Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
|
Post by Samwel Igwe on Jan 7, 2021 1:56:42 GMT
Sam had started to relax...
He guessed that being at this Pride Rock place helped. It was the king’s domain after all, and that monkey, mandrill, thing healing him had made him finally take a few deep breaths. He was still scared and the feeling of loneliness was still there but at least he didn’t have to sleep with one eye open anymore.
Plus, this place was beautiful.
From Pride Rock he could pretty much see the whole “kingdom” and almost immediately he’d taken to quietly watching the comings and going’s of things. It was pretty eye-opening to see how close animal society was to their own and different. And this was only after a couple of days.
But most of all, Sam enjoyed watching the sunrise. He’d discovered the first morning after he’d arrived how awe-inspiring it was and he’d taken the chance to watch it the following morning. And then today. Most of the lions weren’t up at the moment so he at least was able to watch it in relative peace too.
This morning he’d decided to draw it.
Sure he could never capture the intense beauty. But the Pridelands at sunrise was just too much a sight to behold to not even at least try. He wasn’t a bad artist either - nothing special but maybe in time... He paused and gave a sigh in between strokes in his sketch pad. If they were stuck here his pencil could only last so long - so he might not get the chance.
So he simply sat there calmly and continued to enjoy and sketch. At least while he still could.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2021 23:36:10 GMT
Sam had chosen an unfortunate time and place to be alone to sketch the magnificent, awe-inspiring surroundings that encompassed Pride Rock. Three lean, dark shapes were slowly crossing the threshold that divided the green, bountiful Pridelands from the hot, barren Outlands: Queen Zira, flanked by two of her burliest followers for additional protection from any hostility met by Simba or his subjects. The skinny lioness's red eyes flicked warily from side to side as she approached Pride Rock, taking a few deep breaths inward to steady her nerves. White-hot adrenaline rushed through her with pent-up rage at the idea of meeting with Scar's killer and her exiler, but Zira kept telling herself she was here only out of necessity. Simba might very well have gleaned information about the arrival of these vast, foreboding creatures from the sky, and she was determined to find out what measures she needed to take to secure her own safety and the strength of her pride. "Queen Zira," one of them spoke up waveringly, "are you sure it's necessary to confront the Pridelanders about the birds?" "Be quiet, you fool," Zira snapped. "Last I checked, I decide what's best for us." She raised a paw and unsheathed her long, menacing claws. "Unless you'd like to give me some feedback?" Her bodyguard gulped and said nothing more. The trio continued to encroach upon Pride Rock, and a new scent had started to meet the queen's nostrils. Her eyes narrowed, wondering if it signaled some new danger, but she pressed onward.
|
|
Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
|
Post by Samwel Igwe on Jan 11, 2021 1:02:14 GMT
It took Sam a few minutes before he noticed Zira and the other two lionesses.
The boy normally wouldn’t have thought anything of it, but honestly? Something felt off at the look of them. The lionesses that were in the Pride all seemed well kept and gave off a friendly, though maybe tougher aura. Whereas in the case of these three.... Something seemed leaner, more unsettling.
He really didn’t like the look he saw in Zira’s eyes either.
Though Sam hadn’t been around long enough to know about the Outlanders yet. He at the very least felt like with his nervousness it was best to get an adult. Normally, he’d get his mom - but he’d have to settle for the next best thing which was an adult in charge.
Taking a deep breath, Sam quickly, but quietly made his way into the lion’s den. Quickly searching for the king, he snuck around slumbering lionesses and called out softly. “Simba, you might want to come out onto the rock,” he managed. Hoping he didn’t wake the queen or their Cubs he was sure were nearby. “There’s three lionesses heading this way and they don’t look friendly.”
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2021 19:40:52 GMT
He dreamed often. The shadows of his mind twisting and changing every night to give him yet another memory made real in the depths of his mind. This night, he dreamt of the day he returned home. It was as barren and dry as when he first came home, but instead of finding hungry lions at Pride Rock there was nothing. Nothing but shadows that crept along behind him, the sound of hyenas laughing somewhere in the distance betraying the fact that nothing seemed to exist. The den that existed was empty as he looked inside, and a crash of a lightening bolt drew his attention to where Pride Rock tapered off to rise above the plains of the Pridelands. There, finally, existed a single figure, illuminated for but a moment in the strike of light that ignited the dry brush below.
But it wasn't the uncle he had come to face. Instead, Simba turned to face the stern look of his father. The larger lion stood motionless, his expression drawn in coldness as he regarded his son. His mouth parted, he started to speak, and Simba was jolted awake from his dream by the sound of soft, rushed whispers into his ear. The lion had to wait a beat for the pounding of his heart to slow before he opened his eyes to regard the young man cub that had come into their possession just a few short days ago.
