Post by Shomoro on May 3, 2008 4:30:16 GMT -5
Involved:
Mizuka, King of Kivuli
Kisehemu, Knight of Kivuli
Sammar, Jinjin'tau Royal Guard
Evening. The sun has sunk below the western mountains, bathing Kivuli in the shadows that it's so well-known for; all that remains is a faint, dying glow low on the horizon. There's an unusual chill in the air, and it isn't hard to see why--clouds are massing in the dark sky to the east, heavy, gunmetal grey things piled on top of one another, laden with rain. Kisehemu, holding a silent vigil just outside of the pridal cavern, doesn't want to let himself hope. There have been times when it /looked/ like the drought was ending, after all, and the clouds simply passed them by without shedding a drop of water. But tonight there's a breeze, and he can smell moisture on it. Mizuka can too, and he's roused himself from his own vigil by Khamisa's side to come out and have a look. He's haggard; he's more or less shut himself off from his own pride, much less their foreign visitors, unable to keep pretending that things are fine and he wanted this intrusion. But there's a tired sort of interest on even his face, as the wind runs through his unkempt mane and brings with it a faint rumble of thunder.
When has it last rained here, or even anywhere that Sammar can remember? Not in... oh, moons and moons, muchl onger thani t ought to be, and while he's seen false-clouds before these, and the chill to the air,don't feel false. He can smell moisture on teh wind even, or so he fancies. It's made him restless, has made many of the much smaller animals in the lands restless: all day the sky has been filled with birds, who soar and flutter before landing, confused and as hopeful as any of the larger beasts. It's even cheered him up rather, and as such he's decided to try being more social. Thus, his curiously androgenous form comes over the crest of the path, up towards the cavern, where by all rights plenty of cats ought to be.
By all rights they /should/, but the cavern is deserted. Maybe they're off doing their own thing, or giving Khamisa her space so that she can rest. Or maybe Kisehemu's constant, stony presence hanging around all day has been somewhat off-putting; he doesn't know, but at least it's given Mizuka less to deal with. Mizuka who inhales deeply, his eyes closing, and then grunts and turns to head back inside. Halfway there some unfamiliar shape comes gliding into sight, and he pauses, staring at Sammar. Kisehemu turns his head as well, his ears cocked back a little.
Sammar's ears prick when he sees the outlines: male lions, although not males from- his- pride. He still thinks of it as his, although of course it's... not, really. Never even -really- was. Still. He chuffs from the back of his throat, al owgrunting greeting, as he ambles towards them. "Smells like rain," it's gruff but not unfriendly: even hopeful.
"It has before," Mizuka says quietly. "If it's going to rain, sitting here and staring at it won't make it come any faster." Kisehemu's ears tilt back a little further, and then he looks away, returning his gaze to the sky. Amazingly, Mizuka seems more social than he is at the moment. At the very least, he's the only one talking. "Are you looking for someone?" ...Even if he /is/ getting right to the point.
"Mmm. I can't not look at it though." Rain has made him the most hopeful he's felt in some time, and he- likes- looking at it, obsessing over it al ittle. It's ap leasant change. "Ndalia, maybe. I haven't seen her around." Regretful, a little rougher again-- maybe a little hurt. He's not a cat who's terribly good at hiding his feelings.
"She's..." Pause. Where /is/ she? He hasn't exactly been keeping tabs on anyone except his sister, and that includes the lioness who's to be his queen. "...Kisehemu?" he hazards after a minute, hoping the knight will be able to save him. He ought to know where his own intended has gotten off to, after all. But Kisehemu can't; he's spent most of his day here as well, except for a break in the morning to pick up his patrol shift. "Don't look at me, majesty," he murmurs, not looking around at either of them. "I haven't seen her."
"Fan/tastic/," he spits-- his bitterness is abrupt, but it's not directed at them-- he's not even -looking- at them, but rather glaring off in the general direction of down the hill. He doesn't know who's fault it is, but if Ndalia isn't around -them- why isn't she with -him-!
The knight /does/ glance over when he hears that--they both do, and Mizuka's nose has wrinkled a little, which only adds to the general unhappiness of his expression. The last few months, the drought and the Jinjin'tau and Khamisa's illness, have all taken their toll on him; he's not young anymore but he looks much older than he /is/, and his grimace only highlights the lines in his face, the weariness of it. "I'm sure she'll be around," another pause, "at some point. It's not cause for concern." Not when the target of /his/ immediate concern is lying a few dozen feet away.
