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Post by Judas on Nov 3, 2008 13:10:52 GMT
Most the events were a blur to Judas' mind, only the help from the prince called through his mind and he managed to catch the general direction of his kidnapper. But any change of following them were cut short as Ayesha appeared on the scene, he didn't know what had hit him in the confusion he had lost the prince. The voice of the lioness tore through his mind like thunder, the soldier got to his feet as his brain tried to process what little information he had, though it wasn't easy to think with the booming voice of a rageing lioness yelling through his head.
Though she then pounced him pressing her paw down on his windpipe, instinctively Judas dug a paw into her shoulder he kept the claws in as he kept gasping for air. "How can I answerer when I can't breath?!" the male said his voice was frail and raspy she was standing on his throat for savanna's sake. "I would never kill him!" the wanderer's eyes narrowed as the paw clasped over Ayesha's shoulder slipped, he barely hold it up anymore. "She took him.. as the zebra charged over here. She carried him north, up stream.." he coughed, the male pressed a paw hard against Ayesha's chest, "Please! If you kill me.. then you'll never see the prince again.." Judas was the only one who had seen the general direction the panther had taken the child, if he died then they would never find the child.
Ayesha broke the skin on his throat the sharp pain of the claws digging into his flesh, the male winched, "Please!.." his voice was a raspy whisperer but clearly pleading, his vision was beginning to blur and blue specks was dancing in front of his eyes, everything became darker. "I told you all I know, kill me if you must..I failed.." the lion was giving up, but at least he had told the truth, now he was at the mercy of Ayesha.
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Post by Dakota on Nov 3, 2008 23:36:47 GMT
Ayesha blinked, clearing her vision, as she stared down at him. Not speaking at all she watched him as he gasped for breath and his paw clamped on her chest seemed to grow weaker.
"kill me if you must..I failed" came to her in a silent plea.
Meeting his eyes, she stared, trying to see past and into him, all she could see was sadness gazing back at her. Dropping her paw and letting it slide down his shoulder through his fur as she sheathed her claws, Ayesha let her white tuft fur cover the emotions on her face, last thing she needed was Judas reading her mind. Turning she left him lying there and moved back over to where Ayele stood.
"I'm sorry Ele, I didn't mean to scare you "
Gathering him to her, she wrapped him up in her front paws, resting her chin on top of his head and just watched what Judas was going to do.
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Post by cheezeegriff on Nov 4, 2008 6:55:52 GMT
(Bit of context setting: the "smoke that thunders" is the african name for the Victorian Falls - google it for spectacular images.)
Umoja slowed to a trot, catching his breath as he followed Katakasha. She was still fighting with the zebra, and he watched in horrid fascination as the single lion killed the beast all by herself. Impossible... but there it was. He swallowed, smoothing his expression before she noticed his fear, and wandered over at a sedate pace.
In the distance he heard Imani, and looked back to see the princess standing in the grass, a zebra galloping away from her, injuries giving it a limp. She was calling to him, he thought, but from such a distance he hadn't a chance of hearing what she said. He pointed at Katakasha's kill as if to say, one's enough. Indeed it would be. A single zebra of this size could feed a pride of ten and leave leftovers for the vultures.
So when he wandered close enough, he nodded to Katakasha and smiled.
"Dig in."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Keshomaliki wanted to heave.
The black panther leapt from branch to branch, gripping him about the body in her mouth. Instead of a gentle grip like Mother or the nice lion-leopard, Ayesha, the black cat's small, sharp teeth pierced his skin like needles, digging in more each time the panther leapt from branch to branch.
So when she reached the end of the trees and leapt to the ground, her teeth grated against the bone and he cried out in pain.
"Shoosh, little one. Conserve your strength. You'll need it for this long... oh."
She slowed down then set the cub on the ground, a strange expression on her face. Kesho looked around at his body from where he lay limp on the golden grass and saw blood trickling down his side.
"You bit me!"
