Post by IceHeartedLion on Jan 12, 2007 4:32:37 GMT -5
Mwenyezi - Outside the Caves
Kyltora- The mysterious lioness...
Runako- Arrogance that walks...
Idredh'Reo- What was it? Soft whelp?
The caves, aren't they beautiful when you look at them from above? Or isn't the horizon relaxing when you can see it all? The sun shinning in the edge of the world, that perfect view of the orange circle being eaten by the ground? Reo, being in his juicy adolescence, has great fun time climbing stuff... Not something a lion should do, but surely something he enjoys. Must be because of that cheetah friend he has. Above the mouth of the caves, Reo is taking a relaxing nap, or just some rest. Forepaws dangling from the edge of the rocky shelter, head leaned to a side and just relaxing. He is surely isn't the same cub as before, it's not the sky in the background, he is quite a handsome lion.
Back comes the Baroness from her customary patrol, flanked, as always, by her Five Fine Friends, those among her followers whom she is choosing to show the most favor this month. They are a gay bunch, laughing and making sub-audible remarks at every little notion that blossoms in their heads. Kyltora is wearing a large jackalberry leaf about her neck and a single dark flower on her brow. She would be rebellious to wear the flowered garland she had as Queen, but even so, she always looks more ostentatious than Kutamani. The two are rarely active at the same time of day, anyway. Sunset is the heart of Kyltora's dominion. She glances at the lithe form above the cave walls, and smiles, while her Friends pass on by.
That odd but known feeling when someone is staring at you makes Reo smile. he doesn't have to look to know who's there, looking up from the ground up at him, "Good evening mother-Kylt..." Apparently, this guy loves Kylt as part of the family, at least Kylt has always been caring and more interested about his feelings than just training like Kuta. His smile remains there as he opens his eyes, looking down at the female below, a gentle nod is offered. Seems he was just resting, he doesn't look sleepy or anything, "Everyday, you look more and more beautiful." Of course he ISN'T making fun of her appearance, kinda goofy-looking, but he likes it.
Under overgrown brush and a canopy of rocks once can find Runako looking as quiet the bored one. Head on his pas, he peers out into the open least untill all the laughing breaks his train of thought. "Gezz, can't someone get a little..." she stops mid phrase bringing his head up and finding Kyltora and her cult. "Oh." Shaking his head, an eyebrow is raised at the remark from Reo to Kyl. "You don't use that on all the females do you... or is it just the old ones?" he smirks pulling his form from his cover. "No offense of course Kyltora."
"And each day," replies Kyltora with cheerful grace, "you become more the handsome creature of the parapets. What do you see from up there, Idredh, that the rest of us cannot see? What truths are beholden to you from such a sun-dappled loft? Are they too fine and beguiling to be trusted to our poor terrestrial minds?" As Kyltora waxes poetic, her followers drift away, giggling, except one, who nuzzles her, scowls at Runako, and then takes to the shadows and waits quietly. Kyltora gives the lounging youth a quizzical glance. "There are perhaps wiser places to sleep than a major entrance, one might think, mightn't one?" she jokes, ignoring the comment about her age.
Idredh'Reo lifts his head a bit, scanning the beautiful surroundings. It may be a wasteland far northeast, but it's stillpart of the lands he loves, it's still home, so they look as beautiful as heaven. Listening to the lioness, Reo smile a bit, chuckling at ther words. Again he feels like trying to say something like that, peotic, something that reaches the hearts of others, but he fails as he says, "I see hope, I see Mwenyezi, still here, stronger than ever according to the stories your mother used to tell me." Mtule, that old lioness once mentioned... Ahem, once growled something about the lands before Aso and Co.'s times. The lion again turns his gaze down to the lioness, smiling, "I see safety, I see something beautiful, and something bastardly ugly standing next to my beautiful mother." Meaning Runako of course as he smirks back at his brother.
"What're you looking at." the young lion scolds to the lioness in the shadows. After that he looks to Kyltora "I wasn't sleeping, for your information." Whatever Runako was doing is sure wasn't that. Flicking his tail out behind him he shakes fall pieces of shrubary from his coat. Turning his ears up to Reo she nearly falls sick. What's she done to him... talking about hope, safety, beauty and... hey! He didn't. "Speak for yourself, brother. Your no better. Besides you can't possibly see all that well when your head is in the clouds."
Kyltora gives Runako just the slightest of bemused smirks from the side of her face, with a dimple appearing momentarily in her face. She speaks, however, to Reo, having no use for his less complimentary brother at the moment. "My dear Idredh, I envy you your agility and your height. Your vision is not misguided, even if it is a bit golden- tinged. You will learn that not everything in the past was known to my mother, not everything beautiful is =your= mother, and nothing lasts forever, no matter how powerful it may be. Still," she concludes, not discomfited in the least by her own words.
Idredh'Reo bares his teeth to his brother, not becuase of his words, but his manners to the lioness that is hidding in the shadows. All Kylt's friends should be respected just like her, and he doesn't find anything amusing about scowling the lioness in the shadows. The lions stands up, shaking himself a bit as he listens to the lioness, dusting his mane off a bit and ready to climb down. Now now, it's easier to go up than climb down. With a smile, he looks down at the female, nodding to her words and feeling flattered. Compared to his lazy brothers, he loves being different, agility over brawn of course. But the sudden stop of her words, that 'still' part makes him wonder what comes next. but he knows the lioness, and pushing in matters she 'hides' has always been fruitless, not worthy to waste words in something he'll never understand, "I know some things last forever... Such 'things' can be named love, memories, hope lives forever in everyone's hearts. I'm sorry to say this mother, but finally, you're wrong in something. Some things *DO* last forever." The lion offers with a smile.
