Post by Msasi on Feb 21, 2007 0:23:03 GMT -5
Involved:
Khamisa, Female Lioness
Kiet, Male White Lion
Atreyu, Male Lion
Kisasi, Male Lion
Berk, Male Meerkat (and his daughter, Nur)
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[Kivuli] Mountain Cavern
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Late afternoon in the lands of Kivuli find at least two of the local leonines in their cavern home. Kiet, still technically the King of the lands, is laid out on his stomach to the far left of the cavern. The male's breathing is slow, each inhale taken with difficulty, while each exhale has the petite lioness at his side worrying that his life may go out with it. Khamisa's blue eys are worried as she sits in front of her father, dangling a small scrap of meat in front of his nose in hopes that the scent may tempt him from his feverish state long enough to eat. How long has it been since he's eaten a decent meal? The young lioness' eyes lift momentarily from the white male's far off gaze, glancing towards his midsection where his ribs are faintly visible on his snowy pelt. Too long. Kiet does not stir, does not even seem to notice his daughter before him or the food she offers him. He is lost to whatever horrible illness has claimed him. After a few more moments, Khamisa steps back, placing the meat aside with a sigh. She has repeated this ritual countless times a day for a countless number of days now. The young princess fears that she may slowly be losing her father. And this.. would be a horrible way for him to go.
The tiny scuffling made by meerkat feet on the bare floor of the cavern might very well go unnoticed by all of its present inhabitants. A meerkat like this one, equivilant to the human age of 4, is extremely small and simply -can't- make much noise.. but it can't be said that she's taking any care to be quiet either. Totally eclipsed behind the paw of a sleeping leonine near the cavern's entrance, little four year-old Nur pokes up her head and stares at the monolithic creatures all around. She nibbles on her lower lip a bit, gleeful and awe-struck all at once. "Mneh... Kitty..," she murmurs to herself, at a loss to decide which one to run and pet first.
And its the biggest Kitty of all who enters after the little meerkat through the caverns entrance. Ok, not the biggest, but he deffinately was the biggest /kitten/ of the family. Atreyu fixes two yellow eyes on the tiny creature, ears perk as he kneels down to investigate. "Hey Khams... come look... its a miniature weasle.." Ok, he knows its a meerkat, he's just playin. He keeps a little snort and smiles gently before concern catches his face and the pale prince slowly makes his way to his father's side, a light nudge given to his mane before eyes lift to his sister. "Still the same?"
Another makes his way into the cave, his been unsure about coming here seeing how Kiet was indeed ill an he didn't want to get in the way. Kisasi's maw twitches, tail lashing as he merely stands at the door peering inside. Everthing's changed, that's about all he knows. An he hasn't found Takiyah has came home to linger around the outer edges of the land until hearing word about the King.. Which makes him wonder where his sister is.
Kiet, having been still (other than breathing and blinking), is suddenly shaken by a round of violent coughing. For Khamisa, it's horrible to witness. It's terrifying to see your parent in such trouble, knowing there isn't much you can do. And she idly wonders if this is what her parents felt when it was she that was so ill as a cub. Kiet coughs, fluid stirring in his lungs, a few tears leaking from the corners of his eyes. And then he collapses onto his side, still once again, his breath rattling in his chest with each labored inhale. Once he's still again Khamisa leans forward to place a few gentle licks to the King's forehead, noting how warm he feels to the touch. The female's eyes lift to Atreyu, expression pained. "Still the same," She confirms sadly. "He's not getting better, Attie..." But sounds at the entrance of the cavern soon draw Khammy's attention back in that direction, where she is relieved to spy Kisasi. He is given a small nod as she moves a few steps away from Kiet.. but not too far. She can't bring herself to leave her father there alone for too long. "Uncle Kisasi." Blue gaze drops down to the tiny meerkat, who is regarded with slight surprise. But the child is enough to draw a soft smile to the princess' features. "Hello there."
Nur looks over her shoulder and almost passes out with excitement at the sight of Atreyu so close. "Kitty!" she squeaks joyfully, reaching out her arm to pet his lowered snout-- feh, he's already gone. Children aren't so easily deterred, however. As Mission Impossible music plays in the background, Nur crouches low and scurries across the floor in Atreyu's wake. It only takes a few moments until Atreyu might feel a slight pressure on one of his back paws .. there's a meerkat kit hugging it. Nur has found her life's happiness! "Mm. Kitty." *squeez* .. After a few seconds of hugging, Nur opens her eyes and beams up at Khamisa. "Hi!"
Atreyu peeks around his side at the meerkat kit and grins crookedly. He lets the little bugger latch onto his leg before looking back to Khamisa and smiling sadly. Atreyu lets his eyes fall to his father and he bites his lip. "He won't die.. he can't. He's too strong for that.." Atreyu shakes his head, words to reasure not only his baby sister but himself. Attention reverts back to Kisasi and Atreyu dips his head, "Uncle Kisasi.." Atreyu busys himself with giving attention to the meerkat kid, tail curving to tickle it gently to releave his mind of the sorrow.
Kisasi gaze rests on Kiet as he just watches the lion for a few moments, is this how bad it got here? He looks around checking for others but finds none his looking for. He quietly hopes there else where an isn't about to ask at the moment. He glances back to Khamisa, he never got use to the uncle bit, made him feel old after all. A slight smile crosses his maw an he nods a bit. "Hello you two." The lion offers softly an settles down at the entrance seeming unsure if his allowed any further. A ear twitches as he hears Atreyu, he won't tell the boy differently but he knows even the strong die.
