A Shadowed Past

[genie]

Cheabosa laid where he was, there was a lot of lions here and at least one other cheetah, this group... they had saved him but still he was't sure who they were, did they want something of him in return? He looked around at them, not all where that close to him, but could he trust them... obviously they did't want to eat him otherwise they'd not of saved him, he supposed he was lucky hyhena's had't found him instead, he would't still be around.
What was the name of the cheetah now? he could't think... he glanced over to her.

[EvaJanus]

Eva listened to Zander as he spoke, watching him the whole time. She didn't know for sure what all he'd gone through, but she could certainly tell that it weighed heavy on him. If what he said was true, then the group should get moving as soon as possible. She nodded as he finished. "Your father?" She didn't want to make him speak of bad memories, yet this was something she'd never heard of. "He wants to kill you?..." She glanced from the mountains then back to where they had come from. "We should get moving... and soon..."

[Deleted]

Bahreeka noticed the Cheabosa was now glancing at her. "You feeling a lot better now i take it?" She said and smiled, he looked much better than before. She hadn't seen another cheetah in ages. Maybe it was because they were all starving like he had previously been.

[genie]

Cheabosa nodded to Bahreeka "yeah, much better thankyou... how did you end up here?" he asked her, curious to how a female cheetah ended up with a bunch of lions, he'd never heard of such a thing before, and certainly this cheetah looked different from most... he just could't place a paw on what.

[Deleted]

Bahreeka smiled at his question. "Well i guess it was just fate.." She said with a wink. "Well I was wandering about one day and.. well actually i don't quite remember.. i think it was... Oh that's right! I met one of them in the jungle.. and he brought me back to his camp.. and well i've been with them since." Bahreeka replied sweetly, still smiling.

[genie]

Cheabosa smiled back and nodded slightly saying "I see..." perhaps that was what was different about her, not being alone as other cheetahs were and continueing on saying "and you're happy living with lions??"

[Deleted]

Bahreeka smiled. "I wouldn't call it living.. i would call it.. being on a journey with them." She turned to look at them all and smiled even more. "They are my friends.. even if they are lions..."

(argh.. sorry for short)

[Kirsui]

Meri listened the two cheetahs talk with eachother. She gazed out of the entrance, feeling a bit uneasy. She let out a quiet sigh and stood up.
"Excuse me for a moment..." she muttered and walked out of the cave, seeing how almost everyone was talking to someone else and not feeling like she should just jump into one of the conversations.

So, Meri sat down on a rock, gazing to the horizon with her only eye. A slight gust of wind blew to her hair, making it wave on air. She waited, not really knowing what or why. But waiting seemed to be the only thing for her to do at the moment.

[genie]

"Friends...?" Cheabosa repeated looking blankly at Bahreeka, he'd never had any of those in his lonely existence - in fact he was't even sure what Bahreeka ment by the word, he'd been a only cub, his siblings killed by a jackel shortly after being born and after a while his mother had left him as is tradition and since then, he'd been alone.

[Riley]

Abrafo sighed, and for a moment, he looked less angry, he looked like he had a soul.
"You....you can't understand.... It's so much more than that..."
He looked towards the horizan then back at Amiza.
"When I was Anrai's age, I was...I was crowned king. My father....he was a tyrant, but I loved him. When he died, I was next. I didn't want to be a king. I ran away... I ran away from my troubles and the land that I held so dear to my heart. It was worth it. I didn't need anyone."
A small smile played on his muzzle now, his eyes grew soft, his voice light.
"Then I met Wiwiku, Anrai's mother. She was beautiful and dark and mysterious, everything I wanted and everything I needed. Her father didn't approve though... We ran away, we would start on our own. We didn't need anyone but eachother. We were young and nieve. I loved her, and I watched her, but I let her on her own. She didn't need to be protected, she was strong."
He sighed, and suddenly his face was dark again.

"She was pregenent with Anrai, and she was still adventurous. I watched her climb mountains, run after animals...everything. The day she gave birth was the day I thought everything was perfect, nothing could go wrong. For a while, nothing did. Then, one night...she just...she just..."
Abrafo hung his head, and Amaiza saw the tears begin to pour.
"She was just holding him...she died and I couldn't stop it...I couldn't help her...

I woke up...and she had a peaceful smile on her face...."

I have distanced myself from Anrai so that if something happens, I won't get hurt, and neither will he. I watch him carefully to prevent anything happening..."

Abrafo closed his eyes then opened them as he looked to the sky.
"I don't know what else I am supposed to do!"
He cried this more to the heavens than to Amaiza.

He never knew that behind him, Anrai was crying too.