That bemused smirk doesn't slip by him, as Runako turns to Kyl and her visionary words. "You envy him.. ha. It's not you who should be enviess it's him. To hold what we can not; there's nothing greater." Surely she must see the truth of whom she speaks of. They have found other ways to acheive a life but it'll never be enough, not for him. The vared teeth of his brother create no quarrel between them, he takes it as another way of showing how his brother feels. Better than Reo in many ways, he listens to what he has to say wondering what he really knows about the things that last forever. And to hear him call Kyl him mother... its a disgrace... hows he's managed not to sting his neck this long is a miracle.
Kyltora's lady in waiting turns her head to face Runako. It's a discomforting look, a face turned his way while the eyes remain downcast into the ground. Meanwhile Kyltora walks into the middle of the corridor, framed by picturesque rocky walls on each side. "To hold what you cannot?" she asks haughtily. "Why, I have no idea what you mean. What is it," she utters, walking about as if to celebrate the birth of a riddle, "that a Baroness can hold, but a king's son never can? Something than which there is nothing greater." She turns suddenly and smiles broadly. "Why, I have just the answer! A litter of growing children! Is that not the answer? You believe that your brother should envy me because I am female, and young, and have the ability to bring forth sons and daughters from my fertile chamber; am I wrong?" She flicks her tailtip in the air with something of a sparkle.
When Kyltora starts walking and she no longers sees Reo, the lion glares at his brother, rolling his eyes and giving the -Now you've done it- face, but then a smirk comes to
his muzzle, blowing a kiss to his brother. Mocking of course, that bastard is bothering his mother! Slowly but surely, Reo starts climbing down, standing on these rock here,
then leaping to that other one, and then simply falling from his spot, landing with a loud thud on the ground next to the entrnace of the cave. He again shakes his mane, then
simply smiles at Kylt, a warm smile on his muzzle. Maybe that will shut Runa up, her words are... So mysterious, he loves listening her talk, it's... Like magic, the way he
can be so curious about whatever nonsense the lioness talks about.
Runako rolls his eyes slightly. "You know very well what I mean, Kyltora. I'm sure he could care less that you bare the gift of life. Without us that would be no gift just a prison of dieing years. A withering embodiment of a dream that could of been." he steps to the side when she gets near. "I was refering to the power to which you hold. Able to make one fall to the knees should they even think of betrayal." he pauses. "But now that I think of it, who needs power when you have the size and strength to make the other cower." A simi-evil smirk cross his face. "Though I guess you wouldn't know how it is, being who you are. Normal in every way; small just like everyone else." Course not his brothers... theres like him but different.
Kyltora gives a more crooked smile now as she pivots about. Her tail gallivants behind her, following the pattern of her movement and settling slowly. "Ah, I appreciate what you've pointed out. The greatest of gifts is nothing without companions to share it with. And the greatest of rulers is nothing without her loyal retinue to preserve her power." On cue, the lioness under the overhanging rocks growls softly at Runako, but Kyltora twitches her nose and the sound stops. "Likewise," she quips playfully to Reo, "I doubt the likes of hope, love, and memories can find a home when there is no one to hold them." Her radiant expression seems to say, Am I wrong? "But have you never seen my morning and evening programmes? Have you never stopped to watch my good Burafari and I in our ritual exercise? If you had, you might know that I consider good physical health to be of paragon importance."
Idredh'Reo can't take it anymore, he growls at his brother, standing by Kylt's side, glraing at his brother. He wants to say something, but he won't swear in front of the lioness, nor he will lower himself to the harsh-talker he has for brother's level. But his threatening posture fades at her words. Just to make him soft again, docile, "I haven't had the pleasure dear mother." No, in the mornings he hardly gets some rest, always running through the lands and being elsewhere with Rafi. And evenings are to be a lazy lion. So no, he's never seen those. The lion turns around grunting to his brother one last time, a warning. Then he leans closer to the lioness, nuzzling her neck with his nose, "If you don't mind, I'd love to escort you and Burafari tomorrow morning." The lion offers with a smile, eyeing his brother... GLARE!
What difference does it make that one has companions to share power with. Such company would no sooner turn their back on those who hold it than they would follow an order that would soon lead them down a far worse path. The growl from the other lioness doesn't phase Runako the slightest nor does the growl from his own brother. His ears back he shares the same growl that was once bared towards him. He nearly laughs when seeing his brother goes soft -- docile -- with Kylts words. "I can't believe it. You've been soften by that of a female. What a shame; and to think I was going to share the glory with you." What glory you say, why the glory of reclaiming the past, the present and the future of course. What better than a life with all that you can imagine. He flicks his tail and ruffles his mane. "Be an escort brother... be just like them. Weak and relying on the strength of numbers to pull you through thick and thin."