"Pfeh. She ought to be with -me,-" Sammar returns moodily, and collapses to his stomach, resting his chin on his forepaws and rolling his eyes up to gaze at the darkened sky. "Perhaps she'll head this way if it does start to rain. How's your sister?" he adds- it's an extrmeely abrupt cheange, that, but the question is genuine.
"One would assume she ought to be with her intended," Kisehemu points out, his voice mild in contrast. Not that Mizuka would be hugely receptive to the company right now, anyway. It's a wonder that he hasn't just gone back inside and left the older male to deal with Sammar. Mizuka glances at him, his ears folding, but says nothing. "Bad," he tells the maneless lion instead, sinking slowly down onto his haunches. "...But not as bad. It's been cooler recently; I think that's helped."
"Well, one would also assume her intended would know where she was!" he snaps back, his ears laying back. "You -ought- to know. I hope she's alright. Pfeh." Oh why didn't she come and fidn -him-! "-- Well, that's good." He's cranky still, upset, but he's not mean-spiriteda bout -that.- "Yes. Hopefully it'll stay that way, with the rain." On a sigh. "Ndalia needs to come back soon. -Someone- should know where she is!"
"And one would assume that foreign dignitaries would be able to keep their heads about themselves when asking after her." His pale body is unmoving, but his tone has become rather dry. "It almost seems like you don't trust the security of our borders, Sammar." The Jinjin'tau male isn't the only one in a foul mood, it appears, though Kisehemu certainly has an odd way of showing it; the words are scathing, but his voice isn't. Mizuka, meanwhile, is still looking at Sammar. And his expression is an odd one. "It's a guard's job to worry," he starts. He's addressing his own guard, but his eyes haven't moved. "...Something you know, Kisehemu. I understand." This is addressed to Sammar, and a deep sigh escapes his lips as he says it. "And I also understand," the king goes on, sinking down onto his stomach, "that the bond between guard and charge runs deep. Certainly deeper than that of an arranged marriage."
"It's got nothing to do with the security of your -borders-," Sammar retorts sharply, and would say more but-- Mizuka is looking at him with more expression then he's seeno n the lion's face in ever. Is the king making fun? He doesn't seem to be ... "Do you? Does it -really-?" suspicious, confused. "It does. I don't like that I haven't seen her lately."
"It does. And far be it from me to get in the way of that bond." Mizuka turns his face away neatly all of a sudden, settling his chin down across one outstretched foreleg. "Just don't get in the way of mine, and we'll be all right. Do we understand one another?" Kisehemu's turned his own head just the slightest bit again, but it isn't Sammar he's looking at--it's Mizuka his attention is own, and his tail is tapping against the cool rock uncertainly.
Sammar is looking rather more openly bewildered than Kisehemu. "I-- think so? Does she still like me, though?" suddenly intense. Because of course Mizuka must know, despite the fact that he's as good as said he doesn't particularly mind what Sammar does with her.
"You'll have to ask her. She hasn't told me much about you." Mizuka shuts his eyes, drawing his unoccupied paw up against his chest, and lets his body relax. Not sleeping, not by a long shot, but--trusting. Either that Sammar will behave, or that Kisehemu will /make/ him behave, if necessary. "She hasn't told me much of anything, really."
"She -hasn't-?" it's al ow, displeased rumble. "-Well-. -- Mm. You ought to talk with her more. She's very nice." And very -pretty,- which is at -least- as important as personality. Mizuka -does- seem calm though-- and not at all hostile, which is pleasant: subject amtter aside, it's pleasant to socialize a little.
"We all need to talk more..." It has the tone of a reminder, perhaps to himself; that would certainly explain the second sigh that comes gusting out of him after he speaks. "...With everything that's going on, it's difficult to care sometimes." It's a little while before he says anything else. "Stay awhile, if you like." And after that, Mizuka really does fall silent, and doesn't move again until the thunder draws closer and the first drops of rain hit the cliff; then he finally rouses himself, and licks his tongue out over his whiskers, which are beaded with water. He seems oddly satisfied, lifting his face into the shower that rapidly becomes a downpour, beginning to lash against the mountain and the parched grass below. Kisehemu bows his head, either in relief or simply to keep the worst of the rain out of his eyes, his mane slicked closely to his neck. Eventually, his fur lying flat against his own body, Mizuka rises to his feet and pads inside, leaving a dripping trail in his wake. The knight follows shortly, but the way he pauses by the entrance for a few seconds makes the invitation clear enough; Sammar can join them if he's a mind to.
Sammar takes a little while, letting the rain and the conversation soak into him. And waiting, uselessly, for Ndalia. Shortly, though, he rises, himself-- and pads into the darkness of the cave behind the other two, to join them within.
