I Don't Know Any Better (aw) }{ Abeni's arrival

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

I was just a broken shell by the time my paws lifted the sand beyond the brambles. Those brambles had held flecks of golden fur that told of every life that passed their spikes. It was my kind; the lion. No Folami passed foot in this world, in the camp of the Akando pride. It wasn't fear that keep the canines from trespassing, but simply disinterest. Why go after the more dangerous pride animals before ridding the world of the easier prey; loners. It was perfectly logical, not that I had any sense of logic.

"Um, excuse me, but can I help you, lioness?"

[/i]

I carried my vacant eyes to the speaker, finding it to me a beast mightier than I had expected. He was bigger than Baako had been, and Baako had been the only adult male lion I had ever known. All the other male lions I had ever seen were in the Folami camp, half eaten, so I could never measure bulk. This cat was clearly Ezhno, the alpha. I had done my homework so I knew he was a fierce ruler. Still, I couldn't help but hold a small hint of defiance as I stalked towards his flabbergasted gaze. Why was he so bewildered? Oh yeah, I am in his camp.

"Ezhno, I am joining Akando." I stated it a matter a factly, making it clear I had staked out this place to nest without any question of whether or not I would be accepted. The brute pulled his head back in surprise, standing now in anger and blinking in dumb shock. I decided to explain quickly, my childish tone sounding impatience. "I was raised in the Folami pack and have only on rare accounts left their camp. I just recently--" I paused, eyes sad but knowing I could not say I left to protect Daiade because I had become a member of his family. "I escaped and have little survival knowing."

The beast considered this, and seemed to smirk when I said 'knowing'. I knew that mocking look; I had used the improper word. I shook it off for I couldn't let him know straight off about my brain condition. I simply hid the fact that I knew I had used the wrong term and had no idea what would be correct.

"Whatever."

He walked away and I found myself staring after him dumbly. He knew I was an idiot, thus no threat, so no hesitance on his part. I felt so small and inferior and as if I didn't belong here, among these cats of my kind. I shrunk low under invisible eyes, groveling for mercy as I crouched in the center of camp with my eyes closed. Ezhno had exited the camp with little interest in me now. I lost all sense of confidence, overwhelmed by the realization that I was alone. A tear fell and I opened my eyes in hopes of seeing a particular figure.

I wanted my father.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[I L Y I C H]

What a sad little sight. Head tilted slightly to the side I couldn't help but stare at the lioness who had proceeded to ball herself up in my line of sight. Honestly Ezhno had no sense of loyalty, or decency for that matter. Even I greeted the new comers whenever they happened to fall in. I stretched forward slightly; reluctant to move from my comfortably warm position on the ground. Half dragging my heavy frame from the dirt and stepping forward I made my way towards the pile of goo the other woman had turned into.

"Oi. You just gonna sit there?" My body twitch backward when I finally noticed the little crystal tribunes pooling in her eyes. Damn, I can't deal with tears. Sappy..crying...little...pathetic... dammit. "Are you alright?" What the hell was wrong with me? Being relatively happy was a new thing for me, and it probably had something to do with the rather round state of my abdomen. God damn cubs, messing with my mood with their trailing fingers.

Staring blankly at the little ball of new comer, I tilted my head again. Who joined Akando in such a state? Seemed a bit odd. If someone wanted to join a pride with this kind of disposition they went to Zonta, that's how it worked. So why did this little moron think she was any different? Maybe she shared Ezhno's racism issues? No... that seemed unlikely. I'd over heard something about growing up in the folami camp. Dio, Ezhno had just skipped over that? Did he have any idea how useful...! Oh that man...!

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

Eyes glanced upwards and a paw lashed to my face to wipe away the forbidden water. Glowing with unease, I stood up with the typical bipolar child nature. "Everything is fine." I snapped aggressivly, staring at her accusingly. Living with Folami had made me weary of kindness. No one besides Daiade, Carska, and Mahal cared what was wrong. All others were looking for a reason to mock.

I turned away from the rather plump girl, having a trantrum to keep my fear hidden. "That Ezhno is a real meanie. HIs smile told me he thinks I am stupid. I'm not stupid. Daiade said I wasn't stupid." I paused, looking over my shoulder. How much did these cats know about the Folami pack? "Daiade is my lion friend. He's a lion. A cat. Not a Folami." I looked down uneasily, panicing with my eyes.

"Are you preggo? Who's the daddy?"

I had to get the topic off of me. Shuffling, I sat back and stared quizzicly at the girl. Her tone was kind, but so was Ayita's and yet she was as awful as the rest. My mind momentarily drifted to friending this woman and leading her to the Folami lands so as to provide them with a good meal, but my insides tightened. I could not sacrafice a friend, even if for my family. The pack needed to eat and Akando was plentiful with overweight females, but it didn't feel right. Yes, cats were here to feed the Folami, but I was a cat, not a Folami. My duty was to my kind. It was wrong of me to try and act otherwise.

I turned my golden gaze towards where the alpha had exited. Maybe I could find a male who could make me have babies. Then I could give my babies to the Folami pack. Why didn't more cats do that? Maybe everyone could make a deal with the pack. One cub from each little can be given over to them to raise and/or eat, in exchange for some peace. That sounded fair enough. I looked to the woman to suggest it, but found myself choked up. Some deep instinct said a mother would not be kind to someone who would easily sacrafice a child to the pack. It bothered me how stupid others were. Didn't they see that the Folami had every right to ingest us? It was the way life was.

Anger pricked in my gut at the thought. Everyone hated the Folami because they ate cats, but that was how it was supposed to be. I would not say such a thing until I earned some trust among these cats, but it would always stay in the crevices of my mind. I narrowed my eyes and sat in a tense fashion, waiting for her response.

Maybe one of her babies would mysteriously disapear. I knew I was a monster for even suggesting to myself that I would take one of her children to give the pack. But the truth was, no matter where I lived, my loyalty was with the pack. They had raised me. They had shown me the other side of life.

They had kept me alive when the biggest threat to me was myself.