Post by Msasi on Jan 26, 2013 23:02:59 GMT -5
Logfile from Sunrise.
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
Anyu I think I'll try defying gravity Khamisa, Princess of Kivuli
Exits:
South to the Desert, North to Kivuli
You see Lion Skull.
[zzz] Anyu, female adol. lioness [IC ] Raiyan, male adol. lion
[zzz] Macabre, female lioness [IC ] Khamisa, female lioness
To be quite honest, Khamisa doesn't have much desire to be back in this section of Kivuli territory.. right along the border. As a properly schooled pride historian, she felt absolutely horrible having been made a fool of the last time she was down here by that ROTTEN boy. And yet, she had said she would return after she talked with her grandfather.. and the news she got from Xian was NOT what Khammy had been expecting. As such, this return trip to the border is made even /more/ unpleasant because she has to admit that she was wrong and.. ugh. Really, she's not much looking forward to it. But Khamisa, a Princess of Kivuli, has that strict sense of duty and honesty and whathaveyou.. and so return to the border she does, promising herself that she'll look around quickly and if that BOY isn't around, she'll hurry off back home. Besides, she thinks to herself as she slowly makes her way from the grasslands to the more barren land of the border, if she didn't come to admit that she was wrong, he might just ASSUME that she was wrong and didn't have the guts to tell him in person.. and Khamisa just can't have that. The young lioness is much more cautious approaching the border this time, ears pricked and alert, blue eyes glancing about as she goes.. nose lifted slightly to test any scents on the faint breeze blowing from the south.
Border patrol is as mundane as it has always been; the pride, as far as Raiyan is concerned, has become lazy with the Queen's pregnancy. The young male stalks along the desert's edge, dusty and hot, and obviously having only partially groomed himself during his stint out here; but then again, there's no good reason to attempt to stay clean when there's nothing but dust and wind. Still, in the failing light, it is, at least, getting cold, and the young male has entertained the thought of straying into Kivuli territory to attempt to find something to eat to avoid trekking across the desert. So he prowls the border, keeping his eyes peeled for anything that could prevent his original intent. Sight is all he has at the moment to find anything; the wind is blowing away from him, towards Kivuli, and he only catches scents of the Mbaamwezi pride to the south.
The Kivulian female pauses as the scent of the young male reaches her nose, one forepaw hovering above the earth. Having only met Raiyan once, Khamisa never thought to memorize his scent.. she's pretty sure it's him, but not positive. Indecision wars in her brain for a few seconds before she finally decides; she's not positive WHO it is approaching the border.. she'll slip away, just in case it may be trouble. Unfortunately, Khammy isn't perfectly skilled at stealth.. and as she begins to slowly back up, one hind paw comes down upon a clump of dried grass, crunching loudly in the relative stillness of the borderland air. The sound has no sooner died than Khamisa freezes, her hind paw lifted just slightly to hang above the offensive clump of grass, blue eyes wide and ears pressed back against her skull. She doesn't even dare to breath, waiting instead for any sort of response from the approaching lion.
The form of Khamisa isn't distinct initially, but it gains further details as she approaches. But it's the sound that catches Raiyan's attention, causes him to jerk his head in her direction, a bit perturbed that he allowed someone to come this close to the border without knowing. He stands stock-still for a moment, staring; lioness, by the looks of it, and apparently she knows she made a mistake. It is an opportunity that shouldn't be passed up, even if it's just another foolish Kivulian. Raiyan stalks forward, recognition dawning a moment later as he takes a better look. Bemused, he stops a moment, letting a slightly crooked grin form on his muzzle, relaxing as he makes sure no one else has followed the princess out here. "Back again? Is it morbid curiousity...or something else?" he asks as he approaches, eyes roving across the horizon of Kivuli - just in case.
For Khamisa, recognition comes a split second after he begins to speak and she allows herself to relax.. if only slightly. Noticing his eyes traversing the landscape behind her, Khamisa tilts an ear back in that direction; she let no one know she had been out this way, told no one she was coming out here again.. but she could have been followed, or a patrol could come along at any time. She may not be as alone as she thinks she is and she's not quite sure what she'd say if she were caught out here chatting with one of the enemy. A frown curves along the Princess' muzzle, brows knitting together lightly over her eyes. "I said I would come," She says. "After I had the opportunity to ask if Ronan really was a murderer like you insisted he was." She pauses, her tail giving a quick flick behind her. She dreads the words she's about to say because, honestly, she would like nothing more than to kick that grin off his face. And she had /so/ hoped to be able to come back here and gloat that she had been right, and his stupid murderous pride was only lying and using him. But it's the opposite she has to admit. To her credit, Khamisa doesn't look away when she next speaks.. you've got to suck it up and admit when you're wrong, she's been taught.. she takes a few small steps forward and looks at him directly. Her voice is steady and even.. with only the faintest of trembles, for it still cuts somewhat deep that he, a stranger and a murderer, knew more about her family than she. "You were right."
"Really now?" Raiyan asks, with only the faintest tones of 'I told you so' behind his words. But he doesn't seem inclined to press the fact that he was right; perhaps it's satisfying enough to hear her say it, or he just doesn't care about who was right. He places ivory-laced paws close together as he settles near her, inclining and tilting his head to one side. "How does it feel, to find out your family isn't as untarnished as you thought?" While that comment alone could be omnious, Raiyan's tone is opposite that, "I'd assume it could be liberating, if you'd let it. Not that I'm suggesting you should follow in certain pawsteps. Not a pretty sort like you are." And indeed, he seems to mean the comment, as he lets his eyes unabashedly take in her features. But he doesn't linger too long and even has the deceny to clear his throat and look just a bit embarrassed that he let his stormy-eyed gaze stray as it did. Rai looks away for a moment, tail sweeping at his hocks. "To be honest, I didn't think you'd return, or, at the very least, you'd havebrought reinforcements. I'm impressed, truly," he intones."
