What Destiny is this? [OPEN]

[Arra]

[glow=purple,2,300]ARRA[/glow]

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Every paw print cast up a plume of gray ashes as she walked across the desolate landscape. The rising sun cast long shadows on the remains of scorched trees and foliage. All was quiet, a dead quiet that it seemed no life would ever rise up out of. Yet, there was a stark beauty there that she had noticed the very first time she had ever laid her eyes on Deadwood. It was inescapable, but she had never been able to say what was so breathtaking about a vast forest of dead and decaying plants.

She must have looked like an idiot sitting in the middle of nowhere, tail swatting at the ashes, and staring dully at her surroundings. Her thoughts kept her occupied, and all her barriers were down. Her bland facial expression against her violently violet eyes gave the impression of total focus, but of course on no important subject. She could gather no spoken thoughts from her pondering besides the thought that reverberated through her mind: What Destiny is this?

The deities that the lions so desperately clung to were said to be the protectors and guides of all, but look at what fate had done to such a innocent forest. The Kings of old looked down on them from the skies above, but did nothing more than stare at them as blankly as she did at the destroyed forest.

Her faith was failing and fleeing.

Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words"

[Arra]

[glow=purple,2,300]ARRA[/glow]

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Pounding pawsteps could be heard from far off, to anyone that was playing attention. She wasn't, but by the time the large male had made his way a few steps into Deadwood, she knew it was him. Only Maliki would approach her that way. She wasn't a proud creature, but Maliki's aura of authority never went unnoticed. Perhaps it was that she had known him all her life, but in any case she knew him too well.

And she knew of his shenanigans.

And she didn't like it.

Just before Maliki made it about a body-length away from her, she spoke nonchalantly, "Hello, Maliki." "Arra, what are you doing out here by yourself? It's dangerous out here, I don't like it when anyone ventures here."

She looked back at the King, then returned her gaze to Deadwood. "It's dangerous everywhere, King."

Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words"

[Arra]

[glow=purple,2,300]ARRA[/glow]

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“That may be, but I still don't wish to lose any more members of my pride. We still grieve for the loss of Moja, who died because she went off by herself and collapsed because of the heat! In this heat, it isn't safe for us to be wandering around by ourselves. The heat is getting more unbearable by the day, and I don't like having to dig graves for my pridemates, especially not in this heat!”

At 'wandering around by ourselves', she made a mental note to make him regret thinking he was the Great King.

"I am not the only one by myself in such heat, King." She glared back at him from her spot, turning her head only enough so he could see, then returning to her vigil. She murmured, "I can bear the heat, even if you can't." Her tail twinged in irritation that this king of hers could stand to tell her what to do when he didn't know himself.

Know whereof you speak.

Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words

[Arra]

[glow=purple,2,300]ARRA[/glow]

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“Well excuse me for trying to take care of my pride!” Many immature comments came to mind, but she bit them back. When she continued to sit, impervious to him, he growled, “Fine, do as you want.”

She snapped.

"Do as I want?"

[/b] She roared, frustrated and angry at the same time. "I do what I deem correct, 'King'." She turned tail and stalked out in the opposite direction as Maliki was heading. Just loud enough so he would hear, she growled, "I wish I could say the same for you."

"Who would have thought that we needed a King to watch over a King," she murmured to herself.[/blockquote]

Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words"

[Arra]

[glow=purple,2,300]ARRA[/glow]

[/blockquote][/url]

She was seething with anger. The heat outside was nothing compared to heat in her heart, the head she'd created.

Because of him.

“You don't think I'm a good king? You think I should step down from my post and let another take up my crown?” Psh. I wish. “Maybe you'd find leadership that was actually up to your standards in the Lowlands!” The thought seemed taughtingly and truthfully brilliant at the moment, what with the heat and anger and harsh words, but she knew she would never do it. She had pride in her Pride and wouldn't leave it just because she didn't approve of Maliki whatsoever. It was actually her pride that denied her the ability to apologize to Maliki after such harsh statements.

Deeming the conversation useless, she continued walking, not responding out loud to anything Maliki could say. Her muscles twinged again when Maliki roared, "Enjoy the heat!" She couldn't hold in the blast of rage-fueled energy that overcame her. She swiped out her paw, with unsheathed claws, and maimed the burnt tree as she passed it. As she had hoped, it fell over backwards and puffed up a big cloud of ash, leaving Maliki in the open and Arra barely recognizeable within the gray cloud.

Just as the ash began to clear, with her back to Maliki, she plopped down in the ash. Her movement caused the ash to puff up all around, making a halo of ash. She murmured, not caring if Maliki heard, "Leave me to my suffering." Her eyes began to water. He obviously didn't hear what happened.

Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words"

[Arra]

[glow=purple,2,300]ARRA[/glow]

[/blockquote][/url]

Maliki had ran to join her, but she didn't notice until he spoke just behind her.

"Suffering? Arra, what's wrong? Did something happen?" After a short pause, he continued, "Care to tell me whats going on?"

Her muscles tensed as she prepared to answer, not sure how to say it, or if she could even get the words out. She turned her head so that Maliki could see her violet eyes, shimmering with almost-tears. She had to have the strength not to cry.

"My mother..." she faltered, "my family... left."

