The Last King

[genie]

Ayele being nudged by his sister to get up yawned very widely and got up stretching out and loosening his muscles before standing normal, whatever things were up, it was't none off his business... adults argueing or whatever, he just looked forward to the end of the journey which must come soon, they'd been moving for ages.

[Dakota]

As soon she had put the prince on her back she heard him ask if it was alright if he had a ride instead with the soldier. Pausing she listened to Judas reply, she didn't want to dictate what he could and couldn't do, she just didn't want any extra pressure pushing down on his wounded paw, it should have started to bind itself and the pain hopefully was receeding, last thing he needed was it opening up and infection setting in, she couldn't loose him now.

Turning she picked up Kesho and placed him on Judas back " Tis only for a little while Kesho, please understand that." Looking down at her brother she grinned at him "Looks like its your lucky night Ele, and don't you get used to it either, your wounds are healing up, and you need to show Umoja how big and strong you can be too.".

Tilting her head, she saw them all standing ready to move forward. Holding back a smirk as she saw the princess take her 'rightful' place at his flank, then Kata with that spiteful look still on her muzzle. Ayesha kept a smile plastered on her face, she wasn't about to give Umoja any satisfaction of doing anything to her soldier or the cubs for that matter.

Nudging the lion by her side gently " well, I guess it's time to roll, come...lets get moving soldier."
As they all walked forward Ayesha let her head move slightly so she could get a good look at his profile. Even though it was dark the moon still shone down giving her plenty of opportunity to take sneek peeks. Feeling a bit sassy she stepped back one or two paces and repeated an action she had done previously, she raised her paw and gave him a small slap of his tail, grinning mischievously at the same time.

[Judas]

Ayesha then placed the prince on his back, but she stated it was only temporarily. “It’s alright...” the soldier smiled, the child wasn’t that heavy and he was getting used to the limping rhythm he now walked with. He kept himself at the liard’s side as they moved forward into the nightly desert.

Judas’ gaze was fixed ahead of him, not noticing how Ayesha kept her gaze at him, his head snapped up as he felt a paw swipe to his tail, he didn’t stop walking but craned his neck to look behind him, only to see Ayesha with a mischievous grin all over her face.

The soldier just smiled, “If it’s playing she wants, then I’m gonna give her that; next time we stop.” he thought to himself through the smile. After a moment of silence the tsavo turned to the liardess, “Anything you plan to do after this is all over?” the male asked a gentle smile on his face, of course she must’ve at least thought of something.

Judas knew what he would do, if of course he survived this; that was to go home, sure he had been exiled but maybe things weren’t as bad now as they had been. Of course he’d only go back to see the place, and then be on his way again, he’d return to his life as a wanderer hopefully find a nice place to settle down.

[cheezeegriff]

"Eyes forward, Judas,"
Umoja said, coming closer and speaking quietly so as not to shame the warrior.
"By all means talk, but keep your eyes peeled for snakes. You've got the most important person in the world on your back. Well... my world, anyway."
Cringing, a little embarassed about what he had just said, Umoja looked Keshomaliki up and down again: the little cub shrank away from him slightly, and he sighed, striding ahead to walk besides Usiku, at the lead, whose eyes were too busy staring at the stars to really be watching where she was going.

[Dakota]

Ayesha smiled at the thought she had got away with flicking his tail, he didn't even turn around to see what was happening. Moving back up beside him she just caught his words to her "Anything you plan to do after this is all over?” .

For a moment she didn't know what to answer him, she hadn't even thought that far ahead, she was just taking this journey one day at a time as it was.
"Well, I was off wandering around when word got to me that mother had caught the sickness and the king and Queen were dying as well.. my only thoughts were to get back and spend any time with her and take Ayele and keep him safe. Then all this happened with the prince, and here we are... I just don't know Judas, all I know is that where I go Ayele will be with me, and I'm getting attached to kesho as well.."

About to carefully mention that she would like it if Judas was there as well, she was interupted by Umoja who she thought was being sarcastic towards him. Biting down hard so she wouldn't reply in the same tone, she turned her head away frokm him so he couldn't see. Waiting till he walked off, she let out a small sigh.

"I'm sorry Judas, I hope he isn't going to take his dislike of me out on you, I truly am trying for your sake not to show any emotion, and holding my tongue, I don't want you hurt any more than you are."

Leaning over she rubbed herself against him, and poked out her tongue " oops careful now, that could have been a snake". Laughing at him she kept walking watching Imani in front of her swaying to and fro.

