Post by Msasi on Jan 21, 2013 22:10:22 GMT -5
Logfile from Sunrise. - June 2nd 2006
Kivuli - Mbaamwezi -- Desert Border
The savannah from the north seems to end here, a few clumps of thin grass reaching out in some effort to find a home in the dusty desert. But life seems to end there and the lands fade into desert. As far as the eye can see, an expanse of sand and little else.
The occasional small, dark rock can be made out, but it seems no life is willing to try here. Further south, a cloud of dust rises, blocking the horizon from view, making it seem like the desert does not end. A strip of blank land - the border between Kivuli and Mbaamwezi.
Type 'mhelp' for instructions
Khamisa, Princess of Kivuli Raiyan doesn't really belong anywhere.
Exits:
South to the Desert, North to Kivuli
You see Lion Skull.
[IC ] Raiyan, male adol. lion [IC ] Khamisa, female adol. lioness
[zzz] Macabre, female lioness
A light breeze stirs from the east, bringing with it scents of the far-off Pride Lands, and serving to cool the general area. The heat has not been so bad today, but still, the breeze is welcoming. The sun is slow to set today as well; it hangs above the horizon, bathing the border in soft hues. It is here that Raiyan's paws have brought him, across the expanse of desert to the south. He's dusty from the sands and a bit on the languid side thanks to the heat during the travel. Shaking himself out, he flops to the ground on where he judges the edge of the border to be, near the lion skull that serves as a marker. He lowers his head behind the skull, amusing himself in bored fashion by staring through the hole in the back and out through the eye sockets.
She doesn't know why she has the desire to venture to the border; Khamisa is, by and large, an obedient girl, never one to disobey her parents much. And yet.. things have been different lately. Ronan's murder and Kieleaji's sudden death - great uncle and grandmother, both gone within the space of a few days - have really thrown the good-hearted Kivulians for a loop. There has been talk of the lions responsible for Ronan's death.. though all anyone seems to know is that they fled to the south. To the lands that have, for the longest time, been home to only rogues. Khammy knows patrols have been more frequent along the border lately.. but still, there is nothing known. And so she has ventured here herself. Does she seek to single-handedly solve the mystery? Define the attackers? Bring them to justice? No. She's not sure /what/ she will find - if anything - or if she's wandering into danger by venturing so close. The grass thins out, leaving the young Princess feeling much more vulnerable.. and it is as blue eyes scan the desert stretching out before her that she spots the young male. She freezes, filled with a sudden sense of terror and dread. He is NOT from Kivuli.
For a moment, his eyes close and sighs heavily, sending a cloud of dust flowing through the skull. He stays lost in his thoughts for a moment before placing his paws beneath him and heaving himself upward, scowling, white-tufted tail lashing in the opposite direction that his shoulders move. He's about to trek along the border when he catches something that wasn't there before; a form to the north. He freezes as well, staring back, blinking to make sure his eyes aren't merely seeing something like a mirage. "I think the heat must have got to me," he begins, sitting back on his haunches. "They'd not be fool enough to come this close, would they?" he muses to himself, before glancing around. "But then again...with Zira relaxing the border guards..." Raiyan snorts, head lowering to hunch between his shoulders, "Well, Kivuli, you're a bit far from home, aren't you?" he intones dryly, though he tends to lack the same menace as those of Zira's pride usually do.
Khamisa swallows heavily and, hoping that her nervousness doesn't show too clearly, draws herself up to her full height - which isn't much - in a way that is supposed to imitate her mother's regal, graceful stance. Khammy is getting better at it and, especially now, she hopes it comes off as graceful and elegant and not.. arrogant, for it's not supposed to be. Khamisa doesn't think herself better than everyone else, but she's been taught that royalty is often respected. Especially Kivuli royalty, for they have reigned for many generations in this region. The adolescent female gives him a quick glance and.. despite the difference in gender.. she feels inadequate. Khamisa is smaller than even other females her own age.. she's tiny and fragile, thanks to a sickness that lasted during her formative cubhood. If this guy wanted to hurt her, she figures, tehre isn't much she'd be able to do except hope to possibly outrun him. Her tail gives a single, uneasy flick behind her and white-rimmed ears pan back slightly. "You're brave, stranger," Khamisa remarks in response, hoping that her voice sounds as strong to him as it does in her own head. "Walking these borders when our patrols are so much more active."
Arrogance is something Raiyan has become used to; it's all he ever recieves living in Mbaamwezi. He doesn't move from where he sits and continues to merely watch. Raiyan grins casually, crookedly, snorting lightly. "Are you the patrol?" he inquires, tone tinged with amusement. "Kivuli must produce some fine warriors if a young girl is all that's required to secure the territory on this side." Raiyan stands now, head still lowered in semi-stalking fashion. He doesn't step towards or away, but he does turn to the side, lanky body facing to the east though he continues to watch the other. "Huh, I wouldn't say brave in any event. Careless, maybe, sick of the company, perhaps. I could even be a guard, if I wasn't so lax in my attention, right?" Now he takes a step towards her, extending a forelimb and leaving it there, raising his head to look at Khamisa down the length of his muzzle, smiling in a charming way, "And tell me, why would I have to fear Kivuli's wrath?" He doesn't recognize her; his attention, should she have seen him, was centered completely Kiet as they fought, before Raiyan was forced to flee.
To her credit, Khamisa doesn't take a step back, though her ears do snap further back against her skull as he takes a step forward. She hadn't recognized him at first, but she does now; Khammy's attention had been on Kiet as he was attacked (since he was the only Kivulian to actually get into a brawl, even if it was short-lived). "You were there that night," She accuses with a sudden flare of anger. "With the ones who killed Uncle Ronan.. and /you/ were the one who attacked my father." Were she a bit braver, Khammy might unleash all her pent up anger and frustration on him. Unfortunately, Khamisa realizes that doing so wouldn't exactly be /wise/, so she remains where she is. "I'm sure killing you would give my family peace.. for all the trouble you and yours have caused us."