Kyltora can't keep herself from snickering, but at least she gets it to come out like a charmingly loaded hiccup. Her ears swivel toward the angry adolescent. "Keep this in mind, Idredh," she murmurs as if in confidence. "Should you ever attempt to overthrow your leaders and seize power, it's generally wisest not to plot and boast about it in their immediate presence. But then, I probably needn't tell that to one of =your= blood." She turns away from Runako completely, looking out on the land to the east with some kind of pride. "Numbers are a great strength, Idredh...but not the only one we enjoy. Yes, I would be glad to accept your company for tomorrow's exercise. I'm certain that my sparring partner won't mind if you join in, should you be inclined."
Idredh'Reo listens carefully to the female. Ears flat behind his head, and still glraing at his brother. For a moment, he feels like Kylt is grounding him with those words, but he is sure he is on her side, so why worry about it. They do hurt, it's his own brother the one they're talking about. What to do, there's family, and there's loyalty, and his loyalty lies with with Kylt, his mother. When the female turns away, reo watches her back, glraing at his brother as his tail flicks angrily behind him. Knowing the lioness is unable to see him, reo mouths some words to his brother, slowly so Runa can read his lips, "Please stop, or else..." And he means it, Runa know reo means it. Once again, the lion stands next to the female, looking at her and nodding respectfully, "I won't be a problem, I make that promise." Yeah, he really is soft.
Plot and boast, is that what he is doing; Runako smirks ever more at this. "Who ever said anything about overthrowning- I sure didn't." Just then he sees the mouths words of his brother. And what if he doesn't, Reo would stirk down his own brother; he'd love to see him try. "Or else what..." he mutters back. "You'll further take the side of someone you falsely call your mother by turning your back on me." he emits a low growl. "I will not stand here and watch as you disgrace our family by allowing this female to run you through with the thought of love and ever lasting strength." He turns to Kyltora for a moment then back to his brother. "Whatever you may hear or learn from this..." he dares not say it. "You'll never know of what truely lies before you. Strength and love comes from within, it's not something you can be taught." Glareing at his brother with darkens eyes as he approaches Kylt he shakes his head.
Kyltora approaches Runako with a darkened face. She didn't hear what Reo whispered, silent as it was, but she knows he said something, and Runako's response fills in the blank. "Of course. I'm sure you meant the glory of spiritual oneness. What kind of a brother wouldn't gladly share that?" The lioness's skull is wholly curved and imposing, and from this point of view she looks rather different. The black flower glistens moistly in front...ready to bear the brunt should there be a clashing of heads. "Your family is my family, Runako. It is time you accepted that, don't you think?"
Idredh'Reo shakes his head, a heavy sigh comes from the lions as he listens to his brother. Shortly, he is looking again at him,clenching his maw and holding the dark desire to rip one of Runa's ears off. A low growl can be heard throught his slightly parted muzzle now, taking a step closer to his brother, "I will not tolerate this kind of talk Runako, Kylt has been there for me always, not like the Queen." So Kuta is not mom, she doesn't deserve such title, "You are right, it comes from within, and someone else have earned my love, maybe I'm not strong, but my heart sure knows where to find rest." There, he loves Kylt, and he will not let his brother hurt his mother. Standing nex to Kylt, the lion nuzzles the female, whispering to her, "Please, lets just go." He begs her, pushing her slightly with his shoulder to walk inside the caves, where her friends can help her, protect her, and where she can calm down and stop listening to his brother.
Runako beats Reo to the point. He has heard enough talk, confusement and bad judgement on everyone part. Giving one last look to those who turn then backs on him, he too turns. He'll show them one day that their all wrong. And so he leaves towards empty grounds where he hopes not to be followed.
Kyltora sighs delicately, peers faintly toward the departing black sheep--if it can be appropriate to use such a label in a family with so many--and walks along with Reo into the cave, bumping him with the occasional step, and rejoining the sweet, hushed voices of her Fine Friends, who are waiting for her. "It is good to live in Mwenyezi, isn't it?" she sums up to her 'son'.
Idredh'Reo nods to her, but his face doesn't look like that of agreement. If only he'd left with Goran, none of this might have happened, maybe he made a mistake in staying in this vile corrupted lands. But quickly, he tries to hide his sorrow, offering a gentle smile, "Yeah... There's no place like hom, right?" He chuckles lightly at her, then looking around to all her friends, offering a gentle bow to all the lionesses, "Good evening." he offers softly, again looking down with a heavy sigh. And before he gives anyone time to ask, or to say something, he nuzzles the lioness again, "I'm sorry, you know Runa. I'm really sorry you had to listen to this again."
Kyltora shrugs one shoulder with a quaint little jerk. "Your brothers and sister are always a pleasure. Don't apologize, my dear--I adore them all. And with luck, Runako may be convinced to attend the morning programme one of these days...in which case, it will be interesting to witness some of this glory he's convinced himself he's getting." A couple of the lionesses laugh nervously, but they keep their distance as Kyltora settles down grandly.
Idredh'Reo smiles to her, not really finding it amusing, but hey, he knows how to make a fake face. The lion looks around, at the lioness. Ok, so what was that thing he's been wanting to say all this time, oh yes... No, he won't say it. The lion settles on his haunches, his gaze following the one of his mother, "Are you hungry mother?" Just a gentle offer, maybe concerned. Kylt is getting old, and well, someone has to take her for her, right? Tho Reoknows she can hunt, and with her friends, Reo is a joke compared to the lionesses when it comes to hunting.
Kyltora is a bit intrigued. "When is a healthy landholder not hungry?" she asks. "Or any respectable lioness, for that matter?" It's only half a joke. She seems intrigued by whatever Reo is about to say, though.
