[Closed] The Sea Token

[NightyByeSparrow]

Without a single word, Janus watched the conversation between the wise lioness Uzuri and Mhindi. As Mhindi took a slight pause in his words, Janus's quickly changing thoughts went back to Umi. In almost even a little shame, Janus realized she had never really experienced those Divine Encounters that Uzuri talked about so much. Janus flattened her ears and hung her head down, while the pupils of her eyes focused upwards to watch her littermate. She was even younger than Mhindi, who already considered himself too young to lead the Coast Pride. Then again, I'm just one in the Pride.

With a big sigh, Janus slightly moved herself to be closer to Uzuri. "Hello there, Uzuri," she said with a twitch of her muzzle. "You enjoying the afternoon?" As out of the blue as it seemed, Janus just desperately wanted to have a conversation now.

[Mike]

Far above the coastlanders' sheltered beach, a massive overhang of rock jutted like the prow of a great ship into the gray sea beyond. Waves crashed against the rocks, throwing towering sprays of salty water a dozen feet into the air. A lone figure stood at the edge of this massive formation, ignoring the misty sting of tiny droplets of seawater that were flung into his eyes by the wind.

It was Shani, the ruler of the ridgelanders. He was not a large lion, but he was powerfully built, and he stood with a dignity and weight of authority that seemed to double his stature. His mane was plastered against his body by the spray of the sea, and he knew that later he would need to bathe in the clear water of the spring that ran down through the gliffs before emptying into the ocean. He stood alone, exposed to the elements, staring out into the sea. From time to time his gaze wandered over to the coastlander's home, where the waves were gentle and the sand was pure and free from rocks.

He stared into the sea's turbulent waters, trying to see what the coastlanders saw when they looked out. Shani knew that the coastlanders worshiped the sea, but in Shani's eyes, there was nothing less worthy of their attention. The sea was a destroyer. Sucking the rocks and sand out into it's depths, with each wave the ridges shook under the assault, and very occasionally a landslide would be set off by the waters. The sea was even a poison if one was unwise enough to drink it.

Eventually, tired and aching, Shani conceded defeat and turned to leave. There was nothing out there worth seeing.

[KiarasMate]

Swiveling her ears as she picked up the unmistakable sound of Janus’ soft voice, Uzuri turned momentarily to face the young lioness. Smiling as she moved in to give her fellow pride mate a bonding nuzzle, Uzuri replied in a caring tone as she returned to sitting upon the warm sands below.

”Hello there Janus. Thought you might have been sleeping standing up from the way you were so lost in thought. Of course the afternoon is most peaceful. There’s nothing like the feeling of having a full belly and no troubles. Might I ask what was so intriguing to have captured your attention for so long?”

Typically Janus was the first to greet Uzuri whenever the opportunity arose, so seeing the youngster so wrapped up in thought had truly caught the eye of the elder lioness.

”If you’re worrying about your brother fasting, you shouldn’t. He’s strong and as leader, he must set a good example for the rest of his pride members.” Uzuri stated, knowing just how strong of ties the two sibling shared with one another.

[KingKivuli]

Laying on a rock above, looking down, lay another lion. He was large is size with a powerful build. His fur was a dark grey that turn to a lighter shade at the paws, belly and muzzle. His mane was black and blew in salty sea winds over his scarred red eyes. Kivuli had followed Shani. He too was a Ridgelander. Not a completely obedient one though. Kivuli always did what he wanted, and he usually got his way.

After watching his king for about 10 minutes, Shani began to walk away. Kivuli gave a slight chuckled before yelling down Whats the matter my king? Bored of the sea already. You do take alot to please. How can you be bored of such amazing power that lies before you

[Mike]

Shani walked straight ahead, not raising his head to acknowledge Kivuli. He'd talk to his unruly pride member at a later time when he was feeling more presentable, and not before. A king couldn't be made to have a conversation that he didn't want to have.

