Post by Shomoro on Apr 10, 2008 1:49:40 GMT -5
Involved:
Mizuka, King of Kivuli
Kisehemu, Knight of Kivuli
Sammar, Jinjin'tau Royal Bodyguard
Anwuli, Jinjin'tau Lioness
Special Appearance By:
Khamisa, Dying Lady of Kivuli
Summary: One of the Jinjin'tau learns the reason behind Mizuka's cold, rather impatient demeanour, and sees a glimpse of his less ornery side. Kisehemu is evasive. Anwuli is pleasant!
Kivuli - West Mountain
The sun has almost set completely by the time Mizuka reaches the western mountain; in less mountainous terrain, there's probably still some light, but true night has fallen in the valley. Being a largely nocturnal predator, however, this hasn't slowed him down any. Leaving the tree line behind, he races towards the cliff path and then just...stops. He's breathing hard; from the looks of it, he's run all the way here. Now, though, he just stares up at the faint outline of the cliff, his ears folded flat into his mane. His eyes shut for a minute--regaining his composure, apparently. And then, exhaling a heavy sigh, he gives his mane a shake and continues towards the path that runs up the mountain, his head low. This isn't a Mizuka that any from Jinjin'tau have seen; he seems outright depressed. Resigned, in a way. Nothing like the commanding, almost harsh king he's presented himself as so far.
It's largely, Sammar tells himself, because of Amahl that he's decided to go and talk to this king, feel him out. Has nothing to do with Ndalia. He's been loitering near the base of the cliff for some time now, settled down in the brush, dull brownish gray amid the darker leaves of the plants around him. He doesn't catch Mizuka's galloping arrival-- he's deeply engrossed in cleaning himself-- but he -does- notice when the king stops, catches that look. It makes him straighten, curious-- it's too much to ask for a soliloquoy, but he holds out for a moment or two before stirring and getting to his paws,shaking himself-- making more noise than is necessary.
Of course, the instant he hears somebody shifting around nearby, Mizuka's long, dark body goes tense again. 'Oh, what is it /now/?' is written all over his posture before he finally looks up, his eyes narrow. "Yes?" His voice is curt, and as he says that one short word he's pulling himself back together, straightening up. But it might be too late already; Sammar probably saw him before he saw Sammar. His ears thingy back again, very deliberately.
Sammar's own body language changes accordingly, his ears twitchig back,whiskers bristling, and his heavy brow furrows. "I haven't introduced myself properly," he replies, "and I -am- Ndalia's closest guard. I felt I ought to say hello. I don't know how much helloing our ambassador has done." The words come out awkward and stilted.
There is another around, though not right out in the open. The pale colored Anwuli is off a good distance from where her brother was. Forepaws stretched before her as she is settled upon a rock just enjoying the scenery which is something she is really not use to. Voices soon catch her attention and she tilts her head, bright gaze watching Sammar before she looks to Mizuka. So that must be the King, they haven't met and for the moment she is just keeping to herself choosing to listion it seems.
A fine time for everyone to want to introduce themselves personally! Mizuka casts another, more discreet glance up at the cliff, but his gaze tracks back to the other male soon enough. "Very little. I haven't seen nor spoken to her since she arrived with the rest of you. Sammar, wasn't it? Hello, then." He's silent for a moment, but he's still tense. "I suppose you'll be assisting my knights on the borders? Speak with Camrath or Kisehemu. Either one of them can tell you what you need to know."
"Yes." silent, himself. "I will. But I wanted to talk to -you-. About Ndalia. I wanted to know how you two were getting along. I haven't seen her lately." He does his best to keep his voice neutral. Adds: "And Chaosti is a-- good ambassador. Just keeps to herself." Feeling the need to defend her.
Anwuli smirks at the talk, and shakes her head as Chaosti is brought up. A forepaw lifts and she starts to groom across it. A ear twitching from one lion to another while she still stays in the shadows so to speak. She'll give her brother an the dear king a bit longer to speak before butting in on the conversation.