"Indeed..." Rai intones, traces of amusement leaving his features and voice. "The white lion, right?" he nods, "Aye, he got in a solid hit as I recall. Could have been a good fight if there weren't so many willing to get involved." He doesn't seem ashamed or righteous in any way about what happened; in fact, Raiyan appears nonchalant, continuing to stare at the lioness with his chin raised. The gold and white lion finally takes a few steps towards Khamisa, brows raised in curiousity. "And would...you, by any chance, be doing the killing then? Your father could, maybe, accomplish it; are you your father's daughter?" Raiyan shakes his head, "It'd be a shame to come to blows out here. Best to leave it to the warring parties, eh?" He sits again, small, wry grin coming to his tufted-chin, "And any further trouble, I'm afraid I'm not a part of. I'm not sure why these two prides are fighting, though I'm sure you know. I'm merely the fool tossed into events."
Khamisa doesn't comment on the fight between the yougn lion before her and her father. Kiet didn't get away unscathed either.. a couple claw marks to be found on his cheek.. and more on his shoulder on the same side, where the blow mostly landed. Not life threatening or anything in the least.. but still disturbing. At least to Khamisa. She finally does take a single step back as he ventures even closer, even leaning back slightly as if that will somehow protect her. "I w..would!" The Princess protests, as killing is mentioned, even though her voice betrays her easily now. Khamisa would no doubt /not/ kill him. She isn't a murderer.. not even when it might be justified as revenge for the death of her dear uncle. She's too peaceful at heart for such violence. But his next words capture Khamisa's curiosity. Facial features smooth slightly from her glare of anger, and her ears lift ever-so-slightly to turn towards him. "..Why fight in a battle when you do not know the reason?" She asks. "Why participate in what is the beginning of a war you can't understand.. or don't believe in? It sounds very risky.. if you were to die under such circumstances. Or even now.. your life could be forfeit if a patrol came upon you and recognized you as being part of the murdering party." What in the world would make such a risk worth it?
Nonchalance is something Raiyan seems to hold on to easily, for that is about all that can be found in his demeanor, even with Khamisa apparently taking interest in his motivations. Once again, Raiyan moves about, this time not directly at Khamisa, but to one side, a circuling tactic that he's used before. He talks meanwhile, glancing away from Khamisa and towards Kivuli itself, "It's simple, I suppose," he begins with a shrug. "I'm alone and while a lion can do alright in that sort of circumstance, it's not exactly an easy life." He pauses alongside, though careful enough to keep a non-threatening distance away. "But even that wouldn't hold me here, I suppose. Not with the attitude they so commonly give me here," he snorts in ire before adopting his calm appearance again. "No, I owe one of them here my life...and until that debt is paid, I'm bound. Simple, right?" he asks a bit sarcastically, though it's obviously directed at himself.
"I suppose..." Is Khamisa's response, though she sounds quite unsure of herself. While Raiyan moves, Khamisa stays put, again on edge, her eyes trailing him. His movement makes her nervous and her tail tuft, hanging gently at her ankles, twitches. "But it's no excuse for being an accomplise to murder." It makes no sense to her, though perhaps it never will. She is, of course, one of the goldenhearted gentle 'good guys'.. and since when do such things ever make sense to such creatures? "Why did you not just join a pride?" She questions, again curious. "Not many would turn away a young lion.. male or not. You could have joined, they would have raised you and you could have become a productive member of society." The young lioness' gaze drifts north, to Kivuli. When she speaks again, her voice is softer.. mostly to herself than to him. "You could have prevented murder.. instead of help cause it."
"Like I said, I've no idea what conflicts lie between the prides. For all I know, your side could be the aggressors, couldn't it? After all, those lands," he nods to Mbaamwezi behind him, "Should be able to sustain a larger pride than what lives there now; why are there as few as there are?" Raiyan chuckles, "But that's neither here nor there." He continues once again, moving now to circle behind the princess, though his stance doesn't change from one of mild indifference. "Could haves and would haves govern the world, apparently. I /could have/ joined a pride...and in a way, I did, when Seth saved my hide from death. I take it you don't understand life debts yet, do you?" he asks, slowly gaining an opinion on Kivuli of mixed values. Once behind, Raiyan sits casually, "Don't preach to me about preventing murder, lioness. I've ears, I listen. And from what I've heard, this lion that was killed had murdered more in his day."
Khamisa ears again slant back against her skull, brows furrowing over bright blue eyes. No.. she doesn't understand anything about life debts. She hates being called out on /not/ knowing something, for Khamisa is taking up a position among the pride - not as a huntress, being too delicate for such work - but as a historian and storyteller. It's her /job/ to learn things.. to know things. Khamisa shifts, to better glare at Raiyan. "Uncle Ronan?! A murderer?! I believe you are mistaken.. he has been a faithful guard to the royal family. He wouldn't hurt a flea." Ah.. even Khammy doesn't know that she has been misinformed.. or, rather, not informed /enough/ as to the history of her beloved great uncle. Not having been told.. and having known only the loving, faithful guard that Ronan was at the end of his life.. she finds Raiyan's words to be outright disrespectful to Ronan's memory. "I don't know who informed you of such things, but they are grossly mistaken."
Raiyan stares again, quietly for a moment, in the same near emotionless way he's managed so far. But the silence doesn't last long, "Really. Tell me, lioness, are you perfectly certain? Because something that wouldn't hurt a flea shouldn't be able to fight like he did. Perhaps you didn't arrive in time to see, but it took nearly four of Zira's pride to take him down. Maybe I'm wrong, but that speaks of someone who knows how to fight better than most and that kind of skill does not come naturally." Raiyan shrugs, "But, I suppose you've got no reason to take my word, huh?" Tail flickering, he hunches his shoulders again, "No offense, but you don't seem to know a whole lot. Perhaps you should ask someone who won't tell you the honey-coated version of life. Do you have a name, lioness?"