(Gah, crappy post. Sorry it's so late Saf)

[Deleted]

(it's fine riley )

Bahreeka nodded. "yes, i know it seems weird, a cheetah having a few.. well a bit more than few friends.. that are lions." She smiled. "But i do have one friend that is a cheetah.." She added on.

______________________________________________________________

Amaiza was suprised when Abrafo started crying. She slowly raised her paw and put it on his shoulder, as if trying to comfort him. "Well.. if something was to happen.. at least you both would know that the time you spent together was grand.. " She said with a weak smile. "Try and become closer to him.. i know it might seem hard. And you don't want to incase he gets hurt.. But don't you think he's hurt enough already?" She replied to Abrafo simply.

[genie]

Cheabosa did't really understand what she meant, but she seemed happy, perhaps... perhaps they would allow him to stay around... he was't doing that well by himself and it could't be any worse in a group... indeed they seemed to be surviving better for it, so he asked "Do you think I could come along?"

[Deleted]

Bahreeka smiled. "Of course, I don't see why not.." She pondered on the idea, hoping that Zander wouldn't mind. "Oh.. and my cheetah friend.." She paused. "I was talking about you.." She said with a grin. "I'll be right back.." She said and winked. She got up and approached Zander, although he was with the new lioness. "Sorry to interupt.." She turned her attention to Zander. "Umm.. Zander.. you wouldn't mind if Chea came along on our little 'adventure' would you?" She asked pleadingly.

[genie]

Cheabosa awaited her return glancing around the various faces of the group it did make him nervous, he'd never been so close to lions in his life but they seemed a ok group and at worse he'd be alone again, he awaited fate.

[Lorien]

Zander looked down at Eva with a nod. "Yes, I'm afraid of what might happen if we do not start moving." He looked to the ground momentarily, closing his eyes. "All I know about my past is what I've seen in my visions...and in one of them, I watched as my father killed my mother and then tried to kill me as a cub." Sighing, he looked again to the mountains. "I'll make him pay for what he did or die trying."

Suddenly, Bahreeka appeared beside him, very eager like always. He listened to her plea and chuckled a bit, looking back to the cave to view the male cheetah. "Of course." He looked back to Bahreeka with a smile. "I wouldn't dream of leaving him here to fend for himself after what he just went through. Though we may be going to danger, I suppose he'd be in more peril if he were left alone." He then glanced over to Eva, the smile still on his face. "Shall we be going then?"

[Deleted]

Bahreeka grinned. "Thanks Zander!!" She said and gave him a quick hug before sprinting back to Cheabosa. "So would you like to join us? It's fine with Zander." She asked Cheabosa excitedly. "Although it might be a dangerous journey..." She thought out loud. "But... you should still come!" She then added on quickly.

[genie]

Cheabosa looked at the excited cheetah, smiled and nodded "Yes ok..." such a energetic cheetah, she made him feel welcomed, so there was at least that to being in a group even if it was going to be a dangerous journey, but then - would it be any less dangerous not being with them, he did't know.

[EvaJanus]

Eva returned Zander's smile and nodded. "I'm all for it! Looks like you might need to gather up everyone else." She wasn't about give orders to anyone, so she volunteered the job to Zander. Naturally kind of shy, Eva didn't want to bother the others. She didn't knwo any of them and didn't feel right suddenly taking charge. So she remained where she was and waited to see if she would be ordered task.

While she sat quietly, she noticed the form of a lioness nearby. The lioness was sitting around, her eyes and thoughts elsewhere. Eva had not seen this one before and she looked over the lioness, taking in her features. She was beautiful, but awfully quiet. Eva turned away again, not wanting to stare. This was an interesting crowd and she felt that soon enough she would be able to meet everyone and feel a little more at ease.

[Lorien]

Zander watched as Eva glanced over at Meri. She seemed lonely and deep in thought, and he hated to see her alone like this. For some reason, he felt as though he needed to protect her, as if she were a little sister. Slowly walking over to her, he sat below her on the ground next to the rock she sat on. "We're about to leave, Meri." He looked up at her, a slight smile on his face. "Are you ready for this?"

[Kirsui]

Meri was so busy looking around that she didn't see Zander coming at first. After all, she was half blind and she had turned her head to other direction. The white lioness turned her head quickly when she heard Zander speak to her. A smile rose to her muzzle.
"Yes, I'm ready.." she said, sighing a little and looking momentarily at the jungle in the distance. It was far away, but Meri wasn't sure if it was far enough.

"I miss my home..." she said suddenly. "I wish I could still live there... deep in the jungle with my pride."
She let out another sigh, turning her head so that she could see Zander.
"But I can't. I had a good reason to leave them, to leave my home."
Meri flattened her ears.
"After all, if I went back now... The place I used to call home wouldn't be the same anymore. It never was after... some events."