Khamisa shifts, redistributing her slight weight on her paws. "Every pride has it's darkness.. no pride is /purely/ righteous. I suppose I feel better knowing the truth, and hearing it from my grandfather.. the one lion who knew Uncle Ronan better than anyone." Which doesn't quite answer his question, now does it? Truth be told, she isn't quite sure how she feels, knowing what she knows now. It will take some time to allow her thoughts on the subject to sort themselves out. And even if his look doesn't last long, Khamisa feels his eyes upon her for every milisecond of it.. a deep blush hidden by her fur burning in her ears, an unexplained heat flushing from her head to her belly. Oh, Great Kings.. doesn't he have ANY clue on how one is supposed to treat a Princess?! One isn't supposed to look at a Princess like that. Khamisa shifts nervously, glancing away as well. At least, until he speaks again, upon which her gaze quickly swings back to the male. "I said I would come!" She remarks, almost indignant. "I had to keep my word.. even if I was just coming to admit that /you/ were right." And she never even thought to bring reinforcements. A stupid move on her part? Perhaps. But she wanted to be able to save face and admit her wrong in calmness and privacy.. instead of trying to tell him while he's trying to fend off her attacking brothers or some such.
His scar-marked paws stretch before him as he tries to play up nonchalance, stretching his upper body out languidly. Flipping his head upwards to chase away the stark-white length of mane from his eyes, he merely grins in return, "There's no need to take offense, /Princess/ Khamisa." He appears as though he's going to sidle closer, leaning towards her and taking a step or two in her direction. "Is that all you came for?" Raiyan asks, stepping past the Kivulian lioness and a bit further into Kivuli's part of the border, stretching the length of his body out and scenting the north-bound wind, his gaze taking in the obviously lush terrain that Kivuli possesses. He turns after a moment though, returning his attention to the other, and sits, lifting a paw to rub at the soft length of white fur. His pelt, for the time being, is lack-luster, thanks to the dust of the desert. "Because, if I didn't know any better, I think you might find something...alluring about being out here, away from your pride, with someone who's supposed to be your enemy." He inspects his paws a moment, before lifting his eyes and giving her a sly smile, "But I could be wrong."
Blue eyes narrow ever-so-slightly, watching Raiyan with a mixture of curiosity and annoyance. Her head tilts to watch him as he steps closer into Kivuli, for an instant unsure about what she should do.. or what he is going to do. But before any sort of concrete thought or action can take hold in her mind, he has turned back around and seated himself nearby. But what he suggests - and that stupid smile again! - is absolutely /appaling/! And.. if she were to actually give it more thought.. probably not too far from the truth. As much as she is loathe to admit it, it's.. well.. /interesting/.. to talk to someone who lives by such different rules than she does. But still. She can't go admitting that. Instead, the lioness sputters, her ears falling back and her tail giving a quick lash. "That's absurd!" She exclaims, features twisting into a light scowl. "It is very improper for me to be out here.. and by myself.. with someone who tried to /kill/ me last time I was out here. If my father and brothers knew.. if my /grandfather/ knew.. they would have a FIT!" Nose lifts into the air and tail curls gracefulyl aroud her body.. giving her a right snobby appearence.. which, in truth, Khammy is far from being. "I /told/ you I just came down here to tell you that you were right. Not that you're deserving of such honesty from me.. but there you go."
It's Raiyan's turn to be offended now. He stands, head lowering just a bit, brow raising, "Tried to kill you?" Perhaps there's menace in his stance, in his tone; Raiyan doesn't, unfortunately, realize that his manner could be taken as threatening. He's simply lived this way, with the same emotions directed towards him, for too long. "Princess, if I had wanted you dead the last time, you wouldn't have left," he speaks, matter-of-factly, "There would have been no 'trying' whatsoever." Rai snorts, eyes narrowing, "Improper? What, associating with a vagabond? With the enemy?" Abruptly, the young male shakes his head and half-turns away, half-heartedly glaring back, "Strange, that it would be 'improper' to understand your enemy, to speak with one of them instead of just out-right fighting, isn't it?" Whatever offended-emotion that had claimed him momentarily before seems to fade and he sits again, paws drawn in together, looking down the length of his nose at the lioness, "So righteous and assuming, so eager to consider yourself so much better. Not all of us were privileged enough to grow up and remain with a pride. But to tell the truth," he starts, looking Khamisa up and down once in a clearly distasteful way, "If your attitude is the type a pride produces, than I've no wish to claim a part in one."
It's a natural reaction on her part, flinching at his tone and his stance.. a small step taken back towards Kivuli. "Why didn't you then?" She challenges, though her tone is softer than she would like it to be. "Kill me, I mean. That's what you do, isn't it? I didn't exactly offer up any sort of defense..." She straightens after a moment, frowning at Raiyan's back. "Speaking with one of my enemies.. instead of out-right fighting? Funny.. I figured that's what I was doing.. or trying to do." Now she turns.. just enough so that Mbaamwezi is off to her left, Kivuli to her right. "You don't even know me," She spits to his last comments. "You don't know what I'm like. You don't know what my pride is like. I'm sorry if you think that /this/ is the only way I could possibly act.. if you think that a pride churns out cubs with their noses permanently stuck into the air. By that account, I should say that if YOUR attitude is anything to go by, I'm GLAD I was born into a pride and not raised by homeless ruffians." She turns to leave, then.. but pauses after a few steps, realization dawning on her. Here she is accusing him of being too quick to judge her.. judge an entire pride.. when she's essentially doing the same about him and the other murderers. For so long her view of the world has been black and white. It's only now that it hits her.. that there are a million shades of gray in between. Lingering on the thought, Khamisa stands there, staring off blankly across the Kivulian landscape stretching out to the north.
The question catches him off guard. "...What do you mean, why didn't I kill you? Why would I?" he asks incredulously. But understanding catches up with him after a moment; he did, after all, participate in Ronan's death, even if he wasn't one of those that delivered the actual blows. Still, he doesn't know Ronan nor does he know why Seth wanted the lion dead -- there could be a viable explaination. Not that it matters much, as Raiyan still has yet to pay back the life-debt he owes Seth. Raiyan stares a moment at the lioness, jaws clamped shut, the tuft of fur growing on his chin jutting forward. "That's the problem then, isn't it?" he asks after a moment of silence, slightly curious as to why she didn't just leave. "Neither of us know each other or the other pride." He sighs heavily, shoulders hunching, "I'm not even sure I know Zira's pride well enough for that matter."
