The Borders - Raiyan

[Tilyn]

The pale prince remains stoicly still. Golden eyes watch his sister as she speaks, his ears twitching only slightly. A stern look falls over his face as Khammy speaks, taking in each word, each look, each action. He remains quiet when she finishes, attention then turning to the other lion as he then listens to him speak, frown only increasing. *sigh*

Atreyu's alabaster mane shifts in the wind as he fights inner demons. The 'way to act' had for so long been forced upon him, or at least told to him. How he should act, what he should or shouldn't do. Though Atreyu was never the princely type, he was never the one who did anything right - at least to everyone else. He had a different mindset of what was right and what was wrong. Of who was really royalty and who was just a fake with a title. Head lifts and the prince lets his attention shift to his baby sister once more, a very soft smile slowly spreading upon his face. She grew up way to fast...

The prince pushes his head against her gently and nuzzles her cheek, "Khams.. I love you ok? You can tell me anything... Everythings going to be ok.." Atreyu lifts her chin up, ears twitching fowards, "Head held high. Your the princess of Kivuli. Don't let a mistake cloud your mind. Think of the solution, not the problem. Everything happens for a reason ok?" Atreyu's gaze shifts to the other for a breif moment, "Besides. If it hadn't, you never would have met him."

He finally turns, tail twitching and gives his full attention to the dusty lion. "I'll acompany you to the northern border, after that I suggest you get away from here and anyone who can deem you an enemy. Unless of course you want to help." Brow arches. The lion looks back to Khamisa and smiles gently, "Khammy... you need to go home. Go tell dad... just tell him you heard of a possible advancement from Mbaamwezi upon the Kivuli. Just tell him what he needs to know." The lion smiles gently, "I'll take care of whatever else comes up."

Turning, without another word, he begins to move in the direction of the border, tail twitching. He glances over his shoulder, a meaningful look given to Raiyan, "Names Atreyu." Not prince Atreyu, he never liked the prince title.

[Msasi]

A sidelong glance is shot to Raiyan as he steps up alongside her, addressing Atreyu. When he has finished speaking, Khamisa's gaze darts back to her brother. She doesn't plead with her brother to not harm Raiyan and spare his life.. nor would she. Not only would it be improper, for it is her brother's job to guard the borders and protect the pride and it is not her place to interfere in such matters. Besides, Raiyan has willingly stood before the Prince and offered to take whatever judgment and fate that Atreyu would bestow. It would be rude of her to lessen that offer by trying to plead for his safety.

Not that Khamisa needed to worry. If nothing else, she is pleased that it has been Atreyu who was out and about on the border this day, and not Mizuka or her father or one of the guards, who no doubt would seek to drive the rogue away. Or maybe take him up on his offer and try to kill him for attacking their King. Atreyu is given a nuzzle in return, the young lioness offering a light lick to her brother's cheek and a mummer of "Love you too, Attie," spoken lightly to him. She knew he'd be understanding. Atreyu always has been the black sheep of the family.. and Khamisa has never appreciated that fact more than she does now.

Khamisa nods at the instructions to return to the pridal cavern to speak with their father, giving Atreyu another quick smile as he mentions taking care of anything that comes up. And she turns to go even as Atreyu turns to lead Raiyan to the border. The princess pauses, though, blue eyes shifting back to Raiyan. So. He goes to the northern border and beyond. And all things considered, she might not see him again. Inexplicably her stomach clenches with some emotion that she can't quite put a name to. The romantics of the world might be quick to cry 'love' but Khamisa, naive as she can be at times, wouldn't quite go that far. Not yet, not now. She hardly knows Raiyan, after all. Attraction, perhaps. And beyond a physical attraction. He's interesting. Intriguing. She feels drawn to him, in a way. And.. ahh. Perhaps it is fear. Raiyan is one of the first Khamisa has ever /really/ interacted with outside of the social circle of the pride. Not only that, but she had preconceived notions about him - a senseless murderer - and he turned out to be deeper and more interesting than she would have thought. And, even if he's annoyed her at times, she likes him. Whether or not the term 'friend' would apply is hard to say, given their positions on opposing sides of the border, but she's liked talking to him. And now.. she might not get a chance to see him again or talk to him again. Who knows how far the great wide world stretches beyond the northern border, after all.

Khamisa averts her gaze, blinking southward to the barren sands of Mbaamwezi, the end of her tail tuft tickling the ground beneath her as she stands. Murderers, the lot of them. And who knows when they'll attack. or if they will at all.. perhaps they'll let Kivuli agonize under the threat of war for ages. War. She can clearly recall a discussion or two with Raiyan, learning that he didn't want a war as much as she didn't, something that surprised her.

