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 Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:32 pm
 
Her reflection was fuzzy with all the steam around her, but she could still make out a dark outline of herself in the water. It rippled and danced against the surface as she watched. Gold eyes became unfocused as she thought. The wise God of Darkness had told her that the Gods do not control their realms. That their realms control them, and the people that believed in them held the real power. She wasn't sure if she really believed this... But still, she prayed every day for the God as she had promised. Her eyes fell closed slowly, her body loose and calm as she prayed.
Kasdeya knew little to nothing about Abeni, but their conversation stuck within her mind and she hoped to bump into the adult in order to ask more questions. When they had first stumbled across one another, Abeni was as Kasdeya expected, cold and to the point, as many demons often were. As their conversation continued, however, the small cub was welcomed into Abeni's life and offered intimate information. Feeling an immediate connection to the adult, Kasdeya felt herself unfold, speaking about her family and bragging about her relationship to her father. It was only when Kasdeya caught herself that she forced herself to leave.
What was the point of developing a relationship with someone if you were to only be hurt and abandoned in the end? Were these pains of abandonment regarded as highly as scars from battles? Did they only strengthen who you were?
Remembering that Abeni had been a seer, Kasdeya could only think of one place to look. The priest's dens! It had been a few days so there was a chance that if Abeni had spoken with the Kings that she was given the position only available to seers!
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:04 pm
Abeni continued to pray, her eyes closed... letting the hot steam envelope her. Whispers echoed threw the cave, so soft that they weren't coherent. Just mutterings only she knew. They might as well have been in a different language.
Like the last time they had met, Abeni did not notice the girl approaching her. She was caught up in her worshipping. But was this really worship? It was different than her usual prayers. She was wishing.. Wishing for her friend to be well. To most of all... be happy.
Kasdeya continued into the Priest's dens, looking about for any sign of Abeni. The cub did not spot the dark lioness as first, eyes unused to the sudden darkness from entering. Curious, Kasdeya made certain to observe the differences in these dens as compared to those of the other lions. The thick steam was warm against the cub's body and she thought it strange to sleep in such an environment.
Once she had come deeper into the dens, the sound of whispering prayers could be heard. Echoing upon the walls and unable to be understood created a very frightening scenario. Pushing on and unafraid, the cub continued further, until she spotted the creator of the strange sounds. "Abeni?" Kasdeya asked quietly, almost afraid for a moment of trespassing somewhere she wasn't supposed to.
Her eyes snapped open then, ears tilting back. Slowly her head turned to stare at the cub, her expression blank. After boring a hole threw her with her gaze, it suddenly seemed to pass. She blinked slowly and peered at her curiously. "Kasdeya?"
The deep stare of Abeni's golden eyes were piercing and Kasdeya found that she instinctively took a few steps backwards as though to avoid them. Taking in a breath and swallowing, the cub was hesitant to answer. Had she done something wrong? While not new to the pride, Kasdeya was uncertain as to how the priests were treated, or how they were able to treat the cubs.
Kasdeya had been born of one of the Kings, but this held no importance to the pride. All cubs, no matter their parents, were able to challenge the position of heir. The priests, on the other hand, were special. They held the talents of a seer and could not be challenged so easily.
Smiling faintly, the cub almost bit her lip. "I just wanted to find you. I hope I didn't mess up anything."
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:12 pm
"Oh.. no, child..." She shook her head, chin lowering slightly. "You're fine. Merely startled me. I was just praying... But I am done now." She turns and trotted towards the exit of the pool room, out into the other tunnels so that they wouldn't have to see and talk threw the steam. "Is something wrong?"
Kasdeya noticed an immediete change with the way that Abeni spoke to her. She was kind, gentle and almost loving. This was surprising at first and while Kasdeya almost became cross simply out of habit, the cub found herself comforted by Abeni's speech. Perhaps, Kasdeya thought, this was a talent of the priests. Perhaps Abeni had an ability to sooth those who believed were unsoothable?
Following the dark female out of the steam, Kasdeya was better able to both breath and see. Abeni's question caught the small cub off guard and Kasdeya lowered her ears in confusion. Was there something wrong?
Kasdeya had seeked Abeni out without any knowledge as to why or anything to discuss. The simple comfort of a normal conversation, or the excitement of one of Abeni's stories was desired, but it seemed something else had called Kasdeya forward. It seemed she just needed an escape.
"No, i'm fine. I just.. haven't seen you around."
"Oh." She sat down when they were a good distance away from the steam, but close enough to an exit that it wasn't too dark. "Well, I've been rather busy. Getting to know the land and my... demon. My powers are so much more potent here." Abeni reguarded the cub with a mixture of curiousity and amusement.
Kasdeya understood being busy. Since her first defeat with Mahewa, the cub was determined to train her hardest and challenge him once again. And Nyota, he was another issue. The dark cub had already surpassed her number of scars, defeats and kills. He was a great inspiration as Kasdeya's goal was to finally challenge him, amongst the other potential heirs in the great battle for the pride.