[Judas]

The scruffy male listened to Ayesha’s words, gently nodding as she said that wherever she went so did Ayele, she also confessed having grown attached to Kesho as well. Judas was about to answerer her when Umoja’s voice caused him to turn to the older male he didn’t answerer the warning, “I’d be more worried about scorpions if I were you...” he muttered inaudibly, snakes were the least of their problems out here, scorpions were nocturnal beings, the smaller the deadlier.

Though the males attention was soon enough back on Ayesha as she apologized, she hoped Umoja wouldn’t take his dislike of her out on him. “No I don’t think he will, Ayesha. Let me confess something do you; He told me if I ever wished children, I should start being nice to the females around here.”

The male glanced towards the older male, “I replied simply that: I’m not nice to women, just to get an easy access to their behinds.” His gaze focused to the sand beneath his paws, “I’m not that shallow…” he muttered, true some of his breed had quite the simple mind, but then again that was the world they lived in.

“I..I just wanted you understand, that is not why I’m being nice to you.” He bit his lip, sometimes he wished he had telepathic powers thinking things were so much easier than saying it. “I truly like you Ayesha, a lot.” He didn’t look at her instead he kept his gaze on the path ahead of him, for some reason he didn’t dare look her in the eye.

[Dakota]

Ayesha smiled to herself when she heard Judas say about the scorpions under his breath, she was glad Umoja didn't make him feel like cowering down.

I truly like you Ayesha, a lot.” .. looking up at him she gave him a gentle smile, " I think I like the sound of that Judas.. I ...think...for some reason the fates have throwen us together, so together we will be."
Leaning over quickly she licked his cheek and moved back "that was a reply to your one before."`

Carrying on walking by his side she remembered something that Umoja had said to them. "Judas before Umoja said that you had the most important person in his world on your back. I know he is following the Kings wishes, that its upto him to protect the prince and train him to take over from his father....but... what do you know about Umoja, did he have a mate, did he sire any cubs... I mean what made him so important in the court?"

Ayesha held her breath, waiting to see what information about the lion he could tell her, she needed to know more about him and she doubted that Kata would be forthcoming and if she was could she trust her with what she would say. She had so many things that needed answering, things that for now, possibly forever that had to stay with her alone.

Looking over at kesho snuggled down into the soldier, Ayesha blew at his ear.. "you feeling ok up there kesho, you make a good lookout by the way", then turning she checked on Ele. She was a bit worried about the past couple of days affects it had had on the cub, he shouldn't have had a scratch on him, when they stopped she would give him another look over to see if everything was starting to heal, maybe then she could check on judas wounds as well.
Turnng back she faced him, catching his eye, she gave him another shy smile."so what do you think about my question?"

[genie]

They travelled along with Ayele's journeying being easy but he was looking at the going ons between Ayesha and Judas, he looked puzzled, he did't understand what was 'going' on between them, he wondered perhaps Ayele wanted to play tag with Judas, but yet he couldn't recall her playing tag before... it was most perplexing.

[voluptuous♥penguin]

Imani continued to walk, staring at the ground. She was deep in thought, not really watching for snakes. She thought of leaving her home to become a wanderer. She had been so gung ho about ditching her home and striking out to be a wanderer. She had left a family that had taken her under their wing and given her absolutely everything... and she had thanked them by leaving and telling them they had wasted years of training on her, that she didn't want to live with them. She was a horrible daughter, she knew.

A sudden hissing scared her; she had stepped on a snake. "Sorry..." she whispered to it. The little garder snake glared at her and readied to strike. She snarled at it and the little thing backed down; it knew when it was outmatched. It slithered away quickly and she laughed internally. She was way too easily amused.

Imani looked up to see Umoja was walking up next to Usiku and she could hear that Judas and Ayesha were behind her. She was alone and she wasn't much enjoying that fact.

[cheezeegriff]

"you feeling ok up there kesho, you make a good lookout by the way"

Kesho felt about as well as the crocodile he had just eaten, and there was something warm trickling down his chin, but he didn't want to complain. Everyone seeemed so happy... well. Judas and Ayesha did. At the mention of lookout he raised his head, embarassed that he hadn't known - and hadn't been doing - his duty.

What he heard was a little hiss, then turned around to look back at the new female lion, who was talking to, of all things, a snake!

"Who is that lady?"
he said, in a voice that was a little too loud.

