Avoiding the Inevitable (Moon)

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

Your silent wish is my command.

As the alpha retreated, I found myself drawn to the duo and pointless cub. Respect for my superior had kept me at bay, but now I could approach without reprocussion. My age was fewer in number than Jasninon, but my rank held supreme. I was heir to the throne, and no puffed up nobody was going to steal that from me. He had his siblings to tend to--that left Izaray to me.

As my mistress took her own quiet dismissal, I sprinted to lay a pace beside her. The normally dominant demeanor leveled out as I placed my pawsteps beside my equal--my beloved. I knew what love was, despite the former belief set by know-nothing lioness' that taint this pride, and I loved Izaray with every strand of DNA in my being.

"May I be so bold as to inquire the point of that meeting?" My tone was casual, even as I silently willed an answer. Oh Ackecheta, isn't it grand? Father just dismissed Jasninon from Akando Pride! Just silent wishes would not be answered--life wasn't that simple. And the look Izaray had had in her eye as she said a quiet farewell to Jasninon was something to ponder.

Even with my confidence, a quiet little voice reprimanded my desires. Oh foolish Ackacheta, Izaray would not exclaim joy while announcing Jasninon's leaving. My dear boy, you will be the one to wipe away those tears when the time comes. It is then your love for her will be tested.

[Moon]

Just seconds after my wishing of his appearance, Ackacheta appeared beside me in all his lovely pale glory. I turned to my love and let a purr rush through my throat, brief but loud, and touched my nose to his ear, seeking comfort in this simple touch. I found it more in his eyes, the warm amber I had grown to dream in. His question lay unanswered, but I wanted to relish in our limited allowance of proximity.

"Ezhno announced that Jasninon's days in Akando are numbered from here until the war. I expect you are happy, my dear? I find it to be easier, knowing that he will be gone soon and out of our lives," I explained, adding a touch of opinion at the end. I saw no reason why not to be candid with him, he knew me like the back of his paw.

I stopped walking and lay my head on my darling's shoulder, breathing in his unique smell, hard to determine just what exactly it was. If only we could stay this way for even a little while, but Ezhno wouldn't approve. Though we were undoubtedly the future of the pride, Ezhno was still higher in rank, alive and well and still capable of having children. He wasn't going to have anyone challenge him at his highest reign, not even his daughter's own love.

I pushed these sad thoughts away and focused on the heat and tingle that was brought along with Ackacheta's touch. Ackacheta, my beloved, how I long to be with you in plain sight of our pride, how I long to flaunt our relationship and have the ability to say, 'He is mine, and I am his. We belong together.' But patience was needed for this gift.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

My own purr threatened release when the young girl touched my ears through the growing mane. How I longed for these future moments--the reality that was yet to come. Never would a paw of mine harm Ezhno, not until the brute was a danger to himself and his pride. That was if natural causes didn't steal the man first. I held respect for the tom, and time was fair to him. He was strong--and even if I could defeat him, I would not. Only if he became frail and no longer able to defend the pride (with my loyal aid) would I demand he step down. Or, if he even refused when the odds were so clearly against him, I would then be forced to bring on his demise. Such an action by him would be foolish and unintelligent, thus making him not in his right mind, and a threat to the existance of Akando.

But oh, my loyalty here was tested. Not only could I not express deep love for Izaray while my rank stayed only the heir, but the old man was allowing the threat to stay within during the war. We'd be weakened then, so was it wise? Jasninon was older than I, and would, with Kaylie and Annora's training, perhaps be more skilled then Ezhno. While Ezhno bleeds from Zonta claws, his life could be stripped. And I, knowing Jasninon's strength, would be wise and only fight for the protection of Izaray--otheriwse I'd be forced to let Jasninon lead. With Ezhno alive, my fate was clear. If the man died, his precious daughter may not be allowed to the one who deserved her.

"Ah, your father knows what he is doing, I suppose. My only fear is where Jasninon's intentions lie." I normally would not express unease to anyone, but dear Izaray could translate my every breath. I could not hide anxiety from my queen, no matter how hard I tried. The felines around me could believe me stone-hard, but I was a mortal. And mortals always have a weakness. Mine just happened to be the female walking beside me.

