|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 2:56 pm
[ROFL - Real title coming as soon as I can think of one]
Elda's day had been the same as any other day. Pretty much. She hadn't eaten, which meant there was some variety, but otherwise it was the same little schedule that she kept to with the type of obstinance that only Elda could posses.
Wake up. Train. Rest. Train some more. Sleep.
Right now she was in the 'rest' phase and was just leaving the training grounds to warm down after a duel that, to be frank, could have gone better. Elda was thick-skulled and thick-limbed and she certainly had the capability of throwing some good punches. Unfortunately being bulkier than most females meant that she was also a little slower and often meant that they could run circles around her. It probably didn't help that she wasn't the sharpest lion to have ever walked the Firekin. New strategies tended to leave her stumped and straggling and once that happened it was pretty much over.
Still, the sentinel wasn't one to sulk or complain. Every failure held a lesson. That was what she had been taught. This lesson had been learned and filed away for when the knowledge would someday be needed.
Perhaps she might even need it when she returned later on that day to continue where she had left off.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 3:11 pm
Shunqa had big news. BIG news.
What he didn't have was anyone to share it with. His first instinct had been to run and tell his father, but that was out of the question, no matter how susceptible he would have been to the information. Seide would have called it "gossip", so she was out. Shula was out because she was out. Out hunting, he meant.
Shunqa had a habit of pacing when his brain was frantically trying to sort out a problem. His tail curled around his leg and he walked back and forth, back and forth. Every few minutes, his path would expand and he would progress farther.
He had never been so thankful to see the training grounds or Elda in all his life.
Shunqa hurried over, just about bouncing on his paws. "Elda," he said, quietly, yet quickly. "I have to tell you something. I have to tell you something and you can't tell anyone."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 3:24 pm
Okay. This was new.
Elda's eyes widened just a little as Shunqa came hurrying over towards her, calling her name and looking more than a little excited about something. Although, maybe excited wasn't the word. Elda wasn't well versed enough to be able to put her paw on exactly what he was feeling at that moment in time. All became clear a moment later, however, when he declared in a secretive manner that he had a secret. Another secret? Elda wasn't sure how many more secrets she could handle - especially after the last one and finding out that Seide was going to be leaving her!! Okay, not leaving forever, but still long enough for her to notice.
What could it be this time?
Not another Seide thing, surely!
And, it was with slight reluctance, that she gave him a nod and said: "Alright. You have my word, sir." But her heart was pounding nervously, all the same.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 2:42 pm
--Sir?
Shunqa meant to insist that she call him by his name, but there were so many things he wanted to say, and one pushed to the front of the line with no regard for social tact or patience: "Have you seen that new rogue? The big, dark one with the white markings near her hind end?"
If Elda hadn't, it didn't matter. He carried on regardless.
"Azar went and knocked her up," he revealed, eyes wide. "And now he's refusing his future children."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 12:00 pm
"Uh..." Elda's jaw hung stupidly for a moment, her dull eyes losing focus as she tried to picture the lioness that Shunqa was describing and failed to do so. Fortunately for her, he pressed on regardless, leaping into the news with barely a moment's hesitation.
And, as always, she seemed to be one step behind, catching up only a few seconds later.
Still, this time when she caught up, she still felt a little clueless.
"What is he refusing them?" She asked, her head tipping very slightly to the side.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 4:24 pm
"What is he --" Shunqa paused, took a moment to get his wits about him. He'd need enough for the both of them since Elda was... Elda, and he needn't forget that simply because he was restless.
"A father," he told her candidly. How despicable! Tormenting the cubs of the pride was one thing, but to refuse those which were his own? "It's downright reprehensible."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 2:53 pm
Certainly Elda would not proclaim to be the smartest lion in the Firekin. She had a tendency for being slow, for not catching hints, for misreading signals--all the things that lions should be good at. Oh, certainly, she could be perceptive if she really put her mind to it, but that was on her good days. Days when she felt more capable of understanding a situation.
As it was, cubs and relationships and parenthood was not a thing she could grasp. Possibly not ever. She was tied in a bond to her work alone. To Seide, too. She had married herself to the Firekin cause. That was all she needed. All she wanted.
For now, anyway.
"Maybe his female should turn her paw on him," she rumbled in solemn tones. "He should raise his children with the care he gives his guards."
Which, actually, considering the sort of teacher Azar'bijan was, probably wasn't the best idea ever.
"Why is this secret?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 11:35 am
Not the best idea ever indeed. Shunqa would have known that had he thought it through, but being as he was presently lacking any available attention span, he continued to focus solely on the tragedy that was this situation and nodded in agreement. "He should," sounded without hesitation, and why would it? Shunqa had been waiting for her to agree with him so he could agree with her.
"Because imagine the scrutiny of a... fling litter. With him. What if he denounces them and calls her a liar? She's barely got sand in her fur compared to that old grouch."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 10:01 am
Elda gave a solemn nod that lasted the length of his reply, slowing a few moments after he'd reached the end of his sentence. Only then did she start contemplating a reply. The one on the tip of her tongue, however, seemed too simple. Too easy. It seemed that Shunqa was worried so something should be done.
Still, this was why she liked military life. She did as she was told and didn't have to think or make decisions. Far less complicated than this business. Where was Su when she needed her? Off galavanting with those bonelanders.
"You should speak to him," she said at last. "Tell him he has to be responsible." Otherwise others would copy him and everyone would grow up to be irresponsible annoyances, right? Right.
"He'll listen to you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 9:17 pm
"You should speak to him."
Right.
"Tell him he has to be responsible."
Right!
"He'll listen to you."
Nooot quite as right. Azar's listening skills matched that of his future cubs. Judging by their last encounter, he'd reason blind himself than see reason. Elda's simple solution seemed to be the only one. What else was he to do? Run and tell his superiors?
"You're right. I will." Shunqa turned to go, but paused long enough to say "Thank you, Elda."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:55 am
Well, telling his superiors might have been the other option he'd gotten from Elda if she had thought of it at that moment. After all, they needed to be in the know and personal problems could affect one's work life. Still, with so few friends as Elda had, and so little knowledge of people's personal lives, it was no wonder that she hadn't yet come across this problem herself.
She stumbled at Shunqa's thanks, giving a still little bow of her head.
In her mind, she heard Su yelling at her to be garrulous. To engage herself more. But she'd hit that wall again and all she could do was give another sort of bow, blinking in her slow-witted manner.
"It's...no problem."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
