Die a Little {private} }{ A Peace Leader Meeting

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at stars.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Beloved Father, you've walked away and left me in the forbidden lands. Take this cup from my shoulders, if it be Your will. Your will, and not my own, be done. My eyes didn't dare look to the midnight sky as the prayer uttered silently into the breeze. No stars cast their hopeful lights upon my pelt, and even the moon hid it's smiling face. This world had been given to the hands of the most low, the Satan of the humans. Doubts that there had ever been caring hands to begin with were now starting to form. How could I, a young baboon, born to know no father and a fragile mother, hated by all my family but the one who birthed me, ever lead an existance to victory? The creatures I aided were my natural enemies, and who was I to turn eyes away from the natural order of things?

"Dear child, remain strong. Tonight you shall rise up and sing my glory." It was a faint assurance, but I need not hinder the process any longer. This starless night was perfect in my Father's eyes, and now I could see it was perfect in my own. No light from stars or moon, and the breeze blew towards us. Akando would never know we entered their lands, and the smell of rain assured me Dio would wash away any evidence left behind. I had to simply trust him to call Anabi away and to guide her to us without gathering the attention of any.

My family were a distance away, ten minute run that I had covered in a daze. Belittled by the overpowering sensation of the Father's mercy, I began eagerly towards where my comrads rested the evening away. Without surprise, Bhuvana met me half way back, eyes voided of pleasure or grief, but holding a guarded concern. "You're okay, ma'am?" Our age was similar, but the ocelot tended to treat me respectfully due to status. I was the messiah, and she was my desciple. I'd corrected her for some time, but have since given in to the concrete personality of my heartbroken friend. It gave her pleasure to uplift those around her, even when she couldn't do so for herself. I had no mind to steal that joy from her.

"More than okay, beloved. Be a help and gently awake Alia while I take care of Taraji. Tonight, we meet." I needn't say it twice before the cat placed herself beside me and we ran at equal pace, approaching the larger beings with careful assurance. The ocelot, I noted, rubbed herself affectionatly against the leopardess, purring the cats name in an effort to wake her without startling. Though I could not mimik these actions for lack of breed, I could be just as gentle with the tiger. "Taraji." It was a whisper as I placed a confident hand on the head of the much larger being.

[I L Y I C H]

The soft whisper of warmth curled into her nightmares. So much worry prickling at her skull now. Twitching slightly out of my dream realm, I blinked. The curve of my neck stiffened, lifting my head to watch the small ocelot rub up against me. "Good morning, dear Bhuvana" Alia whispered, eyes flashing from her dear friend to the young baboon. The messiah. Alia reach forward, nuzzling the smaller feline back, pushing her away momentarily so she could sit up. Yawning, expanding her jaws and licking her teeth, the leopard turned her spotted face to the sleeping tiger, watching as Ahlam patted him to try to wake the great bloke up.

It had been too long, they had walked to slowly on their journey. And as proof, it seemed, Ahlam had brought them to Akando land. Or maybe they where just picking up the head huntress. Either way it was dangerous, far too dangerous. Rolling her shoulders with worry, Alia turned to glance towards Bhuvana. The poor girl seemed so put out now, after what Alec did. She knew she herself was absolutely furious at the ocelot whom had injured dear Bhuvana's heart. But Bhuvana seemed only resigned. It was sad, and it made Alia want to go out and drag Alec back to apologize that much more.

But alas such was not her destiny. Her destiny was not as simple as that. So spoke the odd group she found herself apart of. So spoke the unbreakable bonds she had formed, even with the male ocelot she wished to depelt. Oh what a destiny.

[lapara]

Taraji

The tiger walked into a clearing with sunshine streaming down through the trees. The sun fell onto the back of his sweetheart. His Sila. He called out her name and she looked at him, but she had tears in her eyes. He ran forward and nuzzled her. He asked her where she had been, but she did not respond. She just leaned into him and purred.

A furry hand was on his back. He opened a sleepy eye to have his heart broken open again when he realized that all it was was a dream, and that Sila would never come back. Ever.

He took a deep breath to prepare himself for another day of hiding, put on the best smile he could manage, and looked around. "Good morning Ahlam!" He said. Looking down, he saw that Kaira was next to him, seemingly sleeping. Confused feelings swept through him. Love, care, sadness, protectiveness, anger. He got up and walked away from her to start the new day.

They were in Akando territory. This was where Lapara's daughter was attacked. Where was Holitorn and Jasninon? He hadn't seen them since they split up to look for Takoda. He wondered if Laela was all right. If they hadn't found a way to cure her, she would probably either be in the latest stages of mind deterioration or dead.

He would prefer not having to come here, but they had to to pick up the 4th (5th?) member of the peace leaders. Maybe they would finally be able to do something. It was torture for him. There was talk of war between the prides that needed to be stopped. He was so useless. Everything he wanted to do was stopped by something. And he highly doubted that even if he wasn't stopped he would be able to do anything. He was an emotional wreck. On the edge of insanity. And he was the wrong choice. For the 15,000th time he asked Dio why he was chosen.

