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 Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:52 pm
The summit had Armada on edge. There were certainly enough reasons why. The sentinels were back, meaning she had to walk on egg shells until Seide left. She wasn't sure if her pride could take another stint as a drudge...but she also wasn't entirely sure she could keep her mouth shut if the legate started something. Armada decided it was best to avoid the situation entirely and keep as far away as she could.
Then, there was the fact that she'd spawned a second litter. She'd sent word to Heti through the usual chain of message carriers, but suddenly having to do introductions of her kids to their father was just...not something she was good at. She was not a sentimental creature. She was sure her cubs often wondered if she loved them at all. She did, it was just hard to... take the time and show that.
Still, the introductions hadn't gone too bad. Her cubs certainly were nothing to be ashamed of- it was a huge litter full of strong kids. And no Ea running around to fight with. But even with all of that, it wasn't the only thing to have her on edge. She might have been in trouble, but she did care about this campaign against the Nergui. It troubled her greatly they weren't progressing as planned.
She was beginning to wonder if they were preparing for one war, and the Nergui were preparing for something entirely different.
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 2:24 pm
The call for all sentinels to return home had been met with a myriad of emotions for Heti. Both good and bad. On one side he had been looking forward to getting back to the dry, desert heat and familiar territory. He'd also been looking forward to catching up with old friends and - in particular - with Armada and their children. But then there were the bad things...the worrisome things that kept him awake at night.
Firstly there was the summit itself for he was not sure exactly what to expect - though he hoped that it would not bring anything too dark into being. Perhaps if he wished hard enough for good news it would happen. And then there were the Nergui, slinking about in the rogue lands with all their secret intents and masked threats. Oh, and then there was his father. Heti probably dreaded that meeting the most. There would be arguments, to be sure, and disapproving looks and they'd probably leave on bad terms just as they always did - like a horrible, never-ending cycle.
Sometimes Heti wondered whether he'd ever do anything right. Still, perhaps he had one bit of news that would please his father. He wasn't planning to go back out into the rogue lands again. Not now that he had a family to tend to.
As he closed in on Armada's position he could sense, quickly, that she was tense. And, as he approached her, he began to wonder if she might prefer to be left alone. Ah, well, it was too late now. It was hardly likely that he'd be able to go back the way he had come without her turning to notice him. Besides, if she had concerns, perhaps it was better to speak about them. So, instead, he shoved away his hesitation and approached her cautiously, moving wide so that she could catch sight of him before he got too close.
"Armada?" Her name was spoken as a question. "Is everything okay?"
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 2:39 pm
Armada sighed, a mixture of discontent over being discovered and simply venting whatever agitation she had. There were only a handful of people Armada did her best to curb her volatile attitude around, and Heti was one of the lucky few. Her face was flat and expressionless when she turned, but a farcry from what it was. "Just wondering how far I'll have to stay in order to keep out of Seide's fur."
As it was, she'd signed up for guard duty during the event. It wasn't her typical job, but with many soldiers and guards all wanting to participate, the captains had been more than happy to assign anyone willing to be left out. Armada would have to learn her knowledge second hand, for the moment.
She held for a long moment, thinking. Then: "...also just thinking about this campaign. People aren't likely to be happy, and I'm right there with them. I just don't know how to proceed. I don't think anyone does."
It was strange, fighting a war with these nergui.
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 2:50 pm
"I don't think you need to worry too much about that. I've not seen Seide around, not since I first got back, anyway. She's probably conversing with the regents in preparation for this summit we're all expected to attend." He canted his head a little and gave her an earnest look. He worried for her. He knew she meant well. That she raised her voice in defiance out of a love and concern for the pride. Unfortunately it was a trait that could - and had - landed her into trouble. Still, fiery as she was, Heti found that he had missed her; perhaps even more than he had realised.
It was good to be home.