"Not on purpose,"
she said, eyeing him guiltily as she walked up a nearby mound and looked back the way they came.
"Where are you taking me? Why have you stolen me?"
"So death may make you well,"
she said, fixing him with her yellow eyes. In the bright daylight they didn't look half as big or frightening. In fact, she looked more frightened than he, her eyes scanning the horizon as if expecting danger to leap out of the grass.
"As for where - we follow the river Zambezi downstream, through the floodplains and into the smoke that thunders, where my master lives. It will be a long journey."
She wandered back to where they came and scratched against a nearby tree, near the creekbed, as if sharpening her claws, then wandered back into sunlight.
"What did you do that for?"
he said.
"To leave my scent so your friends can follow us, for their presence will be needed. Come! I will be gentle if you do not struggle."
Keshomaliki scowled, but as she picked him up his stomach lurched, and he bit back bile. Her grip was more gentle now and, not wishing to cause himself any more pain, he reluctantly let the panther carry him away, through ever-greening grassland.
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Post by genie on Nov 4, 2008 15:38:07 GMT
Ayele stared at his sister, bewildered, confused and uncertain.. he didn't have any idea what was going on, why his sister was angry.. and boy was she scary... he thought to himself making a note not to annoy her too much... though of course a little was always all right.
Then she came back to him leaving them lion gasping where she had had him pinned down by the throat and apologised to him and wrapped her paws around him he still just sat there confused...
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Post by voluptuous♥penguin on Nov 5, 2008 4:13:34 GMT
Imani looked at him, a panicked expression in her eyes. He simply pointed to the zebra, telling her that Kata's kill was plenty. She couldn't believe it. He thought she was still on about a zebra? She wanted to scream, whisper, and cry all at the same time. She had heard that miniscule, helpless plea. Someone was in danger, and some needed help.
She looked around, decided she could do nothing on her own, and began running, quickly as she could, back to Umoja and Kata. She arrived within seconds, breathless. "Heard.... help... needs us.... we.... need.... to help!" She breathed out at first, pausing where she was catching her breath. She shook her head and blinked a few times to focus herself. "I was hunting that male and I heard someone cry out. A small voice yelled help. The voice sounded like a small male cub. He didn't sound healthy either. Anyone ringing a bell?" she managed out.
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Post by Dakota on Nov 5, 2008 10:06:42 GMT
As she sat there hugging her brother, Ayeshas eyes stayed fixed on the golden furred lion. Bringing her lips down by Eles ear, she mumoured to him quietly.
"Prince Kesho has been snatched away from Judas and myself, while he was bathing in the stream. I...I got a little angry with the soldier thinking he had betrayed me, I'm sorry if I scared you Ele, but remember I look after those who I care about, and I promised mother I would always care for you until you no longer need me to... I will Protect you."
Giving Ayele another quick nuzzle on his cheek, Ayesha rose
"come Ele we need to do some quick thinking, and it needs to be with Judas?"
Moving towards him she watched as he lifted himself off the ground, her green eyes moving up to meet his hazel ones, holding his gaze .Stopping in front of him, Ayesha let her eyes trail down over his features, pausing at his black beard, then letting her eyes finally rest on the broken skin she had inflicted.
Finding herself lowering her head so her long white tuft would cover her expression, she gave herself a mental jolt and instead held her head back up high and met his eyes once again.
" Should we just go now, while the trail is still warm, or do we get the other three and move together."
Nothing more was said, Ayesha just stood there waiting, her eyes never leaving his once more.
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Post by Judas on Nov 5, 2008 16:10:17 GMT
He wanted Ayesha to get some time to calm down before they began was possibly going to be one long trek. The liopardess approached him stopping before him, her gaze met his yet his face remained more or less emotionless but he could sense that emotions were wirring through the girl, what kind of emotions the male did not know.
