Remnants and Ashes

[Keturah]

.::Keturah::.

As the sun rose high above the lands called the Burn, a lone figure walked. Her large paws placed gently on the earth, leaving small indentations as she walked. Her fur-tipped tail flipped languidly behind her slender frame and her shoulders rocked with each prowling step. The female was completely alone, but by the sheer grace and strength protrayed, an outsider could conclude that she was of feline variety. This was the lioness called Keturah. Her sandy colored fur was dappled graciously with honey undertones, and her golden eyes searched the seemingly abandoned place. There was no one to grace her with their company. Farther off, there had been stronger smells of lions, but here, there wasn't too much trace of any thing aside from the lioness herself. All that was left was the ashes and remnants of what had been here, and hopefully of what would return in the near future.

From the looks of it, this place possibly obviously had better days. There was little shade to shield the ess from the rays of the sun, and few things that would entice any other creature here, but that didn't much matter. Keturah had been in places like this before, and it suited her quite well. The ess was all alone right now, she had no pride, no family, so she was what one might call independent. Hopefully in this new land, she could begin her life over again, for it surely was worth a shot. Not many noises played upon the ears of the female, but a light breeze whispered overhead, and rustled the female's short coat in the slightest way. Keturah stopped walking for a moment, and closed her eyes with her ears folded back on her head. She only took a moment, but was grateful for that small breeze rubbing against her fur. A brief sniff indicated to the female that she was quite alone for the moment, or another's scent had yet to reach her nostrils, so the female stood there, stock still just waiting. Nothing occupied her time except exploring, and Keturah was free to waste time in such a nonchalant manner.

Soon though, Keturah continued walking then through the Burn, cautiously observing her surroundings. This place could be considered delapidated to the untrained eye. But to those that took the time to experience what the ashes had left behind, it told a vivid and passionate story. Keturah found this place divine. The lioness was pleased to have stumbled upon a place as quiet, and yet so full of life. The ess finally came to one of the small and skinny trees that had regrown from fires past. Keturah turned once in a small circle, in the manner of a canine, and laid down beneath the small and fragile branches with a 'thump'. A small sigh escaped the female's form as she laid down to rest. It had been a long journey from home to here, but now that she'd arrived, the lioness enjoyed resting her weary paws. For now she was free to close her large golden eyes and take a well deserved cat nap.

[...mikhali•]

Mikhali liked the Burn. Why? Because it was dead - long dead. Most found life in it, found it haunted or something. Everyone but him self something here, but he felt nothing. It was space, it was nothing, and there was no feeling that accompanied him here. Not loneliness, or boredom - he didn't even feel the emptiness. It was as though time paused, and with it his mind and feelings. Only his legs worked, as the world spun round and round, rushing by him like how the water of a fall always comes down and drenches the earth's crust and soil, the very soul of the planet.

Step, step, step. He walked on clumsily, bored, his eyelids drooping over his sand-coloured eyes. Quite obviously, this six-month-old was half asleep, and very uninterested. But, somehow, at the same time, he thought. He thought of all the horrible things that lay ahead and in store for him in the near future, of the exile he would have to face, the long road he'd venture on alone. And it scared him, as much as he'd've preferred never to have think of being scared of such a thing.

It was almost as if there was no such thing as a happy future for him... no way he could do well; it was as though he was a time bomb, only temporarily adding to the flare of Yahar's numbers. It made him feel useless, worthless. And with those thoughts lingering on his mind, a scent of a female he knew not reached his nose.

[Keturah]

.::Keturah::.

As Keturah lay on her side, dreaming, her paws twitched every so often beneath her frame. She had long since changed her position from chin on her paws lying to on her side. Keturah's eyes were closed and occasionally a low growl would venture forth from her throat. It was clear to any outside observers that she was having a moving dream. A small smile etched Keturah's features though, for she loved the calm of just sleeping and gaining strength for another day. Thus far, she had gotten the most sleep she'd had for a very long while. But there was something deep inside the ess that wouldn't completely rest. Her ears swiveled lightly on her cranium as the sound of paws approached.

That meant that someone was here, or that she was going insane, and the female knew that the latter wasn't true.

Reluctant to move though, the female just stayed laying on her side. She cracked one eye open slowly, just as a precautionary measure, and then closed it again. From what she could see, it was a small figure padding somewhere near her. As long as they didn't bother her, Keturah was fine. It wasn't long though, before curiousity got the best of the female. She wondered what someone else was doing here, and by themselves. This place didn't seem like the typical hangout for the local lions, though.