"Truly? I would say that such reclusiveness is a bad quality to have in an ambassador." Mizuka is a rather distant ruler himself, emotionally...but at least he's accessible most of the time. His voice is almost listless, though, as he speaks of such things. He's not particularly interested in going over Jinjin'tau-related matters, from the sound of it. "And as for Ndalia, we get along fine. She is intelligent. She will...make a good queen." Strange, that he should say that instead of remarking on how he feels about her personally. After all, she /is/ an attractive lioness. Most lions would be more than happy to brag about such a female, as if she was some sort of prize. He hasn't noticed Anwuli yet--perhaps wilfully. After all, if he can't see someone, he doesn't have to stop to talk to them. Not that it matters, with Sammar talking at him just feet away from his destination.
And Sammar notices that deliberate omission and frowns. "Well -that's- good, but do you -like- her?" he wants to know, and he's tense-- this is important to him, clearly. His body language isn't -precisely- aggressive, but it's certainly -attentive-. "She's more than just -intelligent-." -He- tosses it off like it's nothing terribly important.
Anwuli shifts slowly up onto her haunches, tail twitching while her eyes narrow faintly at the answer from the king. She never thought a lion would put it like that. After a few more moments pass she stands, stretching before she starts to move forwards towards the pair. A warm smile is offered while she offers a nod to them. "Evening.." She says with a friendly tone.
"She is intelligent," Mizuka repeats stubbornly, but Sammar seems determined to make him say more than /that/, and the darker lion sighs again. "Fine. She is kind, and easy to get along with. I am sure we will be...close." what else /is/ the maneless lion looking for, anyway? ...Ah. He blanches, suddenly, and opens his mouth to say something else...but then Anwuli comes over and greets them. And, even though he doesn't know the lioness personally, he's quite grateful for the interruption. Even if it does mean he has to stay down here longer. "Good evening." His eyes rest on her for a minute, trying to identify her. "Are you with the Jinjin'tau?" Apparently Chaosti didn't introduce /everyone/.
"Anwuli," he replies, pleased, perking up. Although-- does he really want her to see this? But-- still,he moves to bump his head against her shoulder. It's brief though, his gaze turning quickly back to Mizuka. "-- Yes. She's my sister." Introducing Anwuli -for- her.
Anwuli nods to the king and keeps her friendly smile, a glance is offered tp her brother as he speaks for her. "Pleasure to meet you finally Sire." At least she's polite!
"Pleased to meet you." Thanking her, in his head, for interrupting what could have been a very unpleasant conversation. Something of that gratitude shows through in his expression; he's so tense he's having difficulty keeping himself as well under control as he usually does. "Is that all you wanted to speak about, Sammar?" Something about the sound of it makes it clear that the subject of Ndalia is closed, at least as far as he's concerned.
Anwuli has disconnected.
-- And it -very- well could have been, and indeed Sammar is opening his mouth to protest, to say, -no-, because -dammit-- But-- he pauses, because-- isn't he trying to pretend to be a diplomat? For Amahl? Would it -really- be diplomatic to badger the king? ... No. Not really. "Perhaps we might talk about it later," he decides on, pleased with himself for thinking of it. "I did want to discuss with you the possibility of getting Amahl some-- diplomacy... things." Awkward. Because it had been Amahl he'd been thinking of just now-- it seems excuse enough and it -is- true. "Certainly you seem diplomatic." It's not barbed per se, but there's a hint of amusement in his voice.
"'Things?'" He's just a little dry. If he's caught that little not-quite insult, he doesn't show it; Mizuka's expression doesn't change. Then, it seldom does around most lions. "Speak to Kisehemu," echoing what he'd said earlier, more or less. "He's been talking with Amahl, I believe. Now if you'll excuse me," his eyes darting upwards again, "it's been a long day, and I need to rest."