A white-rimmed ear flicks and, slowly, Khamisa shifts, turning back around to face Raiyan. To his latter question, she gives a small nod. Yes, that would be the problem. "You're.. supposed to be a murderer. My enemy." She begins, words spoken slowly and carefully, a single small step taken back in Raiyan's direction. "And.. I am of Kivuli. We are.. good and just. For the most part." She pauses for a moment, trying to get her thoughts in some sort of order beore she speaks. "You and the others.. you came to kill my Uncle. Uncle had been a murderer at one point.. but he /was/ good at the end. He didn't deserve to go like that." But, of course, that last bit is her own opinion. "You and I met here last time.. but you didn't kill me.. or take me back to the others to try and use me as a hostage. You frightened me.. but didn't kill me." She frowns now, and then slowly shakes her head. "I guess.. I don't understand. My world has always been.. things are good or bad. I don't know where Uncle would fall anymore." Pause. "Or you."
The scene here has changed dramatically from what it started off as. Somber, perhaps, would be an accurate description of the tone it seems to have taken. Ears curled forward, against the flow of his white mane, Raiyan listens quietly. She's thinking out loud, in a measured pace, and he finds himself seeing, at least as much as he can, from her point of view. It brings about some thoughts he doesn't welcome in his own mind, but so long as she's sharing, he might as well too. "I can't help you with that, I'm not sure where I fall any more myself. I don't know the motivation behind your Uncle's death, but I'm finding myself in disagreement with Zira's views. And Seth's now, for that matter." He doesn't share further on that subject, but he does stand, glancing toward the sky as if seeking council there. But it's not long before his gaze drops earthward again, "They've really sheltered you, haven't they?" The question isn't said with any tone of mock or disapproval; it's as if he's merely understanding the fact for himself finally.
Khamisa doesn't push or question just what he may be in disagreement about concerning Zira and Seth's views.. deciding that the here and now is not the time for such a discussion. She simply stands there, watching as his gaze turns first towards the sky.. and then drops again. At the question, she nods slowly. "Yes." Her gaze drops to her paws for a moment as she considers that, carefully thinking back on her life for a long moment. "Me more than my siblings, I suppose. I never questioned it. I suppose they thought it best." Blue eyes lift, again seeking out the young male. "I wasn't the runt of the litter.. but I was very sick when I was a child. I nearly died. I assume they thought that they were taking better care of me.. to give me a peaceful, happy, full life I nearly lost as a cub." But she shrugs after speaking.. such is merely her own assumption. Not being a parent herself, she cannot fully guess as to their motivations. "But they did.. and it's been done." And only now is Khamisa having to come to grips with the fact that the world isn't exactly as she has been taught it was.
There's not much he can say in reply; a few lame things perhaps, but as she said, it's done. Where to go from here? Raiyan finds himself not wanting to chase her away, not with another spat. While he might have company in abundance in Mbaamwezi, /good/ company, so far, has been hard to come by. So what now? The young lion takes a step towards Khamisa, head inclined slightly, "So by trying to keep the world around you safe, they've accounted for one problem and let another rise." He watches intently for a moment, expression questioning, "So how do you make up for that?"
Khamisa nods slowly, letting her gaze drift. Good intentions have had a negative twist at the end, and now Khamisa herself has to face the consequences. Funny how that works out. She doesn't glance at Raiyan again until he asks his last question, studying his features for a moment before frowning. "I don't know," She admits quietly. "At the moment, I just want time for everything to sink in.. try to.. understand..." If the world is not as black and white as she always believed it to be, she may have to adjust some of her thinking. Her world hasn't been turned completely upside down or antyhing.. but in some ways, it almost feels like it has. The faintest hint of a smile pulls at teh corners of the young lioness' mouth. "I'll get there, though, I suppose. Baby steps."
He should have a smart, wise-crack kind of comment to give at this point, something to tease or otherwise, as he had before. But Raiyan finds himself biting his tongue for the time being. He's not aware of how she feels at this point; he's never really had his world turned upside down - it's simply been that way from the beginning. "Baby steps, or lengthy leaps...I'd prefer the latter myself, but I suppose that's what I'm used to. Might as well just plunge in and get it over with," he offers with his own slight smirk. The young lion shakes himself out, a slight cloud of dust rising from his sun-gold pelt.
Her ears lift, Khamisa's smile widening a touch. "Perhaps.. but I am not like you." Her gaze drifts slightly, looking out at the land stretching out behind Raiyan. "Baby steps," She murmurs again, more to herself than to him. Khamisa is silent for a long moment, lost in whatever thoughts she is thinking at that time. But, eventually, she returns her attention to Raiyan, looking slightly curious. "You asked me why I had come back here.. what about you? Are you the only one of them who ever patrols out this way?" That has been her main fear.. and what made her hesitate about returning. What if she had run into someone else other than Raiyan? It.. would not have been pretty, Khamisa is sure.
Indeed, someone else wouldn't have let her return to Kivuli with anything less than a vivid mark, and perhaps even worse. Raiyan shrugs, "They seem to think the desert is a good enough border. But I pass it any time I go back into the lands, so a raiding party wouldn't have a problem. That...and Zira and Seth seems to be of the opinion that Kivuli is too soft to mount any sort of attack against them. There's another lioness who comes out here on occasion, but I haven't seen her in some time." He ventures just a bit closer, before sitting down, lanky form bending to accomodate.
"Seth and his son are mercenaries. And, I suppose, I am too now. I don't know why Zira has him or us around or what it is we're supposed to be doing, but I figure I'm better of out here, watching a border, and pretending to be useful. Beats having to deal with Sytobi's berating and Jemadari hissing around me all the time." He offers a half-chuckle.
Khamisa takes a small, hesitant step closer before seating herself, curling her tail close about her body. "I don't think Kivuli would be too soft to mount an attack," She says, frowning thoughtfully. "But it is not our way to engage in violence when it is not needed. Uncle's murder stirred a lot of emotions, though. Has everyone on edge. It feels as if we're living on the very brink of war.. but I don't think Kivuli will attack unless we are targeted again." But.. again, such is just her opinion. Khamisa isn't a warrior. She isn't a guard or a knight or anything of the sort. Perhaps she is wrong.. perhaps her father is planning something that she isn't aware of. Her ears perk as Raiyan continues and, though the names and such mean nothing to her, she smiles slightly. "Ah.. but at least you never had to deal with royalty lessons," She remarks. "Learning how to sit properly and speak properly and so forth."
