Offline
Sept 27, 2021 4:44:06 GMT
Tag me @semperferus
|
|
Eli
Jan 20, 2021 19:56:27 GMT
via mobile
Post by semperferus on Jan 20, 2021 19:56:27 GMT
Accepted!
|
|
Offline
Sept 27, 2021 4:44:06 GMT
Tag me @semperferus
|
|
Post by semperferus on Jan 15, 2021 1:55:35 GMT
Ma'at's ears twitched in sympathy for the leopard as she watched him limp off towards the trees after losing his kill. She may have been irritate how he had gotten the jump on the prey before her, but that didn't mean the spotted cat deserved to go hungry. He had no doubt been waiting as patiently for his opportunity at picking a gazelle off from the herd as she had been, baking in the rising sun with the biting flies until the moment was right. At least if she was going to walk away from the hunt with an empty stomach it was better than nursing some busted ribs or worse from catching the bad side of the massive lioness that beat him away from his kill.
Amari mentioned how it was taught by the senior huntresses that it wasn't honorable to steal prey when Nya brought the offering to her friend. The blond maned lioness had to agree with the ideals for the most part, even if the younger lionesses didn't find the merit in the teachings. She had fought over a kill a time or two when she travelled alone, not having the aid of a hunting party to bring down larger prey, and not as much as grass as this land had to sneak up on it. When you're starving, you can't think of morals. But this wasn't the case here. There was more than enough prey to go around and as frustrated as she had been to miss her mark there would be more opportunities. As for the leopard, the stiffness in his gait suggested that his next chance might have more challenge in play. In the interest of putting forth a show of good will by the pride, she considered offering a portion of the meat to the leopard. But when she looked again the other feline had disappeared into the thickets, making himself scarce less he suffer more damage.
Instead, she nodded her head in a show of appreciation for the offer of the meal, "Thank you, but I'm not hungry." Taking the food out of the mouth of the predator who caught it didn't sit well with her, but her principles weren't worth offending Nya by expressing why. Besides, she had a feeling that considering the hard stare she got from the large lioness that she didn't intend plan on having a lunch for three. "You two eat your fill. If there's any left over I'll help take it back to the pride so it doesn't fall waste to the scavengers. I'm sure the cubs wouldn't object."
The pale lioness found a spot in the shade to lay down in to escape the heat, giving the two their space but within a distance that allowed them to carry on in conversation. It felt good to let her muscles relax after keeping them tight for so long when she was parked out in the grass. "Well... You saw my plans for the day get disrupted. I suppose I could go make sure the supplies are stocked at Rafiki's tree... though I imagine the younger shamans in training have taken care of that. Bakari has been bugging me for a hunting lesson..." The young cub was a persistent when it came to finding excuses to follow her around and spend time with her. He had imprinted on her in some fashion when she picked him up all alone on open territory. When she brought him with her she had hoped that one of the lionesses of the pride would take him in, but he seemed insistent on sticking by her whenever possible despite her attempts to create distance.
While she spoke, she observed the other two lionesses in her company. They seemed very different in that Amari was very passionate, emotional, and open with those around here whereas Nya was much more rough, closed off and hardened, only really speaking when she had to. Except when Amari seemed to be in the picture. Their closeness was evident by the way that one was often seen around the other, and the way the other maned lioness seemed to take on an almost warmth about her where Amari was concerned. She treated her with a respect and compassion she showed no others. Chuffing under her breath, Ma'at paid special attention to their reactions as she said, "Sorry, I always seem to present myself as a third wheel when you two want to spend time together."
|
|
Offline
Sept 27, 2021 4:44:06 GMT
Tag me @semperferus
|
|
Post by semperferus on Jan 7, 2021 0:37:53 GMT
Maāat had been stalking this gazelle herd for what felt like ages. Her muscles were starting to cramp from keeping low to her belly with her paws underneath her frame, but the wind kept shifting and she had to keep readjusting her position. It also didnāt help that the prey seemed flighty today, constantly throwing their heads up and scanning the surroundings for signs of a threat. Every so often they would move about warily as if they were preparing to flee at the slightest shift of earth under her paws but after a moment they appeared to calm down and return to grazing.
While she wasnāt stark white like the plumage of an ibis, the pale lioness always hated how her creamy pelt made her stick out like a sore claw. She hadnāt faired much better in the golden desert sands, but at least here there was more foliage cover to hide within. It also helped that the straw color of her bushy mane made her blend a bit more in the grasses when they yellowed in the changing season, so even when the breeze caught it the motion of her fur billowing matched with the waving of the stalks that surrounded her.