"He talked with Amahl and then left," Sammar agrees, "so I haven't had a chance to talk with him. I thought he was a guard though-- not a diplomat. Have you got an ambassador?" he follows the cat's gaze, ears twitching. "Is the cavern private or could I come too?" there's that little pause between 'private' and 'or'-- he's trying hard to be -diplomatic-. Tactful. Feh. There's a -reason- he was set up as a guard-- but at least his body language isn't hostile, and his tone, while rather gruff, isn't either-- if anything it's a little awkward.
"He's a knight. Fighting isn't the only thing he knows how to do." In fact, given the gap between their ages, it's quite possible that he was one of Mizuka's teachers. "And every one of my knights know how to represent themselves and Kivuli as well as they need to." Of course, Sammar asks if /he/ can come. It would seem rather suspicious to refuse, wouldn't it? Surprisingly, the lion glances down, sighing. "Very well. Come on, then." From the looks of it now, he's not sure if he exactly relishes the idea of Sammar going in there, but he says nothing. Just turns and heads up the trail, and once he gets halfway to the top he speeds up a little. He's obviously got more important things to worry about than a foreign male following him around.
And this particular foreign male is doing his best to be -good-. "We have guards; they're different. Amahl wants to learn diplomacy." he keeps quiet then, a little ways back. Will he see Ndalia? Will she talk to him? In a way it's almost thrilling-- moreso certainly than before they heard about this betrothal, when their little relationship had seemed normal. Now, though, the idea of a smile meant -just for him- is thrilling. Mizuka had only said things about her -intelligence-- maybe that means she -hasn't- given him any special looks! It makes him hopeful, which brushes the rather mulish look off his face.
Kivuli - Mountain Cavern
The grotto, however, looks empty. Maybe the others are out hunting or guarding or just enjoying the quiet, if dry, night...except for one. Kisehemu, his pale fur bathed in shadow, is stretched out on his side in a position that squarely blocks the entrance into the royal cavern. He must have returned at some point--and he's quite awake, watching with dark, inexpressive eyes as the two males enter. "Master Mizuka," he calls softly, shifting to get up, but then he identifies Sammar and pauses for a moment. "...Have they decided to stay here, then?" His gaze shifts between the two of them, his brow drawn into a frown.
Mizuka is barely thinking about Sammar now that he's /here/, though. He stalks over to the knight, purposefully, his head trailing low again--almost as if he were about to whisper something to the older lion, or maybe butt foreheads with him. What he actually does, though, is leap right over Kisehemu's prone body and enter the smaller subcave. There's no goodbye, no make yourself comfortables--he just continues on as if he's forgotten he has one of their guests with him at all.
Sammar can't very well just -jump over- a stranger. Well-- not and still be polite. Which wouldn't matter except for Ndalia and, well, kind of Amahl. He grumbles low at the back of his throat-- not a growl, but... confused. And a little irritated. But... He- had- been meaning to talk to Kisehemu. So: "Hello," to the knight. "Amahl had said you'd gone."
"Did he?" Kisehemu's voice is utterly bland, as opposed to the puzzled, faintly concerned tones it had carried a few minutes ago. He sits up, looking over his shoulder into the cave for a minute before fixing his eyes on Sammar again. "He said you're to be teaching him a thing or two about diplomacy. He's a charming boy; I'm sure with some good instruction he'll be quite good at it." He's delicately steering the conversation away from anything about himself, and, well, anything important, it seems like.
This is -so- frustrating. It makes him want to bite something, or maybe give the other knight a good cuff-- but if words are the way they deal with things, then probably slapping them won't endear him to them. Which make his tail lash. He contains it though. "I might be. I was hoping I could get help. The king said you were...?"
"Kisehemu, Knight of Kivuli and bodyguard of the royal family." If the knight's smaller stature hinders him in that job at all, he doesn't show it. In fact, his posture is as relaxed and confident as that of a much larger lion. "And you are Sammar, correct?" Well, with his lack of mane it's hard to mistake him for anyone else.