[Kirsui]

"You might want to keep a closer eye on where you step, princess."
Katakasha had quietly slipped right next to Imani so that her muzzle was right next to the other lioness' ear. Her voice might have been emotionless as she spoke, but there was a faint spark of cruel amusement in her eyes.
"You might have scared that one off... But were you to step on a more aggressive species, you might find yourself dead in less than a few seconds."

The black lioness paid no further attention to Imani as she stepped away from her. She heard Keshomaliki voice out his question but kept her head turned away from the whole group, as if she couldn't care less what was going on.

[Dakota]

Ayesha waited expectantly for what Judas was going to tell her about Umoja, the more she learned about him the better, things she could store away for later use.

Not getting any answer from the prince she turned and looked up him. So small and yet there he was perched on the soldiers back looking all around him. The moonlight glanced on his face and her eyes widened in concern when she could see some sort of fluid dribbling down fom the corner of his mouth and running down to drip off his small chin.

Ayesha swallowed her fear that it might be blood from internal bleeding once again, there was nothing they could do for now except make him comfortable and as happy as he could be, whilst in pain. I wish we could get to a waterhole, or any water for that fact, he needs to be bathed to wash away germs and grime that could infecting him, last thing he needs is to be breathing in matter that has just come out from him.

"Who is that lady?"
Ayesha smiled broadly at Keshos comment, that everyone would have heard.
" well.. she seems to be a wanderer, someone that Umoja has taken a liking to I guess, seeing he has made her his 'special companion'. All I know Kesho is that she drove the herd of zebras into us when we were back home, when Judas and I were with you by the river cooling you down, and that gave the panther time to snatch you. She may be....pretty, but she's not too bright."

Ayesha turned her eyes onto that who they were talking about, grinning a little when the black lioness snuggled up close to her whispering something in her ear.

"Judas do you think that Imani is pretty ? and what about you Kesho and Ele ?" She was very interested indeed in what her soldier had to say about Imani, seeing as he had avoided her last time she had asked this same thing of him.

[Judas]

Ayesha asked him what he knew of Umoja, well that wasn’t much if he should be honest. As he naturally didn’t have much of a presence at court, the only pride members outside his platoon he had met were the king and queen when he first arrived in the pride.

“From what I’ve heard Umoja used to be an adviser to the king; but that is about all I know of him. “ the male responded keeping his gaze ahead of him, as just to see where he was going, and not stepping on something. The male flickered his ears as Ayesha began to explain who Imani was, his gaze narrowed though as Ayesha said she thought not that bright.

“Even I could’ve committed that mistake, and so could you Ayesha.” He corrected her, it was not fair to Imani if the prince got a biased out-look on her before they had even properly met. “But yes I believe she is a wanderer, not that much unlike me I think; though she still holds her title so she can’t exactly be an exile.” The male remarked, his paws stepping onto the hard packed sand with care. But as Ayesha asked if he thought Imani pretty, at first the male thought what she exactly meant with that, but he decided not to ask.

“Well, she got looks for sure. But I don’t think she really is my type; I kinda lost what little I knew of chivalry after my exile; the wilderness has no place for courtesy. My words and manners might offend her; being a princess and all. She certainly would never believe my claim as a prince, or rather former prince.” Judas chuckled softly through a smile.

[Dakota]

As she walked she heard Judas start to talk about Umoja, blast, is that all he knows, who else is there except Katakasha, and I'm doubtful she'd tell me a thing anyway,looks like I'm going to have to bide my time.

Ayesha felt some happiness leave her as Judas reprimanded her once again. Shaking her fur tuft she let it settle down over her eyes hiding her face and let a sigh slide slowly through her lips. His words about Imani didn't settle her at all, actually she felt a bit peeved, then something Judas said pricked at her.
"I kinda lost what little I knew of chivalry after my exile; the wilderness has no place for courtesy."
Ayesha took a small breath, she wasn't used to this feeling of jealousy pricking at her, and spoke what was on her mind.
"So... what you're saying, unless I'm wrong..again, is that your words and manners might offend her, but they wont me because I'm not royalty or a good looking princess, that I am not her equal because perhaps I am a nobody then ?"

Ayesha was trying to keep her voice down, so no one else could hear their conversation.
"well for your information, I expect Chivalry, and yes I also expect courtesy, I expect to be treated as an equal and my opinions listened to and taken seriously, and I expect to be loved whole heartedly."
Turning away from Judas for a moment she looked over to where Imani was walking "IMANI" Ayesha called with her voice raised. She knew she had carried this on to far, but she was hurt and angry.
"Imani dear, Judas has decided he would like to talk with you, to see what you both have in common, seeing as you are both royalty....you know courtesy, manners and all that."