Khamisa's gaze lingers on Kiet for a long moment, considering Atreyu's words. Kiet's eyes close, an uneasy sleep claiming the white lion for the moment. And Khamisa quickly offers up a silent prayer that they won't lose him as he sleeps. It's so tough, watching him go through this. Every time he breaths, Khammy fears it is his last, and wiants nothing but relief for her father. And yet when he gets that small bit of relief that sleep can offer, she worries that he'll never wake up again. Letting out a shaky sigh, Khamisa glances nervously at her brother. "But.. what if he does, Attie? Mbaamwezi..." And she trails off, her tail giving a nervous twitch. It will be her fault if something happens to Kivuli. All her fault. She never should have said anything to Raiyan, as much as she enjoys his company. Another glance is given to her uncle. "You can come in, Uncle," The lioness glances to Kiet briefly, then back to Kisasi. "I.. don't /think/ he's contagious. We've all been sharing the cavern.. he's still the only one sick." And even if he were, Khamisa herself would pitch a fit if Kiet had to be quarantined. He needs to be with his family, his pride! Needs to know they love him and don't want to lose him! The antics of the kit draw her attention again, bringing about another smile that she directs at the girl, even as she addresses her sibling. "I think you have a new friend, Attie."
Another pattering of meerkat feet echos in the entrance to the cave - but steps far different than those of a little kit. Short and rather round for a meerkat, Berk comes staggering into view a few seconds later, practically choking to catch his breath. He's clearly run a good way.. which is something his unique stature really doesn't care for. He slows and then stops to gasp for air in a hunched over, arms-on-the-knees position. When he finally does manage to look up, Berk frowns at the sheer -number- of lions to be seen here. He'd known that the lions lived way up here, but he didn't expect there to be so many! Nur is quickly spotted, and likewise Nur has caught sight of her father. With a pouty frown, she clings more tightly to Atreyu's foot while Berk lingers nervously where he is. "Nur.. sweetheart.. let go of the nice lion and come to daddy.." The knowledge that any one of these things could break Nur like a twig causes her dad to feel a little faint.
The pale prince grins and rolls a shoulder, "Yeah It happens. Cause I'm awesome like that." His voice doesn't have it's usual 'Atreyu Wit', but he trys for his sister, at least to give her a little smile. Atreyu trys to give up the sad thoughts of his father so he turns his attention to his new little parasite and then said parasites ... rounder father. Atreyu peers through his legs before turning and grinning down at the meerkat. "It's fine, she's kinda cute so I guess she's allowed to hand on for a little while." He laughs a little as she attaches more snugly to his foot and gives her a happy little smile.
"I'm not worried about getting anything Khamise." The lion offers softly before slowly moving into the cave pondering what he should say. "Suppose I wasn't sure if I was still welcome." Kisasi has always been rather strange though when it came to being around faintly. His attention goes to Beck whom he peers at slightly an lifts a brow.. "When did we get meerkats?.."
"Of course you're welcome," Khamisa scoffs gently, shifting over to greet Kisasi with a nuzzle. She doesn't know him as well as she knew Ronan, perhaps, but he's still family. Brother to their mother. And, at the arrival of yet another meerkat, Khamisa's brow raises slightly. She's seen meerkats every so often out on the savanna, but she's never had any venture up to her. Or seen any of them come up so far as the pride's cavern. "Recent aqcuisition, I think," She jokes quietly to her uncle, before glancing back to Berk. She nods at Atreyu's words, offering the papa 'kat a kind smile. "Yes, it's quite all right. We won't hurt either of you. You can come in." Meerkats ain't much a snack anyhow. ;D 'Sides, the Kivuli are known for being too goody-good for their own.. uh.. good. A labored gasp from Kiet brings Khamisa's attention snapping back around to the ill white lion, her heart skipping a few beats as she wonders if this, finally, is his end. But, another gasp and another cough that shakes his small frame violently.. and he relaxes again, back to his labored.. but steady.. breathing.
Berk presses a hand against a paining part of his lower back and maintains a very worried frown, although the understanding in Atreyu's tone gives him a little less to fret over. He even manages a small smile after a moment. "I'm sorry about her. She just took off runnin', said she wanted to 'pet the kitties'." Berk winces and shrugs his apology over this potentially offensive misnomer. "An', well.. I tried to catch her but as y'can see, I'm not the fastest meerkat on two legs." Kisasi's words receive a slight frown and Berk restrains himself from answering back loudly and merely mumbles something about not being anything as bad as fleas before he looks back to his daughter. "Nur, come on. Time t'git home." Khamisa's words are surprising, but as Nur shows no sign of prising herself from Atreyu's foot by her own steam, Berk soon gives in and shuffles his way into the cave to join his daughter. "Thank you, ma'am.. We won't bother you much longer, I promise." The gasp from the older lion he hadn't noticed before mmakes Berk jump and look over at Kiet. Almost immediately, the meerkat frowns deeply at the sight of the ill king. Those symptoms look all too familiar. Nur, by the way, is happy to still be clinging to Atreyu.
Atreyu nuzzles the baby 'kat gently and peers up at Khamy as she speaks, nodding his agreement. He watches his father as he goes into a fit before sighing gently and looking back down to the baby 'kat for his stregnth. Seems he's found a friend.. He smiles gently to the little ones father and lifts a large paw out comically, "Names Atreyu, pleasure to meet you and your little girl here... I'm kind of attached to her. I think she's more attached to me though." Hmm..