"-- I am." Gruff. He peers over Kisehemu's body then, looking into the dimness of the cave. "Bodyguard to Ndalia." Very clear about -his- allegience, isn't he? "Just keeping an eye on Amahl..."
"Well, you won't find the Lady Ndalia here. I don't know where she is." Even though he's sitting up, it's easy enough to look past him--the entrance might not be as large as the one leading outside, but he can't block the whole thing with his body. And, looking inside, it's easy to see what Mizuka was in such a rush to get home to: the petite, pale form of a lioness is laid out on the short ledge at the back of the cavern, either asleep or unconscious. She looks undernourished, perhaps as a result of some sickness eating away at her, and her laboured breathing can be heard even from here--deep gaspy, rattling breaths, faltering or hitching occasionally as she shifts in some small way. Mizuka is next to her, his body curled into a position that will let him groom carefully at her ears and the top of her head. He doesn't look up, even though he has to at least be aware of the possibility that someone's staring at him; his face, regarding her, is torn between relief and abject misery.
After a moment, Kisehemu does move to impede the other's view of that private, rather vulnerable scene, though the look he casts Sammar is almost apologetic. "His sister," the knight murmurs. "She's very ill. He's ordered me to keep an eye on her, the last couple of days." He hesitates, obviously wondering how much to divulge. "He's terrified that she might die while he's out patrolling and playing host to the lot of you. So if he seems short...please excuse him."
Sammar watches a moment-- he looks away before Kisehemu even moves to block his gaze though, aware that he's intruding on something private. -Well-. He feels a bit bad -now-. Poor thing. He wonders-- has she got whatever it is Amahl has? Kisehemu speaks and the maneless lion's gaze drops briefly to the ground. "I understand. Thank you. I'll come by some other time, and see if I can find Ndalia." He doesn't do it verbally but there's apology in the lines of his frame, the way he's a little hunched, tail low. He heads off, then, back down the rock--maybe he can go and find -his- sister.
Mizuka, King of Kivuli
Kisehemu, Knight of Kivuli
Sammar, Jinjin'tau Royal Bodyguard
Anwuli, Jinjin'tau Lioness
Special Appearance By:
Khamisa, Dying Lady of Kivuli
Summary: One of the Jinjin'tau learns the reason behind Mizuka's cold, rather impatient demeanour, and sees a glimpse of his less ornery side. Kisehemu is evasive. Anwuli is pleasant!
Kivuli - West Mountain
The sun has almost set completely by the time Mizuka reaches the western mountain; in less mountainous terrain, there's probably still some light, but true night has fallen in the valley. Being a largely nocturnal predator, however, this hasn't slowed him down any. Leaving the tree line behind, he races towards the cliff path and then just...stops. He's breathing hard; from the looks of it, he's run all the way here. Now, though, he just stares up at the faint outline of the cliff, his ears folded flat into his mane. His eyes shut for a minute--regaining his composure, apparently. And then, exhaling a heavy sigh, he gives his mane a shake and continues towards the path that runs up the mountain, his head low. This isn't a Mizuka that any from Jinjin'tau have seen; he seems outright depressed. Resigned, in a way. Nothing like the commanding, almost harsh king he's presented himself as so far.
It's largely, Sammar tells himself, because of Amahl that he's decided to go and talk to this king, feel him out. Has nothing to do with Ndalia. He's been loitering near the base of the cliff for some time now, settled down in the brush, dull brownish gray amid the darker leaves of the plants around him. He doesn't catch Mizuka's galloping arrival-- he's deeply engrossed in cleaning himself-- but he -does- notice when the king stops, catches that look. It makes him straighten, curious-- it's too much to ask for a soliloquoy, but he holds out for a moment or two before stirring and getting to his paws,shaking himself-- making more noise than is necessary.
