turned direction and moved towards the male. It wasn't often that Kinja got to see her grandson. These days he was just as busy, if not more, than the more active members of the pride. Reigning over a kingdom, either as King, Queen or Reagent took it's toll on anyone. Kinja knew all too well the hardships and the thousands of questions that race through ones head. The 'What If's' could run anybody into the ground.
Kinja reached the male's side a few scant moments after another member of the family made herself known. Blue eyes raked over the two with affection and not a lack of concern. "No is right Kidondo. Things are tough yes, but this pride has pulled through worse than this." Choosing, instead to allow the couple to remain comfortable where they were, Kinja positioned herself just outside the shade of the rock. The head of the sun and sand quickly warmed her body but she didn't much mind. "You need to take better care of yourself, both of you." She admonished both Reagents. "The last thing this pride needs is either of you growing ill from over exertion."
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Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 11:00 am
"Morose?" He replied, pretending to be startled by such a thing. "Is this not my normal look?" He paused a moment and exhaled, turning his ears in the black cat's direction as she settled herself into the shade next to him. Then she spoke again and he could not help but smile - just a little. "Ea causing trouble again?" They had been blessed with some rather challenging children but life would have been much less boring if they all did as they were told. "She gets it from you, you know." He jested. Just No's presence seemed to have lifted his spirits somewhat.
And then a familiar voice came from the other direction and he looked up to see the red and black form of Kinja moving steadily towards them. To say that Kidondo respected the elder would have been an understatement, indeed. She had lived a long life on the sands and off of them. Her words of encouragement certainly seemed to have strength behind them. "The Firekin are survivors." He agreed, though who would be left when all this was said and done...he was not sure. "We were born to overcome hardship better than any other. I just..." He paused to choose his words carefully. "I don't like the waiting." And that's why he would work. Work until he was too exhausted to notice how much time was passing and how the rains still had not come. "But you shouldn't worry about us, grandmother. Working comes as naturally as breathing and I have no intention of succumbing to illness now."
He dared to smile, just a little. "And just think of it. If we were unlucky enough to fall ill, we'd have to put up with Ea's fussing." He cast a look at his mate before turning his eyes back to Kinja.
"What can we do for you today? All is well with you, I hope?" Was this fretting about their well-being a sign that something might be wrong with her? Was she ill? She was an old female, certainly, but Kidondo couldn't help but think of Kinja as timeless. The thought of something happening to her was inconceivable.
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:52 am
No shot him a look. It was true, but it terrified her to think of it. Ea and her were similar in many regards... but in her eyes, her wild daughter expressed all the traits No despised. She was disorganized, mouthy, and rash. If she could concede to anything, it was that she had her stubborn streak and potentially nefarious inner-workings. Which wasn't exactly a better opinion either. "I can't think of a more terrifying notion. Hopefully she'll learn a little of my subtly."
With Kinja arriving however, she shooed most of the thoughts of her errant daughter out of her mind. They certainly had considerable reason to stay out of the medical ward! Hopefully it was a bit of advice Kinja would take herself. With the days growing harsher, No hoped they'd keep as many people out of the wards as possible. Ea or not.
"I console myself with the notion that if nothing was happening, we would be incredibly bored," the black cat smiled. This life of hers certainly hadn't been chosen to lay back and relax.
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