Idredh'Reo doesn't say it, he keeps this food talk going on. A soft chuckle, calming down and slowly forgeting the discussion he just had with his brother, "Rafi and I caught something this morning. If you're hungry, I can get it for you." The lion stays there, looking at the lioness and waiting.
Kyltora's eyes affect mild surprise, but of a pleasant sort. She paws the ground without a sound. "You caught something," she repeats. "Well done, young ones...but this isn't the first time you've managed to strike it well. By all means, share this kill, whatever manner of beast it happens to be, with the whole pride--that is how we operate, is it not?"
Idredh'Reo looks at the lioness. He feels somehow embarassed to be in this position, where the lioness takes a loud note of... Ignorance maybe? But Reo has always something to say, "The whole pride needs strenght, and I know some of the lions here find their strenght inside other. If the baroness is happy, the others are happy." The lion looks back at Kylt, smiling a bit more, still feeling like a clown in the middle of the show. He sure wonders what the lionesses are thinking, "But it's up to you if you accept it."
Kyltora smiles broadly, and one of her friends comes forward and smiles, too. "Thank you, Idredh, for that lovely compliment. And I am in fact, happy--are you happy, Ithi?" "Indubitably," answers the companion in diplomatic fashion, giving her head a little shake. "Well then. Ishi always speaks for more than herself. So you see, Idredh, I do not need to be well-fed to be happy--indeed, I feel I may even be happier when I am hungry. Do you not feel the same way?"
Idredh'Reo shakes his head to her. Happy when hungry, when he's hungry he can't even think, almost like hunger taking over him in those situations, "I must say---" He stops, lifting one paw in the air, "Where are my manners, wait here." The lion offers a nod to the lionesses present and walks away to the entrance. It takes him a couple of minutes and he comes back dragging a grown wildbeest with his muzzle, not saying a word or anything until the meal is placed in front of Kyltora. The doe is bitten and well, Reo and rafi ate from that thing, so it's not the best of meals, but sure it's still food. Once again, the lion settles down on his haunches in the same spot where he was before he left, looking at the carcass and resuming, "Like I was saying... I must say no to that one. I. . .HATE being hungry."
Kyltora is lying down and being groomed by the time the male gets back. She nods to her attendants and they leave her be. She gets to her feet, gives Reo a lop-eyed yet pleasant look, and takes a good-sized, polite bite from the wildebeest. She chews and swallows it with care, sitting down, while around her, her attendants murmur--"How on earth did two half-grown males manage to kill an adult male wildebeest?" "That thing must've been HUGE!"
Idredh'Reo flats his ear, not meaning... Not wanting to hear whatever the lionesses are saying. But he finally listens, and he is glad it wasn't something else. In fact, he feels proud of hearing those words, but he doesn't dare to say anything, he might sound arrogant. Tho he knows, Rafi is quick, and small... But Reo is patient. Everything is a game when he hunts with his cheetah friend, just an elaborate plan to take the food where the lion is. Lifting his head a bit, he looks at the lioness, "I hope you enjoy it." Meaning the free meal of course.
Kyltora does enjoy it, but she doesn't eat much. "I've had enough," she says, after finishing her simple, ample bite. "Ladies, feel free to take what i took, and leave what's left for after tonight's hunt." It is the Baroness's well-known custom that there should be food after every hunt, whether successful or not, to keep up morale. Rations are therefore always tight, but appriecated. "Thank you for being thoughtful, Idredh. If that's quite everything?" She lifts one front foot, emphasizing the tension...
Idredh'Reo looks at the other lionesses go for the carcass. A smirk runs across his muzzle. Good, he did a good thing. Now Rafi will be angry with him, it was THEIR food, and Rafi doesn't like sharing, Reo will have to catch something later for the cheetah. Then, after his smile, a frown comes to his face, looking at the lioness. Curious to know what she meant, he decides to ask, "Quite everything? should there be something else?" The lion softly says, looking at her with a smile.
Kyltora's paw rises a shade higher, and her body tilts, shifting her center of weight just far enough that she might collapse if she were to shift any higher. She slowly raises a single eyebrow...and teases Reo with her expectant countenance.
Idredh'Reo raises the same brow of the lioness, looking at her with a smirk. The lion stands up, taking a step back, away from her, just smilling as he lowers his head a bit, not saying a word. He knows this game... Or he thinks he knows, but surely he's just the toy here.
Kyltora smirks, flicks her tail in an ornate figure that's over almost before it's noticeable, turns about, and lies down. "Good night, my dear Idredh. "I shall expect you in the morning." Her companions snicker a bit...and then most of them depart, while a couple stay to finish the job of grooming they began some time ago. None of them are facing Reo any longer.
Idredh'Reo looks at the lionesses from the corner of his eyes, then he lifts his head up a bit. Ok, once again, he knows he did something wrong. The lion nods to her, turning around and facing the entrance. He sighs, leaning his head to a side to see the lioness again, "Good night mother... And once again, please, forgive my for my brother." The lions turns again to the entrance and continues walking, saying loud enough to make his voice be heard in an echo inside the caves, "God night my ladies..." To all the friends of Kyltora of course, at leas he still has some manners.
They turn for a moment apiece to acknowledge him, with a friendly rawrl. Kyltora, for her part, remains at peace, having herself straightened for her rest. This meeting is done.