Perhaps this small creature's was that of one that she'd smelled from before. Keturah finally got up enough drive to raise her body into a sphinx position. Her head raised slowly, and her eyelids blinked constantly for a moment. Indeed she was right, a small cub prowled into the Burn, unattended. The first thing that popped into the female's mind was 'where was its mother?' Giving a languid yawn, Keturah lifted her slender body to her paws and stretched. She had it in mind not to say anything and just watch the young lion for a while. But that would be rude, and Keturah's vocal chords could be put to use. "Greetings,"she said. Her voice cracked on the first syllable, but came out alright anyways.

It had been a while since Keturah said words out loud. Normally, she would say them in her head, or murmur them to herself. But they weren't spoken to someone.The sandy colored female flipped her tail gently behind her body and her golden eyes set on the smaller lion. Was there a pride nearby? Or was this little one lost? Either way, it was cause for the lioness to wonder. A slight shrug pulled on the female's ligaments, hopefully she would soon find out what exactly was going on.

0oc//Yay!!

[...mikhali•]

The cubs' eyes had narrowed a while ago as he stood still, his muscles tense, watching Keturah. What was she doing here? The way she slept, the way she breathed so oddly, ye so similarly to those of the Yahar Pride. Mikhali didn't like it - it made him uneasy, mistrustful. And with each twitch of her sleep, he tensed even more.

He saw her rise, and he made a run forwards, not towards her, but not away either. He then stopped and returned an angry, fixed gaze to her blinking eyes and slowly lifting head. She sat on her belly, each leg on the respective side of her body. By this time, of course, his tail was blown up about twice the size it should naturally be.

The way she spoke, it sent shivers down his spine - it made Mikhali wish he wasn't there. the words cracked and broke on her unsteady, clumsy tongue. The upper lip twitched on the young lion's face, whiskers pulling back, revealing the tips of his small incisors. If you listened hard enough with human ears, you could hear a light warning and fear-fulled rumble of a growl.

She greeted him, far too politely for Mikhali's liking, and far too unsteadily - her voice seemed uneven, unused to working at all. of course, by now, his tail was puffed up and large enough to dust a whole house.

"What're you doing here?" It took him a short while to figure out he was expected to reply, and he noticed when he first opened his mouth no noise came out. Upset, Mikhali entwined his disappointment with himself into his speech, and so replied angrily to Keturah, dislike and distaste dripping like venom off his tongue.

ooc. Told you! xDD

[Keturah]

.::Keturah::.

Ah, a fiesty one we had here. Keturah was in no way rattled at the way Mikahli reacted to her words. He was alone, small, and quite possibly afraid. She hadn't taken into account that the cub might be so rambunctious though. The female noticed the cub tense and raised a furred brow at him. She wasn't a cannibal nor did she have any intention of inflicting pain on the younger lion. Did he really think that she was going to harm him?The ess just sat there a moment, blinking at him. Maybe he just took a little while to warm up to others. Not all lions were outgoing, annoying and foolish. Maybe he was just cautious and wary of his own hide.

Believe it or not, Keturah was quite shy herself when she was a young cub. Her other siblings always took the forefront and she was the more docile of the pride. There was little expectation for little Keturah. But as she grew older, a more voracious and sarcastic side of the female began to show. Time most definately changes creatures in the oddest of ways.

The lioness didn't utter a word for a moment. She didn't want to scare the younger lion away, for he could be the only other feline for miles. But, she wasn't about to let him dictate her actions, either. This female was much too headstrong for that. "I'm here because I can be,"she stated curtly, but then added,"also I am a wanderer and happened to be fond of this place compared to elsewhere. The question is why are you here and all by yourself? Some other lions that aren't as gracious as I am, they could easily eat you alive, small fry."

A small chuckle ran through Keturah. Those golden eyes set upon the smaller cub searching for answers, but it wasn't long before the female put her muzzle on her paws again. He could try to be vicious all he wanted, but the female wasn't about to move any time soon.

[...mikhali•]

The anger rising in the cub, the heat tensing his muscles, boiling the blood that ran through his veins, was obvious. The fire that raged at his mind, devouring all that it could in its path, unable to be extinguished, it was all there. Mikhali was a problem child and required a lot of patience and tolerance, however he had none of that himself. And if only he was jsut a bit older, if only he was just a bit stronger, there would be nothing to stop him from lashing out that very moment and breaking off the bones of Keturah.

