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 Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:01 pm
He panted gently in the long grass, reveling in doing nothing but being alive and breathing. The pride was mostly quiet, the younger members and even some adults taking quiet siestas in shady areas. Carried on the wind he could hear something or other screaming. Funny, it didn't even bother him. When had that begun? Still, it was likely just someone fighting or hunting, nothing to bother looking up over.
Absently he began to mumble the words to some old song or other. Even his demon seemed under the weather today, and he stopped shortly after, settling for frowning gently at the bit of sky he could see above.
For once, the loud screaming echoing throughout the pridelands did not come from the firey lioness, Kasdeya. As much as she would have liked to scream out in frustration, or more preferrably sink her claws into the hide of the only lion who could really get under her skin, the lioness was keeping her cool and trying hard to subdue her demon. At first Kasdeya thought that perhaps Mahewa was simply being friendly with other members of the pride, but the more she was able to catch the scent of the stranger on his pelt, the more it became familiar to her. It wasn't various members, but simply one female that seemed to catch his fancy.
Pacing the width of her personal den, Kasdeya shook her head as she tried to calm herself. She thought ignoring the issue might work, perhaps putting some distance between the two. As the days passed, however, Kasdeya found that Hewa had managed to keep himself busy and their training sessions became fewer. A deep feeling of jealousy and anger welled up in the pit of her stomach. She had never even met the strange lioness and yet she couldn't get the female out of her mind - or worse yet - her dreams!
Having woken from a particularly upsetting nightmare, the lioness was now left a flurry of strange emotions, one of which she refused to accept was her own. With a quiet snarl to herself, Kasdeya decided it was time to face her true demon - Mahewa.
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:03 pm
Oh but if Hewa had only known the storm was heading his way, he would have been out on guard duty faster than even a cheetah could hope to be! It wasn't that he disliked Kas, it was just...she could be quite a fright when she was angry. Especially if she was angry at YOU. So rather than run, he continued to sprawl, absently poking at old bite scars on his leg with a claw. If he thought hard, he could still recall a time he'd been proud to be free of those marks.
Alas, silence has a way of freeing the mind to think, and that was certainly something he wanting nothing to do with right now. A quick listen...no, no one was near. He'd have to make noise himself then. A twinge in his chest spurred him on. Was that his demon stirring? It was if something had taken his heart and jolted it with excitement...He really had been right, his demon was a music-demon.
"Love is a burning thing, and it makes a fiery ring...Bound by wild desire, I fell into a ring of fire..." He sung, letting the tune catch and drift on the wind. HE wasn't thinking of anyone in particular, moreover, he was thinking of how enamored he'd become with this sweltering land...
It was the familiar voice that she had grown to miss and the appealing sound of music that led Kasdeya towards the demon she sought out. When they had first met, the cub had shown no interest in the male's talents. In fact, she had been rather dismissive of his music. As the sound of his song weaved its way throughout the pride and finally reached her ear, the lioness began on the path towards him. Things hadn't changed for her, but it was suddenly brought to her attention that life had been too quiet without his company.
With every approaching pawstep, his song grew louder and louder. She could feel as her heart began to beat in tune to his music. It almost felt as though her demon could feel as the two neared one another and was shaking with anticipation.
Mahewa was visible now, laying within the shade of a tall tree, obviously avoiding the duties he had as guard. Kasdeya wanted to call out to him, but the words of his music were now clear to her and she felt her body come to a quick halt. Dirt flew up beneath her paws as she caught her breath and herself.
Despite her sudden discomfort, Kasdeya was not willing to back down, whatever it was the male had to say to her. His business may have been his, but she wouldn't be ignored!
Over the sound of his song, Hewa couldn't make out the female approaching. He did notice the bend of the grass, but marked it up to some rising wind or other. Maybe it would be kind and blow towards him and cool him a bit...His tail thumped in anticipation, but the breeze never came. Ah well.
He wove his song on, taking joy in singing for himself, and not Nasian for a change. He enjoyed her company, of course, as would any two who shared an interest, but there was something nice about knowing he had no one to please but himself. He liked Nasian well enough, but she had absorbed his world of late, and the moments alone were precious.
He ended his tune to himself shortly and smiled, letting his eyes close....yes, sometimes you really just did need to lay back and relax...
Kasdeya stepped forward, looking over the male as he shut his eyes and prepared to rest. For a moment she contemplating leaving because the male looked so much at peace, but decided against it. If the lioness didn't step forward and speak with Mahewa now then she likely wasn't going to come around again. Since she had met him, Kasdeya had formed a very tight attachment to the male, deciding that he was hers and no one elses. And despite how much he seemed to despise her company, the devilish female somehow managed to steal his time by convincing him to train her for the great competition. Things had been going well until recently and now Kasdeya feared that she may have been losing him.
The lioness finally cleared her throat in preparation for whatever it was the two were bound to say to one another. Frustration and jealousy bubbled and tried to make their way to the surface, but Kasdeya swallowed them back down and mentally prepared some explanation for her absense that entirely disregarded the fact that she really did miss seeing him.