Raiyan nods in agreement. "It does feel like the brink of war," he repeats, running the phrase over in his head. But the thought is banished - or at least tossed to the back of his mind - as she mentions lessons. He raises a brow, smirking, "Sit and speak properly?" He leans towards her, enjoying the chance to come just a bit closer, even if it is to just tease again, though this is, at least, playful, "You've got to be kidding me. Is that really what they teach you?" Raiyan smirks, "And here I would have expected important things, like politics and that."
The brink of war. So the feeling isn't just her.. the thought not just in her mind. He is in agreement. Khamisa has to supress a shudder at the thought. Murderers or no, Khamisa doesn't wish for a war. She's by far too peaceful a creature.. and would hate to see more death added onto those of Ronan and Kieleaji's. But Khamisa smirks, nodding her head. "It is what we were taught.. seriously." She pauses a beat, then continues. "Oh, we had lessons on politics and the like.. although I'm sure my brother had moreso than I ever did, as he is to be King. Basic stuff.. know thy neighbors and everything." Clearing her throat gently, she stands, taking a step closer to him. "But yes.. sitting and speaking and acting properly. Acting proper was high on our list of lessons.. one of the earliest I can remember. A King, Prince or Lord is required to act the gentleman," She says, giving Raiyan a quick once-over. "He is supposed to radiate quiet strength that the people can believe in.. trust in. He never raises voice nor claw towards children or ladies.. addresses his elders as Sir or Ma'am.. and ladies as Miss. He is to look proud, but never haughty. He is to know that he is above the commoners in the pride, but never to act unjustly to them just because he was lucky enough to be born into royal blood." She turns, slowly pacing a circle around the male. "A Queen, Princess or Lady is to be patient, kind and gentle. She looks after cubs and supports her mate.. or her brother, depending on the relation.. in any way that she can. She carries herself gracefully, but is never to appear snobbish, moving as if she were made of the river waters." She demonstrates such by coming along the other side of Raiyan in just a few smooth steps, seating herself lightly at his side, chin tilted up proudly.. but not in a way so that she appears stuck-up. For a while, she was always afraid she came off as too snobby when doing such.. but, with time, she has come to master it, bron with such natural grace.. finally able to (she hopes) look as graceful and elegant as her mother. "She addresses her elders properly.. and males are addressed as Sir. And all royalty introduce themselves using their titles. Not to flaunt their status.. but as a sign of pride.. dignity."
He doesn't seem inclined to move as she speaks, though the bemused expression returns as she begins to recite her lessons in a basic way. The mention of 'gentleman' brings a slightly crooked tone to his smirk, but that's quickly replaced with a curious, still amused, expression. Raiyan watches, seemingly with no intent beyond watching. He follows along as she begins to pace around him, ears flicking this way and that to catch her words, spoken with a different sort of strength than Raiyan ever knew the word to encompass. There is a confidence there, he notes, that she didn't display before. And the young lion finds himself intrigued. Used to brash, aggressive others in harsh existance, this is certainly different to Rai. After a moment, he watches unabashedly again, content to say nothing as she seats herself once more, now on his other side. And, for a time, he's unable to find his tongue, but doesn't seem to realize it right away. When it finally does occur to him, Raiyan smiles, chagrined, and glances away, though his eyes are quick to return and seek out hers. "Thats, uh," he begins, only to swallow and slow down to measure his words and prevent a slip of the tongue, "...a lesson I'm not sure I could even learn. I'm a bit too rough to ever be proper."
And now it is her turn to gently tease, the Kivulian's eyes sparkling. "So I figured." Despite how she may have acted around Raiyan up to this point, Khamisa is not a stuck-up individual. Proud of her heritage, yes. Proud to be a Princess of a pride of such a rich history, yes. But she's never let that get to her. She understands the basics that, as daughter to the King.. and sister to the next King.. she ranks higher in society than non-royals do. But unlike her parents, she has never considered herself /better/ than the commoners just because of her heritage. She's kind to all, when she can be. Raiyan just.. shook her up. He's different from those she is used to. But now that she's relaxing, she's finding - and hoping - that he's not all that bad. Or perhaps she's just making a mistake, becomign too relaxed around the enemy. But she has decided that, if after all this, he beats the living dayights out of her and drags her deeper into Mbaamwezi as a hostage.. it will be her own fault. And if he doesn't.. well, he's interesting enough to talk to. Different. Perhaps, talking to him, she'll be able to figure out some of these shades of gray she's come to realize exist in the world. "What about you?" She questions, tail curving curiously. "Weren't you.. trained in anything? Given lessons? Or did you just sort of.. grow up?"
Right now, while it's just the two of them, it's a bit easier to pretend that they're not on opposing sides; it just doesn't matter right now. Someone coming upon the duo probably wouldn't even consider the strife between Kivuli and Mbaamwezi. The confrontation before doesn't even cross Raiyan's mind and he allows himself to relax and jab light back. "But there's something to be said for us rough ones," he says, smiling in his sly, toothy way. "We're a lot more interestin'." As she questions about his past, he considers a moment. "I was trained to be a fighter, a warrior, though I suppose not in the same sense as it seems to be here. I'm from further north, a great expanse of scrub and desert, not nearly as rich as these lands seem to be." Raiyan pauses, tracing his memories. "The prides are nomadic up there and don't claim land as they do down here; there's no point. You have to follow the prey or you starve. And prides aren't nearly as large as they are here. We avoided conflicts by having a code of honor and trust among groups and individuals. Word spread like wildfire if anyone broke that code. I was my father's eldest son and being a warrior was supposed to be a high mark of honor upon the family, especially if I could be among the best. That's where these marks came from," he explains, showing the x-shaped scars on his front paws. "Signs that I had passed some ritual or test in my training...and when it was complete and I had shown myself to be worthy of the title, to be trustworthy and honorable, they gave me a name, and the mark on my haunch to signify it. But that's really all I've ever known, is learning to fight and survive, I guess. I feel strange, staying in one place here. The desert border feels more like home than the savannahs."
