Rykard2's Den
Haunt
Ask me what I am,
and my father will say the devil.
My cubs will say a martyr
the first, primeval.
My wife would say a charmer,
"'till the end of his days."
And yet, under all that armor,
the shining fame and praise,
My father hates me so
for I have caused a death
of the one he loved too much to forgo
and reminds me with every breath.
Written by: Anya #132246 :D
INTRO
By: Cullen Rutherford #89878
Heat radiated from the parched ground, further sucking the moisture that had grown on your tongue. This dry heat had been long expected, yet you had failed to comply to nature’s harsh ways. You had no choice but to abandon your dry land and seek aid from a neighboring pride.
Rumor suggested that there was one lion who might be soft enough to offer aid in these harsh times, though nothing suggested that this pride actually existed. Even so, you pressed forward and each step caused your cracked paw pads to thud against the harsh savannah. Then, just as you were beginning to believe that all was for neight, a hazey figure appeared in the distance.
The heat made his large form shift and move about in odd patterns, and you could only hope that this was not a mirage. Your fatigued body could only sustain much more of this abuse. This was why you pressed forward, each muscle groaning under the weight and pressure.
The figure had ceased moving, his tri-color mane blowing slightly in the breeze and further confirming that he was real. He parted his lips, his long canines showing, yet the gentle wisdom in his eyes’ white depths reassured you. “My lionesses notified me of a stranger seeking my pride’s aid. I suspect that is you?”
His tone was gentle, warm, yet deep. Word layered upon word, he drew you closer till you stood but a breath away. Your muzzle a few inches from his own, your [color] eyes met his own. “Yes,” came your weary response that wavered even though the word was so short. “My pride needs your aid. This drought has caused the river by our camp to dry. I can offer you nothing but my gratitude at this moment.”
You had heard soft whisperings of this king, and you had expected him to speak in a much more brisk manner. After all, in such a dire time, most would be more weary of strangers and attack on sight. Commonly, the appearance of a needy figure often signaled the beginning of a raid or attack. Yet, your ribs showing underneath a pelt caked with sand offered some reassurance this was not a farce. Any attack launched by you would be a weak one and this was the only reason you could guess as to why this alpha male had remained calm. This not only spoke of a intuitive mind, but also of a kind heart.
“Come,” he replied as he turned and began to pad further into the heat’s haze. “We will first deal with your thirst before we can speak about your pride.” The male’s large back soon faced you, muscles sliding underneath his glossy pelt. His pride must be as prosperous as the rumors had suggested.
The sun had set by the time the male came to a halt and let out a soft roar. Perhaps it dealt as a warning or as a manner of an introduction. It would only be appropriate for a king to notify his pride of a visiter, for both their safety and yours.
It was not long before a sterling pelted lioness materialized from the darkness. Strong, thick, onyx stripes decorated the underlying grey, and, as she stood before her king, you noticed that the two shared nearly the same coloration. “I suspect this is he?” The she inquired in a soft tone as he pressed her muzzle against his.The affection held in her action and that shined in her blue eyes showcased that she was his Queen.
He returned the heartfelt greeting before nodding. “Yes, it was as you reported, Aurora. However, before we can tend to his pride, we need to tend him first. Nothing good will come of him collapsing whilst he returns to them.”
“You say this as if I am not aware, Hellcius,” came her playful response as her gaze landed on you. In terms of stature, she was much shorter than that of her lover yet her eyes held the same warmth and kindness. They reminded you of a nursing mother and a gentle soul. This further strengthened the belief that you would find aid in this pride. “We must return you at once. Follow me, if you would.” With this, the lithe lioness began to pad in the opposite direction you had came.
Hellcius rose and followed behind you, though you could sense this was not done from a place of distrust. It was clear he would be leading you to the next destination. Thus, following a lioness and followed by a lion, you were accompanied to a small den created out of dried mud.
The structure was cold to the touch and you could guess that it would be pleasant to sit near during the harsh heat of the day. Beside it, you could see a warthog carcass leaning against it. Unlike the ones you or your lionesses had found, this one was plump and just the sight of it made your mouth water.
“Please, eat,” Aurora encouraged you as she stepped aside. “It’s not much, but it will ensure you make it back to your pride.” With a warm smile, she settled beside her mate.
You did not need to be told twice and quickly sank your fangs into the tasty meat. While guilt did prickle at you for eating this without feeding your cubs or queens first, you knew you needed your strength. If you were unable to return home, then they would truly suffer.
Halfway through the meal, you felt something brush past your hindquarters. Withholding a growl, you continued to feast with reckless abandon. It had been so long since you had such a filling meal.
Then, a small muzzle began to gnaw on a rib you had already cleaned. His brown muzzle twitched and move around as he sharpened his teeth on it and the manner in which he was absorbed in his task made you cease eating. Licking your maw clean while your [color] eyes remained glued to his figure, you did not notice that another small muzzle had taken a leg from your meal.