"I think everyone expected it to be over already, you know?" He seated himself, idly smoothing at the sand with a paw. "This isn't the type of war that the Firekin always dreamed of. No clashing of titans. No heroes rising up from the blood of their foes." This cloak and dagger scenario was getting under his skin, too. Making him paranoid and nervous. "The last war was fought amongst like-minded foes. They knew what they were up against." Their own people, no less. "This enemy is...different." It was a unique type of fear that the Nergui struck. They weren't just feared warriors. They were merciless monsters. "I'm interested to see what information has been gathered but I don't know if it will get us any further. We can't sit here forever but how can we march on a foe we know nothing about?" He sighed deeply.
"And what about you? How have you been holding up?" He shifted closer.
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 3:12 pm
Armada nodded her head, his words reflecting her own. "I remember the war. We were all so young, getting ready for a great battle. We talked fighting formations and learning how to fight on the sand." Hell, they'd even had a great charge. Two sides facing off against one another in one glorious battle that both sides still talked about.
It was like nothing else. And apparently completely unlike the Nergui. Her fur bristled. "Unlike some in the pride I knew this wasn't going to be easy. But what are they waiting for? They aren't playing dirty, they're hardly playing." Or worse, they were playing a game that went completely beneath the pride's workings.
She shook her head, her face taunt. "I'm fine," she said stubbornly. As though being stuck with crap work for the past few months and birthing eight cubs was an easy business. "I just want to feel like its been worth something."
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 3:25 pm
Heti was one of those Firekin who had never really craved that sort of glory, though he could understand why some would yearn for it. What greater test of one's skill than to throw yourself into a battle where your life hung in the balance? The rush of adrenaline. The collective effort; a group working as one to succeed in pushing the enemy back.
Yes, if the time came then Heti would be there with the rest of them. The difference was that he would find no glory in it. War, to him, seemed like a sad thing. An unnecessary thing. A thought that, ultimately, he would keep to himself. He didn't want to add something else on the list to be ridiculed over.
"Something is coming." The guard responded. "I just don't know what. Perhaps they're gathering their forces somewhere up in the mountains; pulling together every able-bodied member they can to rush us in one, devastating blow." The thought concerned him. It could happen, after all, though it didn't sound quite right.
"Don't worry. When the time comes, the Firekin will have need of you. You have the experience that so many of us lack. If and when the fight comes--"
"--You should be talking less about fighting and more about parenting your cubs." A moody voice snapped from somewhere behind them.
Heti leapt up onto his paws and turned just as his father reached them. His heavy brow was pulled down low over his eyes. "Don't you know I have a job to do?" Azar'bijan, now newly titled a grandfather, paused to look back at where a striped cub - Kerra - was tugging fiercely on his tail. There was a stubborn, mischievous look in his eyes that suggested he was not going to be letting go any time soon.
Heti hurriedly disguised his smile with an apologetic look.
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 6:23 pm
If only they were, Armada thought. That was the sort of battle she could fight and win. She could make the hard choices. She was prepared. But without any outlet it all felt so... foreboding. The wait could kill them just as easily as any battle. If her nerves were starting to fray, she could only imagine the paranoia that might be seeding into the hearts of some of the weaker members of the pride.
The strange eyed lioness sighed, letting what was left of the tension expel. Not so much for her benefit- but because her cubs were arriving now with their grandfather. Azar hadn't exactly been helpful these last few weeks...but it was oddly nice finding herself apart of a family. She had respect for Azar.
Just in a different way than she had for Heti.
"Kerra, don't harass your grandfather," she admonished. "If you keep holding on like that we'll consider it a drafting."
Storming up from behind, Bakar stumbled about on too-large paws. "I want to be drafted! Baby classes are boring."
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 3:02 am
It could be said that Azar'bijan was secretly proud. But, just as he was secretly proud of his son, it was hard to tell either way. Still, if he really hadn't wanted to be harrassed by cubs, surely he would have chased them off by now instead of dragging them across the sands to where their parent's were. Maybe this was just an excuse to see his son without having to admit to wanting to see him.