Meri got up and hopped down from the rock, turning to Zander again.
"More far from the jungle we get, the better. I really don't want to see it anymore... Or the lions that live inside it."
She glanced over to the rest of the group.
"Do you think they'd be ready to travel?" she asked from Zander. "I just kind of... would want to get moving again."

[Lorien]

Zander sighed, looking to the others as well. "They're going to have to be. I want to get moving as well...I just have a bad feeling about sticking around." He looked back to Meri. This was the first time he had heard her speak of...well, almost anything. She seemed so quiet and from what he heard, he knew she must have gone through a lot. He refrained from asking any questions, not wanting to cause her any pain by having to answer them. He then got up from sitting and began walking toward the group, momentarily looking back at Meri, a warm smile on his face. Although it was a curse to not remember most of one's past, it must have been an equal or worse curse TO remember. Although she might not look it or even think it herself, he knew that Meri was strong.

He turned back and walked toward Eva, whom he smiled at as he passed. "This way, I'll introduce you to everyone, and we'll get a move on." It seemed strange to him to be taking such charge like this, but this was his journey, his story. Finally reaching the others, he went to the two cheetahs first, not wanting to disturb the others. They seemed to be in deep conversation. "Bahreeka, I believe it's time we got a move on." He then looked down at the male, Cheabosa. "Are you alright to travel? If not, one of us can carry you until you are stronger." He then looked to Amaiza and the two new lions whom he did not know. He wondered if they would join them and also slightly why the older one was crying. It was probably something he wouldn't understand about family, so didn't want to stick his nose in.

[Deleted]

Bahreeka turned around when she heard Zanders voice. "YAY!!!!" She exclaimed, a bit over-joyed. She seemed to be back to her usual energetic, hyper self. "You ready to set off Chea?" She asked him excitedly.

(eek.. short!)

[genie]

Cheabosa was startled slightly by Bahreeka's sudden enthusiasm and nodded "Y-Yes..." a little lost for words to the excited cheatah before looking to Zander "Thankyou... I think I can manage now, I'm feeling better from the food" and he was, it had been much needed and energy was flowing to his much starved body.

[Deleted]

Bahreeka grinned, her inner child was shining brightly once more. She ran around him in circles. "Isn't this exciting!!!!" She exclaimed while laughing. She then ran up to Zander. "Should you go get her or should I?" She asked him, nodding her head in the direction of where Amaiza and the two lions were.

[EvaJanus]

Eva followed after Zander. He said he'd introduce her to everyone. This made her feel a little more at ease. With a small smile on her lips, she looked from member to member. She made sure to take in features so that she would remember who was a friend to her. For so long she'd done exactly this to predators and enemies. Basically raising herself, she had learned to tell which characters to avoid. Now she felt relieved that she could instead be able to determine who was a friend.

[Kirsui]

Meri stood still for a moment after Zander had left. She watched him to walk over to the new lioness who had just joined them. Momentarily Meri glanced back to the jungle before she went back to other members of the group. Meri stopped when she was close enough to hear them talk - and to be heard if necessary.

But... The white lioness didn't join in to the talk. She remained on her feet, gazing around the area as if expecting something to happen, or something to come. She couldn't help it, but she had a feeling that it would be better if they'd get moving again as soon as possible.

[Lorien]

Zander looked to Amaiza as she spoke to the others and then back at Bahreeka. "I'll let you go and get her." He then turned to Eva and smiled. "Before you go, this is Eva." He motioned to the lioness who had just joined them. "Eva this is Bahreeka." He then indicated to the other cheetah on the ground. "And this is Cheabosa." He smiled and then noticed Meri approach them. He walked a bit closer to her and sat again. "This is Meri." He then looked at Meri, and smiled. "Meri, this is Eva. She's the one who caught the food for Cheabosa not too long ago."

[genie]

Cheebosa looked between the 3 of them, they all seemed quite friendly which helped put him at ease and as Zander told Meri about Eva catching the food, that had saved him, he looked at her with a bit of a nod saying "thankyou..."

[Kirsui]

Meri smiled to Eva when Zander introduced her.
"Hello" the white lioness said politely, a faint smile still on her face. Once again her hair covered the right side of her face, hiding the damage that had caused her right eye to turn blind. She didn't know if Eva already knew she was half blind, nor did she really care.

Meri gazed in the distance, returning to the silent self she was. The smile faded from her face, replaced by a calm expression as she fell deep into her thoughts. With this group Meri felt safe. Nothing was like in her old pride. She wasn't ashamed of the long scar on her face, she didn't need to be.

Oh yes... This was exactly the group she had been dreaming of.

[Deleted]

Bahreeka stopped running around excitedly for the moment. "Hellooo there! Nice to meet ya!" She said with a big cheesy grin as she started to run towards Amaiza.

(short... -.- )