Mizuka, King of Kivuli
Kisehemu, Knight of Kivuli
Sammar, Jinjin'tau Royal Guard
Evening. The sun has sunk below the western mountains, bathing Kivuli in the shadows that it's so well-known for; all that remains is a faint, dying glow low on the horizon. There's an unusual chill in the air, and it isn't hard to see why--clouds are massing in the dark sky to the east, heavy, gunmetal grey things piled on top of one another, laden with rain. Kisehemu, holding a silent vigil just outside of the pridal cavern, doesn't want to let himself hope. There have been times when it /looked/ like the drought was ending, after all, and the clouds simply passed them by without shedding a drop of water. But tonight there's a breeze, and he can smell moisture on it. Mizuka can too, and he's roused himself from his own vigil by Khamisa's side to come out and have a look. He's haggard; he's more or less shut himself off from his own pride, much less their foreign visitors, unable to keep pretending that things are fine and he wanted this intrusion. But there's a tired sort of interest on even his face, as the wind runs through his unkempt mane and brings with it a faint rumble of thunder.
When has it last rained here, or even anywhere that Sammar can remember? Not in... oh, moons and moons, muchl onger thani t ought to be, and while he's seen false-clouds before these, and the chill to the air,don't feel false. He can smell moisture on teh wind even, or so he fancies. It's made him restless, has made many of the much smaller animals in the lands restless: all day the sky has been filled with birds, who soar and flutter before landing, confused and as hopeful as any of the larger beasts. It's even cheered him up rather, and as such he's decided to try being more social. Thus, his curiously androgenous form comes over the crest of the path, up towards the cavern, where by all rights plenty of cats ought to be.
By all rights they /should/, but the cavern is deserted. Maybe they're off doing their own thing, or giving Khamisa her space so that she can rest. Or maybe Kisehemu's constant, stony presence hanging around all day has been somewhat off-putting; he doesn't know, but at least it's given Mizuka less to deal with. Mizuka who inhales deeply, his eyes closing, and then grunts and turns to head back inside. Halfway there some unfamiliar shape comes gliding into sight, and he pauses, staring at Sammar. Kisehemu turns his head as well, his ears cocked back a little.
Sammar's ears prick when he sees the outlines: male lions, although not males from- his- pride. He still thinks of it as his, although of course it's... not, really. Never even -really- was. Still. He chuffs from the back of his throat, al owgrunting greeting, as he ambles towards them. "Smells like rain," it's gruff but not unfriendly: even hopeful.
"It has before," Mizuka says quietly. "If it's going to rain, sitting here and staring at it won't make it come any faster." Kisehemu's ears tilt back a little further, and then he looks away, returning his gaze to the sky. Amazingly, Mizuka seems more social than he is at the moment. At the very least, he's the only one talking. "Are you looking for someone?" ...Even if he /is/ getting right to the point.
"Mmm. I can't not look at it though." Rain has made him the most hopeful he's felt in some time, and he- likes- looking at it, obsessing over it al ittle. It's ap leasant change. "Ndalia, maybe. I haven't seen her around." Regretful, a little rougher again-- maybe a little hurt. He's not a cat who's terribly good at hiding his feelings.
"She's..." Pause. Where /is/ she? He hasn't exactly been keeping tabs on anyone except his sister, and that includes the lioness who's to be his queen. "...Kisehemu?" he hazards after a minute, hoping the knight will be able to save him. He ought to know where his own intended has gotten off to, after all. But Kisehemu can't; he's spent most of his day here as well, except for a break in the morning to pick up his patrol shift. "Don't look at me, majesty," he murmurs, not looking around at either of them. "I haven't seen her."
"Fan/tastic/," he spits-- his bitterness is abrupt, but it's not directed at them-- he's not even -looking- at them, but rather glaring off in the general direction of down the hill. He doesn't know who's fault it is, but if Ndalia isn't around -them- why isn't she with -him-!
The knight /does/ glance over when he hears that--they both do, and Mizuka's nose has wrinkled a little, which only adds to the general unhappiness of his expression. The last few months, the drought and the Jinjin'tau and Khamisa's illness, have all taken their toll on him; he's not young anymore but he looks much older than he /is/, and his grimace only highlights the lines in his face, the weariness of it. "I'm sure she'll be around," another pause, "at some point. It's not cause for concern." Not when the target of /his/ immediate concern is lying a few dozen feet away.