She then spoke, saying perhaps they should follow the tail when it was still rather fresh not to lose track of it along the way. "We should go now.." the male replied, passing her and begun to follow the stream in direction of the smell. "The longer we tarry here the slimmer become our chances of finding the prince alive." Judas said, he didn't bother to wait now, as she had request the will to move out, then they should do just that, however Ayesha and Ayele shouldn't have that much trouble keeping up.
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Post by Dakota on Nov 6, 2008 2:29:10 GMT
Nodding to Judas and letting him pass her by, Ayesha turned to the cub with a fixed smile on her face.
"come Ele, we are going on an adventure, we are going to find the prince and the brown lion is going to lead the way....lets go ."
Waiting till her brother was in front of her, Ayesha turned and followed after him. Turning her head to scan around the area one last time she found herself frowning. lord knows how Umoji will react when he finds us gone, maybe theyre still eating their precious fresh meat that my dirty paws haven't touched yet to notice
Looking back to in front of her, she watched as Ayele sped up to reach Judas. Not walking any faster, Ayesha kept her pace steady, but found she was scuffing her paws in the dirt, leaving a trail if anyone was bright enough to notice.
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Post by cheezeegriff on Nov 6, 2008 5:37:51 GMT
"I was hunting that male and I heard someone cry out. A small voice yelled help. The voice sounded like a small male cub. He didn't sound healthy either. Anyone ringing a bell?"
"It would, except that Keshomaliki is back at the tree with Ayesha,"
Umoja said, but he glanced at Katakasha cautiously: it was probably a zebra calf seperated during the stampede, but just in case, he had better look.
"Where did the voice come from?"
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Post by voluptuous♥penguin on Nov 6, 2008 22:49:32 GMT
Imani closed her eyes and remembered. She imagined being on the back of the zebra, and then hearing the voice, and then falling. She remembered it had come from a large cluster of trees. She snapped her eyes open. "There." she said, pointing to a large cluster of trees in the distance. "The voice came from over there."
She looked over to it and then back to Kata and Umoja. "Are you absolutely positive that Keshomaliki is over with Ayesha?" she asked, with a little more authority then she meant to have.
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Post by genie on Nov 7, 2008 2:09:11 GMT
Ayele nodded to his sister ackwoledging what she said - they were going on a adventure and he was always excited to be going on a adventure and he bounced back and forth in front of Ayesha as they walked along. He did't know where they were going and he did't really care.. he just liked to be doing something.. anything.. rather than just sitting doing nothing.
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Post by Kirsui on Nov 7, 2008 12:46:09 GMT
Umoja's voice was what finally pulled Kata out of her musings. She hesitated for a few seconds before she retracted her claws and placed her paw back to the ground, walking to the dead creature. She laid down and dug her fangs in, pulling her head back in a sharp tug and ripping out a fairly large piece.
She was chewing her food when the new lioness appeared. The black lioness looked at her through her thick, purple eyelashes while still chewing, her ears twiching slightly when Umoja replied and the lioness pointed a direction.
"Are you absolutely positive that Keshomaliki is over with Ayesha?"
Kata frowned, stopping chewing the last bits of her meal for a brief moment before continuing. Once satisfied she swallowed and rose to her feet.
"I don't like your tone, princess", she said calmly, as if it had been the weather that she was talking about.
"However..."
She turned her head at Umoja, her eyebrows furrowed slightly in thought.
"She has a point. We're not certain the kid is with Ayesha. He could have been snatched away from the Den, or something the like."
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Post by Dakota on Nov 8, 2008 6:18:02 GMT
While walking behind Judas and Ayele, she kept looking around her as if she was expecting to see something jump out at them. Turning her head back once more she glanced behind her, all there was, was trees and more trees.
should I apologise to Judas, for jumping to the wrong conclusions about him letting the panther take Kesho and somehow being involved, or should I just let it go
Sighing to herself she caught up with them both. Letting her eyes scan over what she could see of him, it was certain that he had been a soldier, he had scars and that unkempt look about him, as if he didn't have anyone that cared for him and vice versa, and like he wanted it to stay that way.
