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 Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 12:54 pm
(AIM RP between Kim and Nuxaz)
Vesta was not your typical Firekin. She was not bigger than an average lioness of her age. She had no obvious vicious streak, no will to fight - even in play - and wanted nothing more than to do right by her parents. She never broke rules, she never played up. She was a perfect child in that you could trust her to behave when you turned your back.
But recently her mother had told her that she should try to gain some independance and stop followning her parents like their shadow. So, today, she decided to go for a little walk. She'd attempted to convince a sibling to go with her, but sadly none had seemed all that interested. Vesta wasn't the most fun creature to hang around - especially if you wanted to cause mischief and not get in trouble for it.
So, here she was, slinking along the sand on her belly, eyes to the sky as if expecting an eagle to come sweeping down to grab her. She was still little enough to be snatched up...right?
---
Xipil had just left his usual training grounds, a small area surrounded by a few trees with a couple of rocks that he used to test his strength. He paused in his walk to allow himself to stretch out his muscles. He wore a small grin upon his lips as he felt the tingle of pain that coursed through him. It meant that he had succeeded, at least partly, in his training today.
The muscle ache was good, it meant that they were rebuilding, becoming stronger. "A nice workout feels good," he commented to himself letting his blue eyes look up at the sky. Rolling his shoulders back he continued to walk once more.
The next thing on his schedule was to seek out his father, he wanted to see if he could arrange a duel just like his sister had suggested.
---
She was pulling herself up on a dune - still on her belly - when she heard the thud of paws. They were distant at first but then they grew steadily louder and she wondered, briefly, if it was father, come to take her home.
A small smile spread across her little maw and, with a little squeak, the juvenile peeked up over the golden dune to see who belonged to the padding of paws.
Oh...not her father, then, but another male. This one was what one would call a 'typical Firekin' as far as looks went. He had that familiar bright red, the black and the simple but startling markings on his body.
She was not oddly coloured - possessing the fiery colours of her ancestors - but her markings were certainly not what you could call traditional. Even still, she thought herself pretty because she looked like her mother and that was something she would always be proud of.
Standing on the crest of the dune, she wondered who this male was and where he was going. Would he want to talk to her or...? She shook her head and lowered back onto her belly to watch him, her face full of curiosity.
---
Xipil wrinkled his nose and paused once again, brows furrowing, as he spotted a little figure not too far along. A part of him just wanted to continue on his way as if he had never spotted her however... There was no one else around and if he left her there and something happened to her... He frowned trying to figure out just what to do. This would indeed put a damper upon his schedule but he couldn't let the little one remain alone.
He would have quite the guilty concious if he did, something he wasn't willing to deal with. "Hello. What is a little one like you doing out alone?" He asked trotting over to the sand dune she rested upon.
---
Oh! He was speaking to her! To her! She smiled and rose up onto all fours, not wary of one who was clearly a Firekin and clearly not mad. He seemed to have a calm, friendly voice and the way he moved over suggested he wanted to talk, not to pounce her! She knew that from the days of trying to escape her siblings' rough housing.
"Hello!" She piped up, lifting her head up to look at him. "I'm trying to be more indy-pen-dant!" She replied happily, waving her tail a little from side to side. "And no one wanted to play so...here I am! But I didn't break the rules. Mum and Dad know I'm here! See, the den's not far away." And she waggled a paw to the den that was still just in sight.
"I'm Vesta. Who're you, Mister?"
---
"Trying to be more independent? Well I hardly think that this is the way to do it," he told her slight amused by how excited she was by all of this. "There's a difference between independence and reckless and I am afraid that you fall into the latter," he stated with a small chuckle. "If you want to be more independent you should stay closer to the heart of the pride little one," he commented sinking down into a sitting position.
It wasn't until she waved in the direction of her den did he see that they weren't very far away to begin with. "I suppose but I wouldn't wander too far away from where someone can come and help you should the need arise," he told with a small shake of his head. "My name is Xipil."
---
She thought about this for a moment, settling back on her belly as she screwed up her nose. "Well..." She liked this boy. He was sensible. Not like her siblings!! Well, he wasn't exactly a boy. He was a grown-up so it only made sense. Why did she have a grown-up brain before her time? She shook her head, confused, but decided not to worry about it. She'd grow up someday and then she wouldn't be so odd.
