[PRP] Bad Days are Sad Days

[Kimaria]

Uta

For Netravati there were not 'bad days', not like the sick lions in the pride had. She had no ailment. No cough. No shortness of breath. No dizziness. No sickness at all. She felt young and strong and, in truth, did not even know what it was like to be sick first-hand, though it lingered all around her. There were some who might envy her. Some who might say it was because of the strange god-blood in her veins. Perhaps they were right. As far as Netravati was aware, none of her siblings suffered either - or not from the plague, anyway. There was one brother who had his migraines but she wasn't sure that counted. She saw things, in her head, too. All sorts of things. Perhaps it was a kind of madness. Maybe that's the effect the plague had had on her.

In any case, the young adult bard was not particularly happy about her immunity and had been keeping herself in denial about it until recently. She was fully grown now. If the disease was going to attack her then it would have done so by now. She could have wept at the realisation of it. Knowing that she would never suffer as the people around her suffered. Knowing that she would live on long after her friends had died. Why had she been freed of the plague? Was she not worthy? Her father himself had died young. He had not even reached adulthood, managing to father children in his adolescence just before he had passed on. Did it mean she had some sort of job to do? And if so, what was it?

She sighed, swept a trail of leaves aside and moved on down the path - keeping a look out for anyone who could take her mind off of these thoughts. Too much thinking hurt sometimes and it wasn't that much fun being by herself. She had hoped that the red lions would have been able to stay longer, too, so that they might have learned more stories.

But life moved on and those days were past. The only thing that would bring them back would be if the monsters came back with their threats. "She would sooner sacrifice her happiness than yearn for adventure and see her pride upturned." She declared in her 'story-telling' voice. "There would never be a place for monsters here in her homeland."

So no. Netravati didn't have bad days like the plagued lions.

She had sad days instead - though she did well to keep them secret.  

[Uta]

Kimaria

Unlike Netravati, Nyu'li was struck with sickness. The great Lady had seen fit to bless him with her mark of plague. As a devoted member to the pride, he found this a great honor. . . .but on a personal level, despite his faith, he also knew fear. It was not always simple managing the knowledge of ones mortality. While every being would eventually die, short of the gods themselves, knowing that he would likely die sooner than some of his friends and pride mates was worrisome. He tried not to make close attachments, tried to devote himself purely to the Goddess, to follow the High Priestess Ishara ever willingly. . . .

And yet. . .

Sometimes, in his young adulthood, he did not wish to die. As a priest, he so often saw the most sick, those whom were closest to being called to the Great Lady. He would go through a similar end, a similar suffering, but that didn't always make the knowledge easy. Sometimes, the pale lion wanted nothing more than to live.

The stoic lion moved slowly across the plains of the prides land. He had put to rest two cubs that did not make it past their first week of life. He had prayed over them, and they had been received graciously, their suffering minimal in the grand scheme of things. But it had not been easy for the family, and had not been easy for Nyu'li either. Loss was difficult to bear, no matter how frequently it was found within the pride. On top of that, his joints ached, his head hurt, and he could tell he was fevered. . .

Well, that wasn't enough to stop him from his rounds, or his routines. Perhaps this was simply the Great Lady's way of telling him that she was near. The burdens he wore physically, he tried to remind himself, were nothing compared to the grief the family had felt that morning. Furthermore, these pains were simply badges he needed to wear with pride.

If only it wasn't so exhausting.

Slowly, ever so slowly, the lion stiffly made his way further from the heart of the pride. He needed a little quiet time, a little time to recuperate his spirits and perhaps do a little meditation, a little personal prayer time himself. Picking his way up the smallest of hills, a pale figure caught his eye. He recognized the familiar coat, a strange mix of creamy-grey, with a slight ashen-brown mane. He knew his old friend easily, though it had been some time since he'd last spoken to her.

"Netravati!" He called out. Her, at least, it had been the attempt. His throat cracked, and caused him to turn his head and cough to clear it. Ok. So shouting was out of the question. Instead, he encouraged his aching joints to cooperate, fever be damned, and quickened his pace so he might catch up to her.

While Nyu'li was perhaps a bit more introverted than some within the pride, right now, the presence of a friend (and one who was very much so alive) seemed like a good blessing and fair trade. He would properly meditate and pray after he checked up on the bard. They may not have been particularly close, but he still considered her a friend.
 