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
Anyu I think I'll try defying gravity Khamisa, Princess of Kivuli
Exits:
South to the Desert, North to Kivuli
You see Lion Skull.
[zzz] Anyu, female adol. lioness [IC ] Raiyan, male adol. lion
[zzz] Macabre, female lioness [IC ] Khamisa, female lioness
To be quite honest, Khamisa doesn't have much desire to be back in this section of Kivuli territory.. right along the border. As a properly schooled pride historian, she felt absolutely horrible having been made a fool of the last time she was down here by that ROTTEN boy. And yet, she had said she would return after she talked with her grandfather.. and the news she got from Xian was NOT what Khammy had been expecting. As such, this return trip to the border is made even /more/ unpleasant because she has to admit that she was wrong and.. ugh. Really, she's not much looking forward to it. But Khamisa, a Princess of Kivuli, has that strict sense of duty and honesty and whathaveyou.. and so return to the border she does, promising herself that she'll look around quickly and if that BOY isn't around, she'll hurry off back home. Besides, she thinks to herself as she slowly makes her way from the grasslands to the more barren land of the border, if she didn't come to admit that she was wrong, he might just ASSUME that she was wrong and didn't have the guts to tell him in person.. and Khamisa just can't have that. The young lioness is much more cautious approaching the border this time, ears pricked and alert, blue eyes glancing about as she goes.. nose lifted slightly to test any scents on the faint breeze blowing from the south.
Border patrol is as mundane as it has always been; the pride, as far as Raiyan is concerned, has become lazy with the Queen's pregnancy. The young male stalks along the desert's edge, dusty and hot, and obviously having only partially groomed himself during his stint out here; but then again, there's no good reason to attempt to stay clean when there's nothing but dust and wind. Still, in the failing light, it is, at least, getting cold, and the young male has entertained the thought of straying into Kivuli territory to attempt to find something to eat to avoid trekking across the desert. So he prowls the border, keeping his eyes peeled for anything that could prevent his original intent. Sight is all he has at the moment to find anything; the wind is blowing away from him, towards Kivuli, and he only catches scents of the Mbaamwezi pride to the south.
The Kivulian female pauses as the scent of the young male reaches her nose, one forepaw hovering above the earth. Having only met Raiyan once, Khamisa never thought to memorize his scent.. she's pretty sure it's him, but not positive. Indecision wars in her brain for a few seconds before she finally decides; she's not positive WHO it is approaching the border.. she'll slip away, just in case it may be trouble. Unfortunately, Khammy isn't perfectly skilled at stealth.. and as she begins to slowly back up, one hind paw comes down upon a clump of dried grass, crunching loudly in the relative stillness of the borderland air. The sound has no sooner died than Khamisa freezes, her hind paw lifted just slightly to hang above the offensive clump of grass, blue eyes wide and ears pressed back against her skull. She doesn't even dare to breath, waiting instead for any sort of response from the approaching lion.
The form of Khamisa isn't distinct initially, but it gains further details as she approaches. But it's the sound that catches Raiyan's attention, causes him to jerk his head in her direction, a bit perturbed that he allowed someone to come this close to the border without knowing. He stands stock-still for a moment, staring; lioness, by the looks of it, and apparently she knows she made a mistake. It is an opportunity that shouldn't be passed up, even if it's just another foolish Kivulian. Raiyan stalks forward, recognition dawning a moment later as he takes a better look. Bemused, he stops a moment, letting a slightly crooked grin form on his muzzle, relaxing as he makes sure no one else has followed the princess out here. "Back again? Is it morbid curiousity...or something else?" he asks as he approaches, eyes roving across the horizon of Kivuli - just in case.
For Khamisa, recognition comes a split second after he begins to speak and she allows herself to relax.. if only slightly. Noticing his eyes traversing the landscape behind her, Khamisa tilts an ear back in that direction; she let no one know she had been out this way, told no one she was coming out here again.. but she could have been followed, or a patrol could come along at any time. She may not be as alone as she thinks she is and she's not quite sure what she'd say if she were caught out here chatting with one of the enemy. A frown curves along the Princess' muzzle, brows knitting together lightly over her eyes. "I said I would come," She says. "After I had the opportunity to ask if Ronan really was a murderer like you insisted he was." She pauses, her tail giving a quick flick behind her. She dreads the words she's about to say because, honestly, she would like nothing more than to kick that grin off his face. And she had /so/ hoped to be able to come back here and gloat that she had been right, and his stupid murderous pride was only lying and using him. But it's the opposite she has to admit. To her credit, Khamisa doesn't look away when she next speaks.. you've got to suck it up and admit when you're wrong, she's been taught.. she takes a few small steps forward and looks at him directly. Her voice is steady and even.. with only the faintest of trembles, for it still cuts somewhat deep that he, a stranger and a murderer, knew more about her family than she. "You were right."
"Really now?" Raiyan asks, with only the faintest tones of 'I told you so' behind his words. But he doesn't seem inclined to press the fact that he was right; perhaps it's satisfying enough to hear her say it, or he just doesn't care about who was right. He places ivory-laced paws close together as he settles near her, inclining and tilting his head to one side. "How does it feel, to find out your family isn't as untarnished as you thought?" While that comment alone could be omnious, Raiyan's tone is opposite that, "I'd assume it could be liberating, if you'd let it. Not that I'm suggesting you should follow in certain pawsteps. Not a pretty sort like you are." And indeed, he seems to mean the comment, as he lets his eyes unabashedly take in her features. But he doesn't linger too long and even has the deceny to clear his throat and look just a bit embarrassed that he let his stormy-eyed gaze stray as it did. Rai looks away for a moment, tail sweeping at his hocks. "To be honest, I didn't think you'd return, or, at the very least, you'd havebrought reinforcements. I'm impressed, truly," he intones."