She had set her eyes on a young, spindly legged gazelle that lacked the experience of her peers to pay attention to her surroundings. She had continued to wander further from the group in search of the lusher portions of grass, greedily prioritizing the taste of the tender roots over the security of the herd that protected her life. The meal she would provide the pride would be worth the patience Maāat was trying to hold onto, waiting until the moment was right for her to strike.
āJust a little furtherā¦ā She thought silently. There was still too much open space between her and her quarry for her to pounce yet. Her body was built for power, not grace, and was too large to hold the speed and agility required to match up with the most graceful of the antelope species. It would require taking it by surprise with one quick burst of speed and knocking it off balance before it could get its legs underneath it. She let her ears swivel forward just a hair in anticipation as she held her breath.
Suddenly, the cluster of grazing undulates scattered, the ground rumbling with their thunderous pronking to warn the group of danger as they fled. Bewildered, she dared to lift her head up from where she was poised and her green eyes swept the patch of grasses in front of her to find out what had disturbed them. As the herd thinned out in their retreat her eyes spotted the leopard, holding his catch triumphantly in his jaws. He was heading the opposite direction with a confident swagger to his gait, no doubt seeking out a tree to drag the kill up into its branches for safekeeping.
Maāat scowled, her lips drawing back from her teeth in frustration. Now she just felt stiff from sitting in the dirt for far too long and didnāt even have anything to show for it. Shaking her head, she crossed the open terrain that she had been overlooking without any further concern of being sighted by the herds at this point. Now that blood had been spilled here, it was unlikely they would return any time soon and would likely move on to a new grazing place for the time being.
Catching a familiar scent on the breeze, she followed the direction it came from and saw Amari lounging on a rock warmed by the sun. She seemed much more peaceful than their last encounter and for that she was glad. It was good to see she was capable of keeping her spirits up, in spite of the grief and torment that had plagued her. The young lioness actually looked to have been downright enraptured by watching the excitement that just took place, a stark contrast to how she felt about the outcome for herself. Striding in her direction, she flicked her tail in greeting and gave her a friendly nod, āAmari. You look well.ā She glanced over her shoulder in the direction the leopard had moved off in, her ear twitching, "Some of us appear have more luck than others, today."
|
|
Offline
Sept 27, 2021 4:44:06 GMT
Tag me @semperferus
|
|
Post by semperferus on Jan 2, 2021 2:01:30 GMT
Maāat watched the others form a comforting pile together, while she stayed along the edge of the den. She was glad to see that venting some of their pain had brought the other lionesses some comfort. But she also worried that they still held onto their pain, as if setting it free would allow those they viewed as their adversaries to win. They were prisoners of their own revolving grief, unable and unwilling to let the others in, while lamenting that they were being treated unfairly. She wanted to make friends here, but allowing them to continue to hurt themselves couldnāt sit right with her.
Breathing deeply, she tried to choose her words carefully, though she knew much of it was probably not what they wanted to hear. āItās hard to understand anotherās intentions without first letting go of your own grievancesā¦ From what I can gather since Iāve been here, the land and the pride were much like it is now before your father ruledā¦ You may have lived comfortably at the time of his power, being Scarās daughters, but it didnāt seem like that was the case for much of the rest of the pride.ā She listened when others within the pride spoke around her. They werenāt often afraid of her challenging their point of view because she was a stranger to them who had pledged her fealty to Simba in exchange for safety. When asked, they would talk of the hardships they faced, the starvation and the uncertainty of their future, their lack of freedom. āHyenas were given as much favor as the lions within your hunting grounds and the pride and the land suffered for it as a whole. You were fed while others went with empty bellies. You were protected while others lived in fear for their safety. Nala could have easily left these lands and stayed thereā¦ But could you say you would have left Amari behind if you felt she was in danger? Forgotten her and moved on? I can see she has hurt you, but Iām sure she only did what she thought was right...ā