Knowing she should say something, but not quite sure what, Ayesha cleared her throat and thought for a minute before opening her muzzle, she wasn't sure what sort of reception she was going to receive.
"Judas... I apologise for attacking you and questioning your motives and it's more my fault that the prince has been taken as I should have stayed with him back at the tree.... and I'm..... well sorry for doubting you thats all."
Pausing for a moment, Ayesha grinned as she knew he couldn't see her
"and now you also know I can look after myself and those around me ."
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Post by cheezeegriff on Nov 8, 2008 8:45:49 GMT
"She has a point. We're not certain the kid is with Ayesha. He could have been snatched away from the Den, or something the like."
Umoja nodded, then opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again. Katakasha had only just taken a bite of the zebra and it was bad manners to interrupt a lion's meal, but a chill swept his spine. If the prince had been kidnapped...
"Run back to the tree and look inside, would you, Katakasha? Imani, take me to where you last heard the noise,"
he said, then followed where she had pointed to the line of trees along the creekbed.
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Post by Judas on Nov 8, 2008 10:27:35 GMT
They had got rather far, the creek was now more a river than anything, and foliage was getting thicker with each step they took, it seemed they were entering a forest of sorts. Judas was mostly preoccupied with keeping the scent trail, than checking whether Ayesha and her little brother could keep up, but he assumed they could. The male came to a halt as heard Ayesha clear her throat as if she wished to say something, he turned his head to her regarding her with a hazel-eyed gaze. He rose a brow in interest as he waited for her to begin talking;
She apologized for attacking him, and questioning his motives before she had even asked him. Then she took the blame for the princes' disappearance, as she said she should've stayed with him in the tree, she was sorry for doubting him. And she mentioned she could take care of herself and those around her. The soldier remained silent but he didn't continue walking just yet. "Apology accepted. Be glad I am not vengeful." the male replied, he had been raised on 'an eye for an eye' ideology, whatever they do to you or those around you, you are dutied to avenge it in the same manner. "The fault is entirely mine, I was the one who took the prince to creek in the first place, and I failed in my duty to protect him." He just wanted the girl to get her facts strait, there was no reason for her to lie to herself, no one at all.
"I am glad you can take care of yourself. It will make this mission a lot easier when I don't have to babysit anyone." with those words spoken, Judas continued the walk through the thickening foliage, he could hear the rapid current of the river if he kept following that, the sooner they would find the prince.
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Post by Kirsui on Nov 8, 2008 11:54:30 GMT
"Run back to the tree and look inside, would you, Katakasha? Imani, take me to where you last heard the noise."
Katakasha nodded shortly. From Umoja's behaviour it seemed to her he hadn't wanted to stop her meal just like this... But she had satisfied her hunger, and though maybe still not completely full she wasn't exactly hungry either. At least, that stronger hunger that she had had to fight with the zebra had been completely satisfied - for now at least.
"I'll catch you two later", the black lioness said before she dashed away.
Her long feet carried her easily though the dead grasslands, and soon enough had she looked over her shoulder she would have seen only two small figures that were the other two lions.
'So the princess' name is Imani...' she thought while she ran.
'Saves me the trouble asking... Or listening to her voluntary introductions.'
She cringed at the thought of having to listen the lioness explain who she was and where she came from.
When the Den area was on her sight she slowed to a trot, her gaze jumping around the pool of water and the tree. Narrowing her eyes she sniffed the air. The scent of the pride was still there, but it wasn't as strong as it should have been had the pride been here.
Her suspicions growing, Kata headed to the Den entrance. One glance inside confirmed the situation and caused a flood of curses flow out of her mouth, some of them which no lioness of her age should been able to know.
Scenting the air while still cursing, the black lioness followed the stronges scent, the scent of illness. Normally any lion on their right mind would have turned away from such a track, but following the prince's scent seemed the fastest way to solve the mystery of where he was.
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Post by Dakota on Nov 9, 2008 0:53:56 GMT
Ayesha mouth dropped open as he left his last remark 'I don't have to babysit anyone'.