Stepping away from the soldier, trying not to blink the tears that had formed " well heres your chance Judas to have a princess...so heck go for it, you never know she might love you like I do. I will be up front talking to Usiku for now."

Moving forward Ayesha muttered under her breath "Great, just great ayesha, couldn't keep your mouth shut again, why didn't you just say to Imani, 'here you go, he's all yours'....hells teeth if I see one of them getting cosy with the other, her looks will be rearranged and he will be speaking with a much higher voice."

[cheezeegriff]

Keshomaliki heard the way Ayesha was speaking to Judas, and looked at her face, at the anger that twisted it; and lowered his head as the pain in his tummy became worse. Mother and Father never spoke to each other like that. With one claw he pulled himself closer to Judas' ear, unconscious that he might be hurting him, and said,
"Don't worry Judas. You're still my friend."
He looked about, sighing. Now that Ayelle had moved ahead with Ayesha, his chance to get to know the cub better had gone. Instead he looked behind him.
"Judas, can you go back to Imani? I want to speak to her. After all, she's also on the mission to save me, isn't she?"

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Umoja turned around when he heard Ayesha screaming. Whether it was just because it was her, or whether it was because he knew she was being irrational, the outburst - and the fact that she was walking towards him - made him fume. But then he had an idea:
"Ayesha, kindly keep your voice down. I'm not sure the rest of us are very interested in your little spats."

"I am,"
Usiku said. Her gaze flicked from the sky to Umoja's face, and a broad grin stretched across her muzzle.
"Come up here and tell us about it, Spotted One,"
she said, slowing down so she could rub herself up against Ayesha's side.
"Would like like me to bite the male's other foot off, hmm?"

[Judas]

Oh great! Now things were really getting out of hand, the tsavo didn’t even have time to state a defense before Ayesha called Imani over, and then stormed off, she was clearly hurt. The male’s frowned gaze darted between the princess and the fuming liardess, though luckily he didn’t hear Usiku’s words, but then again that may just have been a joke.

Kesho’s remark made him feel not so taken aback, and what the hell had he said?! He had just stated the truth, you had to act a certain way around royal’s unless you wanted your head bitten off, and apparently Ayesha wished to be treated as such, well all Judas would like to be treated as was normal, being royal wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, too much responsibility for one. Honestly Judas loved his life as a no-body, and it would take ten rabid elephants if he was ever to accept the throne is father held, those lands were as good as dead. And with his injuries he doubted anyone would as much as listen to him.

As he stepped towards Imani, Ayesha’s final words made him stop dead in his tracks, “(…)you never know she might love you like I do” Kesho was still on his back, he glanced at the youngster and it might seem silly to ask the kid for advice but he was desperate,

“Kesho, what shall I do?” he whispered, his words only audible to the cub yet he turned to Imani with a weak smile honestly not sure what to say, but at least he gave her a bow of courtesy perhaps getting to know her wouldn’t be so bad, not that she’d be more than an acquaintance.

[voluptuous♥penguin]

"You might want to keep a closer eye on where you step, princess."
Imani rolled her eyes. "Yes I know, Katakasha." she said quietly. She was extremely annoyed with all this and when Kesho asked a question about her identity she had about had it.

" well.. she seems to be a wanderer, someone that Umoja has taken a liking to I guess, seeing he has made her his 'special companion'. All I know Kesho is that she drove the herd of zebras into us when we were back home, when Judas and I were with you by the river cooling you down, and that gave the panther time to snatch you. She may be....pretty, but she's not too bright."

"Not too bright?" She repeated, obviously angered. "Oh really, you think so, Ayesha? I think I am just as worthy to live in this pride as you and I'd appreciate you to knock off all this idiotic badmouthing about me. I've done absolutely nothing to you." She said without looking back, and extremely polite for how the anger was coursing through her.

"Imani dear, Judas has decided he would like to talk with you, to see what you both have in common, seeing as you are both royalty....you know courtesy, manners and all that."

Imani rolled her eyes. Ayesha was acting like a jealous child about all this. It was rather annoying and she would've just liked not to have bothered. "Hmmm. Courtesy, manners, and all that? Well obviously you don't know too much about that subject, seeing as you're talking about me in a rather snippy manner right in front of me." She said haughtily.

