|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2014 7:44 pm
Things were progressing around the pride much more quickly than Ota had expected-- or perhaps it was just more sudden than she had thought it would be. Nyeusi had certainly caught her off guard, and she tried to keep an eye out for her but there wasn't much she felt she could do. Then something else came up, something that required them to stop sitting in the background and waiting. At least, Ota thought so. She was walking along quietly with Kamia, looking for one very specific priest. As usual, Kamia was wearing a smile as they walked along. It was hard to get her down, and she figured it would be more suspicious if she didn't smile. She wasn't particularly worried at that exact moment, anyway.
"You're sure?"
Ota was definitely the better seer between them, and while Kamia didn't doubt her, she knew interpreting her own visions could get sketchy. Never mind how badly this could go.. though she really wanted to believe she could trust her cousin.
"I wonder where she is," she said loudly, looking around, "How many pride members have been having cubs lately?" Ota shrugged. "Not many," she said, frowning.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2014 7:52 pm
 Caritas had chosen a path at random for her walk tonight. There hadn't been a huge call for Midwives of late, except for Tyfu. And, well, those cubs had been something of a surprise. She wasn't certain if it was a good thing or a bad thing that they'd been born into the Upper Middle class. But once people saw that little girl...well, the black lioness shuddered to think what might happen. She was looking up again when she saw two familiar lionesses waiting on the path ahead. Kamia, one of her far too many cousins, and Ota, Kamia's best friend, shadow, and partner in crime. She wasn't entirely certain what brought the two out here, nor why they seemed to be waiting for her on a path she'd picked randomly, but senses that had been strung too high for too long by Shangyue's reign of fear were certain that there was a reason behind it. "Good evening, girls," she greeted the pair warily. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2014 8:01 pm
Ota straightened herself up when Caritas suddenly appeared, looking almost surprised to see the lioness they were looking for. But it turned into a small smile as she convinced herself they were doing the right thing, they needed a midwife they could trust.. the only problem now was figuring out if they could trust her.
"Hello!"
Kamia didn't look at all surprised, but she did look pleased to see Caritas. The path they had taken was her own choosing, and she was happy it led where they wanted because it was far less work than wandering hopelessly for the rest of the night.
"We were just looking for a midwife," she said brightly, "Thought maybe you could use some company, it doesn't seem like you'd be very busy lately."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2014 8:05 pm
"A Midwife?" Caritas blinked. She couldn't think of why these two would be looking for one unless...no, neither looked to be pregnant. It was too early to tell visually, but it could be possible.
Still, it was very suspicious. The black lioness knew that there were no pregnant lionesses in the pride, or at least none showing. The fact that these two were waiting for a Midwife increased her tension.
"Why not Hagryphus?" she asked instead of the more obvious question of why they needed one. She wasn't sure yet that she trusted whatever purpose had brought the two out here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2014 8:23 pm
"She's probably not very busy either," Ota said with a smile.
Kamia rolled her eyes, but she could see how suspicious Caritas was of them. She didn't know if that was a good or bad thing yet, though she leaned towards bad. What could she and Ota really be up to that was bad? Even if you supported the king, there was little reason to suspect two random huntresses in the lower-middle class were of any consequence at all.
But maybe it was just a sign that she was very cautious, and that was what they wanted- wasn't it?
"Because you're family," she answered.
Ota seemed to be at a loss at this point, they needed to talk and it clearly wasn't a strength either of them really possessed. Caritas seemed suspicious, but she could appreciate that they did too.
"There have been so few cubs since Shangyue took the throne," Ota said thoughtfully, testing the subject they wanted to discuss and knowing it wasn't likely to be a surprise. Chances were good thing kind of awkward conversation was happening all over the pride lately as everybody slowly started reaching out to those they weren't so close to once again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2014 8:27 pm
Caritas nodded the acknowledgement of how little work there currently was for the Midwives. She wasn't yet certain where this was going. But she did relax somewhat and her expression warmed slightly at Kamia's answer of family. Blood was a strong bond, even when it was diluted through the pride. On the other hand, it was that diluted blood that linked her to Shangyue as well, and that was a less comforting thought.
"That's true enough," she replied cautiously to Ota. "I witnessed the birth of Tyfu's cubs recently, but they were the first in many moons." Offering little and giving away nothing. It was disheartening to treat family that way, but what else could she do? It wasn't safe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2014 8:35 pm
Ota perked up a bit at the mention of Tyfu and her cubs, but Kamia seemed obliviously cheerful now that they were talking. It looked almost like she had a question she wanted to ask but couldn't get it out.