Kyltora- The mysterious lioness...
Runako- Arrogance that walks...
Idredh'Reo- What was it? Soft whelp?
The caves, aren't they beautiful when you look at them from above? Or isn't the horizon relaxing when you can see it all? The sun shinning in the edge of the world, that perfect view of the orange circle being eaten by the ground? Reo, being in his juicy adolescence, has great fun time climbing stuff... Not something a lion should do, but surely something he enjoys. Must be because of that cheetah friend he has. Above the mouth of the caves, Reo is taking a relaxing nap, or just some rest. Forepaws dangling from the edge of the rocky shelter, head leaned to a side and just relaxing. He is surely isn't the same cub as before, it's not the sky in the background, he is quite a handsome lion.
Back comes the Baroness from her customary patrol, flanked, as always, by her Five Fine Friends, those among her followers whom she is choosing to show the most favor this month. They are a gay bunch, laughing and making sub-audible remarks at every little notion that blossoms in their heads. Kyltora is wearing a large jackalberry leaf about her neck and a single dark flower on her brow. She would be rebellious to wear the flowered garland she had as Queen, but even so, she always looks more ostentatious than Kutamani. The two are rarely active at the same time of day, anyway. Sunset is the heart of Kyltora's dominion. She glances at the lithe form above the cave walls, and smiles, while her Friends pass on by.
That odd but known feeling when someone is staring at you makes Reo smile. he doesn't have to look to know who's there, looking up from the ground up at him, "Good evening mother-Kylt..." Apparently, this guy loves Kylt as part of the family, at least Kylt has always been caring and more interested about his feelings than just training like Kuta. His smile remains there as he opens his eyes, looking down at the female below, a gentle nod is offered. Seems he was just resting, he doesn't look sleepy or anything, "Everyday, you look more and more beautiful." Of course he ISN'T making fun of her appearance, kinda goofy-looking, but he likes it.
Under overgrown brush and a canopy of rocks once can find Runako looking as quiet the bored one. Head on his pas, he peers out into the open least untill all the laughing breaks his train of thought. "Gezz, can't someone get a little..." she stops mid phrase bringing his head up and finding Kyltora and her cult. "Oh." Shaking his head, an eyebrow is raised at the remark from Reo to Kyl. "You don't use that on all the females do you... or is it just the old ones?" he smirks pulling his form from his cover. "No offense of course Kyltora."
"And each day," replies Kyltora with cheerful grace, "you become more the handsome creature of the parapets. What do you see from up there, Idredh, that the rest of us cannot see? What truths are beholden to you from such a sun-dappled loft? Are they too fine and beguiling to be trusted to our poor terrestrial minds?" As Kyltora waxes poetic, her followers drift away, giggling, except one, who nuzzles her, scowls at Runako, and then takes to the shadows and waits quietly. Kyltora gives the lounging youth a quizzical glance. "There are perhaps wiser places to sleep than a major entrance, one might think, mightn't one?" she jokes, ignoring the comment about her age.
Idredh'Reo lifts his head a bit, scanning the beautiful surroundings. It may be a wasteland far northeast, but it's stillpart of the lands he loves, it's still home, so they look as beautiful as heaven. Listening to the lioness, Reo smile a bit, chuckling at ther words. Again he feels like trying to say something like that, peotic, something that reaches the hearts of others, but he fails as he says, "I see hope, I see Mwenyezi, still here, stronger than ever according to the stories your mother used to tell me." Mtule, that old lioness once mentioned... Ahem, once growled something about the lands before Aso and Co.'s times. The lion again turns his gaze down to the lioness, smiling, "I see safety, I see something beautiful, and something bastardly ugly standing next to my beautiful mother." Meaning Runako of course as he smirks back at his brother.
"What're you looking at." the young lion scolds to the lioness in the shadows. After that he looks to Kyltora "I wasn't sleeping, for your information." Whatever Runako was doing is sure wasn't that. Flicking his tail out behind him he shakes fall pieces of shrubary from his coat. Turning his ears up to Reo she nearly falls sick. What's she done to him... talking about hope, safety, beauty and... hey! He didn't. "Speak for yourself, brother. Your no better. Besides you can't possibly see all that well when your head is in the clouds."
Kyltora gives Runako just the slightest of bemused smirks from the side of her face, with a dimple appearing momentarily in her face. She speaks, however, to Reo, having no use for his less complimentary brother at the moment. "My dear Idredh, I envy you your agility and your height. Your vision is not misguided, even if it is a bit golden- tinged. You will learn that not everything in the past was known to my mother, not everything beautiful is =your= mother, and nothing lasts forever, no matter how powerful it may be. Still," she concludes, not discomfited in the least by her own words.
Idredh'Reo bares his teeth to his brother, not becuase of his words, but his manners to the lioness that is hidding in the shadows. All Kylt's friends should be respected just like her, and he doesn't find anything amusing about scowling the lioness in the shadows. The lions stands up, shaking himself a bit as he listens to the lioness, dusting his mane off a bit and ready to climb down. Now now, it's easier to go up than climb down. With a smile, he looks down at the female, nodding to her words and feeling flattered. Compared to his lazy brothers, he loves being different, agility over brawn of course. But the sudden stop of her words, that 'still' part makes him wonder what comes next. but he knows the lioness, and pushing in matters she 'hides' has always been fruitless, not worthy to waste words in something he'll never understand, "I know some things last forever... Such 'things' can be named love, memories, hope lives forever in everyone's hearts. I'm sorry to say this mother, but finally, you're wrong in something. Some things *DO* last forever." The lion offers with a smile.