He was up and moving the moment that Sam spoke of three strange lioness', knowing that the chance of them being anyone other than Outsiders to be extremely slim so early in the morning. But only three? What was the purpose of that? Still, he stepped easily around a few of the lioness', leaving Nala and their cubs to sleep before he was rousing a few of the lioness' laying further towards the mouth of the cave. "Sam, stay behind us." Simba spoke easily, intending on having Sam stay behind and surrounded by the three other lioness' that followed after him.
The early morning rays were an adjustment as he stepped into the light, but he blinked them away easily as his gaze swept over what he could see of the Pridelands from his spot. It was there that he managed to spot the trio. Scrawny, ill-fed, the results of their banishment quite apparent, Simba features hardened as he picked his pace up to leap down from Pride Rock and stop the trio from getting any closer. He let out a low growl, a clear warning as the lioness' behind him followed suit. They flanked Simba, with the third sticking close to the man cub. "Zira, you know you are not allowed within the Pridelands." He spoke easily, his head tilting upwards as he glared upon the she-cat. "What are you doing here."
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2021 5:09:45 GMT
As the Outlander queen tilted her head back to look up at the tall, mighty precipice where Simba and his pride made shelter, the early rays of sun hit her ill-accustomed eyes, making her squint. As she did, Zira noticed something she hadn't before: a strange creature, about the size of a gibbon but not quite as hairy, sitting at the peak's edge alone. So that was what the strange smell had been...what in Scar's name was that thing?! Before Zira had time to think, the gibbon-like creature seemed to spot her posse, immediately getting to its feet and running towards the crag where the Pridelanders slept. It certainly didn't run like a monkey.
"D-Did you see that...?" the lioness to her left spoke up hesitantly.
"What was that?!" the other one murmured, a little fearfully.
"Don't worry about it," Zira hissed, trying to hide the apprehension she felt. If the Pridelanders let this weird thing hang around, it had the potential to be dangerous. Not unlike the very reason she'd crossed into Simba's territory to begin with.
As the creature emerged again, Zira got a better look at it. It had a loud, unnatural pelt the color of blood, and a mane-like yellow tuft on top of its head. It looked young, almost like a cub. She didn't have time to ponder its anomalous existence, because Simba was hot on its heels, flanked by two of his muscular, healthy Pridelander lionesses as backup. Zira's eyes narrowed to slits, and she felt her body temperature rise and her breathing grow ragged as she caught sight of the lion who had killed Scar. The Outlanders held their ground as their sworn enemies leapt from the rock, accompanied by the monkey-like alien creature, who the lionesses seemed to be trying to protect from her. As Simba let out a warning roar, Zira listened complacently as he reminded her once again of her banishment. Then she spoke, a fixed smile on her face, her tone smooth and reasonable though it was laced with ice-cold contempt.
"Simba," Zira spat. "So good to see you again." She spoke in a gravelly voice that oozed sarcasm and hatred. "Very strange goings-on lately, wouldn't you agree? Vast, gray birds falling from the sky and all that?" She put on a false look of anxiety, her ears flat as she began to circle Simba with the limp of a wounded animal. "One of them landed ever so close to our hunting grounds," she lamented. "Oh, I do hope your own pride hasn't been so unfortunate as to suffer the same fate..." A sneer crossed the queen's face at the very idea.
Zira suddenly straightened up and looked Simba in the eye, her usual look of snide disdain having returned. "So that's why I'm trespassing on your precious Pridelands. Common interest, no more, no less. Seen anything...strange lately?" She leaned to look behind Simba at the strange creature behind the lioness. She glowered curiously at the apparition, her lip curling with disgust. "Apart from that?"
|
|
Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
|
Post by Samwel Igwe on Jan 13, 2021 6:43:41 GMT
Sam was careful to nod his head.
Honestly, while he wanted to argue that he wasn't afraid he also knew he wasn't an adult. For all intents and purposes, he had to listen to the adults of the Pride or risk pissing them off. Especially Simba, this was the guys domain after all. But still, when he moved out of the mouth of the cave to get a better look he watched out of pure curiosity. How did confrontations like this happen in an environment like this? He might be the first human to see it!
He had to admit, his heart leapt into his throat at how ferocious Simba became.
The king thus far had been soft and kind... So to see him go full lion? Was a little unexpected, as ironic as that very well was at this point. He swallowed quietly and watched the lead of the three lionesses carefully. She didn't outright scare him, but the look on her face and overall demeanor did send a small chill up his spine. Especially when she finally addressed the king in such a cold and backhanded way.