"That's nice, maybe there will be more soon," Kamia offered optimistically, suspecting that litters of cubs often happened in bursts. Though she was pretty sure Tyfu was one of the lion's who joined to support Shangyue, the fact that anybody had cubs might make everybody else feel a little more comfortable with it.
Of course, they were all overlooking that there had been another litter somewhat recently and that it was from another family that, apparently, supported Shangyue.
"What class are they?" Ota asked suddenly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2014 8:39 pm
"We can only hope so," she replied to Kamia, but the caution was still present. She really had no idea where this was going, but she wasn't leaving. Yet. The longer this went on, the more Caritas was certain that there was some overarching purpose to what might have been a chance meeting and clearly wasn't.
"The cubs were born to the Upper Middle class," the black lioness answered Ota's question smoothly, but black eyes watching carefully to see what the reaction to that information was.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2014 8:48 pm
It was apparent that Ota knew more than she was saying, she felt conflicted upon hearing that the cubs were born into the upper-middle class but for a second, her expression nearly settled on disappointment. Things were really going to get worse before they got better.
"Oh," she said, trying to think quickly and putting on a small, sheepish smile, "I suppose she won't be training any particularly vicious royal guards, then."
Was that too bold? She didn't think it was a secret that Tyfu seemed to be a particularly mean supporter of Shangyue. Ota had never actually met her but still, she was scared of her.
"Hm."
Kamia looked from Caritas to Ota when she asked about the cubs, and then quickly back to Caritas when the white lioness hinted at her true feelings about the black and green mother.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 3:49 pm
Caritas rolled her shoulders in a shrug. "It doesn't seem to stop their mother from being a particularly vicious Guard," she pointed out. The black lioness' voice was no louder than it had been, but she wasn't any quieter saying it. It wasn't as if the pride didn't know that already.
Why then, were the three of them here talking? It was clear that neither Ota nor Caritas supported Shangyue wholeheartedly and while Kamia was quiet, the dark female doubted her beliefs were any different from her inseperable best friend.
What did they want from her?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 3:58 pm
Ota nodded slowly, briefly wondering if she was wrong.
As quiet fell again, Kamia sighed and gave Ota a meaningful look-- they needed to be careful but she officially thought they were being too careful. When all she got was a lost look in return, the darker lioness decided to just go for it.
"Caritas, we need help," she said, her voice slightly lower than the conversation before, "But we don't know who you can trust around here anymore."
Ota looked on, her expression neutral. It did seem like Caritas would be better approached directly, but at best she didn't seem to care one way or the other about how things were.. and that would be fine, if she could keep a secret.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 4:05 pm
"It's a rather infectious plague, mistrust," the black lioness answered dryly. Now they were finally coming to the meat of why the two had been waiting for her - overlooking the fact of how they had known she'd be on this particular path - she did want to know what they wanted of her.
And frankly, having raised three boys who were incapable of giving a straight answer when they felt guilty, the lioness decided in a rush that enough was enough.
"Stop pussyfooting around and tell me what you want," she growled at the distant cousin and near appendage of a friend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 4:14 pm
"Can you keep a secret?"
Ota seemed unfazed by the growl and suddenly she was looking seriously at the midwife, analyzing the risk they had already taken and wondering if this was a risk they were willing to put onto another-- and never mind the risk it might pose to Caritas herself. The task at hand was innocent enough, but the future was much more questionable.
Kamia was slightly more distressed by the growl, second-guessing the plan now that she had forced it forward. She wanted to think her whole family could be trusted, but she knew better. And knowing to expect this kind of attitude from her cousin had always been the source of her doubt in Caritas, though she didn't realize how unfair that was.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 4:40 pm
Black eyes narrowed further. Secrets. Lately it always came down to secrets. Even her own feelings and opinions, if they were deemed dangerous, had to be kept secret. Even from her own mate.
"As a mother, keeping secrets is a necessity," she replied neutrally. The black lioness was becoming fairly certain that whatever Ota and Kamia were hiding, it was something of a politically sensitive nature. Which meant the question wasn't simply who trusted whom, but also if Caritas wanted to know such a dangerous secret.
The Midwife wasn't entirely certain she did want to know.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 4:43 pm
Despite herself, Ota smiled just a little bit at the response she got from Caritas. They would have to take a chance and put their trust into this midwife. She was familiar to them, didn't seem to be of particular interest to the King or his minions or particularly interested in it all herself.
"Will you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