āA king looks after his whole pride, not only those that suit himā¦ No doubt Nala and the other lionesses felt as you do nowā¦ Mourning their king, their loss of status and respect, and security. Except from what I can tell you may not be as held in high regard as you wish since Simba took over, but you arenāt going hungry and aside from being given the cold shoulder by some of your fellow pride members, you are safe. You say you donāt have respect, and yet Simba and Nala allow you to look after their cubs. Their blood. Their heirs. If they didnāt trust or respect you on some level in spite of your father then why would they allow that, when you could easily cause them pain so easily? I donāt believe you would, and deep down they donāt either.ā She kept her tone even, studying them with her tail twitching. āPlease donāt misunderstand meā¦ I understand your desire to want to leave. Maybe you would find somewhere you could be happyā¦ But I also know how much worse of a situation you may find yourselves in.ā Her green eyes found Nya in the dark, giving her a slight nod, āIām sure you know as I do.ā
The electricity in the air from the lightning made her mane want to stand on end, the fierce roaring from the sky chasing the light through the sky. āYou donāt need to forget the past, but if you allow it then it will be like this stormā¦ The thunder your anger, the lightning your pain, and the rain your sorrowā¦ And through it all you will not be able to see the future in front of you. You must have a clear horizon to be able to know how to find your way.ā
|
|
Offline
Sept 27, 2021 4:44:06 GMT
Tag me @semperferus
|
|
Bakari
Dec 24, 2020 3:44:31 GMT
Post by semperferus on Dec 24, 2020 3:44:31 GMT
Bakari the basics Name ā¢ Bakari (means "Hopeful" in swahili, and "Noble oath" in egyptian) Nicknames ā¢ N/A Age ā¢ Pre-Teen Gender ā¢ Male Sexuality ā¢ Pride/Pack ā¢ Pridelands Alliance ā¢ Unsure Position ā¢ Cub Other ā¢ the appearance Species ā¢ Lion Eye Colour ā¢ Green with golden sclera Markings & Scars ā¢ Scratches on his nose and left foreleg. Small dot under right eye. Height ā¢ Above Average Weight ā¢ Above Average Voice Actor ā¢ Mason Vale (at current age) Basic Appearance ā¢ Color - The majority of his fur is a light brown. His muzzle, underbelly and toes are a dark tan, and the color under his eyes are a lighter shade of tan. His ears are tipped in a dark brown color that matches the color above his eyes, and as he grows his mane will take on this same shade. He has a gradient of darker brown above his nose, which is a dark brown, the same color as his tail tuft. He has freckles around his whiskers, and a small birthmark that looks like a dot under his right eye.
Other characteristics - As a cub heās kind of a little truck. He has broad features from his skull and muzzle to his forelegs and while it proportions out as he gets older he still maintains a fairly stocky appearance. This makes him a bit clumsy and not particularly fast, as he often trips over his large paws. The fur on the top of his head is starting to tuft up in the impression of a mane that shows that it will be somewhat wavy, with several whorls forming in it already. He has a scratch that goes along the right side of his nose down onto his muzzle, as well as a slash of scars across his left foreleg. the personality Personality ā¢ Bakari is a jovial sort much of the time. He is exuberant and persistent as a youngster, compulsive and a bit stubborn and itās hard to get an idea out of his head once heās thought of it. However he is also quite sympathetic and straightforward, hardly one to complain he is usually trying to cheer his friends up and distract them from their troubles. He may be overcompensating for some of his own past traumas, knowing how it feels to be scared or angry and not wishing those feelings on the ones he cares about. He is a bit more reserved around adult male lions, but is slowly gaining confidence as he feels safer in the Pridelands. He doesn't like talking about what happened to his family or how he got his scars.
Likes ā¢ Practicing hunting on grasshoppers | Laying in the sun | Exploring
Dislikes ā¢ Being cold or hungry | Nightmares | Being alone
History ā¢ Bakari was born in another small pride whose king was starting to show his age. A rogue took advantage of the ailing king and challenged him, and his youth and strength was enough to come out victorious. When the reigning male fell the lionesses did what they could to protect their cubs, but they could only hold him off temporarily. The cubs scattered, trying to hide in the tall grasses, Bakari trying to lead the younger ones away to safety as soon as his mother roared for them to hide. But in the chaos they got turned around, and they were suddenly found by the strange male. Bakari tried to protect the others who were grabbed first, but in the process he was injured and in his fear he ran away while the rogue was distracted.
Injured and scared, he wandered as far as his legs could take him. He knew he couldnāt go back home unless he wanted to share the same fate as the cubs he grew up with. Yet he wasnāt able to hunt himself and couldnāt travel more than a few days before collapsing. When he woke up he saw a strange lion standing over him with a mane and he panicked at first, but when the lion spoke he realized it was a female that had a mane. She gave him some food to build up his strength and let him travel with her to the Pridelands. She is still his guardian of sorts, though she thinks he is underfoot a lot of the time and foolish she wonāt allow anything bad to happen to him.