The details, though fresh in her mind, could not have enough coherence in her head to form into phrases, words, or even syllables that she could bear to speak out loud. All she knew was that that was the only reason she had mouthed off to Maliki, otherwise she would never have been so disrespectful. She put her duties to her pride above all else, even her own happiness, while Maliki was off with the random lioness of today.

At least my family's alive... as far as I know...

Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words"

[Arra]

[glow=purple,2,300]ARRA[/glow]

[/blockquote][/url]

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for your family and the things I said. I was unaware of your family's departure. They opted not to notify me, and I haven't heard from anyone who might have known."

"No one knows but me, and now you." She replied without looking at him, mostly because she didn't think she could bear it.

"I'm not going to pretend like I have any idea what you're going through. I can only imagine how you're feeling. I was too young when my parents died to fully understand what had happened, so I wasn't really affected by their deaths." It was then that she noticed how close he was. “At least your family is alive, and they may just be seeking refuge from the heat, unless they told you differently? Either way, you have a good chance of seeing them again.”

"Perhaps my mother if she doesn't catch it, too... Tarq and Ninjo are sick. No cure here, went to find one, somewhere. They couldn't stay here without risking everyone else. Probably won't ever see my father again, but I never really knew him so it doesn't really matter." She spoke as if about the weather. All the while she was absentmindedly drawing a presently indecipherable drawing in the ash with her claw.

Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words"

OOC: just fyi cuz i didnt mention this in arras bio, Tarq and Ninjo her two younger brothers

[Arra]

[glow=purple,2,300]ARRA[/glow]

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"Maybe I was wrong."

She had only heard about every other word Maliki had said, only because she was lost in thought, but she could still tell that all he meant was good. Yes, he strayed from 'good' every once and a while, but it was because he couldn't help himself. She may have been wrong about him.

Finally, she looked up at Maliki, her eyes soft for once, and murmured, "You really do care." That meant more to her than him trying to comfort her where she could only comfort herself.

"I'm not sure if it's a change, or if it's been inside all along, but you care and it means a lot to me, Maliki."

Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words"

[Arra]

[glow=purple,2,300]ARRA[/glow]

[/blockquote][/url]

Maliki didn't speak for a moment, perhaps dumbstruck. “Arra, of course I care. I'd be some kind of King if I didn't care, don't you think?” One Maliki's trademark smiles lit up his face, a smile she had seem him use on many lionesses before. To her, it was different. Those lionesses he had charmed had no idea as to his strategies and way of play, but she did, and so she had the power to resist it. In every aspect, Maliki was one handsome charmer, which she had never denied, but she did deny herself a friendship with him so that it was perfectly clear how she disapproved of his hobby. He knew, so she no longer had to deny herself a bond with her king.

“Wanna go for a walk?”

She nodded, "That would be nice." They began to head for the distant land of non-ash. “I need to do something about this heat. Even if it means taking our pride away from the Highlands until it cools down. Even if the Lowlanders claim our territory while we're away, I'd rather be forced to search for new territory than force my pride to endure temperatures such as this. Perhaps I can convince another region to give us refuge until this weather breaks.”

She nodded. "A diplomatic solution could be useful. While spending time with another pride we could form a strong friendship with them, an alliance. Your kingdom would become stronger at that, more of a threat to Lowlanders." She thought to suggest a stay with Lowlanders, but Kazabu would never agree to that. Nor is it any cooler in the Lowlands.

Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words"

[Arra]

[glow=purple,2,300]ARRA[/glow]

[/blockquote][/url]

“Allies would be very beneficial to the Highlands, but some rulers may seek to take advantage of alliances.”

Some, not all.

“I am also concerned about leaving our lands in such a desperate time. If the lowlanders were to attack in my absence, and – my father forbid – they were able to drive my pride out, I wouldn't know, and upon my return home, I would be greeted by an attack patrol.”

She nearly chuckled. Have you no faith in us?

With every outward thought Maliki presented, she came up with a reply that, by her standards, would disarm his wits to become more open to different options, but she did not speak them aloud. He seemed tense, speaking of politics and issues worth many councils, and so she held back her conversation-inducing comments. Almost on cue, he spoke, “Let's not speak of an alliance right now.”

"So, where should we go?" He asked. "Doesn't matter to me, it's hot everywhere." Not one to keep the subject on the undeniably hot weather, she followed up, "Where do you think we should go?"

Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words"

[Arra]

[glow=purple,2,300]ARRA[/glow]

[/blockquote][/url]

Maliki shrugged, “Shall we head to the border river? Perhaps we could enjoy a nice drink of water together while we decide where else to go?” Her responding chuckle was light. "Yes, a nice warm drink of water sounds delightful." Everything was warm lately, if not hot. They headed toward the boarder river.

"I wish this heat would break soon. The Highlands could sure use a good storm." She nodded, the topic inevitably shifting to such matters. "Yes. I'm afraid that fires will break out soon enough if we don't get any rain." She was consumed by thoughts of fellow pride-members being swallowed up in flames. The Highlands were so windy that the fires would spread far too quickly. Enveloped in her thoughts, she didn't notice Maliki's once-over.

"Has anyone every told you how pretty you are?" She blinked up at him, her violet eyes holding momentary shock and confusion. Their little fight seemed miles away. Her mouth opened slightly to reply, but Maliki began jogging forward toward the border river. Her opinion of him hadn't been reversed so much as to fall for such deadly compliments. No reply came.

"Come on, I'll race you to the river!" She ran after him.

Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words"