Kisasi smirks at the meerkat an huffs a bit while taking in a breath an glances over to Khamisa wanting to say meerkats are just walking treats but he doesn't.. He takes in a faint breath an slides down so his laying about in his normal spot, tail flicking while he just listions, mind wandering it seems.
A kind smile is given to Berk, along with a nod of her head. "Oh, don't worry about it. You're welcome to stay as long as you like." An ear twitches to Atreyu and the lioness rolls her eyes playfully. "/Prince/ Atreyu," She corrects for him. But that's Atreyu for you. "I'm Princess Khamisa. And this is our uncle, Lord Kisasi." Their titles are spoken as natural extensions from their names by Khamisa, something she is used to doing, something she was taught to do as a child.. not to brag and shove their status in the meerkat father's face. Blame her parents for teaching her such. XD Khamisa sits back, letting her attention slip away from her brother and the two meerkats, falling into silence alongside Kisasi. The lioness' mind worries over every little detail of the past weeks. She wouldn't be surprised if her stomach is tied in permanent knots from having worried so much. Kiet, meanwhile, stirs. White chin brushes over the ground as he opens his eyes, directing his attention to the space between Atreyu and Nur, and Berk. His voice is rough, both from disuse and from a scratchy throat. "....Lei..lani?" He coughs, one ear twitching forward. Khamisa's ears immediately pin back against her skull as she realizes. Kiet doesn't even know they're there. He only sees.. or only think he sees.. her dead sister.
Berk pauses before Atreyu on the way to physically drag Nur off of the poor lion's foot. He eyes the offered paw for a moment and grins in spite of himself, reaching out a small hand to "shake" one of Atreyu's toes. "It's nice to meet you, At-" He smiles good-naturedly at Khamisa and nods. "Prince Atreyu. Y'highness-folk and such. I didn't expect lions t'be so.. polite. 'Course Nur and I aren't home yet so there's still plenty of time for you to eat us." His nervousness is clearly receding in light of the leonine's unexpected friendliness .. Kisasi aside. "My name's Berk and this is my daughter Nur." "Hi!" intones Nur again, finally sliding off Atreyu's foot and scampering over to join her father.. now that it doesn't look like she'll be getting a spanking. Berk's smile fades as again he glances over toward the white lion. "We don't mean to intrude," he murmurs, frowning sadly. "It'd be better if we got outta your way."
Atreyu has disconnected.
Kisasi ears twitch as he just listions to the others, he takes in a slight breath an smirks at the meerkat before his attention turns to Khamisa an Kiet. The lion frowns while shifting up onto his paws an moves over to the lioness while watching the king a few moments. His seen this before, an its not a good thing. "Where is the healer at Khamisa?" He murmurs faintly wondering if they've tryed an its just not worked..
"You're all right, honest," Khamisa assures Berk, offering another smile to Nur. "He's been sick for a while now." Too long, if you ask Khamisa. Especially given the state of things. The princess steps forward as Kiet continues to call out to his long dead daughter, nuzzling his feverish forehead lovingly. "Father.." "...Lei..lani...?" "No, Father. Khamisa." The white male struggles, lifting his head slightly off the ground as if straining to peer into the distance. "Leilani?" And then he sinks back onto his side, eyes closing once more. Khamisa hangs her head, focusing steadily on her father's face. "As if it's not bad enough that he's just ill," She murmurs aloud, whether the words are meant to be to herself or to the others is unclear. "If he's having to re-live Leilani's death in his mind..." She shakes her head, stepping back again once she's sure Kiet has settled, sitting herself beside Kisasi. "The healer is here," She explains. "Comes and goes, checking on him and everything. But, so far.. even she has no cures for what ails him."
Kisasi takes in a breath an nods some, he frowns an looks to Khamisa an noses his neice faintly. "I'm sorry Khamise." The lion murmurs softly. He knows it is not only affecting the king, his daughter is taking it hard. Kisa never really knew Kiet, so he doesn't really feel anything. He knew he was a good leader though an wishes no ill on him, specially this.
Nur, tired of all the boring conversation, silently reclines onto her rump and eventually curls into a small furry ball to nap. Her father on the other hand is apparently absorbed in the scene taking place around Kiet. Swallowing softly, Berk shuffles over quietly and stands beside Khamisa, his face full of a sorrow oddly similar to hers. "I think there must be a plague going over the land," he mutters softly after a moment. He looks up at the lioness and explains, "My wife recently.. passed, and in her last days.. well, her symptoms were real like his." Berk looks back toward Kiet, though his dark brown eyes grow unfocused and his tone is distant. "Nur doesn't remember, or doesn't want to, but when her fever got real high her mother even called out for our oldest kit, Jamal, who was taken by a hawk.." With a miserable sigh to himself, Berk shakes his head and averts his eyes to the ground. "S'gotta be a plague or sommat, somethin' ties this all together."
