Hial could not shake the last conversation she’d had with her husband, though most of it was her daughter’s fault. Audhild may have meant all of it in good fun… though her daughters often surprised her, sometimes they were just as serious as their parents and just masked it with a teasing nature. Feykir and she had lain together that night, though there was no telling what the results would be. It wasn’t as though it was an uncommon occurrence, but Feykir had been spending more time away from the pride of late, going on vikings… building up his reputation, aspiring to be something. And who was she to stop him? Her time would come as well, after all… and she would have to kill him if he tried to prevent her from her own aspirations. As she mulled over the thoughts she did not realize she was approaching someone very family, and perhaps very odd.
Ruby eyes had caught sight of the equally sunny colored lioness long before the object of her attention had taken any notice. It had given her time to study the other female, to try and guess of any changes. She did not speak often to others, as many did not take kindly to her weird and often foreboding tellings. This one seemed in good health though, both mentally and physically. Nurina could remember her dream… she remembered all of the weird dreams, no matter how frequent or few she had over her years. Some took a moment to recall and others came back unbidden. It must not have happened yet, though Nurina had also heard that Hialmdis and Feykir did indeed form union, against her judgement. Could she blame them? That sort of advice sounded mad when coming from a stranger. She did not have an easy time ever explaining herself to those around her, how she knew what she knew. That was alright, it just meant history was taking it’s proper corse.
Hial was almost on top of the other lioness before she realized there was a stranger in her path… no… this was no stranger. She frowned as she backed a few steps, mumbling words of apology though also wondering who the hell in their right mind just stood in the way of another lion while they walked. She squinted slightly, trying to place how she knew this lioness. There were many in their pride, so it wasn’t like she knew the likes of every single member. Something about this female was familiar though - oh… that was odd. She was having the queerest sense of having the same exact meeting happen before… but still she could not think of when, maybe it was her imagination? ”I did not see you,” She offered in away of a ‘sorry’, ”But surely we have met before.” It was no question, even as uncertain as she was.
She had since stopped walking, waiting to see when the lioness would take notice of her. She’d even braced herself when it seemed that the female would walk right into her! Luckily she did not, perhaps it would have made matters more awkward than they were already likely to become. She was curious of Hialmdis and she was curious of Feykir… she was especially curious of the dreams she had and she was sure of their meaning but nothing seemed to come of them. It wasn’t as though they were normal dreams… they felt exactly like all of the others that had come to pass, true to the last detail. ”Yes, we have.” Her answer was simple and to the point, there was no need in her mind to explain when and where. If Hialmdis was supposed to remember then she was supposed to remember, at least as far as Nurina was concerned. ”Are you and Feykir well? I hear you have children together now.”
Her frown deepened slightly as the other lioness gave a one worded answer … was she being rude? Hial was unsure… though that also was not something uncommon in her homelands. She knew herself and knew that she often had an attitude with others just the same as they did with her, it was all taken in stride. She was about to ask when it was that they’d met … because again, she was sure of it… but she just could not place where. That was until the lioness asked after Feykir, mentioned her cubs… now fully grown. ”Oh, you!” She said, slightly taken aback as the memory flooded into her mind. The lioness that had told them nothing good would come … but only good had come from finally giving into her feelings about Feykir. At least, as far as she could tell… She narrowed her eyes ever so, thinking perhaps again that the lioness had been strange and out of line that day so long ago. ”Yes, against your better wishes a union was had.” She snorted, ”He is mine now… mine alone” She added, jealousy licking at her insecurities. She remembered when they were even younger, when Feykir would boast about how many thralls he would have and how he would have offspring with all of the pretty ones as he saw fit. Sowing his seed… she rolled her eyes.
She was not overall unused to such reactions from other members, mostly the ones she’d offered up information she’d received in her dreams. There were many who believed in visions, and many who enjoyed hearing what she had to say… she even tried often not to offer up bad tidings because that was more likely to earn disbelief in others’ … or denial. ”Then I offer my congratulations… though I wish you would have heeded my words when they were first spoken.” She sat herself down, not intimidated by Hialmdis in the least. She also wasn’t interested in Feykir in the least, but she felt no need to announce that. ”Of course some of my dreams have come to pass in unexpected ways… usually I am not wrong in what I interoperate.” She shrugged, it was not her job to turn disbelievers into believers nor was it her job to control others’ decisions. She could only offer warnings, only offer advice.
Was the lioness actually sitting? Hial bounced from one paw to another, looking past the other yellow female as though thinking she might just go… but after another consideration she sat herself down as well, head tilting a little as she took a closer look at the other. Damn, what had her name been? It was too long ago, she couldn’t recall… should she ask again though? Did she care enough? ”Aye your dreams… again with such odd manner of speaking.” She shook her head a little. ”And how long do we wait until nothing comes to pass and your dream means nothing?” Those who lived in fear over maybes deserved horrible deaths… cowards, all of them.
She sighed and shook her head, ”The answers you are looking for I do not know.” That was simply the manner of things now, there was little to be done about it. ”I am usually not wrong about my dreams but I am not above mistakes… everyone is able to make them, after all. I am actually glad to hear that nothing bad has settled into your life, or in Feykir’s.” Her tail flicked, her gaze matched Hialmdis’ because she wanted the other female to know how honest she was being. ”Perhaps we should just start over, let our bad blood wash out with the sea.” It would be good to have a friend, though Nurina had never quite committed to getting to know another lion or lioness in the past… while it seemed like it could be good it also seemed equally like an annoyance.
Hial huffed a little, not sure if she was annoyed or amused. Perhaps equal parts both… the lioness was strange… and serious. Or perhaps a little boring? She wasn’t quite sure how she felt of the other… and now she asked that Hial just forget their first meeting? Well… she was not so unforgiving, after all. ”Well, I do like proving others’ wrong.” She stated with a chuckle. ”Yes, fine. You call me by my full name, Hialmdis… but those I am intimate with often make better use of Hial. Choose what you wish.” Friends were good, being social was good. She couldn’t rely on her family for every social need.
She cleared her throat, slightly taken aback by Hialmdis’ … joke? No… she was definitely being honest. She did like proving others’ wrong. She enjoyed being right, and that was fine… though Nurina was of the opinion that often such an attitude also brought about ill tidings. To each their own, of course. ”Yes… then I will make use of Hial.” She wasn’t sure but Hial seemed expectant of her… though for what? She cleared her throat as she tried to figure it out… a nickname? ”Nurina is fine, no one calls me anything different.” Perhaps nothing would come from this, or perhaps it was the beginning of something more interesting? She rose as Hial did, then nodded her head. ”May I walk with you?” And she was glad the other agreed, hoping she would not need to fill the silence as they walked.
Word Count - 1,559
