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Post by Marini on Aug 9, 2012 10:44:57 GMT -5
With no sign of the rainfall that should have been replenishing the earth right about now, the dry season had been extended and the heat was growing unbearable. Some had already succumbed to it's effects, including the king's own mother, but thankfully Marini was a lot younger and stronger than the queen mother had been, but the heat was stilling taking it's toll.
After walking around for a while, she had stumbled across this mostly forgotten part of Pride Rock and had made herself at home. She lay on her side in possibly the most shaded area that her prides home had to offer. Although reasonably well fed and watered, there was no denying that things could be a lot easier.
The last hunt hadn't gone too badly, although it could have been better. The prey animals weren't as numerous was they once were and she feared that they would soon move on. This would mean that the hunting party would need to search further afield for their food. The older lionesses could struggle and perhaps not even manage, meaning that there would be far less in the party to make the kills and drag their prey back to the others. On the latter note, distance could also be a big problem. Marini had always wanted to explore the other lands, but attempting to drag prey all the way back had not exactly been on her agenda.
Yawning, she shifted herself so that she was now lying on her belly and facing the caves entrance. She knew that she should probably return to the main chamber soon, alongside the others, but besides the aforementioned fact of the area being more in the shade, sometimes a girl needed to be left alone with her thoughts.
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Post by Samaki on Aug 10, 2012 13:01:59 GMT -5
SAMAKI
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The pale lioness had a growling stomach and a mild thirst just about now, and with all this heat to make it more unbearable, her mood seemed all the more hateful, or angered. Whichever it appeared.
Her eyes blinked and flashed ahead of her, spotting the shadow of the ever infamous Pride Rock. The whole monument appeared to be baking in the sun, the waves of heat in plain sight. However, the closer she got, the more she appealed the idea of it's shade, and hopefully no one would be there to greet her.
With her head slightly lowered and her steps moving quicker through the dry grass, Samaki quickly made it to her destination, though she was disappointed to find out that she was not alone as she expected.
A noticeable growl erupted from her throat as she stepped into the shadows, though she quickly covered it with a bitterly sweet, "Helloo~," she smiled and sat before the strange lioness and curled her tail around herself sweetly. |
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Post by Marini on Aug 11, 2012 5:42:56 GMT -5
Still facing the cave entrance, Marini lifted her head as the other lioness approached. She had a slightly different look about her than most pridelanders, leaving her to wonder if she was possibly one of the former outlanders. Though many had been overjoyed at the prides remerging, the young lioness had a bad feeling that they would one day betray their king once again. Still, it was best not to dwell on these things, nor to assume that every unfamiliar lion was an outlander, or indeed a threat.
Ignoring the growl, she smiled sweetly in reply to the others greeting as she sat down in front of her. It was obvious that this lioness was displeased about this spot already being occupied. This wouldn't deter Marini though, as far as she was concerned she was here first! She wasn't going to allow herself to be bullied out of the way, although thankfully nothing of the sort seemed to be on the agenda.
Sitting up herself, she held her smile for the other lioness. Keeping things friendly was key, but should things go south for whatever reason, she would be ready.
"Hello", she returned in reply. "Another hot day." This was stating the obvious to an extreme, but at least it was a start.
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Post by Samaki on Aug 11, 2012 19:34:59 GMT -5
SAMAKI
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Samaki smirked as the other lioness broke the ice with an obvious statement and took a seat near her. She could certainly tell that this lion felt a tad uncomfortable in her presence for whatever reason, she was sure she could name a few, but it didn't seem this girl planned to leave any time soon, and neither would Samaki. Everything should be fine for now though, Samaki didn't plan on starting anything harsh with weather this awful, and for a while she needed to keep her name clean in this pride.
Samaki shifted her position slightly, leaning on her right paw now, brushing off the lioness's words with her own to change the subject, "I've never seen you here before," she said almost accusingly, but she sighed and continued, "yet again, it is a fairly large pride. I'm not surprised that we haven't met," Samaki looked at the lioness with a vague, tired expression.
"But on another note, what's your name, lioness?" Samaki asked, offering her a rare smile. |
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Post by Marini on Aug 12, 2012 19:40:28 GMT -5
Marini watched as the other lioness shifted position before speaking. She almost retorted with a 'well I haven't seen you before', but was cut of by the rest of the other lioness's statement. It was true that this was a rather large pride, although she couldn't say for certain if it was indeed the largest. She didn't know how many other prides were out there, but she surmised that there were perhaps several with a number equal or perhaps even larger than her own. Perhaps one day she would go on the adventure she always dreamed of, meeting these other prides herself and telling stories of her discoveries to the others upon her return! She realised, of course, that this was a childish dream and that even if she did meet other prides, the chances were that they would assume she was invading their territory. The result wouldn't be pretty, to say the least.
