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 Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 6:11 pm
Large, heavy paws paced across the ground with a slow, rolling gait that made the mountain of a lion look like he was dawdling, though in reality the long ground-eating strides moved the large black and blue muscular bulk across the landscape with surprising speed and lack of effort. Thick, solid shoulders swinging smoothly under the dark tufted mane with latent power.
Sliabh was one of the largest lions in the pride, and despite his generally silent attitude to all things, he was pretty well known too. A Guard, he was seen patrolling the edge of the pride's living space as well as its furthermost boarders daily. It was kind of hard to miss the huge, dark shape of the male in the dry, arid and dusty landscape. His sheer size and bulk, and lack of any stain of sickness, stood him apart from the others. Many were wary of him, for he was easily one of the more powerful pride members, but only a few knew who he really was, or knew of his little secret.
It was late afternoon, the sun was cooling down and he had just completed a full circle of patrols. It was time for a short rest before he resumed his duties. He had caught a small bite and sated his thirst already, before turning towards the area of the pride few thought he ever visited. But for such a large male, he managed to pass by fairly unnoticed as he padded through the pride area.
Amber eyes roamed the area, noting who was there that day, the state of the parents and the health of the cubs. It broke his heart every time one of them stopped coming to play here.. but he knew it was the nature of their lives and was simply grateful to see young, familiar faces and a few new ones.
Carefully, he moved round the area and laid down under the shade of a scrawny tree, massive body relaxing as he stretched out. Resting massive jaw on crossed forepaws, he settled down to watch the cubs at play.
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:01 pm
Today, though, she noticed a very large male laying in the fading shade of a tree as the sun went down. She watched him pensively for a while, her recently gained knowledge about the diseased lions and how it weakened them rolling about in her mind. She debated for a time, then finally rose to her paws, having clearly made a decision.
She approached the rather massive lion without trepidation, but moved directly toward him. When she'd drawn up close enough for comfortable conversation, she paused and sat, tail tucked neatly against her side. She gazed up, up, up at him, eyes deep and thoughtful. "Pardon me, sir," she began, "but could you use some cheering up? You look very tired." Truthfully, she was wondering if he was one of the sick ones, come to watch them play since he didn't have the energy to. It made logical sense, but she would never assume, much less insult him by saying something to imply such. Instead, she chose a round-about approach that seemed kinder.
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:34 pm
The movements off to one side caught his attention, though he had noticed, and watched, the seemingly reserved youngster for a while now, he had been quite content to rest as the day receded, letting himself recharge before starting the night-time rounds. His kind, those that were fully immune to the pride's curse, were few and far between, and he did the job of three normal grown lions had he been born to another pride.
Silently he regarded her as she made her approach and carefully sat down, neatly tucking her tail close. She seemed very thorough and thoughtful, he mused. An unusual trait in a cub but a good one. Tilting his massive head to meet her gaze, he considered her words a moment, giving her what few adults ever seemed to give cubs so young, his full and thoughtful attention.
"I would like that." The smile he gave her would have startled most adults that knew of him. It was honest and warm, and full of gentle kindness. His long tail curled over lean hind legs as he stretched out a little more, his dark coat shone with good health under the dust and dirt of his job. "I have a little time before I must go back to Patrol duty." He added, his voice a low, soft rumble.
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:54 pm
Something in that great big lion's gentle smile awoke a responding smile in Haruma, something she didn't do too often lately. And it wasn't a fleeting smile either, but remained on her face as she continued to gaze up at him. "I'm Haruma," she imparted seriously, but with a friendly sheen on her voice and in her eyes. "And you are very big." How this qualified as cheering up even she couldn't tell, but something about him was putting her at ease.
She remained as poised and collected as she had been when she approached him, but there were subtle signs of relaxation. Minute muslces in her face, shoulders, back, and hindquarters loosened. Having grown more at ease already, it ignited her inquisitive nature that usually only came out stiffly. "Where do you patrol?" she asked, moving a little closer to him but not looking down from his face.