"You can help if I get into trouble." She ended finally. "Since you're here." She grinned and shifted a little. "Xipil?" She had a feeling she should know the name but couldn't quite place it.
"Oh, wait, you look like Kidondo!" She remembered meeting the lion with her mother and sister back when she'd been even smaller than she was now. "Is he your Daddy?"
---
"I suppose," he replied with a nod. "That is why I came over here. Someone needs to keep others out of trouble," he stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "Correct Vesta, Xipil," he replied with a small smile. This female was rather sensible, at least when it came to being a child at least. He wasn't sure if he wouldve been able to deal with a hyperactive cub wanting to roughhouse or play with him. He had never been one for games.
"I do," he chuckled amused, at least it was easy for others, even young ones, to figure out who he was related to. It made him proud. "You are correct. I am the son of Regent Kidondo and No."
---
She nodded a little and beamed up at him even more. "Well, I can't get into any trouble if you're here to protect me. No eagles or vultures or snakes would dare come near someone so big as you, Xipil!" And she bounced back to her paws, tilting her head to admire just how big he was compared to her.
As big as her own father, perhaps?
Then again, he was the son of the Regent. That meant he had to be big and strong, right? "Wow! I met your Daddy when I was a cub. He's nice. Not at all scary!" She giggled. "So...are you going to become a soldier, Xipil? And fight mean lions and stuff, when you grow up?" Just like her father did.
She admired the soldiers, admired their stamina, their determination and strength. She would have loved to have walked in their footsteps. But...she didn't have it in her. She didn't think she could hurt anyone...even someone who meant to hurt her.
---
"No. No they wouldn't," he agreed nodding firmly. He could handle himself against a couple of birds and maybe a lion or two depending on the size and skill of them. He was confident in his abilities and how well his training had been. "I won't let any bird steal you away Vesta. Though considering your size I doubt they'd make it very far," he told her scooting closer. "I've still got some growing to do anyway."
"That's my father for you," he replied puffing his chest out in pride. "I believe so, at least...I'll start out as soldier, I am considering seeking apprenticeship under the general depending on how I fair as a solider," he explained tapping his chin with his paw before pressing it back into the sands. "I want to have an active role in protecting the pride."
---
She nodded slowly, wondering whether he was right or whether a hungry eagle could whiske her away if it was determined enough. Either way, if she spotted one, she'd dash home as fast as her little paws could take her.
"Still growing?" She echoed. "But you're already so big!" She waved her paws to emphasize this point. And then interest lit her little face and she bounced on her paws, suddenly eager.
"The General? You mean my Daddy? Azarax?" She seemed incredibly happy about this. "My Daddy is really strong. I'm sure you could learn a lot from him! If you liiiike...I could maybe mention it to him?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 10:28 am
"I do believe so, I have a ways to go before I match up even to my father," he admitted with a small sigh. "There is always more growing to do, whether it is physically, mentally, or even emotionally," he commented thoughtfully with a nod. "So much more to grow..." he mumbled more to himself than to her.
"Your father is Azarax? Now that you mention it I do see a resemblance," he told her smiling softly. The little female was full of such energy and excitement, it was refreshing. "If you would like to you can, but you don't have to trouble yourself."
---
She shook her head slowly, not to disagree, but in wonder at this male. He was...was so different! There was no "male ego" about him that she could see. No showing off. He was...modest? Was that the right word to use for him? He was already big and strong and yet he wasn't content with that. He wanted to better himself even more. Never stop trying or learning.
"I guess...when you put it that way...we...we never stop growing." Always developing, even when physical growth was done.
She smiled a little at his next statement, puffing herself up a little. "I look like my Daddy, too?" She adored her father, especially the colour of his fur, though he had told her that it would not have been good if she had been born of that colour.
"Oh! I'll definately mention you to him. I think he would like you. You sort of remind me of him." She purred lightly. "Sooo...." She beamed. "Where were you going before? Like...before you came to say hello, that is."
