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 Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 5:16 pm
It had been days and nights that Sahar had been on his own. Tired of his family fawning over him and pestering him because he was unable to see just caused the young adolescent to grow weary and aggravated with his condition. It was annoying enough that his siblings talked to him about what they could see and how wonderful something looked but he, Sahar, couldn't see a thing. It frustrated him to no end and then having everyone try to cart him around just...
Taking a deep breath Sahar calmed himself down. He had to be truthful to himself. His family wasn't the only reason he had left. His dreams and visions had been more than enough alone to make him leave. Visions full of stars, lion paw prints, and the moon which phased from a new moon to a full one and back again dominated his visions. What everything meant he wasn't sure. What he was positive about was that the moon -had- to represent himself. Afterall his name meant moon. What else could such a strong representation of a moon in his visions mean? Anyway, the young adolescent was now far from home and well into unknown territory.
Traveling alone and blind created a lot of...challenges. Poor Sahar had found himsef in many a prediciment but had managed to get himself out one way or another. The worst though was the fact that the adolescant had been unable to hunt and as such his ribs had begun to become visible and his frame much more lithe than when he first left home.
Now, without the heat of the sun on his back and a cool breeze ruffling his growing mane, Sahar knew that night had fallen and he needed to find a place to rest that would hopefully be out of sight of others. Using his other senses Sahar continued on in search of something to nestle underneath. A bush or even a small den would be ideal but just relaxing under a tree would give him some reassurance.
Poor Sahar was unknowingly like a waning moon. Without help from a friend or just a passing lion he'd soon not make it.
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Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 12:01 pm
The night was dim thanks to the later phases of the moon. Lacking the comforting watch of the Great Lion, many members of the Mwezi'Johari stayed closer to home on nights like this- but the king was out for a walk. He always had a reason to be out and about. Sometimes he had to look for the rambunctious heiress when she'd wandered off and lost track of time, often he had to help patrol the borders and sometimes he just liked to wander around for his own entertainment. Whichever kind of night it was, it didn't matter. The pale adolescent stood out in the dark much better than most. Had he not been so scrawny seeming, Unyezi might have mistaken him for a pride member at a distance. Mwezi'mtoto, or maybe Mvushi.
He stopped to watch the lion that had wandered into their lands. He was young and scrawny, and barely looked like a threat. If anything, he looked like he needed some help. So the king started moving again, jogging towards the stranger.
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Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 1:42 pm
Sadly though, Sahar's slumber had to wait. Just as the youth was about to allow himself to flop under the branches of the bush the sound of paws and rustling plants caused the youth to stand stock still for a moment before swiveling his body so he faced the direction of the sound. Ear forward and body tense Sahar's senses kicked into overdrive. A lion...it was another lion. This could prove either extremely good or extremely bad for the seer. Sahar, being the headstrong thing he can be, just stood his ground, body tense. The last thing he could do is win a fight but what else could he do? Run? Ha! He wouldn't get far if whoever it was wanted to kill him.
Wait...had he crossed into a pride territory unknowingly? Did he miss the scent marks? Oh this certainly couldn't be good at all if he had crossed unknowing into a pride's lands. Without anything else to do though Sahar just tried to look the least menacing as he could, or what he thought to be submissive and called out. "Who's there?" Unseeing eyes just stared out at the oncommer, just never seeing him.
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Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:44 pm
Unyezi was surprised when he was noticed. Not because he was trying to be stealthy, but because the way the young rogue moved was very odd. When he was closer, it was impossible to miss the slightly askew gaze that was on him when Sahar asked who was there. He was almost looking through him instead of at him, it was alarming to imagine why- though it explained a lot.
He stopped several yards away from the youth, keeping a distance to maintain some level of comfort. Unyezi had size on his side if something happened, he didn't need to freak out an apparently.. totally harmless lion.
"I am Unyezi," he introduced himself with confidence, "I am king of the Mwezi'Johari, you seem to have stumbled into our lands." He was not angry, was not threatening. He didn't necessarily want to scare off someone that was harmless, but at the same time he had to sound confident enough in his pride, in himself, that they would not get into any trouble.
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Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:11 am
The voice didn't sound...angry or upset or even threatening, and the lion was obviously keeping a little distance between them which Sahar could tell by the sound of the voice. None-the-less though, the youth didn't drop his 'Iam-no-threat-to-you' stance.