She sidled up next to him, not quite timid but also not quite at ease either. The only people she was evern affectionate with were her siblings. It never occured to her that it should be otherwise. Oh, her adopted mother tried to be affectionate, but Haruma just couldn't stand it for some reason. But an unnamable instinct in her drew her to move closer, to unconciously seek that touch of adult to cub that had almost always been missing in her life. Had she been aware of what she was doing, she'd have closed up immediately and moved away again.
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:53 pm
Her smile was a delight to him. She had looked so serious and restrained, that smile warmed his heart. The pride's youth were so very precious, and yet, their lives were so hard ad often far too short. It hurt him deeply that so many faces came and went, never to grow up, or grow old. That single, warm expression made his job worth the long hours and sore paws. The occasional scraps with overly adventurous rogues and the sheer loneliness that sometimes became almost unbearable.
"I'm Sliabh." He replied, giving her a soft nod as he committed her name to memory. Her comment, so straight forward and so typical of a cub, startled him into soft, rich laughter. That deep voice a warm, husky sound. Adults were never so plain spoken, always skirting the issue, hinting, subtly digging.. yet she had simply said it, outright and without thought. She was beautiful and delightful and he couldn't help but lower his head a little to smile at her warmly, amber gaze steady, honest.
"Thank you." He replied, the rich warmth of the laughter still in his voice. "I guess I am, aren't I." Pondering her question seriously for a moment, unconsciously shifting position to ease the dig of a stone under his side, which put his shoulder a little closer to hers. "I go all over. From the living area, right out to the far boarders. It's my job to keep the pride safe."
Dipping his head a little he studied her, the look gentled, curious, perfectly happy answering her questions.
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Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 8:24 am
She managed a slight, tentative smile as his ackowledgment of his size. She rather liked it that he hadn't talked down to her, nor had he scolded her for such an observation. In fact, that was the nicest reaction she'd had yet from an adult to her questions. Oh, others were nice enough, most of the time, but usually it was in a way that made her feel like they thought she was stupid. This... this was different.
So she listened solemnly as he told her about his patrol duties. She wondered how far the far borders were. Distance was too hard to specify for such a small cub, though, and she let the thought slide away unspoken. She didn't feel inclined to move away when his shift moved him closer to her. "Thank you," she said seriously in response. "I guess there aren't very many lions that are able to go so far, or aren't strong enough to protect us, are there?" It was an innocent's question, but spoken so soberly, so thoughtfully, it revealed the depth of her maturity, even if it was forced on her.
Her eyes had defocused as she thought, and she folded down into a puff of fluff, forepaws folded under her chest. She looked up at him again, craning her neck from her slightly shorter position now. "Does that mean you aren't sick after all?" She hadn't voiced her assumption that he was laying down because he was sick, though her question seemed to imply the thought anyway. At this realization her expression cleared a bit, eyes brightening. "I'm glad."
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Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 9:25 am
Her expression, that thoughtful, subdued air about her reminded him again just how harsh life was, especially to the young. Dropping his head slightly he considered her comment, massive shoulders and lean flanks shifting as he took a deep thoughtful breath. The movement of her settling down brought his amber eyes back to rest upon the tiny fluff-ball shape. He had to resist the urge to draw her closer, to bring her within the protective circle of his forepaws. Instead, he lowered his head and groomed one white paw, cleaning the fur of its fine layer of dust and sand from his patrol.
"No, there are not that many like me. I've never been sick." he added by way of explanation, lifting his head to look at her again, expression sombre. "The few of us who have either escaped the curse, or who have recovered from it, patrol the boards and hunt for the pride. Its physical work, and tiring even for us." He paused a moment and lifted his head, gazing out across the area at the few other cubs with their nannies that were within sight. "I do not know if we are cursed or blessed... but my strength and health allow me to protect the pride, to protect you all... so I am glad to be what I am."
Letting out a long breath he seemed to become lost in thought for a brief moment, then blinked and looked back down at her, a little embarrassed. It was unlike him to talk so freely. Offering her a soft, apologetic smile before he leaned over, gently nosing away a leaf from where it had caught in her fur. "Sorry... I am no good with words."