That bemused smirk doesn't slip by him, as Runako turns to Kyl and her visionary words. "You envy him.. ha. It's not you who should be enviess it's him. To hold what we can not; there's nothing greater." Surely she must see the truth of whom she speaks of. They have found other ways to acheive a life but it'll never be enough, not for him. The vared teeth of his brother create no quarrel between them, he takes it as another way of showing how his brother feels. Better than Reo in many ways, he listens to what he has to say wondering what he really knows about the things that last forever. And to hear him call Kyl him mother... its a disgrace... hows he's managed not to sting his neck this long is a miracle.
Kyltora's lady in waiting turns her head to face Runako. It's a discomforting look, a face turned his way while the eyes remain downcast into the ground. Meanwhile Kyltora walks into the middle of the corridor, framed by picturesque rocky walls on each side. "To hold what you cannot?" she asks haughtily. "Why, I have no idea what you mean. What is it," she utters, walking about as if to celebrate the birth of a riddle, "that a Baroness can hold, but a king's son never can? Something than which there is nothing greater." She turns suddenly and smiles broadly. "Why, I have just the answer! A litter of growing children! Is that not the answer? You believe that your brother should envy me because I am female, and young, and have the ability to bring forth sons and daughters from my fertile chamber; am I wrong?" She flicks her tailtip in the air with something of a sparkle.
When Kyltora starts walking and she no longers sees Reo, the lion glares at his brother, rolling his eyes and giving the -Now you've done it- face, but then a smirk comes to
his muzzle, blowing a kiss to his brother. Mocking of course, that bastard is bothering his mother! Slowly but surely, Reo starts climbing down, standing on these rock here,
then leaping to that other one, and then simply falling from his spot, landing with a loud thud on the ground next to the entrnace of the cave. He again shakes his mane, then
simply smiles at Kylt, a warm smile on his muzzle. Maybe that will shut Runa up, her words are... So mysterious, he loves listening her talk, it's... Like magic, the way he
can be so curious about whatever nonsense the lioness talks about.
Runako rolls his eyes slightly. "You know very well what I mean, Kyltora. I'm sure he could care less that you bare the gift of life. Without us that would be no gift just a prison of dieing years. A withering embodiment of a dream that could of been." he steps to the side when she gets near. "I was refering to the power to which you hold. Able to make one fall to the knees should they even think of betrayal." he pauses. "But now that I think of it, who needs power when you have the size and strength to make the other cower." A simi-evil smirk cross his face. "Though I guess you wouldn't know how it is, being who you are. Normal in every way; small just like everyone else." Course not his brothers... theres like him but different.
Kyltora gives a more crooked smile now as she pivots about. Her tail gallivants behind her, following the pattern of her movement and settling slowly. "Ah, I appreciate what you've pointed out. The greatest of gifts is nothing without companions to share it with. And the greatest of rulers is nothing without her loyal retinue to preserve her power." On cue, the lioness under the overhanging rocks growls softly at Runako, but Kyltora twitches her nose and the sound stops. "Likewise," she quips playfully to Reo, "I doubt the likes of hope, love, and memories can find a home when there is no one to hold them." Her radiant expression seems to say, Am I wrong? "But have you never seen my morning and evening programmes? Have you never stopped to watch my good Burafari and I in our ritual exercise? If you had, you might know that I consider good physical health to be of paragon importance."
Idredh'Reo can't take it anymore, he growls at his brother, standing by Kylt's side, glraing at his brother. He wants to say something, but he won't swear in front of the lioness, nor he will lower himself to the harsh-talker he has for brother's level. But his threatening posture fades at her words. Just to make him soft again, docile, "I haven't had the pleasure dear mother." No, in the mornings he hardly gets some rest, always running through the lands and being elsewhere with Rafi. And evenings are to be a lazy lion. So no, he's never seen those. The lion turns around grunting to his brother one last time, a warning. Then he leans closer to the lioness, nuzzling her neck with his nose, "If you don't mind, I'd love to escort you and Burafari tomorrow morning." The lion offers with a smile, eyeing his brother... GLARE!
What difference does it make that one has companions to share power with. Such company would no sooner turn their back on those who hold it than they would follow an order that would soon lead them down a far worse path. The growl from the other lioness doesn't phase Runako the slightest nor does the growl from his own brother. His ears back he shares the same growl that was once bared towards him. He nearly laughs when seeing his brother goes soft -- docile -- with Kylts words. "I can't believe it. You've been soften by that of a female. What a shame; and to think I was going to share the glory with you." What glory you say, why the glory of reclaiming the past, the present and the future of course. What better than a life with all that you can imagine. He flicks his tail and ruffles his mane. "Be an escort brother... be just like them. Weak and relying on the strength of numbers to pull you through thick and thin."