Of course, the instant he hears somebody shifting around nearby, Mizuka's long, dark body goes tense again. 'Oh, what is it /now/?' is written all over his posture before he finally looks up, his eyes narrow. "Yes?" His voice is curt, and as he says that one short word he's pulling himself back together, straightening up. But it might be too late already; Sammar probably saw him before he saw Sammar. His ears thingy back again, very deliberately.
Sammar's own body language changes accordingly, his ears twitchig back,whiskers bristling, and his heavy brow furrows. "I haven't introduced myself properly," he replies, "and I -am- Ndalia's closest guard. I felt I ought to say hello. I don't know how much helloing our ambassador has done." The words come out awkward and stilted.
There is another around, though not right out in the open. The pale colored Anwuli is off a good distance from where her brother was. Forepaws stretched before her as she is settled upon a rock just enjoying the scenery which is something she is really not use to. Voices soon catch her attention and she tilts her head, bright gaze watching Sammar before she looks to Mizuka. So that must be the King, they haven't met and for the moment she is just keeping to herself choosing to listion it seems.
A fine time for everyone to want to introduce themselves personally! Mizuka casts another, more discreet glance up at the cliff, but his gaze tracks back to the other male soon enough. "Very little. I haven't seen nor spoken to her since she arrived with the rest of you. Sammar, wasn't it? Hello, then." He's silent for a moment, but he's still tense. "I suppose you'll be assisting my knights on the borders? Speak with Camrath or Kisehemu. Either one of them can tell you what you need to know."
"Yes." silent, himself. "I will. But I wanted to talk to -you-. About Ndalia. I wanted to know how you two were getting along. I haven't seen her lately." He does his best to keep his voice neutral. Adds: "And Chaosti is a-- good ambassador. Just keeps to herself." Feeling the need to defend her.
Anwuli smirks at the talk, and shakes her head as Chaosti is brought up. A forepaw lifts and she starts to groom across it. A ear twitching from one lion to another while she still stays in the shadows so to speak. She'll give her brother an the dear king a bit longer to speak before butting in on the conversation.
"Truly? I would say that such reclusiveness is a bad quality to have in an ambassador." Mizuka is a rather distant ruler himself, emotionally...but at least he's accessible most of the time. His voice is almost listless, though, as he speaks of such things. He's not particularly interested in going over Jinjin'tau-related matters, from the sound of it. "And as for Ndalia, we get along fine. She is intelligent. She will...make a good queen." Strange, that he should say that instead of remarking on how he feels about her personally. After all, she /is/ an attractive lioness. Most lions would be more than happy to brag about such a female, as if she was some sort of prize. He hasn't noticed Anwuli yet--perhaps wilfully. After all, if he can't see someone, he doesn't have to stop to talk to them. Not that it matters, with Sammar talking at him just feet away from his destination.
And Sammar notices that deliberate omission and frowns. "Well -that's- good, but do you -like- her?" he wants to know, and he's tense-- this is important to him, clearly. His body language isn't -precisely- aggressive, but it's certainly -attentive-. "She's more than just -intelligent-." -He- tosses it off like it's nothing terribly important.
Anwuli shifts slowly up onto her haunches, tail twitching while her eyes narrow faintly at the answer from the king. She never thought a lion would put it like that. After a few more moments pass she stands, stretching before she starts to move forwards towards the pair. A warm smile is offered while she offers a nod to them. "Evening.." She says with a friendly tone.
"She is intelligent," Mizuka repeats stubbornly, but Sammar seems determined to make him say more than /that/, and the darker lion sighs again. "Fine. She is kind, and easy to get along with. I am sure we will be...close." what else /is/ the maneless lion looking for, anyway? ...Ah. He blanches, suddenly, and opens his mouth to say something else...but then Anwuli comes over and greets them. And, even though he doesn't know the lioness personally, he's quite grateful for the interruption. Even if it does mean he has to stay down here longer. "Good evening." His eyes rest on her for a minute, trying to identify her. "Are you with the Jinjin'tau?" Apparently Chaosti didn't introduce /everyone/.