He isnāt sure what happened to his mother or the rest of his family, and he often wonders if he will ever see them again. He still has bad dreams about what happened to him, and his scars serve as a reminder of it when heās not asleep. However, he is glad to be safe now, and tries to be tough, not wanting others to worry about him. He wants to be able to be strong and take care of others, instead of running scared so he will usually try to prove himself in foolish ways.
the FAMILy Father ā¢ Akida Mother ā¢ Johari (from another pride, fate unknown, NPC unless someone wants to create her) Siblings ā¢ Mate ā¢ Offspring ā¢ Others ā¢ the role player Name ā¢ semperferus
Nickname ā¢ semp, semfer, possum
Age ā¢ Not yet 30
Password ā¢ In your reflection Other Characters ā¢ Ma'at roleplay Sample See Ma'at
WORDS: 000 |
|
|
Offline
Sept 27, 2021 4:44:06 GMT
Tag me @semperferus
|
|
Post by semperferus on Dec 23, 2020 6:25:53 GMT
Maāat listened quietly for a time, allowing them to have the opportunity to let out their anger and anguish that they had been stifled from showing within the borders of their home. It was difficult to tell which had upset them more - the way they were treated, or the way their father had been treated in the event of his passing. When they had finished, she responded calmly, āYou are fortunate to have been raised in a pride where females are able to hold such titles, to be considered 'princesses'... 'queens'. But that is only a rank. Rank only gives you the power to tell others what they can and cannot doā¦ Status howeverā¦ Status is respect, and respect is something you give to yourself, not what someone else can give to you. Only you can prove to them what it is that you deserve, through your actions. When you take the time to earn it, then it is far more worthwhile than something that is handed to you when youāre a mewling cub still suckling at your mother, expecting others to follow your word when you have yet proved nothing to them.ā
On the topic of the teachings their father had offered them, she was surprised that what he had shared with his cubs was sound advice. Living inside the bubble of the Pridelands offered a narrow scope of the realities of the world.
āIn the clan I was born in, our rituals and laws were quite different than they are here, so indeed your father was right when he told you that.ā Her ears flattened into her mane, hesitant to share parts of her own past with the other lionesses. Yet they had been open with her, so it was only fair that she shared some of her own scars with them. Maāatās voice was low and somber as she recounted what she had been raised to know. āWe were taught that while your soul is in your body, your body belongs to the clan. It fights for the clan, it gives new life to the clan, and if necessary it dies for the clanā¦ If a respected individual passed, they were gutted so that their organs may give strength to their clan as one last show of sacrificeā¦Except for the heart. They need that for their judgementā¦ā
Prey wasn't always as plentiful in her birthplace as it was here, and while she was sure the custom was born from a necessity for survival, that didn't mean she favored it. This was only one of the many reasons she had for finding a way to escape her old home. While as cub she had not initially been alarmed by the display of cannibalism, it was easily one of the first customs that she grew a literal distaste for as she grew older and began to form her own consciousness of what felt right or wrong.
Feeling the need to divert away from that particular subject, she carried on with the parts of the death rituals she grew up with that didnāt fully repulse her. āAfterwards, the remains are left for the vultures and jackals. Vultures are a symbol of royal protection, as well as rebirth, and the jackals are the shadows of Death. When they scavenge on the bodies of the dead, they take pieces of them back with them to their masters so they may hopefully reach the end of their journey. After the soul is freed from the body, it is its own entity and may do as it pleases until their heart has been judged. If the one who died were to not be honored by the clanā¦ the executed, the deserters, rivals from other clansā¦ they are brought to the water and given to the crocodiles, whom we respected and feared as they ruled the water as we ruled the landā¦ so the disgraced ones may be dragged down where their soul would be drowned so they may never again rise to the surface.ā
She was sure she would currently fall into the latter category with her former clan, which is why she had travelled so far to begin with. Dying in the desert would have offered her a better chance of a fair judgement in the afterlife than anything her former clan would have done to her for farcical crimes they made up for her.