I stopped beside her, adoring the resting she placed on my shoulder. The dreaded heat had forced our pride into the confines of the shadows, so affections would be hidden by the daunting haze of midday. Without pulling away, I layed my head upon hers, which rested upon my blades. "You know Jasninon better than any other," it pained me to admit it--that my girl had spent more time with the bloke then any other Akando member, "do you sense him a threat? I don't like you and him talking so much. I trust you. It's him I concern myself over." I wasn't angry, but the anxiety was thick in my voice.

[Moon]

I sighed, the frayed edges of my heart ripping again. I knew how Ackacheta disliked Jasninon, but, being the fool I was, I could not let myself give up the other male. His intriguing personality caused me to be a fly caught in the spider's web. I couldn't escape it, but I was slowly cutting the strings bound around me now. For Ackacheta, I would be truthful and I wouldn't let a single lie sneak into our relationship, unless his own safety required it of me.

"Jasninon is no threat to me, but I do worry for you and my father. He undoubtedly wants a pride of his own and the easiest way to do that would be to take down an alpha with a good pride, like our's. He would eliminate competition and take the place of alpha. I know for a fact that he would choose me as his head huntress." I waited for my Ackacheta's response, pulling away from him so I could look directly into his face. My heart beat faster as I stared into his amazing amber eyes and took in the growing mane and his still-fluffy cheeks from our cubhood. It made me want to smile, remembering those days of mischief. But I could not bring myself to smile. This was too serious of a matter.

Despite myself, I inched by paw forward and lay it next to the pale male's, brushing fur against fur in a simple gesture of love, trying to send everything I felt for him through that one touch.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

You say he'd have you to be his head huntress, and this I can know for sure. But would you accept? I looked away, down to the ground as she touched her paw to mine. I was tense, silent. The smell of death hung in the air, but only I could smell it. It was in my mind. The death of not a being, but of my heart as it split into two. One couldn't live if their heart physically divided, that was common knowledge. But what people failed to realize that even an emotional shatter was a deadly injury. It couldn't be survived if it isn't healed. I couldn't let my girl see that weakened state that my eyes betrayed. I was hurting, and I knew she would read that on my frame. But my eyes would display the full length of that pain--I couldn't have her know how uncertain I was.

On the one paw, I wanted her to submiss to Jasninon if both Ezhno and I are exterminated. Izaray was strong and battle worthy, but a brute of Jasninon's age could harm her a great deal, and kill her if needed. What if it came to that if she refused his love? The thought brought forth a nauseating sickness, my stomach curling in on itself with dread. Yes, Izaray, he will take you as a head huntress, that much is true. But the part that fate has not yet planned is your answer--say yes. If you fight, you will die, and that I can not bare the thought of.

On the other paw, the very idea of her laying with another male, perhaps even loving him, worsened the already sick feeling I held. She should stand strong and refuse to bare the mongrel's cubs, loyalty to me giving her strength. Death is no threat, for in her passing we could again be together in the afterlife, if there is such a thing. Don't give into his ways, Izaray. Stay with me; from life unto death.

I realized how quickly time could have flown. How long had I been staring at our rubbing paws, avoiding the mistress' gaze? Daring to look up, my face contorted into an arrange of a smile with saddened eyes. I could try and fool her with my lips, but my eyes would never lie. That was the curse of being a mortal.

"Let us hope his gentle siblings speak kindness into his heart, then he can be as pathetic as the rest." I laughed it off, not wanting to dread on the thought any longer. When the time came, I would fight for Izaray. And if I were to perish, my girl was wise enough to follow her own heart. I wanted her happy.

I blinked rapidly and pulled away at that thought. My mouth stood ajar in a round "o" shape, eyes wide in surprise. I was Ackecheta, and I had just let myself be aware that I wanted another happy--even at the forfiet of my own joy. Things had changed in this past year, so many things. My surprised expression straightened, then grinned with an honest smile. My eyes narrowed peacefully and I took a step forward to rub my maned skull against my girl's. "We aren't cubs anymore--I just realized that."