"Anwuli," he replies, pleased, perking up. Although-- does he really want her to see this? But-- still,he moves to bump his head against her shoulder. It's brief though, his gaze turning quickly back to Mizuka. "-- Yes. She's my sister." Introducing Anwuli -for- her.
Anwuli nods to the king and keeps her friendly smile, a glance is offered tp her brother as he speaks for her. "Pleasure to meet you finally Sire." At least she's polite!
"Pleased to meet you." Thanking her, in his head, for interrupting what could have been a very unpleasant conversation. Something of that gratitude shows through in his expression; he's so tense he's having difficulty keeping himself as well under control as he usually does. "Is that all you wanted to speak about, Sammar?" Something about the sound of it makes it clear that the subject of Ndalia is closed, at least as far as he's concerned.
Anwuli has disconnected.
-- And it -very- well could have been, and indeed Sammar is opening his mouth to protest, to say, -no-, because -dammit-- But-- he pauses, because-- isn't he trying to pretend to be a diplomat? For Amahl? Would it -really- be diplomatic to badger the king? ... No. Not really. "Perhaps we might talk about it later," he decides on, pleased with himself for thinking of it. "I did want to discuss with you the possibility of getting Amahl some-- diplomacy... things." Awkward. Because it had been Amahl he'd been thinking of just now-- it seems excuse enough and it -is- true. "Certainly you seem diplomatic." It's not barbed per se, but there's a hint of amusement in his voice.
"'Things?'" He's just a little dry. If he's caught that little not-quite insult, he doesn't show it; Mizuka's expression doesn't change. Then, it seldom does around most lions. "Speak to Kisehemu," echoing what he'd said earlier, more or less. "He's been talking with Amahl, I believe. Now if you'll excuse me," his eyes darting upwards again, "it's been a long day, and I need to rest."
"He talked with Amahl and then left," Sammar agrees, "so I haven't had a chance to talk with him. I thought he was a guard though-- not a diplomat. Have you got an ambassador?" he follows the cat's gaze, ears twitching. "Is the cavern private or could I come too?" there's that little pause between 'private' and 'or'-- he's trying hard to be -diplomatic-. Tactful. Feh. There's a -reason- he was set up as a guard-- but at least his body language isn't hostile, and his tone, while rather gruff, isn't either-- if anything it's a little awkward.
"He's a knight. Fighting isn't the only thing he knows how to do." In fact, given the gap between their ages, it's quite possible that he was one of Mizuka's teachers. "And every one of my knights know how to represent themselves and Kivuli as well as they need to." Of course, Sammar asks if /he/ can come. It would seem rather suspicious to refuse, wouldn't it? Surprisingly, the lion glances down, sighing. "Very well. Come on, then." From the looks of it now, he's not sure if he exactly relishes the idea of Sammar going in there, but he says nothing. Just turns and heads up the trail, and once he gets halfway to the top he speeds up a little. He's obviously got more important things to worry about than a foreign male following him around.
And this particular foreign male is doing his best to be -good-. "We have guards; they're different. Amahl wants to learn diplomacy." he keeps quiet then, a little ways back. Will he see Ndalia? Will she talk to him? In a way it's almost thrilling-- moreso certainly than before they heard about this betrothal, when their little relationship had seemed normal. Now, though, the idea of a smile meant -just for him- is thrilling. Mizuka had only said things about her -intelligence-- maybe that means she -hasn't- given him any special looks! It makes him hopeful, which brushes the rather mulish look off his face.
Kivuli - Mountain Cavern
The grotto, however, looks empty. Maybe the others are out hunting or guarding or just enjoying the quiet, if dry, night...except for one. Kisehemu, his pale fur bathed in shadow, is stretched out on his side in a position that squarely blocks the entrance into the royal cavern. He must have returned at some point--and he's quite awake, watching with dark, inexpressive eyes as the two males enter. "Master Mizuka," he calls softly, shifting to get up, but then he identifies Sammar and pauses for a moment. "...Have they decided to stay here, then?" His gaze shifts between the two of them, his brow drawn into a frown.