Shaking her head, she sighed heavily. āWhat Iām trying to get at, I suppose, is that if your fatherās spirit does still walk the earth, he may find his way. Perhaps his fate is yet undecided if, as you say, he had some good in him despite what bad he may have done.ā
Maāat wouldnāt say it outside her own thoughts, but she saw little difference in how their father had killed his own brother and how Simba had killed his uncle. One allowed wildebeest to finish the job, the other hyenas. The only difference was who was hurt in the end. No matter how one looked at it, the ending result was loss and slowly coming to terms with the reality of their loved oneās killer taking control of their futures. The pride members all had more in common then they realized.
|
|
Offline
Sept 27, 2021 4:44:06 GMT
Tag me @semperferus
|
|
Post by semperferus on Dec 22, 2020 21:29:13 GMT
Hearing Nyaās question, Maāat gazed out at the haunting lands outside their morbid shelter. Having been preoccupied with tracking down Amari through the rain during her first pass, this was the first real look she was able to give it. The sheets of rain concealed much of the distant view, but she could still make out the clusters of bones and steep outcroppings of rock bordering it. Despite the fact that it was currently being drenched, it gave off a sense of barren and dry earth, the smudges of the dust clinging to the skeletons. āIāve never been to this place beforeā¦ When I first came to this territory I wandered down from the Northern Sandsā¦ And even the desert didnāt seem so full of desolation.ā
She glanced at Amari to affirm her comment, āI had wondered why a young lioness would be headed to such a placeā¦ It didnāt seem safe.ā She wasnāt so sure she was wrong either. Yet somehow it brought the silver female comfort, or at least the memories associated with it appeared to. Her ears twitched with intrigue when she mentioned her father and how his spirit may be tied here, or at least the superstitions that suggested so. Among the majority of the pride she had found that many cursed the former ruler. She wasnāt ignorant to those who missed his presence, but she had never had the opportunity to be around them in such isolation that they may speak freely of him.
Having not been born here, she had no previous loyalties to any of the Prideland kings, aside from Simba who currently ruled.. And with that, she also found a lack of animosity. All she could tell was that at least two of the lionesses in her current company were hurting. āFor what itās worthā¦ I donāt know what kind of king your father was. I never met him. But that doesnāt mean you should be denied your right to grieve his passing." She kneaded the rain softened earth under her paws with the points of her claws, lost in thought as she spoke. "Whatever actions he committed in life, his heart will be weighed as he continues to the next place, and such judgement is not ours to deliver. And certainly any sins of your father should not be inherited by you. I hope the other lions in the pride don't treat you with intentional cruelty, despite what their feelings may have been for him."
Ma'at was certain that the other lions who held such contempt for Scar had never gone through a transition of power that was not clean and full of ceremony. Truthfully, they had no idea how good they had it for however long they possessed such a simplified concept of monarchy. For clans outside this prosperous land, other lions did not have it so full of formality and decorum. Likewise, the members of the pride cursing Simba for his transition into his own power and slaying Scar were just as sheltered. Based on what she had learned thus far from others, he had taken his power in fair combat and his status went without question without factoring in ideals they held such regard as birthright and heirs. She had not been raised to know any other way, and thinking as many of her current pride members did in terms of their customs was challenging for her at times.
|
|
Offline
Sept 27, 2021 4:44:06 GMT
Tag me @semperferus
|
|
Post by semperferus on Dec 20, 2020 4:50:24 GMT
The sound of heavy paw steps against the mud had alerted her to the presence of other lions behind her before they appeared. The first was another lioness, around Amari's age but large, even coming up to her own height despite being taller than most of her pride mates. She recognized her from around the pride but if there was anyone who spent more time on the fringe of the group than herself it was this one, always coming off as somewhat hostile in her posture and now was no different. It didnāt really surprise her that she looked at her with little sense of familiarity, and the tense sneer to her muzzle wasnāt particularly friendly.
Maāat stood her ground, the pale tip of her tail flicking. While she was learning to become a shaman, she had been a highly ranked warrior in what she considered her past life. She didnāt want a fight, but she wouldnāt find herself being intimidated either and knew she could hold her own. They were both here for the same reason, concern for a member of their pride and there was no use in bringing out claws. But before she could say a single word to dissolve the tension, another had joined them, rushing past them also to Amari's aid and she found herself being scrutinized by two pairs of piercing blue eyes.
Luckily, the lioness they were all here for emerged and thankfully Amari appeared to be unharmed, at least physically. There was no mistaking a definite unease to her tone, perhaps even sadness that gave away emotional distress that had obviously drawn her to this gloomy landscape of death and despair. She mentioned her father, and she knew by way of the chatter among the other lionesses that she was born from the reign of the previous king. The reddish lioness beside her had to be her sister, Iniko, who was also being trained as a shaman, though they rarely crossed paths.
It was a large pride that inhabited this land and being new to the group she was somewhat of an outlier, having not gone through the events that transpired before her arrival. Many of the others had been welcoming, while others werenāt sure they could trust her considering she hadnāt endured their hardships with them. Or perhaps they just didnāt know where she stood on the matter of politics. The whole situation was conspicuously delicate and she tried her best to remain neutral when conversing with the others, not knowing exactly which opinions were shared amongst them.