Judas stepped near her and she turned to him, angered. Tears flecked the corners of her eyes. She felt hated here. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice a little higher than usual.

[Kirsui]

She tried to ignore what went on between Judas and Ayesha, but as the liard girl raised her voice it was impossible not to hear what she was saying. Katakasha turned her piercing gaze at the scene, a faint, cruel smirk rising to her muzzle. She hated how everyone seemed to have turned into lovesick puppies all of a sudden, and the argument that picked up out of nowhere between Ayesha and Judas was very entertaining indeed. Her cruel smirk grew wider when Imani seemed to become angered as well, and in the center of this all was Judas, who looked utterly confused as to what he should do.

"Ayesha, kindly keep your voice down. I'm not sure the rest of us are very interested in your little spats."

"Says someone who caused more fuss than any of us would have wanted not too long ago when trying to take the prince back."
The black lioness's piercing gaze had turned on their temporary "leader", the cruel smirk still remaining on her usually emotionless face. She had to take the annoyance all this love-talk around her was causing on someone, and right now Umoja was the only one not talking to someone else.

[Dakota]

Ayesha was nearly past Imani when she heard her comments, she knew she deserved them, but at the same time she wasn't in the mood to take them. A low growl passed through her muzzle, and she stopped facing her.
"You may be a princess and act like one, but you aren't any more, you're just one of the crowd, best not to forget that, or someone will have to remind you of it real soon, and I would have great pleasure in taking on that little task, so you have been forewarned."

Stepping back past her, she swallowed down her hurt and moved on just to be met by Umojas words "Ayesha, kindly keep your voice down. I'm not sure the rest of us are very interested in your little spats."
Shaking her head slightly to get rid of the build up of tears forming, and at the same time letting her white fur fall into place, she looked towards where their 'leader' stood.
"I apologise Umoja for my words that were for Judas ears only, I didn't realise everyone else had such good hearing,"

A grin replaced her tears when she heard Katakashas remark to Umoji, looks like she was the only one who could get away with standing up to him, in one way Ayesha admired her sassyness and spirit, not giving a damn what anyone thought of her, but she was still so unsure whether she had a hidden agenda with the prince, tucked away. Looking away she was met with the black panther sidling upto her.
"Would like like me to bite the male's other foot off, hmm?"

Her voice was so low, Ayesha wasn't sure if she was joking or not, but her head swung around so fast " You touch one hair on his head and it will be you missing a foot..trust me on that."
Turning her head, she gave Ayele a lick on his face, he had gone quiet again, he must be wondering what all her outbursts were about..funny thing she didn't really know herself.
"Ele, it's time for you to have a walk now, stretch your legs and get some exercise."
Gently using her teeth she picked him up off her back and placed him on the ground beside her. "Make sure you stay here, you can walk between myself and Usiku."

Looking up at the panther.. "That is your name isn't it ? its very pretty actually"

[cheezeegriff]

“Kesho, what shall I do?”

Kesho pondered this question as Judas slowed down.
"I had a friend who was grumpy sometimes and happy other times. I... just... pretended she was two different people. When she was grumpy, I ignored her. When she was happy again, I was happy."

"What do you want?"
Imani said. She looked upset.

Kesho knew she was speaking to Judas, but decided to pretend she was speaking to him.
"I want to ride you,"
he said, doing his best to sound dignified, like his parents.
"Do you mind giving me the honour? Mother said a princess' fur is soft like the fur of baby leopards. I'd like to see."

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Usiku saw how Katakasha did her best to tempt Umoja into an angry retort, but he didn't, merely marching forward with his head high, eyes scanning the terrain not too far ahead. Maybe he really is something of a leader, she thought.

"That is your name isn't it ? its very pretty actually"

Usiku smiled pleasantly.
"Thankyou. It means night. Oh, and what does Ayesha mean?"
she said, with a slightly naughty glance directed at Katakasha.
"Let me guess. Does it mean: 'so emotionally insecure you don't know when a male is saying he prefers you over a princess?' No? Could have fooled me."
Then she trotted a little further ahead, returning her gaze to the stars.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Umoja glanced back at Ayesha, and a slight compassion touched his eyes. Maybe his earlier presumptions were wrong. Maybe she really was, as Usiku had said, simply emotionally insecure, and didn't know she was treading on his toes.
He said nothing though, and looked forwards fast enough, but decided he would have to reconsider his position concerning Ayesha once he'd seen a little more of her behaviour.