Khamisa's tail lashes, and she turns and storms over to Raiyan, each lash of her tail coming in time with her words. "Are /you/ so very certain that /you/ are the one who knows for certain?" She snaps. Ah.. yes. Khammy is a bit touchy when it comes to her knowledge of things.. and even moreso when it comes to knowledge of her own family. She thinks she would know that, thankyouverymuch. "Perhaps /you/ have been lied to and /you/ have been manipulated. You owe someone a life debt, do you? Then perhaps whoever it is you follow lied to you so they wouldn't have to go in alone to murder him." Taking a few more steps closer, Khamisa is definately no longer nervous or afraid, as she very nearly shoves her muzzle close to his, glaring. "/Your/ types are the ones who are more likely to lie and manipulate.. murderers, the lot of you. /I/ get my information straight from a /very/ reliable source.. my uncle's own brother.. my grandfather. I highly doubt /your/ sources are as trustworthy." And while a voice in the back of her head screams at her and bemoans the fact that she could very well be about to get knocked upside the head, Khammy takes a small step back. "What's /your/ name?" She's not about to give her name first. What that gains her, she isn't sure. Nothing, most likely.
"Well then, prove me wrong. Go ask again and I won't argue," Raiyan grins now, toothily, impudently. "You've changed a bit in the last past few minutes since we saw each other. Timid before, bordering on hellsfire now...and all it takes is to question your pride." His manner changes again, now playful, if bordering on the dangerous side. "Well, Hellsfire, if you don't wish to give yours, I'll go first. Again." He doesn't move away when she comes close, but instead leans slightly forward, as if to press the fact he's not intimidated in the least, though someone wiser would be keeping wary this close to Kivuli. "You can call me names all you wish, but I'd prefer Raiyan. Do you care to learn something more?"
Her tail flicks once. "Fine." /Almost/ haughty, her tone, so very sure that she's right. The fall is surely going to hurt.. if anyone in Kivuli is brave enough to tell the inquiring Princess the truth. "I will. You'll see.. he was just defending his family. Anyone would fight hard for family." Such are Kivulian values. Khamisa does take a step back as he lens forward, intimidated by him.. even if she's not too keen on letting it on. "Raiyan..." She repeats, quietly, mostly to herself, testing his name on her tongue. If there is anything a historian likes, it's names. Names to put to the faces in events that will go down in history and lore. "I do not wish to learn about a murderer." Which is, actually, a lie. Khamisa loves to learn and would most likely soak up anything he told her. What she really doesn't want is to learn more about him because it might prove that he is /not/ as cold-blooded a murderer as she wishes him to remain. Much easier to hate that way, is it not? "I am Princess Khamisa." Again, the addition of her title isn't meant to be snobbish and haughty.. it's just the way she's been taught to introduce herself. She is royalty.. and she isn't supposed to be afraid to let others know that.
Raiyan raises a brow, tilting his head down and to one side. "/Princess/ Khamisa?" He lifts his head again, tucking his chin to his growing mane of white, "Ah, Princess, you've not learned much about war at all, have you?" He moves, keeping himself between her and Kivuli, tone remonstrating, though not mocking, not yet. "You see, if we really are at war with each other - you, I, Kivuli, Zira's pride, then the two of us talking here would be against the rules. But that's not as big a trespass as others might make it out to be. No...you've made a mistake, one that could cost you..." He lets the sentence hang for a moment, taking the opportunity to stare straight at her, "...You've allowed the enemy between you and your haven. The battle would probably be bloody, but I don't think you'd win. I'm a trained fighter, worth nothing more than perhaps a diversion to most, and more dangerous because I know it. A princess isn't usually taught to fight as much as her guards would be, and even that fact aside, you've given me enough to believe you probably haven't been in very many fights, if any at all. Am I wrong?" he states and asks bluntly, keeping his tone level, though his manner might be threatening; should she try to dart around him, he would counter to keep her from going further into Kivuli."
It takes a second for his words to sink in to her brain - her eyes dart from Raiyan, to Kivuli behind him, and then back tot he male - before they mean anything. And, quite suddenly, Khamisa realizes that she is in trouble. He is perfectly right; Khammy hasn't been trained to battle.. she hardly has been trained in hunting, she's so delicately built.. and doesn't even understand any tactics. Doesn't understand that she should have kept solidly to one side of him, not allowed him to circle behind her and cut off her escape. It just proves how sheltered she is, really. She can recite the history of Kivuli from memory.. but she still doesn't understand how dangerous the world can be. Until now. Until, staring at Raiyan, she realizes that he could very well kill her right here, right now.. and there's nothing she could do. Call for help? Sure.. but they wouldn't make it in time, she couldn't fend him off for that long. Run? No.. she's already figured that he'll stop her should she try. She can do nothing. Fear is written plainly across the young female's features.. shows clearly in her eyes. She's not sure if he /will/ kill her.. but she can't bring herself to beg for her life, or to start openly bawling. Her legs tremble slightly, but other than that.. she doesn't move. She doesn't even speak. Khamisa hasn't a clue what to do.
"Hmm." The statement is simple, yet the meaning could be anything; decision, thought, emotion, anything. Raiyan watches Khamisa curiously, noting her reaction and expression. Silence, once again, doesn't reign too long. "You're learning, aren't you? It's been a good time for it. Funny how you have to learn some of the more important things from your enemy, isn't it?" There's no smugness to his voice, no malice, and so far, no sign that he intends to do anything else. Finally he steps to one side, lowering his head, "Enough, Princess. You can quit worrying. I'm not going to continue the war here. I'm not going to kill you." As if to further illustrate the point, Raiyan lays down, crossing his paws. "You know, 'Princess' only suits you when you let it. I think I like Hellsfire better."
Khamisa waits for a moment, clearly unsure if she should so readily believe him. But, slowly, she steps forward, keeping a wary eye on Raiyan until she is even with him. There she pauses, an ear turning to him as she speaks, as she briefly washes her tongue over her chest fur in short, nervous strokes. At least, now, her path home is open and not blocked. There's a lesson learned the hard way. "Princess is my title.. not my name," She says, glancing sidelong at him. She gives it /with/ her name because she has been taught to. "Hellsfire isn't my name either." Not that she's going to insist he call her any one thing or the other.. she's not sure she plans on ever meeting with him again. This has been.. stressful.. for a lioness such as she. She's not used to being so threatened and the like.