Either way, she could tell that in this particular bunch, she was the outsider. Amari was at least compassionate enough to not want to leave her out in the rain, but Maāat hesitated as she eyed the other. Her voice was steady when she replied, āThank you, I appreciate the offer, Amariā¦ I didnāt mean to intrude on your privacy, but I saw you leaving and didnāt think you should be out here alone in the stormā¦ā Settling towards the very edge of the opening to the den to give the other two space closest to the pale lioness, glancing at them both, āBut it appears you are already well looked after by those who care about you.ā
Letting the water drip from her blonde mane, she listened to the thunder roaring over their heads. āI don't mind the rain, but at this point it would probably be safest if we all waited for this to run its course before thinking about heading back. Which could be morning by the look of things...ā
|
|
Offline
Sept 27, 2021 4:44:06 GMT
Tag me @semperferus
|
|
Post by semperferus on Dec 18, 2020 6:25:30 GMT
Maāat had sensed the impending storm blowing in as the sky began darkening by the time the meal that had fed the pride had begun to grow cod. It actually improved her mood for the evening at the prospect of rain. It happened far less often in the desert she had grown up in, even in the wet season there was only enough rain to replenish the scattered watering holes. Instead of heading back to Pride Rock with the others, she decided to walk off the full feeling in her belly and took to a path through the grasses just as the water began to pelt from the sky.
Her fur grew more damp by the minute, but she didnāt care. The feeling was a welcome cooled touch after the long day of hot sun before it had been covered by the growing clouds. Herds of prey animals bounded flightily in the distance, no doubt the roll of distant thunder making them more edgy than usual. Not to mention the sight of a lion on the prowl through the dim evening light. They couldnāt be certain whether or not she had eaten yet, and they were wise to be nervous. It was only their nature.
A very distinct shape caught her attention several yards ahead of her. The silhouette of a young lioness slunk through the grasses, her silver pelt giving off a sense of familiarity. Maāat knew she was called Amari, but she couldnāt say she had spoken many words to her since she arrived. At least, more than necessary. She was still finding her footing amongst the other members of the pride, especially the lionesses who seemed the most unsettled after the events that transpired prior to her arrival.
Had this one been one of the adults, she may have kept her nose down and minded her own business, keeping to her own path. However, Amari was still a juvenile and based on the direction she was heading, she was going towards the edge of the borders. And the younger female looked determined, wherever she was headed.
Feeling concerned, perhaps even responsible in case something were to happen to her, Maāat decided to alter her course and follow Amariās trail before the rain got too thick to see her and covered her scent.
---
It became quite obvious when she had stepped beyond the Pridelands. The ground was no longer blanketed in the grass, and the surrounding area was so still with no sense of inhabitation. Through the haze of the rain, she could see large mounds and curved structures littering the landscape. As lightning flashed, their appearances became more clear with their vacant eye cavities and worn textures of bleached bone. It wasnāt enough to make her uneasy, but it did put her on guard.
She had heard of this place when others in the pride would talk about the previous king, Simbaās uncle, and the hyenas he had employed when he took over. The Elephant Graveyard, it was fittingly called. Why would Amari travel to such a place, on a stormy night no less? Maāat had briefly lost sight of her when the wind began to make the rain blow right into her face.
āWhich way could she have gone?ā She thought to herself, looking among the looming skeletons for any type of caverns or overhangs that could be used as a den or shelter.
After a moment of hesitation and studying her surroundings, she spotted some tracks in the muddy soil that led to the colossal skull of what was probably a massive bull elephant at one point. Creeping closer with a cautious twitch to her tail, she scented Amariās mark on the edge of the skull as she approached and peered inside. Not wanting to startle her, she did her best to be heard over the sound of the rumbling thunder without shouting too loudly when she called out, āAmari? Are you in there?ā
|
|
Offline
Sept 27, 2021 4:44:06 GMT
Tag me @semperferus
|
|
Post by semperferus on Dec 15, 2020 0:45:22 GMT
Ma'at drew her lips back in a yawn that caught her off guard as she walked the path from Pride Rock down to Rafiki's tree. She had been up before dawn doing her best to meditate before the morning hunt, watching the stars and trying to listen for the sprits of the past kings that Rafiki told her about. It felt like ages since she had heard any sort of whispers since she arrived in the Pridelands, and she was starting to wonder if the silence was a sign that the spirits had not been leading her to this land after all. Not wanting to allow herself to grow discouraged, she hoped that talking with the old monkey would offer some insight into her feelings, and perhaps he could help guide her through her troubles.