"What do you mean babysit anyone, you haven't had to look after us yet and you wont have to either, what alot of garbage, I shouldn't have pressed so hard on your throat, obviously you didn't get enough oxygen to your male brain."
Stepping back away from Ayele and Judas, she tried to calm herself down snotty little soldier, I'll show him when the time comes
Walking behind him watching his tail wave around, the black fur on the end, a smirk came to Ayesha face. Stepping behind Judas, she bought up a paw and whacked it hard, trying not to burst out laughing.
"sorry about that, had a huge insect ready to bite, just thought I would lend you a paw."
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Post by voluptuous♥penguin on Nov 9, 2008 0:54:34 GMT
Imani nodded. "This way," she said, heading towards the trees at a slight run. She didn't really know the scent, but she assumed she'd figure it out if he was sick. A plague or sickness would smell foreign to her and she knew it. She finally reached the treeline and slowed a bit, sniffing here and there. There were claw marks on a tree and she spoke out loud. "Whoever has your prince, wants to be found." she said, knowingly. The scent was fresh and it didn't smell like a lion. It smelled like a tree cat. A panther to be exact.
"They aren't far. The scent on the tree is fresh, as if you wouldn't realize." she said. She was thinking aloud now. "That generally is never a good thing, at least in my experience it hasn't been" Ni began to follow the trail, seeing a few more scratch marks here and there. "What does this mean, Umoja, if someone has your prince?" she asked, cautiously.
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Post by cheezeegriff on Nov 9, 2008 1:09:29 GMT
Umoja looked at the claw marks: they were a little more obvious than normal, running up an almost vertical tree trunk and then along the branches of the low canopy. The panther, then.
There were more marks on the ground though. A cub's footfalls... too energetic to be the prince's. There was a male lion's big pads and smaller footsteps as well... Ayesha's. They were scuffed, as if she was carrying something, and moved off beside the creekbed.
They had all moved off together.
"Katakasha!"
he called out in alarm, then looked up to see her sniffing a trail down the hill from the great tree. She was coming towards them, but he ran out to her.
"Are they there? Katakasha! Are is the prince in the tree?!"
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Post by Kirsui on Nov 9, 2008 9:37:54 GMT
"Katakasha!"
She stopped and turned her head so fast it made her mane sway from side to side before settling back on its normal position. The black lioness watched as Umoja ran to her, alarmed by the looks of it.
"Are they there? Katakasha! Are is the prince in the tree?!"
She narrowed her eyes and shook her head.
"He's not there, neither is the liard or the male who was guarding the prince earlier today."
Her eyes narrowed more as she glanced back at the Den area.
"And... neither was that liard's little brother..."
Kata turned back at Umoja, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Would they have dared to move off without us?"
Because if they had, she would make sure they wouldn't dare to even think doing such a thing again. She had said she would go with them if - or when - the time would come to move the prince and follow the panther.
She cursed, again leaning on the wide variety of curse words she had learned from who knows where.
"We've got to folow them", she said darkly, her gaze locked on the direction where the scent of the prince's illness was going.
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Post by genie on Nov 9, 2008 10:41:40 GMT
Ayele looked confused at the going on's between his sister and Judas, he did't really understand what was up between them and he stood looking at them with his head tilted to the side slightly before asking "Why don't you like each other? whats wrong? Is it me?".
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Post by Judas on Nov 9, 2008 11:03:20 GMT
The soldier could see the expression on the lioness' face, at her words his ears swirled back and forth as he just took in her words. "It was meant as a compliment.." the male retorted, unaffected by the lioness' subtle insult, "I don't think the panther that took his majesty would give him up without a fight, and if you would've needed me to look after you all the time chances of surviving any impending battle would drop closer to zero." Judas said, he kept walking following the raging river deeper and deeper into the forest, keeping the scent trail.