Amusement returns to Raiyan's features as before, in the form of a crooked smile. "Y've not had enough yet? I would have thought you'd go as the opportunity presented itself," Raiyan states. "But, I won't complain. You're the first bit of pleasant company I've encountered yet, though I'm sure you can't say the same." He chuckles gruffly, the breeze that came before dying with the setting sun. He ignores her comment concerning names, and watches her quietly for a moment again, the smile showing no sign of disappearing any time soon. "Tell me, are they all arrogant in Kivuli too? Or perhaps the better question would be if you really know what arrogance is and would admit to it. Y've reasons to be biased."
Well, while Khamisa would /love/ to tuck tail and flee.. she would like to hold on to at least a SHRED of her dignity and wander away calmly. "I've had better..." The female comments, one ear giving a faint flick. Oh, sure she has. Company that has been nice, polite and not once did she ever think her life was in danger. So that clearly beats him out easily. Khammy isn't sure quite what to make of his smile.. it's very unnerving, that he can go from making her feel threatened.. to something as easy as an amused smile.. in a matter of moments. She frowns at the question of arrogance in Kivuli.. her initial reaction being to tell him that, no, they are /not/ arrogant, thankyouverymuch! But, she surprises even herself by giving the question a moment of serious thought. "I suppose.. my parents taught us that we are royalty. We're better than commoners. So there's your arrogance."She takes a few steps towards Kivuli, then pauses. "I never questioned it.. but deep down, I've never completely believed it either. We bleed the same.. royalty or commoner. And commoners make the pride, not the royalty. I, certainly, am no more than a historian. I cannot hunt and I cannot fight. Were I not of royal blood, I suppose I just may be useless."
The gaze turns into one of first scrutiny and then dubiousness. "You can't hunt or fight?" Genuine confusion and disbelief mark him briefly, before he snorts, dipping his head, letting his white mane cover his eyes. "Is that them telling you without you trying...or did you just give up early on?" He stands again, circling around Khamisa again, though this time to the south, obviously looking her over and letting his eyes roam. "You don't have any disabilities that I can see, your limbs are intact, aren't they?" The lion snorts again, emphatically this time, "Can't hunt." He sits heavily, eyes slightly narrowed, "You're not saying anything directly about your home, but the more I'm hearing from you, the more I wonder if Kivuli really is as good a place as you seem to think it is. Especially if you've grown up thinking you're near useless, if it wasn't for your 'royal blood'. Obviously no one's bothered to let you find out hardly anything on your own, have they?" He shakes his head again, clearly disgusted.
"It's not like my abilities affect you," The young lioness points out. "And no.. I have come to my own conclusions.. this is nothing to do with what my family has or has not taught me." She glances at her own body.. and then shuffles closer to him - though still leaves some space, not daring to get too close - comparing the sizes of their bodies. "I was very sick when I was young.. even though both my parents are of no great size, I am very small. I am not built the same way as other lionesses. I couldn't fight.. I wouldn't last long.." She takes another few steps away, lifting her shoulders in a shrug. "I tried hunting.. I tried hard. But I wasn't good at it. AND.." She continues, frowning slightly at Raiyan. "By that time, I had discovered that my interest was elsewhere anyway. I like keeping the history of the pride.. learning. I'm sure that it is only beacause I am of royal blood that they allow me to follow my passion, instead of struggle to help the pride in something I'm not good at. If I were a commoner, who knows what they would have done with me at this point."
Raiyan obviously remains unconvinced, a lip curling. "So you let yourself quit early?" A paw swipes in idle fashion at the ground claws exposed briefly. But rather than further berate, he flops back onto his haunches, glancing away. "I really am out of place around here. I suppose permanence makes a difference in lives. You've got good fortune here, /Princess/," he emphasizes the word. "But it doesn't last forever. What's going to happen if Zira's pride defeats yours? You'll stand around, because you can't fight? You'll starve if you manage to escape, because you can't hunt?" He shakes his head, "Perhaps I'm better off where I am at, rather than considering the possibilities."
"Well I'm sorry I disgust you then," Khamisa says tightly, tail snapping once. "I'm sorry I don't mind depending on others. I'm sorry that I didn't try hard enough to please /you/, murderer. I'm sorry I can't run far without my chest burning and I'm sorry that I can't bring down large game and I'm sorry I'm not /perfect/." Snorting, Khamisa turns away from him, taking a few steps to the north. This time, she is close to crying.. though she refuses to allow any tears to even /think/ about falling. By all means, she should have died as a cub. But surrounded by a thriving, loving pride.. she was able to thrive too. But, though her illness has long since left, it's effects are still felt. Left on her own, Khamisa would be dead in no time. And she is well aware of that fact. It's not something she likes to think about very much.. or be forced to think about. "Well good luck then," She tosses over her shoulder at him. "Kivuli will not fall easily.. if at all. And if it does.. I only hope that I die quickly, so I do not have to see my family suffer.""
"No, you're giving up too easily again," he states, following after with only a step. He decides against following further than that and sighs again, though this one is perhaps only for show. "You're only as weak as you let yourself be. But, Khamisa, I'll leave it at that. Don't forget to find out about the lion...and if you're right, I'll let you show me a thing or two the next time, huh?" There is no parting grin, no sign of mood change; but at least he doesn't appear disgusted any more. He's well aware there may not be a next time, but that doesn't keep him from saying such a thing. After all; the next time they see each other, it might be in another raid on Kivuli lands. He lingers a moment, before turning away himself, to head back 'home'.
A single ear twists back even as she walks, to catch his words. But Khamisa offers no last words of her own.. or even any promise that she will return. She /will/, she's already sure of that herself.. so sure that she is right and he is wrong, she wants to throw that back in his face. So sure of herself is she, that she doesn't even ask what happens if she's wrong. The thought never even crosses her mind. Without so much as glancing behind her, Khamisa soon picks up her pace and trots back into Kivuli.
