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 Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:06 pm
It had been a month of searching, of following false leads and dead-end trails. But now she was certain that she found it. She could tell my the scents on the breeze that she was entering the border lands now. Her rich violet eyes glanced across the landscape, wondering if perhaps she had waited before boldly entering.
To play it safe, she lingered along the borders, watching the sun slowly sink into it's earthly bed, the last of it's warmth escaping from the sky. The grass danced around her legs as the soft breeze kicked up at random intervals.
"Lovely," she commented, wondering if perhaps the rumors had left out the beauty on purpose of this land. Such a land as this would surely be packed with those wanting to see this every night.
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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:27 pm
Thoth was back into a more regular schedule on guard duty now that his cubs had grown up and taken their own positions in the pride. He was happy for things to return to how they were but being a father, even just through adoption, had made him feel differently about it. He almost missed having someone around so much, but there was no reason he could not visit them. Just as he was considering circling back around to ask Amalthea, who could not rightfully disagree and would likely welcome the familiar company most, he spotted an unfamiliar figure in the distance. The increasing darkness and her dark colors made it hard to see but there was definitely someone.
He walked along quietly, the wind helping his footsteps blend into the background and he stopped a safe distance away so as not to scare the stranger. He smiled at the comment, though it was fairly quiet from the distance he was at.
"Hello there," he called.
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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:33 pm
"O-oh!" Even though she had been paying a little attention to her surroundings, it had been only too easy to get abosrbed into watching the sun set and the stars fight their way to glimmer through the sun's dimming rays. She felt a little flustered, but quickly gathered her composure. It wouldn't do any good to act like a silly adolescent at a time like this!
"Hello," she said softly, carefully. He seemed kind enough, but she didn't want to risk breaking some rule of stepping too far into the lands. She kept her paws planted into the ground, feeling her tail tip twitch a bit with excitement.
"This may sound a little silly, but am I in the lands that worship the moon?" she asked, not completely certain of their full name. Rumors were mean like that, they would only offer you a little in hopes of getting something in return. Hyousa never bothered to return their hopes, only getting what she could and working hard to figure out the holes.
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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:43 pm
Thoth smiled at her when she fumbled into a greeting and then asked where she was. His head tilted but his smile didn't go away. He wasn't so surprised to know that someone had heard of them but it wasn't everyday you ran into someone who didn't have to be told where they were.
"Yes, you've found us," he responded with a nod, righting his head, "You're just within the borders of the Mwezi'Johari lands." He glanced up to the sky, to the slice of moon that shone brightly over them.
"How can I help you?"
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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 6:11 pm
She couldn't help but follow his gaze, feeling the cold touch of night falling around her. Feeling a slight chill, mostly likely from joy in him confirming that she had found what she had been looking for, she glanced back upon him.
"I'm thrilled!" she exclaimed, letting her paws lighten a little and figuring that she would be quite all right where she was. No threats or anything, whew!
"Actually, I was hoping to inquire about perhaps joining within your pride. It seems a little unorthodox to say so upfront, but from what little I've managed to hear, it just sounds wonderful."
No, she wasn't starstruck at all. Really!
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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 6:31 pm
"Ah, well then!" he said, not terribly surprised to hear what she said next since there were only so many options for one who went looking for a pride, "You'll be needing to meet the king and queen, they can get you set."
It was easy to invite someone in. Times were peaceful and she was alone and seemed perfectly sincere. Besides, it would be up to the royals and shaman to decide if she were really unsuitable or untrustworthy. In the meantime, her enthusiasm had won over the guard.
"What have you heard about us?"
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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 6:49 pm
Her eyes widened just slightly. Royalty was only royalty to who thought they were, but as she really wanted to stay here, it was almost a little too much. Almost. She had to remind herself that deep down, they were similar to her. Just much...higher than her, as well. It would go smoothly, especially if they understood just how much she wanted to be here, to offer her love to the moon in the night sky every night. It wasn't quite an obsession, just...something she had always enjoyed, and respected.
"Thank you for letting me know," she said politely, adding in a short bow of respect to him. Never knew exactly who you were talking to, now, and she needed to not do something wrong on accident.
"I haven't heard much, I'll admit..." she said, starting slowly. "Mainly that your lifestyle related to the moon, and the moon has a strong influence on some choices...some I heard through rumors, others probably from more questionable sources. So I decided I had to find out for myself, just to make sure." She finished with a bright smile.
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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:00 pm
"If you'll follow me, I can take you directly to see them," he offered, turning part way around to walk back into the lands with her, "The moon influences a great deal, had you arrived on a night where it was gone you might have run into another guard or more of us. The moon is the eye of the Great Lion, right now he watches over us but he is growing tired and in a couple days will be resting. Those are the days we have to be most careful since he cannot protect us."
He took a step, starting them on their way back in.
"Everybody here has a different standing with the Great Lion, he favors those he has seen from the beginning," he explained, working his way into an introduction, "I was born on a night like tonight, he watches over me but not so much as some of the others. I'm in the middle class, and my name is Thoth, by the way."
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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:14 pm
She nodded her thanks, slipping in line next to him as he guided her to where she would need to meet them. Crazy idea, but she felt a flutter of excitement return. Hyousa listened carefully as he explained a bit about the moon, how it was an eye, and now what she had always assume was a large mass just...there, glowing it's small but equally warm (in a way) light over the land. It made sense to her, and eye watching them. The brightness and size perhaps meaning more than she had ever realized.
Class? This was something she hadn't heard of, but she knew she would learn more about it when she met with the King and Queen; it could wait. The fact that the Great Lion showed differences in favour was a bit different, but it would make sense. She knew that it wasn't quite possible for everyone to be the same. Some perhaps needed more watching than others.
"It's a pleasure," she said, nodding. "I'm Hyousa. Your home, this pride, sounds so interesting. I can't wait to learn more." It would come little by little, but that was how it always was. She was ready for it.
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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:21 pm
"I think you'll fit right in, Hyousa," Thoth said cheerfully when she introduced herself and commented on his little introduction to the pride. His speech maybe wasn't as clear as a more practiced one of the queen or king but it was something. If it didn't scare her off, she would be just fine. The worst case scenario really just was that once you accepted their ways you might find that the Great Lion did not care to watch over you, leaving the task up to the other lions in the pride. Once that happened, the pride took it very seriously and would not let such a lion leave to wander alone and unprotected. They were kept as slaves in exchange for the protection of the pride, but even that was not too bad unless you ran into a particularly awful upper class individual.
"This way," he said, leading them off down a familiar path inward.
Fin.
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