Post by Msasi on Jul 21, 2006 23:04:48 GMT -5
We'll miss you, Keelah! ;_;
}*{ Tyne }*{ Tree Grove
[IC ] Aitan, male white lion [IC ] Msasi, female lioness
[LRP] Keelah, female lioness [zzz] Fuadi, male lion
Sprawled out in the grass is Keelah, with her weight pressed into the side of a tree. Her eyes are half lidded, and she is quietly breathing as she quietly hums to herself. The name of the song is forgotten, but its one that she won't ever forget. Her first lullaby her mother sang to her so many, many, years ago. At times she sways, like a small blade of grass in the wind, rocking her head slowly from one side to the next.
Msasi is exhausted.. but it's the good sort of exhaustion. One of a job well done. The pride's head huntress comes upon the tree grove from the lake, having quenched her thirst after a successful hunt. The hunting party is having to work overtime anymore. The Queen and one of the more powerful lioness' in the party are both out, and both are requiring more food than normal.. Tisea to make sure her cubs will be born at nice, healthy weights and Waset to make sure that she can produce enough milk for her own new litter. And while it's hard work trying to provide enough food with two less lionesses, it's the sort of work that any lioness would (and should, in Msasi's opinion) be proud to do. The tawny-coated lioness slow her pace gradually as the soft sound reaches her ears and Msasi eventually draws to a halt, ears tilted towards Keelah, listening quietly as if hesitant to disturb the other female.
Aitan pads towards The Grove, on a search for... well no one in paticular. Maybe someone or just anyone in general. His father's gentle snores float to his ears and he peeks his head in through the narrow spacing between two trees. It is instantly obvious that his dad is dead to the world... sprawled on his back, tail twitching with dreams. Aitan grins wryly and is about to turn and continue his quest when he spots Keelah. He rumbles a greeting and makes his way towards her. Almost at the same time he spots Msasi also making her way towards the grove and he gives her a grin.
Continuing to hum, Keelah rumbles gently in her throat, then slowly turns her eyes upon Aitan as he chuffs in her direction, then offers up a weak smile to Msasi as she spies her as well. She shifts her weight some slowly, painfully slow, then stares at the two of them head on. "Good afternoon." She says in soft tones, though there is that hint of wryness about her voice. "Come and give old Keelah a nuzzle?" She asks of them, slowly closing her eyes as she takes in a good breath of fresh air, almost as if she was savoring each one. Her tail twitches slowly, back and forth behind her haunches, the tuft wiggling a bit. Today, was the first day since she got here that she missed the hunt. The young lioness reported that the old bird was just 'tired'. Well, she sure looks it.
Aitan has disconnected.
A sudden movement of pale color out of the corner of her eye draws Msasi's to the white prince's arrival, a nod and a small, but warm smile returned in greeting. But the huntress says nothing to him, her attention brought back to the older lioness a mere moment later. Tawny paws guide Msasi lightly to Keelah's side, a quick dip of her head silently indicating for Aitan to position himself along the lioness' other side. Her head dips to nuzzle Keelah warmly before she settles herself on the ground, side pressed gently against that of the older lioness. "The hunt was good to us today," Msasi informs Keelah softly. "You would have enjoyed it. The buffalo herd is plentiful. A blessing for a time like this."
Leaning in to return the affection, Keelah chuckles quietly. "Ah, Msasi, I would have loved it, but alas.. I feel that my days of running in the wind is now over." The Elder says as she leans over to place her chin over the neck of the Huntress. "I have not been completely honest with you, my little butterfly. I have been in pain since the moment I stepped paw into your beautiful lands. I really did not want you to feel bad for me, or think ill that I could not pull my own weight. Now, my weight is pulling me." She chuckles, her voice dropping a bit. "I could never convince Fuadi that I was old, or Mahani for that matter, but.. I am. I'm older than I should be." She says, quietly wheezing out as her voice slowly falls quieter, to a whisper. "You're like a daughter to me." She says, beginning to choke up, before clearing her throat. "I love yah' kiddo."
A soft purr rumbles in the chest of the Tynian head huntress, even as she is told that the other has been in pain for so long. But still, Msasi chuckles. "Old One.. you will not be that way for long." She tilts her head to press a gentle lick across Keelah's cheek. "WHere I come from, it has been told that the old just don't vanish. Your pain will cease and your bones will be young once again. Though you may no longer hunt the Mwindaji with the pride and I, you will be where prey is always plentiful.. only your favorite kinds. The water is always crisp and cool and available when you have the slightest thirst. And the winds that blow there are made up of the whispers of love of all you have ever known and loved. With lands far more beautiful than anything your eyes have ever seen. You will know no pain and no troubles.. just peace." And though Msasi would like to believe that, as a Shambahla trained huntress, she is fully prepared for death.. a stray tear trickles down through her cheek fur as she presses her head gently against Keelah's neck. "I love you too, Keelah. Don't forget us here in Tyne when you hunt for the Great Kings."