---
"Correct," he agreed. He chuckled at her excitement at being told she resembled her father. "It isn't too obvious, but some times it is the subtile marks that are the best," he stated thinking about his mother. He had taken after his father much more so than his mother, unless he had inherited markings from her family, though it was rather difficult to look much like his mother, she was a solid black. It was something he was rather envious but at the same time he was all too proud of his appearance already.
"I appreciate it," he remarked. "Do I now?" He chuckled, he had never actually met the general, only seen him and heard about him. He took it as a compliment then. "I was on my way to see if my father could spare a moment for me, but it's alright I can catch him another day."
---
She nodded, pleased that he had seen a resemblance no matter how small it might be. She loved having her mother's marks but she loved it even more when people realised who her father was. She was immensly proud of their achievements and only hoped she could make them proud.
"Uh huh! Daddy likes to make himself stronger, too."
She stretched and splayed her toes in the sand, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her dappled back. "Oh! You were going to see your Daddy? I'm sorry! I didn't mean to keep you from doing that!" She shuffled sheepishly. "Anyways...I should probably head back to the den soon...the others might start wondering where I am and...well...I don't want to worry them."
---
"It's quite alright," he shrugged, just because he had planned to visit his father didn't mean that it would happen. Actually lately nothing he had planned had gone according to his schedule, but the distractions that had come along were pleasant so he didn't mind. Besides talking to her had been entertaining and simply refreshing, he hadn't had much interaction outside of Kenina and his family. And even lately he hadn't seen much of either of the two parties.
"Alright, I can take you back if you would like?" He offered tilting his head as he spoke, she had been worried about being snatched up so it only seemed fair.
---
"Really?" She piped up. If he came with her then she wouldn't need to go back all by herself! She'd started out feeling brave but actually, she had been a bit worried about leaving him in case that huge eagle did come down for her!
She leapt up fully onto her paws and turned so she was standing beside him, her head lifted up so she could smile gratefully up at him. "Okay! That'd be great! Then, if there are big scary things nearby, they definately won't come close!" And she started off at a bouncy trot, her head high.
"I wish all boys were like you, Xipil!" She continued. "My brothers are bleugh!" She didn't dislike them. In fact she was rather fond of them. It was their rough antics that upset her. She didn't like fighting!
---
He nodded, "yes." It was simple and was in the direction he had intended on traveling from the very beginning. "No, I don't think they would," he agreed just to humor her. She thought so highly of him already and they had spent very little time together. It was very amusing to him. "Haha, perhaps," he replied with a small shake of his head. "They're still your family though and while you might not see eye to eye remember that your family will always be there for you."
---
She nodded thoughtfully. "I guess so." They were family and they would always be there for her. She didn't think that her brothers would be happy if anything bad happened to her, either. They needed to stick up for one another after all.
"My family is quite small, too. Not as big as some of the other Firekin families here. My grandmother died before I was born and...others left here. Left because of the fighting that happened. Firekin shouldn't fight with each other again. We're all family, related or not, right?"
She smiled, her whiskers twitching. "That's what Mother says, anyways. I think I agree."
---
"No, family shouldn't fight, however there are times when it seems to be necessary," he told her standing up and stretching his limbs. "When there are different beliefs and the refusal to change, there is bound to be fighting. The only thing one can do is try to resolve the conflict as peacefully as possible," he shrugged.
"Anyway, we best get you home, don't want to worry your parents do you?" He asked taking a few steps closer to her.
---
Vesta didn't really understand about the reasons the war was started. All she knew was that it had been bad, and had made a lot of people angry and sad. She did not want to be around in a time when that happened again and so she would live as she thought right, supporting others and bringing about as much happiness as she could.
But Xipil was right. She needed to get home and what was the point in concerning ones self over adult affairs? That world was a long way away yet, or that's how it seemed to her in any case.
"Almost there!" She chirped, quickening her step a little as the den entrance came into view. "That's my home there, the one on the far side, see?" She smiled. "So, if you want to come and talk to Daddy sometime, you know where he lives!"
---
"It was my pleasure," he replied dipping his head in a bow. "I look forward to that day Vesta," he replied stepping back. "Have a good day," he stated watching her disappear from his view before taking another step back, turning and trotting away. He'd see if his father had a minute and if not he would just head home. There wasn't much time left in the day, it had been a good day.
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