He stopped though as he could feel the hard paw swap to his tail, he glanced back at Ayesha it was clearly she was almost laughing, "Very funny indeed!" the male replied, his voice monotonous and dull almost sarcastic. He could then hear Ayele's words and he turned to the cub,
"No, I think your sister like me very much.." the male grinned, "And now she's apparently being flirt with me.." the male replied glancing at Ayesha to see her reaction, before he resumed his walk. 'Payback!' the male thought to himself though his face showed really no emotion rather than a tugged smile at the corner of his lips.
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Post by cheezeegriff on Nov 9, 2008 12:13:52 GMT
"We've got to folow them"
Umoja breathed calmly, deeply, flexing his claws in the dust and the dirt, then span about, faced up the trail and screamed,
"WHAT are you thinking?!??"
His roar startled a flock of black buzzards, which flapped up to the sky noisily, cawing in alarm. He looked at Imani, then at Katakahsa, then back at the trail the... traitors had left behind.
Then he began to pace
"They must think they're helping him... good fathers. We don't know who that panther is OR what she wants with our prince. Until we know otherwise..."
He looked to Katakasha.
"... assume it's not in our best interest."
He frowned. Why hadn't anyone spoken to him?? Had they no respect for his rule? They voted him in, all of them... but then, when it suited them, they had walked away. The thought made him sick to the stomach. Their pride, once proud and strong, was on the brink of collapse. For if the prince died, that was one thing... but if the pride dissolved, who would he be?
Just a lonely old lion, sitting on a hill...
"Find them."
He said, raising his head to Katakasha.
"They've betrayed me... and by betraying me, they've betayed the prince I represent. Run ahead, Katakahsa. Slow them down. Bring the prince back... whatever the cost."
He huffed, and started off on the trail.
"I'll deal with the other two later!"
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"Your teeth... you're hurting me again,"
"Sorry, little one,"
The panther said. She was slowing now. it was nearing midday, and the trees by the riverbank were becoming thinner, the forest being replaced by a marshy reedbed. Sunlight beat down on her black coat, and Kesho could feel it radiating from her in waves. She must be exhausted.
But her small, pointy teeth still dug into his skin, and the pain was becoming comparable to that in his stomach. He was about to complain but then she stopped dead, and Kesho was swung back and forth as she looked around.
"Stay here,"
she said, and set him down, then darted into the marshy reeds, vanishing from sight.
Insects creaked. Hippos grunted in the distance but otherwise, in the heat of the day, everything was silent. Something moved in the water to his left and he flinched away from the edge, looking about. Alone. Vulnerable.
"Excuse me, Panther?"
he said, but his voice came out as a whisper - the instinct to remain silent when alone making it harder to speak. He rubbed at the back of his head where the panther had been carrying him, and his hand came away in blood.
It didn't hurt any more than it had, but just the sight of it brought on tears. No wonder his back felt wet. There was nobody to comfort him though, so he snivelled in silence, doing his best to keep quiet, but failing miserably. The pain in his stomach intensified and he curled into a ball.
"I want to go home..."
he mumbled.
Then he heard some rustling in the leaves further back in the forest, before it started to thin into the reedbed. Terrified, Kesho cowered to the ground, but then heard a familiar voice:
"No, I think your sister like me very much.. And now she's apparently being flirt with me.."
"J... Judas?" he squawked, barely above a whisper.
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Post by Dakota on Nov 10, 2008 3:08:04 GMT
Ayesha had thought Judas would simply keep walking and ignore her, She was about to answer Ele, when the lion did so himself.
"No, I think your sister like me very much.. And now she's apparently being flirt with me.."
Ayesha's eyes almost bulged, and her mouth opened in surprise. " what...what did you say... it looks like I was correct before, and you did lack oxygen to your brain when I pinned you ever so nicely...hmmm flirt, in your dreams mister."
Flicking her white tuft fur away from her face, the overgrown forest was pulling and tugging at her fur, and seeming to close in around them. Ayesha thought they would have caught up to the panther by now, she couldn't have travelled that far carrying Kesho, even though he was small, his weight should be wearing her down.