The large tree loomed ahead of her, the landmark unmistakable with its broad trunk compared to the slim acacia that sprouted around it. Its thick growth of leaves created a welcomed cover of shade in the sun that was starting to beat down on the savannah. She circled around its base, her neck craned up towards the canopy while her darkly rimmed ears swiveled. The pale lioness couldn't hear his voice humming from up above, but it sounded as if someone was up there. Bowing into a crouch, she readied herself for the first jump and was all the more thankful that her leg had healed well from her injury. Pouncing up, her claws dug into the grooves of the tree and she scrabbled up the height with more struggle than she would admit to. Trees this large didn't grow in her old lands, and she was no leopard, but while she was larger than the spotted cats, her legs were strong and she managed.
When she had reached the top, she realized that it wasn't a mandrill in the old tree, but a lioness instead. "Oh, Valka, it is you. Sorry, I was just looking for Rafiki, but..," she glanced around the space around them, "..it seems he is out." Not in a hurry to make the trip back down the tree in case Rafiki were to come back soon, Ma'at sat to catch her breath and took the opportunity to study the colorful paintings that filled the walls formed by the branches. So much history seemed to be recorded here, and she still had barely scratched the surface beyond the most recent events that had taken place before her arrival. To put it mildly things were obviously strained among the other lionesses. She just tried to not be a burden to the pride and stayed out of the way when she could. Turning her gaze back to Valka, she could see the troubled look in her features that mirrored some of her own feelings of unease. "You look like you are also here looking for answers."
|
|
Offline
Sept 27, 2021 4:44:06 GMT
Tag me @semperferus
|
|
Ma'at
Dec 14, 2020 2:06:01 GMT
Post by semperferus on Dec 14, 2020 2:06:01 GMT
Ma'At the basics Name ā¢ Ma'at Alias ā¢ Oni (in her old clan), means "wanted". She has not shared this with anyone. Age ā¢ Adult Gender ā¢ Female Sexuality ā¢ Questionable - she doesn't trust in deeper feelings of affection at the moment. Pride/Pack ā¢ Pridelands Alliance ā¢ Simba Position ā¢ Shaman in training. Other ā¢ the appearance Species ā¢ Lion Eye Colour ā¢ Deep olive green Markings & Scars Notch in left ear (status symbol in her old clan) Height ā¢ Above Average Weight ā¢ Above Average Voice Actor ā¢ Claudia Black Basic Appearance ā¢ Ma'at is clearly not birthed from any of the gene pools of this area. She is tall, with long muscular legs and an equally powerful body at that. She does not carry the typical boxy muzzle of many of the lionesses here, instead her snout is much more elongated and along with the rest of her facial features, very angular. Here eyes are large and almond shaped. There are dark slashes underneath her eyes, a great contrast from her pale, almost white fur. Due to a hormone imbalance she has had since birth (her body produces an abnormal amount of testosterone, which also makes her infertile), a bushy half-mane of a pale, straw-yellow shade sprouted when she neared adulthood. The fur on her tail is a few shades lighter than that. Ma'atās belly, chin, toes and throat all share a pristine white shade. the personality Personality ā¢ Ma'at, growing up in the place she did, stands out a bit. She was raised in a very religious and ritualistic pride, and even though she ran away from the oppression, it still left a lasting effect on her. Ma'at is very stoic and can come off as a bit cold sometimes. She is not intentionally unkind, it is just that she thinks in a logical sort of way that may hurt others as a result. She has a strong sense of justice and wants to do what is right, but sometimes she is conflicted. She does not like making deeper connections with others as she is afraid she will let them down like she has before. And love is absolutely out of the question. She has been broken in the past and it took a long time to rebuild herself, and thus her guard is almost constantly up. But, if one does manage to get around that, Ma'atis fiercely loyal and almost frighteningly protective of all those she cares about. In her old clan, Ma'at had been amongst the elite warriors due to her light colored coat (it is a great honor), and has been trained well. Despite this, she prefers to study a situation before she jumps and does not light unnecessary bloodshed.