Or maybe he just wanted a reason to complain.
The older male drew to a halt in front of them and lifted his tail as if to encourage the cub to let go. When the little jaws tightened, Heti, hurriedly added: "Kerra, listen to your mother."
The cub's pale eyes rolled to look across at his mother, as if to make sure that she wasn't coming for him, and then, reluctantly released his grip, his fore paws dropping back to the ground again. Shaking himself vigorously, he added: "Can't we be ahp-apprentices now?" And, without missing a beat, he threw himself at his brother in attempt to trigger a play fight.
"They get that from you." Heti added with an affectionate smile at Armada.
Azar'bijan gave a soft snort. "You can't be apprentices until you know what you want to do."
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 5:19 am
Armada sighed, her voice briefly lilting in a chuckle. She was going to need a new threat if they kept that up! But she certainly would not fault them for wanting to help. Her last litter had been a strange one, with some children pushing towards their father rather than her. This litter...felt different. More cohesive. She was quite proud of them herself, and for that, she was not sorry to admit. "They are quite ambitious. But their little minds change at the drop of a dime. Kerra, tell me- what was it you wanted to be yesterday? Spymaster? Or General?"
Bakar knocked into his brother, his skull like face accentuating his toothy grin. "I want to be the first Spymaster-General-Legate. I'll do all the things!"
"Well, pick one and pick it well. But that isn't for a few months," she smirked. Not a single wanna-be doctor among them...yet! Well, the less she had to see of Ea and Fia, the better. It was just about all she could take having to sit through 'graduation' with her older cubs standing next to them.
"Daaad," Bakar started. He was still unfamiliar with the concept of having a present father, but it was exciting all the same. "I went with some of the guards to the outpost and I killed like a dozen bonelands lions."
Armada crinkled her nose. She was still a bit sour on her allies, but...they were allies. "That might be considered an act of war, little thing."
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 1:20 pm
"Yesterday?" Kerra echoed, trying to go for his brother's ear. It was hard to play and listen to adults at the same time! Couldn't they just talk later? "I don't remember." Although being General did sound good! He'd get to boss people around and...and...wait, didn't the General have to be old? Like...older than an adult? He was sure he'd heard that from somewhere. Oh, yes! "Grandpa said you have to be old to be a general and that's why he isn't one yet."
Azar hastily cleared his throat and gave the cub a small shove with the back of his paw.
The youth tipped his head back to give his grandfather an upside-down grin and then shifted back into prime pouncing position, wiggling his hindquarters in preparation for the leap. And then came Bakar's brag and Kerra - ever eager to side with his siblings - chimed in: "It's true! It's true. I saw it with my own two eyes! I would have helped too but...but I was busy making sure none of them turned 'fraidy and ran off."
"He did put up a rather good fight." Heti put in, remembering the training session well. "Perhaps there's a little soldier in the making, hm? Follow in your mother's paw prints?"
Azar'bijan looked as if he might have something to say about that, though he was being cut off by Kerra's piping voice: "But grandpa said that soldiers are all stu--oof." The cub was given another shove, sending him skittering sideways across the sand on unsteady paws.
"Kids say the most stupid things." Azar covered up. His own son was impossible to anger but Armada was another matter. Why had Heti found such a scary, fiery mate? "Soldiers do good work too...mostly."
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 2:49 pm
Armada simply smiled. "Well, they say with age comes wisdom..."
Bakar rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to be old, so I'll be the first." With that said, he made another jump at his brother. It was more of a collapsing on top of than an actual pounce. As they wrestled, they were broken apart when their grandfather sent Kerra tumbling. A broad grin stretched across Bakar's face, and he chased after.
Armada seemed to regard the offhanded comment with a steely look, but that was all. To be truthful, she didn't mind a little healthy competition between the soldiers and the guards. As far as she was concerned, they were the only force in the pride worth listening to.