"Pfeh. She ought to be with -me,-" Sammar returns moodily, and collapses to his stomach, resting his chin on his forepaws and rolling his eyes up to gaze at the darkened sky. "Perhaps she'll head this way if it does start to rain. How's your sister?" he adds- it's an extrmeely abrupt cheange, that, but the question is genuine.
"One would assume she ought to be with her intended," Kisehemu points out, his voice mild in contrast. Not that Mizuka would be hugely receptive to the company right now, anyway. It's a wonder that he hasn't just gone back inside and left the older male to deal with Sammar. Mizuka glances at him, his ears folding, but says nothing. "Bad," he tells the maneless lion instead, sinking slowly down onto his haunches. "...But not as bad. It's been cooler recently; I think that's helped."
"Well, one would also assume her intended would know where she was!" he snaps back, his ears laying back. "You -ought- to know. I hope she's alright. Pfeh." Oh why didn't she come and fidn -him-! "-- Well, that's good." He's cranky still, upset, but he's not mean-spiriteda bout -that.- "Yes. Hopefully it'll stay that way, with the rain." On a sigh. "Ndalia needs to come back soon. -Someone- should know where she is!"
"And one would assume that foreign dignitaries would be able to keep their heads about themselves when asking after her." His pale body is unmoving, but his tone has become rather dry. "It almost seems like you don't trust the security of our borders, Sammar." The Jinjin'tau male isn't the only one in a foul mood, it appears, though Kisehemu certainly has an odd way of showing it; the words are scathing, but his voice isn't. Mizuka, meanwhile, is still looking at Sammar. And his expression is an odd one. "It's a guard's job to worry," he starts. He's addressing his own guard, but his eyes haven't moved. "...Something you know, Kisehemu. I understand." This is addressed to Sammar, and a deep sigh escapes his lips as he says it. "And I also understand," the king goes on, sinking down onto his stomach, "that the bond between guard and charge runs deep. Certainly deeper than that of an arranged marriage."
"It's got nothing to do with the security of your -borders-," Sammar retorts sharply, and would say more but-- Mizuka is looking at him with more expression then he's seeno n the lion's face in ever. Is the king making fun? He doesn't seem to be ... "Do you? Does it -really-?" suspicious, confused. "It does. I don't like that I haven't seen her lately."
"It does. And far be it from me to get in the way of that bond." Mizuka turns his face away neatly all of a sudden, settling his chin down across one outstretched foreleg. "Just don't get in the way of mine, and we'll be all right. Do we understand one another?" Kisehemu's turned his own head just the slightest bit again, but it isn't Sammar he's looking at--it's Mizuka his attention is own, and his tail is tapping against the cool rock uncertainly.
Sammar is looking rather more openly bewildered than Kisehemu. "I-- think so? Does she still like me, though?" suddenly intense. Because of course Mizuka must know, despite the fact that he's as good as said he doesn't particularly mind what Sammar does with her.
"You'll have to ask her. She hasn't told me much about you." Mizuka shuts his eyes, drawing his unoccupied paw up against his chest, and lets his body relax. Not sleeping, not by a long shot, but--trusting. Either that Sammar will behave, or that Kisehemu will /make/ him behave, if necessary. "She hasn't told me much of anything, really."
"She -hasn't-?" it's al ow, displeased rumble. "-Well-. -- Mm. You ought to talk with her more. She's very nice." And very -pretty,- which is at -least- as important as personality. Mizuka -does- seem calm though-- and not at all hostile, which is pleasant: subject amtter aside, it's pleasant to socialize a little.
"We all need to talk more..." It has the tone of a reminder, perhaps to himself; that would certainly explain the second sigh that comes gusting out of him after he speaks. "...With everything that's going on, it's difficult to care sometimes." It's a little while before he says anything else. "Stay awhile, if you like." And after that, Mizuka really does fall silent, and doesn't move again until the thunder draws closer and the first drops of rain hit the cliff; then he finally rouses himself, and licks his tongue out over his whiskers, which are beaded with water. He seems oddly satisfied, lifting his face into the shower that rapidly becomes a downpour, beginning to lash against the mountain and the parched grass below. Kisehemu bows his head, either in relief or simply to keep the worst of the rain out of his eyes, his mane slicked closely to his neck. Eventually, his fur lying flat against his own body, Mizuka rises to his feet and pads inside, leaving a dripping trail in his wake. The knight follows shortly, but the way he pauses by the entrance for a few seconds makes the invitation clear enough; Sammar can join them if he's a mind to.
Sammar takes a little while, letting the rain and the conversation soak into him. And waiting, uselessly, for Ndalia. Shortly, though, he rises, himself-- and pads into the darkness of the cave behind the other two, to join them within.