Raiyan has disconnected.
Kivuli - Mbaamwezi -- Desert Border
The savannah from the north seems to end here, a few clumps of thin grass reaching out in some effort to find a home in the dusty desert. But life seems to end there and the lands fade into desert. As far as the eye can see, an expanse of sand and little else.
The occasional small, dark rock can be made out, but it seems no life is willing to try here. Further south, a cloud of dust rises, blocking the horizon from view, making it seem like the desert does not end. A strip of blank land - the border between Kivuli and Mbaamwezi.
Type 'mhelp' for instructions
Khamisa, Princess of Kivuli Raiyan doesn't really belong anywhere.
Exits:
South to the Desert, North to Kivuli
You see Lion Skull.
[IC ] Raiyan, male adol. lion [IC ] Khamisa, female adol. lioness
[zzz] Macabre, female lioness
A light breeze stirs from the east, bringing with it scents of the far-off Pride Lands, and serving to cool the general area. The heat has not been so bad today, but still, the breeze is welcoming. The sun is slow to set today as well; it hangs above the horizon, bathing the border in soft hues. It is here that Raiyan's paws have brought him, across the expanse of desert to the south. He's dusty from the sands and a bit on the languid side thanks to the heat during the travel. Shaking himself out, he flops to the ground on where he judges the edge of the border to be, near the lion skull that serves as a marker. He lowers his head behind the skull, amusing himself in bored fashion by staring through the hole in the back and out through the eye sockets.
She doesn't know why she has the desire to venture to the border; Khamisa is, by and large, an obedient girl, never one to disobey her parents much. And yet.. things have been different lately. Ronan's murder and Kieleaji's sudden death - great uncle and grandmother, both gone within the space of a few days - have really thrown the good-hearted Kivulians for a loop. There has been talk of the lions responsible for Ronan's death.. though all anyone seems to know is that they fled to the south. To the lands that have, for the longest time, been home to only rogues. Khammy knows patrols have been more frequent along the border lately.. but still, there is nothing known. And so she has ventured here herself. Does she seek to single-handedly solve the mystery? Define the attackers? Bring them to justice? No. She's not sure /what/ she will find - if anything - or if she's wandering into danger by venturing so close. The grass thins out, leaving the young Princess feeling much more vulnerable.. and it is as blue eyes scan the desert stretching out before her that she spots the young male. She freezes, filled with a sudden sense of terror and dread. He is NOT from Kivuli.
For a moment, his eyes close and sighs heavily, sending a cloud of dust flowing through the skull. He stays lost in his thoughts for a moment before placing his paws beneath him and heaving himself upward, scowling, white-tufted tail lashing in the opposite direction that his shoulders move. He's about to trek along the border when he catches something that wasn't there before; a form to the north. He freezes as well, staring back, blinking to make sure his eyes aren't merely seeing something like a mirage. "I think the heat must have got to me," he begins, sitting back on his haunches. "They'd not be fool enough to come this close, would they?" he muses to himself, before glancing around. "But then again...with Zira relaxing the border guards..." Raiyan snorts, head lowering to hunch between his shoulders, "Well, Kivuli, you're a bit far from home, aren't you?" he intones dryly, though he tends to lack the same menace as those of Zira's pride usually do.
Khamisa swallows heavily and, hoping that her nervousness doesn't show too clearly, draws herself up to her full height - which isn't much - in a way that is supposed to imitate her mother's regal, graceful stance. Khammy is getting better at it and, especially now, she hopes it comes off as graceful and elegant and not.. arrogant, for it's not supposed to be. Khamisa doesn't think herself better than everyone else, but she's been taught that royalty is often respected. Especially Kivuli royalty, for they have reigned for many generations in this region. The adolescent female gives him a quick glance and.. despite the difference in gender.. she feels inadequate. Khamisa is smaller than even other females her own age.. she's tiny and fragile, thanks to a sickness that lasted during her formative cubhood. If this guy wanted to hurt her, she figures, tehre isn't much she'd be able to do except hope to possibly outrun him. Her tail gives a single, uneasy flick behind her and white-rimmed ears pan back slightly. "You're brave, stranger," Khamisa remarks in response, hoping that her voice sounds as strong to him as it does in her own head. "Walking these borders when our patrols are so much more active."
Arrogance is something Raiyan has become used to; it's all he ever recieves living in Mbaamwezi. He doesn't move from where he sits and continues to merely watch. Raiyan grins casually, crookedly, snorting lightly. "Are you the patrol?" he inquires, tone tinged with amusement. "Kivuli must produce some fine warriors if a young girl is all that's required to secure the territory on this side." Raiyan stands now, head still lowered in semi-stalking fashion. He doesn't step towards or away, but he does turn to the side, lanky body facing to the east though he continues to watch the other. "Huh, I wouldn't say brave in any event. Careless, maybe, sick of the company, perhaps. I could even be a guard, if I wasn't so lax in my attention, right?" Now he takes a step towards her, extending a forelimb and leaving it there, raising his head to look at Khamisa down the length of his muzzle, smiling in a charming way, "And tell me, why would I have to fear Kivuli's wrath?" He doesn't recognize her; his attention, should she have seen him, was centered completely Kiet as they fought, before Raiyan was forced to flee.
To her credit, Khamisa doesn't take a step back, though her ears do snap further back against her skull as he takes a step forward. She hadn't recognized him at first, but she does now; Khammy's attention had been on Kiet as he was attacked (since he was the only Kivulian to actually get into a brawl, even if it was short-lived). "You were there that night," She accuses with a sudden flare of anger. "With the ones who killed Uncle Ronan.. and /you/ were the one who attacked my father." Were she a bit braver, Khammy might unleash all her pent up anger and frustration on him. Unfortunately, Khamisa realizes that doing so wouldn't exactly be /wise/, so she remains where she is. "I'm sure killing you would give my family peace.. for all the trouble you and yours have caused us."