"Judas, how close are we, is the panthers scent getting stron....."
Ayesha broke off in mid sentance "Shhhh, did you just hear something"
Looking down at Ayele, she held up a paw motioning him to stop and listen as well
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Post by Judas on Nov 10, 2008 12:22:54 GMT
The male just grinned as Ayesha replied to his words, opposites attracts? Isn't that what they say? Though he resumed his walk but only to stop dead in his tracks when Ayesha shushed them and asked whether they heard something.
Judas' ears perked sniffing the air more intensely he suddenly took off through the thick foliage a sloppy squish was heard as his paws hit what appeared to be some sort of marsh or bog. The smell of stale water engulfed the entire area and the smell of rotting debris was almost like a solid wall.
There was a low lying fog over the entire area shrinking the visibility considerably. The male could swear he heard a familiar voice but also sensed a familiar smell. "Hello?!" the male called out into the death lands, "Anyone there?!" his voice echoed among the tall reeds. Sniffing the air the male cautiously trudged deeper into the marsh trying to recover the smell or maybe get an answerer to his calls.
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Post by Kirsui on Nov 10, 2008 19:26:03 GMT
Kata didn't even blink when Umoja roared out, scaring about every living creature around an dmaking them flee in fear. But her expression had lost all the calm. She looked dangerous, and dangerous she was because she felt about as much enraged as Umoja seemed to be. How dare they leave her behind?!
"Find them."
The black lioness turned her gaze to Umoja from the direction where the traitors had went, her ears perked up as she listened closely.
"They've betrayed me... and by betraying me, they've betayed the prince I represent. Run ahead, Katakahsa. Slow them down. Bring the prince back... whatever the cost."
She nodded.
"I will, Umoja..."
She grinned faintly.
"The panther shall not get far..."
Bowing slightly she dashed after the trail that had been left behind, her nose locked on the scent of illness. Umoja had given her free hands with that little command of his of bringing the prince back no matter what would happen... The mere thought made her grin grow into a thin line of sharp fangs.
Kata ran in what little shadow there was, intent on hiding herself from who she was hunting - and indeed she was hunting. She dodged branches and stones, and yet managed to keep herself hidden as well as follow the trail surprisingly fast.
And she was certain that with trails as fresh as these, the hunt would soon be over.
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Post by cheezeegriff on Nov 10, 2008 21:58:31 GMT
"Hello? Anyone there?!"
Keshomaliki's ears perked up, and he hobbled forward as fast as his painful body would allow.
"Judas!"
he squeaked, breaking out of the marsh and into a small clearing, where the think lion stood.
"Judas! You came for me!"
he said, though no sooner had the words left his mouth that a panther's hideous *rawr* erupted from the foliage and a black blur slammed into Judas' flank, knocking him down, dangling with him as claws raked against flesh. Keshomaliki screamed, and hardly heard himself over the noise.
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Post by Judas on Nov 10, 2008 23:00:06 GMT
A smile spread across the soldier's face as he could hear the prince's call, and soon enough the little cub came breaking through the reeds of the marsh and into the clearing were Judas had come to a halt. Ayesha was nowhere to be seen, but she couldn't be far behind him.
"Yes I-" the male was about to answerer the cub's squeaks of joy as it bounded to wards him but just as the words had left the prince. A loud roar erupted from the foggy marsh and in the next second sharp pain struck Judas' right flank and he felt himself getting slammed into the ground with great force.
The scruffy male hadn't seen exactly what hit him, except a black shadow in the corner of his eye. He was laying with his back into the wet ground of the marsh, facing his opponent even though each paw swipe hurt, the soldier snarled as he tried to keep the black feline off his chest and her claws away from his face.
At the same time his hind legs trashed and swiped at her belly with the intent of kicking her off him, but he had to keep the panthers claws away from his face and throat. He didn't know where the prince was, he had heard the scream, but the soldier hoped that the youngster had sought refuge somewhere safe.