Returning her thoughts to her current companion, her expression suggested that she was rather tired. The extreme heat and consequent drying up of the watering holes had taken it's toll on everyone, so this wasn't exactly unusual at the moment. She herself had been lucky to have found substantial food and water to sustain herself, at least for a little while, but then being a hunter allowed her to sneak in a few pickings before the higher ranking members of the pride.
Upon asking her name, Marini once again returned the others smile. Even though it seemed apparent that she would rather have been alone, at least the outlander-esque one was making an effort to be friendly.
"Well, it's not lioness, for a start", she joked, hoping that the other would take it as intended. "Marini", she then offered whilst remaining in a seated position. She had at least stopped shifting paws as she became more comfortable with the situation, although even with pridemates it was best not to let ones guard down too much. "What's your name", she asked returning the question.
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Post by Samaki on Aug 13, 2012 13:43:02 GMT -5
SAMAKI
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Samaki felt another wave of heat blow past her on a small, dry breeze and she sighed. A look of depression and longing masked her face for an instant, but it was gone as quick as it came, perhaps in her own self-pride or otherwise, she didn't really enjoy the idea of other lions seeing her weak by any means. She straightened up her sitting position and curled her tail about her paws again, though she soon made herself more comfortable with a light slouch.
"My name is Samaki," she answered, a small smile forming over her lips. At least this lioness has a sense of humor, she thought good humouredly, deciding that they could most likely get along. At the moment though, it seemed Marini was pretty cautious of her.
"So are you from the Pridelands?" she asked, most likely voicing the same question in Marini's head, though she didn't really suspect it. |
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Post by Marini on Aug 14, 2012 8:27:19 GMT -5
So this was Samaki? It was safe to say that Marini hadn't heard the name mentioned anyway, but then that didn't necessarily mean that she held no importance within the pride. It would not be surprising to find that Samaki hadn't heard of her either. It was a rather large pride.
Upon enquiring as to her origins, she noticed the others posture relaxing and allowed herself to do the same. She was tempted to lie down again, but the dry heat was beginning to make her rather thirsty. If the rainfall didn't come soon, she wasn't sure how the pride would be able to survive for much longer. A few of the cubs and older lions were already struggling and even dying off in the harsh conditions that came seemingly with no end.
Sighing, she cocked her head slightly to the left as she answered the question.
"Born and bred", she exclaimed proudly. "I don't remember you though, Samaki, where do you come from?" Surely if she had grown up in the pride then Marini would have remembered her, right?
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Post by Samaki on Aug 14, 2012 18:24:57 GMT -5
SAMAKI
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Hearing Marini almost boasting of her origins in this pride almost made Samaki smirk once more. The Pridelands had quite a memorable history, or so she had heard. Where she was from, the Pridelands were a bit far off, and so not as significant.
Samaki sighed loudly and slightly turned her head to look at nothing in particular as she let her thoughts slip back to her past, back to where she was from. Oh how the air there was different, and not once has she experienced such an awful drought like the likes of this.
"Well.." she started, her eyes shifting to the ground. She didn't know if it seemed so, but the thoughts of her past fed a fire of past rage that was never truly extinguished. The fire of hatred towards her father, even her brother who she had almost forgotten. He could've prevented what happened back then.. Samaki felt her lips starting to curl into a snarl as the hatred and grief built up, but she quickly sighed out a large huff of air and continued.
"I am from the Coastlands," she said simply, averting her gaze once more towards the horizon, possibly scouting for any signs of rain, but she found there was none.. |
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Post by Marini on Aug 16, 2012 16:48:58 GMT -5
"The coastlands, the young lioness repeated as she now lay on her front, her tail drooping lazily over her back left leg. She'd never heard of such a place, although judging by the name it was obviously near the sea. Living so far inland, she had never seen the sea, nor had many members of the pridelands. It was one of the great mysteries out there, waiting to be explored, and she felt a surge of excitement at the idea before it suddenly waned. With the pridelands in such peril right now, it would be impossible to leave for any length of time. With the drought, she doubted that she would survive anyway, although one could dream.
Marini had not failed to notice the snarl forming on Samaki's jaw and she wondered what had gotten her so angry before revealing where she had come from. Her next question would have been to enquire as to why she had left her home and joined the pridelanders, although she thought better of it. Perhaps her anger had nothing at all to do with her home or in the manner she had left, but this was one of those times when it was best to err on the side of caution.