[genie]

Ayele had been sitting not paying much attention to things when Ayesha had asked Judas about Imani and then him too, so he had sat and looked and looked at her, she was kinda pretty and cutely but innocently he had been about to say that she was but he thought his sister was pretty too when the atmosphere had turned bad. His ears dropped and he made himself small not wishing to be part of the fighting, after a while Ayesha spoke to him and lifted him off and onto the ground and licked his face telling him it was time for a walk, quietly he walked with her.

[Judas]

The scruffy male took a half-step back as Imani snapped at him, asking him what he wanted. However before he got to answerer Kesho spoke up saying he wanted to ride her, even if his voice held dignity those words made the male think of something completely different.

In his adult mind, that sentence just became… wrong, though of course he knew there was no innuendo to Kesho’s words the little one was just a child, so the words were literal in their sense of meaning.

“Could you stay here with Imani then, if you’re allowed? And I’ll go talk to Ayesha.” He said as he picked the prince up by the scruff of his neck, and placed him at Imani’s feet, before he headed over to the liardess whom he was sure was still pretty angry with him.

“Hi.” Judas said simply as he came up beside her, his gaze focused ahead of him, his face more or less emotionless. He wanted to know what caused Ayesha to suddenly snap at him like that, he didn’t demand any apology as said was said; “So tell me: What did I say wrong?” he glanced at the liardess.

[voluptuous♥penguin]

"You may be a princess and act like one, but you aren't any more, you're just one of the crowd, best not to forget that, or someone will have to remind you of it real soon, and I would have great pleasure in taking on that little task, so you have been forewarned."

Imani rolled her eyes. "Listen here, you little princess wannabe, I never claimed that i still was one. Umoja asked me to help him, and I have been. I've done absolutely nothing to you, so just stop." she said snippily. Ayesha was getting on her very last nerve and she was almost relieved when the liardess stormed off.

"Do you mind giving me the honour? Mother said a princess' fur is soft like the fur of baby leopards. I'd like to see."

Imani laughed. "I'm not so sure if mine is like soft baby leopards anymore, but its softish maybe." she said, smiling. "Of course you can ride on my back thought. I'll take lovely care of him Judas. I promise." She scooted closer to Judas so the little prince could sit upon her back. "So, Kesho is it? What exactly is going on here?" she asked in an almost sisterly tone.

[Dakota]

As the black panther answered her compliment with an insult, Ayesha hung her head and let the tears fall that she had been so hard trying to keep at bay. Again she let the white fur from her tuft hang loosely over her face, shielding her from everyone, especially her brother.

As she walked slowly along feeling miserable she didn't even notice that Judas had come up beside her until she heard him speak "What did I say wrong?” , giving a start, her head twisted quickly looking up and meeting his eyes. Blinking quickly to try and wash the tears away so he couldn't see and think worse of her than he did already..Ayesha knew she had to answer, but she wasn't sure about how much she should say. Pausing for a moment, she licked her lips and took a small breath.

"I'm sorry Judas for speaking so harshly to you when I do Lo..care for you, its just that all my life I have been treated differently because I'm a half breed, I've never been good enough to do this or that, I was told how on earth could I think I was pretty, half breeds are nothing, I was there to just serve so get rid of any ideas that I was to be anything other than .
I avoided court and the likes of Imani, because of ridicule by them, and then you go and say that you would only give courtesy and chivalry to the likes of her and her sort, well I'm not sorry for wanting something for myself that I have never had before,
"I went out and secretly watched the males when they learnt how to fight, and how they made a kill, how they sharpened their claws, everything I felt I could ever learn, because I presumed I would be by myself, excluded like I always was."

Taking a small breath Ayesha bought up a paw and wiped her nose and carried on to the soldier who had been silent all this time.
" When I was ready and knew I could travel my own path and look after myself, I left the pride and travelled around. I came across a lion who had been wounded in battle and left for dead, I didn't know anything about him except in all good conscience I couldn't leave him alone and suffering, so I stayed and looked after him and cared for him, till he was able to move and go back to his pride... but guess what.. he didn't want me going with him, as thankful as he was with me not putting him out of his misery like I should have done in the first place, he didn't want me, because I would have embarrassed him being a half breed, there was better females in the pride.. those like Imani....
"so again I was a cast off, useful till not needed anymore."
And now I find, there's Umoja treating me like some leper, calling me a player even though I have never been with... well.., and....I'm.. I'm just waiting I guess for it to jhappen all over again. You say you are a prince... I'm a half breed, one my own father even didn't want to know."