Blue eyes focus on Berk as the papa 'ket speaks, sympathy flooding her features as he goes on. A brief glance is spared to Nur - poor thing.. although, luckily, children often are able to bounce back from tragedy better than the adults around them - before it returns to Berk. "I'm very sorry to hear that." So it seems that her family.. and her kind.. are not the only ones to be affected. Khamisa leans a shuolder lightly into Kisasi, taking momentary comfort from just the presence of her older relative. "I don't even know what I want to happen.. for him to recover, or for him to just pass so that he won't have to suffer through it anymore." It would hurt to lose her father, of course, but it hurts right now watching him struggle to even breathe. Returning her gaze to Kiet, Khamisa falls silent for a long moment. She and Atreyu have to talk to Mizuka. Kiet isn't much use as a King in his current state, and Mizuka is of age. It may be best for the pride if Mizuka were to officially take over. Just.. in case. "Uncle?" Khamisa blinks and glances sidelong at Kisasi. "I'm sure my brothers could use the help. Mbaamwezi..." She pauses. She spilled the beans about their King being ill to this boy she sorta kinda likes from Mbaamwezi, and now they may be coming here to kill everyone! Possibly! Maybe! Who knows how the minds of evil lunatic murderers work. ".. Atreyu heard that they may be planning something. I'm sure the southern border could use more careful watching." Yeah, she was supposed to warn her father. But.. her father is rather inconvenienced at the moment.
Kisasi frowns as he hears the kat.. They might be snack worthy but he feels for them just as much. A faint sigh escapes him an he stays next to his neice doing her best to keep her company at the moment. He looks to her blinking at the talk about Mbaamwezi. "Khamisa.. How did you find this out?" His been out of the loop so to speak. Why would Mbaamwezi want to do something? A glance is offered to Kiet an his maw twitches. "They must have found out King Kiet was ill.." He take in a slight nod as he finds out Atreyu heard something it seems. "Alright.. I'll be here." An what of Takiyah? Seems he'll have to wait to try an find her. "Don't worry about that Khamisa, I'll make sure all is well. You just keep your thoughts on your father."
Berk listens to the two lions for a while and withholds another sigh. He won't be cruel; he won't tell Khamisa that there's no hope of recovery for her father. There wasn't any hope for his wife, and heaven knows the family did all they could to help her. But let the Princess hold onto her hope for now. And anyway, if anyone had tried to tell him during the last days of her sickness that Inya was definitely going to die.. Berk wouldn't have believed them. Moving back to the sleeping Nur, Berk bends and scoops up the girl in one arm. For being obviously out of shape in his belly, he's rather strong for a meerkat. "It was a pleasure meeting all of you, but we really gotta go. Gotta get her to bed." With a nod and a small smile he moves toward the mouth of the cave. There he pauses and glances back at Kiet, his brows folding sadly. "My hopes are for the best, princess."
"Atreyu told me," Khamisa replies to Kisasi. "I don't know where he heard it, but.." She shrugs. "He patrols that border often enough." And she's not lying, exactly. Atreyu DID tell her that Mbaamwezi might be planning something.. when he told her to tell that to her father. OK, fine, it's a fine line between truth and lie. Still. Khamisa looks to Kisasi, giving him a faint smile. "Thank you, Uncle." Had she known that he has a lioness waiting for him somewhere, she might not have asked, not wanting to burden him. But she herself is carrying around a lot of emotional baggage.. and she doesn't have her father to tell these things. She turns her head as the movement of Berk moving to lift his daughter. Such a kind meerkat, he is. Not that Khamisa has spoken to too many meerkats in her time, anyway. "Thank you, Berk," She murmurs in response, head dipping in polite nod to him. "You and your daughter are welcome back at any time. I'm sure my brother wouldn't mind having your little one cling to his paws again." Atreyu. Black sheep of the family.. but nothin' but a big ol' softie.
Kisasi nods some an gives Khamisa another faintly nosing before turning. "Of course Khamisa.." Someone needs to be is somewhat of a charge here with Kiet sick an the others who knows where. He doesn't want any part o fbeing in charge but he'll help were ever he can. "I'm going to go look around the border, make sure all is well." The lion offers while leaving. "Might be best if you did stay near the cave Berk.. Safer here after all." As for his lioness, well he doesn't even know if she's alive. With the family here more in need of his help he won't be going to look anytime soon.
He smiles kindly to Khamisa and returns her nod. "You know, I came up here expectin' t'have to pry Nur out of the mouth of one of you beasts.. Guess that'll teach me to be prejudiced." Well, albeit it's not so much a prejudice as a veritable /instinct/ for a meerkat to fear a lion- but it was still nice to find such unexpectedly good folks up here in this cave! "Oh, I'm sure we'll be back soon. Nur'll need to come pet the kitties again, I'd stake my life on't." Berk pauses and considers Kisasi's words with a very slight frown. Safer amongst lions? Who would've ever guessed? "I won't be far," he assures them with confidence. "Just around t'corner, practically. You take care of yourselves, now." Hoisting Nur more securely onto his shoulder, Berk begins the long (for a meerkat) journey down the side of the mountain.
A smile to Kisasi, and a nod as he takes his leave, and Khamisa breathes a faint sigh of relief. She can try and get at least a little bit of rest, knowing that her uncle is on the job. She may not know him as well as she did Ronan, but she knows he won't let the pride down and that he cares for them. That's what a family does, after all. And then another smile to Berk, even a soft chuckle. Hm, perhaps that works both ways. Had she known that meerkats could be so kind, she would have gone up to one herself long ago. But then, they do share a bit of a connection.. family members who have come down - and in Berk's case, died - of a plague. That alone has opened Khamisa's already veyer open and loving heart to the male and his daughter. The princess watches the papa 'kat and her uncle move off before shifting over to settle herself down by the side of her own father. Long ago, or so it seems to her, she was very, very ill. And her father cared for her and now she is well. She swears to do the same for hhim. Snuggling closer to the ill white lion, Khamisa settles chin on her forepaws. And after a long while, she eventually is able to drift to sleep.