Likes ā¢ Quiet | Order | Rain Dislikes ā¢ Oppressive rule | Unnecessary violence | The sound of jackals
History ā¢ ((Gonna be somewhat vague here, only because Iām still working out the details of exactly what sorts of beliefs and rituals and events went on in her past pride to set her where she is now and will add to it as I flesh it out))
Maāatās origins began a great distance from the Pridelands where the earth beneath her paws was more sand than soil. Her pride was as ruthless as they were devout in their beliefs and it was a rigid upbringing. As a small cub, she had known no other way and listened keenly to the stories her mother told her and the laws set by their King and elders. It was only once she grew older that questions began to form in her head, and yet even then she didnāt dare voice them. For heresy was not taken kindly within their ranks, so she let the questions quiet themselves to the back of her mind. As she grew stronger, she did her best to maintain the status quo and prove herself a proud and loyal member of her pride. Yet, ignorance could only allow her peace for so long and when the opportunity arose to disband from her family, she left behind the only home she had known to follow a land that was spoken of in the rumors that had travelled on the wind.
the FAMILy Father ā¢ Unknown, one of the males in her old clan. Mother ā¢ Zeza Siblings ā¢ Mate ā¢ Haddaway (just a joke, no mate) Offspring ā¢ None Others ā¢ the role player Name ā¢ semperferus Nickname ā¢ semp, semper, semfer Age ā¢ Not quite 30 Password ā¢ In your reflection Other Characters ā¢ None roleplay Sample āSo tell old Rafiki. What made you travel so far from your home to this place?ā
She resisted the urge to unsheath her claws while he prodded her injured leg, pain pulsing deep into the muscle from where the horns of the bull had pummelled her when she tried to take down one of the calves in the herd.
He was humming under his breath as he worked, and if nothing else the steady tone of his voice was a distraction so she focused on that while she considered her answer. Where could she even begin? Perhaps the most simple answer would be best.
āThe place I came from is no longer my home.. But after I left I felt something pulling me here. I donāt know how to explain itā¦ Iāve heard about these lands since I was old enough to travel the borders of my clanās home. When rumors travel so far into the northlands, they almost become as if legendsā¦ Like the stories I listened to as a cub. I guess I wanted to find out if they were true, but Iām not sure how I managed to find this place. I thought I was lost so many times...ā Her voice softened, reflecting on the hardships she endured on her journey.
The monkey chuckled under his breath, āWe all walk a path through life, and when the path grows dark itās easy to feel lost and uncertain. But often it requires going through the dark to be able to find the light. You have always been where you were meant to be even when you couldnāt realize it then. When you hear something inside you guiding you, itās often good to listen.ā His words brought some peace to her thoughts, and whatever he was doing for her leg was offering relief as well.
āI would take it easy for at least a few days, but your leg will heal.ā
āBut how am I going to be able to hunt?ā Her stomach had been empty for days, and it was the hunger that drove her to make a foolish play at that calf on her own. If she stayed off her feet to allow her leg to heal, she would be too weak to even catch a hare.
āIsnāt it obvious? You will go to the pride. Simba and his lions will let you rest while you recover and then you can decide where your path will lead you next. Now come, come! You can walk, just take it slow. Just follow Rafiki.ā
It couldnāt be that easy to just walk into a new clan as a stranger with not even her strength to offer and ask to be tended to like a weak cub. Her ownā¦ Her previous clan would have never taken in a rogue in such a way without forcing them to become indoctrinated to their beliefs. And what if the laws and practices of this pride were as bad or worse than where she had come from? Still, the monkey seemed sure of himself, and he was the kindest face she had met in a long time. Something told her to trust him. So, as he had suggested, she chose to listen.
Rising in a less than graceful manner, she centered her weight before stepping in line with him and nodding for him to lead on. Walking gingerly on her damaged hindleg, she had to admit it felt far better than she expected it would when she accepted Rafikiās help. She envied his ability to cause relief and comfort over pain and suffering.
āRafiki, might I be able to ask you a question?ā She kept her voice low and respectful, unsure if he would find her request absurd.
āOf course, if Rafiki may ask one in return.ā
āI want to do something good with my life besides taking the lives of other living things. I want to do what you can do, at least in some capacity. Would it be disrespectful if I ask that you show me how I might be able to do that? To be a shaman.ā
To her surprise he seemed to find her question amusing. āWho the spirits of the old kings choose to speak to is not limited to old mandrills. If you are willing, I will show you what I can teach you.ā
She actually dared to smile, an expression that felt foreign to her. It quickly vanished, replaced by a frown of curiosity. āAnd your question?ā
āWhat is your name? If Iām to teach you, then I should know what to call you.ā
Lowering her head with her ears back, she watched the ground pass beneath her paws while she thought to herself. No one had used her name since she had left the sands, and she felt a distance between herself and her name as wide as was between herself and her old life. After some moments had passed, she finally answered him, āYou may call me, Maāat.ā
WORDS: 859 |
|
|