Khamisa shifts, redistributing her slight weight on her paws. "Every pride has it's darkness.. no pride is /purely/ righteous. I suppose I feel better knowing the truth, and hearing it from my grandfather.. the one lion who knew Uncle Ronan better than anyone." Which doesn't quite answer his question, now does it? Truth be told, she isn't quite sure how she feels, knowing what she knows now. It will take some time to allow her thoughts on the subject to sort themselves out. And even if his look doesn't last long, Khamisa feels his eyes upon her for every milisecond of it.. a deep blush hidden by her fur burning in her ears, an unexplained heat flushing from her head to her belly. Oh, Great Kings.. doesn't he have ANY clue on how one is supposed to treat a Princess?! One isn't supposed to look at a Princess like that. Khamisa shifts nervously, glancing away as well. At least, until he speaks again, upon which her gaze quickly swings back to the male. "I said I would come!" She remarks, almost indignant. "I had to keep my word.. even if I was just coming to admit that /you/ were right." And she never even thought to bring reinforcements. A stupid move on her part? Perhaps. But she wanted to be able to save face and admit her wrong in calmness and privacy.. instead of trying to tell him while he's trying to fend off her attacking brothers or some such.
His scar-marked paws stretch before him as he tries to play up nonchalance, stretching his upper body out languidly. Flipping his head upwards to chase away the stark-white length of mane from his eyes, he merely grins in return, "There's no need to take offense, /Princess/ Khamisa." He appears as though he's going to sidle closer, leaning towards her and taking a step or two in her direction. "Is that all you came for?" Raiyan asks, stepping past the Kivulian lioness and a bit further into Kivuli's part of the border, stretching the length of his body out and scenting the north-bound wind, his gaze taking in the obviously lush terrain that Kivuli possesses. He turns after a moment though, returning his attention to the other, and sits, lifting a paw to rub at the soft length of white fur. His pelt, for the time being, is lack-luster, thanks to the dust of the desert. "Because, if I didn't know any better, I think you might find something...alluring about being out here, away from your pride, with someone who's supposed to be your enemy." He inspects his paws a moment, before lifting his eyes and giving her a sly smile, "But I could be wrong."
Blue eyes narrow ever-so-slightly, watching Raiyan with a mixture of curiosity and annoyance. Her head tilts to watch him as he steps closer into Kivuli, for an instant unsure about what she should do.. or what he is going to do. But before any sort of concrete thought or action can take hold in her mind, he has turned back around and seated himself nearby. But what he suggests - and that stupid smile again! - is absolutely /appaling/! And.. if she were to actually give it more thought.. probably not too far from the truth. As much as she is loathe to admit it, it's.. well.. /interesting/.. to talk to someone who lives by such different rules than she does. But still. She can't go admitting that. Instead, the lioness sputters, her ears falling back and her tail giving a quick lash. "That's absurd!" She exclaims, features twisting into a light scowl. "It is very improper for me to be out here.. and by myself.. with someone who tried to /kill/ me last time I was out here. If my father and brothers knew.. if my /grandfather/ knew.. they would have a FIT!" Nose lifts into the air and tail curls gracefulyl aroud her body.. giving her a right snobby appearence.. which, in truth, Khammy is far from being. "I /told/ you I just came down here to tell you that you were right. Not that you're deserving of such honesty from me.. but there you go."
It's Raiyan's turn to be offended now. He stands, head lowering just a bit, brow raising, "Tried to kill you?" Perhaps there's menace in his stance, in his tone; Raiyan doesn't, unfortunately, realize that his manner could be taken as threatening. He's simply lived this way, with the same emotions directed towards him, for too long. "Princess, if I had wanted you dead the last time, you wouldn't have left," he speaks, matter-of-factly, "There would have been no 'trying' whatsoever." Rai snorts, eyes narrowing, "Improper? What, associating with a vagabond? With the enemy?" Abruptly, the young male shakes his head and half-turns away, half-heartedly glaring back, "Strange, that it would be 'improper' to understand your enemy, to speak with one of them instead of just out-right fighting, isn't it?" Whatever offended-emotion that had claimed him momentarily before seems to fade and he sits again, paws drawn in together, looking down the length of his nose at the lioness, "So righteous and assuming, so eager to consider yourself so much better. Not all of us were privileged enough to grow up and remain with a pride. But to tell the truth," he starts, looking Khamisa up and down once in a clearly distasteful way, "If your attitude is the type a pride produces, than I've no wish to claim a part in one."
It's a natural reaction on her part, flinching at his tone and his stance.. a small step taken back towards Kivuli. "Why didn't you then?" She challenges, though her tone is softer than she would like it to be. "Kill me, I mean. That's what you do, isn't it? I didn't exactly offer up any sort of defense..." She straightens after a moment, frowning at Raiyan's back. "Speaking with one of my enemies.. instead of out-right fighting? Funny.. I figured that's what I was doing.. or trying to do." Now she turns.. just enough so that Mbaamwezi is off to her left, Kivuli to her right. "You don't even know me," She spits to his last comments. "You don't know what I'm like. You don't know what my pride is like. I'm sorry if you think that /this/ is the only way I could possibly act.. if you think that a pride churns out cubs with their noses permanently stuck into the air. By that account, I should say that if YOUR attitude is anything to go by, I'm GLAD I was born into a pride and not raised by homeless ruffians." She turns to leave, then.. but pauses after a few steps, realization dawning on her. Here she is accusing him of being too quick to judge her.. judge an entire pride.. when she's essentially doing the same about him and the other murderers. For so long her view of the world has been black and white. It's only now that it hits her.. that there are a million shades of gray in between. Lingering on the thought, Khamisa stands there, staring off blankly across the Kivulian landscape stretching out to the north.
The question catches him off guard. "...What do you mean, why didn't I kill you? Why would I?" he asks incredulously. But understanding catches up with him after a moment; he did, after all, participate in Ronan's death, even if he wasn't one of those that delivered the actual blows. Still, he doesn't know Ronan nor does he know why Seth wanted the lion dead -- there could be a viable explaination. Not that it matters much, as Raiyan still has yet to pay back the life-debt he owes Seth. Raiyan stares a moment at the lioness, jaws clamped shut, the tuft of fur growing on his chin jutting forward. "That's the problem then, isn't it?" he asks after a moment of silence, slightly curious as to why she didn't just leave. "Neither of us know each other or the other pride." He sighs heavily, shoulders hunching, "I'm not even sure I know Zira's pride well enough for that matter."