But, of course, nothing so extreme happened. Mikhali wouldn't dare. He clamped his eyes tightly shut and slowly counted to ten in his head, although the time dragged far slower than his counting. And, eventually, he stomped out the flames, and put ice in the candle. And when he opened his eyes, the idiot female had her head back on her paws. he remembered the stupidity she'd just told him, and he felt the degrees climb back up the thermometer.

"Actually," he started coolly, funnily enough, "You can't be here. And I can be out here all alone because my mother and aunt is not far off. And this is pride land, and unless you want me to call them over, I suggest you get off your fat ass and get out. Now."

[Keturah]

.::Keturah::.

The lioness known as Keturah wasn't in the least bit afraid. She been in many situations far more pressing than this. By the looks of it, this pride was quite sad, seeing as they send their cubs out to be sentries. Keturah listened halfheartedly to the cub's words, her ears flicking on her head occasionally. Maybe she was too stubborn for her own good, but the female lion did nothing. She didn't raise up on her paws and heed the young one's warning. Mikhali's threat seemed empty to her, and Keturah was rather amused by this. She was a rather bold lioness, and didn't let small things frighten her.

Evidently the mother and aunt of this cub didn't teach him manners, but Keturah didn't voice this aloud. When he stopped speaking however, the female simply yawned and blinked at the cub. "Easy there killer,"Keturah stated calmly,"you can call your mother and aunt, I don't give a flying leap.Go ahead call them, I dare you." After she ended her words, the female lion's teeth clacked together loudly. Keturah was pretty much ready for anything they could throw at her. She had ventured onto many a lions' lands and been through this process countless times. Although she didn't have an exact number of lions in this pride, she wasn't threatened. Keturah stayed put and smirked.

Right now, she didn't care that these lands belonged to someone else. She had come here peacefully until this little bugger showed up. What bug crawled into his fur and died anyways? From the looks of Mikhali, a pretty big one. Keturah's eyes glimmered in silent speculation and humor. The ess didn't know if this cub really would squeal, but Keturah was prepared for what was to come if he really was true to his word.

[anshira]

Anshira awoke that morning from a sudden jolt of fear; a nightmare's cold, black hands wrapped around her and squeezed until she'd popped. But what had happened? What had taken place, in this horrible dream of her, these flashing images that took place once her eyes had closed? She didn't know. She didn't remember all the way back 'till then. She just remembered the emotion; the feeling; the fear, the pain and the agony...

When her eyes opened and she saw not her son, she felt a lot more frightened for his existence than she should have done usually. Her throat had clogged up and swelled about twice its size, and she'd felt her nervous heart pick up speed. Beside her seemed to be the last lion left in their pride - her sister, Takiri. The cubs, Tikaani and Falcon, seemed to have disappeared into thin air, and deep in her heart she knew not to go looking for them, as chances of them being alive were slim. Lisha and Promise still belonged here, but they seemed to spend more time outside the pride lands, bickering and fighting as sisters did.

Anshira wouldn't be able to loose any more of her family left over, she could feel tension around like there'd never been before, smells she'd never smelt before. Anyone who strayed from the pride hadn't their sisters' protection, thinning the inner strength. if they were ever ambushed, Anshira could see failure ahead of her. No male here to help them out, so many rebels, so many fighters, against using what rested between each ear.

As she caught hold of Mikhali's scent and Takiri's had slowly diluted, she smelled something else on the still, dry air. She breathed heavily, her mouth hanging, her tongue and eyes drier than what was healthy over a long-term basis. A rogue female. A lioness, thankfully and fortunately, for her son's and her own survival. And things began to rush and gallop through her mind, a thousand thoughts echoing at a time - was Mikhali safe and sound with this unknown female? Was she a threat to the land and the lands' owners she so rudely had trespassed on? Could Anshira, as lead female, trust this unknown to join her ranks? Most importantly - did she know what was going on outside of the land?

All these thoughts seemed to flee and disperse when the greater emotion, anger, swept throughout her body. She saw her son, seemingly unharmed, but obviously very angry, staring into this mocking lioness, who seemed uninterested, who didn't seem to realize any scent marks of the land. I should spray later on today, Anshira reminded herself, noticing that the old male's hideous perfume had faded quite a bit. But what could cause Mikhali to be so distressed? What had this 'ess done to him? Could she not see he had special needs, his patience limited?