Mizuka is barely thinking about Sammar now that he's /here/, though. He stalks over to the knight, purposefully, his head trailing low again--almost as if he were about to whisper something to the older lion, or maybe butt foreheads with him. What he actually does, though, is leap right over Kisehemu's prone body and enter the smaller subcave. There's no goodbye, no make yourself comfortables--he just continues on as if he's forgotten he has one of their guests with him at all.
Sammar can't very well just -jump over- a stranger. Well-- not and still be polite. Which wouldn't matter except for Ndalia and, well, kind of Amahl. He grumbles low at the back of his throat-- not a growl, but... confused. And a little irritated. But... He- had- been meaning to talk to Kisehemu. So: "Hello," to the knight. "Amahl had said you'd gone."
"Did he?" Kisehemu's voice is utterly bland, as opposed to the puzzled, faintly concerned tones it had carried a few minutes ago. He sits up, looking over his shoulder into the cave for a minute before fixing his eyes on Sammar again. "He said you're to be teaching him a thing or two about diplomacy. He's a charming boy; I'm sure with some good instruction he'll be quite good at it." He's delicately steering the conversation away from anything about himself, and, well, anything important, it seems like.
This is -so- frustrating. It makes him want to bite something, or maybe give the other knight a good cuff-- but if words are the way they deal with things, then probably slapping them won't endear him to them. Which make his tail lash. He contains it though. "I might be. I was hoping I could get help. The king said you were...?"
"Kisehemu, Knight of Kivuli and bodyguard of the royal family." If the knight's smaller stature hinders him in that job at all, he doesn't show it. In fact, his posture is as relaxed and confident as that of a much larger lion. "And you are Sammar, correct?" Well, with his lack of mane it's hard to mistake him for anyone else.
"-- I am." Gruff. He peers over Kisehemu's body then, looking into the dimness of the cave. "Bodyguard to Ndalia." Very clear about -his- allegience, isn't he? "Just keeping an eye on Amahl..."
"Well, you won't find the Lady Ndalia here. I don't know where she is." Even though he's sitting up, it's easy enough to look past him--the entrance might not be as large as the one leading outside, but he can't block the whole thing with his body. And, looking inside, it's easy to see what Mizuka was in such a rush to get home to: the petite, pale form of a lioness is laid out on the short ledge at the back of the cavern, either asleep or unconscious. She looks undernourished, perhaps as a result of some sickness eating away at her, and her laboured breathing can be heard even from here--deep gaspy, rattling breaths, faltering or hitching occasionally as she shifts in some small way. Mizuka is next to her, his body curled into a position that will let him groom carefully at her ears and the top of her head. He doesn't look up, even though he has to at least be aware of the possibility that someone's staring at him; his face, regarding her, is torn between relief and abject misery.
After a moment, Kisehemu does move to impede the other's view of that private, rather vulnerable scene, though the look he casts Sammar is almost apologetic. "His sister," the knight murmurs. "She's very ill. He's ordered me to keep an eye on her, the last couple of days." He hesitates, obviously wondering how much to divulge. "He's terrified that she might die while he's out patrolling and playing host to the lot of you. So if he seems short...please excuse him."
Sammar watches a moment-- he looks away before Kisehemu even moves to block his gaze though, aware that he's intruding on something private. -Well-. He feels a bit bad -now-. Poor thing. He wonders-- has she got whatever it is Amahl has? Kisehemu speaks and the maneless lion's gaze drops briefly to the ground. "I understand. Thank you. I'll come by some other time, and see if I can find Ndalia." He doesn't do it verbally but there's apology in the lines of his frame, the way he's a little hunched, tail low. He heads off, then, back down the rock--maybe he can go and find -his- sister.