A white-rimmed ear flicks and, slowly, Khamisa shifts, turning back around to face Raiyan. To his latter question, she gives a small nod. Yes, that would be the problem. "You're.. supposed to be a murderer. My enemy." She begins, words spoken slowly and carefully, a single small step taken back in Raiyan's direction. "And.. I am of Kivuli. We are.. good and just. For the most part." She pauses for a moment, trying to get her thoughts in some sort of order beore she speaks. "You and the others.. you came to kill my Uncle. Uncle had been a murderer at one point.. but he /was/ good at the end. He didn't deserve to go like that." But, of course, that last bit is her own opinion. "You and I met here last time.. but you didn't kill me.. or take me back to the others to try and use me as a hostage. You frightened me.. but didn't kill me." She frowns now, and then slowly shakes her head. "I guess.. I don't understand. My world has always been.. things are good or bad. I don't know where Uncle would fall anymore." Pause. "Or you."
The scene here has changed dramatically from what it started off as. Somber, perhaps, would be an accurate description of the tone it seems to have taken. Ears curled forward, against the flow of his white mane, Raiyan listens quietly. She's thinking out loud, in a measured pace, and he finds himself seeing, at least as much as he can, from her point of view. It brings about some thoughts he doesn't welcome in his own mind, but so long as she's sharing, he might as well too. "I can't help you with that, I'm not sure where I fall any more myself. I don't know the motivation behind your Uncle's death, but I'm finding myself in disagreement with Zira's views. And Seth's now, for that matter." He doesn't share further on that subject, but he does stand, glancing toward the sky as if seeking council there. But it's not long before his gaze drops earthward again, "They've really sheltered you, haven't they?" The question isn't said with any tone of mock or disapproval; it's as if he's merely understanding the fact for himself finally.
Khamisa doesn't push or question just what he may be in disagreement about concerning Zira and Seth's views.. deciding that the here and now is not the time for such a discussion. She simply stands there, watching as his gaze turns first towards the sky.. and then drops again. At the question, she nods slowly. "Yes." Her gaze drops to her paws for a moment as she considers that, carefully thinking back on her life for a long moment. "Me more than my siblings, I suppose. I never questioned it. I suppose they thought it best." Blue eyes lift, again seeking out the young male. "I wasn't the runt of the litter.. but I was very sick when I was a child. I nearly died. I assume they thought that they were taking better care of me.. to give me a peaceful, happy, full life I nearly lost as a cub." But she shrugs after speaking.. such is merely her own assumption. Not being a parent herself, she cannot fully guess as to their motivations. "But they did.. and it's been done." And only now is Khamisa having to come to grips with the fact that the world isn't exactly as she has been taught it was.
There's not much he can say in reply; a few lame things perhaps, but as she said, it's done. Where to go from here? Raiyan finds himself not wanting to chase her away, not with another spat. While he might have company in abundance in Mbaamwezi, /good/ company, so far, has been hard to come by. So what now? The young lion takes a step towards Khamisa, head inclined slightly, "So by trying to keep the world around you safe, they've accounted for one problem and let another rise." He watches intently for a moment, expression questioning, "So how do you make up for that?"
Khamisa nods slowly, letting her gaze drift. Good intentions have had a negative twist at the end, and now Khamisa herself has to face the consequences. Funny how that works out. She doesn't glance at Raiyan again until he asks his last question, studying his features for a moment before frowning. "I don't know," She admits quietly. "At the moment, I just want time for everything to sink in.. try to.. understand..." If the world is not as black and white as she always believed it to be, she may have to adjust some of her thinking. Her world hasn't been turned completely upside down or antyhing.. but in some ways, it almost feels like it has. The faintest hint of a smile pulls at teh corners of the young lioness' mouth. "I'll get there, though, I suppose. Baby steps."
He should have a smart, wise-crack kind of comment to give at this point, something to tease or otherwise, as he had before. But Raiyan finds himself biting his tongue for the time being. He's not aware of how she feels at this point; he's never really had his world turned upside down - it's simply been that way from the beginning. "Baby steps, or lengthy leaps...I'd prefer the latter myself, but I suppose that's what I'm used to. Might as well just plunge in and get it over with," he offers with his own slight smirk. The young lion shakes himself out, a slight cloud of dust rising from his sun-gold pelt.
Her ears lift, Khamisa's smile widening a touch. "Perhaps.. but I am not like you." Her gaze drifts slightly, looking out at the land stretching out behind Raiyan. "Baby steps," She murmurs again, more to herself than to him. Khamisa is silent for a long moment, lost in whatever thoughts she is thinking at that time. But, eventually, she returns her attention to Raiyan, looking slightly curious. "You asked me why I had come back here.. what about you? Are you the only one of them who ever patrols out this way?" That has been her main fear.. and what made her hesitate about returning. What if she had run into someone else other than Raiyan? It.. would not have been pretty, Khamisa is sure.
Indeed, someone else wouldn't have let her return to Kivuli with anything less than a vivid mark, and perhaps even worse. Raiyan shrugs, "They seem to think the desert is a good enough border. But I pass it any time I go back into the lands, so a raiding party wouldn't have a problem. That...and Zira and Seth seems to be of the opinion that Kivuli is too soft to mount any sort of attack against them. There's another lioness who comes out here on occasion, but I haven't seen her in some time." He ventures just a bit closer, before sitting down, lanky form bending to accomodate.
"Seth and his son are mercenaries. And, I suppose, I am too now. I don't know why Zira has him or us around or what it is we're supposed to be doing, but I figure I'm better of out here, watching a border, and pretending to be useful. Beats having to deal with Sytobi's berating and Jemadari hissing around me all the time." He offers a half-chuckle.
Khamisa takes a small, hesitant step closer before seating herself, curling her tail close about her body. "I don't think Kivuli would be too soft to mount an attack," She says, frowning thoughtfully. "But it is not our way to engage in violence when it is not needed. Uncle's murder stirred a lot of emotions, though. Has everyone on edge. It feels as if we're living on the very brink of war.. but I don't think Kivuli will attack unless we are targeted again." But.. again, such is just her opinion. Khamisa isn't a warrior. She isn't a guard or a knight or anything of the sort. Perhaps she is wrong.. perhaps her father is planning something that she isn't aware of. Her ears perk as Raiyan continues and, though the names and such mean nothing to her, she smiles slightly. "Ah.. but at least you never had to deal with royalty lessons," She remarks. "Learning how to sit properly and speak properly and so forth."