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Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 9:52 am
She was so surprised by his apology after he had made so much sense that she didn't even feel the slightest bit of tension at his touch. In fact, instead she stood and placed both front paws on the bridge of his nose, which was so close to her from his tending to the leaf in her fur. She leaned closer, giving him a wide-eyed and intense stare. For a few moments she stayed like that, then spoke distinctly.
"I think you are very good with words," she stated plainly. She gazed into his eyes up close, almost as if entranced. "You make sense to me as if you are looking inside me to see what I feel." Her gaze defocused, thoughts turned inward to consider her own words. In fact, the implications of them seemed to surprise her. She sat back down, removing her small paws from his wide nose. With an expression that bordered on comical confusion, she spoke again, as if in surprise. "I like you." Her eyes refocused on him, her head tipped to the side slightly. "You make me feel...," and there she lost the words to say how exactly she did feel. She released a sigh through her nose in a little huff, unable to finish her own sentence.
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Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 9:24 am
Gold eyes blinked at her as she stood up against his muzzle, her tiny paws barely any weight at all. The sensation of just how delicate she was, leaning against him in such a manner, made him hold still carefully, so as to not dislodge her. Meeting her intense gaze he waited patiently for her to speak, certain something was on her mind from her movement.
As she spoke he stayed silent, studying her with the full weight of his gaze, giving her his attention as if she were another adult. She was far more serious and attentive than a lot of the grown lions he met every so often and her words painted a surprised expression over his own face. Once she had settled down again, he tilted his head slightly, studying her. "Thank you. No one has ever said anything like that to me before." her suddenly comical expression and admittance, made him smile, ears flicking forwards as she trailed off, genuinely curious. So few spoke this openly to him, it was.. interesting, to know what she thought of him and pleasurable, as she didn't seem scared of him yet.
"I like you as well. You are smart and clear spoken. I generally do not talk to many in the pride, but you don't seem to mind me..." Smiling a soft, gentle expression he lowered his head across large paws, studying her with a contented gaze.
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Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 4:28 pm
Haruma opened her mouth to ask the question that came immediately to mind, but paused as her mental filter kicked in. It definitely qualified as rude to ask such a direct and nosey question. She closed her mouth, pondered alternatives, and finally asked, "Will you tell me why you don't talk to others much?" Her face expressed both curiousity as well as a sort of mild disbelief.
"I have talked to more than I thought I woukd," she continued, instinct naturally leading her to allow him time to consider her request. "I think most of them are quite nice," she opined, though the word "nice" was said with the polite, stiff tones of emotional distance. It was clear the little cub had not found them the sort to have as dear friends. In fact, it was unlikely that she would find any but her siblings to be of her liking in this manner, which was why she was baffled and intrigued by how this large lion appealled to her.
She had moved beside him to sit, her body facing the same direction as his as she mulled internally. She turned her head to gaze up at him again. "But you are nicer," she concluded. "I don't know why. You just are." It seemed to annoy her that she couldn't put her thoughts into words the way she wanted to. She found it a little frustrating to communicate something so nebulous that no words came to mind to express it. She decided that what she'd said already would simply have to do for now.
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Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 5:08 pm
Sliabh's expression became thoughtfully serious as he considered her question, thinking about it before finally offering her an answer. His low voice soft, typically quiet. "Because they usually don't wish to talk. I am a guard... I am bigger than most of the pride, stronger than them and also in full health. Those that aren't superstitious of me and nervous of my size... or of my job. I see more of the outside than most members... aside form the warriors, scouts and bards." Pausing he stared down at his large, pale paws, as if wondering why he was so different to everyone else. "Few come talk to me and I am working a lot." Finally looking back at her he gave a shrug of his muscular shoulder, the move more like a powerful roll of strength than the bony jerk of most.
He watched as she moved round to sit beside him, his large dark body towered over her. He had to admit to being surprised, but so very grateful, that she wasn't scared of him, that she had chosen to come and talk for more than a few minutes. There very few in the pride who did such, Eva was one, Jozo, a fellow warrior and a lion as big as himself, was another.