Khamisa, Female Lioness
Kiet, Male White Lion
Atreyu, Male Lion
Kisasi, Male Lion
Berk, Male Meerkat (and his daughter, Nur)
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[Kivuli] Mountain Cavern
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Late afternoon in the lands of Kivuli find at least two of the local leonines in their cavern home. Kiet, still technically the King of the lands, is laid out on his stomach to the far left of the cavern. The male's breathing is slow, each inhale taken with difficulty, while each exhale has the petite lioness at his side worrying that his life may go out with it. Khamisa's blue eys are worried as she sits in front of her father, dangling a small scrap of meat in front of his nose in hopes that the scent may tempt him from his feverish state long enough to eat. How long has it been since he's eaten a decent meal? The young lioness' eyes lift momentarily from the white male's far off gaze, glancing towards his midsection where his ribs are faintly visible on his snowy pelt. Too long. Kiet does not stir, does not even seem to notice his daughter before him or the food she offers him. He is lost to whatever horrible illness has claimed him. After a few more moments, Khamisa steps back, placing the meat aside with a sigh. She has repeated this ritual countless times a day for a countless number of days now. The young princess fears that she may slowly be losing her father. And this.. would be a horrible way for him to go.
The tiny scuffling made by meerkat feet on the bare floor of the cavern might very well go unnoticed by all of its present inhabitants. A meerkat like this one, equivilant to the human age of 4, is extremely small and simply -can't- make much noise.. but it can't be said that she's taking any care to be quiet either. Totally eclipsed behind the paw of a sleeping leonine near the cavern's entrance, little four year-old Nur pokes up her head and stares at the monolithic creatures all around. She nibbles on her lower lip a bit, gleeful and awe-struck all at once. "Mneh... Kitty..," she murmurs to herself, at a loss to decide which one to run and pet first.
And its the biggest Kitty of all who enters after the little meerkat through the caverns entrance. Ok, not the biggest, but he deffinately was the biggest /kitten/ of the family. Atreyu fixes two yellow eyes on the tiny creature, ears perk as he kneels down to investigate. "Hey Khams... come look... its a miniature weasle.." Ok, he knows its a meerkat, he's just playin. He keeps a little snort and smiles gently before concern catches his face and the pale prince slowly makes his way to his father's side, a light nudge given to his mane before eyes lift to his sister. "Still the same?"
Another makes his way into the cave, his been unsure about coming here seeing how Kiet was indeed ill an he didn't want to get in the way. Kisasi's maw twitches, tail lashing as he merely stands at the door peering inside. Everthing's changed, that's about all he knows. An he hasn't found Takiyah has came home to linger around the outer edges of the land until hearing word about the King.. Which makes him wonder where his sister is.
Kiet, having been still (other than breathing and blinking), is suddenly shaken by a round of violent coughing. For Khamisa, it's horrible to witness. It's terrifying to see your parent in such trouble, knowing there isn't much you can do. And she idly wonders if this is what her parents felt when it was she that was so ill as a cub. Kiet coughs, fluid stirring in his lungs, a few tears leaking from the corners of his eyes. And then he collapses onto his side, still once again, his breath rattling in his chest with each labored inhale. Once he's still again Khamisa leans forward to place a few gentle licks to the King's forehead, noting how warm he feels to the touch. The female's eyes lift to Atreyu, expression pained. "Still the same," She confirms sadly. "He's not getting better, Attie..." But sounds at the entrance of the cavern soon draw Khammy's attention back in that direction, where she is relieved to spy Kisasi. He is given a small nod as she moves a few steps away from Kiet.. but not too far. She can't bring herself to leave her father there alone for too long. "Uncle Kisasi." Blue gaze drops down to the tiny meerkat, who is regarded with slight surprise. But the child is enough to draw a soft smile to the princess' features. "Hello there."
Nur looks over her shoulder and almost passes out with excitement at the sight of Atreyu so close. "Kitty!" she squeaks joyfully, reaching out her arm to pet his lowered snout-- feh, he's already gone. Children aren't so easily deterred, however. As Mission Impossible music plays in the background, Nur crouches low and scurries across the floor in Atreyu's wake. It only takes a few moments until Atreyu might feel a slight pressure on one of his back paws .. there's a meerkat kit hugging it. Nur has found her life's happiness! "Mm. Kitty." *squeez* .. After a few seconds of hugging, Nur opens her eyes and beams up at Khamisa. "Hi!"
Atreyu peeks around his side at the meerkat kit and grins crookedly. He lets the little bugger latch onto his leg before looking back to Khamisa and smiling sadly. Atreyu lets his eyes fall to his father and he bites his lip. "He won't die.. he can't. He's too strong for that.." Atreyu shakes his head, words to reasure not only his baby sister but himself. Attention reverts back to Kisasi and Atreyu dips his head, "Uncle Kisasi.." Atreyu busys himself with giving attention to the meerkat kid, tail curving to tickle it gently to releave his mind of the sorrow.
Kisasi gaze rests on Kiet as he just watches the lion for a few moments, is this how bad it got here? He looks around checking for others but finds none his looking for. He quietly hopes there else where an isn't about to ask at the moment. He glances back to Khamisa, he never got use to the uncle bit, made him feel old after all. A slight smile crosses his maw an he nods a bit. "Hello you two." The lion offers softly an settles down at the entrance seeming unsure if his allowed any further. A ear twitches as he hears Atreyu, he won't tell the boy differently but he knows even the strong die.