Kyltora can't keep herself from snickering, but at least she gets it to come out like a charmingly loaded hiccup. Her ears swivel toward the angry adolescent. "Keep this in mind, Idredh," she murmurs as if in confidence. "Should you ever attempt to overthrow your leaders and seize power, it's generally wisest not to plot and boast about it in their immediate presence. But then, I probably needn't tell that to one of =your= blood." She turns away from Runako completely, looking out on the land to the east with some kind of pride. "Numbers are a great strength, Idredh...but not the only one we enjoy. Yes, I would be glad to accept your company for tomorrow's exercise. I'm certain that my sparring partner won't mind if you join in, should you be inclined."
Idredh'Reo listens carefully to the female. Ears flat behind his head, and still glraing at his brother. For a moment, he feels like Kylt is grounding him with those words, but he is sure he is on her side, so why worry about it. They do hurt, it's his own brother the one they're talking about. What to do, there's family, and there's loyalty, and his loyalty lies with with Kylt, his mother. When the female turns away, reo watches her back, glraing at his brother as his tail flicks angrily behind him. Knowing the lioness is unable to see him, reo mouths some words to his brother, slowly so Runa can read his lips, "Please stop, or else..." And he means it, Runa know reo means it. Once again, the lion stands next to the female, looking at her and nodding respectfully, "I won't be a problem, I make that promise." Yeah, he really is soft.
Plot and boast, is that what he is doing; Runako smirks ever more at this. "Who ever said anything about overthrowning- I sure didn't." Just then he sees the mouths words of his brother. And what if he doesn't, Reo would stirk down his own brother; he'd love to see him try. "Or else what..." he mutters back. "You'll further take the side of someone you falsely call your mother by turning your back on me." he emits a low growl. "I will not stand here and watch as you disgrace our family by allowing this female to run you through with the thought of love and ever lasting strength." He turns to Kyltora for a moment then back to his brother. "Whatever you may hear or learn from this..." he dares not say it. "You'll never know of what truely lies before you. Strength and love comes from within, it's not something you can be taught." Glareing at his brother with darkens eyes as he approaches Kylt he shakes his head.
Kyltora approaches Runako with a darkened face. She didn't hear what Reo whispered, silent as it was, but she knows he said something, and Runako's response fills in the blank. "Of course. I'm sure you meant the glory of spiritual oneness. What kind of a brother wouldn't gladly share that?" The lioness's skull is wholly curved and imposing, and from this point of view she looks rather different. The black flower glistens moistly in front...ready to bear the brunt should there be a clashing of heads. "Your family is my family, Runako. It is time you accepted that, don't you think?"
Idredh'Reo shakes his head, a heavy sigh comes from the lions as he listens to his brother. Shortly, he is looking again at him,clenching his maw and holding the dark desire to rip one of Runa's ears off. A low growl can be heard throught his slightly parted muzzle now, taking a step closer to his brother, "I will not tolerate this kind of talk Runako, Kylt has been there for me always, not like the Queen." So Kuta is not mom, she doesn't deserve such title, "You are right, it comes from within, and someone else have earned my love, maybe I'm not strong, but my heart sure knows where to find rest." There, he loves Kylt, and he will not let his brother hurt his mother. Standing nex to Kylt, the lion nuzzles the female, whispering to her, "Please, lets just go." He begs her, pushing her slightly with his shoulder to walk inside the caves, where her friends can help her, protect her, and where she can calm down and stop listening to his brother.
Runako beats Reo to the point. He has heard enough talk, confusement and bad judgement on everyone part. Giving one last look to those who turn then backs on him, he too turns. He'll show them one day that their all wrong. And so he leaves towards empty grounds where he hopes not to be followed.
Kyltora sighs delicately, peers faintly toward the departing black sheep--if it can be appropriate to use such a label in a family with so many--and walks along with Reo into the cave, bumping him with the occasional step, and rejoining the sweet, hushed voices of her Fine Friends, who are waiting for her. "It is good to live in Mwenyezi, isn't it?" she sums up to her 'son'.
Idredh'Reo nods to her, but his face doesn't look like that of agreement. If only he'd left with Goran, none of this might have happened, maybe he made a mistake in staying in this vile corrupted lands. But quickly, he tries to hide his sorrow, offering a gentle smile, "Yeah... There's no place like hom, right?" He chuckles lightly at her, then looking around to all her friends, offering a gentle bow to all the lionesses, "Good evening." he offers softly, again looking down with a heavy sigh. And before he gives anyone time to ask, or to say something, he nuzzles the lioness again, "I'm sorry, you know Runa. I'm really sorry you had to listen to this again."
Kyltora shrugs one shoulder with a quaint little jerk. "Your brothers and sister are always a pleasure. Don't apologize, my dear--I adore them all. And with luck, Runako may be convinced to attend the morning programme one of these days...in which case, it will be interesting to witness some of this glory he's convinced himself he's getting." A couple of the lionesses laugh nervously, but they keep their distance as Kyltora settles down grandly.
Idredh'Reo smiles to her, not really finding it amusing, but hey, he knows how to make a fake face. The lion looks around, at the lioness. Ok, so what was that thing he's been wanting to say all this time, oh yes... No, he won't say it. The lion settles on his haunches, his gaze following the one of his mother, "Are you hungry mother?" Just a gentle offer, maybe concerned. Kylt is getting old, and well, someone has to take her for her, right? Tho Reoknows she can hunt, and with her friends, Reo is a joke compared to the lionesses when it comes to hunting.
Kyltora is a bit intrigued. "When is a healthy landholder not hungry?" she asks. "Or any respectable lioness, for that matter?" It's only half a joke. She seems intrigued by whatever Reo is about to say, though.