Following Samaki's gaze toward the horizon, Marini lifted her head and sighed. Not even a single cloud decorated the burning sky and many despaired of their survival.
Turning her gaze from this to Samaki, she sighed again as she lifted her head an spoke.
"The hunting parties are having to go further out each day. Food is scarce and the herds are moving on. One day they might even leave the pridelands", Marini sadly lamented. She didn't mean to be negative, in fact this was normally not in her nature, but she could see plain as the scorching day what was happening. Things were dire indeed and she would what King Simba would be able to do about it. Not even the lion king could fight off the whims of nature, after all. At least whatever happened, the pride would be together, standing with one another to the very end. A surprise smile appeared on her muzzle at the thought. Although it began as a sad smile, within seconds it became a grin of defiance. "If we can help each other out and stay strong, I'm sure we'll make it somehow." That was more like it!
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Post by Samaki on Aug 16, 2012 19:28:25 GMT -5
SAMAKI
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With Marini's outburst of positiveness, Samaki couldn't help but have an honest smile herself. Honestly, it had been a long time since she remembered a real smile on her face, but the new change felt good, she decided, even if she felt her former pride ebbing away with it. The last time she remembered smiling...
"I haven't smiled or felt like that in a long time," Samaki sighed and admitted, a new sorrow in her eyes. This time it was not anger or self-pity towards her past, it was a true sadness. As they always said, hope was contagious.
The hunting parties. It was true that they had been moving out farther and farther each day as the temperatures climbed and the herds moved on. Samaki had joined them when she'd joined the pride, and every day since the prey they had found was diminishing. Samaki assumed she hadn't been in the same party as Marini though, seeing as they hadn't met before now. There was always the possibility though, after all, all of the other pride sisters' faces looked remotely the same to her.
The feeling Samaki felt earlier put her in quite a dilemma. Why am I so hateful? So angry? What was it that caused me to be this way? I was not before. Many thoughts similar swam around inside her, a new conflict within herself now. Part of her wanted to be the good lioness she had been before, the positive, good-hearted lioness she used to be before her father tore it apart. The other part of her wanted to spread that hatred and sense of loss, make the others feel what she did every day, feel the energy that drove her to hunt and kill in a bitter violence each day. |
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Post by Marini on Aug 18, 2012 7:00:32 GMT -5
Marini's face fell a little at Samaki's revelation. While it was good that she was happy, it was rather saddening to think that this had been the first time in a long time she had felt that way. It made her wonder again what had happened in the foreign lioness's past to make her feel such a way. Her pride mates at least she had grown up with most of them, so it was far easier to tell what made them tick, but the ones who hadn't been born in her home were understandably more difficult to read.
She thought again of where Samaki had come from. The coast must have been a beautiful place, although she thought better than to enquire further into it. Despite the previous statement, she could read enough to know that her past was something best left there. Perhaps one day, if she felt the need, she would divulge this to someone within the pride she had learned to trust. It would probably make her feel much better anyway.
Sighing contently, she stretch her front paws out in front of her and let out a large yawn. She was starting to feel rather thirsty again, but she was rather reluctant to move from her comfy spot. Still, at least if she moved on, Samaki could have her spot. Standing, she turned to face the cave entrance with a slight grimace.
"Well, whether I like it or not, I'd better see if there's any water left in the water hole. At this rate we're gonna have to rename it the dry hole."
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Post by Samaki on Aug 21, 2012 16:44:03 GMT -5
SAMAKI
Samaki nodded with understanding as Marini turned towards the exit. She did feel bad about Marini having to see her like that, especially to see such a weakness in her, but perhaps it was a good thing; learning to trust in her pride sisters. After all, it was a new life, why not start over? Samaki pondered these thoughts as she watched her leave. The idea of following her did indeed surface, though she decided against it.
It seemed as if her strength was not with her now to get up, even in the search of more water.
For now, Samaki was alone. The silence was peaceful this afternoon, as always, though for some reason it seemed that most did not have the chance to just listen to it for a moment. The pale lioness shifted into a comfortably lazy laying position and rested her head on her paws, her ears flickering as she listened in. The rustling of the wind in the tall grass, the small chirping of bugs and birds that still lingered in the blistering savannah.
These sounds were not unfamiliar to her, but besides these noises she could hear the cry of the sea birds, and the roar of the ocean as the wind swept its current. This was back at her old pride though. She wondered if she would ever be able to go back.. her eyes were closed in deep thought, a look of sleep fell over her. |
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