Khamisa's gaze lingers on Kiet for a long moment, considering Atreyu's words. Kiet's eyes close, an uneasy sleep claiming the white lion for the moment. And Khamisa quickly offers up a silent prayer that they won't lose him as he sleeps. It's so tough, watching him go through this. Every time he breaths, Khammy fears it is his last, and wiants nothing but relief for her father. And yet when he gets that small bit of relief that sleep can offer, she worries that he'll never wake up again. Letting out a shaky sigh, Khamisa glances nervously at her brother. "But.. what if he does, Attie? Mbaamwezi..." And she trails off, her tail giving a nervous twitch. It will be her fault if something happens to Kivuli. All her fault. She never should have said anything to Raiyan, as much as she enjoys his company. Another glance is given to her uncle. "You can come in, Uncle," The lioness glances to Kiet briefly, then back to Kisasi. "I.. don't /think/ he's contagious. We've all been sharing the cavern.. he's still the only one sick." And even if he were, Khamisa herself would pitch a fit if Kiet had to be quarantined. He needs to be with his family, his pride! Needs to know they love him and don't want to lose him! The antics of the kit draw her attention again, bringing about another smile that she directs at the girl, even as she addresses her sibling. "I think you have a new friend, Attie."
Another pattering of meerkat feet echos in the entrance to the cave - but steps far different than those of a little kit. Short and rather round for a meerkat, Berk comes staggering into view a few seconds later, practically choking to catch his breath. He's clearly run a good way.. which is something his unique stature really doesn't care for. He slows and then stops to gasp for air in a hunched over, arms-on-the-knees position. When he finally does manage to look up, Berk frowns at the sheer -number- of lions to be seen here. He'd known that the lions lived way up here, but he didn't expect there to be so many! Nur is quickly spotted, and likewise Nur has caught sight of her father. With a pouty frown, she clings more tightly to Atreyu's foot while Berk lingers nervously where he is. "Nur.. sweetheart.. let go of the nice lion and come to daddy.." The knowledge that any one of these things could break Nur like a twig causes her dad to feel a little faint.
The pale prince grins and rolls a shoulder, "Yeah It happens. Cause I'm awesome like that." His voice doesn't have it's usual 'Atreyu Wit', but he trys for his sister, at least to give her a little smile. Atreyu trys to give up the sad thoughts of his father so he turns his attention to his new little parasite and then said parasites ... rounder father. Atreyu peers through his legs before turning and grinning down at the meerkat. "It's fine, she's kinda cute so I guess she's allowed to hand on for a little while." He laughs a little as she attaches more snugly to his foot and gives her a happy little smile.
"I'm not worried about getting anything Khamise." The lion offers softly before slowly moving into the cave pondering what he should say. "Suppose I wasn't sure if I was still welcome." Kisasi has always been rather strange though when it came to being around faintly. His attention goes to Beck whom he peers at slightly an lifts a brow.. "When did we get meerkats?.."
"Of course you're welcome," Khamisa scoffs gently, shifting over to greet Kisasi with a nuzzle. She doesn't know him as well as she knew Ronan, perhaps, but he's still family. Brother to their mother. And, at the arrival of yet another meerkat, Khamisa's brow raises slightly. She's seen meerkats every so often out on the savanna, but she's never had any venture up to her. Or seen any of them come up so far as the pride's cavern. "Recent aqcuisition, I think," She jokes quietly to her uncle, before glancing back to Berk. She nods at Atreyu's words, offering the papa 'kat a kind smile. "Yes, it's quite all right. We won't hurt either of you. You can come in." Meerkats ain't much a snack anyhow. ;D 'Sides, the Kivuli are known for being too goody-good for their own.. uh.. good. A labored gasp from Kiet brings Khamisa's attention snapping back around to the ill white lion, her heart skipping a few beats as she wonders if this, finally, is his end. But, another gasp and another cough that shakes his small frame violently.. and he relaxes again, back to his labored.. but steady.. breathing.
Berk presses a hand against a paining part of his lower back and maintains a very worried frown, although the understanding in Atreyu's tone gives him a little less to fret over. He even manages a small smile after a moment. "I'm sorry about her. She just took off runnin', said she wanted to 'pet the kitties'." Berk winces and shrugs his apology over this potentially offensive misnomer. "An', well.. I tried to catch her but as y'can see, I'm not the fastest meerkat on two legs." Kisasi's words receive a slight frown and Berk restrains himself from answering back loudly and merely mumbles something about not being anything as bad as fleas before he looks back to his daughter. "Nur, come on. Time t'git home." Khamisa's words are surprising, but as Nur shows no sign of prising herself from Atreyu's foot by her own steam, Berk soon gives in and shuffles his way into the cave to join his daughter. "Thank you, ma'am.. We won't bother you much longer, I promise." The gasp from the older lion he hadn't noticed before mmakes Berk jump and look over at Kiet. Almost immediately, the meerkat frowns deeply at the sight of the ill king. Those symptoms look all too familiar. Nur, by the way, is happy to still be clinging to Atreyu.
Atreyu nuzzles the baby 'kat gently and peers up at Khamy as she speaks, nodding his agreement. He watches his father as he goes into a fit before sighing gently and looking back down to the baby 'kat for his stregnth. Seems he's found a friend.. He smiles gently to the little ones father and lifts a large paw out comically, "Names Atreyu, pleasure to meet you and your little girl here... I'm kind of attached to her. I think she's more attached to me though." Hmm..