"I am sorry. I must have missed the marks." Sahar's voice was strong enough, not near as shaky as he felt, but it held a touch of weariness to it. Lack of food and the strong desire to sleep was slowly taking over the small andrenaline rush that coursed through his body when Unyezi arrived. "I...I just need a place to sleep for the night. I promise I'll leave right in the morning."
The last thing Sahar wanted was to be asked to leave right away. He wasn't sure his weary paws would allow him to travel on much further and there was hope that maybe he'd be able to find -something- to eat in the morning that would ease the pain in his stomach. "I promise I won't cause any problems."
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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 11:11 am
Unyezi watched the youth carefully as he spoke, defended his actions and promised he wouldn't be any trouble if he could just stay for the night. He didn't look threatening, and he would have trouble pulling it off even if he tried- squinting through the dark to get a look at his face, and the way his gaze seemed just off enough.. it was an easy guess that something was wrong with his eyes.
"You're welcome to stay the night in our lands," he said after a short pause, considering the unique situation carefully, "Perhaps you would be more comfortable nearer the pride, though." He did not wish to outright suggest that he looked like he needed a bit more help than just permission to stay for the night by a bush on the edge of the pride's territory. But his eyes, his demeanor and the way his ribs stuck out.. it said a lot more than Sahar did.
"What is your name?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 3:24 pm
Sahar's gaze didn't shift. Instead it was his ears that did most of the moving as he stood in front of the older lion. Each little nuance of the area around him and the sound of Unyezi's voice kept the young lions sense of hearing very alert. A cool night breeze hit Sahar telling him that the night was well on its way, and that thought made the youth even more weary. It was Unyezi's response that sparked a bit of life into the rogue.
"Closer to the pride?" He was a bit baffled that this King would allow a rogue like himself anywhere near the pride. He thought for sure he'd be told to leave! There wasn't any thought in his head that he'd be welcome to rest nearer to the pride. "I...I...well yes...that is if you don't mind. I don't want to intrude." Sahar's whole demeanor change slightly as his muscles relaxed a little and he dropped his submissive stance. "Um, I am Sahar." He said with a little pride. "My mother named me after the moon." A small smile graced his face at the thought of his mother.
Sahar was certainly the type of lion that wanted to make it on his own. He didn't like relying on others. The last thing he wanted was to become a burden to anyone, but sometimes an odd request managed to slip past the youths maw."Oh, um, if you don't mind me asking, how bright is the moon tonight?" Sahar wanted to know if it was nearing the full moon. He hoped that maybe his answers to his journey would be discovered the night of the next full moon.
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:14 am
"You won't be intruding," he said hospitably, more than willing to permit an adolescent rogue in for the night at least. Unyezi was paranoid about keeping things peaceful, about not letting another war happen, but he would have more time to find out about this rogue tonight and decide if he would be safe to permit to stay longer. At first glance Sahar was submissive and thin, but he certainly didn't look too beaten up or anything that might suggest his blindness was recent or due to a bad scuffle that would cause them problems.
"Sahar," he repeated, smiling when he mentioned the moon. It seemed fitting, and made it even easier to accept the idea of inviting him along. The moon itself was dim, but here he was. Superstition and paranoia counted against the rogue's chance of coming in welcome, but the name and the fact that the Great Lion was not completely ignoring them yet.. well, those counted in his favor.
"The moon is waning, the new moon is coming" he answered easily, looking up to the sky, "The Great Lion is not watching over us so well."
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:50 pm
With the reassurance that his presence wasn't going to cause any problems Sahar tentavily took a few steps forward but didn't move too far in case he happened to misjudge how far Unyezi was. The youth ended up stopping a few feet away from Unyezi but in a comfortable range. At the sound of his name Sahar's ear twitched slightly and he tilted his head slightly but he didn't say anything.
The moon was waning? That meant that Sahar had already missed the full moon. He sighed and 'looked' up at the sky. "I guess I"ll just have to wait then." He muttered with a sadness in his voice. At the mention of the Great Lion, Sahar's attention was changed from his visions to what had just been said. "Great Lion?" Now that was something that sounded interesting.