"Indeed..." Rai intones, traces of amusement leaving his features and voice. "The white lion, right?" he nods, "Aye, he got in a solid hit as I recall. Could have been a good fight if there weren't so many willing to get involved." He doesn't seem ashamed or righteous in any way about what happened; in fact, Raiyan appears nonchalant, continuing to stare at the lioness with his chin raised. The gold and white lion finally takes a few steps towards Khamisa, brows raised in curiousity. "And would...you, by any chance, be doing the killing then? Your father could, maybe, accomplish it; are you your father's daughter?" Raiyan shakes his head, "It'd be a shame to come to blows out here. Best to leave it to the warring parties, eh?" He sits again, small, wry grin coming to his tufted-chin, "And any further trouble, I'm afraid I'm not a part of. I'm not sure why these two prides are fighting, though I'm sure you know. I'm merely the fool tossed into events."
Khamisa doesn't comment on the fight between the yougn lion before her and her father. Kiet didn't get away unscathed either.. a couple claw marks to be found on his cheek.. and more on his shoulder on the same side, where the blow mostly landed. Not life threatening or anything in the least.. but still disturbing. At least to Khamisa. She finally does take a single step back as he ventures even closer, even leaning back slightly as if that will somehow protect her. "I w..would!" The Princess protests, as killing is mentioned, even though her voice betrays her easily now. Khamisa would no doubt /not/ kill him. She isn't a murderer.. not even when it might be justified as revenge for the death of her dear uncle. She's too peaceful at heart for such violence. But his next words capture Khamisa's curiosity. Facial features smooth slightly from her glare of anger, and her ears lift ever-so-slightly to turn towards him. "..Why fight in a battle when you do not know the reason?" She asks. "Why participate in what is the beginning of a war you can't understand.. or don't believe in? It sounds very risky.. if you were to die under such circumstances. Or even now.. your life could be forfeit if a patrol came upon you and recognized you as being part of the murdering party." What in the world would make such a risk worth it?
Nonchalance is something Raiyan seems to hold on to easily, for that is about all that can be found in his demeanor, even with Khamisa apparently taking interest in his motivations. Once again, Raiyan moves about, this time not directly at Khamisa, but to one side, a circuling tactic that he's used before. He talks meanwhile, glancing away from Khamisa and towards Kivuli itself, "It's simple, I suppose," he begins with a shrug. "I'm alone and while a lion can do alright in that sort of circumstance, it's not exactly an easy life." He pauses alongside, though careful enough to keep a non-threatening distance away. "But even that wouldn't hold me here, I suppose. Not with the attitude they so commonly give me here," he snorts in ire before adopting his calm appearance again. "No, I owe one of them here my life...and until that debt is paid, I'm bound. Simple, right?" he asks a bit sarcastically, though it's obviously directed at himself.
"I suppose..." Is Khamisa's response, though she sounds quite unsure of herself. While Raiyan moves, Khamisa stays put, again on edge, her eyes trailing him. His movement makes her nervous and her tail tuft, hanging gently at her ankles, twitches. "But it's no excuse for being an accomplise to murder." It makes no sense to her, though perhaps it never will. She is, of course, one of the goldenhearted gentle 'good guys'.. and since when do such things ever make sense to such creatures? "Why did you not just join a pride?" She questions, again curious. "Not many would turn away a young lion.. male or not. You could have joined, they would have raised you and you could have become a productive member of society." The young lioness' gaze drifts north, to Kivuli. When she speaks again, her voice is softer.. mostly to herself than to him. "You could have prevented murder.. instead of help cause it."
"Like I said, I've no idea what conflicts lie between the prides. For all I know, your side could be the aggressors, couldn't it? After all, those lands," he nods to Mbaamwezi behind him, "Should be able to sustain a larger pride than what lives there now; why are there as few as there are?" Raiyan chuckles, "But that's neither here nor there." He continues once again, moving now to circle behind the princess, though his stance doesn't change from one of mild indifference. "Could haves and would haves govern the world, apparently. I /could have/ joined a pride...and in a way, I did, when Seth saved my hide from death. I take it you don't understand life debts yet, do you?" he asks, slowly gaining an opinion on Kivuli of mixed values. Once behind, Raiyan sits casually, "Don't preach to me about preventing murder, lioness. I've ears, I listen. And from what I've heard, this lion that was killed had murdered more in his day."
Khamisa ears again slant back against her skull, brows furrowing over bright blue eyes. No.. she doesn't understand anything about life debts. She hates being called out on /not/ knowing something, for Khamisa is taking up a position among the pride - not as a huntress, being too delicate for such work - but as a historian and storyteller. It's her /job/ to learn things.. to know things. Khamisa shifts, to better glare at Raiyan. "Uncle Ronan?! A murderer?! I believe you are mistaken.. he has been a faithful guard to the royal family. He wouldn't hurt a flea." Ah.. even Khammy doesn't know that she has been misinformed.. or, rather, not informed /enough/ as to the history of her beloved great uncle. Not having been told.. and having known only the loving, faithful guard that Ronan was at the end of his life.. she finds Raiyan's words to be outright disrespectful to Ronan's memory. "I don't know who informed you of such things, but they are grossly mistaken."
Raiyan stares again, quietly for a moment, in the same near emotionless way he's managed so far. But the silence doesn't last long, "Really. Tell me, lioness, are you perfectly certain? Because something that wouldn't hurt a flea shouldn't be able to fight like he did. Perhaps you didn't arrive in time to see, but it took nearly four of Zira's pride to take him down. Maybe I'm wrong, but that speaks of someone who knows how to fight better than most and that kind of skill does not come naturally." Raiyan shrugs, "But, I suppose you've got no reason to take my word, huh?" Tail flickering, he hunches his shoulders again, "No offense, but you don't seem to know a whole lot. Perhaps you should ask someone who won't tell you the honey-coated version of life. Do you have a name, lioness?"