Kisasi smirks at the meerkat an huffs a bit while taking in a breath an glances over to Khamisa wanting to say meerkats are just walking treats but he doesn't.. He takes in a faint breath an slides down so his laying about in his normal spot, tail flicking while he just listions, mind wandering it seems.
A kind smile is given to Berk, along with a nod of her head. "Oh, don't worry about it. You're welcome to stay as long as you like." An ear twitches to Atreyu and the lioness rolls her eyes playfully. "/Prince/ Atreyu," She corrects for him. But that's Atreyu for you. "I'm Princess Khamisa. And this is our uncle, Lord Kisasi." Their titles are spoken as natural extensions from their names by Khamisa, something she is used to doing, something she was taught to do as a child.. not to brag and shove their status in the meerkat father's face. Blame her parents for teaching her such. XD Khamisa sits back, letting her attention slip away from her brother and the two meerkats, falling into silence alongside Kisasi. The lioness' mind worries over every little detail of the past weeks. She wouldn't be surprised if her stomach is tied in permanent knots from having worried so much. Kiet, meanwhile, stirs. White chin brushes over the ground as he opens his eyes, directing his attention to the space between Atreyu and Nur, and Berk. His voice is rough, both from disuse and from a scratchy throat. "....Lei..lani?" He coughs, one ear twitching forward. Khamisa's ears immediately pin back against her skull as she realizes. Kiet doesn't even know they're there. He only sees.. or only think he sees.. her dead sister.
Berk pauses before Atreyu on the way to physically drag Nur off of the poor lion's foot. He eyes the offered paw for a moment and grins in spite of himself, reaching out a small hand to "shake" one of Atreyu's toes. "It's nice to meet you, At-" He smiles good-naturedly at Khamisa and nods. "Prince Atreyu. Y'highness-folk and such. I didn't expect lions t'be so.. polite. 'Course Nur and I aren't home yet so there's still plenty of time for you to eat us." His nervousness is clearly receding in light of the leonine's unexpected friendliness .. Kisasi aside. "My name's Berk and this is my daughter Nur." "Hi!" intones Nur again, finally sliding off Atreyu's foot and scampering over to join her father.. now that it doesn't look like she'll be getting a spanking. Berk's smile fades as again he glances over toward the white lion. "We don't mean to intrude," he murmurs, frowning sadly. "It'd be better if we got outta your way."
Atreyu has disconnected.
Kisasi ears twitch as he just listions to the others, he takes in a slight breath an smirks at the meerkat before his attention turns to Khamisa an Kiet. The lion frowns while shifting up onto his paws an moves over to the lioness while watching the king a few moments. His seen this before, an its not a good thing. "Where is the healer at Khamisa?" He murmurs faintly wondering if they've tryed an its just not worked..
"You're all right, honest," Khamisa assures Berk, offering another smile to Nur. "He's been sick for a while now." Too long, if you ask Khamisa. Especially given the state of things. The princess steps forward as Kiet continues to call out to his long dead daughter, nuzzling his feverish forehead lovingly. "Father.." "...Lei..lani...?" "No, Father. Khamisa." The white male struggles, lifting his head slightly off the ground as if straining to peer into the distance. "Leilani?" And then he sinks back onto his side, eyes closing once more. Khamisa hangs her head, focusing steadily on her father's face. "As if it's not bad enough that he's just ill," She murmurs aloud, whether the words are meant to be to herself or to the others is unclear. "If he's having to re-live Leilani's death in his mind..." She shakes her head, stepping back again once she's sure Kiet has settled, sitting herself beside Kisasi. "The healer is here," She explains. "Comes and goes, checking on him and everything. But, so far.. even she has no cures for what ails him."
Kisasi takes in a breath an nods some, he frowns an looks to Khamisa an noses his neice faintly. "I'm sorry Khamise." The lion murmurs softly. He knows it is not only affecting the king, his daughter is taking it hard. Kisa never really knew Kiet, so he doesn't really feel anything. He knew he was a good leader though an wishes no ill on him, specially this.
Nur, tired of all the boring conversation, silently reclines onto her rump and eventually curls into a small furry ball to nap. Her father on the other hand is apparently absorbed in the scene taking place around Kiet. Swallowing softly, Berk shuffles over quietly and stands beside Khamisa, his face full of a sorrow oddly similar to hers. "I think there must be a plague going over the land," he mutters softly after a moment. He looks up at the lioness and explains, "My wife recently.. passed, and in her last days.. well, her symptoms were real like his." Berk looks back toward Kiet, though his dark brown eyes grow unfocused and his tone is distant. "Nur doesn't remember, or doesn't want to, but when her fever got real high her mother even called out for our oldest kit, Jamal, who was taken by a hawk.." With a miserable sigh to himself, Berk shakes his head and averts his eyes to the ground. "S'gotta be a plague or sommat, somethin' ties this all together."