[Moon]

I chuckled at my love, such a darling observation and an even more lovely expression, though I could not ignore his previous one. He had seemed so sad, but I chose to leave that for another time. For now, I would dwell in his absolutely beautiful smile that came with his epiphany.

"What in the world gave you that idea? The size we've become or the mane you're growing?" she teased, flicking her tail against the thick fur on his neck. "Tell me what you mean by that, dear," she murmured, leaving her tail to rest around his neck, loving the warmth that seeped from him.

OOC: Sorry for shortness! I don't know what to say lol

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

OOC//: Not a problem I didn't leave you much to work with since my post was basically all an internal thing.

Her tease was accepted with light humor as I relished in her touch. Oh, if only you knew, my love. If only you knew. "Ah, our physical appearances do speak of age, don't they?" I hissed back with playful frustration. "But when one hangs around a girl of such childish ways as often as I do, how could I ever be aware that time is passing by?" I jumped away and lunged downward into the pouncing position. There was never any time to play anymore. With this war on the horizon, Izaray and I had had our childhood stolen earlier than is fair.

And I wouldn't stand for it any longer. If we couldn't have our kithood in our kit days, then our teenager days could wait. Besides, who knew how much longer we had together? I couldn't let the thought ruin this playful joy, but I had to allow it to reside somewhere in my mind. If I forgot it, I may take Izaray forgranted.

[Moon]

Whiskers twitching in approval and amusement, I slid into my own pouncing position, tail whisking back and forth in the air. "Is that a challenge?" I growled, a playful glint in my eyes. I reached forward with my paw and swiped at the air in front of Ackacheta's face. "Do I need to remind you just how 'childish' I really am?" I teased, inching my way in a circle around the pale male.

In a moment, I leaped at Ackacheta and we were rolling on the ground from the momentum. Some noise like a cross between a giggle and a purr escaped from my maw as we wrestled, feeling a joy long forgotten since our lost cubhood. We had been scolded before when we tried to have fun this way, told to pay attention and stop this foolishness. We were taught from an early age the art of battle, but we had sacrificed our normal child years. It felt amazing to feel this way again.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

I didn't care for their affection, but I could let it slide. It wasn't my concern to keep the two from showing minor disloyalties to Ezhno--this wasn't my pride. I was sickened by it, no doubt, for it was a weakness. I hadn't expected it from these two when they were cubs; both had been ruthless killers, willing to do even the most vile of my trainings. But as they aged, it became clear they each had a weakness--each other.

Then cuddle time ended and the concerns of the yearlings were tossed aside for play. It was then I climbed to my paws. The golden pelt of my frame had kept me hidden from view, melting into the Hellish terrain. Heat waves made even the most obvious of forms seem dream-like, so neither cat would have taken the image of me seriously even if they had spotted me laying there. A mirage is what I would have been dubbed, nothing but a picture in their mind. I couldn't blame them; how often did I sit silently and watch them with their kindness' towards each other? Typically I would break the two apart for training, not willing to deal with such nonsence as romance. But I was always smart enough to know I could only push them so far.

But playing was a different matter. They had started war training at a young age, so they hadn't been allowed a childhood. Well, neither had I, and I had turned out well. Pretty damn well. With a disgusted grimace, I approached the wrestling pair, my lip pulled up in a tormenting snare. "All I do for you, and you play like cubs? I expect play from pathetic pridemates, but not you, Ackacheta and Izaray. I see great futures in you." Circling the two, the pale male tumbled off the Princess with hesitation, frustration playing across his tense disposition. He had never taken well to insults--even if they were said with awfully placed english. Hey, I was a German, I saw no reason to team with the enemy and perfect their language.

I pulled aside and sat neatly in front of the now tensely seated male, and the female. My eyes lay on them with ownership. I was not of Akando, but I was the trainer of these two. "Verdammt, pathetisch Bissen! Stehen Sie gerade!" Again the tom hesitated, but with narrowed eyes he straightened his posture. This surprised me; he was learning some of my language. I looked to the female; did she know what I just said? Maybe I was right to think these two had some real potential.

OOC//: ((Damn pathetic morsels! Stand up straight!))