Listening to Msasi, the words seem to bring a lazy smile across Keelah's face as she closes her eyes for the final time, letting a soft purr rumble in her throat, until it slowly ticks away. One by one, her breath spills against the soft fur of her friend, soon becoming softer, and softer, before she wheezes out once more. ".. won't forget..." Soon, the dark furred lioness comes to rest as her head slumps slowly along the shoulders. Tick. Tick. Tick. Silence. There is nothing dramatic in the way that this old girl passed on. No final parting words, no screams of revenge, and not a single regret.
How long Msasi lays there she is unsure. She is - if she does say so herself - a master huntress. As such, she knows when death comes. But, even after knowing that the older lioness has passed, she lays there. There are tears shed, of course, but having never been one for the overly dramatic in dealing with such, it isn't a hysterical sobbing or anything of the sort. But, eventually, cheek fur still damp but with no more tears forthcoming, Msasi pushes herself into a seated position. She doesn't once stop to wonder if the rituals are the same where Keelah came from as they were that Msasi learned in Shambahla.. she just does them. It's ritual.. habit.. it's required. Lifting a forepaw, the lioness nips at the pad, drawing blood. That forepaw is then pressed gently against Keelah's cheek, leaving a smear of blood. "As you were marked when your life as a cub ended and your life as a huntress began, so I mark you now. Lioness to lioness, huntress to huntress, sister to sister. Go now and hunt for the Great Kings, Keelah. You have been marked a huntress for them.. and they will be honored to have you.. as we have been honored to hunt alongside of you." Allowing her paw to drop, Msasi's head bows. A moment later, her head lifts, muzzle parts.. and a long, mournful roar echoes across all of Tyne. And beyond.
A roar is heard from }*{ Tyne }*{ Tree Grove, Msasi's call echoes all over Tyne.
There is a light rustle through the grass, as a warm shiver finds its way up along the back of Msasi, something akin to a light nuzzle. Crickets fill the air, followed by the song of birds tucked away in their branches, and for an instant, the old girl's laughter can be heard whistling through the sky, though in a much, much, younger tone. Keelah hunts once more, and she will never forget the kindness which Tyne had bestowed upon her, and the happiness in which she embraced within her heart. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
}*{ Tyne }*{ Tree Grove
[IC ] Aitan, male white lion [IC ] Msasi, female lioness
[LRP] Keelah, female lioness [zzz] Fuadi, male lion
Sprawled out in the grass is Keelah, with her weight pressed into the side of a tree. Her eyes are half lidded, and she is quietly breathing as she quietly hums to herself. The name of the song is forgotten, but its one that she won't ever forget. Her first lullaby her mother sang to her so many, many, years ago. At times she sways, like a small blade of grass in the wind, rocking her head slowly from one side to the next.
Msasi is exhausted.. but it's the good sort of exhaustion. One of a job well done. The pride's head huntress comes upon the tree grove from the lake, having quenched her thirst after a successful hunt. The hunting party is having to work overtime anymore. The Queen and one of the more powerful lioness' in the party are both out, and both are requiring more food than normal.. Tisea to make sure her cubs will be born at nice, healthy weights and Waset to make sure that she can produce enough milk for her own new litter. And while it's hard work trying to provide enough food with two less lionesses, it's the sort of work that any lioness would (and should, in Msasi's opinion) be proud to do. The tawny-coated lioness slow her pace gradually as the soft sound reaches her ears and Msasi eventually draws to a halt, ears tilted towards Keelah, listening quietly as if hesitant to disturb the other female.
Aitan pads towards The Grove, on a search for... well no one in paticular. Maybe someone or just anyone in general. His father's gentle snores float to his ears and he peeks his head in through the narrow spacing between two trees. It is instantly obvious that his dad is dead to the world... sprawled on his back, tail twitching with dreams. Aitan grins wryly and is about to turn and continue his quest when he spots Keelah. He rumbles a greeting and makes his way towards her. Almost at the same time he spots Msasi also making her way towards the grove and he gives her a grin.
Continuing to hum, Keelah rumbles gently in her throat, then slowly turns her eyes upon Aitan as he chuffs in her direction, then offers up a weak smile to Msasi as she spies her as well. She shifts her weight some slowly, painfully slow, then stares at the two of them head on. "Good afternoon." She says in soft tones, though there is that hint of wryness about her voice. "Come and give old Keelah a nuzzle?" She asks of them, slowly closing her eyes as she takes in a good breath of fresh air, almost as if she was savoring each one. Her tail twitches slowly, back and forth behind her haunches, the tuft wiggling a bit. Today, was the first day since she got here that she missed the hunt. The young lioness reported that the old bird was just 'tired'. Well, she sure looks it.