[Judas]

The male’s ears laid back gently as Ayesha began to explain her story. Judas knew that in his former pride: If anyone was found to have any courtship with a different species well, they would certainly be killed. And any half-breed cub would immediately be destroyed; branded to be an abomination, an unnatural being.

Judas hadn’t really cared much for that, in honesty he didn’t care much for his status even if he had a higher status than his sisters; which were born of the king and queen but just because they were female they couldn’t rule. As the throne passed through male heirs only, even as a *** prince he held more significance than his half-siblings.

“I /was/ a prince.” The tsavo corrected her, “I forsook all of that when I left… got exiled. Though I guess I deserved the exile; it’s a miracle they didn’t have me executed.” The male said, “Let’s just say: I have done questionable things. Amazing things some would say; but it was nothing the Gods of this world would’ve put me in heaven for.”

The male replied, “I never had much caring parents either; I was groomed into the life of the unquestioning soldier, I never saw my mother much as the touch of a female would weaken me, or so my father believed. Follow commands were all I deigned to do, especially after my half-brother was born; the kingdom finally had a true heir and I well, I got cast aside.” The male said.

“Being a *** was not nice; the new heir treated me very much like the dirt under his paws. The young child was a spoiled brat; as he reached adolescence well let’s just say that even if the females didn’t have much to say in my pride, to him they were good for only one thing: I think you can guess what.” Judas sighed, “If he didn’t treat the females of his own pride well, then you can only imagine what he did those of other conquered prides.”

The male shook his head, “Most of the soldier’s had this mentality and I admit for a time I did too. But after I met Elsa… all that changed; she was intelligent and resourceful, able to make the best for herself even in the worst of calamities, I came to admire her. But the worst thing that could happen did, the prince violated her. She never told anyone due to embarrassment, but I could see it; the otherwise proud lioness was broken and later that same year; she took her own life.”

The tsavo’s brows narrowed, “That was when I decided enough was enough, and one fine winter’s eve: I killed the prince in his sleep, and later admitted to the crime. And thusly the king had me exiled; why he didn’t execute me I don’t know; perhaps he understood why I had acted the way I did. I had tried to restore the honor of a broken lioness; Elsa didn’t deserve what had come to her.”

The lion turned to the liardess, “She gave me one advice before the tragic incident: Not to listen to what other people say you are, when you know deep down that this isn’t true. Regardless of whether they are prince or pauper; if you treat everyone with equal amounts of respect you’d receive no ill-will anywhere.” A weak smile showed on his face, “Though I know we might want for things we have never had, I do; All I wish for is a normal life, free of the constant struggle against disease, war and famine.”

[cheezeegriff]

Umoja's eyes were looking forward, but his ears pointed backward, listening in on Ayesha and Judas' conversation. Had half-leopards really been ostracised like that in his own pride? If only he had known. After all Umoja had the king's ear, and the King wouldn't have stood for it for a moment. Too late to do anything now, he knew: all those responsible were dead, and so was he whom could have exacted any justice. Only the meek remained, it seemed.

Then Judas mentioned killing a prince, and Umoja's blood froze. He did his best to keep his gait going, despite the spark of terror that almost seized his old joints. Judas, a killer, and of a prince too. The old warrior seemed to have good reasons for committing such a heinous act, but then again, murderers tended to make up very good excuses.
Umoja sighed. He would have to be very, very careful about whom he left the prince with.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

"So, Kesho is it? What exactly is going on here?"

"Ayesha is angry because Judas didn't want to speak to you,"
Kesho said, out loud, and in the quiet desert his voice carried far too well, he thought. He ran his hands over the lioness' fur. It was rather soft, and he smiled, though her lean body beneath made her more smooth than plushy.
"I'm Keshomaliki, prince of the Tree Pride,"
he said.
"Who are you?"

[Kirsui]

Katakasha was disappointed when Umoja didn't reply, and her disappointment made her even more annoyed. Her tail flicked from side to side furiously as she held back her anger, her purple eyes glaring daggers at their temporary leader.

For a brief moment the black lioness heavily considered provoking Umoja until he would have to say something back to her, something that could possibly lead into an argument, fight even. But the voices of Ayesha and Judas reached her ears and held her back. She suddenly found herself interested of what the injured male was revealing of himself, and momentarily she glanced over her shoulder at the male with a thoughtful expression on her face. It was as if she tried to see through him, into his mind, to see if he had some hidden agenda to be with this group.