A soft snort of breath and Khammy returns her attention to the two males, though she focuses on Raiyan after a moment. "You're lucky," She says softly, a hint of a smile gracing her pale muzzle. "You get the chance to run away from it all.. a battle.. or a war.. or whatever it turns out to be." She glances southward again, thoughts drifting momentarily. It must be wonderful to be a rogue right now. Not like herself - and Atreyu - who are tied to Kivuli, tied to war or whatever happens. Tied to the consequences of her actions. Raiyan is very lucky. Her attention returns to said male, giving him another small smile, and a polite bow of her head.

"Safe journeys, Raiyan."

[Onya]

It's strange the calm that settles after the worst is expected; the heavy weight of a dark decision feels as though it's been yanked from his shoulders, the pressure relieved upon his chest. His mind is at ease, perhaps just briefly, but at least it is at ease for a moment. That, in itself, is priceless, something to be treasured. Since that fateful meeting with Seth long ago, Raiyan has found himself on such a twisting, winding rollercoaster, that it was amazing he ever managed to get this far.

Khamisa isn't the only one who finds comfort in the words Atreyu speaks; the prince, it seems, is more levelheaded than Raiyan was lead to believe about any Kivulian. Mbaamwezi has a capable leader, he knows that; there is comfort in that Kivuli appears to have a capable one poised to lead. To Raiyan, there is no good and evil between Mbaamwezi and Kivuli; he's never grown up really dealing with 'good' and 'evil'. There are allies and enemies, potentials of both, and those that are extremes that would probably do the world better if they were dead. He's never wanted war; that word is too vast to encompass what he's lived with his life. Battling between tribes, yes, rivalries and conflicts, but never outright warfare. Those that died in battle were honored as heros, on both sides, and the tribes never resorted to base maliciousness. No, 'war' itself speaks of things that simply should not be. But if both sides have capable leaders, warriors behind them, then neither one could dominate, neither could impose their will directly upon the other, right? An equal set of skills...but does Kivuli possess enough to rival Mbaamwezi?

Little of what Raiyan has seen indicates such. But, perhaps, they've an inner store of strength, hidden, like what Khamisa has revealed.

It seems his path has reached a fork here, a new path opened by a simple sentence - easy enough to overlook - from Atreyu. Unless of course you want to help. Could he truly stay here and help, as simple as the Prince makes it seem? Would they take in such an enemy, so easily? Would he make a difference? Or would he make matters worse? It wasn't a thought he entertained before. In fact, it's not something Raiyan is ready to answer. He's never been the type to take these matters quickly; in action, attack, battle, he's sharp of wit and strikes with the speed of a cobra, but those matters are simple compared to this. The desert-marked lion is at a loss for a moment, and so, doesn't answer.

Khamisa only serves to compound this conflict, dragging up, yet again, that guilty feeling, moreso dragging the idea of cowardice from his mind. To flee from battle...

"And you," he responds to Khamisa, bowing his head, swallowing slowly. Should he say something more? Should he act in some way? What Raiyan wouldn't give for the simpler days of his youth, of being home, where everything was clear and easy. His gaze lingers a long moment on Khamisa, jaws partially parted as though trying words without vocalization. But with nothing clear forthcoming, he does nothing, says nothing, tufted-chin closing reluctantly. He lifts his muzzle and gaze skyward briefly, searching the deep blue above as though inspiration would pour down upon him from it, before dropping his head again. He has no right to say anything further if he's going to leave.

He needs to think and he's a trek across Kivuli to do so. Perhaps by the northern border he'll have a decision made. Yes, that sounds good enough; it'll have to be. He can agonize over the decision while his paws move.

"Our shades of grey are constantly changing, aren't they?" he asks softly, in reference to a conversation between he and Khamisa - so long ago, it seems, when they would meet on the borders to challenge each other's views. "...Maybe they'll continue to change. I hope the future finds us at peace." Wherever that may be. He gives his farewell to Khamisa in that form, blue eyes darker than usual as he meets her gaze, on the barest beginnings of a melancholy smile on his muzzle. That said, he nods slightly, once, twice, and then turns to Atreyu, bowing his head a bit deeper this time. "To the northern border, then."

(OOC: Dun dun dun...is he going to suddenly decide to stay? Change his mind midway? Or just leave altogether? Hah! I ain't saying!)

[Tilyn]

[OOC] Sorry for the wait! Haven't been around

A capable leader poised to lead. Hah. Atreyu? Nah. 'Zuka was the Top Dog.. er Cat. Atreyu was just the black sheep - figuretively speaking considering he's rather pale furred. The prince waits patiently while his baby sister and this male exchange a few words. He watches the actions between both and lets a very faint grin tug at the corners of his muzzle. Tail ticks slowly back and forth and Atreyu's ears twitch fowards - save his droopy one that always hangs a few degrees lower.

Once goodbyes are said, the prince meets the lions gaze with golden colored eyes. He studies him a moment and then nods his head. "To the northern border." Gaze shifts to Khammy and Atreyu smiles gently, "Everything will be ok." With that he turns and begins to lead the male through Kivulies lands to the border. His pace is easy and slow, calculated, but with a point.