Idredh'Reo doesn't say it, he keeps this food talk going on. A soft chuckle, calming down and slowly forgeting the discussion he just had with his brother, "Rafi and I caught something this morning. If you're hungry, I can get it for you." The lion stays there, looking at the lioness and waiting.
Kyltora's eyes affect mild surprise, but of a pleasant sort. She paws the ground without a sound. "You caught something," she repeats. "Well done, young ones...but this isn't the first time you've managed to strike it well. By all means, share this kill, whatever manner of beast it happens to be, with the whole pride--that is how we operate, is it not?"
Idredh'Reo looks at the lioness. He feels somehow embarassed to be in this position, where the lioness takes a loud note of... Ignorance maybe? But Reo has always something to say, "The whole pride needs strenght, and I know some of the lions here find their strenght inside other. If the baroness is happy, the others are happy." The lion looks back at Kylt, smiling a bit more, still feeling like a clown in the middle of the show. He sure wonders what the lionesses are thinking, "But it's up to you if you accept it."
Kyltora smiles broadly, and one of her friends comes forward and smiles, too. "Thank you, Idredh, for that lovely compliment. And I am in fact, happy--are you happy, Ithi?" "Indubitably," answers the companion in diplomatic fashion, giving her head a little shake. "Well then. Ishi always speaks for more than herself. So you see, Idredh, I do not need to be well-fed to be happy--indeed, I feel I may even be happier when I am hungry. Do you not feel the same way?"
Idredh'Reo shakes his head to her. Happy when hungry, when he's hungry he can't even think, almost like hunger taking over him in those situations, "I must say---" He stops, lifting one paw in the air, "Where are my manners, wait here." The lion offers a nod to the lionesses present and walks away to the entrance. It takes him a couple of minutes and he comes back dragging a grown wildbeest with his muzzle, not saying a word or anything until the meal is placed in front of Kyltora. The doe is bitten and well, Reo and rafi ate from that thing, so it's not the best of meals, but sure it's still food. Once again, the lion settles down on his haunches in the same spot where he was before he left, looking at the carcass and resuming, "Like I was saying... I must say no to that one. I. . .HATE being hungry."
Kyltora is lying down and being groomed by the time the male gets back. She nods to her attendants and they leave her be. She gets to her feet, gives Reo a lop-eyed yet pleasant look, and takes a good-sized, polite bite from the wildebeest. She chews and swallows it with care, sitting down, while around her, her attendants murmur--"How on earth did two half-grown males manage to kill an adult male wildebeest?" "That thing must've been HUGE!"
Idredh'Reo flats his ear, not meaning... Not wanting to hear whatever the lionesses are saying. But he finally listens, and he is glad it wasn't something else. In fact, he feels proud of hearing those words, but he doesn't dare to say anything, he might sound arrogant. Tho he knows, Rafi is quick, and small... But Reo is patient. Everything is a game when he hunts with his cheetah friend, just an elaborate plan to take the food where the lion is. Lifting his head a bit, he looks at the lioness, "I hope you enjoy it." Meaning the free meal of course.
Kyltora does enjoy it, but she doesn't eat much. "I've had enough," she says, after finishing her simple, ample bite. "Ladies, feel free to take what i took, and leave what's left for after tonight's hunt." It is the Baroness's well-known custom that there should be food after every hunt, whether successful or not, to keep up morale. Rations are therefore always tight, but appriecated. "Thank you for being thoughtful, Idredh. If that's quite everything?" She lifts one front foot, emphasizing the tension...
Idredh'Reo looks at the other lionesses go for the carcass. A smirk runs across his muzzle. Good, he did a good thing. Now Rafi will be angry with him, it was THEIR food, and Rafi doesn't like sharing, Reo will have to catch something later for the cheetah. Then, after his smile, a frown comes to his face, looking at the lioness. Curious to know what she meant, he decides to ask, "Quite everything? should there be something else?" The lion softly says, looking at her with a smile.
Kyltora's paw rises a shade higher, and her body tilts, shifting her center of weight just far enough that she might collapse if she were to shift any higher. She slowly raises a single eyebrow...and teases Reo with her expectant countenance.
Idredh'Reo raises the same brow of the lioness, looking at her with a smirk. The lion stands up, taking a step back, away from her, just smilling as he lowers his head a bit, not saying a word. He knows this game... Or he thinks he knows, but surely he's just the toy here.
Kyltora smirks, flicks her tail in an ornate figure that's over almost before it's noticeable, turns about, and lies down. "Good night, my dear Idredh. "I shall expect you in the morning." Her companions snicker a bit...and then most of them depart, while a couple stay to finish the job of grooming they began some time ago. None of them are facing Reo any longer.
Idredh'Reo looks at the lionesses from the corner of his eyes, then he lifts his head up a bit. Ok, once again, he knows he did something wrong. The lion nods to her, turning around and facing the entrance. He sighs, leaning his head to a side to see the lioness again, "Good night mother... And once again, please, forgive my for my brother." The lions turns again to the entrance and continues walking, saying loud enough to make his voice be heard in an echo inside the caves, "God night my ladies..." To all the friends of Kyltora of course, at leas he still has some manners.
They turn for a moment apiece to acknowledge him, with a friendly rawrl. Kyltora, for her part, remains at peace, having herself straightened for her rest. This meeting is done.