[Kimaria]

Uta

And perhaps in his paws, Netravati might have felt the same. Or perhaps, to live immune or to live diseased was simply a different side of the same coin. Each came with fear. Each came with sadness. And, by living here in this land, they would all know death first-hand. Know it as a familiar thing. A way of life. Her body would not suffer but her mind would. But Netravati would not give up without a fight. Life could be a dismal thing at times but it had its brightness, even here in this place. She had seen cubs playing games amongst the tangled roots of trees. She had seen love kindling. She had seen the gathering of family members; come to respect their dead or dying, finding comfort and strength in their union.

And she had her stories, too.

Though - as she had learned recently - not everyone appreciated her storytelling. There was that new one holed up in one of the healer's dens. She had only gone to cheer him up and welcome him to the pride and he had demanded that she go away. He had been sick, too, she recalled. And the bite of jealousy had hurt. She hadn't been back there since, either. She would wait until he had learned what it was to be plagued (that it was a gift) and then she would return with her stories and her smile.

"For in every story there is joy to be found. She knew that. The trees knew that. And those who do not need to be shown. That was her duty and she wouldn't give it up." She murmured quietly under her breath. Her eyes turned to the side to glance at the trees. They seemed unusually quiet today for such avid storytellers. Then again, these ones didn't seem to have many leaves left. It had begun to shed its stories. Perhaps the strong winds had pulled them off of the branches.

And then her name.

It came to her a cracked thing, as if the very trees had spoken it. And, for a brief moment, she thought it was the trees. She gaped up at them, her mouth slightly ajar. And then the sound of footfall dragged her eyes to to the true owner of the voice.

Her friend, Nyu'li.

"Oh, Nyu'li! Netravati thought the trees had spoken her name." She chimed, the smile snapping back to her face so quickly and easily it was as if it had never left. "Has Nyu'li been busy with his own duties?" She wasn't sure whether he knew that she was immune or not. She'd not advertised it but it was hardly a thing that could be kept secret, not now that she was fully grown.

Nyu'li would not be saying prayers at her funeral...

 

[Uta]

Kimaria

Nyu'li had to wonder whether or not Netravati had actually heard him. . . at least while she took a moment to gape at the nearby tree. Did she see something? Was there some avian within the tree she was discussing something with or, was there a sight that he could not see capturing her gaze? Blue eyes squinted for a moment, even as he bridged the distance between his cubhood friend and his current position. . . .

Thankfully, the mystery was swiftly resolved! She had thought the tree had been talking to him? Any surprise he worse was quickly transformed in to a warm and good humored grin. His blue eyes brightened some in amusement, and he gave a very quiet chuckle. . . .which resulted in another small cough. Still, leave it to the lioness to admit her confusion so freely! Honestly, there really wasn't anyone in the pride quite like Netravati.

She spoke in third person, but had the kindest heart. She could easily be confused, but her sincerity and genuine nature was reflected in all her words. She wove great stories, and was entertaining both as a bard and simply being herself. The Kitwana'antara were lucky to have her in their midst, just as he was lucky to know her as a friend. For as serious and stoic as he could be, his pale coated companion never failed to draw a smile to his maw.

"Ah, apologies to disappoint. I'm afraid the source of your name coming from me isn't nearly as interesting as it might have been had the trees spoken. It certainly would have made fro quite an epic tale if it had," he added with a small smile. He didn't have nearly the imagination that his companion did, but he did enjoy trying to keep up with her train of mind. She saw the world differently than he did, then most did really, and it was often a refreshing change.

Upon her question, the white maned lion gave a small nod. "I . . . I have been. It's been a particularly busy week, though even without the uptick in rituals and last rites, the daily routines of prayers and worship never grow stagnant." All for Pestilence, right? All so she might find favor upon the pride, that she might bless them in some way, be it through ease of the mark upon which she honored them . . . or granting them life and survival in to another day. However she found favor upon the pride, so long as she knew they were there for her was what was most important.

"And what of you? How goes your stories, your entertaining?"
 

[Kimaria]

Uta

Nyu'li didn't seem to be in very good shape that day, or so it seemed. A jolt of worry ran through her - though she quickly shoved it aside. They had accepted it, hadn't they? Accepted that their lives were going to be shorter and...painful. Except that hers would not be and she would never know what they were going through. Not ever. Perhaps there was a reason for it. Perhaps it was so she could aid those ailing members with stories and bring them smiles and joy during the hardest of times. She just hoped she would continue to be able to tell them when everyone around her faded away, leaving her alone.