Aitan has disconnected.
A sudden movement of pale color out of the corner of her eye draws Msasi's to the white prince's arrival, a nod and a small, but warm smile returned in greeting. But the huntress says nothing to him, her attention brought back to the older lioness a mere moment later. Tawny paws guide Msasi lightly to Keelah's side, a quick dip of her head silently indicating for Aitan to position himself along the lioness' other side. Her head dips to nuzzle Keelah warmly before she settles herself on the ground, side pressed gently against that of the older lioness. "The hunt was good to us today," Msasi informs Keelah softly. "You would have enjoyed it. The buffalo herd is plentiful. A blessing for a time like this."
Leaning in to return the affection, Keelah chuckles quietly. "Ah, Msasi, I would have loved it, but alas.. I feel that my days of running in the wind is now over." The Elder says as she leans over to place her chin over the neck of the Huntress. "I have not been completely honest with you, my little butterfly. I have been in pain since the moment I stepped paw into your beautiful lands. I really did not want you to feel bad for me, or think ill that I could not pull my own weight. Now, my weight is pulling me." She chuckles, her voice dropping a bit. "I could never convince Fuadi that I was old, or Mahani for that matter, but.. I am. I'm older than I should be." She says, quietly wheezing out as her voice slowly falls quieter, to a whisper. "You're like a daughter to me." She says, beginning to choke up, before clearing her throat. "I love yah' kiddo."
A soft purr rumbles in the chest of the Tynian head huntress, even as she is told that the other has been in pain for so long. But still, Msasi chuckles. "Old One.. you will not be that way for long." She tilts her head to press a gentle lick across Keelah's cheek. "WHere I come from, it has been told that the old just don't vanish. Your pain will cease and your bones will be young once again. Though you may no longer hunt the Mwindaji with the pride and I, you will be where prey is always plentiful.. only your favorite kinds. The water is always crisp and cool and available when you have the slightest thirst. And the winds that blow there are made up of the whispers of love of all you have ever known and loved. With lands far more beautiful than anything your eyes have ever seen. You will know no pain and no troubles.. just peace." And though Msasi would like to believe that, as a Shambahla trained huntress, she is fully prepared for death.. a stray tear trickles down through her cheek fur as she presses her head gently against Keelah's neck. "I love you too, Keelah. Don't forget us here in Tyne when you hunt for the Great Kings."
Listening to Msasi, the words seem to bring a lazy smile across Keelah's face as she closes her eyes for the final time, letting a soft purr rumble in her throat, until it slowly ticks away. One by one, her breath spills against the soft fur of her friend, soon becoming softer, and softer, before she wheezes out once more. ".. won't forget..." Soon, the dark furred lioness comes to rest as her head slumps slowly along the shoulders. Tick. Tick. Tick. Silence. There is nothing dramatic in the way that this old girl passed on. No final parting words, no screams of revenge, and not a single regret.
How long Msasi lays there she is unsure. She is - if she does say so herself - a master huntress. As such, she knows when death comes. But, even after knowing that the older lioness has passed, she lays there. There are tears shed, of course, but having never been one for the overly dramatic in dealing with such, it isn't a hysterical sobbing or anything of the sort. But, eventually, cheek fur still damp but with no more tears forthcoming, Msasi pushes herself into a seated position. She doesn't once stop to wonder if the rituals are the same where Keelah came from as they were that Msasi learned in Shambahla.. she just does them. It's ritual.. habit.. it's required. Lifting a forepaw, the lioness nips at the pad, drawing blood. That forepaw is then pressed gently against Keelah's cheek, leaving a smear of blood. "As you were marked when your life as a cub ended and your life as a huntress began, so I mark you now. Lioness to lioness, huntress to huntress, sister to sister. Go now and hunt for the Great Kings, Keelah. You have been marked a huntress for them.. and they will be honored to have you.. as we have been honored to hunt alongside of you." Allowing her paw to drop, Msasi's head bows. A moment later, her head lifts, muzzle parts.. and a long, mournful roar echoes across all of Tyne. And beyond.
A roar is heard from }*{ Tyne }*{ Tree Grove, Msasi's call echoes all over Tyne.
There is a light rustle through the grass, as a warm shiver finds its way up along the back of Msasi, something akin to a light nuzzle. Crickets fill the air, followed by the song of birds tucked away in their branches, and for an instant, the old girl's laughter can be heard whistling through the sky, though in a much, much, younger tone. Keelah hunts once more, and she will never forget the kindness which Tyne had bestowed upon her, and the happiness in which she embraced within her heart. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