It would be typical of Kasdeya to shout and wake the male with a fright, but this time she was being careful. She was a rash lioness and often acted without thinking. Her sister had many good points about keeping calm under pressure. If Mahewa knew nothing of how she felt, he couldn't use it against her.
He wouldn't ever have to know that he made her weak.
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:04 pm
Suffice to say Hewa started at the sound of someone clearing their throat so close. Or rather, he would have if he hadn't learned well by now to never show surprise. Expecting to see Nasian looming over him, begging for some song or story, he was surprised moreover when it was NOT her. He really hadn't been around anyone else of late, he downright stank of her, though he didn't notice it himself.
He offered a smile to Kas and continued to recline, showing that he'd noticed her, and approved of her, but little else with that movement. True, he had felt quite lazy lately, only singing and never fighting...but then the dull ache that had claimed his muscles with the repeated use had faded with time, and he found himself eager for even more of a change...Perhaps Kas would want to train some more?
Oblivious to her internal struggle he reached out and thumped her with a paw. It was interesting...he found that he still dreaded her being near, but at the same time he enjoyed it. Huh.
Mahewa's response was not quite what Kasdeya had been expecting. Since he had come into the pride, Hewa had been reluctant about embracing the demon's traditions and culture. He once believed it all to be bizarre and now he behaved so similarly to everyone else. At the very worst, Kasdeya was expecting the male to seem surprised and then eventually begin explaining himself. While waving her tail around behind her and taking in a deep breath, Kasdeya feigned her traditional smirk.
She didn't expect him to not care that she came around.
As though to preserve the feelings she was trying so hard to deny, Kasdeya felt herself explaining away Hewa's actions one by one. He was simply taking on the indifferent attitude of the pride, treating her as he would treat any other member. With that thought and another deep breath came the scent of the female he had been accompanying. Why didn't he treat her the same way? Why did he go so out of his way to make sure that she was happy? Why didn't he say anything?
Clearing her throat again, Kasdeya looked the male over, seeing that the most recent of his wounds had healed into scars. "It seems you haven't been spending your time training, Mahewa." She said coldly, accusing him of wasting his time. By the way she looked at him she clearly seemed disappointed.
Hewa half smiled, half smerked under Kasdeya's wilting stare. It might have seemed nonchalant, but it was the only thing he knew to do that would cover his slight embarrasment. How could he explain he'd been dodging her to...well. He was heling the pride, so there was nothing to be ashamed of...It was just new, and that was why it seemed so strange and awkward.
"Oh, I've been putting my time to use, don't you worry." Something felt amiss, and he couldn't put his claw on it..."You alright Kas? You seem tense...been fighting others for a change?" He teased gently. Kas always had been a spitfire. He liked that about her...Her brazen attitude was much more...acceptable than a certain someone's faults, which had been wrapped so far in silks and sensual glances as to bury them.
He closed his eyes again, not in laze, but to shield himself from Kas's disapproving stare. Though he knew she didn't know, he felt as if she did, and was judging him poorly for it. Still, it was for the good of the pride that he'd been...away from her lately. Right? His smile couldn't last forever, and with a sigh it faded into a frown. So much for relaxing.
Kasdeya listened to what Mahewa had to say and felt her body become rigid. What did he mean by 'putting his time to use'? The lioness hadn't bothered to ask others just what Hewa had been up to, but by the scent of the female upon him and his long absense, Kasdeya had an idea as to what he could have been doing. She felt a growl rumble in her throat as she continued to listen to the male until he had finished. When he asked how she was, she silenced herself. It seemed that even with all of her practice as a cub, she was still horrible at hiding her deepest emotions. She could keep quiet and act coldly, but still her body trembled and her voice quivered with fear. She had always dreamed of being the best and here she couldn't even hide her tension. What did she have to be so afraid of?
Avoiding his first question, Kasdeya stood proud and exposed a strange bite mark upon her back leg. It was clear that the wound had not been a normal bite and had difficulties healing. "I had to visit Abeni for that one. The others said I had an incredible pain tolerance. But to answer your question - yes, I have been training with others. My sister, Mori, has returned to us." Kasdeya seemed to stiffen again when she mentioned her sister. The lioness was careful what she shared with others and rarely spoke of anything concerning her mother.
When Mahewa closed his eyes, Kasdeya took the opportunity to turn away and take a few steps back. She shut her eyes, herself, and silently thanked herself for at least maintaining some sort of composure in the male's presense. When she opened her eyes again, she looked back towards Hewa and continued, "I have heard your sister has made our pride her home. The Kings must be pleased with you."
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:04 pm
Hewa rose at last to inspect the bite. Indeed, the wounds were right over a rather tender area, he knew well how painful a blow there could be. He had to admire her strength and ability to hold up against pain. "I don't doubt it. You always did really well when we fought, I don't think I've ever seen you cry out in pain..." Not that he'd wanted to make her cry, but he couldn't help but recall just how she'd gotten some of her scars.