Raiyan nods in agreement. "It does feel like the brink of war," he repeats, running the phrase over in his head. But the thought is banished - or at least tossed to the back of his mind - as she mentions lessons. He raises a brow, smirking, "Sit and speak properly?" He leans towards her, enjoying the chance to come just a bit closer, even if it is to just tease again, though this is, at least, playful, "You've got to be kidding me. Is that really what they teach you?" Raiyan smirks, "And here I would have expected important things, like politics and that."
The brink of war. So the feeling isn't just her.. the thought not just in her mind. He is in agreement. Khamisa has to supress a shudder at the thought. Murderers or no, Khamisa doesn't wish for a war. She's by far too peaceful a creature.. and would hate to see more death added onto those of Ronan and Kieleaji's. But Khamisa smirks, nodding her head. "It is what we were taught.. seriously." She pauses a beat, then continues. "Oh, we had lessons on politics and the like.. although I'm sure my brother had moreso than I ever did, as he is to be King. Basic stuff.. know thy neighbors and everything." Clearing her throat gently, she stands, taking a step closer to him. "But yes.. sitting and speaking and acting properly. Acting proper was high on our list of lessons.. one of the earliest I can remember. A King, Prince or Lord is required to act the gentleman," She says, giving Raiyan a quick once-over. "He is supposed to radiate quiet strength that the people can believe in.. trust in. He never raises voice nor claw towards children or ladies.. addresses his elders as Sir or Ma'am.. and ladies as Miss. He is to look proud, but never haughty. He is to know that he is above the commoners in the pride, but never to act unjustly to them just because he was lucky enough to be born into royal blood." She turns, slowly pacing a circle around the male. "A Queen, Princess or Lady is to be patient, kind and gentle. She looks after cubs and supports her mate.. or her brother, depending on the relation.. in any way that she can. She carries herself gracefully, but is never to appear snobbish, moving as if she were made of the river waters." She demonstrates such by coming along the other side of Raiyan in just a few smooth steps, seating herself lightly at his side, chin tilted up proudly.. but not in a way so that she appears stuck-up. For a while, she was always afraid she came off as too snobby when doing such.. but, with time, she has come to master it, bron with such natural grace.. finally able to (she hopes) look as graceful and elegant as her mother. "She addresses her elders properly.. and males are addressed as Sir. And all royalty introduce themselves using their titles. Not to flaunt their status.. but as a sign of pride.. dignity."
He doesn't seem inclined to move as she speaks, though the bemused expression returns as she begins to recite her lessons in a basic way. The mention of 'gentleman' brings a slightly crooked tone to his smirk, but that's quickly replaced with a curious, still amused, expression. Raiyan watches, seemingly with no intent beyond watching. He follows along as she begins to pace around him, ears flicking this way and that to catch her words, spoken with a different sort of strength than Raiyan ever knew the word to encompass. There is a confidence there, he notes, that she didn't display before. And the young lion finds himself intrigued. Used to brash, aggressive others in harsh existance, this is certainly different to Rai. After a moment, he watches unabashedly again, content to say nothing as she seats herself once more, now on his other side. And, for a time, he's unable to find his tongue, but doesn't seem to realize it right away. When it finally does occur to him, Raiyan smiles, chagrined, and glances away, though his eyes are quick to return and seek out hers. "Thats, uh," he begins, only to swallow and slow down to measure his words and prevent a slip of the tongue, "...a lesson I'm not sure I could even learn. I'm a bit too rough to ever be proper."
And now it is her turn to gently tease, the Kivulian's eyes sparkling. "So I figured." Despite how she may have acted around Raiyan up to this point, Khamisa is not a stuck-up individual. Proud of her heritage, yes. Proud to be a Princess of a pride of such a rich history, yes. But she's never let that get to her. She understands the basics that, as daughter to the King.. and sister to the next King.. she ranks higher in society than non-royals do. But unlike her parents, she has never considered herself /better/ than the commoners just because of her heritage. She's kind to all, when she can be. Raiyan just.. shook her up. He's different from those she is used to. But now that she's relaxing, she's finding - and hoping - that he's not all that bad. Or perhaps she's just making a mistake, becomign too relaxed around the enemy. But she has decided that, if after all this, he beats the living dayights out of her and drags her deeper into Mbaamwezi as a hostage.. it will be her own fault. And if he doesn't.. well, he's interesting enough to talk to. Different. Perhaps, talking to him, she'll be able to figure out some of these shades of gray she's come to realize exist in the world. "What about you?" She questions, tail curving curiously. "Weren't you.. trained in anything? Given lessons? Or did you just sort of.. grow up?"
Right now, while it's just the two of them, it's a bit easier to pretend that they're not on opposing sides; it just doesn't matter right now. Someone coming upon the duo probably wouldn't even consider the strife between Kivuli and Mbaamwezi. The confrontation before doesn't even cross Raiyan's mind and he allows himself to relax and jab light back. "But there's something to be said for us rough ones," he says, smiling in his sly, toothy way. "We're a lot more interestin'." As she questions about his past, he considers a moment. "I was trained to be a fighter, a warrior, though I suppose not in the same sense as it seems to be here. I'm from further north, a great expanse of scrub and desert, not nearly as rich as these lands seem to be." Raiyan pauses, tracing his memories. "The prides are nomadic up there and don't claim land as they do down here; there's no point. You have to follow the prey or you starve. And prides aren't nearly as large as they are here. We avoided conflicts by having a code of honor and trust among groups and individuals. Word spread like wildfire if anyone broke that code. I was my father's eldest son and being a warrior was supposed to be a high mark of honor upon the family, especially if I could be among the best. That's where these marks came from," he explains, showing the x-shaped scars on his front paws. "Signs that I had passed some ritual or test in my training...and when it was complete and I had shown myself to be worthy of the title, to be trustworthy and honorable, they gave me a name, and the mark on my haunch to signify it. But that's really all I've ever known, is learning to fight and survive, I guess. I feel strange, staying in one place here. The desert border feels more like home than the savannahs."