Exactly. She'd probably not said anything far too out of line, but had managed to trigger that gun. That so very sensitive gun that was Mikhali's control over his feelings. And she thought that guilty thought any mother with such a son would think - 'Why do I get this one to care for? What have I done to deserve him?' And instantly she felt the burn of shame, disloyalty and guilt.

"Mikhali, she breathed as she came to a stop of her, she just noticed, outrageously fast pacing. She allowed her breath to return and her heart rate to slow just a bit as she padded to his side, sniffing his face affectionately, ignoring his disgusted pull back. Anshira then turned and faced Keturah, her ears flat, her tone wary. "Who're you, and what on earth are you doing in my territory?"

She felt her voice rise a bit in anger, seeing how unsettled her son was. Maternal instincts beat anything there was to beat.

words. 643
ooc. woohoo. i may reply with mikhali, but if you see this post without a mikhali response, just go ahead and write your reply. :]

[/size]

[...mikhali•]

When Mikhali first heard the faint padding of muffled paws not too far off he didn't take any notice. He mustn't be distracted, else his head would begin to hurt again, and he'd need some time out to think and breathe, get his mind working well again. Had lions known anything about mental illnesses, it was very likely that Mikhali had a mild case of autism, alongside a few other oddities. As he grew they would become more prominent and obvious.

Better not to think of those days. Lord knows if Mikhali would still be around in time to let them be so obvious. And then it struck him that he was now roughly a year old - he wasn't exactly a cub anymore. He was growing up, getting older. In that split moment of thought he felt a sudden heat flare across his abdomen and chest, and he wanted to shy away from Anshira. But they disappeared as soon as they'd started, and a sudden memory, so faint now, made its way home. He was growing, he was getting old. Soon enough it'd be only natural if his mother botted him from the pride. Or was the member count so low now, that she wouldn't dare loose a potential male?

He looked up at his golden, rosetted mother. Mikahli had never had the patience to appreciate her beauty - she'd always coated herself with something which made her look ugly, made her scars more obvious. But he usually only saw her when she was angry with him. He couldn't recall her ever doing what she did now - protecting her son. And his anger faded into guilt, as he just noticed that she'd been doing that all along. She'd always had the best in mind for him.

Yeah.

ooc. erm.. kinda pointless. it just shows what he's thinking, as nothing much is going on with his physichal-ness. xDD

[Keturah]

Keturah was content just sitting under the shade of the tree in the Burn lands. She had gotten rest and her mood was considerably good despite the fact that she was being assulted by a young lion. The female sighed petulantly and crossed her forepaws in silent defiance. The ess watched the younger creature and wondered how he could be so angry all the time. Every word she spoke seemed to envoke a really strong response. But the younger creature didn't make her want to move one bit. The sound of approaching paws, however, made Keturah flinch ever so slightly.

She came here to have peace and quiet,but she seemed to be rustling up attention pretty quickly. Who knew how this escapade would turn out. Keturah found herself looking into the eyes of Mikhali's mother. How had he done that? It didn't seem like he had sent out any distress signal, and yet here his mother was. He mustn't have been lying when he said his mother wasn't far off. She came padding up and instantly started asking Keturah questions. Thus far, she hadn't snapped at the wandering female and that was good. This ess wouldn't hesitate to fight if provoked, that was just her instinctive nature. Tilting her head at the other female, the lioness simply gave her name and brief information,"I'm Keturah, and I was just resting when I came upon...er...your son."

The golden femme shifted her weight lightly, but didn't stand or move to get up. It would be better to take a slightly defensive positon incase things got nasty. By the way the female's voice escalated, Keturah knew that option wasn't too far on the horizon. They both would have to play their cards carefully, or both would end up in a rough spot. Keturah's golden eyes scanned over the more dominant female. Deep down a hint of envy crept into being, but not much. This other lioness had a pride and family that she cared deeply for. That much was obvious in her actions, especially by the took a careful stance over her son. Slowly, a little green monster scrambled onto Keturah's back, but she shrugged it off, shoulders rotating in their sockets. She patiently waited to see how the female before her would react.