Wether or not she found any answer was unclear though as Kata turned her gaze away to something ahead of them.
"Odd, isn't it...?"
Her voice was calm now, as was the expression on her face, as she spoke to Umoja again with a lowered voice. She didn't really care if the others behind them heard what she would voice out, she didn't care if it hurt them or made them angry...
"... how you suddenly find yourself wandering with royalty of different kinds, with deserted half-breeds, and with murderers."
She smiled, very faintly, the look in her eyes very mysterious as she fell silent again.

[voluptuous♥penguin]

Imani smiled. "Keshomaliki? Wow. Quite a name, but I rather like it." she said, turning her head to look at the little prince on her back. He looked so small and ill, she turned back quickly so he wouldn't see her expression changed. He was so young.

"Well, I'm Imani, former princess of the Plains Pride, now counselor to Umoja of the Tree Pride." she said, annunciating former so that she made the rest aware that she still did not claim to her title like they thought.

"Now then, why on earth would Ayesha be mad at Judas about not talking to me of all people?" she asked aloud, to the prince and to the air around her.

[Dakota]

Ayesha took in all that Judas had told her, and slowly it registered, that he didn't care if she was a half breed or anything else, he liked her just for herself, and as for him being a prince its seemed that he wanted to leave that title and all it stood for, back in his past.

Shaking her fur away that was hiding her expression, she slowly turned to face him with her eyes glistening, how could she explain to him that what he had said, was to her a precious gift.
" So you just want to be ordinary and not reminded what your life was like before, and that for you the title of prince is nothing that you want for yourself ?"
Blinking slowly Ayesha carried on.
"And you don't care that I am a half breed, to you it doesn't make me anything less .... you care about me for who I am, for who you have come to know ?"

Ayesha just about held her breath, waiting for his answer, surely she hadn't got it wrong again.. she so wanted to believe that she had found someone who was returning her feelings.
Then on the night breeze came the words that made her suck in her breath, she knew she was a half breed in katakasha eyes, but her choice of words calling judas a murderer for all to hear was cruel. She didn't want anyone to have doubts about the soldier especially Kesho and Ayele, she didn't want to see mistrust and fear in their eyes when they looked at him.

Raising her voice slightly so she knew again everyone could hear what was being said, she directed her reply in the black lioness direction.
"I think in future before you go eavesdropping in conversations, you had better get your information correct kata, and besides we know nothing about your past, for all we know you could be referring to yourself as murderer, Umoja is the only one who seems to be willing to stand up for you. Judas is a soldier and has done things on orders, things that the likes of you wouldn't get their paws dirty for, so down wherever your heart is meant to be maybe you could find an apology for him, seeing as he has already risked his life for the prince."

Ayesha turned away and looked back at Judas "You're not a murderer, not in that sense she was trying to say, all you did was take something evil away from innocent lives, something that should have been done sooner."
Wanting to say more to her soldier, she paused, she would wait till they were alone and no prying ears could overhear and misconstrue things.
"Judas.. we will talk later...but...was I right in what you were telling me...that you still want me no matter what ?"

Quickly looking down to her right to check on Ele, watching him stride along made her smile, she was blessed to be looking after him now. "You ok Ele ?"
Looking back she focused on the lion beside her, her heart beating a bit faster, waiting for what passed through his lips.

[Judas]

The black lioness’ words didn’t really faze the soldier; whatever she decided to call him was her choice. It wasn’t the first time someone had branded him a murderer which he in some cases were; those that argued that this lioness he avenged had incurred the prince’s behavior through actions and later fabricated the story to make the royal come out in bad light. He had met many of those, there were plenty in former pride, “It’s okay Ayesha.” The tsavo said though a soft voice as the liardess defended him, he didn’t want any square offs.

Ayesha countered that he was not a murderer, that what he had done was to remove something evil from innocent lives, something that should have been done sooner according to her. Judas’ actions were for the good of all of the pride, especially the lioness’ who were already suffering and whose lives didn’t need to be threatened by a rapist.

The liardess said that they should talk later; possibly she wanted to be alone, away from everyone else. But she wondered if she had been right; that he didn’t care what she was; only who she was, and that he still wanted her no matter what.

The male just nodded through a gentle smile, there was really nothing he could say as what had already stated where obvious enough apparently.