When Abeni remarked that she was also getting to know her demon, Kasdeya looked curiously towards her. "How do you do that..?" She asked slowly. The cub hated to think that she did not know something about her pride, but understood that she was young and had so much more to learn. Abeni's comment on how much more potent her abilities were caused the cub to grin widely once again in amazement.
"So, do you think that these lands give your mind more strength? Do you think that these lands do that for all of us?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:38 pm
"Well... by speaking, I suppose. Well... not literally communicating. But mostly meditating. Closing off your mind to nothing else other than you and your demon. I've found already that that is the time your powers are most powerful." She nodded slightly, chin tilting up to stare at the large stone wall of the cave. "Yes... I believe the volcano has a vast amount of energy, and blesses us with it's power."
Even though Abeni was new to the pride and its ways, it seemed she already had a vast knowledge. Knowledge that Kasdeya was glad to learn and eagerly listened to. With a nod, the cub continued to listen to all Abeni was telling her, thinking up questions along the way.
"Meditating?" Kasdeya repeated. She had heard of it before, but never actually tried it herself. The cub had put a great emphasis on physical strength, but perhaps that was where her weakness lied. To be truly powerful one needed to be strong both physically as well as mentally.
When talk came up about the volcano, Kasdeya felt her green eyes shift towards its direction. The volcano had always been a favorite resting spot for the cub and it had also been the place where she had come across Abeni. Perhaps it had been her demon leading her?
"Yes, meditating." She nodded, watching the cub with a calm smirk. "Its where your mind becomes clear of everything. No thoughts, no distractions... It is during that time that I find it easiest to talk to my demon." She shifts slightly, glancing down the tunnel to the room she was praying in. "As I said... I have very little experience. But I am very eager to learn."
Kasdeya nodded, taking in the information that Abeni was willing to offer. Meditating sounded boring at first, but the more the small cub heard, the more fascinating she found it. Perhaps this was her chance to find something she truly excelled at. Perhaps through communicating with her demon, she could finally find herself one step above Nyota!
With a wild grin, Kasdeya nodded again, eager to hear more. When Abeni mentioned that she was still learning, the cub's grin faded to a genuine smile. There was something certainly different about Abeni. Most other demons wouldn't have admitted something like that, but Kasdeya found that she respected that about Abeni. Abeni radiated a sort of strength that even knowing she had little experience did not change.
Looking out from the cave, Kasdeya felt a sudden urge to talk to Abeni about things unrelated to power, strength or the general trainings of the demons. "I met a boy a couple days ago."
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Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:30 pm
Abeni watched her in silence, staring with a look of amusement and curiousity. She wondered why this cub seemed to stick around her. She also wondered when she would run off... Though she was suprised to find that she didn't mind the younger female's presence. It was... nice, in a way. When the subject of males was brought up she raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Meeting males was usually a good thing in her mind. ...But considering Kasdeya was just a small cub... she couldn't help but be a bit protective.
Abeni's short response was enough to remind the cub that the two did not quite have the type of relationship that Kasdeya longed for. Despite how much they seemed to have in common and the closeness that came up in conversation, they had only met a few days earlier and their conversations were both short.
Keeping her gaze away from the older female, Kasdeya lifted herself to her feet and tried to disappear for a moment. It was horribly embarassing to attempt opening up to a stranger. Instead of running away this time, Kasdeya tried to simply shift the conversation back to familiar territory, "His name is Mahewa.. and I think he's a demon."
Kasdeya wanted to explain that she thought she found her first friend and that Mahewa had impressed her in a variety of ways, but that all seemed to show a sort of weakness.
"Oh?" Gold eyes blinked for a moment. Well, hopefully this male was a cub as well. Besides, she probably needed lions her own age to talk to. Though... This pride did seem to have an abundance of them...
"Is he in the pride? I don't believe I've seen him before."
Kasdeya shook her head for a moment and then glanced away, still a bit embarassed to have brought up the dark cub. "No, he hasn't joined yet..." While the two had not known one another for very long, it was clear that the cub was not very good at expressing herself. It seemed the closer she got to someone, the farther she felt the need to push away.
Taking in a breath, the cub looked towards Abeni for a moment and then looked back towards the pride, "Speaking of which.. I should probably look for Iartuupe and let him know I found Mahewa."
Finding this as the perfect excuse to leave, the cub nodded respectfully and then smiled. "Thanks for listening, Abeni."
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Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 10:20 pm
Abeni watched the girl turn to leave, the slightest of frowns coming to her maw. Yet again, this was happening. For a moment she wondered if she scared the cub in some way... But if that was the case, surely she wouldn't keep returning. "If you feel that it can not wait for later, I suppose.... well, do come back sometime. I would not mind the conversation. You're... welcome, child."
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