Wait? One of the "birds" had crashed close to them? "Wait, silver birds?" He whispered. So others had survived. Or at least he could assume so if it wasn't the plane that had literally been on fire.
Wait... Strange? Him? Sam had a feeling from the look in her eyes she had meant it just how she said it too. Narrowing his own eyes, he took a few steps forward. "Hey! This thing has a name, it's Sam," He said point blank. Though he might have been less inclined to speak up if he didn't have a lionness flanking him - for good reason. "Not to mention if you want strange, well, looked in a mirror lately?"
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2021 22:36:14 GMT
No sooner had Zira finished speaking than the monkey-cub took a step forward, hostility flashing in its eyes. Zira's own eyes widened with interest at hearing it speak. She hadn't even considered that it might be intelligent...this "Sam" also carried itself with the slight aggression of a male.
And then the impudent little chimp had the gall to insult her to her face.
Zira didn't know what a mirror was, but Sam's tone had definitely implied offense. The Outlander queen's look of curious disgust was suddenly replaced by a wicked snarl as she all but forgot about her confrontation with Simba, taking a slow, deliberate step toward the lioness who was protecting him. "You want to be more careful what you say around here, 'Sam'," she hissed as she began to circle them, claws unsheathing in spite of the earlier vow she'd made to herself not to ignite hostility while meeting with the Pridelanders. "You'll find some aren't as...soft-hearted as others," Zira added with a meaningful glare at the Pridelander lioness, taking another step closer to where the boy was hidden. If nothing else, it was clear she meant him harm.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2021 9:28:11 GMT
Simba stared into Zira's eyes. "Strange birds are a poor reason to come this far into my Pridelands." he growled, "Suffer?" he questioned. "Have they caused any harm?" he asked, without sympathy, but also without malice. He was sure she had another reason besides trying to talk about the strange birds and the humans. "Zira, we have no common interest. You want only to fight to have what is not yours." He was tense, but he only showed it as ferocity.
He didn't like her being here, but he would prefer she leave quietly. He didn't want to escalate nor alarm, even if it was his right. Why did kings have power if they had to temper it?
|
|
Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
|
Post by Samwel Igwe on Jan 31, 2021 9:37:09 GMT
Sam stared down Zira.
For a moment he might have wanted to balk away in fear, but he wouldn’t. He’d never been the type of boy who had liked bullies. And he’d never run away afraid from them either. And while sure, she was definitely a lioness and had a good several inches over him... He wouldn’t sit back and let her bully him into fear.
“Throw all the threats you want. I’m not afraid of you,” he told her point blank. His hand going into his back pocket and gripping the knife slightly in case he needed it. “I met plenty of people like you back home. And If it’s one thing I’ve learn your bark is usually worse than your bite.”
His eyes glanced over to Simba, not wanting to move too swiftly or overstep. After all, he knew this wasn’t his fight but he also wasn’t a coward. “Underestimating me isn’t a good idea either, y’know.”
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2021 14:52:17 GMT
Nala had noticed Simba get up and could already guess what the trouble most likely was. She should get up and aid now, a part of her said, but staying with the cubs wasn't a bad alternative, and if the situation was easily handled. Still she kept an ear out. Not that Simba and even Sam didn't have it...but it was sounding like Zira was being her usual brand of stubborn.
Kion and Kiara weren't helpless newborns anymore (though they would still always get her protection of course and even when they were grown in all honesty) but she still didn't neglect their safety, even her Ruler of the Lion Guard son.
Stretching, she noticed one of the other awake lionesses. "I'll go see what this is", she informed in a whisper, her statement sort of codded telling the other to keep an eye upon the cubs if she would. The other lionesses nodded.
Nala rose and walked to the entrance of the cave coming to stand behind Simba and Sam.
"Zira", she acknowledged, "You're up early". She added her own quiet backup to Simba and some hidden criticism of Zira pushing the issue yet again and a quiet telling her to just go on back to the Outlands and not make a deal of this.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2021 1:37:52 GMT
Zira listened to the boy, her teeth bared and her gaze hard as ruby stones. She smiled condescendingly down at him as he spoke defensively.
"Is that right?" she hissed, her tail waving in amusement as she leaned a little closer to him. "Well, monkey-cub, you'll learn in time that you'd be wise to be afraid of me." As she spoke, she raised a single, sharp claw and brought the blunt side just under Sam's chin, tilting it upwards ever so slightly so he was forced to look her in the eye.