Her words, directed to him, made him smile warmly, amber eyes softening as he studied her. "Thank you Haruma... you are very kind to say so. And I am grateful." His smile remained, gentled, a strangely open and honest expression for an adult.
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Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 8:48 pm
She listened attentively, but frowned as he listed what made others afraid of him. Firstly, she couldn't imagine this kindly giant of a lion being scary, but maybe someone who hadn't spoken to him would think him big and mean? However, how could his job be scary? She groomed a paw thoughtfully, extending it out and flexing out the claws to clean between the pads while she thought.
Perhaps it was unimportant what others thought. He had her to talk to now, right? She tipped her head sideways to look up at him. "You need a family," she finally concluded out loud. "Families are always there for each other, no matter their size, job, or if they are busy." She had made the assumption he had no family because of how he'd put things. Didn't everyone need family? With childish directness, she asked a question she probably shouldn't have, and that a polite adult wouldn't have. "Why don't you have a family?" Innocent, deep eyes met his, the markings beside her eyes making them appear even wider than they were.
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 11:02 am
He watched her groom herself silently, simply content with the company of another as the far off squeaks and high laughter of the few other cubs at play drifted over them in their quiet, secluded corner.
Her sudden words surprised him and he lifted his head, looking at her with a kind of confused expression. After a moment he left his head drop, chin resting across his paws as amber eyes gazed into the middle distance, unfocused in thought. "My parents died a few seasons ago, my sister passed on last winter." His low, soft voice was thoughtful, the old trace of sorrow there, but faint. Sliabh had long ago made peace with their deaths, for so many succumbed before their time that the large immune male had seen more come and go than any normal lion would ever do.
"I haven't really thought about it, to be honest. I have my work, and the pride..." Silently he thought of Eva. The beautiful dark-coated lioness who he missed when ever she wasn't around. Which was often with their respective jobs, her as her sister's advisor, tied to the middle of the pride and himself, constantly on the fringe, most literally and figuratively.
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 11:42 am
She watched as his reply led him into thoughts he did not share with her. She didn't mind. Adults did that sometimes. In fact, she did that sometimes, when she wasn't ready to share those thoughts just yet. She stood while his eyes were still unfocused and his ruminations turned inwards. Hesitantly, she stepped closer to his wide face. She leaned to lick the fur on the bridge of his nose as high up as she could reach, which wasn't very far at all.
Gazing into his eyes earnestly, she spoke after her unusual gesture of affection. "Don't worry," she softly told him. "I'm sure you'll get more family." The words were meant to reassure him, but she blinked a little in surprise and spoke her next thought aloud. "Just like I will." She hadn't considered that what was meant to make him feel better applied to herself as well. It gave her much to think about.
She patted his nose lightly with one paw, smiling gently before turning and padding back towards her romping siblings. Her mind was tumbling about with lots of new thoughts, yet again, and despite being so serious most of the time, she still was just a cub. It was time to play and forget her sober nature for a little while. With a cubbie growl, she leapt into the fray to tumble about with those of her own age, hardly looking like the same solemn-faced cub that had just offered comfort to a full grown warrior.
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 11:59 am
Blinking as her movement pulled his gaze back to the here and now, he pricked his ears forwards though stayed still as she leaned close. Surprised by the lick but feeling a gently flush of affection for the sombre little cub, he smiled gently at her reply, head barely shifting to touch the tip of his nose against her tiny muzzle.
"Thank you... " He really didn't know what else to say, so he said nothing as she patted his nose with her small paw. Amber eyes remained on her as she padded off, watching with a thoughtful expression when she joined her siblings in their play.
The massive lion remained where he was, stretched out under the tree as the air slowly cooled around him and the cubs had long since grew tired and left to rest in a warmer, more secure area. Only when the sun's last linger rays dusted the land did the large male stand and turn away, padding back out to the fringe of the prideland, resuming his patrol of the Kitwana border, thoughts full of the young cub he had met and the future of the pride.
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