He understands doing your job, he's been raised to understand what your purpose was, what your duties and jobs were. However Atreyu was never the prince that stuck his nose up at anyone because he was royalty. He was the prince who told his father he wanted to take Kivuli out of his blood when he was little, who mingled with the common leonine, befriended the stray cub who got swept up into his pride, hid her secret because she was his friend, who had a crush on a lioness who wasn't even really /part/ of the pride. He was the prince who believed royalty wasn't all about keeping your bloodlines clean and putting on a front just because you had a title in front of your name.

Atreyu loved Kivuli, he loved his family, he loved his pride, but he hated the way his family /thought/ royalty should be. He didn't agree with most of what they said, he felt for them because they had to deal with their rebel son, but he loved them.

A breeze ruffles his alabaster mane, eyes squinting into the wind. For the first time in awhile he's silent, simply thinking.

[Msasi]

OOC: *sobs* Let's try this again. I'd had a whole long post written up.. and then my computer funked out and I had to reboot.. and I wasn't able to save my post. Dangit. D: So if this one sounds sucky.. that is why. XD

Khamisa smiles slightly at Raiyan's words. "There are more greys to the world than I'd ever imagined." Since meeting up with Raiyan, Khamisa's views of the wold have changed quite a bit. No longer does she see only the black and white as she was raised to. There doesn't always appear to be a solid line dividing good from bad. It has been a frightening change, to be sure. Sometimes it feels as if the whole world is shifting tilting beneath her paws, and she is left to try and maintain some sort of balance in it. Atreyu's own view of the world and his thoughts on their place in Kivuli and as royalty are starting to make a lot more sense to Khamisa now, as a result. Yes.. plenty more grey in the world than she had ever known, or thought possible. "..And I think I like it better this way."

The Kivulian princess watches as Raiyan turns away, mouth parting as if she would say more. But like the rogue himself, nothing clear comes to mind. Nothing that she could even begin to put into words at this time.. nothing that even feels concrete, even to her. And so her mouth shuts after a moment, her ears falling back slightly. Raiyan was instrumental in changing Khamisa's views. Without his poking, prodding and teasing she would no doubt be the same princess that first met him here at the border. And while that poking, prodding and teasing was utterly annoying - and probably would continue to be, for who enjoys being forced to look at their world and admit that they might be in the wrong? - she has a feeling that she may, in fact, miss it. Khamisa has never had so much as a friend outside her siblings before. Her conversations with Raiyan on the border - no matter how infuriating he seemed at times, no matter how short those conversations sometimes were - will leave the lioness feeling.. empty.. for a while.

A quick smile is given to Atreyu before he turns and heads in the direction of the northern border, though it fades once the two males get several paces away. Ears pin back against her head and Khamisa's gaze drops to her paws. She almost wishes she could have tagged along to the northern border with them.. but, no. Atreyu told her to inform their father of things and she isn't one to disobey. Especially because that is more important than any prolonged goodbye.

Head lifting again, blue eyes focus on the retreating forms of the two males. Khamisa takes a deep breath, then lets it out slowly. Atreyu will return home shortly, for no doubt Kiet will want to discuss matters with his sons, as well as the local guards and Knights. But Raiyan she will no doubt not see again. A sad thought, that, that weighs heavily on heart and mind, but not something she has any control over. Were their places reversed, Khamisa would jump at the chance to have a peaceful life away from Kivuli and Mbaamwezi.

"Farewell, Raiyan," The males are too far away for her words, whispered to herself, to carry to their ears. But she says them anyway, for her own peace of mind. "May the Great Kings guide your paws to lands of peace and plenty." Khamisa's eyes lift skyward for an instant, wishing it were evening so that the Great Kings of Kivuli would be in her view that she might implore them to do just that. Gaze dropping from the sky, she again focuses on Raiyan and Atreyu as they get further away. "...And.. thank you."

Finished, the lioness turns and pads quickly off through the grasslands of Kivuli, making her way towards the cavern home of the pride. Now, Khamisa has other things to worry about and giving her head a quick shake she focuses her mind on the task at hand. Finding her father and warning him.

OOC: Woo. XD I'm out then, I guess. <3

[Onya]

OOC: Okay. So I haven't responded in ages. x.x I feel like a heel. I will get to it, though I've got a quick question; this RP could potentially wrap up here and wait until the MUCK is up and running again for further development. What'a'ya'll think? If we want to continue, I'll definitely do so. ^.^

[Msasi]

OOC: Uh.. doesn't matter too much to me, I guess, since I'm out. XD I was thinking about maybe tossing Kiet in after a few more rounds between you two, to set up Kiet's stepping down as King.. but that isn't /too/ important. Although it might be easier just to keep going.. and then when the MUCK gets back up, pick up from whereever you guys/we are at that point.. since I have a feeling that our connection times might make it difficult for us to catch each other. XD

But since you guys are the active ones right now, I'll leave the decision to you.

[Msasi]

OOC: I'm guessing we're going to continue on the MUCK now? XD