He rolled back onto his gut and reclined, more aware and attentive now. "Mm yes. I don'r know if they're pleased with me for bringing her, but they certainly approve of her." He studied Kas amoment and then went on. "I'm sure if you visited her she'd make you something." He chuckled. "Maybe a stone to wear that would match your hair..." He couldn't help smiling. She'd look good in it, he knew, but she'd likely be insulted that he was talking about something she would likely find silly. Somehow thinking of getting her worked up excited him.
Kasdeya felt strange to strike up what seemed to be a normal conversation with Mahewa. From as far back as she could remember, the pair had never really spoken civily towards one another. She ran a paw along the bite mark and grinned wildly. More than she felt discomfort, she felt pride for achieving another scar worth talking about. "It actually came from a bush viper while I was out for a hunt. Had I not run back to the pride and found Abeni, I could have died." Kasdeya looked out towards the pride as she retold the story and glanced back again towards Mahewa when she finished, as though to check his reaction.
Mahewa's compliments caused the female's dark cheeks to light up with a blush. She quickly turned her head away again and growled at him as though warning him to shut up. Had he been anyone else, she would have quickly enforced what he said as though it was obvious, but coming from Mahewa it was an incredibly flattering compliment. Mahewa was a worthy competitor, if not just for his incredible size.
When he mentioned visiting his sister Kasdeya glanced in the direction she thought she lived. She was careful to keep her gaze away from the male so that he wouldn't notice her pink cheeks or embarassed smile. She felt her heart race again as he mentioned finding a stone to match her hair and she shifted where she stood. He was not singing, why was her heart beating so hard? Changing the subject from herself Kasdeya commented, "I don't believe we should worry ourselves about such pety things. What use is a colored stone to wear about my neck? I am sure Mori would like those types of gifts."
Hewa was slightly taken aback. When had this happened? Why hadn't anyone told him? Sure, it wasn't like he was family or anything, but they were friends right? Right...Funny, how somewhere along the line he'd started thinking of her as a friend. They never talked, and when they did it was usually with angry words. Funny that it would somehow translate to 'friends'.
As to her blush, he was oblivious, having busied himself getting at an itch at about the same time she looked away from him. He flicked an ear at her growl, paying it little mind. If she'd really wanted him quiet she'd have said so. That's just how she was. Tough in the face of pain, but always blaring in the face of someone who opposed her...He laughed aloud at that mental image.
He watched her glance off to the old den he'd shared with Bele until she'd claimed it as her own and he'd returned to her original one. He frowned a bit at her comment. Why not? He thought it'd make her look rather nice, and scary too, if she'd liked. He shrugged. "Maybe Mori would," and here he assumed she meant the god-lion...interesting, he hadn't known she'd met the god. "But still. It'd look nice, and...Hmm." He stood and padded over to her, tapping her head above and between her eyes with a paw. "You could wear it here, be a three-eyed demon..."
Kasdeya had been looking off towards the dens when Mahewa began to approach her. Glancing back to see what he was up to, the female was taken back when he placed a paw on her forehead. She swore for a moment that her heart might burst through her ribs as he explained just why she might like to have some intricate jewels. "A three eyed demon, eh?" She asked, having to be careful not to stutter. Other than their competitions with one another, Mahewa had never come so close...
Looking away again, the lioness began to feel incredibly ashamed of her behavior. She was a strong demoness, why was she acting so foolishly in front of him? Had it truly been so long since they'd seen one another? With yet another growl, Kasdeya began to take a few steps away from Hewa, as though she was preparing to leave. "I shouldn't keep you from your duties," She began, glancing back to give him a warning look. "You should be careful to keep up with your responsibilities, Mahewa." Kasdeya could only hope that by remaining at the borders and patrolling as he was supposed to, that he might spend just a bit less time with the filthy female that had caught his interest.
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:30 pm
Hewa nodded and chuckled. He must have surprised Kas with the face she was making. Maybe he wasn't as rusty as he'd thought! "Why not? I suppose if you'd rather have something more practical she'd make it." His mind staryed to the secret he shared with his sister alone...Perhaps he could offer something like that, but then Bele would be furious he'd let it slip.
He watched as Kas moved away. Why was she being so stern? True she normally was that way, but he felt a bit like it was his fault some how. "It's alright," He called after her. "One of the younger ones thinking of taking a guard job took my spot today. We can talk more if you like...Though I suppose you have duties to tend to as well." What they were he had no clue. He couldn't remeber seeing Kas do much more than wander about and fight with folks lately.
Kasdeya stopped only long enough to hear Mahewa finish speaking. Once he was finished, she continued to distance herself from him. When he suggested that she stay, she felt her ears fall flat against her head. It reminded her of Abeni for a moment and she wondered why she always pulled herself away. Why did she feel a need to run when it seemed things were actually working out?
Without actually looking at him, Kasdeya answered, "I am sure you can think of other things to keep you busy." While she had said nothing regarding Nasian, something about her tone implied that she had an idea why Hewa had been busy and that she didn't like it in the least. With her back still facing him, she shut her eyes and took in a deep breath. She had done it - she had come to him. If he wanted to continue their training now, he knew she was still interested.
Without another word, the muscled lioness bounded off into the pride, eager to find something to take her mind off of him.
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