Kaira

Kaira heard Taraji mumble her mother's name in his sleep. She knew he was dreaming about her. She knew now that he must have loved her if he thought about her this much.

Every night she would come over to her father and cuddle with him. It was the closest she got to a relationship with her father. She never slept when she was next to him because she didn't want to miss a moment. Sometimes she could close her eyes and convince herself that she was lying between her mother and father, both of which loved her and both of which were alive. Then the wind would come and destroy her daydream.

She knew that her father would be leaving her side soon when she heard Ahlam coming to wake him. She closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep so she could enjoy just a few more moments in the warmth of a parent.

The cold attacked her on all sides as he got up. She waited for a few more minutes before pretending to wake up and groggily make her way toward the others.




Word Count: 513

[Moon]

Determination was flashing in my eyes as I silently bounded to the border, eager to find my newly found companions in the other Peace Leaders. If anything, I was just happy to be away from Ezhno's hateful eye and mind, his heartless and black soul. Though my love for our shared daughter, Izaray, kept me close despite her hatred, I still could not bear the look of her father. Thinking of him made me shiver despite the warm temperatures of night; I had begged my sisters to cover my absence if i were to be discovered. I knew they would reveal nothing of my true destination.

Though I worried for them, picturing the strong and determined females in my mind, I also felt undeniably strong faith and trust as I slowed my pace to meet the group of mixed species. When I came upon them, I bowed my head in greeting, slightly out of breath. "Good evening," I managed to rasp out, pulling back my shoulders in dignity. I felt no fear here, only a sense of peace and purpose.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

It wasn't that I was unexcited about meeting this final piece of our group. I was truley amazed by the mercy of our dear Dio that everything could fall into place so easily. But, still, the reservation pulled me from greeting as I had to Taraji. There was no rubbing along the woman's legs, no lick of adoration. It was not just me being pouty over my past, either. I was an adult now. Sort of. I was still young, but age is nothing. It is just a number. Dio needed maturity, right.

"Wrong."

I turned my forest gaze towards Ahlam, reading her smile that was directed at me. I had thought the woman would be prissing over this new addition. Her father was the god that had called this girl to us, so she should be doing the honors. But, instead, she and her father were reading my thoughts. I couldn't help but feel a little disturbed that Dio would grant her the ability, even if it were just for this second. "Dio needs a child in our midst. I am not because I have never held innocence. Kaira is not because she will always feel her father's tension. Despite having a frostbitten past, you used to be happy. Dio uses that. He was drawn to that." The words were whispered in my ear quickly, bringing forth a contemplative expression on my face. She turned from me and walked carefully to Anabi, bowing in her usual mannerisms.

I followed behind and realized that Ahlam was not answering the greeting. I was the baby, despite being older than Kaira. I was the one who knew how to smile. I was the laughter in a world of tears. Sunlight broke past my jowls, teeth bared in welcome and eyes aglow in devotion. My heart flowed with dedication to my new friend. I knew Dio was feeding me his damned joy drugs, but I would let Him win for now. "Anabi! What an honor!" And I meant my words. This woman lived among the hate; she was the head huntress of that blasted Ezhno, the lost cause. Her daughter was being dragged into the darkness. And yet, her heart remained true.

I bounced over to her, rubbing against her forelegs in greeting. I wrestled down the vacant emotions that attempted to rip me from my drugged stupor. I wanted this woman to know that there was good in this world; that a child could know joy. Even if it was a lie, let her think it is true until the sun dares peak above the mountains. Let her be fooled by the shadows of happiness. Morning will show that this world never allowed innocence to stay, but let this night speak pleasantries.

[I L Y I C H]

I watched. It was my mo, after all. Hazel eyes shifted about as I did so, the smile on my face falling into a more sedimentary mode. As much as I loved these people, it was hard to be happy all the time, and I couldn't help but judge them as well. Stupid, I was sure. Cruel, I was positive. A habit I could never the less, not drop. Eyes shifted, following after Ahlam with a warmer expression, my smile going for it's habitual 'tuned off' mode to a far more welcoming gesture. A low mewl of welcome went out to Taraji, the sound bright for an old friend. This gang of Dio lovers had been together for such a time now. My eyes followed after them, face turning to smile brightly down at the child behind the tiger. Dear Karia. She truly was precious, and so desperate to prove herself. Despite the way the second bit made my heart ache I could not help but approach and offer the girl a swift lick. After all if this pack of hooligans didn't let me mother them, who else would?

The sound of paw steps brought my head up, eyes turning to grace the lion approaching us. Ringed tail waving behind me I turned fully to face Anabi. Our final conspirator then? Despite my anxiety at her place in the world I moved forward with Bhuvana to welcome the woman. This lioness who had every reason in the world to be bitter and cruel; standing before us with determination and faith. My smile grew softer, more welcoming as the line of distrust fell away. "Yes, brilliant. It's so good to see you Anabi" rounded ears twitched, face leaning away from the taller paler lion to the tiny baboon child. She had something for us. Some reason for our gathering together. It was far too dangerous getting out of Akando for Anabi for anyone to expect her to rush out here for a friendly greeting.