Khamisa's tail lashes, and she turns and storms over to Raiyan, each lash of her tail coming in time with her words. "Are /you/ so very certain that /you/ are the one who knows for certain?" She snaps. Ah.. yes. Khammy is a bit touchy when it comes to her knowledge of things.. and even moreso when it comes to knowledge of her own family. She thinks she would know that, thankyouverymuch. "Perhaps /you/ have been lied to and /you/ have been manipulated. You owe someone a life debt, do you? Then perhaps whoever it is you follow lied to you so they wouldn't have to go in alone to murder him." Taking a few more steps closer, Khamisa is definately no longer nervous or afraid, as she very nearly shoves her muzzle close to his, glaring. "/Your/ types are the ones who are more likely to lie and manipulate.. murderers, the lot of you. /I/ get my information straight from a /very/ reliable source.. my uncle's own brother.. my grandfather. I highly doubt /your/ sources are as trustworthy." And while a voice in the back of her head screams at her and bemoans the fact that she could very well be about to get knocked upside the head, Khammy takes a small step back. "What's /your/ name?" She's not about to give her name first. What that gains her, she isn't sure. Nothing, most likely.
"Well then, prove me wrong. Go ask again and I won't argue," Raiyan grins now, toothily, impudently. "You've changed a bit in the last past few minutes since we saw each other. Timid before, bordering on hellsfire now...and all it takes is to question your pride." His manner changes again, now playful, if bordering on the dangerous side. "Well, Hellsfire, if you don't wish to give yours, I'll go first. Again." He doesn't move away when she comes close, but instead leans slightly forward, as if to press the fact he's not intimidated in the least, though someone wiser would be keeping wary this close to Kivuli. "You can call me names all you wish, but I'd prefer Raiyan. Do you care to learn something more?"
Her tail flicks once. "Fine." /Almost/ haughty, her tone, so very sure that she's right. The fall is surely going to hurt.. if anyone in Kivuli is brave enough to tell the inquiring Princess the truth. "I will. You'll see.. he was just defending his family. Anyone would fight hard for family." Such are Kivulian values. Khamisa does take a step back as he lens forward, intimidated by him.. even if she's not too keen on letting it on. "Raiyan..." She repeats, quietly, mostly to herself, testing his name on her tongue. If there is anything a historian likes, it's names. Names to put to the faces in events that will go down in history and lore. "I do not wish to learn about a murderer." Which is, actually, a lie. Khamisa loves to learn and would most likely soak up anything he told her. What she really doesn't want is to learn more about him because it might prove that he is /not/ as cold-blooded a murderer as she wishes him to remain. Much easier to hate that way, is it not? "I am Princess Khamisa." Again, the addition of her title isn't meant to be snobbish and haughty.. it's just the way she's been taught to introduce herself. She is royalty.. and she isn't supposed to be afraid to let others know that.
Raiyan raises a brow, tilting his head down and to one side. "/Princess/ Khamisa?" He lifts his head again, tucking his chin to his growing mane of white, "Ah, Princess, you've not learned much about war at all, have you?" He moves, keeping himself between her and Kivuli, tone remonstrating, though not mocking, not yet. "You see, if we really are at war with each other - you, I, Kivuli, Zira's pride, then the two of us talking here would be against the rules. But that's not as big a trespass as others might make it out to be. No...you've made a mistake, one that could cost you..." He lets the sentence hang for a moment, taking the opportunity to stare straight at her, "...You've allowed the enemy between you and your haven. The battle would probably be bloody, but I don't think you'd win. I'm a trained fighter, worth nothing more than perhaps a diversion to most, and more dangerous because I know it. A princess isn't usually taught to fight as much as her guards would be, and even that fact aside, you've given me enough to believe you probably haven't been in very many fights, if any at all. Am I wrong?" he states and asks bluntly, keeping his tone level, though his manner might be threatening; should she try to dart around him, he would counter to keep her from going further into Kivuli."
It takes a second for his words to sink in to her brain - her eyes dart from Raiyan, to Kivuli behind him, and then back tot he male - before they mean anything. And, quite suddenly, Khamisa realizes that she is in trouble. He is perfectly right; Khammy hasn't been trained to battle.. she hardly has been trained in hunting, she's so delicately built.. and doesn't even understand any tactics. Doesn't understand that she should have kept solidly to one side of him, not allowed him to circle behind her and cut off her escape. It just proves how sheltered she is, really. She can recite the history of Kivuli from memory.. but she still doesn't understand how dangerous the world can be. Until now. Until, staring at Raiyan, she realizes that he could very well kill her right here, right now.. and there's nothing she could do. Call for help? Sure.. but they wouldn't make it in time, she couldn't fend him off for that long. Run? No.. she's already figured that he'll stop her should she try. She can do nothing. Fear is written plainly across the young female's features.. shows clearly in her eyes. She's not sure if he /will/ kill her.. but she can't bring herself to beg for her life, or to start openly bawling. Her legs tremble slightly, but other than that.. she doesn't move. She doesn't even speak. Khamisa hasn't a clue what to do.
"Hmm." The statement is simple, yet the meaning could be anything; decision, thought, emotion, anything. Raiyan watches Khamisa curiously, noting her reaction and expression. Silence, once again, doesn't reign too long. "You're learning, aren't you? It's been a good time for it. Funny how you have to learn some of the more important things from your enemy, isn't it?" There's no smugness to his voice, no malice, and so far, no sign that he intends to do anything else. Finally he steps to one side, lowering his head, "Enough, Princess. You can quit worrying. I'm not going to continue the war here. I'm not going to kill you." As if to further illustrate the point, Raiyan lays down, crossing his paws. "You know, 'Princess' only suits you when you let it. I think I like Hellsfire better."
Khamisa waits for a moment, clearly unsure if she should so readily believe him. But, slowly, she steps forward, keeping a wary eye on Raiyan until she is even with him. There she pauses, an ear turning to him as she speaks, as she briefly washes her tongue over her chest fur in short, nervous strokes. At least, now, her path home is open and not blocked. There's a lesson learned the hard way. "Princess is my title.. not my name," She says, glancing sidelong at him. She gives it /with/ her name because she has been taught to. "Hellsfire isn't my name either." Not that she's going to insist he call her any one thing or the other.. she's not sure she plans on ever meeting with him again. This has been.. stressful.. for a lioness such as she. She's not used to being so threatened and the like.