"Perhaps things would have been more interesting if the trees had chosen to call her that day, but there would always be other days. Other chances. Today was a day for friends and there was no one she would rather speak with than her friend, Nyu'li." She replied, crossing over to him at a hastened pace, scrabbling across the uneven ground in an excitable manner. "Perhaps busy is not the best thing to be all the time, Netravati asks." She continued. "A little rest is good, too. Come, come, sit and talk. Or listen. Whatever is best." She smiled and bobbed her head. "Netravati has gathered many a story since she had last spoken with her friend. Stories that are true. Stories that are partly-true and stories that are not true at all. She never made a habit of saying which was which, though. That was always left up to the listener." She babbled. She had quite enjoyed making up stories about the large red lions who had come to visit them - albeit briefly. She'd learned a few scraps here and there but nothing to create something of solid fact. Even still, she was sure the stories would have pleased them.

"Netravati wonders, did Nyu'li see the strange desert lions?"

It was good to talk about other things. Other things that didn't involve health and illness and how long it was until death came to claim them. Thinking about the lives of others outside of their home had been a curious and welcome thing to Netravati who had never known anything but this land she had been born in.  

[Uta]

Kimaria

((I'm so sorry this took so long to tag! I lost all my muses since end of summer and some RL stress has kept them at bay. I'm hoping I can get inspired to come play, I miss all the RPs. ;0; ))

The lion couldn't help the small smile that crossed his features as the female before him invited him over, assuring him that she was fine he was not a tree. Only Netravati. Still, the pride was made that much richer with her presence, and he was glad she did not appear to mind her fate. Some lions, he knew, were unhappy, miserable, and grew to resent their lives due to the constant barrage of plague, sickness, and death. . . . But it wasn't all bad. It was their trial, their burden to bear, and theirs alone. As good as freedom in the roguelands might seem, there were just as many stresses, dangers, hurts, and pains no matter where a lion roamed.

Slowly, the lion lowered himself to the ground, his joints objecting and sending waves of pain through his limbs. Blue eyes ignored the hurt, and he took comfort in knowing the Great Lady's presence might very well be near. "It is usually good to stay busy, but I will admit, sometimes personal time, quiet moments, are what is needed. We shall see what the spirits decide is best in the coming days, I suppose." The lion settled himself for a spell, deciding that a little time conversing with the pale lioness would be a welcome distraction. Besides, he had not seen his old friend, and catching up would be quite a welcome thing, especially if she DID attempt to entertain with a story.

Perhaps he was biased, but he found her to be an exceptional bard.

"I did see the desert lions, and was privy to that unfortunate affair." His ears flattened briefly, and he couldn't help but gaze at the horizon, as if an army of strangers might very well come marching over the hills. The pride had been relatively safe since then, and hew as certain that the Great Lady would not let them be overwhelmed or overrun by strangers, but at the same rate, one just never knew. . . . Who was to know what tomorrow might bring? A challenge to the pride could very well instill not just fear, but faith.

"They were interesting, but I am glad they did not linger long. They may have had interesting stories to speak of, but they could have easily crushed us." Besides which, they had seemed wary, leery, and the comments they made about Divy and her looks had not gone over well with him. This was their pride, after all; outsiders should have been polite enough to keep their closed minded judgments to themselves. "What did you think of the desert folk?" He did recall she had chattered with some of them, though he hadn't been close enough to hear her words.
 

[Kimaria]

Uta

No worries, hon! Hope things are getting better for you! I should apologise, too, for taking so long with this RP.

She worried for him. She truly did. The plague was their life but it still hurt to see her dear ones in pain, knowing that there was nothing she could really do to help them except be there when they had need of her company. And that, she would do more than gladly. She had known Nyu'li since they had been young and he was one of the only childhood friends she had made with whom she felt was more than just an acquaintance.

Still, Netravati did not share his fear of the future. She was naive in that way, not thinking of the possibilities if the ones the Firekin hunted came sneaking around here. She preferred to think of the adventure stories she could collect. The excitement that would come a-stirring. The days, sometimes, were in a dire need of some unexpected happenings and she hoped that the Firekin's visit was the first of many. Some had been unfriendly, yes, but they were a curious bunch, too. Foreign and strange and so unlike their own people that she couldn't help but be interested.

"Netravati believes they are big, proud warriors. They come from a strange land of gold. They are very proud of it. Very proud indeed. Nyu'li should have spoken with them, too. Not all were bad. Some were friendly and curious. Some wanted to know more about our peoples. She shared as much as she could in the limited time." She bobbed her head. "But...she thinks some might be afraid, too. These bad lions they spoke of...they have done many mean things and will do so again."

She blinked and gazed across at her friend. "Do you...think they might come here again? These Nergui people?"