As Simba coldly addressed her again, she forced the hair along her spine to lie flat as she straightened briskly, jerking her head up to glower at him once again. Her Outlander bodyguards kept their eyes trained on the human, snarling maliciously though there was a hint of fear-scent coming from them. Young as Sam may be, he was, quite literally, a whole new animal, and they sensed that as an opposing force he could be dangerous. Zira, too, had this thought in her mind, but refused to let her apprehension show in the presence of Simba. Simba's queen approached from the shelter of Pride Rock's crevice, and Zira sneered up at her. "Hello, Nala. My, Simba, your lady love gets more beautiful every time I see her. Wouldn't it be a shame if something were to...sully those good looks?", the Outlander queen purred glibly. Pridelander lionesses were always so sleek and well-fed; it was a scarce wonder Scar had tried so fervently to make Sarabi his queen during his reign. The memory made Zira's blood run white-hot. Her posture bold and unwavering, she turned back to Simba. "A shame I can't stay to chat longer, 'my lord and liege'. I came for answers, I saw your new pet, I have three small mouths to feed out in the desert," Zira snarled. "So we'll be taking our leave...for now, that is."
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2021 2:06:53 GMT
Simba looked at Sam, and kept ready to stop Zira from hurting him. "Sam!" he yelled, short, simple, he didn't need to say more. He did not want a fight, even if he didn't want Sam in fear of her. He would have to make sure the boy didn't do anything stupid, like he did when he was a cub.
He looked at Nala, comforted by her presence, but it meant another animal worried. He couldn't argue the point with Sam and Zira. He didn't want him to be afraid but he didn't want to help Zira be threatening. Simba did pick up on her bodyguards' fear-scent, but he wondered how to address it, without putting them on the spot.
"Zira!" his eyes narrowed. "You shouldn't have taken your entrance. If any common interests arise, we will send a message." he looked into her ruby eyes. "You are not allowed anywhere in the Pridelands, let alone near Pride Rock, ever again!"
|
|
Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
|
Post by Samwel Igwe on Feb 3, 2021 2:15:23 GMT
Sam listened to Simba’s voice.
Sure he wasn’t actually his guardian or anything (yet anyway) but he was still his guest here. And at the end of the day, he knew the tone to the voice that said it was time for him to stand down. Even if he felt a little shakier with that claw to his chin.
Suddenly once again he felt very small in this situation.
But he set his jaw instead and let Simba handle this. Taking a few steps further back toward Nala. Sure he didn’t know the Queen well yet but something told him he definitely was better off there. He crossed his arms and watched the exchange between the two silently.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2021 7:45:33 GMT
"Oh, will you? How courteous," seethed Zira, taking a lithe, threatening pawstep towards the king. For a moment, she forgot entirely about the powerful Pridelander lionesses surrounding her with claws and teeth bared, ready to spring at a moment's command and tear Zira and her lean comrades limb from spidery limb. She developed tunnel vision, her glowering eyes fixated upon the mighty form of King Scar's killer. The lion who had disgraced Zira and her family, driving them from the home she'd known since birth in the name of weeding out those who were loyal to the rightful king.
The lioness saw red briefly, then blinked away the violent urge. Zira was intelligent enough to realize it was neither the time nor the place.
Cub steps, she thought bitterly to herself.
"No need to show us the way out," Zira growled, calling her lionesses back to stand on either side of her. They edged reluctantly away from Sam, still eyeing him warily, and obeyed her.
Seeing Simba standing over her in such a high-and-mighty manner, Zira had the irrepressible urge to push his temper a final time. Her voice dripped with venom as she spoke, head low and eyes glaring upward. "This is, after all, our rightful home."
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2021 19:04:08 GMT
Nala watched all carefully, and couldn't deny she felt the need to act also as Zira got so threateningly close to Sam, but she also knew what a thin line Zira's temper rode. The lioness coming in under Scar and as his queen had not helped the atmosphere of the Pride Lands as they deteriorated. One small movement from Nala could escalate and help neither Sam or Simba.
She let Zira's snide comment go, and was pleased to see Simba did as well. It was just born of resentment, she knew. No doubt it was annoying to see someone Zira probably viewed as a useless cub who turned into a lioness with no rank and who just kept annoyingly deferring to Sarabi turn queen.
Nala did feel for Zira. She had been lead astray like so many others by Scar, and they only asked she drop her blind allegiance to get the help she and her cubs needed.
Sam backed up nearer her and Nala shifted only slightly to put at least her shoulder between Zira and the boy in a small show of support. Her own eyes narrowed and another growl added as Zira took a threatening step towards Simba, but the older lioness didn't attack and seemed on the verge of leaving.
"You're aware of the simple request we ask of you", she semi-told Zira in a soft voice, semi-answered the baiting statement of the other's. No doubt Zira didn't see submitting to Simba's rule and admitting Scar never had the right as 'simple'.
|
|