Amusement returns to Raiyan's features as before, in the form of a crooked smile. "Y've not had enough yet? I would have thought you'd go as the opportunity presented itself," Raiyan states. "But, I won't complain. You're the first bit of pleasant company I've encountered yet, though I'm sure you can't say the same." He chuckles gruffly, the breeze that came before dying with the setting sun. He ignores her comment concerning names, and watches her quietly for a moment again, the smile showing no sign of disappearing any time soon. "Tell me, are they all arrogant in Kivuli too? Or perhaps the better question would be if you really know what arrogance is and would admit to it. Y've reasons to be biased."
Well, while Khamisa would /love/ to tuck tail and flee.. she would like to hold on to at least a SHRED of her dignity and wander away calmly. "I've had better..." The female comments, one ear giving a faint flick. Oh, sure she has. Company that has been nice, polite and not once did she ever think her life was in danger. So that clearly beats him out easily. Khammy isn't sure quite what to make of his smile.. it's very unnerving, that he can go from making her feel threatened.. to something as easy as an amused smile.. in a matter of moments. She frowns at the question of arrogance in Kivuli.. her initial reaction being to tell him that, no, they are /not/ arrogant, thankyouverymuch! But, she surprises even herself by giving the question a moment of serious thought. "I suppose.. my parents taught us that we are royalty. We're better than commoners. So there's your arrogance."She takes a few steps towards Kivuli, then pauses. "I never questioned it.. but deep down, I've never completely believed it either. We bleed the same.. royalty or commoner. And commoners make the pride, not the royalty. I, certainly, am no more than a historian. I cannot hunt and I cannot fight. Were I not of royal blood, I suppose I just may be useless."
The gaze turns into one of first scrutiny and then dubiousness. "You can't hunt or fight?" Genuine confusion and disbelief mark him briefly, before he snorts, dipping his head, letting his white mane cover his eyes. "Is that them telling you without you trying...or did you just give up early on?" He stands again, circling around Khamisa again, though this time to the south, obviously looking her over and letting his eyes roam. "You don't have any disabilities that I can see, your limbs are intact, aren't they?" The lion snorts again, emphatically this time, "Can't hunt." He sits heavily, eyes slightly narrowed, "You're not saying anything directly about your home, but the more I'm hearing from you, the more I wonder if Kivuli really is as good a place as you seem to think it is. Especially if you've grown up thinking you're near useless, if it wasn't for your 'royal blood'. Obviously no one's bothered to let you find out hardly anything on your own, have they?" He shakes his head again, clearly disgusted.
"It's not like my abilities affect you," The young lioness points out. "And no.. I have come to my own conclusions.. this is nothing to do with what my family has or has not taught me." She glances at her own body.. and then shuffles closer to him - though still leaves some space, not daring to get too close - comparing the sizes of their bodies. "I was very sick when I was young.. even though both my parents are of no great size, I am very small. I am not built the same way as other lionesses. I couldn't fight.. I wouldn't last long.." She takes another few steps away, lifting her shoulders in a shrug. "I tried hunting.. I tried hard. But I wasn't good at it. AND.." She continues, frowning slightly at Raiyan. "By that time, I had discovered that my interest was elsewhere anyway. I like keeping the history of the pride.. learning. I'm sure that it is only beacause I am of royal blood that they allow me to follow my passion, instead of struggle to help the pride in something I'm not good at. If I were a commoner, who knows what they would have done with me at this point."
Raiyan obviously remains unconvinced, a lip curling. "So you let yourself quit early?" A paw swipes in idle fashion at the ground claws exposed briefly. But rather than further berate, he flops back onto his haunches, glancing away. "I really am out of place around here. I suppose permanence makes a difference in lives. You've got good fortune here, /Princess/," he emphasizes the word. "But it doesn't last forever. What's going to happen if Zira's pride defeats yours? You'll stand around, because you can't fight? You'll starve if you manage to escape, because you can't hunt?" He shakes his head, "Perhaps I'm better off where I am at, rather than considering the possibilities."
"Well I'm sorry I disgust you then," Khamisa says tightly, tail snapping once. "I'm sorry I don't mind depending on others. I'm sorry that I didn't try hard enough to please /you/, murderer. I'm sorry I can't run far without my chest burning and I'm sorry that I can't bring down large game and I'm sorry I'm not /perfect/." Snorting, Khamisa turns away from him, taking a few steps to the north. This time, she is close to crying.. though she refuses to allow any tears to even /think/ about falling. By all means, she should have died as a cub. But surrounded by a thriving, loving pride.. she was able to thrive too. But, though her illness has long since left, it's effects are still felt. Left on her own, Khamisa would be dead in no time. And she is well aware of that fact. It's not something she likes to think about very much.. or be forced to think about. "Well good luck then," She tosses over her shoulder at him. "Kivuli will not fall easily.. if at all. And if it does.. I only hope that I die quickly, so I do not have to see my family suffer.""
"No, you're giving up too easily again," he states, following after with only a step. He decides against following further than that and sighs again, though this one is perhaps only for show. "You're only as weak as you let yourself be. But, Khamisa, I'll leave it at that. Don't forget to find out about the lion...and if you're right, I'll let you show me a thing or two the next time, huh?" There is no parting grin, no sign of mood change; but at least he doesn't appear disgusted any more. He's well aware there may not be a next time, but that doesn't keep him from saying such a thing. After all; the next time they see each other, it might be in another raid on Kivuli lands. He lingers a moment, before turning away himself, to head back 'home'.
A single ear twists back even as she walks, to catch his words. But Khamisa offers no last words of her own.. or even any promise that she will return. She /will/, she's already sure of that herself.. so sure that she is right and he is wrong, she wants to throw that back in his face. So sure of herself is she, that she doesn't even ask what happens if she's wrong. The thought never even crosses her mind. Without so much as glancing behind her, Khamisa soon picks up her pace and trots back into Kivuli.
Raiyan has disconnected.