"Kesho will come with me!" the male snarled as he dug both paws into the panther's shoulders burrowing his claws into the bone, if the black feline recoiled now she'd be left with some very nasty gashes across her sides. Judas was bleeding from the face, he would feel the blood taste in his mouth and the unmistakable stinging running from somewhere below his left eye.
He wasn't sure of the extent of the damage but right now all he cared about was getting this feline off him, and to get Kesho out of here, so he resumed to give a hard kick with his back legs into the panther's stomach, if he stuck home then the black cat would most certainly be dazed enough for him to throw her off.
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Post by Dakota on Nov 11, 2008 0:31:55 GMT
Ayesha stood there watching as one minute Judas was there next minute he was gone. Looking down at Ayele, she grinned.
"come on my little fighter we aren't missing out on any action, I'm hoping we might have found the prince.. quick we may need to help out the soldier."
Pushing Ele forward in front of her, she then ran beside him so it was her body being used as a shield pushing all the foliage out of the cubs way. When their paws hit the smelly water, she reached down and grabbed her brother by the scruff of his neck and threw him up on her back "hang on tight Ayele, don't let me loose you."
Her ears twitched when through the fog she heard keshos scream. With her teeth bared and a snarl leaving her throat she burst outinto the clearing where she came right into the action. Looking around wildly she saw kesho huddled into a little ball to the side trying to hide himself. Moving sideways around the back of Judas and the panther, she finally came to where the prince was. Watching from the corner of her eye, she leant down to him letting Ayele off her back at the same time.
"Ele don't move from here, I don't want you getting hurt, but you can help guard the prince..ok.."
Speaking softly, she wasn't sure the cub was going to hear her, he was shaking so much.
"Kesho, its Ayesha.. quick look at me... I need you to listen and be brave...Kesho ?"
Touching him on his cheek she raised his chin so he could see she didn't mean him any harm
"Kesho.. I need you to come with me and Ayele, I need to hide you, so I can help Judas."
Finally she gave up and pushed and pulled him over and under a large bush " OK Ayele, you are big and brave, and you will be his guard, don't let him go anywhere, sit on him if you have to" Glancing back over her shoulder she saw Judas was lying on his back with the black panther leaning over him.
Flicking her white fur out of her eyes, she slowly lowered herself and stalked towards the panther. The hairs on her back raised and her claws unsheathed she moved in closer coming up behind. At this angle she could see where the soldier had his paws. One wrong move from the panther and judas's paws would be covered in blood and flesh.
As much as she wanted to pounce there and then and finish off what had been started, she waited for the next move, she wasn't sure what Judas was going to do, all she knew was that any strikes from the panther, would be her last once Ayesha had dealt with her.
Moving to the side, so the soldier could see she was there with him, her muzzle open and her stance ready, she couldn't help herself and let it be knowen to the panther that there was two of them now.
" well, well ... so you thought you could do a snatch and grab with our prince, wasn't it good enough, that I was bringing him along.. Noooo you just had to do the wrong thing. I'm here now, and must admit you've really ticked me off, and I just think now might be a good time for a little payback. And while I'm at it, HOW DARE YOU DRAW BLOOD ON KESHO, you'll get a double swipe for that you old cow."
Looking through the tangle of legs, she met Judas look " after you of course soldier boy ! "
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Post by cheezeegriff on Nov 11, 2008 0:49:12 GMT
Judas' paws may have stopped her from pulling away but they didn't stop her from getting closer. The panther lunged down at Judas' neck, releasing her from his grip, but just before she could sink her teeth in he kicked out at her stomach and she flipped away.
Landing on her feet, the panther stood back and eyed the two lions viciously, a burring growl erupting from her throat. Her yellow eyes looked past the adults at the cubs hiding in the bushes, and when she spoke, her voice had changed from the soft and feminine purr as silky as her coat to a burr just as rough as the continuation of her growl.
"What are your intentionzz with the princce?"
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