Shani set off towards the river that ran through the domains of both prides. The ridgelanders had the upstream portion where the water was swift and littered with rapids that could be dangerous to an unwary lion. A sharp bend in the river marked the edge of their domain and the beginning of the coastlander's realm. Shani occasionally crossed the border to irritate the young and inexperienced king of the coastlanders, but today he wasn't looking for trouble. He lowered himself into the speedy water and drew in a sharp breath as the cold wrapped around him. He quickly plunged his head and mane underwater and shook violently before springing back onto land. He looked in amusement at traces of fur and polluted water that were swept downstream towards the coastlanders.

[NightyByeSparrow]

"No, I'm not worrying about my brother, Uzuri. I know he's a great king. It's just me..." She faced the sea again with a sigh of relief. "Eh, I think it's just me. After all, I'm even younger than Mhindi, and I know you're going to think I'm overreacting, but I feel so..little sometimes."" Heck, I didn't even feel right saying that, not even to Uzuri.
Wow.

Janus softly nuzzled Uzuri. "But just don't worry too much about me." Janus smiled again, and then realized something way off. It was probably a Ridgelander, but on its territory, she assumed. Janus ignored it and went back to watch the setting sun.

[KiarasMate]

Thinking about what Janus had told her, suspecting that there was more on her young mind than she let on about but not wishing to probe too deeply into the matter, Uzuri finally responded.

”A young gazelle must first learn to stand before it can walk and it must first learn how to walk, before it can run. To assume that you are too young for the life given to you Janus, is to underestimate yourself. Youth is something that shouldn’t be overlooked. This is the point in time when you need to learn how to run. You’ve already learned how to stand, and that is the foundation to which you will persevere in life. You have so much to look forward to and with Umi’s blessing, you will realize your destiny in due time. Unlike your brother’s destiny, which has already been foreseen, your future is as open as the sea before you. It’s up to you to decide on what you make of it.”

Giving Janus a friendly smile, Uzuri tried to lift the weight of uncertainty that seemed to be blanketing over the two felines next to her.

”Besides, if you worry about things too much, you might end up old, like me.”

Laughing from her own comment, Uzuri returned her focus back towards the rippling waves that gently caressed the sands of The Coastlanders home, feeling the urge to get a drink growing stronger, yet waiting for either of her fellow pride mates to speak if they had anything else on their minds.

[Mike]

After shaking like a dog to clear his mane of the worst of the water that weighed it down Shani took a moment to wander a portion of his lands, looking for prey or signs of any disturbances. He found nothing, as usual. He and his pride had to hunt a great distance away, and rarely bothered to drag their food back to their den. The only time they normally ate in sight of the sea was when they were bold enough to steal a kill from the coastlanders. Before long, his search brought him back to the cliffs by the sea.

There he spotted Kivuli, still staring at nothing as Shani himself had been doing. Shani didn't quite trust Kivuli, who often acted in ways Shani considered inappropriate for a lion of his pride. For this reason the two lions weren't always on the best of terms. However, with so few lions in his pride Shani didn't want to exile Kivuli except as a last resort, so he tolerated many of Kivuli's insubordinate quips. Shani moved into conversation range and spoke to his pride member.

"Good day Kivuli." Shani said in a measured voice. "I trust you've been making yourself... useful?"

[Zeke]

Far off on a secluded rock, a grey figure began to wake in the afternoon sun. His grey coat darkened to black on his paws and tail. He opened his blank eyes and was blinded by the bright sun. "Aghh," he groaned as his eyes adjusted to the major change in brightness. He found himself laying on his back and he rolled over on to his stomach, feeling the warmth on his back. Slowly, the gray lion stretched and yawned to the waves breaking before him. He began to make his way toward the stream of fresh water for his routine drink.

[Moka]

Mhindi smiled at Uzuri's warm words. She always knew just what to say. Her reassurance and confidence were most needed by the two young lions. Having nothing else to consult of the experienced lioness, Mhindi said, "Thank you, Uzuri. My faith in Umi shall never shatter."

The young king looked beyond the horizon once again. The sun was already beginning to beam evening rays that stretched the entire ocean. To see the sun set on the ocean's horizon is a rare thing indeed. His stomach growled, but he ignored it. There was only one more day to endure before he could enjoy the satisfying taste of flesh and meat. He tried getting his mind off of food, but didn't find much luck.