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Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:09 am
Unyezi tilted his head curiously at the youths muttering, though he didn't bother to question it. He figured if Sahar was joining them for the night, he might as well learn a bit about them- and understand why some might be busy through the night, and why some might be paranoid of bringing an outsider in. And because he asked, of course! Deciding they could talk as they walked back, Unyezi walked around Sahar as he turned to face the way home, hoping to guide the younger lion into the right direction without outright telling him.
"We can talk on the way," he said, starting to move towards home, "The Great Lion watches over us from the sky, his eye is known to most as the moon. We are most protected, most lucky during the nights his eye is wide and watchful. Tonight is not one of those nights."
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Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 4:39 pm
Sahar took notice to Unyezi's movement and was somewhat grateful the older lion didn't vocally try to direct him. That would have been a disaster and Sahar wasn't sure if he could handle another lion doing that to him. His siblings like doing that and it was rather annoying and very unhelpful. Instead being led was much easier. So, not wanting ot get lost, Sahar positioned himself on Unyezi's left side. Sahar's shoulder was just mere inches away from the Kings hind left leg. This close proximity helped Sahar navigate the terrain easier for any movement to go around something from Unyezi would prompt Sahar to follow. The little trick had been something he'd learned when out with his siblings, when they weren't trying to vocally warn him where things were at least.
Sahar's interest was quickly perked more as Unyezi spoke of this Great Lion that apparently watched upon the pride. It was a fascinating idea and something that sat well with Sahar. He was always an inquisitive cub and liked stories and hearing about new things. This almost seemed like a fantasy. "So the pride, I assume, much prefers the nights of the full moon." He pondered over this for a moment before speaking again. "Does that mean you all prefer the waxing moon over the waning?"
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Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:53 pm
Being considerate was, in its own way, a part of Unyezi's job. He was to help assure that the pride remained peaceful, that they made no unnecessary enemies and that their reputation did not take too bad a turn. But other than that, Unyezi put it upon himself to be as kind as was allowable in his position. He could be a tyrant, it wouldn't be the first time in the history of the Mwezi'Johari, he was certain. After all, with the class system, the upper classes could be snobby if they wanted to be.
"The full moon is when the Great Lion is most watchful, it is when we feel safest and when our luck is greatest," he explained with a smile, leading the way contently, "We found our new home here on the night of a full moon. Waxing or waning makes little difference, though we do prefer waxing because it means the full moon is coming."
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Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 2:50 pm
Sahar thought about what was said. He wasn't all that familiar with religious ideas and lions but it was a concept that the young blind lion kinda liked. After all, there was talk of Gods and Goddesses being a real thin so surely a religious pride based around the moon made sense. "I am hoping the Full Moon will lead me to where I am suppose to be." He said with a small sigh. "Though I have a little bit to wait if it's waning."
Sahar followed Unyezi's movement carefully making sure to move out of the way of trees and bushes thanks to the Kings movements. The last thing that Sahar wanted was to make a fool of himself and show he was incompetent and run into a tree or something. That would be embarrassing...
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Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 10:02 pm
"Maybe it will," Unyezi commented with a smile. It wasn't unusual to run into rogues this far out, and they usually attracted the rogues who enjoyed the night. That made sense, though, since they were rather active in the night themselves. What was different about this particular encounter, though, was that this lion already had some regard for the moon. This was a rare occasion.
"Where is it that you are supposed to be?" he asked curiously, glancing over, knowing well enough that it wasn't necessarily something that Sahar already knew.
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Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 2:02 pm
Sahar didn't respond at first to the question. He thought about how to respond. After all, not all lions had visions like he did. His siblings use to make fun of him because of his abilities so he wasn't keen on being finding out if this lion would be similar. Then again, Sahar didn't want to lie. Unyezi was being kind enough to let Sahar sleep near the pride. That was something that showed a lot of trust and Sahar felt that he had to return that in some way.
"I...don't laugh please, and I swear I am not crazy, but I have these visions I get. It's about the only time I actually get a glimpse at the world, but I've been having this reoccuring one that focuses around the full moon. It prompted me to leave my family and, from what I can understand of it, I think I am suppose to find my answer on the night of the full moon." There, he said it. This was certainly a moment that Sahar was glad he couldn't see since he didn't want to see Unyezi's reaction.
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