Blue eyes focus on Berk as the papa 'ket speaks, sympathy flooding her features as he goes on. A brief glance is spared to Nur - poor thing.. although, luckily, children often are able to bounce back from tragedy better than the adults around them - before it returns to Berk. "I'm very sorry to hear that." So it seems that her family.. and her kind.. are not the only ones to be affected. Khamisa leans a shuolder lightly into Kisasi, taking momentary comfort from just the presence of her older relative. "I don't even know what I want to happen.. for him to recover, or for him to just pass so that he won't have to suffer through it anymore." It would hurt to lose her father, of course, but it hurts right now watching him struggle to even breathe. Returning her gaze to Kiet, Khamisa falls silent for a long moment. She and Atreyu have to talk to Mizuka. Kiet isn't much use as a King in his current state, and Mizuka is of age. It may be best for the pride if Mizuka were to officially take over. Just.. in case. "Uncle?" Khamisa blinks and glances sidelong at Kisasi. "I'm sure my brothers could use the help. Mbaamwezi..." She pauses. She spilled the beans about their King being ill to this boy she sorta kinda likes from Mbaamwezi, and now they may be coming here to kill everyone! Possibly! Maybe! Who knows how the minds of evil lunatic murderers work. ".. Atreyu heard that they may be planning something. I'm sure the southern border could use more careful watching." Yeah, she was supposed to warn her father. But.. her father is rather inconvenienced at the moment.
Kisasi frowns as he hears the kat.. They might be snack worthy but he feels for them just as much. A faint sigh escapes him an he stays next to his neice doing her best to keep her company at the moment. He looks to her blinking at the talk about Mbaamwezi. "Khamisa.. How did you find this out?" His been out of the loop so to speak. Why would Mbaamwezi want to do something? A glance is offered to Kiet an his maw twitches. "They must have found out King Kiet was ill.." He take in a slight nod as he finds out Atreyu heard something it seems. "Alright.. I'll be here." An what of Takiyah? Seems he'll have to wait to try an find her. "Don't worry about that Khamisa, I'll make sure all is well. You just keep your thoughts on your father."
Berk listens to the two lions for a while and withholds another sigh. He won't be cruel; he won't tell Khamisa that there's no hope of recovery for her father. There wasn't any hope for his wife, and heaven knows the family did all they could to help her. But let the Princess hold onto her hope for now. And anyway, if anyone had tried to tell him during the last days of her sickness that Inya was definitely going to die.. Berk wouldn't have believed them. Moving back to the sleeping Nur, Berk bends and scoops up the girl in one arm. For being obviously out of shape in his belly, he's rather strong for a meerkat. "It was a pleasure meeting all of you, but we really gotta go. Gotta get her to bed." With a nod and a small smile he moves toward the mouth of the cave. There he pauses and glances back at Kiet, his brows folding sadly. "My hopes are for the best, princess."
"Atreyu told me," Khamisa replies to Kisasi. "I don't know where he heard it, but.." She shrugs. "He patrols that border often enough." And she's not lying, exactly. Atreyu DID tell her that Mbaamwezi might be planning something.. when he told her to tell that to her father. OK, fine, it's a fine line between truth and lie. Still. Khamisa looks to Kisasi, giving him a faint smile. "Thank you, Uncle." Had she known that he has a lioness waiting for him somewhere, she might not have asked, not wanting to burden him. But she herself is carrying around a lot of emotional baggage.. and she doesn't have her father to tell these things. She turns her head as the movement of Berk moving to lift his daughter. Such a kind meerkat, he is. Not that Khamisa has spoken to too many meerkats in her time, anyway. "Thank you, Berk," She murmurs in response, head dipping in polite nod to him. "You and your daughter are welcome back at any time. I'm sure my brother wouldn't mind having your little one cling to his paws again." Atreyu. Black sheep of the family.. but nothin' but a big ol' softie.
Kisasi nods some an gives Khamisa another faintly nosing before turning. "Of course Khamisa.." Someone needs to be is somewhat of a charge here with Kiet sick an the others who knows where. He doesn't want any part o fbeing in charge but he'll help were ever he can. "I'm going to go look around the border, make sure all is well." The lion offers while leaving. "Might be best if you did stay near the cave Berk.. Safer here after all." As for his lioness, well he doesn't even know if she's alive. With the family here more in need of his help he won't be going to look anytime soon.
He smiles kindly to Khamisa and returns her nod. "You know, I came up here expectin' t'have to pry Nur out of the mouth of one of you beasts.. Guess that'll teach me to be prejudiced." Well, albeit it's not so much a prejudice as a veritable /instinct/ for a meerkat to fear a lion- but it was still nice to find such unexpectedly good folks up here in this cave! "Oh, I'm sure we'll be back soon. Nur'll need to come pet the kitties again, I'd stake my life on't." Berk pauses and considers Kisasi's words with a very slight frown. Safer amongst lions? Who would've ever guessed? "I won't be far," he assures them with confidence. "Just around t'corner, practically. You take care of yourselves, now." Hoisting Nur more securely onto his shoulder, Berk begins the long (for a meerkat) journey down the side of the mountain.
A smile to Kisasi, and a nod as he takes his leave, and Khamisa breathes a faint sigh of relief. She can try and get at least a little bit of rest, knowing that her uncle is on the job. She may not know him as well as she did Ronan, but she knows he won't let the pride down and that he cares for them. That's what a family does, after all. And then another smile to Berk, even a soft chuckle. Hm, perhaps that works both ways. Had she known that meerkats could be so kind, she would have gone up to one herself long ago. But then, they do share a bit of a connection.. family members who have come down - and in Berk's case, died - of a plague. That alone has opened Khamisa's already veyer open and loving heart to the male and his daughter. The princess watches the papa 'kat and her uncle move off before shifting over to settle herself down by the side of her own father. Long ago, or so it seems to her, she was very, very ill. And her father cared for her and now she is well. She swears to do the same for hhim. Snuggling closer to the ill white lion, Khamisa settles chin on her forepaws. And after a long while, she eventually is able to drift to sleep.