[Moon]

I let out a snarl at Annora, a cross between a growl and a roar. I never much liked having him talk to me this way, but I had to admit he was a phenomenon in battle. He had been mine and Ackacheta's trainer since our cubhood, and I had grown to admire him in only certain ways and despise him in others. It was a complicated feeling, but I was immediately on my defensive, back to the bloodthirsty princess of the king. I had already unsheathed my claws, but obeyed his German command by standing up from the ground and stared up at him. We had come to learn some German from this male without him really teaching us; it just took common sense and a little attention.

I had nothing to say to this male. He made it impossible to retort, but the main thing for me was the fact that I really didn't give a damn what he had to say to or about me.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

OOC//: Annora's a lioness

Annora
The two obeyed, the male more silent than the lioness. I couldn't be surprised, for it was always that way. Izaray was the princess of this pride, while Ackecheta was always going to be an outsider at heart. Somewhere deep in the brutes mind, I knew he still saw himself as not belonging here--he tended to be solitary, or only paired with his future mate. This made him demanding and cruel to those who he knew would back down, and only pigheaded to ones like myself who would shred him without remorse.

But even with the verbal display of aggression given by the shecat, she obeyed my germanic command. My lips curled into a crazed smile, eyes hungry for more of this. When I had been assigned by Symphony Bava' to train this pride, I had judged off Ezhno that it would be my pleasure to work with like minded cats. But, no, there were three eager learners of blood, two of which now sat obediently before me. The other was Jasninon, who was older and had since been released from my school because of his age and former experience.

"Ah, wunderbar Kinder! I have much pride in you both at the learning you have done. Gute Kinder." My whole disposition altered to one of easy grace, my face contorted into what one could possibly label as a smile if they were on hallucinigenics. I circled them, examining every tiny twitch beneath their pelts. They had come a long way. From the very beginning, they had loved a good fight, but had lacked the knowledge of smart battle. Now the two were masters of stealth, and holders of strength. I would even pity Ezhno to be caught in between these two against a foe. They had done well. I had done well.

"Me think--" I paused, shaking my head to throw away that awful grammar, "I think your training is close to end. You both have done amazing, meeting my every standard." How could they not? They had a former soldier of Germany to teach them. Hail Hitler, the Master of the world! A scowl crossed my face at the thought, knowing I shouldn't still hold such loyalty to my former country. They had sent me to an American zoo. America, the enemy. They had given me up.

I shook away the thoughts, not one for self pity, or pity for anyone. With the insane look upon my face, the smile that's only a smile for those under the influence, I sat firmly in front of the pair and saluted them with narrowed eyes. "I shall let your Fuhrer know that all is done. I have no more to teach you young Kinder. The battle draws near, and I will be proud of your work, I know." I struggled to find the right words, but kept my voice sturdy. No-one could or would ever know how difficult these tasks were for me--they would only know how unwilling I was to learn proper English. English is for the Americans. The enemy. Cursed memories.

OOC//: ((Wonderful children///good children))

Ackecheta
With guarded curiousity, I watched the untrustworthy lioness circle around our tensed forms. Her calculating gaze always seemed to look deeper than just our fur, seeing the inner workings of our upmost desires. Her form disapeared from sight as she went behind us, but I didn't have time to get nervous before she was back in front of us again, her face satisfied with what she had seen. Such a weird cat.

I had ignored her words until now. Our futures lay in her paws, her judgement. Ezhno, however anxious he was about Ende pride, did trust Annora's battle skill and knowledge. If she said we had failed, he would forbid our entrance into battle. I would be shunned from the pride, and Izaray would be babied by her father. I sympathized with her.

But she approved and even handed out compliments freely. I puffed our my pale chest with pride, before turning a nonchalant expression towards Izaray. I wanted to say I was proud of her for being so perfect, but I knew our Trainor would be deeply displeased by such words. She had always said no one was perfect, and the only way to come close was to be part of a war. A big damn war. But, obviously, Annora didn't know Izaray very well. No one could know my girl and not believe her perfect. "Congratulations." It was all I could say under Annora's watchful eyes.

Well, go and tell Ezhno, female. Let's get this war on the way.