She stumbled over the piece of meat that was larger than her body and her hitting the ground with a thud is what snagged your attention. Eyes wide and mane bristling in surprise, you could only let out a small grunt in protest.
“I apologize, but my cubs can be. . .rather mischievous,” Aurora stated as she hid her muzzle behind her paw. It was clear that she found the situation as hilarious as her mate did. “Kian, Lunus, leave the poor lion be. He’s been through enough.” Though scolding, her voice was soft and affectionate with a hint of force in it. If she was too soft, they would simply run over her with their activities.
“But Mooom, we rarely get any visitors!” The cub with a short tail complained as she abandoned the warthog leg and padded over to Aurora. “Everyone else knows our tricks, so we never get to have any fun!”
“Yeah!” Her brother chimed in as he sat next to his sister. “I tried to tickle Uncle Inferno the other day and you know what he did?!” The cub’s blue eyes widened to exert emphasis on the next part. “He tried to claw me! Nearly did but thanks to Lunus, I got away with my ears in tact!”
Hellcius’ laughter died at this and he fell silent before commenting, “Yes, yes, but everyone needs a bit of peace and quiet. Don’t bother him or anyone else too much, alright? If you behave, I’ll take you out next time I patrol. How’s that sound?”
This idea set both cub’s eyes alight and they bounded around their parents. “Yes, please!” Both sang in disharmony. “We’ll behave!”
“Then return to Kiara and get some sleep,” their father answered as he rose to his paws. “Remember, if we are to get first pick of prey, we must be up as soon as the sun is.”
“Yes, father!” They both replied before racing out and disappearing into the darkness. You hoped that they would do as they were told and not wonder too far from camp.
“Excuse them, they’re easily excitable,” Aurora apologized as she, too, stood. “Well, now that you’ve eaten, Hellcius will take care of you from here.” With this, the pretty she left her mate’s side and, you could only assume, went to where her cubs had.
“Thank you for the food,” you uttered once only the king remained. Nearly a month had passed since you had seen a piece of prey that large and juicy.
“I never go back on my word, friend,” came his response before he turned on his heel once more and began to pad away. “Now, I shall take you to a source of water. If you or your pride are to endure, you must have a location that can be used to stay away the fans of thirst.”
The night shrouded most of your vision, causing you to take careful note of landmarks as you trailed behind. Since you had left his pride’s camp, Hellcius had not uttered a word and simply focused upon where he was heading. Perhaps the darkness bothered him as much as it bothered you. Then, suddenly, he came a halt.
Padding off to the side, you came a halt beside him and could only admire the large source of water. While no prey could be seen, it was clear that this oasis would be a hot spot for hunting or merely taking in the sights. Even for one in a hurry, you could envision yourself sunbathing while a paw lazily touched the water on the bank.
“This spot was found by one of my lioness several months ago,” Hellcius began to explain as he settled beside the water’s edge. “We were, much like you, struggling to survive that one dry season. When we stumbled upon this, it was a blessing and has been ever since.” he paused before he turned to meet your gaze. “Take care not to disturb it too much, for several animals rely upon this oasis for both food and water.”
“We will only take what we need. Upon this, I promise.” With this, your business with the large lion concluded yet you felt you had found a friend in an unlikely state. It was not at your strongest but weakest that you had found a reliable ally; his generous actions and kind gaze are what will enable yourself and your cubs to survive this harsh season. For this alone you are grateful to him, and silently prayed that his future, and his pride’s, would be bright.
Several months has passed since Hellcius had shown you this oasis, and you now stood where he once did. You were hoping you would encounter him even once since, yet your luck had run dry. Your best hunters could not catch hind or tail or him since, and his pride had relocated to somewhere else, probably following the migration patterns like your own did.
“You’ve recovered,” a deep voice commented as a large form sat down beside you. A tricolor mane blocked your view of his face, yet you knew this scent and warmth. “My pride has had a blessed season thus far, so it seems that my act of kindness has been returned tenfold.”
“I wish to properly thank you, Hellcius,” you stated firmly as you settled down beside him. “Without your much needed aid, we would not have survived the past dry season.” Your tone was moderate, measured, yet you attempted to mimic the warmth that naturally coated his.
“If you treat all lions as if they are your own, great things will happen to you and those you care for,” he stated firmly. “Without kindness, there would be no hope and no possibility of warmth in this world, especially here.” It was clear, when he uttered this, that he had undergone difficult times yet had survived. Much like yourself, he had overcome personal struggles that shaped him into the lion he was today.
“Now,” he stated, clearing his throat, “let us discuss happier things. The season of plenty is quickly approaching after all! Let us be grateful to that!”
~~~~
ART GALLERY
By: Antler (#18747)
By: MildHyena (#136154)
By: Fascade [PnR] [590+] (#32786)
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