[anshira]

Anshira, quite obviously, was loosing it. Whatever happened to that cool-headed, calm female that was once the lead huntress of a flourishing lion pride? She was always the one to keep things under control, to manage it all, have everything in order. Neat and tidy could've been her middle name for all she cared! What was going on? What was happening? A part of her cried out like this to her, telling her to be calm, cool-headed and down-to-earth again. But she couldn't. A larger part refused; she was scared. For once.

"What is going on?" she asked, her voice low, a whisper, as though anyone would be able to hear her. She completely ignored Keturah's response, leaning down and forwards, ears flat on her skull, whiskers twitching anticipatively. Her tail flicked back and forth lightly behind her large, feline bodice. "Something has changed - the air... it smells different... it tastes different." Anshira's eyes were, no doubt, wide, full of worry, round.

"Do you know anything!? Anything! Please, give me some answers!" Creeping closer, the 'ess let out emotions she'd been hiding for so long. She'd never been the one to show what she was feeling or thinking, let herself go out into this cold, harsh world without her protective shell, her cold, hard wall knocked down. She'd be alone, preparing it, fixing it if that was the case. She'd pitied those who but their inner self on display, without much real reason. But to someone so stubborn, what was a real reason?

It was apparent this female had all but forgotten about her son standing nearby. And, feeling his breath on her, she turned to give him a brief moment of her eye. However, the instant her pupils left their transfixed gaze on the outsider, she felt wrong and uneasy. But in that one, brief glance she'd noticed just how much older Mikhali was, just how much larger. Like him, she noticed he was to be a yearling in this season. How unsettling, worrying. Would he leave her now, too? Because he was getting old?

Was everything falling apart?

ooc. done

[...mikhali•]

Mikhali felt his lips pull abck instinctively at Keturah's silly words, irritated. How could she lie so freely? Making herself sound as though she was all innocent and whatever. What, she was big enough to pick on a kid and threaten him, but when his mother came, after mocking him to call her himself, she got all scared and shook? What an idiot. His tail began to go the slightest bit random, thrashing this way and that in irritation, but he left it to his mother who, in turn, had a massively different reaction.

Mik eyed Anshira incredulously - what on Earth was wrong with this girl? She was always so different. Each time he spoke to her her personality seemed to have changed... although, t be fair, he hardly ever seemed to speak to her. The thought made him cringe back in shame - he really didn't know much about his family, or his pride, did he? He'd always been so wound up in his own little world he never really noticed what was going on... it wasn't even that possible to dare say he'd noticed his own father leaving. That was disgraceful, actually.

Perhaps he was maturing, finally. only, the odd part was that he felt like he was still a child; he felt no need or want to leave anytime soon, which made him feel strange. Shouldn't he be running for the hills right now, glad to be old enough to leave this hellhole? Perhaps not. Perhaps now he was growing out of his 'emo' stage he would become a real six-month-old?

Why was Anshira so upset, though?

[Keturah]

.::Keturah::.

The sandy colored lioness didn't know what this other female was talking about. Sampling the air, Keturah wondered what in the world she was tasting. Perhaps it was the food that she ate? Since Keturah had arrived here, things seemed vaguely normal. As the lioness began to panic, the female wondered otherwise. Keturah's tickle-me-pink tongue poked out of her onyx lips. Smacking them softly, the ess shook her head calmly. "There is nothing different here than when I arrived,"the lioness stated, tilting her head. Keturah finally came out of her laying position to face the other lioness dead on. She seemed genuinely worried about something. "I assure you nothing unusual happened here.I smell and taste nothing thus far."

Keturah peeked around the other lioness to glance at the young cub. Had he disturbed something on his way in here? The female lion's nose twitched and found nothing. He was innocent, for now. Keturah shifted her weight on her large paws.Those eyes of her's scanned the area. Still nothing. Maybe she was just a little anxious since there was a new lioness on her lands. One would think that after so many intruders upon one's lands, they would get used to it though. A gentle sigh leached through the lioness's teeth. She was trying to remain calm, and keep whatever this situation, under control. The sandy ess blinked carefully at Anshira, trying to read where her distress was coming from. Surely Keturah herself wasn't an intimidating presence. Well, she had threatened this female's cub, but that was just in jest, not anything serious. Keturah didn't know what to make of this lioness's panic, but it was starting to rub off on the normally calm and collected Keturah.

0oc;; I'm sorry this is so short, I'm losing muse for Keturah. :[