As the two cubs wrestled, she focused on Azar. "Will you be attending the summit?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 3:15 pm
Heti watched his sons play with a growing sense of pride. Becoming a father had been a bit of a shock to the system but never had anything felt so right. Having a family to protect had given him a greater purpose. A drive to better himself so that - in turn - those he loved could be safe. And whilst he did not doubt that Armada could protect herself better than he ever could, he liked to think that he could help make the pride safer for her, too.
"Of course." Azar replied to Armada's question. "The regents will want me there in case anything goes wrong. To break up fights or smack down some stupid-mouth Firekin." He'd heard what had happened at one of the gatherings he hadn't attended and since he was not scheduled for border patrol for another few days he was going to make damn sure that he was there. Nothing like that was going to happen on his watch. And, if by chance something did kick off, he would be prepared to deal with it. Then maybe the regents would give him a promotion or something.
Heh. He could dream.
"I hope you're going to be there." He continued. "Who knows what ridiculous suggestions might be made. We need more people like us to put things straight if members start going off on tangents."
"I'm sure they won't--" Heti began, but clamped his mouth shut at his father's look.
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 4:02 pm
Armada nodded her head. It pained her not to go, but she was glad at least someone would be there to speak on the right way of things. Too many soft-hearts these days. A lioness like Ea probably would have preffered they just made peace with the Nergui, rather than have conflict. So she wouldn't have to work, the red lioness thought bitterly.
"Unfortunately, I won't be attending. At least the first few days," she said. Armada didn't bother to hide the contempt in her voice. "If I'm to help the pride, its better I do so from a position that at least allows me to do my job. I don't wish to make a target of myself or spurn old rivalries."
She smirked. "I'll be working with the guards, as a matter of fact. They are taking temporary sign ups for patrols to cover those who wish to be apart. I'll be working with Hraga." She had a suspicion Hraga might be a bit of a soft heart himself, but at least he was fair.
"You should both be ready," she continued, her strange eyes wandering off to the cubs playing. "I'm sure just about every fool will be out in full speed with half thought ideas."
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 4:20 pm
Azar didn't seem happy to hear that she was not going to be attending. She had a voice that demanded to be heard and the more there were like that the better. Hopefully things would go more smoothly than they had in the past. Perhaps his very presence might instil some control in people. He did like to think himself as some great figure of authority. However, at the mention of her taking some guard duties, he seemed to look more contented.
"Hraga? He's a good kid." Azar'bijan was quite proud of that particular ex-apprentice. "A quick learner, too." He remembered the first time he'd met that lion as a cub. The boy had had a mouth on him, that was for certain. Strange how such a rocky start had ended up as quite a good partnership.
Heti's shoulders hunched at the mention of Hraga, his expression tightening. "We'll be ready. I'll watch from the sidelines and keep an ear out for anything brewing." He really didn't think they'd have anything to worry about.
Kerra, breaking away from his game, looked up at the adults. "Oh, muuuum. Can I go to the meeting, too? I can beat up some fools!"
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 4:34 pm
Armada sighed. She was skeptical of her cub's ability to remain civil during the summit. But on the other hand, she couldn't get demoted for their actions either. At least the pride would know she was there in spirit. And in great numbers. "Your father and grandfather are going to be very busy paying attention to what the magistrates and generals are presenting. You are not to distract them."
At that, she added her own steely glare. "Go with Vesta, if she's going. Its a privilage to be allowed in on adult matters. If you act like children, you will be sent away like children."
Bakar scoffed. "We're not babies! I can totally behave. As long as Kerra behaves." The skull-faced cub stuck out his tongue, and wiggled his tail teasingly. Before he could pounce, Armada's paw landed squarely on it.
"I am quite serious," she warned, her voice low. It wasn't threatening, but just barely.
The skull cub sighed. "I mean it! I'm not a baby."
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